The New Nation - Internet Edition

Quality primary education must for producing brilliant citizens

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers in a launching ceremony here Tuesday underscored the need for ensuring quality education at the primary levels to give a strong foundation of knowledge to the future citizens in flourishing their talents properly. They also stressed for further improving quality and standard of education and said that there is no alternative to quality education for producing talented and worthy citizens in building a developed nation.

They said this while addressing a discussion meeting titled "Role of URC in Improving Quality of Primary Education" organised on the occasion of launching the newly built building of Gangachara Upazila Resources Centre (URC) at Gangachara Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Chaired by Gangachara UNO Abu Nasar Mohammad Abdullah, the discussion meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Alhaj Khondker Atiar Rahman as the chief guest who formally inaugurated activities of the URC.

District Primary Education Officer Abdul Khaleque, Superintendent of Rangpur Primary Teachers Training Institute Kazi Nur Mohammad Azad, Instructor of URC Mahbubur Rahman, Upazila Education Officer of Gangachara Akhtari Parveen and educationist Abdur Razzaque, addressed.

Headmasters of different primary schools, teachers, upazila level government and NGO officials, local elite, community leaders, professionals and members of the civil society were present.

The speakers asked all of the primary level schoolteachers to conduct their moral obligation and responsibility with utmost sincerity and dedication to make the educational institutions the knowledge acquiring centres for producing brilliant citizens.

Mass awareness to promote potato as alternative food stressed

Our Correspondent, Monirampur

On raising awareness against Global Food Crisis and promote potato as main alternative food, an exchange of view meeting was held at Monirampur Upazila Parishad on June 24.

Chaired by Zilla senior information officer SibPada Mondal, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Rahat Anwar attended as chief guest at the meeting. Among others, upazila agriculture officer Sk. Aminul Haque, THA Dr. Keramot Ali, New Nation Correspondent Prof. M.A. Razzaque, Editor Weekly Palli Kotha, Chairman. Sardar Bahadur Ali were the special guests. Speakers opined, there is no alternative to take potato and other vegetables to rice as the food crisis appears over the world. They said to create awareness among the common people about the matter, it is no alternative other than a local government body like Union Parishad chairman and members.

Earlier, Mr. Sibpada Mondal informed the meeting that, other goals of the meeting are to sensitise people for upcoming General Election, raise consciousness against corruption, raise awareness against terrorism, counseling to eradicate unemployment, inspire to use latest ICT and mobile service and inform positive contributions of last year of Caretaker government.

RU senate okays Tk 97cr budget

RU Correspondent

The Rajshahi University (RU) senate on Wednesday night approved Tk.97 crore budget for fiscal year 2008-09.

The highest policymaking body of the university approved the budget at the annual senate session at the senate Bhaban with the acting Vice Chancellor of RU Professor Dr. Mamnunul Keramat ,in the chair .

Of the budget 92.62 crore will come from the government through the University Grants Commission while 4.65 crore come from internal resources.

Of the amount ,Tk 64.67 crore or 66.48 per cent will be spent for salary ,13 crore or 13.36 percent will be spent for pension of teachers ,officers and employees .A total allocation in the academic sectors only 6.8 crore or 6.99 percent will spent on academic purposes . The remaining amount of 12.8 crore or 13.15 percent has been kept for miscellaneous works.

Dr. Mamnunul Keramat , also chairman of the senate ,said to the newsmen that ,Rajshahi University placed before University Grants Commission the budget of 140 crore for the fiscal year 2008-09. He also stressed the need for being financially self-dependence to avoid others interference and enjoy full self-rule. The budget was placed before the finance committee on the same day.

Religious leaders urged to make people aware about HIV/AIDS

BSS, Narsingdi

A day-long workshop on 'The role of Religious Leaders to prevent HIV/AIDS' organised by Podakshap consortium with the assistance of Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Save the Children was held at local Civil Surgeon office here on Wednesday.

As many as 50 religious leaders of Muslims and Hindus took part in the workshop.

Monzurul Alam Mozumdar, Deputy Director, Islamic Foundation Narsingdi attended the workshop as chief guest while Afrojae Begum, Deputy Director, Family Planning as the special guest.

Civil Surgeon Dr Birandra Nath Sinha presided over the workshop. Moulana Rezaul Karim, Principal Isakhali Madrasha, Moulana Zakaria, Principal, Dosdona Fazil Madrasha, Moulana Atik Ullah, Secretary Narsingdi Zila Imam Samity and Ranjit Kumar Shaha, Headmaster, Kararchar Moulavi Tofazzal Hossain High School, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Speakers called upon the religious leaders to make people aware about HIV/AIDS.

JP supports local govt polls before parliament elections

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Ruhul Amin Howladar, secretary general of Jatiya Party (Ershad) said his party supports conducting local government and upazila elections before national assembly poll.

He addressing the extended meeting of the divisional committee of the party at a local restaurant of the city on Friday morning further said that due to absence of Upazila Parishad since last seventeen years, local lawmakers got the chances of looting public properties, relief items and corruption. JP believes in accountability of the elected public representatives of the local government to the people with sufficient transparencies and does not believe in politics of corruption and terrorism and will participate in local government and upazila elections if held before national assembly election and will win in those election, JP Secretary General assured.

Golam Kibria Tipu, central presidium member of the party, presided over the program and Sunil Gupta, Mustafa Zaman Hassan, Mohsinul Islam Habul, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Abdul Mazid and other leaders of the party addressed the gathering.

Sweet water fishes disappearing in Barguna

BSS, Barguna

Different species of sweet water fishes have been declining in the district over the last few years for various reasons, said a survey report.

The reasons like gradual drying up of water bodies, non-excavation of ponds, uses of current nets and application of chemical fertilisers on croplands were responsible for polluting the breeding grounds of sweet water fishes.

A survey conducted by the fisheries department showed that fish production has declined by 40 percent in the district during the last 10 years.

The report blamed the destruction of water bodies, ponds and beels that are the prime ground of fish production. The scarcity of fish is not only responsible for exorbitant prices of fish but also depriving the common people from protein.

A fisherman told this correspondent that the daily supply of fishes to the local wholesale markets was about 100 mounds about five years ago which now came down at half of that level.

In the past there were adequate supply of local species of fish such as koi, magur, shing, kalibous, boal, sarputi, etc in the fish market. But at present, the volume of supply has come down considerably, the fisherman said.

Indiscriminate uses of current nets during the breeding season, he said, is one of the main reasons for gradual decreasing of fish resources in the rivers and other water bodies.

Besides, application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides on crop lands on a large scale contributed for disappearance of the local species.

School teacher killed in Dinajpur road mishap

BSS, Dinajpur

Jasmin Ara, a teacher of Tali Thakuni School under Birganj upazila of the district was killed in a road accident on Thursday.

Police quoting local people said the accident took place near the Ullash Cinema Hall of the upazila town when she was going to school by a van, hit by a tempo from opposite direction. She was seriously injured and died on the way to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Jasmin Ara is wife of Badsha, a Lecturer of Dinajpur Music College.

Farmer killed over land dispute in Pirganj

BSS, Rangpur

A farmer was chopped to death with sharp weapons and six others of his family were injured by the rival group following long term enmity over land dispute in village Rotneswaropur here in the small hours on Thursday.

Police sources said victim Mokhlesur Rahman Dulal, 40, son of Abdul Aziz of the village in Pirganj upazila had a long-term enmity over land dispute with his rival Almas, Baharul, Shah Alam, Osman gong of nearby Bogerbari Chalkpara village.

In the small hours on Thursday, a group of terrorists led by his rival group attacked the house of Mokhlesur, mercilessly beat inmates, stabbed them with sharp weapons when Mokhlesur was murdered on the spot and seven more members of the house were injured. Injured Rokan, 10, son of deceased Mokhlesur, Manik, 30, son-in-law of deceased Mokhlesur, Chameli, 20, daughter of the deceased, other inmates of the house Rashidul Islam, 30, Sultana Begum, 25, Rokeya Begum, 37, were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

Police recovered the body and handed it over to his relatives after conducting autopsy at the RMCH. Manik Mian, younger brother of the deceased, filed a murder case accusing 30 persons in this connection with Pirganj police station, the sources said.

Huge phensidyl recovered, two held in Ctg

Our Correspondent, Ctg

A team of Rapid Action Battalion Unit-8 searching a motorcycle and two riders recovered 400 bottles Phensidyl from their possessions at Kashipur Chowmatha area of the city entrance point at about 9:30 pm Thursday night.

Saiful Islam and Fazle Rabbi, two riders of the motorcycle was arrested in this connection and handed over to police after interrogation and lodging a case under narcotic control act on Friday afternoon.

Bid to sell relief rice in Ctg foiled

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Joint forces seized 401 sacks of rice taken for relief operation from Natun Chaktai-Khatungonj, wholesale hub for essentials in the city on Wednesday night.

The seized rice laden in three trucks were scheduled to reach Food Department's warehouse at Khagrachhari from city's Dewanhat warehouse of the Food department. Two of the three trucks that left Dewanhat warehouse, went to Natun Chaktai area changing its scheduled destination. Though the military men detected two trucks and seized the rice, another truck was still missing. Masers Abdus Salam, Masers Selim Ahmed and Masers Dipali Enterprise were assigned to delivery the rice to Khagrachari from city's Dewanhat godown of the Food Department.

Body recovered in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Hanged dead body of Manoranjan Saha, 60, accountant of wholesale fish merchant enterprise Messer's Badal Sarkar was recovered from the locked room of the enterprise at Port Road area of the city on Wednesday noon.

He left wife behind two daughters and a son at his native village Manohar Bazar of Boiddayapara under Shariatpur district.

Police and local people said Manoranjan working as an accountant in different wholesale fish merchant farms of Barisal Port Road areas for a decade and early of this month joined here. Local people seeing the unlocked shutter of the fish firm downed until noon opened it and found the dead body of Manoranjan hanging from a low celling with legs on floor behind locked collapsible gate of the room. They informed police and Barisal Kotwali police and recovered the dead body and sent to Barisal SBMCH morgue for post mortem after lodging a case of unnatural death at afternoon.

Fake army man arrested in Satkhira

UNB, Satkhira

A man was arrested from the premises of Tala Police Station on Friday afternoon on charge of collecting toll introducing himself as an army person.

The arrested was identified as Abdur Rahim, 40, of Tetulia village in Tala upazila. Police said Abdur Rahim was an employee of Bangladesh Army but was suspended for violating discipline. They said Abdur Rahim demanded Tk 30,000 from 'tahshildar' of Khesra union in Tala upazila Ainul Haq recently.

CCCI President conferred CIP status

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC&I) Saifuzza-man Chowdhury had been selected as Commercially Important Person (CIP).

Saifuzzaman Chowdhary is also a member of the Better Business Forum, Chairman of Port Users Forum, Executive Member of International Chamber of Commerce and India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He played a commendable role in the recent reform initiatives taken at Chittagong port as well as automation of Chittagong Custom House.

Tk 21.31 cr Netrakona poura budget announced

BSS, Netrakona

The authority of Netrakona Pourashava has approved a proposed budget of Taka 21.31 crore for 2008-09 fiscal.

Mayor of the pourashava Nazrul Islam Khan formally announced the budget at a press conference at the conference room of the body on Thursday.

Highlighting the budget, the Mayor said of the total amount, Taka 2.89 crore will come from the revenue income of the pourashava and the rest will come from the government allocation and different development agencies.

In the budget, over Taka 17.50 crore has been earmarked for the development sector.

The mayor said that no new tax has been imposed on the tax prayers.

Responding to a question, the mayor said that the budget has been designed to increase the civic amenities in the pourashava.

Deputy Commissioner Aiyatullah Mojumder, Lt Col Juwherul Islam, Major Atik Chowdhury, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nurul Alam, Assistant Police Super Model thana Ibrahim Khan, Dr M A Hamid, people representatives and elite were present

News briefs

45 arrested in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI June 30: Police, in different anti-crime drives, rounded up 45 people on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till Friday evening. Of them, 20 were picked up from different areas in the metropolis while 25 others from nine upazilas of the district. Traffic police lodged 22 cases under the motor vehicles Ordinance and seized two motorbikes and a three-wheeler during drives against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document-related malpractices in different parts of the city during the time, reports BSS.

Training for teachers

begins in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA June 30: A three-day training course for the teachers of temple-based Children and Mass Education Centres of the district organised by Hindu Religious Welfare Trust has begun at the auditorium of Zilla Parishad here on June 26. Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) Abul Bayes Miah formally inaugurated the training course as the chief guest with president of district unit of Puja Udjapon Parishad Protap Ghosh in the chair, reports BSS.

Fine realised from bakery shops

CHANDPUR June 30: A mobile Court led by Magistrate Sandip Kumar Singh in a drive fined and realized Taka 65,000 from six bakery and confectionery shops for selling adulterated food here recently. The magistrate found that unhygienic condition was prevailing in the shops while making bakery items. They also found adulterated bread and biscuits in the shops, reports BSS.

BNP leader held

in Jamalpur

JAMALPUR June 30: Police arrested Islampur thana BNP Secretary Nabi Newaz Khan Lohani Bipul from a rented house at Mugdapara area in Dhaka overnight Wednesday. Police produced him before Senior Judicial Magistrate Court here on Thursday who rejected his bail prayer and sent him to jail, reports BSS.

Youth commits suicide

in Taraganj

RANGPUR June 30: A youth allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a jackfruit tree in village Jagodishpur under Taraganj Upazila here in the small hours on Thursday. Police sources quoting local people said that body of youth Shafikul Islam, 18, son of Abdur Rahman of the village, was found hanging from the jackfruit tree, about 500 yards away from his house. Being informed, Taraganj police rushed there, recovered the body and sent it for autopsy to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, reports UNB.

2 killed in Chuadanga road mishaps

CHAUDANGA, June 29: Two people were killed in separate road accidents in the district on Friday. In an accident, a bicyclist was killed when a truck hit his vehicle at Darshona Bus Stand in Damurhuda upazila at 12 noon. The dead was identified as Saber Ali, 35, son of Monsur Ali of Sadabori village in the upazila. Police arrested truck driver Ansar along with his vehicle. In another accident, a man was killed in a road accident at Jibannagar upazila bus stand on Friday. The dead was identified as Abul Kalam, 65, of Ashtala village of the upazila, reports UNB.

2 held with phensidyl in Joypurhat

JOYPURHAT, June 29: Two people were arrested along with 400 bottles of phensidyl from a maize-laden truck at Alishan crossing in the district town early Friday. On suspicion, police halted the truck in the area at about 1:30am and arrested its driver Golam Rabbani and Mizanur Rahman, reports UNB.