The New Nation - Internet Edition

Acute water crisis, lack of transport facilities grip Barisal city people

Tapan Chakraborty, Barisal

Two problems that are besetting the people of Barisal city most at the moment are lack of public transport within Barisal city and paucity of drinking water.

There was a proposal in 2005 for installation of a water treatment plant in the city with the help of Japanese experts. But the proposal could not be materialised due to lack of fund which was proposed to be supplied also by Japan. As a result there is severe scarcity of drinking water in the city even in this rainy season. Many middle class and affluent people have installed tubewells in their house but this may have a telling effect upon the environment.

The other problem is lack of conveyance within the city. Slow morning rickshaws and a handful of two-stroke auto rickshaw numbering less than fifty are hardly enough for the city of 33 square mile and having a population of more than five lakhs. Rickshaw fares are also exorbitantly high and ordinary people can hardly afford it. There had been strong demand from all quarters for introduction of minibus but so far without any result. These two issues should be looming factors in the forthcoming city corporation election.

Using LCC to reduce need of urea fertiliser stressed

BSS, Mymensingh

Agriculture experts at a workshop emphasised the need for using leaf colour chart (LCC) to reduce the need of urea fertiliser in the field, The workshop was held at the seminar room of the district agriculture extension office on Sunday organised by DAE aiming at applying LCC system in agriculture.

Chaired by deputy director of DAE, the inaugural session was attended by Prof. In Shah E Alam as the chief guest while secretary of Mymensingh Press Club Muzammel Haque and president of district chamber Dabir Uddin Bhuiyan were present as special guests.

Terming the LCC Technology as an effective method for increasing production of crops and to save the crops from the attack of insects experts urged the farmers to apply the method and spread their message to other farmers. They also stressed the need for massive publicity to popularise the method. a total of 50 farmers and officials of DAE took part in the workshop.

Social awareness, punishment to prevent acid terrorism underscored

BSS, Parbatipur

Speakers at a workshop here underscored the need for concerted efforts to create mass social awareness against acid terrorism and ensure the stringent punishments to the acid throwers to prevent the most heinous crime.

They also asked all people to provide immediate treatment to acid victims by showering adequate quantity of water on injured places before any other treatment for saving them from severe consequences.

They said this while addressing a day-long workshop on Prevention of Acid Terrorism organised by Dinajpur Mohila Bohumukhi Shikhkhya Kendra (MBSK) with the assistances of Action Aid Bangladesh at Parbatipur Upazila Parishad auditorium in Dinajpur recently.

With Executive Chief of MBSK Ms Razia Hossain in the chair, the workshop was attended by UNO of Parbatipur upazila M Selim Abed as the chief guest.

Officer-in-Charge of Parbatipur Thana Habibur Rahman, Medical Officer Dr Gopinath Bosak, President of Parbatipur Nagorik Committee Bikash Kanti Roy, elite Khaled Mossarraf Hossain, addressed, among others.

Morsheda Parveen Moni presented a keynote paper on the subject while Shabana Begum and Abdul Baki narrated the danger of acid terrorism and impact of the heinous crime on the acid victims and society.

Representatives of different NGOs, officials, members of the civil society, public representatives, teachers, journalists, lawyers, community leaders, women rights activists, religious leaders and elite took part in the workshop.

Several victims of acid attacks of the area were also present at the workshop and narrated their fearful experiences of the heinous crimes committed against them.

The speakers asked all stakeholders, public representatives, professional groups and elite for enhancing their concerted efforts with a view to creating social awareness against the acid terrorism for saving innocent persons. They also asked the participant doctors and nurses for utilising the knowledge they acquired from the orientation course while providing treatment to acid victims as soon as possible after the attacks.

309 CNG-run auto-rickshaws detained in Chittagong

BSS, Chittagong

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) in day-long drives today detained 309 CNG-run auto-rickshaws for non-installation of meters and not following the set fare.

Traffic police of CMP detained the vehicles from several city spots.

The CMP and BRTA had earlier asked the owners and drivers to get meters installed on their auto-rickshaws by May, later extended to June 30 and to charge from the passengers the set fares following meter reading.

But a number of auto-rickshaw drivers ignored the directives.

Out of 13,000 owners, 12,000 complied. The authorities had set Tk 14 as the fare for the first two kilometres increasing from the previous rate of Taka 13.50 and Tk 6 for each subsequent kilometre, increasing from previous Tk 5, for CNG-run auto-rickshaws.

The minimum fare was set at Tk 18, instead of previous Taka 15.

3 get life for murder in Barisal

BSS, Barisal

Three persons were sentenced to life term imprisonment by a court here on Sunday for murdering a person five and a half years ago. District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Siddiqul Arefin Chowdhury delivered the verdict in a crowded courtroom. The court also fined the convicts Taka 10,000 each in default to suffer six months more in jail.

The convicts wee identified as Dulal Mridha, Anwar Mridha and Khabir Mridha.

The court acquitted five other accused as charges against them could not be proved. They are Salam Mridha, Nur Khan, Mohammad Zahir, Mohammmad Shaheen and Badal Sikder.

The prosecution story in brief, is that, the convicts killed Sagir Mridha of Dakhkhin Sadis village of Kalaskathi union under Bakerganj upazila in the district on February 25 in 2003 following a previous enmity.

A murder case was filed against the accused on the same day and police submitted chargesheet before the court on August 17 in 2005 against eight persons.

After examining the witnesses and evidence, the judge pronounced the verdict on Sunday.

153rd Santal rebellion day observed in Chapainawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

The 153rd Santal Rebellion Day was observed in Chapainawabganj in a befitting manner on Monday.

Chapainabwabganj district until of Santal Rebellion Anniversary Observance Committee arranged day-long programmes in the district town.

The Santals brought out a colourful rally in the town in the morning that paraded the main streets of the town. Later, a discussion was held at the Shaheed Sata Hall with Adibasi leader Shyam Tudu in the chair while deputy commissioner of Chapainawabganj Md. Sirajul Haque Khan attended the meeting as the chief guest.

Among others, Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts of Rajshahi University Professor Dr Md. Amirul Momenin Chowdhury, convener of the Committee of the Concerned Citizen (CCC) Advocate Saiful Islam Reza, secretary of Chapainawabganj Press Club Mahbubur Rahman Mintu, Chapainawabganj district co-operative officer Surja Hembrom, Professor Zogendra Nath Sarker, Professor S.C.

Albert Soren, development workers Everist Hembrom, Benjamin Hasda and Bongopal Sardar spoke on the occasion.

The discussion was followed by a cultural function presented by different Adibasi cultural groups.

40 arrested in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anticrime drives, rounded up 40 persons on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till on Monday evening.

Of them, 10 were picked up from different areas in the metropolis while 30 others from nine upazilas of the district.

Traffic police lodged 33 cases under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance during drives against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document-related malpractices in different parts of the city during the time.

A disabled boy wishes to be a doctor

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Aslam (7), student of class two dreams of being a doctor to serve the disabled and the distressed in the future as he was deprived of proper treatment because of his parents' poverty. He is now a student of "Bhulta Govt Primary School" at Rupgonj, Narayangonj.

According to the Headmaster, Aslam is an extraordinary talented and promising student. One of his legs does not work well. He belongs to a poverty stricken family of 6 members. Only earning member, his father is a van driver.

Tk 100cr DANIDA projects for poverty alleviation starts in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Implementation of a hundred-crore taka project for poverty alleviation and creating self-sufficiency of the poor class has been started in Barisal division.

The project named as 'regional fishing and livestock development :

Barisal component' funded by Danish International Development Assistant (DANIDA) would be implemented in 24 upazilas of Barisal, Barguna Jhalakati,Pirojpur,Bhola and Patuakhali districts of Barisal division.

Under this project 2, 87,500 families of poor class would be included and ratio of male and female participants of the stakeholders would be 70:30, said Abdul Aziz and Joyenuddin Molla, district fishery and livestock officers on Sunday.

The project would be ended on 2012 and funds for and assistances for social fishing and livestock farming, management of fishing water resources, skill and management development training on the specified fields would be provided to the stakeholders through different government and non-government agencies and organs, the officials added.

After successful completion of this project, socio-economic status of the poor peoples of this region would be changed and developed, they hoped.

Tk 25 cr Jessore poura budget announced

BSS, Jessore

The Taka 25,22,19,000 budget of Jessore Pourasabaha for the 2008-09 fiscal year has been announced at its auditorium on Sunday.

Pourasabha Mayor SM Kamaruzzaman Chunnu announced the budget in the presence of councilors, journalists and elite of the town. The earning of the budget money included Taka 8,73,86,000 from revenue and Taka 15,41,00,000 from government grants for infrastructure development.

Infrastructure development expenditure has got highest portion of the budget which is Taka 8.50 crore while education sector received Taka 1,36,18,000 allocation and health and drainage got Taka 76.50 lakh.

3-day tree fair begins in Atrai

BSS, Naogaon

A three-day tree fair began here on the premises of Atrai Upazila Parishad on Tuesday. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) organised the fair as part of the ongoing National Tree Plantation Movement.

Deputy Commissioner of Naogaon Mohammad Shafaul Karim formally inaugurated the fair as the chief guest. Among others, Atrai UNO Gaoutom Kumar, Upazila Agriculture Officer R N Kundu and Kalikapur UP Chairman Md Hakim were present.

Various government and non-governmental organisations and private nursery owners have set up 30 stalls in the fair displaying saplings of over 150 varieties, including fruit, wood and medicinal trees.

5 get 15 years RI for possessing bombs in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

A court here today sentenced five persons to 15-year rigorous imprisonment and fined Taka 5,000 each in default to suffer six more months in jail for possessing live bombs.

The convicts are Motiar Rahman, son of Ayub Ali; Saiful Islam, son of Giasuddin, both of village Batikadanga of Chuadanga Sadar upazila of the district; Shahidul Islam, son of Mannan Mondal; Abdur Rab, son of Sultan Mondal, and Torikul Islam Raju, son of Noor Alam, all of village Thajadanga under Damurhuda upazila of the district. The court acquitted one person.

The prosecution story in brief, is that in-charge of Hijolgari police camp of Chuadanga sadar upazila of the district ASI Shahidul Islam was informed on August 26, 2006, that convict Motiar and his brother Delwar were making preparations for committing dacoity in their village Batikadanga of Sadar upazila.

The ASI immediately rushed to the village and raided the residence of Motiar and his brother Delwar. Sensing presence of police, Motiar threw a bomb on the police and tried to flee. The bomb did not explode. Police arrested Motiar, but Delwar fled. As per confession of convict Motiar four bombs were recovered from there and later other convicts were arrested from their respective residences on the next day.

A case was filed with Chuadanga Sadar police station.

The IO of the case submitted charge-sheet against the

convicts under the Explosive Act. The judge of local Special Tribuinal-1 Motahar Hossain after examining 17 witnesses and relevant documents delivered the verdict.

BNP leader dies of cardiac arrest in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

General Secretary of Chittagong North district unit of BNP, Shahjahan Siraj died of a heart attack at a clinic here at about 6.45 AM today. He was 55.

Siraj is survived by one son, one daughter, wife, mother and a host of relations to mourn his death.

Family sources said Siraj suffered a heart attack at his Jhoutala residence in the city at about 5 AM and family members brought him to Centerpoint Hospital where he died at about 6.45 AM.

Shahjahan Siraj was elected general secretary of BNP Chittagong north district unit in 1993 and had been discharging his responsibilities till his death. A large numbers of leaders and workers of BNP and its different front organisations visited the clinic to see their leader.

First Namaj-e-Janaza of Siraj was held at Jamiatul Falah Maidan at 12.30 pm. Leaders of different political parties attended it.

Kaliganj poura budget announced

BSS, Kaliganj

Kaliganj Pourasabha announced Taka 3,45,11,540 crore budget for 2008-2009 fiscal year on Sunday.

Poura Mayor Alhaj Mahbubar Rahman announced the budget at a function attended by deputy commissioner of Jhenaidah Abu Sayed Fakir as the chief guest while Police Super Jahangir Hossain Matubbar and Chairman of Mobarokganj Abdul Mannan were present as special guests.

The revenue earning and development grants have been fixed at Taka 2.08 crore while the total expenditure will be Taka 3,45,11,540.

Political leaders, journalist, local elite and the councilors of the pourasabha were present on the occasion.

One held with 5 kg hemp in Khagrachhari

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

The 30 field artillery Army on Tuesday seized 05 kilograms hemp from Moronchhara under Laxmichhari upazila while Khagrachhari Sadar Zone Army arrested 01 listed criminal from Bazar area under Sadar upazila in hill district Khagrachhari.

Sources said, acting on a tiff at about 2.30 pm of on Tuesday the 30 field artillery Army raided some houses of remote Moronchhara and recovered 05 kg hemp. Sensing the presence of army hemp businessmen ran away, sources confirmed.

Khagrachhari District Narcotics Department Inspector Mohammad Kamruzzaman admitted the incident and told the correspondent they would field a case at Laxmichhari police station as early as possible accusing those, who continued hemp business, he said.

On the other hand, earlier Sadar Zone Army arrested a listed criminal from Bus Stand area under Sadar upazila in the district.

He was identified as Tegu Chakma, S/o Ramchandra Chakma from Khezur Bagan under sadar upazila in Khagrachhari district.