The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong BNP leader stresses need for reforms

BSS, Chittagong

BNP Central Committee Economic Affairs Secretary Golam Akbar Khandaker on Friday said he feels immensely the necessity of reforms not only in political parties, but also in all key-sectors of national life, including the administration, for stability, sustainable democracy and desired progress of the country.

"Change in the old mindset is a foremost prerequisite to have a meaningful and lasting reforms," he said while speaking at a press conference arranged to highlight the party's position and activities in the wake of lifting of the ban on indoor politics.

He also announced the programmes of the BNP chalked out on the occasion the death anniversary of President Ziaur Rahman, the founder of the party.

The press conference was held at BNP Chittagong north district unit office at Nasiman Bhaban on Noor Ahmed Road in the city.

Unit leaders of BNP and its different front organizations including Afser Ahmed Chowdhury, Shahjahan Seraj, Dr. Mohammad Nur-Un-Nabi, SM Fazlul Haq, divisional president of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, AM Nazimuddin, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Prof. Younus Chowdhury, Alhaj Salahuddin, Sathi Uday Kusum Barua, Jasimuddin Sikder and Mohammad Joynal, among others, attended the function. Khandaker, who is also the president of the BNP north district unit, and said the government should immediately release the party leaders by withdrawing the cases filed against them to pave the way for creating congenial atmosphere to hold a free, credible and acceptable election.

Responding to a question, he said release of the political leaders particularly BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was a must to create an affable atmosphere for talks for making the ongoing dialogue meaningful and successful.

He said the BNP has not been facing any obstacle in running the party activities smoothly since the government lifted the ban on indoor politics throughout the country by complying with the government guidelines to this effect.

BNP north district unit has taken weeklong programmes to observe the 27th death anniversary President Ziaur Rahman in a befitting manner, the conference was told.

The programmes includes discussion meeting at party office at 3pm today, hoisting at half-mast the national and party flags at party office on Friday morning, placing wreaths at the first grave of Shaheed Zia at Rangunia at 9a.m. tomorrow, offering fateha and munajat and discussion meeting at district council auditorium in the afternoon.

He said each ward, union and upazila units of the party and its front organizations under the district committee's jurisdiction have drawn elaborate programmes to mark the anniversary.

Call to implement Tobacco Control Act-2005 soon

BSS, Gaibandha

The speakers at a meeting stressed the need for immediate implementation of Tobacco Control Act-2005 and rules-2006 to protect the health for all.

"More tax should be imposed on 'bidi' and cigarette. So that the smokers can not buy it at cheap rate and if it is implemented the producers will also be discouraged and frustrated to produce tobacco products".

They said this at an opinion exchange meeting on the implementation of Tobacco Control Act-2005 organized by 'Abolambon Foundation' at the conference room of deputy commissioner here on Wednesday afternoon in cooperation with welcome for Better Bangladesh Trust.

With ADC (General) M. Abul Bayes Miah, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by consultant of chest diseases clinic Dr. SM Abdul Jalil, government pleader Alhaj Shafiqur Rahman, assistant commissioner AKM Galiv Khan, executive director of Uddyog M. Zillur Rahman Khandaker and M. Ataur Rahman Shahanur, executive director of Abolambon Foundation.

Citing the bad effects and negative impacts of smoking consultant Dr. SM Abdul Jalil said smoking has become a major cause of health hazard as cigarette contains innumerable harmful particles and it impedes the normal flow of blood and oxygen. Smoking may cause cancer, heart attack, blood pressure, chronic bronchitis and other diseases and similar harmful effects to a non-smoker who comes in touch with a smoker, he further said.

The speakers said Bangladesh govt. has enacted a law to ban tobacco smoking in public places but lack of awareness the law is flouted by the smokers even the law enforcing agencies are not aware of the law.

The tobacco farmers could be motivated seriously to cultivate other crops in place of tobacco in their land by creating awareness among them about the bad effects of tobacco, they said.

More than 70 people from all walks of life attended the meeting.

Rotarians urged to serve nation

BSS, Khulna

LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal on Friday urged the Rotarians to come forward to serve the nation.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the 25th Rotaract district conference of Rotaract District Club-3280 at Zia Hall here.

With M Tariqul Islam Tuhin in the chair, it was addressed, among others, by editor of the Daily Purbanchal Liaqat Ali and chairman of Channel One Prof Majiedul Islam. Anwarul Iqbal said the government alone can not serve the whole nation and urged the Rotarinas to put in their best efforts to work for the welfare of the mass people.

Later, the adviser met the officials of jute mills and local administration.

Call to eliminate corruption from society

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A discussion meeting for Resisting Corruption with the help of mosque Imams and the religious leaders (Alems) was held at Gopalganj District Council auditorium, organised by the Islamic Foundation Gopalganj district office on May 15 last.

Mohammad Nurul Islam, Chief Executive Officer Gopalganj District Council presided over the discussion S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj inaugurated the function. The discussion was addressed, among others, by Dr. Abdul Mannan, UNO Gopalganj Sadar Upazila, Mohammad Anisuzzaman Sikder, Deputy Director Islamic foundation Gopalganj district office, Moulana Moinuddin, Imam Mahfuza Jame Mosque Sonakair under Gopalganj Sadar upazila and Moulana Mohibullah, Superintendent of the Gopalganj Muslim Etimkhana and Madrasha.

S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj told the Mosque Imams and Alems to cooperate in resisting corruption from our society, D.C. further said they can play key role to eliminate corruption from the society.

95 Mosque Imams and Alems attneded the discussion meeting.

Octogenarian killed in Nilphamari road mishap

A Correspondent, Nilphamari

An elderly man was killed under the wheels of Rajshahi-bound train at Chikashar Ghunti in Nilphamari recently. The dead was identified as Mozammel Hoque, 80, of Jumma Para of the town. Sources said that the accident took place when the deceased was crossing the railway track says a press release.

Medical representative killed in Baraigram road accident

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

A Medical Representative Shapan Kumar (40) who was injured in a road accident, died at 10 PM on May 27 under treatment in the Modern Hospital of Dhaka.

Shapan Kumar was the son of Horolal Halder of the village Baligram under Bakherganj Upazila in Barisal district. But he had to live at Bonpara in Baraigram upazila. He was a medical representative of Baraigram upazila area. When he was coming from Dhanaidah to Bonapara at 8 pm on May 25 by a motorcycle, a truck pushed him from behind. As a result, he was seriously injured and admitted in the Modern Hospital of Dhaka. A case has been filed in this connection by the Baraigram Police Station.

Youth killed by friends in Jessore

Our Correspondent, Jessore

Young man was killed by two of his associates by throwing him in a pond after drinking Phensidyl on May 23 last near of Ahad jute mill at Jhum Jhumpur in Jessore town.

Sources said one Khorshed Alam (25), son of Abdul Khaleque of Jhum Jhumpur area called on Zahidul Islam (22), son of Habibur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman (27), son of late Anwar Hossain of same area in the evening of 23rd May. All of them were drug addicted and they drink Phensidyl near Jhum Jhumpur Ahad Jute Mills sitting nearly a pond. At night about 10 PM the father of Khorshed Alam Abdul Khaleque went out from his house for searching his son and after searching hither and thither he found his son was floating in a pond nearby Ahad jute Mills. Then and there he informed it to hot-Wali thana police. Police rushed to the spot and recovered the body of Khorshed Alam and sent it to General Hospital morgue Jessore for autopsy.

The father of Khorshed Alam filed a case with the Kotwali thana police accusing Zahidul Islam and Mizanur Rahman for giving his son excessive Phensidyl to drink and later threw him in the nearby pond.

Jute cultivation increased in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

The production target of jute cultivation has increased in the district during the current season.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said, the target was fixed at 12,147 hectares of land with production target 98,997-bales jute this year. Of the land, local variety on 4580 hectares and Tosha variety on 7567 hectares have been cultivated.

A total of 95,259 bales of jute produced in 12,650 hectares land during the last year.

News briefs

Police complex constructed in Jhalakati

Jhalakati, May 31: A police complex has been constructed at Fire Service crossing in the district town at a cost of Tk 27.55 lakh. DIG of Barisal Division Mohammad Aminul Islam inaugurated the Dhansiri complex on Friday, constructed on the own land of district police. There are some 17 stalls in the complex from which Tk 22,000 will be deposited to the local Police Welfare Fund per month. The DIG accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Hari Prashad Pal and Police Super Uttam Kumar Pal also laid the foundation stone of another similar complex in Kathalia upazila headquarters on the same day, report UNB.

Minor boy drowns in Dinajpur

Dinajpur, May 31: A 3-year-old boy drowned in a pond at Bakalipara village in Chirirbandar upazila Friday. The dead was identified as Khademul Islam, son of Omar Ali of the village. Neighbors said Khademul slipped into the pond near their house while he was playing on its bank at 12 noon. Later, local people rescued the boy and rushed him to the Dinajpur Medical Collage Hospital where the attending doctors declared him dead, report UNB

Six female snatchers arrested in Habiganj

Habiganj, May 31: Police arrested six female snatchers from different areas under Highway Thana here on Friday afternoon. Police said with the help of local people they arrested Runa Akter, 25, Banesa, 42, and Monwara, 30, from Sayestaganj Natun Bridge crossing when they were fleeing after snatching a gold chain from a woman. As per their confession, police later arrested their accomplices Rina Begum, 35, Sufia, 28, and Banesa Khatun, 32 from Shahji Bazar area. A case was filed, report UNB

5 nabbed in Khulna

Khulna, May 31: Joint forces arrested five people from different parts of the city during a two-hour drive to recover illegal firearms early Saturday. Police said joint force members raided different roads, including Moynaprota, Gollamari and Noor nagar, from 3am to 5am. They arrested Moniruzzaman Elu, Zahidul Islam, Rafiqul Islam, Bulu Biswas and Emran Khan suspecting they have information about illegal arms. The arrested were handed over to the Kotwali, Sonadanga and Khalishpur thana police for interrogation, report UNB

Phensidyl syrup seized in Goalanda

Goalanda (Rajbari), May 31: Some 320 bottles of Phensidyl syrup were seized at Dauladia Ferry Ghat here on Friday. Ghat thana OC Nasim Khan said on suspicion they searched a private car, parked in the area, at 9:30am and seized the contraband phensidyl form it. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the car driver, however, managed to flee the scene. A case was filed with the police. Another report from Habiganj adds: Acting on a tip-off, railway police recovered 52 bottles of phensidyl syrup in abandoned condition from a compartment of Sylhet bound Jayantika Express train at Shayestaganj Rail Junction here Friday. A case was filed, report UNB

Honey collector killed by tiger in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, May 30: A honey collector was killed by a tiger at Khal area near the Sunderbans on Wednesday. The dead was identified as Mujibur Rahman Gazi, 35, of Tengrakhali village in Shyamnagar upazila. Sources said when Mujibur went to the area for collecting honey a tiger attacked and killed him on the spot. His companions later recovered the body.