The New Nation - Internet Edition

'Rivers rising, erosion on, low-lying areas under inundation threat’

BSS, Rangpur

Most of the major rivers and their tributaries continue to rise following onrush of hilly waters flowing down from the upper catchments in India during the past 24 hours till 6 pm on Sunday evening in greater Rangpur area, officials said.

The situation, however, marked a little improvement at Dalia point in Nilphamari following a significant fall in the water level of the Teesta River during the period, they said. Nearly 7,500 people in the low-lying char areas in some 15 Ups of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Rangpur districts in the Teesta basin have become partially marooned so far, local sources said.

Some 6,000 persons in these char areas of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur, Dimla, Domar and Jaldhaka upazilas of Nilphamari and Aditmari, Hatibandha and Kaliganj upazilas in Lalmonirhat are ready to leave their thatched houses if the situation deteriorates, they said.

A flood-like situation is slowly growing up in the low-lying char areas of Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts where most of the rivers marked sharp rise at all points during the period, Water Development Board (WDB) officials said.

The rivers are still flowing below their respective danger marks on Sunday and the situation in the Teesta basin might continue improving further as the situation at the Gojaldoba Barrage point in India has been improving, Executive Engineer of the WDB Atiqur Rahman told BSS on Sunday evening.

Some 50 metres embankment at Uttara Sonakhuli village in Nilphamari, 10 metres long flood control embankment at Bagdohra point Gangachara upazila of Rangpur have so far been partially devoured on Saturday inundating low-lying areas. The WDB authorities have started repairing works at the damaged portions of the embankment at all points and other vulnerable points in Nilphamari and Rangpur districts, officials said.

WDB control room sources said, the Brahmaputra marked a rise by 11 cm during the past 24 hours till 6am on Sunday and was flowing at 22.41m, which was 1.59m below its danger mark at Chilmari point in Kurigram.

The Teesta marked a fall by 60 cm during the period and it was flowing at 52.02m at Dalia point in Nilphamari this morning, which was 23cm during the period and was flowing at 28.57 m at Kawania point in Rangpur at 6 this morning, which was 1.43m below the danger mark.

The Dharla marked a fall by 4 cm during the period and was flowing at 25.21m at Kurigram point at 6 this morning, which was 1.29 m below its danger mark.

During the past 24 hours till 6 am today, WDB registered no rainfall at Kurigram, Rangpur, Chilmari, Dalia and Kawnia points in greater Rangpur though moderate showers started coming down from Sunday afternoon almost at all of these points.

Senior officials of the WDB, upazila and district administations concerned have been visiting the erosion-hit spots in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts for assessing the situation and necessary actions, the sources said.

A number of sporadic incidents of devouring arable and barren lands by the riverbeds were reported from six upazilas in five districts of greater Rangpur during the past couple of days due to mild erosion of the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla and Jamuna.

Call to raise mass awareness to fight HIV/AIDS

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A day-long orientation on HIV/AIDS was held at the hall room of Palli Agragati Sangstha (PAS) at Palashbari Upazila town of the district on Sunday aimed at creating mass awareness among the people about deadly disease AIDS, with the financial assistance of Global Fund and the Ministry of Family Welfare, PAS organised it in cooperation with HIV/AIDS and STD Alliance Bangladesh (HASAB), ACD, Rajshahi and Save the Children VSA under the project of GFATM, sources said.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) M Zahangir Alam formally inaugurated the orientation as chief guest and Upazila Youth Development Officer Muhammad Ashrafuddowla was present on special guest. The inaugural function was also addressed, among others, by representative of ACD Mizanur Rahman, local press club secretary Fazlul Haque Dudu and Executive Director of PAS Suruz Haque Liton.

The speakers of the function witnessed the need for creating mass awareness about AIDS/HIV. They also laid emphasis on involving political and religious leaders and teachers to check spread of the disease. Later the orientation course on HIV/AIDS was held.

The orientation course was conducted by master trainers on HIV/AIDS Shikha Akter Lipi, Idris Ali and Shamsuzzoha Titas. A total of 25 young participants were present in the course.

8 suspected criminals held, phensidyl, ganja seized

BSS, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 picked up eight suspected criminals including two extremists and a drug-peddler and seized phensidyl, ganja and smuggled goods from different areas of four northern districts during the last 24 hours till Sunday afternoon.

The arrested drug-peddler was identified as Rejaul Haque, 28, son of late Farid Shah. At least 532 bottles of phensidyl and 13 kgs of ganja were seized during three separate raids in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Kurigram districts.

In two other raids at Taherpur village under Bagmara upazila and Arial village under Durgapur upazila of Rajshahi district, the RAB personnel arrested three wanted criminals including two cadres of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party identified as Azizar Rahman, 45, Al Mamun, 27, and Abdus Sattar, 27.

In another raid at Monigram area under Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district, they seized 64 pieces of smuggled sarees valued at around Taka 44,800 in an abandoned condition.

They also captured four anti-social elements identified as Rejaul Islam, 18, Arman Ali, 18, Aminul Islam, 20, and Sabuj Mian, 19, with two indigenous weapons during a raid at Shapla cinema hall area in Rangpur town.

The arrested persons and the seized goods including the drug items were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases in these connections.

Forged notes seized: One held in Barguna

BSS, Barguna

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested one person from Natun Bazar of Amtali upazila in the district on Wednesday and counterfeit currency notes of Taka 500 and Taka 100 denomination from his possessions.

RAB sources said, acting on a secret information, a team of RAB led by ASP Anwar Hossain raided a shop named Howladar Medical Hall and arrested its owner Abdus Salam, 43.

RAB members also recovered 60 fake currency notes of Taka 100 denomination and one note of Taka 500 denomination.

Two extremists killed in Pabna

BSS, Pabna

Two extremists were killed by their rivals in an inner conflicts between them at Faridpur and Atgharia in the district on Tuesday night.

Police said an armed group shot dead Abu Sayeed, 25, regional leader of the extremist organisation Naksal Party and resident of Faridpur upazila in the district.

Police recovered the body on the following day and sent it to Pabna Sadar hospital for autopsy. Besides, the extremists slaughtered Dorjan Ali, 33, son of Taleb Ali of Kadamtali under Chatmohor upazila on Tuesday. Police recovered his body from a jute field. Separate cases were filed in these connections.

Non-govt teachers demand 20 pc DA

BSS, Jamalpur

National Teacher Employee Front demanded 20 percent dearness allowance for the teachers and employees of the non- government educational institutions.

The demand was made at a press conference held at the local Reporters' Club on Wednesday.

The press conference was attended by Principal Md. Abdul Hamid, convener of the Front, principal Md. Ali Akbar Fakir, principal Md. Tofazzal Hossain, principal Md. Jalal Hossain, principal Mustafizur Rahman and Md. Fazlur Rahman.

In the press conference, they also demanded MPO facilities for the non-MPO teachers.

Tofail demands cancellation of local govt polls

Our Correspondent, Narshingdi

Awami League Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed on Sunday demanded the withdrawal of the schedule of the local government election saying, "We will resist any poll if it is held before the national election."

He reiterated the demand while addressing the local leaders and activists at the extended meeting of Narsingdi district with Advocate Asaduzzaman, President of Narshingdi district Awami League in the chair.

He also demanded the announcement of schedule of national election and withdrawal of state of emergence, as no crediable poll is possible under emergency. "The controversial move of the Government is pushing the national election to uncertain. This will make the country's political situation more complex", he pointed out.

Narshingdi district AL general Secretary Abdul Matin Bhuyian moderated the meeting while AL central Joint Secretary Mukul Bosh, Former MP Advocate Rahmatullah, Narshingdi Municipality Chairman Lokman Bhuyian, among others, spoke.

Symposium on bird flu held in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A bird flu prevention symposium was organised in the conference hall of Rupganj Upazila by upazila Livestock Office on Sunday. The poultry farm owners of the area attended the programme Upazila Nirbahi office Firoj Sarker presided over the meeting, joint secretary Abdur Rasid of the respective Ministry, project director Dr Ibrahim Deputy Director, Mehedi Hossain and district livestock officer Abu Taher, among others, were present in the symposium.

'Ganga Snan’ celebrated in Magura

Our Correspondent, Magura

The 'Ganga-snan' (bath in river Ganga), a Hindu religions festival, was celebrated at river Nabaganga in Alam Kholi Bazar of Magura sadar upazila recently. A large mumber of Hindu male, female and children bathe there and threw coconut for the worship of goddess Ganga there. The puja of goddess mother Ganga was also celebrated with due solemnily and befittingmanner.

A colourful fair was also held there. About one thousands shops of varieties of articles, were installed there.

EC workshop on polls held in Khulna

Our Correspondent, Khulna

Bangladesh Election Comm-ission on Sunday oragnised a workshop for the candidates in the Khulna city corporation election to make them aware about the different aspects of the election that includes election law and regulations.

Rafiqul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, said, "The government is determined to bring honest and skilled leadership for overall development of the country. Keeping this in mind the Government is organising such workshops with a view to creating opportunities for the qualified candidates."

Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Yunusur Rahman presided over while Khulna Metropolitan Police Commissioner Helel Uddin attended the workshop.

Ten prospective candidates for the Mayoral post and 180 candidates for the councillor post participated in the workshop.

Environment-friendly clay ovens make Dhamrai people self-reliant

JU Correspondent

The unemployment youths of the remote area of Dhamrai are making themselves self-reliant by making environment -friendly and low cost developed cookers.

The developed cooker, which is environment adaptable and lower cost, is gaining popularity across the remote villages of Dhamrai, Manikgong and Savar area.

Agency for Integrated Development (AID Bang-ladesh), a social developing organisation with assistance of science laboratory has undertaken a massive project to build this kind of cookers, says an official of the organisation.

Bricks, clay, rod, planesheet, net, and others materials need to make it, he added.

A number of unemployment youths of the area have taken training on building this cooker. They are passing their busy times in making cookers in the villages of the area.

Yesmin Begum, a housewife of Zulhas Village told this correspondent that this cooker takes a little time, little stalks to make food.

Razib, a tea stall keeper told that, I am using three cookers at a time with the cost only TK 800

Project Director of the cooker installment training Sayeed Ahmed Khan told that Bangladesh AID has been working since 1989 for social development in this area.

A good number of cockers have already been installed and also increasing day by day across the locality, he also added. In this regard scientific officer of German Technical Co-operation, M Khalikuzzaman says, "We are hopeful to bring about 2.5 crore family and 20 lakh tea stalls under this project in near future".

6 firearms, bullet seized in Madaripur

BSS, Madaripur

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered six firearms and bullet from Nalgara area under Shibchar upazila of the district on Thursday.

RAB sources said, acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force recovered three shutter guns, one pipe gun, one revolver and bullet from the earth of a betel nut garden. None was arrested in the incident. The recovered firearms and bullet were handed over to Shibchar thana.

Two pirates held in Pathorghata

BSS, Barguna

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested two pirates from Charduani village under Pathorghata upazila in the district on Wednesday.

Coastguard sources said, acting on a secret information, a team of the coastguard led by contingent commander M. Harun-ur- Rashid raided a house at Charduani village where four pirates were took shelter. The coast guard arrested two of them with two sharp weapons while another two managed to escape.

Two killed in Tangail road crash

BSS, Tangail

Two people were killed in a road accident at Pat Thakuri under Bashail upazila on the Dhaka-Tangail highway on Thursday.

The victims were Saiful Islam, 25, and Afazuddin, 43, police said.

They said Saiful sitting under a truck was repairing it. He died instantly when a lorry of 'Pran Milk' hit the truck from behind.

Lorry driver Afazuddin, who was also injured in the crash, died at Jamurki Health Complex in Mirzapur. A case was lodged with Bashail police.

Obituary

Noted businessman, Police Officer (Retd), former Chair-man of Gunahar UP and noted freedom fighter Mofiz Uddin Ahmed (75) died of cardiac arrest on June 20. He left behind wife, son, 3 daughters, and many relatives and well wishers to mourn his death.

He was buried after Namaz-e-Janaza on Saturday afternoon, at his family graveyard with full state honourr says a press release.

News briefs

50 hurt in Magura clash

MAGURA, June 24: At least 50 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of Awami League and BNP at Bagura village in Sadar upazila Saturday. Police said there was a longstanding enmity between local Awami League leader Mizanur Rahman and BNP leader Awal Mollah over establishing supremacy in the area. The clash ensued between the supporters of the two parties over a trifling matter at about 8am where both groups used lethal weapons. Later, police rushed in and brought the situation under control, reports UNB.

Woman gets 50 years imprisonment

BRAHMANBARIA, June 24: A court here on Thursday convicted a woman and sentenced her to 50 years imprisonment for killing her bother-in-law in 2005. The court also fined Mamata Rani Debnath Tk 5,000, in default, to suffer three months more RI. According to the prosecution, the convict killed his husband's youngest brother and Nabinagar upazila unit Chhatra Union president Prokash Debnath Paltan in his house at Bholachang in the upazila on July 31, 2005. District and Sessions Judge Mustafa Enamul Hafiz found her guilty and pronounced the verdict, reports UNB.

Workers injured in blast

PIROJPUR, June 24: The bodies of two workers who died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) following injuries in an explosion at a clinic here were brought home Friday. The explosion occurred at the medicine distribution room of Surgicare Clinic and Diagnostic Center in the district town on June 13, leaving three workers injured. Of the injured, Dulal and Biplob Samaddar were admitted to the DMCH in critical condition where Dulal died on Tuesday and Biplob on Thursday. Fire brigade sources said the explosion occurred when methane gas stored in the water tank of the clinic came in contact with a lamp-light, reports UNB.

Rally held

MUNSHIGANJ, June 24: Local people held a rally here Friday demanding construction of a link road from Mukterpur here to Narayanganj. Led by former LGRD Secretary Matiur Rahman, the rally was brought out from DC office premises and terminated at the Circuit House after parading different streets chanting various slogans in favour of their demand. Local officials and public representatives, among others, joined the rally jointly organized by Shatayu, Shuprovat Bikrampur and Shatayu Sangha organiz-ations, reports UNB.

Library for children to be set up in Munshiganj

MUNSHIGANj, June 24: A library for children will be set up here for motivating young mind to knowledge. About 2,000 learners from 10 schools in the town Friday took part a quiz competition to raise fund for the "Library for the Children". Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Monir Uddin distributed prizes among winners at a ceremony at local Shilpakala Academy, reports UNB.

Ex UP female member killed

KHULNA, June 24: An ex-UP female member was stabbed to death by unknown assailants at Paruriya village in Fultala upazila Friday night. The deceased was identified as Sufia Begum, 50, of the village. Police said two to three terrorists swooped on the house of Sufia Begum and stabbed her indiscriminately when he was asleep at about 8pm, leaving her critically injured. She was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital where the attending doctors declared her dead at 11pm, reports UNB.