The New Nation - Internet Edition

Heavy downpour paralyses normal life in Chittagong

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Ceaseless moderate to heavy rain backed by unusual high tide in the bay stalled civic life here in the port city and its adjoining districts for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

The downward rush from hills or uplands has either washed away standing crops, dwellings and structures or caused prolonged inundation and flashflood at the low-lying areas in the city and at places in Bandarban and Cox's Bazaar districts.

Three main rivers in the region Karnaphuli, Matamuhuri and Sangu have reportedly been flowing near the danger mark.

The stagnant rainwater, what is promoting the chances of moderate floods this monsoon, has reportedly marooned many people both in the city and in the remote hill prairies snapping vehicular traffic on Keranihat-Bandarban road.

Standing crops mainly at villages in Satkania, Pekua, Ramu, Chakaria, Ukhia apart from the valleys and prairies in Bandarban hill district have all ready been damaged.

Dozens of dwelling were washed away when an embankment at Deangpara in Ramu dismantled by the down rush of rainwater from the hills.

The ferocious tidal surge in the bay inundated two thirds of the port city today.

Local weathermen predicted no improvement of monsoon within next couple of days. More than 290 millimeters of rainfall was recorded here in the port city over the last 24 hours ended at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The sky had been covered with thick black clouds till the time of dispatching this report what might come down in the form of heavy rain at any moment.

Sources at Shah Amanat International Airport (SAIA) in Chittagong admitted that many of the flights both domestic and international had to go behind the schedule because of the inclement weather.

Presence of commuters on the city streets dropped signifi-cantly even in the working hours. Many employees of both public and private offices quit their works far ahead the formal breaking time.

The moderate shower and flashflood enhanced the suffering of the slum residents and ultra-poor either rendering them homeless or making their stay under open sky difficult.

River Sitalakhya losing navigability

A Correspondent, Rupgonj

Rajuk at last has taken possession of the Shitalakhya river bank at Rupgonj in the name of filling sand at Purbachal Suburb in Narayangonj. The contractors appointed by Rajuk have already taken possession of at least one and a half kilometre River bank while they are working here.

They have also filled sand into the river bed and have raised upto the bank level. Prior to that the local influentials initiated to install some factories on the river bed. Rajuk has added new dimension by taking possession.

A host of small and big industries have been established on both sides of the river Shitalakhya from Kanchpur bridge to Ghorashal bridge. Most of the owners are engaged in taking illegal possession of the river bed. In consequence, the river has lost its normal navigability.

Water transports cannot ply duly. Locals claim the river bed thus have gone in capturing. In this regard one of the officers of Rajuk has said it has been wrongly done and necessary action would be taken soon.

Rathajatra celebrated in befitting manner in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Hundreds of people of Hindu community ignoring inclement weather brought out joy-full procession on city roads on Friday afternoon on Rath Jatra Utsov (Chariot festival).

The devotees on this occasion draw the rope of chariot of Lord Krishna and distributed Prasad (the food offering to a deity).

International Krishna Vabonamrita Sangho (ISCON) organised the programme and after starting from Shankar Math ended at Dhamarakkhini Sava area of the city.

Participants of the program dancing and singing devoted to Lord Krishna attended a discussion programme on life and works of Lord Krishna at Dharmarakkhini Sava at evening.

Ulto Rath Jatra (the return of chariot) festival would be held on July 12 full moon and tight security measures by the law enforcers were arranged for the participants.

Bandarban Govt Girls’ College to start academic activities in August

BSS, Bandarban

Bandarban Government Girls' College (BGGC), a newly established institution here, will start its academic activities under private management in August.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Shafiq Uddin, Associate Professor of the college, has been appointed its principal.

Talking to BSS, Chairman of the Hill Districts Council (HDC) Professor Thanjama Lusai today said Taka 3 crore was spent in constructing the college in 2000. "But furniture and 18 computers of the college have been damaged due to its non-functioning so far," he said.

The HDC, the authority of running the college, has already formed a 5-member managing committee headed by Professor Thanjama Lusai.

"The enrollment of students will start next month with academic activities of the college," Professor Lusai said adding 9 tons of food were already allocated to clean the institution's four big buildings.

Road communication between Bandarban and Ctg resumes

BSS, Bandarban

The road communication between Bandarban and Chittagong has been resumed as part of the road was submerged due to incessant rain and onrush of hilly waters in the region from the upstream.

Vehicles have started plying on the road this morning as waters receded significantly.

Heavy rainfall in the region is causing untold sufferings to the people. At least one thousand katcha houses were damaged due to the landslide and over two hundred houses were washed away due to flash flood.

The farmers of the district are fearing damage to Aman seedlings if flood persists. The District Administ-ration has been monitoring the extent of damage caused by the non-stop rainfall and flash flood.

Natore pourasabha budget announced

BSS, Natore

The budget of Natore Pour-asabha for 2008-2009 fiscal has been announced at the pourasabha Conference room here on Tuesday.

Pourasabha panel mayor Mohammed Nasim Khan announced the budget of Taka 8,94,95,706 in presence of pourasabha councillors, local elite and journalists.

The budget session was attended by Natore Pourasabha Employees Union President Shahidul Islam, General Secretary Zulfiker Haider Babu and employees of the pourasabha.

53 held on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anti-crime drives, rounded up 53 persons, including a drug-peddler, on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till Friday evening.

Of them, 13 were picked up from different areas in the metropolis while 40 others from nine upazilas of the district. Police arrested the drug-peddler identified as Bulbul Hossain, 28, seized 40 bottles of Phensidyl during two separate raids at different areas in the city.

Traffic police lodged 17 cases under the Motor Vehicles ordinance and seized a motorbike without registration during drives against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document-related mal-practices in different parts of the city during the time.

10-day-long tree fair begins in Sirajganj

BSS, Sirajganj

A ten-day-long tree fair has begun on the premises of Collectorate School and College in the district town.

Deputy commissioner of Sirajganj Mohammad Ashraf Ali inaugurated the tree fair on July 2.

A total of 50 stalls were set up in the fair that will sell saplings of fruit bearing, wood, medicinal and orna-mental trees.

Besides, in Ullapara, a three-day tree fair has been inaugurated on the premises of upazila parishad on Sunday.

6 alleged dacoits arrested in Chandpur

BSS, Chandpur

Police arrested six alleged dacoits from Suchipara village under Shahrasti upazila in the district on June 25 last.

The dacoits were arrested while committing a dacoity at a marriage ceremony at Suchipara village.

Being informed, a team of police rushed to the spot and caught the dacoits red handed.

A case was filed with Shaharasti police station in this connection.

Construction of Katakhali bridge near completion

BSS, Gaibandha

The construction work of Katakhali bridge over Katakhali river at Shatitala ghat under Shaghata upazila in the district is nearing about completion. Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) is constructing the 220.20 meter long and 5.5 metre width bridge at a cost of Taka 4.6 crore under Greater Rangpur-Dinajpur Development Project.

The work started in 2006-07 fiscal and 97 percent work of the bridge has already been completed. The rest of the work will be completed at the end of the current month, official source said. The bridge would be opened for traffic in August this year, the source added.

Int’l Day against Drug Abuse held in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The International Day against Drug Abuse was observed in the Gopalganj district in a befiting mannar organised by Gopalganj District Admin-istration and the Drug Control Department recently.

The programmes included inaugurating function, pain-ting competition, discu-ssion meeting and prize distributing function.

A colourfull rally was brought out from Gopalganj district Shilpakala academy premises on June 26 at 9,30 AM which was led by Mohammad Muhamud Hossain ADM. Gopalganj and Mohammad Nazrul Islam ADB (Mohammad Nazrul Islam ADC (general) and paraded through main road of the Gopalganj town and terminated at the collection at the building premises.

A discussion meeting was held at Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner's conference room. Mohammad Mahamud Hossain ADM Gopalganj presided over the discussion meeting. The discussion meeting was addressed, among others, by M. Mansur Ali, former VP Gopalganj Government Bangabandhu University College, Zamal Chowdhury former Kasiani upazila chairman.

Naogaon Newsletter

Open house day held

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

Open house day was held under auspices of the District Police administration on June 23 at sadar thana premises, attended by Police Superintendent Md Mofazzal Hossain, presided over by the sadar thana Officer-in-Charge Md Ekramul Huq Sarker.

Mayor Abul Kassem Akanda, Additional Superintendent of Police Md Aminul Islam. Prof (Retd) Mahafuzur Rahman, poura commissioner Nazmul Huq Mantoo, ex-poura commissioner Shariful Islam and others spoke on the occasion.

Body recovered

The dead body of one wife was recovered hanging in a room on June 12.

The dead was identified as Feli Bibi (27), who was second wife of Islam Ali of Sultanpur in Mohadevpur upazila in the district. The police recovered the dead body on getting information.

The clue of her tragic death had not yet been traced out, whether she was committed suicide or murdered. Strong police investigation is urged soon about it.

Cheque handed over to widow

The Naogaon district advocates-clerk association handed over one cheque of about 69 (sixty-nine) thousand Taka of the benevolent fund to one widow Asia Khatun, of advocate-clerk, at its office premises recently, presided over by its president Sumol Karmakar.

President advocate Ziaul Huq and general secretary AZM Rafiqul Alam of Naogaon district advocate bar association and others were present.

Wheelchairs distributed

BRAC of Dhamirhat upazila in the district, distributed the wheel chairs among ten disabled children students on education programme, at its office premises, in a simple ceremony recently.

BRAC also treated eyes among the children at free of cost.

Manekshaw’s autograph

One famous Bangladeshi Autograph hunter, Mohammad Anwarul Quadir, Advocate and journalist of Naogaon district has received an (not-facsimile) autograph of Late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Indian Army Hero, in reply to his letter in 1980. Be noted Quadir has collected autographs (Not - Facsimile) and letters of more than three thousand eminent personalities of the world.

5-day children journalism training held

The five days children journalism training between 15th and 21 June, 2008, was ended recently, under auspices of National Children Task Course, cooperated by the save Children Australia, organised by local NGO Multipurpose National Development Programme (MNDP) and Bangladesh Sishu Academy, at local MNDP office at Masterpara in Naogaon municipality, presided over by executive director of local MNDP, NAM Saleh Ruzel, inaugurated by officer Noor Ali Hossain Zobeidi of district social welfare department, attended by Officer Md Mafizul Islam of district Sishu Academy as special guest.

Fifteen children of both sexes participated in it. On the concluding day, local famous autograph collector, journalist and advocate Mohammad Anwarul high Quadirlighted about children journalism training, to pave the way for bright journalism career in our country.

News Briefs

Youth slaughtered in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, July 6: A young man was slaughtered by unidentified assailants at Gobordari village in Sadar upazila on Wednesday midnight. Police said miscreants entered the house of Mushfiqur Rahman Babu, 28, and slaughtered him when he was asleep at his room. Family members found the body on Thursday morning. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Reason behind the killing could not be known immediately. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Housewife strangled after rape in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, July 6: A housewife was strangulated to death after rape by some miscreants in Moksedpur area of Patkelghata thana Thursday night. The dead was identified as Hosneara, 30, wife of Shahinur Rahman. Police said, Shahinur of Suktia village received a phone call from an unknown man at 10pm that his mother-in-law died suddenly. Hearing the sad news Shahinur immedi-ately left for his in-law's house at Jugpukuria village along with his wife Hosneara, reports UNB.

One killed in Shariatpur road mishap

SHARIATPUR, June 6: A young man was killed and two others were injured as a bus hit an auto-rickshaw at Aterpara Majhibari crossing in Naria upazila Wednesday. The dead was identified as Nibash Chowdhury, 30. Police said the speeding bus rammed into the auto-rickshaw at 12 noon leaving its driver Nantu, 30, and two passengers - Nibash and an unidentified man injured. Nibash was first admitted to a local hospital and later he died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, reports UNB.

Valuables looted in Sylhet

SYLHET, July 6: Robbers looted valuables worth over Tk 10 lakh from an expatriate's house at Bhagalpur village in Balaganj upazila here Wednesday. Sources said a gang of armed bandits knocked the door of the house of London expatriate Daras Ali at dead of night identifying themselves as police. As the inmates opened the door the bandits tied them up and looted valuables, including cash Tk 2 lakh and 30 tolas of gold, at gun point. While fleeing the house the dacoits hit Daras Ali with arms on his head leaving him senseless. Later they threw him into a ditch, reports UNB.

Tk 16 cr Gopalganj Poura budget announced

GOPALGANJ, July 6: A Tk 16.36 crore budget has been proposed for Gopalganj Pourashava for 2008-2009 financial year. Pourashava Chairman Adv Samsun-nahar announced the budget Thursday morning at the poura auditorium in presence of all classes of people, including Chief Executive officer Ashraful Momin Khan. In the proposed budget, Tk 3.83 crore has been earmarked as revenue income, reports UNB.

Tk 20 cr allocated for SUST

SYLHET, July 06: A Tk 20.20 crore budget has been allocated for Shahajalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) for 2008-2009 fiscal year. Sources said University Grants Commission (UGC) has made the allocation for the university. Registrar Office sources said the university has got a Tk 3.65 crore increased allocation for 2008-2009 financial year than the immediate past fiscal, reports UNB.