The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to enhance Mug bean production to meet domestic demand

BSS, Rajshahi

Scientists at two farmers gatherings here today urged the farmers to increase the acreage of mug bean cultivation through utilizing the existing natural resources to enhance its production.

They said there has been a bright prospect for mug bean cultivation in the high lands that remain fallow in the vast tract of Barind region after the harvest of potato and wheat for the last couple of years.

In this context, the experts said huge cultivable lands always remain fallow in the region and initiatives are being taken to bring the lands under the cultivation of the cash crop.

The On Farm Research Division (OFRD) under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) arranged the peasants' gatherings at Chabbisnagar under Godagari upazila and at Amnura under Chapainawabganj on the occasion of crop cutting of BARIMUG- 6 with presence of around 300 cultivators.

They brought some 90 bighas of land under mug bean cultivation at the two sites. The OFRD extended all sorts of inputs like seed and other technical know-how to reduce the yield gap at the farmers' level.

Cultivation of summer mug bean has been gaining ground in different northern districts for the last couple of years to the meet up the demands of the local, regional and national markets.

Some 10,300 hectares of land were brought under the mug bean cultivation in eight districts in the current season. However, the acreage was 7,867 hectares in the previous season.

Senior Scientific Officer of OFRD Shafiqul Islam described various positive aspects of mug bean cultivation in the vast tract of Barind region in his welcome address with Senior Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station Dr. Shafiqul Islam in the chair.

Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ishwardi Dr. Ismail Mian Bhuiyan, Chief Scientific Officer of Pulses Research Station, Ishwardi Dr. Jalal Uddin and farmers Firoj and Monu addressed the gatherings, among others.

Drive to recover water bodies in Khagrachhari starts

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

District administration finally started eviction work to recover the water bodies including river to save people from flash flood at Sadar thana in hill district Khagrachhari.

They have started the eviction work from on Friday at Khagrachhari Municipality areas, where Chairman Joinal Abedin grabbed over 1 acres 6 decimal land of Chenghi river and Khagrachhari Bazar fund.

Abul Amin, who was appointed as Magistrate at May 11 for this eviction work told the correspondent that Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shahdat Hossen in a letter asked him to recovered the land of Chenghi river, the only river of hill town Khagrachhari and other water bodies to ensure smooth elegant of water and tide.

The decision came out after filed 5 eviction cases by Sadar Upazila AC (Land) A.T.M Kausar Hossen on April 20 of current year following some news published on some national dailies.

According to AC land Office, Khagrachhari Municipality grabbed 0.0642 acres while Chittagong Hill Tract Development Board grabbed 0.0172 acres, BNP leader Yusuf grabbed 0.0293 acres, Abdul Awal grabbed 0.0045 acres and Nurul Islam grabbed 0.0266 acres Chenghi river land beside Khagrachhari Bazar.

AC land A.T. Kausar Hossen said, Municipality Chairman Joinal Abedin also expanded over tk. 20 lakh for filing the river areas with over 2o feet height retaining wall but there is no system to take such types of project in a land grabbing river or without land ownership, he said.

It means Municipality Chairman Misuse his power and misappropriated government money, he said.

Animesh Dewan Nandith, the councilor of Khagrachhari Hill District Development Board (KHDC) told the correspondent that Municipal Chairman Joinal Abedin grabbed their 30 decimal lands and he made mosque and garden in our land showing his muscle power. We would take legal action as per law, he said.

Joinal, the close aid of ex corrupted BNP MP Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan always patronized the Bengali settlers to grab indigenous land in Khagrachhari, he said.

4 alleged bandits held in Ctg

Chittagong Correspondent

A drive jointly carried out by the police and detectives recently nabbed four alleged members of the inter-district robbers and recovered some looted goods including gold ornaments and fire arms from their possession.

Police recovered a double-barrel country-made rifle, two single-barrel country-made rifle, Tk 353 thousand in cash, ten grams gold ornaments, 16 cell-phones (handset), two torch-lights and a set of gold-measuring scales during a series of drives over the last couple of days in the city and its adjacent upazila - Boalkhali.

The arrested robbers reportedly looted the recovered gold ornaments, cell-phone sets and cash mnoney from two places under Hathazari and Boalkhali upazilas on May 4 and May 2 respectively, police said.

The joint team led by Assistant Police Commissioner (Kotwali Zone) Mohammad Babul Akhter also arrested an employee of Jewelry shop at Bahaddarhat area.

The detained bandits were identified as Abdul Kader (30), son of Abul Mansur, Sohel alias Khalil Dakat (robber) (30), son of Munsef Mia, Masud (26), son of Abdul Hai, Manju Akhter (30), spouse of late Harun and Sanjoy, son of Moloy Ghosh.

Sanjoy is an employee of JR Jewelers at Bahaddarhat area in the city. Owner of the shop Sumon went into hiding soon after the arrest of Sanjoy.

Among the arrestees, Khalil was wanted in fifteen criminal cases including robbery and murder. On the other hand, Kader has also been shouldering several criminal cases, according to police officials.

Police sources said that Manju Akhter had been assigned to keep the arms of robbers' gang.

Workshop on environ, disaster management held in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A three-day long training workshop organised by Press Institute of Bangladesh on environment and disaster management reporting was inaugurated on Saturday at Barisal LGED auditorium.

Thirty journalists from seven districts in including six districts of Barisal division and Bagerhut district of Khulna division participated in the workshop.

Prof.Dr.Muhammad Abdur Rob, chairman Bangladesh Red Crescent Society as chief guest inaugurated the programme presided over by Zakir Hossain, director training of PIB. Manjur-E-Elahi, Deputy Commissioner of Barisal was special guest Fazlul Wahab, director Cyclone Preparedness programme, Dr.Paramesh Nandi, Divisional Officer of Forest Research institute,Abdur Rahman Khan, special correspondent of The Holiday,Kaisar Ahmed, deputy Director of environment directorate, Dr. Abdur Rashid, Deputy Director of Health Services, as resources persons and ASM Abdul Huq, as coordinator and conductor participating in the programme.

In three days training workshop important issues like climate change and Bangladesh's vulnerability to national disaster, disaster response and cyclone preparedness program, coastal afforest ration programme, disaster mitigation, climate rilisent coastal development in Bangladesh, impact of disaster on bio-diversity in the coastal areas, emergency medical response in disaster, local government response to disaster management and the standing order on disaster, techniques of environment and disaster reporting, overview on disaster reporting in different media, media response to disaster and online reporting techniques, experience sharing on resent cyclone Sidr, would be discussed in different inter active sessions.

Dr Akhtar Hossain takes over as new BAU VC

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

President and Chancellor of the Universities has appointed the distinguished educationist and scientist of international repute Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain to the post of Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU).

Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain on Wednesday took over as the new Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) a day after the President and Chancellor of the Universities entrusted him with the charge.

"Prior to joining the present position he was one of the seniormost Professors of the same University in the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics holding the key position of the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Born in April 30, 1953, Professor Dr. Hossain comes of a noble Muslim family of the Village Dangipara under Shailakupa Upazila of Jhenaidah District.

He is the only son of late Abul Hossain and late Vagirunnesa. He obtained First Class First both in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and MS under the Faculty of Veterinary Science. He did his Ph.D. from University of Edinburgh, UK in 1984.

One killed, 10 hurt in Noakhali road accident

BSS, Noakhali

One passenger was killed and 10 others were injured in an accident at Miarpool under Begumganj upazila in the district on Wednesday.

Police and eyewitnesses said the accident took place when a Feni-bound passenger bus hit a tempo while it was crossing the road at Miarpool on Feni- Chowmuhany road.

Mobile court realises Tk two lakh as fine in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

A mobile court led by Sadar UNO Shahnewas Dilruba Khan, 1st Class Magistrate Ashan Habib and 1st Class Magistrate Md. Ruhul Amin realised fine from bakery, fast food shops, hotels and stationery shops on charges of selling adulterated and stale food items in Kishoreganj town on Friday and Saturday last.

Girl with cattleheads electrocuted in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A girl with two cows was electrocuted at Kanchibari village under Sundarganj upazila in the district on May 21. The victim was identified as Majeda, 11, a student of class V and daughter of Mohir Uddin of the village, sources said.

Witness said, the victim and two cows came in contact with a live torn wire of Rangpur Palli Bidyut Samity when she was returning home on Wednesday afternoon with the cows.

After the incident, a pall of gloom descended in the area over the news of her tragic death.

Minor boy killed by lightning in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

One minor child, Imamul Sheikh (10), son of Salam Sheikh of village Boira under Lohagara Upazila in Narail district was killed by lightning on Saturday.

Two others Kamel Sikder (12), son of Zamir Sikder and Zamila (9), a school girl were injured. Locals said, while they were playing in their homeyard a thunderbolt hit them. Imamul Sheikh died on the spot and the injured two others were rushed to Lohagara Health Complex.

World Mother Day observed in Thakurgaon

BSS, Thakurgaon

Islamic Relief, an international NGO, observed the 'World Mother Day' in a befitting manner here on Friday.

To mark the occasion, the NGO organized a discussion meeting at Manab Kalyan Parishad auditorium.

The meeting, presided over by Abul Hossain Sarkar, Principal Thakurgaon Road College, was addressed, among others, by Ashequr Rahman, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thakurgaon as the chief guest and Dr. Saidul Alam, Programme Manager Children Welfare, Islamic Relief, Arifa Begum, Child Protection Officer, Islamic Relief, Md. Sadequl Islam, Co-ordinator Manab Kalyan Parishad, Md. Shamsuzzaman Shah Shamim, Lecturer Gareya Fazil Madrasa and Md.

Idrish Ali, coordinator Islamic Relief, Thakurgaon.

The speakers discussed the significance and importance of World Mother Day in the light of Islam. Islamic Relief is an international NGO working in different countries of the world for the welfare of the orphans. In Thakurgaon, many orphan children are being benefited from the organization since 1992.

Hundreds of orphans and their mothers participated in the programme.

News Briefs

One killed in Gaibandha road accident

GAIBANDHA, May 26: A van-driver was killed in a road accident on the Rangpur-Bogra highway at Fashitala area under Gobindaganj upazila in the district on Thursday. The victim was identified as Abdul Mannan, 42, son of late Golam Nabi of Masta village of Kamardaha union of the upazila. Police said, the accident took place when a passenger bus hit a van from behind, leaving its driver dead on the spot, reports BSS.

Phensidyl recovered in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI, May 26: District narcotic control department seized 644 bottles of phensidyl, 109-gram heroin, 42- kg ganja, two maunds cannabis trees, 39 liters country liquor, 3 liters foreign wine and 300 liters jawa during the last four months. A total of 42 cases were filed against 75 alleged drug addicts and traders with different police stations, while 67 people were arrested in these connection, reports BSS.

School student killed in Rangamati accident

RANGAMATI, May 26: A teenage school student was killed as a passenger bus hit his bicycle from behind at Banarrupa area in the town on Wednesday afternoon. The dead was identified as Pritimoy Chakma, 14, son of Sandan Moni Chakma, Alutila under Rangamati pourasabha. Police said a Rangamati bound bus from Chittagong hit bicycle rider Pritimoy, a class six student of Rani Doyamoyee High School. Local people rushed him to Rangamati General Hospital where doctors declared him dead, reports BSS.

Fertilizers seized at Jhalakhati

JHALAKHATI, May 26: The district administration has seized 112 bags fertilizer from the 'Siam Traders,' a BCIC dealer of the town on Thursday. The fertilizers-71 bags Urea, 23 TSP and 18 bags MOP were seized by ADC (revenue) Ranjit Kumar Das at the allegation of not final approval of Fertilizer and Seeds Monitoring Committee. The dealer has been asked not to sell the seized fertilizer until further order, reports BSS.

Workshop on prevention of Aids held

BRAHMANBARIA, May 26: A workshop on 'prevention of Aids' held at Nabinagar upazila of the district on Thursday with a view to aware people about the silent killer disease. As many as 30 people, including union parisads chairmen, teachers, government officials and imamas, took part in the workshop at upazila conference room, reports BSS.

Workshop for Imams held

HATIBANDHA, May 26: A day-long workshop on 'Role of Imams in Alleviating Abject Poverty' was organized for the imams of Goddimari union on Wednesday. Held at the hallroom of AHA Dakhil Madrasa under Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat the workshop was organized by Hatibandha unit of BRAC under its advocacy and human rights project. With Moulana Abdus Sobhan in the chair, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Moulana Abdul Majid, Moulana Mohammad Ali, Moulana Abdul Karim, Javed Ali, local UP chairman and members and teachers, reports BSS.

Dual registration of voters found

BARISAL, May 26: Altogether 61 dual registration of voters were found in six southern districts of Barisal Division till today. Official sources said, legal and departmental actions are being taken against those who registered their names twice in voter list. Of the total, 14 dual voters were found in Barisal district, 20 in Bhola, 10 in Patuakhali, 12 in Pirojpur and five in Jhalakathi districts, reports BSS.