The New Nation - Internet Edition

Road show caravan receives warm welcome in Pabna

Our Correspondent, Pabna

The caravan of the government-sponsored road show titled 'Let's Build Bangladesh' (Esho Bangladesh Gori) received a warm welcome in the district on Wednesday morning.

Several hundreds people, including Deputy Commissioner Khandakar Mokhlesur Rahman welcomed the caravan, comprising trucks, microbuses and buses inscribed with various slogans, when it reached Pabna Edward University College crossing in the district town. Later, it marched different parts of the town.

Local administration organised a daylong fair at Police Line field to make the road show in the district a success. The locals artists performs in the daylong fair.

Kamal Uddin Ahmed, DG of Bangladesh Television inaugurated the fair as chief guest. Muneer Farroqui, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Warid Telecoms, was special guest in the function and AFM Masum Rabbani, Pabna police super, Mohammad Sanaullah Miah, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Pabna among others spoke in the function.

Muneer Farroqui said that, I am informed that the road show is being organised to create awareness among the people about honest quality leadership, food crisis, corruption, terrorism, drug abuse and the important of the telecommunication as a source of employment. He added, Telecom operator, Warid extends its support to the government of Bangladesh. He also said, Warid Telecom, a member of UAE based Abu Dhabi group is committed to bring positive change in Bangladesh through its participation is various activities beneficial, to the society and the people.

Local elite, public representatives and government officials were present at the function where a good number of youths mainly students also thronged.

Five clean-minded persons were also awarded at the fair for their outstanding contributions in respective fields. Besides, a reception was accorded to the successful students of the district.

Summer graduation parade held at BAF academy

Summer Graduation Parade marking the commissioning of Nos 53 and 57 Flight Cadet Course, Short Service Commission Course and No. 6 Special Short Service Commission Course of the Bangladesh Air Force was held here at the BAF Academy Parade Square on Wednesday.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman attended the ceremony as chief guest. He reviewed the smartly turned-out parade and took salute at the impressive marchpast. He handed over awards, certificates and flying badges among the Flight Cadets, says an ISPR press release.

Fight Cadet Wing Under Officer Monjur Morshed was presented with the coveted 'Sword of Honour' for his best all-round performance in No 57 Flight Cadet Course. He also got Bir Shreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Trophy for his best performance in Flying Training. Flight Cadet M A Zahid Hossain got Commandant's Trophy for best performance in general service training. Flight Cadet Md. Shahadat Hossain received "Chief of Air Staff Trophy" for his best all round performance in 57 Flight Cadet Course (Ground Branch). Meanwhile, the Number Two Squadron was adjudged the Champion Squadron and given Academy Colour.

Addressing on the occasion Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman said that we are working jointly to build up a second generation Air Force by applying time befitting process and using modern technology in all spheres of BAF including training. He called upon the newly commissioned officers to build up themselves as able successors of future leadership by discharging duties with honesty, sincerity and devotion and remain always prepared for supreme sacrifice for safeguarding the independence and sovereignty of the motherland. Chief of Air Staff recalled the memory of the members of Armed Forces specially Bir Shrestho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman with high esteem who sacrificed their lives in War of Liberation in 1971. He advised the just commissioned officers to follow their predecessors.

Cleanliness drive begins in Gaibandha pourashava

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Cleanliness drive has begun in Gaibandha Pourashava on June 9 as a part of the observance of World Environment Day-2008.

Gaibandha Pourashava was arranged it under Secondary Towns Integrated Flood Protection Project (STIFPP)-2, sources said.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abu Muhammad Yousuf formally inaugurated the drive at Munshipara area of the pourashava here on Monday as chief guest.

Poura Chairman Anowarul Hasan Sabur, panel chairman Jahidul Islam, executive engineer Kazi Nurunnabi, poura commissioner Abul Khayer Shahi and the local elite including the journalists were present on the occasion.

Later, a big colourful rally led by DC Abu Muhammad Yousuf was brought out and paraded the main roads of the town to create awareness among the pouro dwellers about cleanliness.

Under this drive, drains, derelict ponds and canals would be cleaned and unhygienic latrines would be removed from the town.

Besides, the poura dwellers have been requested to keep all kinds of domestic rubbish in definite place to keep the town clean, sources said.

The drive would continue at each ward of the pourashava in phases till June 20, said an official of the pourashava.

Concerted efforts to eradicate poverty underscored

BSS, Sapahar

Speakers at a workshop have said that concerted efforts of all stakeholders including the Imams could play an important role in upgrading the living standard of the ultra-poor through alleviating their abject poverty.

They said this at a day-long workshop organised by the Advocacy and Human Rights Unit of BRAC on 'Role of Imams in Poverty Alleviation' at Sadar Union Parishad hall room in Sapahar upazila of Naogaon district on Wednesday.

Sapahar office of BRAC sponsored the workshop with a view to involving the Imams in poverty alleviation activities to upgrading life-standard of the poor in the area through creating mass public awareness and mobilising the locally available resources.

Presided over by religious teacher of Tilna High School Moulana Abdus Salam, Sapahar UP chairman Shamsul Alam Shah Chowdhury attended the workshop as the chief guest while senior BRAC official Suresh Ghosh and President of Sapahar Press club Toslim Uddin were present as the special guests.

Imams of different mosques from allover the area, professionals and public representatives took part in the meeting that was also attended by local elite, journalists and civil society members.

Increased potato consumption can help ensuring food security

BSS, Ulipur

Speakers at a meeting called for increased potato consumption in a diversified manner to reduce pressure on rice by changing food habits with a view to meet nutrition demand and help ensuring food security in the country.

Kurigram District Information Office under the ongoing motivational campaign of the Department of Mass Communication with the assistance of Ulipur upazila administration organized the meeting on Wednesday at Ulipur Upazila Parishad auditorium in Kurigram. Chaired by Upazila Agriculture Officer of Ulipur Muhammad Ali, the discussion was attended by UNO of Ulipur upazila M Abdur Rafique as the chief guest. Senior District Information Officer of Kurigram M Nurunnabi, Upazila Project Implementation Officer Salah Uddin Al Wadud, professionals, elite, socio-cultural activists, government and NGO officials, addressed, among others. Upazila-level government and NGO officials, teachers of various educational institutions, members of the civil society, professionals, elite and eminent citizens of the upazila town were present.

Police rescues abducted girl, arrests abductor in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Police rescued an abducted girl, a college student, of Gangachara in the district after four days of her abduction and arrested one of the abductors from Nilphamari district on Sunday, police sources said.

The girl, 19, of village Kagozipara in Gangachara upazila was abducted by six miscreants led by Ramzan, son of Golam Rahman and his friend Selim of the same village while she was returning home from Gangachara Degree College.

Later, the abductors took her to an unknown place by a microbus from the spot and confined in a house in Nilphamari town.

Victim's father filed a case in this connection with Gangachara police station and the police rescued the girl and arrested the gang-leader of the miscreants' group Ramzan from Kagozipara from Nilphamari town on Sunday.

200 gas cylinder seized at benapole

BSS, Benapole (Jessore)

Members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) seized 200 gas cylinder for refrigerator at a field of Balunda village under Benapole thana in abandoned state in the early hours of Thursday.

Sources said the cylinders, worth about Taka 15 lakh were brought there by the smugglers in a bid to smuggle those out to India in an opportune moment. BDR sources said, acting on a tip-off, BDR members conducted the drive at the field and sensing the presence of the border guards the smugglers escaped the scene leaving behind the cylinders. The seized cylinders have been kept with the BDR.

RAB seizes firearms, ammunition in Jhenaidah

BSS, Jhenaidah

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized firearms and bullets from a betel grove at Teltopi village under Harinakundu upazila in the district in the early hours on Wednesday.

RAB sources said, acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force raided the betel grove of one Babar Ali at Teltopi village under Harianakundu upazila and after digging earth found one pistol, one pipe-gun and six round of bullets wrapped in a polythene bag. None was arrested in this connection.

Farmers training held in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

A two-day training programme for the farmers on increasing production of rice concluded here at the office of district Agriculture Extension on Tuesday. A total of 60 farmers both male and female from the six upazilas of the district took part in the training programme.

Mokhlesur Rahman, Deputy Director of DAE, Abdul Kheleque, training officer, Delawar Hossain, crop production specialist and Majanur Rahman, plant protection specialist spoke on different aspect of cultivation of paddy.

Inter-district dacoit leader killed in encounter with RAB in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

A leader of Inter-district dacoits was killed in a shootout between cohorts and Rab-Police at Sidllah village in Hossainpur upazila under Kishoreganj district early Tuesday.

The dead was identified as Md. Miasuddin Mias (40), son of Samed Ali of char Pitalganj village in Hossainpur upaizla.

According to Police sources, during a special operation by a team of Rab-9 and district police, armed terrorists opened fire on the Law-, agencies forces. In self-defence the police team also relatiated with gunfire and there was an exchange of fire between police and the terrorists for about 30 minits when terrorists managed to escape.

After the end of exchange of gunfire the members of Police-Rab found the bullet-ridden Miasuddin lying inside the bamboo grove. On Duty doctor declared him dead. Local people and police Super Mizanur Rahman siad Miasuddin was wanted in ten cases including murder case.

Two revolvers (Auto), 24 bullets were recovered from the spot.

Convicted fugitive held in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Madaripur thana police arrested, a convicted accused Liakat Ali Zola alias Chengis Leku recently. Police and local people said about 30 pending convicted and finalised cases are against him.

His main activities are forgery, cheating, fraudulent and extortion.

Five lakh fish fry seized in Rangamati

BSS, Rangamati

Huge quantity of fish fry was seized from Kurkutichhari area of Barkal upazila, about 32 km away from the Rangamati district headquarters on Tuesday. Sources said, being informed about collecting of fish fry from the Kaptai Lake at Kurkutichhari area of Barunachhari under Barkal upazila, police and officials of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) rushed to the spot and seized about five lakh fry of chitol fish worth about Taka 65 lakh.

Sensing presence of lawful authority, the illegal fish fry catchers escaped the scene leaving behind the fry. Fisheries department officials released the fish in the Kaptai Lake instantly.

Tractor driver hacked to death in Thakurgaon

UNB, Thakurgaon

A tractor driver was stabbed to death by unknown assailants in Shibganj Airport area under Sadar upazila early Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Dulal Hossain, 26, of Araji Pustompur village in the same upazila.

Police said a gang of unidentified terrorists intercepted Dulal, when he was returning home riding a bicycle keeping his tractor in the town. The miscreants stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him dead on the spot.

Being informed by local people police recovered the body in the morning and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy.

Body found in Jessore

UNB, Jessore

A youth was found dead at Barandi Mollapara in the district town on Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Billal Hussain, 22, son of Helaluddin of the area.

Family sources said Billa's friends Jitu, Mitu, Shakhawat, Royel and Shafi called him out of his house in the early morning.

Few hours later, local people found his body in Methepurkur area of Mollapara and informed local police who recovered the body, report UNB.

News Briefs

One gets 14 yr RI for abducting

Jamalpur, June 13: A special court here Tuesday sentenced a man to 14 years rigorous imprisonment for abducting a schoolgirl 2 years back. The convict Ziaul Haque was also fined Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer one year more RI. According to the prosecution, the convict abducted Nahid Akhter Sumi daughter of his co-villager Nur Mohammed in on way to her school at Kheyarchar village in Bakshiganj upazila on August 23, 2006. Later, victim's brother Ismail Hossain filed an abduction case with local police station, report UNB.

6 held with Phensidyl

Comilla, June 13: RAB and the Narcotics Control Department, in separate drives arrested six people with 664 bottles of Phensidyl syrup and 20kgs of hemp in the district on Tuesday. Being tipped off, a team of RAB conducted a drive in Shubornopur area of Sadar upazilla and arrested drug peddler Hossain with 664 bottles of Phensidyl. In another drive a team of Narcotics Control Department acting on secret information raided three rickshaws near Shaitshala Madrassah on Brahmapara-Mirpur road and arrested Anarkoli alias Rotna, Shima Akhtar, Amena Begum, Jobeda Khatun, Bokul Begum and Rong Miah with 20kgs of hemp. Another report from Benapole adds: - RAB members recovered 1010 bottles of Phensidyl syrup at Shyamalgachhi village in Sharsha upazila of Jessore on Tuesday morning, report UNB.

3 killed in Comilla Road mishap

Comilla, June 13:Three people, including a truck driver, were killed in a fatal road accident at Matiara in South Sadar upazilla early Tuesday. The identities of the dead could not be ascertained immediately. Police said the accident occurred on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway when a Dhaka-bound truck rammed into another stationary truck on the highway side at about 4am, killing its driver, helper and the mechanic instantly. They were engaged in repairing the stationary truck, report UNB.

Couple commits suicide in Jamalpur

Jamalpur, June 13: A young couple here allegedly committed suicide by taking poison at Hatibandha village in Sadar upazila on Monday night. The deceased are Shahid, 25, son of Amjad of Mymensingh district and his wife Popy, 22, daughter of Saudi expatriate Abdur Razzak. Police quoting victim's family sources said Shahid, became annoyed with his father-in-law as he did not take him abroad as per his promise and took poison at dead of night at his father-in-law's house. He died on way to Sadar hospital. Seeing the body of Shahid when it was taken to his father-in-law's house his wife Popy also took poison and died instantly, report UNB.

Adulterated sugar recovered in Khulna

Khulna, June 13: RAB members in separate drives recovered arms, bullets, bombs and adulterated sugar in the city and Phultala upazila and arrested a man on Tuesday night. Being tipped-off, they raided a place near Nirala residential area in the city and recovered 10 live bombs, one pistol, five pipe guns, 15 bullets and pipe gun making equipment from a sack left behind by miscreants. RAB-6 members said none was arrested during the drive at about 10:30pm as the criminals, who were preparing to commit crimes in the area, fled away sensing their presence, report UNB.

Child fair held at Kashiani

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

Two-day-long Child Fair was held at Kashiani Shishu Niketon premises under Kasiani upazila of Gopalganj district, organised by Gopalganj District Information Office and assisted by UNICEF on June 7 and June 8.

The fair (Shishu Mela) included Muangur function, rally, painting, writing, Kabita and cultural competition, discussion meeting and prize distributing and cinema show. A colourful rally was brought out from Kasiamishishu Niketon premises on June 7 at 3 PM led by Subash Chandra Biswas, UNO Kasiani and Mohammad Giasuddin, District information officer. The child fair was inaugurated at Kasiani Shishu Niketon premises. Md Giasuddin District Information Officer presided over the fair. Subash Chandra Biswas UNO Kasiani Upazila was present as chief guest.