The New Nation - Internet Edition

Need for creating jobs for aboriginal women stressed

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a meeting in Birampur upazila town in Dinajpur today stressed the need for creating job opportunities for aboriginal women living in different areas of the region to improve their living.

Uttara Development Society (UDS) and Practical Action - Bangladesh (PAB) jointly organised the view-exchange meeting for public representatives, businessmen, community leaders, teachers, the elite and professionals to work out ways to create jobs for the distressed and aboriginal women.

Chaired by Project Coordinator of UDS Aminul Islam, the meeting was attended by Engineer Enayet Hossain as the chief guest.

Technicians Kabir Hossain, Rafik Uddin, Job Creators Iftekhar Hossain, Shuchitra Das, President of Birampur Banik Samity Haji Ashraf Hossain, Director of Manusher Janneya Mohsin Raju, businessman Rofiz Uddin and Secretary of Birampur Commerce Association Parvez Kabir spoke.

Local public representatives, NGO officials and activists, leaders of the aboriginal community, journalists, professionals, human rights activists and local elite took part in the meeting.

The speakers underscored the need for creating job opportunities for the distressed and aboriginal women to enable them to earn livelihood through employment and income-generating activities for a better life.

They also placed emphasis on creating mass awareness about reproductive health, hygiene, sanitation and all other related issues for ensuring their safe motherhood with a view to reducing the rate of maternal and child moralities.

The NGO executives said they have been providing training on different trades to over 200 aboriginal and distressed women to provide them jobs in various local enterprises and businesses, and have already provided jobs to 50 trained women in furniture marts, workshops and tailoring.

Farmers urged to boost Aus-Aman production like Boro

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Overwhelmed with the sight of bumper paddy harvest at a time of food crisis worldwide, Agriculture Adviser Dr. C.S. Karim urged country's farmers to keep trend of bounitful crop production up to the incoming Aush-Aman season the way they proved that they can stand straight facing natural calamity.

The Caretaker government provided around Tk. 3,900 crore subsidy for agriculture in different ways in the current year. Necessary steps would be taken by the Government to increase food production of the country.

Agriculture and Water resource Adviser Dr. C.S. Karim was addressing as chief guest at the opening ceremony of workshop cum training programme on Hybrid Rice Technology Transfer in achieving food security in Bangladesh and exchange of views with the farmers organised by Aftab Bahumukhi Farms Ltd held at Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital conference hall on Saturday noon. Ambussador in Bangladesh of the People's Republic of China H.E. Zhen Qingdion attended as chief guest. Md. Manzurul Islam, Chairman of Islam Group presided over the function and it was addressed, among others by Md. Shamsul Islam, DG of Agriculture Extension, Dr. Abdur Rajjak, Executive Chairman of BARC, Anower Farook, DG of Seedwing Ministry of Agriculture, Deputy Commissioner of Kishoreganj Sultun Ahmed, Police Super Mizanur Rahman, Joint Forces Commander Lt. Col Md. Ashikuzzaman, Zhou Chengsu, General Manager of Yuon Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co. Ltd, China, and Shah Habibul Haque chains Director of Aftab Bahumukhi Farms Ltd.

Dr. C.S. Karim said, if the supply chains of fertiliser were bigger then the price of it would be higher. He called upon the farmers to use fertiliser judiciously.

The government could not solve all problems relating to agriculture at a time. The government has announced that it will procure 12 to 15 lakh tonnes of rice and paddy from the domestic market.

Quality education for nation’s dev stressed

BSS, Gaibandha

Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Mohammad Mosarraf Hossain Bhuiyan said there is no alternative to primary education to build a developed nation, as it is the foundation of education.

"Quality primary education will be ensured in the greater interest of nation".

He was addressing an opinion exchange meeting with the officials of Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) at the conference room of Shibram Govt. Primary School (SGPS), a national award-winning academy, under Sundarganj upazila of the district on May 16. The secretary said guardians and elite would have to be involved in different activities of the schools in order to make the primary education a success.

He urged the members of school managing committee to look after the schools with care as they have the contributions to the development including making good results of the schools. He also called upon the teachers and the officials of DPE to be more devoted to provide quality education among the students and to build more ideal schools like SGPC in other parts of the country.

Presided over by Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by deputy director (DD) of DPE Begum Shahana Begum, DD of DPE, Rajshahi Division Abdul Latif, Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer M. Borad Hossain Chowdhury, district primary education officer M. Golam Nabi, superintendent of primary training institute Mirza Hasan Khashru, Sundarganj upazila education officer M. Anowarul Islam, national award received head-teacher of SGPC M. Nurul Alam and district Correspondent of the BSS M. Shahiduzzaman.

Later, he was given a crest on behalf of the school in the function.

Homecoming Day of Hasina observed at RU

RU Correspondent

The Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) of Rajshahi University (RU) unit observed Homecoming Day of Bangladesh Awami league President and ex-premier Sheikh Hasina.

To celebrate the day the BCL organised a procession and meeting on campus on Saturday.

The silent procession brought out from the BCL tent of Amtala of RU campus. After marching the main streets of the campus a meeting also held at their tent.

On the meeting speakers demanded to the caretaker government to release of Hasina as soon as possible.

BCL president of RU unit Ibrahim Hossen Mun, Secretary Ayen Uddin, ex-Secretary Ahsanul Haq Pintu also addressed the meeting.

Two get life term in arms case in Kurigram

BSS, Kurigram

Special Tribunal Court Additional district and session Judge Farzana Begum on Thursday sentenced life term rigorous imprisonment(RI) to two persons for an arm case.

The court also fined Taka 5000 each, in default, serve another one year in jail.

The convicted are Khalilur Rahman Sadhu of village Dewan Khamar under Bhurungamari upazila and Abul Kalam of the same area.

The prosecution story in brief, is that, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided Dewan Khamar village and arrested both. RAB also recovered two revolvers and four bullets from their possessions.

After examining 12 witnesses and relevant documents the judge handed down the judgement.

Body of woman recovered in Gazipur

Our Correspondent, Gazipur

An old woman was killed at West Khail Kair village under Gazipur Sadar Upazila of the district on Wednesday night last.

Sources said Safia Khaton (65) W/o Zamir Paik came out from her house for walking during loadshedding but she did not return home on the same night. Her dead body was found near her house next day (Thursday) morning. On information, Sadar Thana police arrived at the spot and recovered the body and sent it to the Gazipur Sadar Hospital for post mortem. Details could not be known immediately. A case was filed with local thana in this connection.

Community police week begins in Narail

BSS, Narail

A colourful procession was brought out in the district town on Thursday on the occasion of "Community Policing Week".

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Quyum Sarder and Police Super Mohammad Rashidul Hasan led the rally. An exchanging of views meeting was also held on the occasion. Chief Executive officer of Zila Parishad Swapan Kumar Roy, Police Super Rashidul Hasan, Convener of Narail District Community Policing Hasanuzzaman Hasan and Poura Chairman Shorab Hossain Biswas spoke, among others.

News Briefs

14 bridges, culverts being constructed in Pirojpur

Pirojpur, May 19: Work on 14 bridges and culvert has been progressing fast in six upazilas of the district involving Tk 1.68 crore. Relief and Rehabilitation Department is implementing the schemes. Of the total schemes, two are being implemented in sadar upazila, two in Zianagar, three in Bhandaria, two in Nazirpur, three in Mothbaria and two in Kaukhali upazila. The work is likely to be finished by June, reports UNB.

Mustard cultivation gains popularity

Bandarban, May 19: Growers in the district are showing much interest in cultivating mustard and peanut on their lands as it proves profitable for them. Local Agriculture Office sources said cultivation of mustard and peanut has been increased remarkably here in the current season due to favorable condition of climate. This season, mustard has been cultivated on 382 hectares while peanut on 548 hectares. Agriculture Extension Department has set a target to cultivate peanut on 700 hectares this year, reports UNB.

Woman killed in Madaripur

Madaripur, May 19: A woman seriously injured in a clash at Char Dattapara in Shibchar upazila Saturday died at Faridpur Medical College Hospital Sunday. The dead was identified as Sufiya Begum,50, wife of Majid Talukder. Sources said six people, including Sufiya Begum, were injured in a clash between Majid Talukder and his brother Rahim Talukder over harvesting paddy from a field on Saturday. Sufiya succumbed to her injuries at Faridpur Medical College Hospital the following day. A case was filed.

Woman slaughtered by nephew in Rajbari

RAJBARI, May 19: A woman was killed allegedly by her nephew at Nurpur village under Sadar upazila of the district in the early hours of today. Police said the victim was identified as Rahima Begum, 50, wife of Abdul Barek of the same village. Family sources said Rahima was attacked by her nephew Amjad Hossain, 35, son of Abdul Gani and his accomplices while she was preparing for Fazr prayers in her room. Then the attackers slaughtered Rahima after stabbing her indiscriminately. The sources said Rahima rebuked Amjad for his drug addiction on Friday which might be the reason behind the killing. On information police recovered the body and sent it to Rajbari Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Police arrested Amjad Hossain from his father-in-law's house. A case was registered in this connection, reports BSS.

Dacoit leader of Noakhali arrested in Rangpur

RANGPUR, May 19: Police arrested leader of a dacoit gang of Noakhali district from village Deuti in Pirgacha upazila here last night. Police sources said the arrested dacoit leader was identified as Moslem Uddin Bachchu, 30, of village Madhabpur in Chatkhil upazila of Noakhali district. After committing a daring dacoity at the house of a former secretary of the government and snatching huge properties including about 70 tola gold ornaments on last May 8, the dacoits' gang leader fled the area and took shelter at the house of his relative in the village here. On a tip-off, a special police team led by OC of Pirgacha Thana Jatindranath Sharma, conducted a sudden raid at the house in village Deuti and arrested the notorious dacoit. The dacoit was sent to jail hajat when police produced him before a Rangpur court today, the sources said, reports BSS.