The New Nation - Internet Edition

River erosion takes serious turn in Kurigram

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Erosion by the river Teesta, Dharla and Brahmaputra has taken a serious turn in various areas in Kurigram district.

Local Water Development sources (WAPDA) said the errosion in the Teesta and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries in Ulipur, Rajarhat, Roumari ad Rajibpur including Sadar Upozila areas turned turbulent since the formation of a low at the Bay of Bengal, sources said many houses, educational institutions and huge arable lands in the four upazilas of the district were affected. This devastating erosion of the river is going on still now continued at the Uttor Santosh Aviram, Dakkhin Sontosh Aviram, Kajaldanga and many places under Ulipur and Chilmari upazila and Taiobkhan, Paramoula, Gaburjan under Rajarhat upozila of the district.

The mighty river Teesta has already eroded the vast areas of about 2 kilometres of Rajarhat upazila and 1 kilometre area of Ulipur Upozila of the district. On the other hand, the people of Kachirchar, Sukhdev, and Saduadamarhat village are passing days in many difficulties for last two weeks. More than one thousand people have been suffering a miserable life for river erosion and leading their lives under open sky. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kurigram Md. Jalal Uddin and Executive Engineer (Exen) of Local Water Development Board (WAPDA) Asafuddowla Tareq and UNO of Ulipur Md. Abdur Rafiq visited the erosion prone areas and supplied about five thousand sacks of sand to protect the river erosion.

But the sacks of sand are not able to protect the erosion of the river finally. Though there are tough erosions of the district surrounding the banks of the rivers better steps should have been taken to arrest the situation. The erosion victims need urgently, necessary steps in that area for their lives, crops and houses.

Mystery over killing of REB engineer unearthed

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Rapid Action Battalion with the help of detective branch of police unearthed the mystery of killing an engineer of Rural Electrification Board within a week and arrested four of the ten-member killer dacoit gang and recovered looted items.

In press briefing held in Unit-8, Headquarters of RAB at Barisal on Saturday night Lt.Com. Mamunur Rashid, a RAB official said that Faruk Hossain, 35, assistant engineer of REB, was brutally killed in his residential quarter on June 21 night.

He was alone in the first floor of the REB quarter at Rupatali area of the city as his family members went to village home just two days before the murder.

The hands and legs tied dead body of Faruk Hossain recovered from his quarter on June 22 evening after office staffs noticing his absence in office went to the quarter.

Shahidul Islam, brother of the victim, lodged a murder case without accusing anybody with Barisal Kotwali police station on the same night and detective branch of Barisal metropolitan police and RAB jointly started investigation of the murder.

Caretaker, secuirity guards and contractors were interro-gated in connection of this murder suspecting that the killing may be committed over disputes about payment of contractor's bills, relationship with female or dacoity.

Later a dacoit gang of Rupatali -Sagordi area was suspected for murder as different valuables worth Tk. 2 lakhs including mobile phone, television, computer of Engineer Faruk found looted.

One Muharram, a member of that gang was arrested from Sagordi Shere Bangla Road area of the city on June 27 afternoons with looted mobile phone of Engineer Faruk.

In interrogation Muharram confessed his involvement with murder and revealed the other names of the ten-member dacoit gang led by Nazmul Hossain and police arrested Abdul Jabbar, Forkan and Mamun from Rupatali Bus Stand area of the city on June 28 early hours.

Computer, television, DVD player and other looted items were recovered June 28 from the house of Idris Mia of Rupatali, bother in law of Panna Mia, a member of the gang.

The arrested dacoits confessed that crossing the wall and cutting the iron grill they entered inside the quarter and bedroom of Engineer Faruk and tied his hands, legs and struck on his head with iron bar to make him unconscious, when he tried to outcry.

The four arrestees were sent to jail on Sunday after recording their statements and operation for arresting other six members of the killer dacoit gang was going on till writing of this report.

Call to utilise knowledge thru’ hard endeavour to achieve self-reliance

BSS, Fulbari

Speakers here at a function urged the trained distressed people for utilising their knowledge acquired from the fortnight-long training on achieving self-reliance through hard endeavour.

They said this while addressing the certificate giving ceremony among 687 distressed males and females of four Abason projects in Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district on Sunday.

Chaired by Upazila Youth Development Officer of Fulbari Haibar Ali, the ceremony was attended by UNO of the upazila M Mokhlesur Rahman as the chief guest and later he distributed the certificates among trained people after the discussion. Upazila Agriculture Officer Abul Hossain, Public Health and Engineering Officer Abdur Rahim, local public representatives and elite were present in the ceremony.

Earlier, the armed forces constructed the barracks of these Abason Projects and later the river-eroded and destitute floating people were rehabilitated in these houses of the barracks.

The Upazila Youth Development Department under the assistances of the upazila administration conducted the training course on different trades for the destitute men and women with a view to enable them achieving economic self-reliance at their own.

The chief guest distributed certificates among the river-eroded, landless, destitute and floating families including 351 persons of Fulsagar Abason Prokolpa, 80 of Rangamati Abason Prokolpa, 79 of Jyotindra Narayan Abason Prokolpa and 177 men and women of Purbo Dhoniram Abason Prokolpa.

Officials said the Armed Forces built a number of barracks, each containing 10 housing units in these Abason Prokolpas under Fulbari upazila of Kurigram and those were later handed over to the river- eroded destitute and floating people for their rehabilitation.

Fruit and tree fair in Joypurhat begins

BSS, Joypurhat

A four-day tree and fruit fair is being held on the Akkelpur upazila parishad premises in the district. Department of Agriculture Extension(DAE) and Upazila Administration organised the fair that started on Sunday.

Deputy Director of DAE Abul Hayat inaugurated the fair as the chief guest while upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Hai was in the chair.

The function was addressed, among others, by Akkelpur Pourasabha Chairman Kamr-uzzaman Komol, Agricul-ture Officer SM Nuruzz-aman, Upazila Engineer Golam Azam and UP Chairman Rezaul Karim. A total of 20 stalls including fruits were set up in the tree fair.

3 sentenced to life term for killing housewife in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A trial court in Barisal on Sunday afternoon sentenced three accused to life imprisonment and fined each Tk. 10 thousand or to suffer more six months imprisonment in default and acquitted five others from charges of sensational Sakina Begum murder. The three sentenced accused were Dulal Mridha,Anwar Mridha and Khabir Mridha while five others named Salam Mridha,Nur Kha,Zahir,Shahin and Badal Sikdar acquitted from charges.

Siddikul Arefin Chowdhury, first addition district judge of Barisal, handed down this verdict in presence of the seven accused except Badal Sikdar after examining 26 witnesses and other evidences.

The prosecution story in brief was that a gang armed with lethal weapons led Dulal and Anwar attacked the house of Delwar and Sattar following disputes over ownership of land properties between Delwar Hossain and Anwar Mridha, two neighbors of Sadis village under Bakerganj upazila of Barisal district on February 25, 2003. Sakina Begum, mother of Delwar and Sattar was chopped to death by the attackers when she begged for saving life of her sons.

Delwar lodged a murder case with Bakerganj police station on the same day and Sukharanjan Samaddar, assistant police super of criminal investigation department filed charge sheet against the eight accused on August 17, 2005 and the case sent for trial in session judge court on early 2006.

Month-long training on sports begins in Gaibandha.

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A month-long training on football, athletics and volley-ball has begun in the district stadium of the town here on June 24 aimed at creating skilled and potential sportsmen aged between 15 and 18, in the district.

District Sports Association (DSA) organised it with the financial assistance of National Sports Council, sources said.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf formally inaugurated the training in the stadium on Tuesday as chief guest. The inaugural function was also addressed among others by Shahiduzzama Shahid, General Secretary of DSA, Mazibar Rahman, President of Football Upaparishad, Saiful Alam Saza, President of Athletics Upaz-parishad and Pearul Islam, President of Volley-ball Upa-parishad.

A total of 85 sportsmen including 15 girls are taking part in the training that is being conducted by Selim Chowdhury, Rafiqul Islam Dulu, Abdul Wadud Khandaker Shahan, Shamima Yasmin Papri, Abdus Sattar and Kamal Uddin.

2 killed, 3 hurt in Jessore road mishap

Our Correspondent, Jessore

Two persons were killed and three others were injured in a road accident on Friday evening. According to eye-witnesses a Kaligonj-bound bus coming from Kotchandpur when reached near Kashipur rail crossing on Kaligonj-Kotchandpur road suddenly a Kotchandpur-bound Nocimon collided head on causing five persons to be injured seriously.

The injured were admitted into General Hospital Jessore in critical condition and half an hour later Zohurul Islam (25) of Choto Gighat under Kaligonj upazila and Sariful Islam (30) of Gobardanga under Kaligonj upazila in Jhinaidah district died in the hospital and the condition of other three is critical, hospital sources said.

Hamd, natt, gajol performed in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A child Hamd, Naat Kerat, Gojol, Islami song, cultural competition, discussion meeting, cultural function and prize distribution function relating to the religious programme was held at Gopalgonj district Shishu Academy premises, organised by Gopalganj district Shishu Academy on June 19.

S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj inaugurated the day-long programmes. Shadhan Kumar Das, Gopalgaonj district child affairs officer presided over the religious programme.

The programme was addressed among others, by Mohammad Firojul Ahsan, Gopalganj district sports Officer and Sharoj Kumar Das, Assistant Director, Mass Education Programme Gopalganj. About 100 children of the different educational institutions attended the programme.

S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj distributed prizes among the best competitors as the chief guest and Sharoj Kumar Das, Assistant Director, mass education programme Gopalganj was present as special guest and Shadhan Kumar Das, Gopalganj District Child Affairs Officer was also present.

Jamalpur pourasabha budget announced

BSS, Jamalpur

The budget of Dewanganj Pourashava for 2008-2009 fiscal has been announced at the pourasabha auditorium on Monday.

Pourashava Mayor (Incharge) Khandakar Abdus Salam Khoka announced the Taka 6,62,35,000 in presence of pourasabha councilors, local elite and journalists.

The budget session was attended by Khandaker Nazmul Islam, General Manager of Zeal Bangla Sugar Mills Limited as the chief guest while Md Khurshed Alam, a freedom fighter was present as special guest.

Construction works of Shaghata Upazila Health Complex begins

BSS, Gaibandha

The construction works of 3-storied building for Shaghata Upazila Health Complex began here on Tuesday through a simple function.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf formally laid down the foundation stone of the building as the chief guest while acting civil surgeon Dr. SMA Jalil and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Gullal Singh were present as special guests. The inaugural function was also attended by upazila health and family planning officer Dr. Nependra Nath Bormon, officer in- charge of the Thana Rezaul Islam, Dr. Mizanur Rahman and assistant engineer of Construction and Maintenance Management Unit Saiful Islam.

21 including anti-social elements held in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Police arrested a total of 21 persons including anti-social elements from different parts of the district during overnight drives conducted till 6 AM today, police sources said.

The sources said Kotwali police arrested six persons, Gangachara two, Taraganj one, Badarganj one, Mithapukur three, Pirgacha four and Kawnia police picked up four persons during the period.

The arrested persons included notorious terrorists, extortionists, addicts, gamblers, cheats, absconding accused, drug peddlers and traffickers, thieves, suspects and other anti-social elements.

Police also recovered large quantities of stolen goods, contraband Phensidyl, ganja, locally produced fermented wine and other illegal things during the drives.

All arrested persons were sent to jail hajat when police produced them before the concerned Rangpur courts today, the sources said.

News briefs

One beaten to death in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, July 3: A man was beaten to death allegedly by his neighbours at Padampal village in Sadar upazila on Tuesday midnight. Locals said Sahez Ali and his people went to the house of Abdul Mannan, 36, and beat him to death at about 12am. There had a longstanding conflict between the two families, the sources said. A case was filed against seven people, including Sahez Ali and his daughter-in-law Mahmuda, reports UNB.

8 girls rescued from Doulatdia brothel

GOALANDO (RAJBARI), July 3: Police, in a raid, rescued eight adolescent girls from Daulatdia brothel here on Tuesday. During the drive, they also arrested a pimp for forcibly engaging the girls in the flesh trade. The rescued girls were sent to the safe custody following a court order. Two cases have been filed with the *respective police station under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, reports UNB.

Human chain formed

RAJSHAHI, July 3: Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP, formed a human chain in Rajshahi College today (Wednesday) demanding release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Sources said the JCD activists of Rajshahi College unit stood hand in hand in front of its administrative building wearing black badges for about two hours from 11am demanding release of Khaleda Zia and other party detainees, reports UNB.

Transport worker shot dead in Faridpur

FARIDPUR, July 3: A transport worker was shot dead by his rival group following a clash in new bus stand area of the district town on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Raju, 27. Police said two rival groups of transport workers - one led by Sohel and another by Raju, armed with lethal weapons locked into a clash at about 11pm over establishing supremacy in the area. Sohel, who sustained critical injuries in the attack, was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Angered by the attack on Sohel, his followers fired at Raju at dead of night in same area, killing him on the spot, reports UNB.

Fertiliser seized in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, July 3: RAB members seized 68 bags of Urea fertilizers and arrested two people Tuesday early morning in Shailakupa upazila here. On secret information, the elite force raided the Choraikole Bazaar area and seized the fertilizers while being loaded in a truck to sell in the black market. They also arrested Hakim and Sobhan in this connection. A case was filed. In another incident, police arrested four snatchers from Hatgopalpur area in Sadar upazila on the same day, reports UNB.

Two thieves killed in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, July 3: Two alleged thieves were stabbed to death after a mass beating at Barni village in Tungipara upazila early Wednesday. The dead were identified as Iar Ali, 40, son of Mobarak Ali and Awlad Biswas, 45, son on Belayet Biswas of the same village. Police said the two thieves broke into Binoy Majhi's house at about 4am and started to steal valuables of the house. At one stage Binoy's wife woke up sensing the presence of the thieves and screamed for help, reports UNB.

Two bodies recovered in Jalampur

JAMALPUR, July 3: The bodies of two unidentified men were recovered from separate places in Dewanganj upazila here on Tuesday. Police said they recovered the body of a man, aged about 45, from a pond at Shahajadpur village in the morning. Police suspected that the assailants strangulated him to death after torture and dumped the body into the pond. The body was sent to district general hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.