The New Nation - Internet Edition

Erosion by Jamuna river takes serious turn in Sirajganj

UNB, Sirajganj

Erosion by the Jamuna River has taken a serious turn in five upazilas of the district due to rise in water level of the river caused by onrush of hill water and torrential rain.

Low-lying areas of 37 unions were flooded and standing crops went under water, causing untold sufferings to the people.

A portion of the sand made dam constructed temporarily near Khokshabari UP building collapsed due to sudden rise in water level of the river.

Erosion has taken serious turn in various places including Komorpur, Krishnadhighi, Charkata and Chouhali ghat in Chouhali upazila, Maijbari, Shuvagacca, Natuarpara and Sat Jarulia in Kazipur upazila, Char Delua and Boro Dhul in Belkuchi upazila, Koijuri, Jamirata, Joktola, Beltoli and Anguri in Sahjadpur upazila and Bharpiari, Panchil and Mesra in Sadar upazila.

Water Development Board sources said they have taken necessary measures to check the erosion. WDB officials said proposal for a pilot project of Tk 222 crore for checking erosion and constructing embankments in Shahajadpur upazila was sent to the ministry concerned for approval. The town dwellers have been passing days in panic as some portions of the town protection embankment have collapsed.

Deputy Commissioner Ashraf Ali, Additional Deputy Commissioner and WDB Executive Engineer Nizamul Huq Bhuiyan visited the affected areas.

RSML begins subsidy distribution among sugarcane growers

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Among the sugarcane growers of Rangpur Sugar Mills, Limited (RSML) subsidy distribution begins here at Mohimagonj under Gobindagonj upazila in the district on June 17 aimed at helping the farmers to grow more sugarcane through speed transplanting (STP) process.

Shibendra Nath Sarker, managing director (MD) of RSML formally inaugurated the subsidy distribution among the growers in a function as chief guest and local UP Chairman Abdul Latif Prodhan was present as special guest, sources said.

Presided over by general manager (Agriculture) M Habibur Rahman, the inaugural function was also addressed among others, by the officials of RSML Nitai Chandra Roy and Abdul Kafi and president of Sugarcane growers Welfare Association of the mill M Zinnar Ali Prodhan.

Shebendra Nath Sarker, MD of RSML said a total of Tk 46.43 lakhs would be distributed among 1917 growers this year under the progamme.

Mills sources said 9384 hectares of land have been brought under sugarcane cultivation with the production target of 8700 metric tonnes of sugar by crashing 1.20 lakh tonnes of sugarcane during the current crashing season.

Mass awareness to prevent bird flu underscored

BSS, Jaldhaka

Speakers at a workshop here on Tuesday said the country's poultry sector could be saved through prevention of the spread of bird flu by awareness campaigns.

The observation came at a daylong workshop on 'Bird Flu: Eradicating its Fear from Public Minds and Increasing Awareness' held at the training room of RDRS in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district.

Nilphamari district office of Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) organised the workshop to create mass awareness and necessary preparedness for protecting country's poultry sector, wrecked by series of outbreaks early this year.

Chaired by Programme Manager Shariful Islam of RDRS, the workshop was attended by Jaldhaka Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan as the chief guest.

Enterprise Coordinator of RDRS Shafiqul Islam, OC of Jaldhaka Thana Norendra Nath Sarker, Upazila Health Officer Shawkat Ali, Upazila Livestocks Officer Dr Abdul Hye and Upazila Manager of RDRS Arefin, addressed, among others, spoke.

The speakers said Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries due to its geographic, demographic and topographic reasons. The situation has been further aggravated because of the visit of large number of migratory birds in the winter.

They also discussed the global, regional and national situations of bird flu and suggested various ways to keep poultry and human out of danger through precautionary measures. The speakers said poultry sector stakeholders could play a vital role in disseminating correct information about bird flu to common people to help them prevent the spread of the diseases.

CCC continues eviction drive in hilly areas

BSS, Chittagong

The Chittagong City Corpor-ation (CCC) evicted dwellers of at least 250 shanties from the risky hilly areas of the port city till now.

Among the shanties, 200 were removed from the Motijorna and Batali hill area, and 15 from Lebu Bagan area in Pahartali in the city.

The CCC has been carrying out the drive to evict people living at the risky spots near the hills to avert repetition of the landslides that claimed 127 lives in Chittagong on June 11 last year.

The CCC started the eviction drive from Sunday last.CCC Magistrate Mohiuddin Ahmed Khan conducted the evection drive, officials said.

Talking to BSS Saleh Jahour, superintended engineer of the CCC, told that similar drive will be carried out in different risky hilly areas in the port city.

Acting city Mayor Alhaj Monjurul Alam Monju said the drive will complete within next seven days. The evicted landless families will be temporarily accommodated at the nearby places, the mayor added.

4 arrested in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four persons including a female drug peddler from different places of the district on Sunday.

Sources said, acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a drive at Jhenai Bridge area, on the outskirts of the district town at midnight and arrested three persons identified as Abul Fazal Jamil Ahmed, 20, Golam Rabbi, 22, and Kamruzzaman, 24, for allegedly drinking Phensidyl.

RAB personnel also seized five bottles of Phensidyl from their possessions.

Following their confession RAB arrested Ronoja Begum, 26, a drug peddler from Gitabari village under Islampur upazila and seized 10 bottles of Phensidyl from her possession.

Separate cases were filed with Sadar and Islampur police stations in these connections.

Children fair inaugurated

BSS, Chapainawabganj

A three-day-long children fair began here on Friday.

Arranged by the Chapain-awabganj branch Shishu Academy the fair was inaugurated at Shahid Satu hall.

A discussion was held on the occasion with the district sports officer Abdus Sattar Khan in the chair. Among others, executive magistrate Nasir Uddin, district children affairs officer Uma Rani Das and Mohit Kumar Das spoke on the occasion. A total of nine stalls were made in the fair.

United efforts to prevent AIDS stressed

BSS, Ulipur

Speakers at a workshop here on Thursday said an effective participation of all stake holders is a must to prevent the spread of deadly diseases of HIV/AIDS for a better future.

They emphasised on social awareness-building campaign particularly among the young generation and vulnerable groups in the country's porous frontier areas to check both spreading of the deadly disease and also trafficking of women and children. Padokhkhep Manobik Unnayan Kendra (PMUK) organised the workshop at local upazila parishad auditorium. Chaired by upazila health and family planning officer Dr Anisur Rahman, the workshop was attended by UNO M Abdur Rafique as the chief guest. Dr Habibur Rahman, Upazila Women's affairs officer Shahana Akhter, UP chairman M Kafil and Trainer of PMUK Asa Pradeep Chakma were present as special guests.

Over 100 participants, including officials, youth community members, teachers, students, women community leaders, UP chairmen and members, NGO officials, socio-cultural workers, journalists, lawyers, community leaders and human rights activists took part in the workshop.

153 schemes implemented in Chuadanga dist

BSS, Chuadanga

The works of 153 schemes under food for works programme (FWP) at a cost of 874 tonnes of rice in all the four upazilas of the district has completed recently.

The upazilas are Chuadanga Sadar, Alamdanga, Damurhuda and Jibannagar. The works of the schemes included construction and reconstruction of roads, bridges and culverts.

New passport center starts functioning in Netrakona

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

The new passport centre which was set up inside of Netrakona DC office on the first day of the current month, has started issuing the new passports to the applicants. According to official sources, the district level passport centre has been opened by the government with a view to supplying passport among the passport-seekers without any delay.

Meanwhile, four hundred persons submitted their applications to the passport centrer for issuing passports. Of the total passport-seekers, 200 persons have already been provided with passports. Deputy commissioner Netrakona Mohammad Aiyatullah Mojumder formally inaugurated the passport centre.

Certificate award ceremony of 25th jr staff course of Navy held

BSS, Chittagong

Certificate award ceremony of the 25th Junior Staff Course of Bangladesh Navy held on Thursday at Naval Academy at Patenga.

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam attended the ceremony as chief guest and gave away certificates among the officers.

Twenty-nine mid level officers of the armed forces, including 22 officers from Bangladesh Navy, 4 officers from Bangladesh Army and Airforce and 3 officers from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nigeria participated in the 10 weeks course, an ISPR press release said. Addressing on the occasion, Navy Chief put emphasise on the significance of this course in the challenging military profession and said 'participating officers would gain better management skill and expressing ability after this course'. There is no alternative to the professional competence in the present perspective of modern science and IT, Sarwar Jahan Nizam said.

The Navy Chief called upon all the participants to discharge their duty with honesty and integrity.

Among others, Commodore Commanding Chittagong Commodore M. Nasir and high officials of Bangladesh Navy were present on the occasion, the press release added.

Body recovered in N'ganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A dead body of a housewife has been recovered by the Rupganj Thana Police from the village of Masimpur of Murapara UP in Rupgonj.

The dead was identified as Ruma Akter. Police said she committed suicide.

The dead body has been sent to the Mosque for autopsy. A UD case has been filed with Rupgonj thana.

Workshop on reproductive health held in Mymensingh

BSS, Mymensingh

A day-long workshop on reproductive health and gender issues was held at the auditorium of Muktagachha upazila parishad on Wednesday.

Organized by district information office, the workshop was chaired by assistant information officer Jalal Uddin and it was addressed, among others, by upazila nirbahi officer AKM Tepusultan, upazila health officer Dr Ruhul Amin, Zakia Sultan and AZM Imamuddin Mukta. The speakers discussed matters related to reproductive health and gender issues, early marriage, birth registration, child rights, health and sanitation.

They urged the conscious citizen and members of the civil society to come forward to save the mother and child create awareness in this regard.

Journalists, Imams of mosques, public representatives, NGO workers took part in the workshop.

Naogaon Newsletter

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

One van-puller Mahbub Alam of Chankuri village in Dhamoirhat upazila in Naogaon district, suddenly found one mobile Nokia-1112 on his van recently. One person riding on the van left the said mobile. The van-puller handed over it to Principal Md Elias Alam of Jagadol Adivashi School and College, for enquiring the owner of the said mobile phone.

Later, Mustafizur Rahman Tota, a teacher of local government primary school received his mobile phone after verifying the papers from the principal.

21 health clinics not functioning

The newly constructed twenty-one community health clinics have not yet functioned since nine years in Dhamoirhat upazila in the district, consisting of total eight union parishads. The said health clinics have been locked and no function has yet been started.

The doors, windows and furniture are now damaged for lack of use. As a result, poors of localities are deprived for free treatment medicines. It is urged upon the health adviser, higher authorities concerned and District Administration to function of the said clinics soon.

Distribution of ID cards held

The distribution ceremony of national identity cards was held at Atrai upazila parishad auditorium on June 4, in a simple ceremony, presided over by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Gowtam Kumar.

Commander of the Naogaon district joint forces Lt Col. Shamim Zaklul, PSC, as chief guest, handed over the NI cards to the UNO and also distributed first ID card to local Atrai upazila Mukhtijoddha Sangsad Commander Md Abdul Malek. Naogaon district election officer Md. Yunus Ali, upazila election officer Md. Rokab Ali, UP chairman Advocate Moyeen Uddin Ahmed, Upazila secondary education officer Md Mokbul Hossain and others spoke on the occasion. Later, a musical soires was held.

World Environment Day observed

World Environment Day was observed, under auspices of Naogaon District Nursery Owners Samity and District Tree Plantation Environment Sangstha in the district recently. A seminar was held at local government Krishna Dhan High School auditorium, presided over by assistant headmaster SM Abu Zafar. District information officer Farhad Hossain, Khandoker Rezaur Rahman Tuku, deputy ranger Anisul Haq, Mashiur Rahman, Ashraful Islam and others spoke on the occasion. Later, the saplings were distributed among some organisations including Sadar thana police also free of cost. Later, a musical soiree was staged.

Rickshawpuller slaughtered

One rickshawpuller was slaughtered in Mohadevpur upazila in the district. On getting information thana police recovered the dead body lying by the side of a pond on Bhanderpur field on June 8, in the early morning.

The dead was identified as Atiqul Islam, son of late Osman Ali of Bijoy Nagar village, according to his identity card. The clue of the muder had not yet been traced out.

One electrocuted

One person was electrocuted at his residence recently. The dead was identified as Nurul Islam Labu (50), one chain-master of Mohadepur upazila Paribahan Sramik Malik group.

News briefs

Newsman dead

COMILLA, June 21: Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, district correspondent of daily Ittefaq, died of old age complications at local medical centre early Thursday. He was 80. Mostafa Chowdhury has left behind his wife, two sons and host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death. He was former president and founder member of local press club and also associated with different organizations during his lifetime, reports UNB.

Body recovered

JHALAKATI, June 21: The body of a woman was exhumed Thursday after two months of her burial at Godonda village in Nolchhiti upazila. Police exhumed the body of Sahanaj Parvin, 30, in presence of executive magistrate Najmul Haque following a court order after the deceased's sister filed a murder case with judicial magistrate court. The body was sent to hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

2 BNP leaders held in Natore

NATORE, June 21: Police, in an overnight drive, arrested two local BNP leaders from the district town on Thursday on charge of extortion. The law enforcers arrested former APP adv Ashraful Islam Dulu from his residence at Hafrasta while another BNP leader Shamsul Islam from Tebaria area following an extortion case filed against them on Wednesday. Asaduzzaman of Ramsar Kazipur village in Naldanga upazila filed the case against eight people, including former Deputy Minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu, Adv Ashraful Islam and Shamsul Islam, with the local thana, reports UNB.

3 sentenced to 17 yr RI in Gazipur

GAZIPUR, June 21: A court here on Wednesday sentenced three people, including a Jubo League leader, to 17 years rigorous imprisonment each in an extortion case. The convicts were identified as Rafiqul Islam alias Tablet Rafiq, Jubo League president of Sreepur upazila unit, and his accomplices Swapan and Makbul. According to the prosecution, Rafiq demanded Tk 50,000 from Shamsul Islam, brother of poultry trader Kamrul Islam of Sreepur upazila and as per the demand Shamsul paid Tk 15,000 in the first installment. Police arrested Makbul when he went to receive the rest of the demanded money. Later, on the basis of his confessional statement, police arrested Rafiq and Swapan, reports UNB.

Fake stamp seized at Savar

SAVAR, June 21: Rapid Action Battalion members arrested two people and seized fake stamp worth about Tk 1.25 lakh from their possession in Savar bus stand area Wednesday night. A RAB team arrested Kuddus and Masud when they were going to Barisal by a bus after collecting fake stamps from the area at about 10pm. They were later handed over to the police. A case was filed. Another report from Faridpur adds: Members of RAB-8 held a trader along with four fake notes Tk 500 denomination at Saradi Bazar in Sadar upazila on Tuesday, reports UNB.

2 pirates held in Barguna

BARGUNA, June 21: Coast Guard members arrested two pirates from Munshiganj area of Patharghata upazila on Wednesday. Acting on a secret information, Coast Guard members raided the area at about 12 noon and arrested notorious pirates Suman Kazi, 28, and Kurban, 30, along with some sharp weapons. Two of their accomplices, however, managed to flee the scene. The arrested pirates were handed over to the police, reports UNB.