The New Nation - Internet Edition

'Rice less day can save 34.93 lakh tonnes of rice annually’

BSS, Rajshahi

Rice less day in a week can help saving over 34.93 lakh metric tons of rice in a year in the country.

Various foods especially potato, maize, sweet-potato and seasonal vegetables should be included in the daily diet list as alternative to rice for the sake of lessening lone dependence on it.

An around 80 lakh metric tons of potato was produced in the country during the current season and the nation could attain self-sufficiency in food through proper use of only the crop.

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Braja Haridas made these observations while presenting his keynote paper on 'Alternative Food and Searching Nutrition' in the opening session of a daylong exhibition of alternation food, seminar and cultural function.

Braja Hari said some issues like food habit change; little bit devotion and birth control should be given priority to make Bangladesh a food-surplus nation and with this in view launching a socio-political movement has become essential.

In the context of Bangladesh, he said potato is an important food enriched with carbohydrate, protein and vitamin-C as like as rice and wheat and could play a vital role in meeting up food deficiency. Apart from this, the green vegetables are only the source of 90 percent of the total vitamin-C, which can prevent skin diseases, mouth ulcer, rickets, cancer and anemia.

Sweet potato is enriched with vitamin A and C and some other minerals, which are absent in rice. In all other perspectives, maize could be used as the main food item.

In this context, he urged the government to declare all the dwelling houses, hotels, restaurants and other social functions a rice-less day in a week and enforce all to follow it. Divisional Administration of Rajshahi arranged the programme on the City Bhaban premises. Some 32 government, non-government and voluntary organisations attended the fair displaying various types of alternative food items.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan addressed the session as the chief guest with Mayor-in-charge of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Rejaun Nabi Dudu in the chair. Additional Commissioner Akteruzzaman welcomed the participants.

Additional Commissioner Asit Kumar Mukut Moni, Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim Khalil and RCC Chief Executive Officer Korban Ali also spoke on the occasion as special guests.

They said the rice production has been decreased globally due to various reasons particularly the recent global warming so importance should be given to reducing dependence on it through changing food habit.

Collect tax and help govt in dev activities: Anwarul

BSS, Jessore

Adviser for LGRD and Cooperatives Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal on Saturday urged the local government bodies including the municipal authorities to collect taxes on time and help the government to continue the development process.

He explained the present government's ongoing development activities and said timely collection of revenues and taxes would contribute a lot in achieving more progress and prosperity in the national economy.

The Adviser made the call while inaugurating the newly built Keshabpur Pourasabha building under the district. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abul Hossain was in the chair while Commander of the joint forces Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir Iqbal and Additional Police Super Jalal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, among others, were present on the occasion.

Anwarul Iqbal said the development activities undertaken by the municipal authorities cannot progress due to fund constrains as "they do not collect taxes on time in fear of losing voters."

He said the present government has undertaken various steps to strengthen the local government bodies in the greater national interest. "Without strengthening the local government bodies, the country cannot achieve desired development," he said.

"If you collect taxes and revenues on time, the government will extend its full cooperation to you for implementing development projects," he said the local body representatives.

Nazrul’s birthday celebrated in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

The 109th birth anniversary of National poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was celebrated in the district on May 26 in a befitting manner.

In celebration of the day, District Administration arranged a programme in line with the national programmes announced by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

A discussion meeting was held at the Public Library auditorium on the day with Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Atiar Rahman in the chair. The function was also addressed, among others, by Assistant Commissioner of Zila Shilpakala Academy Abdur Rahim, Abdur Rashid Baby, president, Press Club, Rangpur, Habib Aziz SP, Rangpur.

The discussion was followed by a cultural function that was participated by the local artistes.

One killed, 10 hurt in Noakhali road accident

BSS, Noakhali

One passenger was dead 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. Tempo passenger Md. Selim, 35, died on the spot while 10 others were injured. They were admitted to Noakhali General Hospital.

Tk 210 cr projects being implemented in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Work on 24 bridges and culverts has been progressing fast in eight upazilas of the district involving Tk. 210 crore. LGED Department is implementing the schemes.

Of the total schemes three are being implemented in Mithepukur Upazila 4, Pirganj Upazila 4, Pirgacha Upazila 5, Kaunia 3, Gongachara Upazila 2, Taraganj Upazila 2 and Badarganj Upazila 2. The work is likely to be completed by June.

4 arrested by Joint Forces in Faridpur

BSS, Faridpur

Members of the Joint Forces arrested four persons, including president of Faridpur unit of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and treasurer of district Awami League Mahbubur Rahman Khan, for their involvement in various terrorist activities on Saturday night.

The other arrested were identified as Sajjad Hossain Milon,24, Ali Haider Lenin,22 and Zulfikar Khan Liton,35.

News briefs

Arms, ammunition recovered

COMILLA, June 4: Police recovered a rocket launcher, one gun and seven rounds of bullet from a house at Ghoshai Puskurani village in Sadar South Upazila early Sunday. Police said acting on a secret information, they recovered the arms and ammunition from the rooftop of the house of Mostafa Member in abandoned condition at about 3.30am. None was arrested in this connection, reports UNB.

Gas field employee found dead in Sylhet

SYLHET, Jun 4: An employee of Sylhet Gas Field was found dead at his Utlarpar village in Jointapur upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Nazrul Islam, 35, son of late Haris Mia. Police quoting family sources said Nazrul did not return home after he went out for going to a local market at 7pm on Friday. Local people found his body nearby his house early in the morning and informed the police. Later, police recovered the body that bore stab injury marks and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. The reason behind the murder could not be known immediately. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Four held on Jhalakati

JHALAKATI, June 4: As part of the countrywide crackdown on suspects joint forces arrested four persons, including a UP chairman, in the district town Saturday night. Sources said the joint forces raided the house of Keora Union Parishad chairman and local Awami League leader Moin Talukdar and arrested him at midnight, reports UNB.

Dev communication training course concludes at BARD

COMILLA, June 3: A five-day training course on development communication ended at Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) in Comilla on Thursday. A total of 47-midlevel officials from government, autonomous bodies and NGOs participated in the course. Alauddin Ahmed, Director (admin), BARD, formally concluded the course at a function as chairperson, says a press release, reports UNB.