The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to increase agri-production to ensure food security

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a training course have stressed the need for mechanization of the agri-sector and utilization of the latest technology for increasing agriculture production to ensure nation's foods security.

There is no alternative to adopting such steps, as increase in food production is a must for meeting the food demand of the growing population in the country, they added. They made the observations in a training course for the farmers on 'Water Management and Mechanization of Agriculture' held at Begum Rokeya auditorium in Mithapukur upazila town here on Tuesday.

Mithapukur upazila Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) organised the course with a view to ensuring a maximum usage of water, land, soil resources through mechanizing agriculture and imparting proper knowledge and guidance to the farmers. Upazila Agriculture Officer Golam Mostafa inaugurated the course as the chief guest while Agriculture Extension Officer Rowshan Jamal and Agriculture Engineer Abu Syeed were present as the special guests.

Agriculture experts of the DAE from the upazila and district levels conducted various sessions of the course. A total of 90 farmers from all over the upazila took part in the training.

The speakers asked the trainee farmers to disseminate and share the acquired knowledge from the course with their fellows at the filed-level with a view to educating them in proper management of land, soil and water resources through mechanizing agriculture.

Nine-day training workshop for journalists ends in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

A nine-day training workshop organized By Chittagong Press Club (CPC) authorities for journalists ended here on Monday.

The workshop on "journalism for the journalists working with national and local newspapers, news agencies and electronic media" was aimed at enhancing the professional skill of the newsmen.

Rotary Club of Chittagong, Rotary Club of Agrabad and Rotary Club of Islamabad and The Daily Purbakone provided logistic supports for organizing the event.

Leo Enthoven, a Netherlands based senior journalist conducted the training programme.

A total of 52 journalists were imparted training on reporting, sub-editing and feature writing at the workshop.

Acting city mayor Alhaj Manjur Alam attended the concluding ceremony held at CPC auditorium as the chief guest this morning. CPC President Ali Abbas presided over the function. Managing editor of The Daily Purbakone, Jasimuddin Chowdhury, former Rotary Governor M A Awal, Instructor Leo Enthoven, Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) President Mostak Ahmed, CPC General Secretary, Ejaj Yousufee, presidents of Rotary clubs - SMK Azim Pintu, Ariful Islam and Jamaluddin, among others, spoke at the function.

2 SIs suspended in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Two Sub-Inspectors (SI) of Kishoreganj district police were suspended on Monday for negligence of duty. The suspended SIs are Md. Ashaduzzaman and Lutfur Rahman in Kishoreganj sadar thana.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Abu Taher Md. Sayeed informed the Police Headquarters about the two officers, negligence in investigation of cases.

Fugitive dacoit arrested in Rangamati

BSS, Rangamati

Police arrested a notorious convicted fugitive dacoit from Islampur village under Naniarchar upazila in the district on Monday.

The arrested was identified as Delwar Mallik of the same area, police said. On a secret information, a team of the police led by ASP Mohamed Nur-e-Alam raided the village and arrested Manik. Manik had been on the run since 2001. He had been convicted in four cases including dacoity. He was sent to jail.

Housewife dies of snake-bite in Madaripur

BSS, Madaripur

A house wifedied of snake-bite at Nayakandi village under Rajoir upazila in the district on Tuesday night.

The dead was identified as Mahfuza Akhter, 22, wife of Asmot Ali of the same village.

Locals said snake bit Mahfuza Akhter when she was out of his house at midnight on Tuesday night. She died on the spot.

Local children reporters demands park in Netrakona

BSS, Netrakona

A team of local children-reporters of the news agency "Children Express" of Mass line Media center submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner Netrakona for establishing a Shishu (Children) park in Netrakona district town.

DC office sources said, a group of children-reporters of the children express news agency led by the group leaders Maksudul Haque and Shifat Sharno handed over the memorandum to the DC Aiyatullah Mojumder at his office on Monday for providing recreation facilities to the children of the district.

Receiving the memorandum, the Deputy commissioner assured them that he will take necessary measures for materializing their demand.

Additional deputy commissioner (revenue) Netrakona Mohammad Mojaheed Hussain, Upazila Nirbahi officer of Netrakona sadar Nurul Alam and senior Journalist and local coordinator of the Mass line media center Shamolendu Paul were present during the handing over of the memorandum .

Committee on community policing formed in BCC

BSS, Barisal

Community Policing Committees (CPC) are being constituted in 30 wards of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) and 10 union parishads of Sadar upazila of the district.

Local elite having a reputation of politically neutral and chairmen of union parishads are being considered as the members of the commitees.

Lists of the chairmen of Charbaria, Charkaua and Chandramohan union parishads have been submitted to the relevant department and the rest would be prepared soon.

Police has been investigating into the activities of the names proposed for the CPC before they are confirmed as members. The aim of the community policing is to find the causes of small crimes and offences and solve those locally with the involvement of communities. The community policing is expected to reduce burden on thana police, who has to spend bulk of their time for investigating a number of small and fake cases.

Assistant Police Commissioner (APC) Hayatul Islam told BSS that these committees are being formed to give a relief to the people from small crimes and offences in society.

He also hopped that the offences could be reduced in the society after the proper performances of the CPCs here.

BKB disbursed Tk 30 cr as agri-loan in Netrakona

BSS, Netrakona

Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) Netrakona region has disbursed Taka 30 crore as agricultural loan among the farmers of ten upazilas of the district through it's 21 branches till May 31 last during the current financial year.

The BKB sources here said, the bank undertaken a program to distribute agricultural loan amounting Taka 41 crore among the farmers of the district for taking different crops cultivation programs and agriculture related income generating programs including cow and goat rearing, establishing poultry and diary farms and pisciculture in this financial year.

The bank also realized Taka eight crore as outstanding agri-loan through it's 21 branches from the defaulter borrowers in the district during the aforesaid period, the sources said.

Meanwhile, a week long special loan recovery program entitled MODHU-MELA was undertaken in the district by the BKB to motivate the defaulter loaners to repay their loan money, the sources added.

BRAC distributes Tk 89cr among poor in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

BRAC, an NGO has disbursed about Taka 89,07,72,000 among 6534 poor families in Rangpur district during the current year.

This was revealed at a views exchange meeting of BRAC officials with local journalists held at its office at Darsona BRAC office in the town on Sunday. Jyotish Chandra Ray, District Manager of BRAC, said that BRAC is the only NGO in the country, which is now working without any foreign fund.

It received funds from government Pally Karmasangstha Sahajak Foundation (PKSF) at 7 per cent interest.

BRAC is also rendering medical allowance to its poor members who cannot afford medical expenses as from its achieved income every year and this year BRAC has given Taka 15,000 to fifty poor woman members as medical allowances in Rangpur district. He said, BRAC has 82 branches in Rangpur district. It has 15,018 members in eight upazilas in the district.

Sadeq, Moynal made President, Secy of Comilla PBS-2

The general meeting and the Election of Executive Council of Comilla Polli Biddyut Samity was held. In the election Alhaz Md. Sadeq a social worker was elected as president and Md. Moynal Hossain as Secretary, says a press release.

The election was held at the auditorium of the head office of Comilla Palli Bidyut Samity-2 on 29 May/08 with the direct vote of the fourteen directors including the directors and 3 female director of 11 areas of 8 Upazilas of Comilla Sadar, Comilla Sadar Dakshin, Brahmanpara, Burichang, Couddagram, Laksam, Monohorgoanj and Langolkot.

Deputy director of Bangladesh Bidyutayon Board (REV) Hazarilal Sarker conducted the election.

Bombs recovered in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

RAB-6 recovered 5 hand-made bombs from a village of Kalia uapzila in Narail district on Tuesday.

After being informed, a team of Rapid Action Battalion RAB-6 raided the house of Minar Hossain (40), son of Late Harmuj Fakir of Kaldanga village and recovered the bombs wrapped in a pitcher. Assistant Superintendent of Police Faisal said, nobody was arrested in this connection. A general diary was filed with Narail Police Station.

One killed,3 injured by lightning in B'baria

BSS, Brahmanbaria

One youth was killed and three others injured by lightning at Kashinagar village under Sadar upazila of the district on Monday.

Family sources said, the victim Soheal, 22, son of Yunus Ali, was suddenly killed when he was in verandah of the house.

The incident occurred at 11 AM during the heavy rain in the area yesterday.

Three persons, including a woman, were also injured by lightning.

Two held with ganja and Phensidyl in Comilla

BSS, Comilla

Police arrested two persons and seized five kg of ganja and 16 bottles of Phensidyl at Soagazi village under Sadar Dakkhin thana of the district on Tuesday.

The arrested are Monir Hossain, 25 and Sahanara Begum, 30 of Kotali Model thana.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided the area and arrested Monir and Sahanara with the contraband drugs.

A case was filed with Sadar Dakkhin Thana in this connection.

News Briefs

Works on mini fish hatchery is on in Bandarban

Bandarban, June 3 : Works on Tk 1.58 crore-mini fish hatchery is progressing fast at Majherpara in sadar upazila. Under the scheme, eight ponds are being excavated while office building, a spawn production hatchery, an overhead tank and a dormitory are being constructed. According to district Fishery Officer, the scheme would be completed by next fiscal year (2008-09). Upon completion of the works, supply of spawn and fry to other upazilas of the district would be possible at a minimum coast, report UNB.

2 children of a family drown in Habiganj

Habiganj, June 3: Two siblings drowned in a pond at Muradpur village in Nabiganj upazila of the district Monday morning. The deceased were identified as Proma Das, 7, and Pranto Das, 5, children of Gopendra Das. Police said the duo went to take bath in a pond nearby their house in the morning and drowned. After a hectic search, their family members recovered the bodies, report UNB.

26 held in Kishoreganj

Kishoreganj, June 3: As part of the countrywide crackdown on suspects, joint forces arrested 26 people, including a local Awami Leauge leader, from different parts of the district Monday night. Sources said a team of joint forces arrested general secretary of AL Bhairab town unit Mozammel Haq Mithu from his own residence at Bairabpur Dakkhin para at midnight. Police said a case has been filed against Mithu with the Bhairab thana under the Special Powers Act. The same team also arrested a fugitive convict, Siddique Mia, at the night. He was sentenced to two-year imprisonment in a case, report UNB.

Phensidyl recovered in B'baria

Brahmanbaria, June 3: Police recovered 500 bottles of phensidyl from two separate places of the district and arrested five people in this connection Sunday. Police recovered 450 bottles of Phensidyl from a private car and arrested two people from Ashuganj toll plaza. A case was filed. In another drive, police recovered 50 bottles of Phensidyl and arrested three people from a taxi stand on the Chandura-Akhaura road. The arrested people were-Fazlul Haque, 25,Dalim, 25, and Kamal Molla,32. Police recovered the bottles of phensidyl after searching a private car, report UNB.

241 liters liquor seized in Rangamati

Rangamati, June 2: Narcotic Control Department (NCD) and police in a joint drive seized 241 liters local made liquor at a remote village of Kawkhali upazila in the district on Sunday, police said. Being informed, the forces under the leadership of Tapan Kanti Sharma, inspector of the NCD raided a drug peddler's house at Poschim Sonaichhari village under Betbunia union of the upazila, around 35 kilometers off the district headquarters and seized the liquors locally known as 'Douchowani'. Sensing the presence of the drive, the alleged drug peddler Uchino Marma ,26, alias Jamai, son of late Chaw Pru Marma managed to escape from his house. A case was filed with Kawkhali police station in this connection, report BSS.