The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to bring char people under existing state facilities for overall dev

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The speakers stressed the need for bring the neglected and underprivileged char people under all kinds of existing facilities of the state by ensuring overall developments including health, education, agriculture and commu-nication sectors thro-ugh the concerted efforts of GO and NGO working in the char areas of the district.

They said this in a day-long workshop entitled "Coordination of GO and NGO officials in the development of livelihoods of char people" at the auditorium of public library and club of the town here on June 30, sources said.

Friendship, a reputed non-government organization of the country working in the district since 2002 on different programmes inclucing health, Immunisation, education, family planning, relief, reconstruction disaster, watsan and income generating for the people of chars and riverine areas organized the workshop in cooperation with Manusher Jonyo Foundation.

Dr. M Reazul Islam, deputy director of family planning department, addressed the workshop as chief guest while Dr. Prodip Kumar Karmoker, Sadar Upazila health and family planning officer and Dr M Rafiqul Islam, medical officer of civil surgeon office, were present as special guests.

Presided over by Dr. Nazrul Islam, Fulchari upazila health and family planning officer, the workshop was also addressed among others, by project coordinator of Friendship M. Rafiquzzaman Pallab, Journalist Gobinda Lal Das, District Correspondent of the BSS M. Shahiduzzaman and social worker Abdul Mannan.

The speakedrs urged the officials of GO and NGO to ensure and to increase the services on health, educdation, agriculture and communication for the development of char p;eople giving the high importance on education for the children of char people to make them educated and worth citizens of the country. They laid emphasis on the establishment of schools and colleges in the char areas.

They also stressed the need for creating much awareness on different issues like family planning, early marriage and santitation among the char people to change their traditional attitudes.

More than 70 government officials, NGO officials and workers, public representatives, imams, teachers and local elite including the journalists took part in the workshop.

An appeal of a family

Poet Zakir Ibn Solaiman is one of the SIDR stricken people of Bangladesh. His tinshed houses at Madhukhali in Tungipara, Gopalgonj were destroyed completely in SIDR, a severe cyclone that destroyed the south south-eastern parts of Bangladesh.

Zakir Ibn Solaiman lives there along with his mother, brothers and sisters. After SIDR he could not reconstruct his house for want of money. Now his mother, brothers and sisters are living in a pitiable condition in one of his neighbour's house, says a press release.

Months have passed away. But no government, non-government or local administration has taken initiative to help him erect a house on the land where three tinshed houses were there.

By losing house Zakir Ibn Solaiman faced a loses of abut 4 to 5 lakh taka. Owing his severe insolvency he is seeking economic help from national and International donor agencies.

As a full time writer Zakir Ibn Solaiman has been working in the field of history, literature and culture for a long time.

He wrote many books. Active in many cultural organisations. His important books are: E Raat Tomar Amar, Sukher Naharey, Tutbari Dakshinpara, Meyeti Katha Rakheni, Je Banshi Aajo Bazeni, Kazli, Je Chokhey Dhusar Aakash Piritir Moyna, Modhukhalir Bankey etc.

He got many awards incuding Poet Abdul Hasan Gold Medal Jharnadhara Sahitya Purashkar, Natyakala Academy Award, Poet Abu Zafar Obaidullah Award are important.

Contact Address: Rebeya Parvin SB. 7379, Sonali Bank, Patgati Branch, Gopalgonj.

Female workers in Rupganj being deprived of all facilities

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Female workers are mostly neglected and deprived of all facilities at Rupganj. They are paid low payment. The workers are involved in work at garment factories, jute mills and textile mills. The garment sector is one of the sourcs of earning foreign currency and the development of the socio economic condition of Bangladesh. Thousands of garment factories, have been established in our country as it is a highly profitable sector in the world market.

About one hundred garment & other factories have been established from Kanchpur to Bhulta. At least 3 lakho workers work in these factories. 90% of them are female workers. Most of the female workers are deprived, neglected & distressed. Some of them are widows, orphanages, helpless & abandoned by their husbands. All are being deprived in spite of their hard working.

The neglected are leading inhuman lives. They are paid only Tk 1600/1700 per month as salary.

They have to work 12 hours a day in unhygienic atmosphere. They do not get any medical facility from the authority.

Most of the time they have to fall victims of sexual harassments, they cannot sue against the criminals due to their prestige.

11 fishermen abducted in Bay

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A gang of armed pirates looting about 20 fishing trawlers abducted eleven crew and fishermen demanding ransom of taka 50 per head for the releases of the hostages on early Sunday night at Kachikhali area of the bay between Patharghata and Sundarbon coast.

Golam Mustafa Chowdhury, president of the Barguna district trawler owners association, stating these facts said that more than 20 fishing trawlers anchored and took shelter inside Kanchikali canal near Sundarbans coast due to stormy weather on Saturday evening.

A gang of armed pirates started attack on those trawlers on early Sunday night and looted valuables worth ten lakhs taka and took eleven fishermen and crew as hostages from those trawlers with them.

Crews of FB Nasir-1, one of the victimized trawlers after returning to Patharghata coast on Sunday noon telling the facts further said that the pirates directed the trawler owners to come Sundarbon coast hoisting special marked flags for giving per head Tk. 50 thousand to free the hostages as early as possible, Muustafa added.

Local administration and law and order enforcing authorities informed about the incident and till this report no initiative has been taken to recover and free the hostages and panic has been created among the fishermen after starting piracy in the bay as Hilsha catching season just resumed, he further told.

Corrected results of this year’s SSC exam under Sylhet Education Board republished

UNB, Sylhet

The flawed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination results of 188 schools under the Sylhet Education Board were republished Thursday after the correction of errors that had downgraded many examinees.

The education board authority Wednesday informed that technical faults were found in the number sheets of this year's SSC examination under the board.

Official sources said that a number of SSC examinees came out unsuccessful abnormally in 'Computer' subject in the exam results published all over the country on June 26. After the results were published, a number of schools, including Sylhet Cadet, prayed to the board authority for confirming their results.

Later, the authorities checked the result sheets and found the problem. They published the corrected results redistributing marks in 'Computer' alone.

As per the corrected results, 623 SSC examinees secured GPA-5 against 592 shown in the previous results.

Although the corrected results have not raised the pass rate under the education board, the number of GPA-5 holders rose by 31, GPA-4 by 45 while GPA-3.5 by eight.

Of the 31 examinees who secured GPA-5 as per the mended results, 26 are from Science while five from Commerce.

Education Board Chairman Dr ASM Khaleq, during yesterday's press conference, regretted the inconveniences and said that "legal actions" would be taken against those responsible for the bungling.

Earlier, the results of SSC and equivalent examinations 2008 under Sylhet Education Board were published simultaneously with other boards on June 26 with a pass percentage of 53.88.

Sona Masjid land port makes record earning in revenue

UNB, Chapainawabganj

In the second year of its full-fledged functioning Sona Masjid land port made a record earning of about Tk 192.36 crore in revenue during the fiscal 2007-08.

The businessmen here said despite different barriers and ban on importing 40 products, the land port made the record in revenue income due to its proper management.

The authority of Sona Masjid, started its journey as full-fledged land port at the beginning of 2006, earned Tk 192.36 crore in revenue against the target of Tk 120.64 crore during the 2007-08 fiscal year, which was Tk 72 crore more than the target.

Of the total, the port realized Tk 12.27 crore in July, Tk 8.50 crore in August, Tk 14.61 crore in September, Tk 18.01 crore in October, Tk 14.68 crore in November, Tk 13.15 crore in December, Tk 12.75 crore in January, Tk 19.40 crore in February, Tk 26.76 crore in March, Tk 15.86 crore in April, Tk 11.66 crore in May and Tk 24.67 crore in June during the last fiscal.

The amount of revenue collection was Tk 104.66 crore during the fiscal 2006-07, port sources said.

At present, ban on importing 40 products including milk powder, paper, bicycle, motor parts, television parts and tobacco paper through the port is continuing.

While contacted, Assistant Custom Commissioner of the land port Shahid Haider said Sona Masjid port was able to collect record amount of revenue during the last fiscal year due to good management and congenial atmosphere for business.

Joint Convener of C&F agent association Shamiul Haque Liton said the government has imposed ban on importing over 40 products which went against the interest of the businessmen. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the ban.

He said "With the withdrawal of the ban the amount of revenue income in the port will definitely rise in future."

Housewife beaten to death in Jessore

Our Correspondent, Jessore

Young housewife was strangled to death alleged by her husband and his family members at village Bhagolpur under Jessore Sadar upazila in the district on 25th June for dowry. The victim was identified as Sufia Begum (27), daughter of Hossain Ali of Bhagolpur village under Jessore Sadar upazila in the district.

According to police and family sources of the victime, one young man Azizul Islam, son of Sirajul Fakir of village Sajiali under Kotwali thana in the district, married Sufia Begum daughter of Hossain Ali of Bhagolpur village under Kotwali thana in the district 10 years ago. After marriage husband and his family members started torturing Sufia Begum for dowry. The father of Sufia gave some money to his son-in-law for the safety of his daughter but Azizul could not satisfied with this poor money and he again started torturing to Sufia. At one stage Sufia returned to her father's house four years ago. Later Azizul refused to back her to his house, consequently Sufia lodged a case with the Court and later she filed another case with the family court.

When Azizul thought that he would be punished by the court he kidnapped Sufia on 25th June and strangled her to death at night and put the body near a jackfruit garden and fled away. A case was lodged with the Kotwali thana in this connection accusing 3 persons including her husband Azizul.

Training course for school teachers held in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A three-day-long training course of the teachers and mistresses of the pre-primary and adult education centres under the Mondir (Temple)- based child and mass education programme project was held at its district office premises, organised by Mandir based child and mass education programme project Gopalganj District Office on June 27, 28, and 29.

S. M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj, was inaugurated the three-day training course. Dipankar Kumar Biswas Assistant director, Mandir based child and mass education programme project, Gopalganj district office, presided over the three-day long training course inauguration programme.

The three- day function was addressed among others by Moulana Anisuzzaman Sikder, Deputy Director Islamic Foundation Gopalganj District Office, Mohammad Kawsher Hossion Lecturer Gopalgonj Government Bangabandhu University College, Paritosh Biswas Field Superviser Mandir based child and mass Education Programme project Gopalganj office, Kabi Rabindranath Adhikari, Tapan Bhattacharya, 100 teachers and Mistress were given.

Madaripur poura budget announced

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

A surplus budget of Madaripur Pourashava for the fiscal year 2008-2009 was announced by Chowdhury Nurul Alam Babu in the conference room of Madaripur Pourashava in a press conference of 10 AM on July 2.

In the budget the proposed revenue income is Taka 2 crore 49 lakh 9311, while the proposed revenue expence Taka 2 crore 34 lakh 26,000. The amount of surplus revenue income was Taka 14 lakh 83 thousand and 311.

The councillors of different wards of the pourashava were present on the occasion. The mayor answered the various questions of the journalists.

Woman crushed under Wheels of truck In Naogaon

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

One woman was killed under the wheel of one running truck at Hagir Morh on Gabtali Sathra road in Niamatpur upazila in the district recently.

The dead was identified as Hasina (55), wife of Afaz Uddin in Manda upazila in the district, who was traveling on a van.

The public caugh the driver of the truck and also seized the truck.

4 drug peddlers held, phensidyl seized in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in different anticrime drives, rounded up four suspected drug-peddlers and seized Phensidyl from different areas in two northern districts during the last 24 hours till yesterday afternoon, RAB sources here said.

They arrested Rubel Hassan alias Bijoy, 19, Hassan Ali, 28, Anwar Hossain, 38, and Monsur Ali, 25 and seized 272 bottles of Phensidyl during four separate raids at different places in Rajshahi and Joypurhat districts.

The arrested persons and the seized drug items were handed over to the concerned police stations.

Separate cases were filed in these connections.

Chandina pourasabha budget announced

BSS, Comilla

The budget of Chandina Pourasabha for 2008-2009 fiscal has been announced at the pourasabha auditorium here on Tuesday. Pourasabha mayor Mohammed Abdul Mannan Sarker announced the Taka 9,4,42,701 budget in presence of pourasabha councilors, local elite and journalists.

The budget session was attended by Chandina pourasabha secretary Shamsul Alam, Pourasabha Officers and elite.

Fisherman killed by tiger in Sundarban

BSS, Satkhira

One fisherman was killed by a tiger at Sandarban under Shamnagar upazila the district on Wednesday evening.

The victim was identified as Kawsar Ali Mali, 45, son of Anwar Mali of Sora village under Shamnagar upazila of the district.

Family sources said, some fishermen went to the Kalagachi river at Sundarban for catching fish. During the fishing, a tiger attacked them and caught Kawsar Ali.

Prize distribution of Narsingdi Foundation held

BSS, Narsingdi

The general meeting of Narsingdi Foundation and stipend distribution among 59 meritorious students was held at Deputy Commissioner's conference room on Sunday.

With Mostafa Kamal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) in the chair, the function was attended by Zillar Rahman, Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the Narsingdi Foundation as the chief guest.

It was addressed, among others, by Mohammad Ali, former Principal of Narsingdi Government College, Prof. Shah Halimuzzaman, Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of Narsingdi Press Club, Mosharaf Hossain, president of Narsingdi Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of the foundation Sarker Adam Ali, journalists Halal Miah, Muslim Uddin Mollah, Sattar Bhuiyan and Momen Sarker.

Each of the students was given Taka 2,500 as stipend.

RDRS conducts cattle vaccination programme in Kaliganj

BSS, Hatibandha

Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) conducted a cattle vaccination programme at Rupali Singhimari Federation ground in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat to save lives of cattle from different diseases on Monday.

The NGO, with assistance of Upazila Livestocks Department organised the cattle vaccination as part of its regular annual programme of vaccinating cattle to save their lives from various diseases including Khurarog, Gola Phula, Torka and Badla.

Hatibandha Upazila Livestock Officer Dr Jahangir Alam and Assistant Upazila Manager (Livestocks) of RDRS Sharifa Pasha conducted the vaccination programme in presence of the owners of the cattle, local public representatives.

A total of 910 cows were provided with vaccines.

News briefs

Valuables looted in Patuakhali

Potuakhali, July 4: Armed robbers looted cash and valuables worth over Tk one lakh from an expatriate's house at Jamalkathi village in Baufal upazila early Monday. Police said the gang numbering 4/5 stormed into the house of Firoz Ahmed late at night and looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables at gun point. The robbers at one stage hacked Firoz's father Joinal Abedin, 70, and sister Akbar Mullika Mukul, 25, indiscriminately as they shouted for help, leaving them critically injured. The injured were rushed to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

Imam of mosque killed in Sylhet

Sylhet, July 4: An Imam of a local mosque was killed by unidentified terrorists in Golapganj upazila headquarters on Sunday night. The victim was identified as Maulana Matiur Rahman, 40, Imam of Baghaitila Jame Mosque of Golapganj poura area. Matiur Rahman, son of Abdus Salam, hailed from Ajimganj village in Baralekha upazila of Moulvibazar district had been residing in Golapganj for last 15 years. Local people said the terror gang attacked and stabbed Matiur to death when he was returning to his mosque after having dinner at nearby Kabir Ahmed Chowdhury's house at about 10pm, reports UNB.

One killed in Chandpur road mishap

Chandpur, July 4: A truck driver was killed and 10 other people were injured when a bus collided head on with a truck on Chandpur-Comilla highway in Shaharasti upazila on Monday. The deceased was identified as Kazi Shahjahan, 45, hailed from Toraghar village in Hajiganj upazila. Police said the passenger packed Comilla-bound bus from Chandpur collided head on with a truck coming from the opposite direction in Rara area on the highway, injuring 11 people including the truck driver. The injured were rushed to the local health complex where the truck driver succumbed to his injuries. A case was filed, reports UNB.

5 robbers sentenced to 15 yrs imprisonment in Chuadanga

Chuadanga, July 4: Five robbers were sentenced to 15 years rigorous imprisonment each in a bomb explosion case by a special court here on Tuesday. The court also fined the convicts Tk 1,000 each, in default, to serve six months more in prison. The convicts are Matiar Rahman, son of Ayub Ali and Saiful Islam, son of Giasuddin of Batikadanga village, Tariqul Islam, son of Noor Alam, Andur Rab, son of Sultan Mandal, Shahidul Islam, son of Sanwar Mandal of Jhajhadanga village in Damurhuda upazila. According to the prosecution, the convicts hurled bombs targeting the policemen while they were committing robbery at Matiar's house at Batikadanga in Damurhuda upazila on August 26, 2006, reports UNB.

Free eye camp held in Sylhet

Sylhet, July 4: Grameen-phone organised a day-long free eye camp with the help of Sight Savers International at the city's United Centre on Monday. This was the 9th free eye camp organised jointly by Grameenphone and Sight Savers International. Grameenphone corporate affairs director Khalid Hasan, its regional head of sales department Moshi-us-Samad, DGM corporate affairs Abu Mamun Hashmi and country representative of Sight Savers International Dr Wahidul Islam were present at the inaugural session. Some 1,421 eye patients were given routine examinations, medicines and prescriptions, reports UNB.