The New Nation - Internet Edition

Random stealing of transformers in UZs of Barisal disrupting smooth power supply

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Electricity supply in different upazila towns and rural areas seriously hampering due to random stealing of transformers. Gangs in collusion with the employees of Palli Biddut Samity (Rural Electrification Board) blamed for the crime.

In last 16 months, 304 transformers valued more than one crore taka have been stolen in 10 upazilas of Barisal district. REB and their customers have to share the cost of replacement of these stolen transformers.

REB sources said 68 transformers in Sadar,30 in Babuganj,16 in Banaripara, 37 in Uzirpur,5 in Gournadi, 8 in Agoiljhara,55 in Bakerganj,19 in Hizla,25 in Muladi and 41 in Mehendiganj upazilas have been stolen in this period.

These transformers have capacities of 5 KV, 10 KV, 15 KV and 25 KV and each of 5 KV transformer valued more than 20 thousand taka, 10 KV valued more than 26 thousand taka, 15 KV valued more than 28 thousand taka, 25 KV valued more than 54 thousand taka.

REB sources said since last two years rate of stealing transformers have been increased and almost every day report of stealing transformer reaching in REB office.

Miscreants stole transformers by preserving the outer structure of the transformer intact and from outside view, it could not be understandable that original parts, oil and valuable super enamel wires have been stolen, REB officials said.

In most cases fact of stealing transformers only could be revealed after checking on receiving allegations of disruption of electricity supply from the customers, they explained.

As per contact between the customers and REB both side have to share fifty-fifty of total costing of purchasing and replacement of the stolen transformers and until the share-amount collected from the customers deposited, REB does not take any initiative to restore electricity supply in the affected region.

On other hand REB customers alleged that without in collusion and technical support from the REB employees, transformers could not be stolen during live electricity supply and imposing replacement cost on the customers is illegal extra burden.

Most of REB customers are not financially solvent to bear the sharing cost of replacement of stolen transformers and due to this electricity supply in the affected areas remained disrupted for month after months.

Engineer Abdul Mannan, general manager of Palli Biddut Samity (PBS)-1 and Abu Raihan, assistant general manager of PBS-2, said that thieves could easily disconnect electricity supply by cutting wire and removing coil of the transformer and for this no technical support from REB is needed for them.

Delivering of voter ID cards begins in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Final voter lists with photographs of Rangpur Sadar, Gangachara upazilas and Rangpur municipality area were formally delivered of Election Commission on Wednesday.

A total 2,43,561 voters under Rangpur Sadar, 1,73,722 under Gangahara and 1,65,830 under Rangpur pourasava have been registered in the final voter lists. Commander of 72 Infantry Division Brigadier General Abu Sayeed Khan handed over the lists. On behalf of Election Commissioner District Election Officer Subhash Chandra Sarker handing over the voter lists. Among others, Deputy Commissioner of the district Khandoker Atiar Rahman, Commander of Joint Forces of Rangpur LC Kazi Kaiser Hosen, SP Hasif Aziz, Chairman of Rangpur Municipality Abdur Rouf Manif spoke at the discussion.

Social awareness to prevent AIDS stressed

BSS, Kaliganj

Speakers at a workshop here on Saturday urged the stakeholders including government officials and teachers to make effective efforts for preventing the deadly disease of AIDS.

Participating in the daylong workshop, they suggested carrying out massive awareness campaigns at all levels to motivate the common people both in urban and rural areas to work for checking spread of the silent killer disease.

They called for building social awareness, particularly among the younger generation and vulnerable groups, in the boarder areas to stop the spread of AIDS and trafficking in women and children.

Padokhkhep Manobik Unnayan Kendra (PMUK) of Padokhkhep Consortium organized the workshop titled 'HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme and the Youth Community' at Kaliganj Upazila in Lalmonirhat.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National AIDS and STD Programme and Save the Children jointly assisted in organising the workshop.

Chaired by Kaliganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Motiar Rahman, the workshop was attended by Upazila Agriculture Officer Dhunibullah as the chief gust.

Over 100 participants including officials, youth community members, teachers, students, women community leaders, UP chairmen and members, NGO officials, socio-cultural workers, journalists, lawyers and human rights activists attended.

Mass awareness to fight AIDS underscored

Our Correspondent, Jessore

The AIDS prevention week was concluded in Jessore recently. A big procession was brought out from Eidgah maidan which paraded the main roads of the town inaugurated by ADC (Education and Development) Md. Mostafizur Rahman by releasing Balloons which was organised by Star Project, Saviour and APACHA Bangladesh Chapter.

After the procession, a discussion was held at the conference room of Red Crescent Jessore unit where the Deputy Civil Surgeon Jessore, Secretary Red Crescent Society Jessore Zahid Hassan spoke in the discussion meeting. Deputy Civil Surgeon called upon all to create awareness to prevent the deadly disease.

Meritorious students accorded reception in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The students who obtained scholarship in Junior Scholarship examination 2007 from Gaibandha Govt. Girls' High School were accorded a warm reception on the premises of the school on Thursday morning last. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abu Mohammad Yousuf addressed the meeting as chief guest.

Presided over by Lutfun Nahar, Headmistress of school, the reception meeting was also addressed, among others, by special guest Parvin Shafi, Ex-Headmistress of the school Guardian M. Abul Hossain, M. Delwar Hossain, Chandra Shekhar and scholar student Sohana Sarming Disha.

Sources said, 19 students obtained junior scholarship from the school and were given the crest each. The meeting was also conducted by Swapon Kumar Saha. Later a cultural function was also held on the premises. A large number of guardians and students were present on the occasion.

Massive dev works implementing in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

A massive infrastructure development works are being implemented by Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) in six upazilas of the district in current the fiscal.

A total of 13 projects are being implemented at a cost of Taka 60 crore in the district during the period, official sources said.

As many as 15 lakh people are getting benefit of the project, the source added.

ASA distributes Tk 64 cr in Satkhira in current FY

Our Correspondent, Satkhira

The Association for Social Advancement (ASA) an NGO has disbursed about Taka 64 crores among 70,198 poor families in Satkhira district during the current year.

This was revealed at a views exchange meeting of ASA officials with local journalists held at its office at Mehedibag in the town on Sunday. Gokul Chandra Das, district manager of ASA, said that ASA is the only NGO in the country which is now working without any foreign fund. It received funds from government's Pally Karmasanghthan Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) at 7 percent interest.

ASA is also rendering medical allowances to its poor members who can not afford medical expenses as grant from its achieved income every year and this year ASA has given Taka 15,000 to its five poor women members as medical grants in Satkhira district, he said. ASA has 43 branches in Satkhira district. It has 85,100 members in seven upazilas in the district.

One snatcher held in Brahmanbaria

BSS, Brahmanbaria

Police arrested a snatcher and absconding convict at Sinda village under sadar upazila of the district on Saturday.

The arrested was identified as Dider,35, son of Syed Hossain of Sinda village.

He was involved in different cases.

Acting on a secret information, a police team raided the area on Saturday morning and arrested him.

4 killed in Ctg road mishap

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Four people including an engineer of the PHP Group were killed and another suffered wounds following a head-on collision between a speeding coach and an auto-rickshaw near Kumira on Dhaka-Chittagong highway yesterday evening.

The victims had been the passengers of the ill-fated auto-rickshaw. Police identified them as Ashadul Islam (29), engineer of the PHP Group of industries, Mohammad Nasiruddin (26), Mohammad Moinuddin (38) and the auto-rickshaw driver Nurul Amin (45).

Police quoting the witnesses said that the accident occurred in front of Royal Cement Factory when a Chittagong-bound coach from Feni collided head on with an auto-rickshaw bound for Mirsarai at about 3:30pm.

Of them, Ashadul and Nasir died on the spot while Moinuddin succumbed to injuries on way to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

The injured, Bijoy (23) was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

The auto rickshaw was badly damaged following the collision. Police seized the bus but its driver managed to escape.

News Briefs

Housewife stabbed to death in Sherpur

SHERPUR, May 27: A housewife was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband at Megadol village in Sribordi upazila here Friday. Local people said Nazrul Islam indiscriminately stabbed his wife Ajida Khatun, 32, mother of three children, at one stage of brawl, leaving her dead on the spot. He left the body in Megadol hill and fled away. Later, police on information, recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. Victim's brother Sujan Raja filed a case, reports UNB.

Day-labourer electrocuted in Sylhet

SYLHET, May 27: A day-labourer was electrocuted at Atgaon village in Balaganj upazila on Friday. The deceased was identified as Toran Mia, 22, son of Abdul Khalek of the village. Local people said Toran Mia came in contact with a live electric wire while repairing a water pump at Paidabad Bazar at about 3:pm. He died on way to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital, reports UNB.

Shotgun snatched from cops recovered in Gazipur

GAZIPUR, May 27: Police Sunday morning recovered the shotgun that was snatched from Konabari Bazaar area in Joydevpur thana injuring two police constables Thursday night. Police said, acting on a secret information, they arrested three terrorists- Abu Jafar, Monir and Habib- on Friday and Saturday. According to their confession police recovered the shotgun from a bush at Ambagh Pashchimpara at Konabari. A gang of 10/12 terrorists took away the shotgun after stabbing police constables Nayeb and Mosharref when they were on patrol duty on Thursday, reports UNB.

One killed in Comilla road mishap

COMILLA, May 27: A minor boy was killed and four other people were injured in a road crash at Banshmangol in Sadar upazila Sunday morning. Police said the accident occurred when a speeding bus rammed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at about 7am, killing the auto rickshaw passenger boy, aged about 4, on the spot and injuring 4 others, including his parents. The identities of the dead and injured people could not be known immediately, reports UNB.

Lightning kills one in Natore

NATORE, May 27: A man was killed and his wife injured in lightning at Hatjon village in Bagatipara upazila Saturday. The dead was identified as Askan Ali, 40. Villagers said thunderbolt struck Askan Ali and his wife when they were returning home with paddy during rain, leaving Askan dead on the spot, reports UNB.

Drug peddler held with heroin in Goalanda

GOALANDA, May 27: A drug peddler was arrested along with heroin at Doulatdia Ghat here on Saturday morning. A team of Narcotics Control Department conducted a drive in Puravita area of the gaht and arrested Nuru Kha red handed while selling heroin. They also recovered three grams of heroin from his possession. He was later handed over to local police. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Drug peddlers awarded life term

SYLHET, May 27: A court here Wednesday convicted two women drug peddlers and awarded them life term imprisonment for possessing heroin. The court also fined the convicts - Hosne Ara Begum, 24, and Salma Begum, 25, - Tk 25,000 each, in default, to suffer two years more RI. According to the prosecution, a RAB team arrested Hosne Ara and Salma along with heroin worth about Tk 10 lakh from Sheikhghat area in the city on October 8, 2007, reports UNB.