The New Nation - Internet Edition

Political parties urged to be united to realise credible general election

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain called for backing pro-people traditional democracy of Sher-e-Bangla Fazlul Huq, Mawlana Bhashani, Suhrawrdi instead of new trends of promise breaking anti-people politics.

He also urged the people to become vocal by breaking silence and mount pressure on parties to free those from the influence of money and muscle power. The Gono Forum leader also criticized the role of two major parties in the past for breaking pre-election promises and said that they came to power by utilizing money and muscle power and wanted to cling to power forever by utilizing the two things.

These parties should go for massive reforms now to fulfil people's aspirations, which have hanged a lot in two decades due to consciousness. If the parties cannot live up to people's aspirations, a new generation of leaders will come up and they will be thrown into the dustbin of history, he said.

The day of politics for power is gone. People are very much conscious. The people understand everything and want relief from the present impasse, which lies with political parties. Some corner trying to destroy free fair election process he said. Dr Kamal was addressing a gathering at Shahid Abdur Rob Serniabat Auditorium of Barisal District Bar Association on Saturday organised by district unit of Gono Forum to hold dialogue on 'National unity to meet national challenges'.

The programme was attended by more than four hundred people using microphone outside the hall room violating restrictions of indoor politics permitted by the military controlled care taker government and no vigilance of law enforcing agencies were seen during this program. Dr. Kamal addressing as chief guest of the programme urged all political parties to be united to realize a credible general election from the caretaker government by December and said that those often broke promises with the people after election and do not want free, fair democratic election, only they expressing their doubt and hesitation, fear and apprehension against possibilities of holding election.

The people want an election free from terrorism and influence of black money and muscle power. Political parties will have to read people's mind and do accordingly to fulfill their hopes and aspirations, he said. Dr Kamal told, 'We have a glorious history of movements like independence war and the Language Movement. If we are united, then attainment of any national goal is also possible".

The nation is passing through a critical period and all political parties will have to take prudent decisions now. If they do any mistake, the nation will suffer and political leaders will be responsible for this, he said.

Over 400 party leaders and activists of different socio-political-cultural-professional-non-government organizations attended the program presided over by Advocate Hiron Kumar Das Mithu, district president of Gano Forum.

Among others the meeting was addressed by, party's central vice president Pankaj Bhattacharya, acting secretary general Subrato Chowdhury, organizing secretary Mustafa Mohsin Montu, agricultural secretary Abdus Sabur and international related secretary Parimol Chandra, women rights activists Rabeya Begum, TIB activists Tulu Rani Karmakar, Journalist Abul Kalam Azad, NGO activist Engineer Rafikul Islam, teachers association leader Das Gupta Ashish Kumar. Mentionable Dr. Kamal after attending a same program at Patuakhali on Friday came Barisal of Saturday and left for Dhaka night, said party sources.

World Environment Day observed in dists

BSS, Netrakona

The World Environment Day-2008 was observed here on Friday. To mark the day, local administration chalked out an elaborate programme in line with the national programmes. The programmes included bringing out colourful rally, paining competition, screening of environment related documentary film at Shilpakala academy and holding discussion at Mohua auditorium. With Additional Deputy Commissioner Mizanur Rahman in the chair, it was addressed, among others, by acting district education officer Mohammad Shafiullah, assistant forest officer Saiful Islam and Netrakona Alia Madrasha Principal Abdul Baten. Earlier, a colourful rally was brought out in the district town where a large number of children and juveniles participated the rally.

BSS, Rajbari adds: World Environment Day 2008 was observed in Rajbari district in a befitting manner on Thursday. District administration, district forest department and local NGO's jointly organised the seminar.

Executive engineer of Public Health Engineering Mohammad Ibrahim Miah, presented the keynote paper. He said to face the adverse effects of the climate change we have to increase the use of renewable energy. The environment issue is not a thing to be tackled only by the government, all the citizens should come forward to face the environment related crisis.

Marking the day, an art competition was also organised by Rajbari Shishu Academy on the premises of the academy. A discussion was held at the conference room of the deputy commissioner and DC Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman was present at the discussion as the chief guest while Prodeep Ranjon Chakraboti (ADC) was in the chair. The seminar was addressed, among others, by Prof. Sanker Chandra Singha, president of SUPRA, Prof. Motiur Rahman (retd) vice-principal of Mudhukhali college Shamima Akter Moon, Lutfor Rahman Labu of RUS and Hemonto Das of NGO Forum. A colourful procession was also brought out on the occasion that paraded the main streets of the town. The prize giving ceremony was held at the DC's conference room where the DC distributed prizes among the winners of the art competition.

Rangpur chamber terms budget pro-people

BSS, Rangpur

Leaders of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) in its reaction welcomed the proposed national budget for 2008-09 fiscal year terming it as pro- people with huge social security plans, very timely and pragmatic one.

RCCI president Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu hailed the proposed budget and thanked the caretaker government for presenting the dynamic budget.

In a statement Babu highly appreciated the maximum importance given in the budget on food security, rural economy, adequate allocations and subsidy for the agriculture sector, farmers, agri-inputs, fertilisers, fuels and ensuring supply of electricity etc.

The proposed budget will play a vital role in women empowerment, ensuring welfare of the distressed women, divorcees and aged people, freedom fighters, physically handicapped, garments workers, self-employment opportunities of the women, nutrition of the pregnant women, education sector and other fields, he said.

Tax holiday facility, reduction of import taxes on computers and computer goods, textile and other goods, industrial raw materials, constitution of the four-layer tax structure in place of the previous three-layer etc, will definitely encourage industrialization to creating employments. He further said the increasing agriculture loan allocations, strengthening ongoing Char Livelihood Programme, allocations in the micro-credit sectors, construction of more structures for facing the natural disasters, elevated Food for Work, OMS, VGF, VGD, TR and other programmes will play vital roles in eradicating poverty and improving life standard of the people.

The RCCI also welcomed the maximum emphasis given on procuring adequate quantity of food grains and making its huge reserve through allocating more funds for the purpose and putting maximum importance to the education and health sectors and special steps for uniform developments in the neglected areas will also bring very positive impacts.

If properly implemented, the proposed budget will definitely play very effective roles in eradicating poverty and achieving self-reliance, increasing food productions to ensure food security, Babu said.

The farmers will be benefited by the proposed budget and they will be encouraged further to produce more and more crops including rice, wheat, potato, maize and others, he added.

However, Babu said that there is no concrete direction in opening the doors for increasing exports and solving the problems with gas and power supply as proposed in the budget to bring more dynamism in the industrial sector for a healthy national economy.

World Environment Day observed in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The World Environment Day 2008 was observed in Gopalganj with befitting manner on June 5 (Thursday).

The programmes of the World Environment Day 2008 were colourful rally, discussion and distribution of medicinal plans and fruit trees among the students of the different educational institutions. A colourful rally was brought out from the Gopalganj Collectorate building premises and paraded main roads of the Goplaganj town and terminated at Gopalganj collectorate building led by Mohammad Moktar Hossain Assistant forest preservation Officer. A discussion meeting was held at Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner's conference room on the occasion of the World Environment Day organised by Goplaganj District Administration and Forest Department Gopalganj at 9-30 AM. The discussion was presided over by Mohammad Mahmud Hossain ADM Gopalganj and S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj was present as chief guest.

The discussion meeting was addressed among others, by Mohammad Narzrul Islam, ADC (general), Mohammad Golam Rabbi, acting UNO Gopalganj Sadar, Mohammad Golam Mostafa, Lecturer English Dept. Bangabandhu, University College Gopalganj, Mohammad Moktar Hosain Assistant, preservation officer Forest, Gopalganj and Mosharraf Hossain general secretary, Commerce and Industry Gopalganj. The speakers urged the people for planting more trees.

News Briefs

Fake examinees, madrasha super held

RANGPUR, June 11: Two fake examinees and a madrasha super were arrested at Shothibari Technical College Examination Centre under Mithapukur upazila here on Sunday, police sources said. The arrested fake examinees Moniruzzaman and Shukumar for appearing the ongoing HSC and equivalent examinations in place of the real examinees at the centre and three other fake examinees Al Mamun, Joynal and Nurunnabi are absconding, reports BSS.

One receives acid burnt injuries

in Barisal

BARISAL, June 11: A man received serious burn injuries in an acid attack at sluice gate area near Moulabirhat Bazar in Hizla upazlia Friday night. The victim was identified as Kalachan Gachhua, 53, of Kalikapur village of the upazila. Sources said when Kalachan was returning home from bazar a gang of masked terrorists threw acid on him at night and fled away. The injured was admitted to the upzila health complex. The reason behind the acid attack could not be known immediately. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Bullets, bayonet recovered in Chandpur

CHANDPUR, June 11 : Joint forces recovered 46 rounds of bullet and a bayonet from an abandoned godown of the Kochua upazila administrative building Saturday. Sources said some workers found the bullets and bayonet in the godown when they were cleaning it at noon and informed the officials. Later, on information, joint forces rushed to the spot and recovered the weapon and bullets. None was arrested in this connection, reports UNB.

Dacoity commited

in Rajbari

RAJBARI, June 11: Armed robbers looted cash and valuables worth about Tk 2 lakh from two houses at Garakhola village in Baliakandi upazila early Saturday. Local people said the robbers numbering 10/12 swooped on the house of Uttam Goswami at about 1am and held the house inmates hostage at gunpoint. The miscreants later looted four tolas of gold ornaments, cash Tk 20,000 and other valuables from the house.

The muggers then entered the nearby house of Montu Goswami and looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables at gunpoint, reports UNB.

8 held in Bhola

BHOLA, June 11: As part of the countrywide crackdownon suspects, jont forces arrested 8 people including local BNP and Jubo League activists, from different parts of the district from Monday night to Tuesday afternoon. The joint forces in their separate drives arrested Jubo League activist Saidur Rahman Mitu from Charfshion upazila head-quarter and BNP activists Rafique and Jasim from their respective houses in Borhanuddin upazila, reports UNB.

2 R&H engineers held in Bogra

BOGRA, June 11: Elite force RAB arrested two engineers of Roads and Highways Department here Tuensday on chage of taking bribe worth Tk 1 lakh from a contractor. The arrestes were identified as superintending engineer (SE) of Bogra Workshop Circle of the R&G Department M Fazlur Rahmand and sub assistant engineer Sirajul Islam. RAB sources said contractor Sirajul Islam promised the two engineers to give Tk 1.50 lakh as they helped him to get a work order involving Tk 11.50 lakh for repairing three road rollers in Natore and a vibrator machine in Bogra. he gave them Tk 50,000 a few days back, reports UNB.