The New Nation - Internet Edition

'Tree plantation to stop desertification in Barind area stressed’

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at the closing ceremony of a fortnight-long tree fair here said massive tree plantation could help stop desertification in the vast tract of Barind area, besides maintaining a sound environment and bio-diversity. Raising of more forests through tree plantation to expand the forests area up to 25 percent of the total land will protect the country from any possible ill-effects of climate change, they said.

Jointly organised by Rajshahi District Adminis-tration, Social Forestry Division (SFD) and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) at the historic Madrasha maidan, the fair was arranged as part of the ongoing National Tree Plantation Campaign. Government and non-government organisations, nursery owners and local entrepreneurs set up 50 stalls on the fair ground displaying saplings of over 150 varieties. The saplings included fruit-bearing trees, timber and medicinal trees. Saplings of different varieties worth around Taka 13 lakh were sold during the fair.

Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Ibrahim Khalil, Divisional Forest Officer of SFD Delwar Hossain, Deputy Director of DAE Braja Haridas, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abdul Barik and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Development) Satyandra Kumar Sarker addressed the function. The speakers urged the people from all walks of life to plant more trees to maintain ecological balance.

They called upon the city dwellers to plant more saplings to maintain ecological balance.

They said all concerned should put in their best efforts to make the region green by increasing forest area. The speakers termed tree plantation as an investment and said many people have now been changing their lots through setting up nurseries and developing fruits garden.

They urged all to plant at least three saplings each in their respective homesteads or on any open space to help maintain environmental and ecological balance to save the country from any future catastrophe.

Tk 9.93 lakh distributed among distressed in Kishoreganj

BSS, Kishoreganj

A total of Taka 9.93 lakh was distributed among distressed people under Army-assisted Pisciculture programme in the main canal of Teesta Barrage Project (TBP) at Nilphamar of Kishoreganj upazila on Wednesday.

Each of the 993 poor was given Taka 1000 as first phase profit in the season at separate simple ceremonies at Magura Fulerghat, Rajeeb and Zurakhanda points along side with the TBP.

Kishoreganj UNO Shamsul Azam, District Fisheries Officer of Nilphamari S I Goldar, Upazila Fisheries Officers Shah Newaz Siraji (Kishoreganj) and Shah Imam Jafar (Sadar), Sadar UP Chairman Anisur Rahman were present.

World Population Day observed in befitting manner in Rajbari

BSS, Rajbari

The World Population Day- 2008 was observed here in a befitting manner on Friday.

The programme of the day included colourful rally, discussion meeting and prize distribution. A rally was brought out from District Collectorate building premises that paraded main streets of the town at about 9.00 a.m.

Deputy Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman, Civil Surgeon Dr. Bazlul Haque and Deputy Director, of Family Planning of the district Md. Habibur Rahman led the rally. A lively discussion was held at JC's conference room at 10.00 a.m. Habibur Rahman Deputy Director presided over the meeting. Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman attended the meeting as chief guest while Dr. Md. Bazlul Haque was present as special guest.

They opined that family planning programme could save many mothers' lives as it is a high impact intervention that improve women health.

They said family planning is an essential tool to empower women, bring gender equality and fight poverty.

They said, population explosion has become a challenge for the country, which can only be solved with equal participation of both male and female.

The discussion and other programmes were jointly arranged by Rajbari District Administration and Deputy Director office of Family Planning, Rajbari.

Relief and Rehabilitation Department implements 631 projects in Pirojpur

UNB, Pirojpur

Relief and Rehabilitation Dep-artment implemented 631 development projects in the district utilizing 828 mts of rice under Rural Infrastructure Maintenance programme during the last fiscal year.

Of the total, 63 projects were implemented in Sadar upazila, 60 in Zianagar, 90 in Nazirpur, 94 in Bhandaria, 63 in Kaukhali, 119 in Mathbaria and 108 in Nesarabad upazilas.

Besides, the department implemented 12 uplift projects in Pirojpur pourashava and 11 each in Mathbaria and Swarupkati pourasavas.

The projects included repairing roads, construction of bamboo-made bridges and earth filling of religious institutions.

Meanwhile, the department also implemented 611 projects in the district at a cost of Tk 2.50 crore under Kabita (Money for Work) programme.

Of the total, 69 projects were implemented in Sadar upazila, 38 in Zianagar, 97 in Nazirpur, 82 in Bhandaria, 53 in Kaukhali, 101 in Mathbaria and 125 in Nesarabad. Besides, 29 projects were implemented in Pirojpur pourashava, nine in Mathbaria and eight in Nesar-abad pourashavas.

One held with two pipe guns in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized two pipe-guns and arrested a notorious terrorist from his house in village Zanki Ghuriakhal under Sadar Upazila here on Wednesday morning, RAB and police sources said.

Acting on a secret information, a special RAB team from Rangpur camp led by Camp Commander Lieutenant Commander Saiful Islam, conducted a sudden raid to the house of the terrorist and arrested him at 6 AM.

As per confessional statements of the arrested, the elite force recovered two locally made pipe-guns after digging in the floor of the bedroom of the criminal.

The arrested terrorist was identified as Rashedul Kabir, 35, son of Abdus Samad of the village.

Sub-Inspector Nur Hossain of RAB-5 filed a case in this connection and handed over the arrested and seized illegal arms to Kotwali police station, the sources said.

Week-long tree fair begins in Narail

BSS, Narail

A week-long tree plantation campaign and tree fair began on the premises of Narail Government Victoria College in the district town on Thursday.

Local Administration, Department of Forest and Agriculture Extension Department (DAE) arranged the fair. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Sarder inaugurated the fair as the chief guest with Deputy Director of DAE Mohammad Nazrul Islam Mondol in the chair.

Police Super Kamrul Ahsan, Jessore divisional forest Officer Rakibul Hasan Mukul, Additional Deputy Commiss-ioner (general) Mohammad Zahangir Alam, Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad Swapan Kumar, Principal of Narail Government Victoria College Prof Mohammad Zamal Hossain and Sadar upazila agriculture officer Mohammad Rifatul Hossain, addressed, among other.

A colourful rally was also brought out in the district town on the occasion. Thirty stalls were erected displaying various species of saplings.

2 killed, 4 hurt in separate incidents in two districts

BSS, Sirajganj

One person was killed and four others injured in a road accident at the west square of Jamuna bridge on Thursday.

Police said the accident took place when a Bogra-bound microbus dashed a truck coming from the opposite direction, leaving an unknown man dead on the spot.

The injured were sent to Sirajganj hospital. Police seized the truck but the driver and helper managed to flee.

A case was lodged with concerned police station in this connection.

BSS Santahar adds: A housewife was killed after a train hit her at rail crossing near Santahar railway junction in Adamdighee upazila under Bogra district on Wednesday, police said.

The victim Mazeda Begum, 45, wife of Solaiman Ali of Kashimala village in the upazila received serious injuries after being hit by the Parbatipur-bound inter-city train Rupsha from Khulna while she was crossing the rail gate. She succumbed to her injuries at a local clinic.

A UD case was filed with Santahar Government Railway Police station in this connection.

Shanta Marium Varsity protests ETV news

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Coordinator of Shanta Marium University of Creative Techn-ology, Mymensingh Study Centre protested a news item aired on ETV on June 26 and June 27. At a press conference held at Mymensingh Press Club recently, M Ahmad Ali Mallick, the Coordinator termed the ETV report as baseless, false and controversial.

He also told the press conference that the University has been running its activities since 2005 at the campus of Hazi Kasem Ali College in the district town. As the college governing body did not permit the Study Centre to run its course there, the activities of the study center was shifted to DS Aleea Madrasah in the town from Hazi Kasem Ali College earlier.

He also told the press conference that the Study Centre maintains all the rules and regulations of the government. "We conduct the courses under permission of Shanta Marium University of Creative Technology, a university recognised by the Government and University Grants Commission", the Coordinator added.

Admission in B.Ed courses are stopped now following the decision of the present government but the courses of the students admitted earlier are on, it was also said. So we protest the controversial report of ETV, the Coordinator added.

Voter lists, ID cards delivered in Panchagarh

Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

Final voter list with Photographs and ID cards of five Upazilas in Panchagarh District were formally delivered at Panch-agarh Circuit House.

Deputy Commissioner, Dist-rict Election Officer, five Upazila Executive Officers were present on the occasion. Brig Commanders of 22 Infantry Division Brigadier General Abu Belal Md. Shafiul Haque was present as the chief guest at the function who handed over this lists. District Election Officer Md. Robiul Islam was also present on the occasion. Deputy Commiss-ioner of Panchagarh Md. Hafiz Uddin presided over the meeting.

The function was also attended, among others, by Commander of Joint Forces Lt. Col. Abu Monsur Md Ashraf Khan, PSC, Superintendent of Police Md. Harun-or-Rashid and Mayor of Panchagarh Municipality Md. Touhidul Islam.

A total of 544500 voters under Panchagarh Zilla have been registered in the final voter list.

Foundation of SSSC laid in Syedpur

BSS, Syedpur

The foundation stone of the academic building of Syedpur Sunflower School and College (SSSC) was laid down at its premises in Syedpur Upazila town of Nilphamari district on Thursday.

The Education Engineering Department (EED) of Nilphamari will construct the academic building at a cost of about Taka 36 lakh during current fiscal year.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Syedpur Upazila Sabina Alam formally laid the foundation stone as the chief guest at a simple ceremony, chaired by President of the Governing Committee of the SSSC Aminul Islam.

Advisory Principal of SSSC Prof Abdul Kadir, its Principal Prof Mokhlesur Rahman, educationists Azmal Haque Sarker and Abdul Karim, EED Engineer Abul Hossain and teacher Johurul Islam were present.

One killed, 20 injured in Chandpur accident

BSS, Chandpur

One person was killed and 20 persons were injured when a passenger bus and a truck collided near Radha on Chandpur-Comilla road under Shaharasti Upazila in the district on Friday.

The dead was identified as Mohammad Saju, 40, driver of the ill-fated truck.

Police said the Comilla bound passenger bus from Chandpur and a truck coming from opposite direction collided head on leaving the truck driver dead on the spot. Twenty passengers of the bus were also injured.

The movement of vehicles on Chandpur-Comilla road remained suspended for two hours. The seriously injured passengers were admitted to Shaharasti and Jajeeganj Upazila Health Complexes.

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

Mystery shrouds arrest of Delwar killers

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A private car driver, Delwar Hossain (29) of Ghandarbopur village, under Tarabo pouras-hava, Rupganj, Naraya-nganj was killed in broad daylight allegedly by terrors on 3 August 2007 at Madhubazar area of Dhanmondi-15. Terrors shot Delwar at randon while he was drinking tea sitting on a bench of a stall at about 2 PM at Madhubazar near Rayer Bazar.

Terrors were able to escape from the scene after confirming his death. Panic spreaded in the surroundings. Though some shopkeepers and others witnessed the incident none came to rescue him in fear of the killers. In this regard Jyotsna Begum, sister of the deceased, filed a murder case at Dhanmondi thana on 3-7-07, No-2. The plaintiff claims that the police is trying to influence over the case being biased of the accused. Accordingly a petition was submitted to the Police Commissioner by Jyotsna Begum on the 29th June for taking action and arresting the killers of Delwar.

News briefs

5 live bombs recovered in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, July 13: Police recovered five live bombs from a residence at Chaklapara in the town early on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off, the law enforcers raided the residence of Sumon, alleged criminal, and recovered the bombs which were kept in a poly bag under the stair of the residence. The recovered bombs were taken to thana. None was, however, arrested in this connection, reports UNB.

Fugitive convict arrested in Nilphamari

NILPHAMARI, July 13: Police arrested a fugitive convict from Kachharipara in Kishoreganj upazila on Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, police raided the house of the fugitive convict Mohammad Ali, 45, in the afternoon. Sensing their presence, Mohammad Ali tried to flee the scene but village police after a hot chase arrested him. Police said notorious robber Mohammad Ali, accused in a number of cases, was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment in three cases, including robbery in absentia, reports UNB.

2 crushed under wheels of train in Natore

NATORE, July 13: Two people were crushed under the wheels of a train in separate places in Sadar upazila Thursday morning. Local people said a woman was crushed under the wheels of Rajshahi-bound Uttara Express at Kalikapur while a man at Fakirpara. Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. Police sent the bodies to hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

One suspect of police killing held

NATORE, July 13: The main suspect of police killing and arms looting at Taherpur in Bagmara uapzila of Rajshahi was arrested from Somsk-holshi village in Noldanga thana here Wednesday night. Police said they arrested the main suspect extremist leader Jalal from the house of his second wife. He was handed over to Bagmara thana after interrogation. A gang of extremists shot dead a policeman, injured four others and snatched five firearms from them in an attack on a police patrol team at Taherpur on May 2, reports UNB.

One killed in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, July 13: A middle aged man was killed by unidentified assailants in Sadar upazila on Tuesday night. Police and family sources said Jamiruddin, 50, of Gopalpur village went out of his house Tuesday morning but didn't return the whole night. After a hectic search, family members found the body of Jamiruddin hanging from a tree at nearby Sabudkhali on Wednesday morning, reports UNB.

One held with

pipe guns

RANGPUR, July 13: Rapid Action Battalion members arrested a man along with two pipe guns at Janki Guriakhal village in Sadar upazila Wednesday morning Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB arrested Rashedul Kabir from his residence at about 6.30 am. As per his statement, the elite force recovered two country made pipe guns from under the soil of his house. Later, he was handed over to the police and a case was filed against him under the Arms Act. Kabir was involved in various crimes since long, police said, reports UNB.

150 sacks of Indian chemical fertiliser seized in Magura

MAGURA, July 13: Members of Bangladesh Rifles seized 150 sacks of Indian chemical (Potash) fertilizer from a truck and arrested two people at Shimulia on Magura-Jessore road on Monday. Acting on a tip off, a team of border guards raided the Dhaka bound truck from beanpole and recovered the fertilizer. They seized the truck and arrested its driver and helper in this connection., reports UNB.