The New Nation - Internet Edition

United efforts to stop domestic violence against women stressed

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a discussion at Kumarganj High School at Mithapukur upazila on Wednesday stressed the need for taking joint efforts to bring an end to violence against women (VAW) to build a better society.

They also urged the civil society leaders to come up with their realistic approaches by involving other stakeholders to achieve the desired success in such a mission that is a must for the advancement of society leading to overall social and national developments.

Mithapukur Upazila Nari Nirjatan Protirodh Jyote with the cooperation of Gaibandha Gano Unnayan Kendra (GUK) and SAFE organized the meeting titled Amrai Pari (We Can Do) with Headmaster of the High School Jahangir Alam in the chair.

Noted educationist Abdul Wahab was present as the chief guest while Mithapukur Press Club president Pradeep Kumar Goswami attended as the special guest at the meeting.

Subhash Chandra Sheel of the GUK and SAFE expert SM Hossain Badsha, addressed, among others in the meeting.

Participants including NGO representatives, civil society members, teachers, professio-nals and comm-unity leaders joined the meeting and strongly advocated for creating a countrywide awareness against the social vice.

They elaborately discussed various types of violence against women including the domestic torture and said the women have been facing such a situation in every family and all working places due to lack of awareness.

They termed the violence, abuse and torture on women and adolescents as a gross violation of human rights and suggested incorporation of the concept of gender equality in the curriculums to help students develop hatred against these evils.

Several recommendations were adopted during the discussions and the participants expressed their renewed pledge to play a pioneering role in building mass awareness for preventing violence against women to building a more civilized society.

Mass awareness to fight HIV/AIDS underscored

HIV/AIDS is spread by sexual relation with an HIV- infected person or AIDS patient, transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products sharing of HIV contaminated syringe, needle blade or other skin piercing instruments. HIV/AIDS is not transmitted by close contact like, touching, handshake adsharing meal, using of common household utensils and through sneezing, coughing, sweating and saliva with infected person.

Creating mass awareness, practicing safe sex and using condom and testing of blood or blood products before transfusion can help prevent HIV/AIDS. Being the most respected & influential persons the teachers can play a significant role to create mass awareness in this regard in their own community.

These were disclosed at a workshop on HIV/AIDS Prevention held at Dhubaura Bindubasini Girls High School under Dhubaura upazila of the district on July 03. Presided over by Anti Chisim, Health Programme Manager of Dhubaura ADP, World Vision Bangladesh, the workshop was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Dhubaura M.F Abu Baker Siddique as chief guest. District correspondent of the News Today Fazlur Rahman Siddique, Headmaster Abdul Hamid and professor Munju-ara Begum attended the workshop as special guests. Dr. Joyanta K. Nath, project Manager of Mymensingh HIV/AIDS Prevention Project presented the kyenote in the workshop. A total of 120 High School Teachers of the upazila participated in the daylong workshop.

Livestock vaccinated in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

A Livestock Vaccination campaign was held at the ground of Multipurpose Refugee Shelter at Gidari Union under Sadar upazila of the district on Sunday.

The aim of the vaccination programme was to save the lives of cattle from foot and mouth diseases and PPR, sources said.

Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) with technical assistance of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) conducted the campaign in cooperation with River Erosion Project (REP) of Practical Action Bangladesh, a UK-based international organisation.

A total of 370 cows were provided with foot and mouth diseases vaccines while 250 goats were provided with PPR vaccines.

Project manager of GUK M. Joynal Abedin, senior livestock officer of REP and the field workers of DLS were involved in the vaccination programme.

Practical Action Bangladesh under its REP has been conducting the vaccination programme in the river erosion areas of four upazilas in the district since 2004 as a part of its annual programme, said M. Mizanur Rahman, Regional Manager of REP.

Ensuring quality of education stressed

BSS, Rajbari

Speakers at a training programme asked the teachers to be more labourious for improving the quality of education in the country.

"The teachers are the instrumental in playing the vital role in attracting students towards their studies to make them worthy citizens," they added. They said this while imparting training to the teachers at the auditorium of Rajbari Government Boys School here with Shaheenur Begum, Headmistress of the School in the chair.

The training programme was held under the Secondary Education Sector Development project. Thamina Rahman, resources officer of NCTB and team leader of SESDP inaugurated the two-day programme. Among others, Amar Chandra, district secondary education officer, Aziza Khanum of Government Girls High School, Md. Safdar Ali and China Rani Das of the same school, Arabindo Chakraboty of Rajapur school and Kuntala Rani Das spoke on the occasion. A total of 140 teachers from 100 high school of the district took part in the training.

One gets 37 years RI in Jhenidah

BSS, Jhenaidah

A person was sentenced to 37 years rigorous imprisonment by a court here on Wednesday in an arms case.

The convict was identified as Chand Ahmed alias Chand, son of Abul Kashem, of Kanchannagar Wireless Para of the town.

District and Sessions Judge Rokeya Begum delivered the verdict in a crowded courtroom on Wednesday.

The prosecution story in brief, is that members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested Chand from his house on June 30 in 2007. Following his confession RAB seized two shutter-guns and two rounds of bullet from the cow-shed of one Alamgir's house at Kannyadah villge under Harinakundu upazila.

After examining the witnesses and evidence, the court delivered the judgment.

Four suspected criminals held, smuggled injections seized

BSS, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5, in different anti-crime drives, picked up four suspected criminals including three smugglers and also seized smuggled injections and phensidyl from different areas in Rajshahi and Rangpur districts during the last 24 hours till this afternoon.

They arrested the smugglers including a female identified as Hasina Begum, 35, Rajab Ali, 57, and Sultan Ahmed, 45, and seized 1900 vials of smuggled injections and 25 drug-related injections from their possession during two separate raids at different places in the two districts.

The elite force also seized 343 bottles of phensidyl during two other separate raids at different places in Rajshahi district but none could be arrested in this connection.

In another operation at Talukgachhi village under Peergachha upazila of Rangpur district, a RAB team arrested a wanted criminal of rape case identified as Alamgir Hossain, 19, son of late Mohubar Rahman of the same village.

3 killed, 35 hurt in Mymensingh road mishap

BSS, Mymensingh

At least 3 persons including a woman were killed and 35 others injured when two passenger buses collided head-on at Taldighi under Phulpur upazila on Mymensingh- Haluaghat road on Thursday morning.

Police and locals said, the accident took place as Dhaka bound passenger bus from Sherpur collided head on with another bus coming from the opposite direction at around 10 am today. Three passengers died on the spot while 35 others injured.

One of the deceased was identified as Rabeka, 30, an employee of Phulpur upazila land office. Of the injured eight were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital while rest of the injured were admitted to Phulpur Upazila Health Complex and clinics.

Being informed UNO Abdul Awal of Phulpur, additional deputy magistrate Nazmul Hasan Khan and OC of Phulpur police station visited the spot.

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

Illegal electricity line Govt being deprived of huge revenue in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A group of dishonest electricity workers are amassing ill gotten money setting up illegal power linking at houses and factories of Rupshi, Kazipara, Noapara, Tarabo, Moikhuli, Bagmara areas under the Rupganj Upazilla, Naray-anganj.

Local sources said bigwigs of the sector might have close contact with this misdeed committed by dishonest activists.

Consequently, the government is being deprived of huge taxes and revenues. On the other hand, load shedding is increasing day by day due to this anomaly.

The locals demand punitive action against the unholy business.

66 get GPA-5 from Panchagarh BP Govt High School

Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

66 students have obtained GPA-5 (A+) from Panch-agarh B.P. Govt. High School in the SSC exami-nation 2008. 28 Students have got Golden GPA-5 and 38 students have obtained normal GPA-5.

Head Teacher Md. Akhtarajjaman said, this school is the best School of the district as the result is the best result of Pancha-garh District in last 3 years.

He also said in 2006, 56 have got GPA-5 while 22 have got Golden GPA-5 and year 2005, 54 have got GPA 5 while 20 Golden GPA 5.

Bus fare in Ctg re-fixed at Tk 1.08 per kilometre

BSS, Chittagong

The authorities today re-fixed the fare to be charged by bus, mini bus, human hauler (smaller buses) operators in the port city at Tk 1.08 per kilometre, up from Tk 1.

They took the decision at a joint meeting between traffic department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and the Bus Mini Bus Malik Samity (BMBMS)--the owners' association, held at the traffic office.

The operators would charge a minimum of Taka three per person, up from Taka two, according to the decision. Chaired by CMP deputy commissioner traffic Abu Sufian BMBMS representatives attended.

Besides, a discussion meeting was held on the occasion of the 'open house day' at Doublemooring police station in the city. Mohammad Habibur Raghman, CMP Deputy Commissioner port spoke as the chief guest.

Gas connection in Rupganj demanded

A Correspondent, Rupganj

The over populous Barpa, Areabo, Tetalabo, Moikuli, Sutalara of Rupgonj, Narayanganj have been out of gas connection even now. The many industries such as, Altex Industries, Lition Fabrics, ACS Textiles, HS Textiles Onteem Nit Ltd. and many other small industries are located in these localities. Thousands of workers, officers, traders and other service-holders including locals are living in those areas.

In the meantime a number of houses have been built in these localities. Any kind of fuel without gas is very vulnerable to use.

The government will also be more benefited in revenues and taxes if the gas connection is ensured in the areas. Dwellers demand gas connection to the concerning authority without any delay.

Chandpur launch ghat shifted

BSS, Chandpur

Chandpur launch ghat has been shifted to Madrasa Road from the old launch ghat on Friday. The launch ghat has been shifted due to strong current in the Meghna river during the rainy season.

The facilities at the new launch ghat are not sufficient and the passengers complained that they have been suffering from problems as there is no passengers sheds and ticket counters.

Besides, there is no arrangement of toilets and waiting rooms for passengers. The authorities should have arranged the facilities before the shifting of the launch ghat, they said.

500-gram hemp seized in Barisal

BSS, Barisal

Police seized 500 grams of hemp from Sreepur village under Hizla upazila in the district on Tuesday. The arrested was identified as Azizul Rarhi, 18, of village Sreepur.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the police led by SI Mohiuddin of Hizla Thana raided the house and arrested Azizul with the hemp.

A case was lodged with Hizla Thana in this connection.

News briefs

Two hundi traders held in Comilla

COMILLA, Jul 11: Two hundi traders were arrested along with Tk 40 lakh from Paduabazar area in Sadar South upazila Tuesday morning. Acting on a tip-off, police halted a Chaddagram-bound bus and arrested Anwar Hossain and his brother Shah Alam from it. They later recovered the money and 10 tokens of hundi from their possession. The two siblings hailed from Deiara village in Chaddagram upazila of the district, reports UNB.

One killed in Dinajpur road mishap

DINAJPUR, Jun 11: A bus driver was killed and 50 people were injured in a collision between two buses at Bokipul in Sadar upazila Tuesday morning. The dead was identified as Altaf Hossain, 50, driver of RP Paribahan. Police said a Dhaka-bound bus of Nabil Paribahan collided head-on with another bus of RP Paribahan bound for Thakurgaon at about 9am, killing the driver on the spot and injuring 50 people traveling on the vehicles. Of the injured, 25 were admitted to Sadar Hospital while 15 to Syedpur Upazila Health Complex in neighbouring Nilphamari district, reports UNB.

Weeklong tree fair begins in B'baria

BRAHMANBARIA, July 11: A weeklong tree fair began here at Poura Mukto Mancha in the town here Monday. District administration, Forest Department and Department of Agriculture Extension jointly organized the fair. Additional Deputy Commi-ssioner Azizul Alam inaugurated the fair. Different kinds of saplings of fruit bearing, medicinal and herbal trees were displayed in 23 stalls of the fair, reports UNB.

Smuggled Indian goods seized in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, July 11: Police arrested a man alongwith Indian smuggled goods, worth over Tk 1 lakh, from a bus in the district town on Monday morning. Acting on a tip-off, a team of CID police raided a Mymensingh-bound bus at Koddar crossing at about 7:45am and arrested Mizanur Rahman. They also recovered 380 packets of Indian cumin seed and imitation ornaments from his possession. A case has been filed in this connection, UNB.

3 BNP activists arrested in Natore

Natore, July 11: Police, in a raid, arrested three BNP activists from Ramsar Kazipur and Chhoto Singra villages in Naldanga upazila Monday night. The arrested are Sabuj, Altaf Hossain and Anis. Police said they conducted the raid following a case filed on Monday evening against 22 BNP leaders and activists including former Deputy Minister Ruhul Quddus Talikder Dudlu and his family members, reports UNB.

Tk 53.07 cr Jamalpur poura budget announced

JAMALPUR, July 11: A Tk 53.07 crore budget of Jamalpur pourashava for 2008-09 fiscal year has been announced Monday without imposing any new tax. Pourashava mayor Adv. Shah Md Wares Ali Mamun announced the budget at pourashava auditorium in presence of ward commissio-ners, journalists and the elite. In the proposed budget Tk 53.07 crore has been earmarked as revenue income while Tk 52.24 crore as expenditure, reports UNB.

Youth stabbed to death in Mymensingh

MYMENSINGH, July 11: A young man was stabbed to death by another youth on Muktagachha Degree College campus in Muktagachha upazila Monday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Robin. Police said one Rahat Ahmed stabbed Robin indiscriminately while he (Robin) was talking to his girlfriend on the campus at about 2pm. Robin was rushed to Muktagachha Hospital in a critical condition where doctors declared him dead, the said, reports UNB.