The New Nation - Internet Edition

Plan to sow seeds of date and palm trees undertaken in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

District Administration has taken up a plan to sow huge quantity of seeds of date and palm trees in seven upazilas of the district during the current season to meet the demands of sugar and to maintain the ecological balance. A meeting of district coordination committee to make the programme a success held at the conference room of District Collectorate Building here on Sunday with Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf in the chair, sources said. The meeting decided that as many as 6,61,431 seeds of date and palm trees would be sown on both sides of the road and rail line and on the premises of academic institutions in the district during the current season.

The plan to sow the seeds of date and palm trees would be implemented by Zilla Parishad, Roads and Highways Department, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, Department of Forest and non-government organisations ASA, TMSS, Practical Action- Bangladesh, SKS, GUK and NGO Forum. Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad Syed M. Wazed Ali, additional deputy commissioner (General) Abul Bayes Miah, executive engineer of RHD AKM Fazlul Karim, executive engineer of BMDA M. Habibur Rahman Khan and the representatives of NGOs attended the meeting.

Talking to the BSS, DC Abu Muhamad Yousuf said the decision was taken in a monthly meeting held at Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner's office recently with divisional commissioner Hafijur Rahman Bhuyan in the chair aimed at producing sugar from the juice of date and palm trees side by side with sugarcane.

1000 cotton processing mills closed due to fixation of EMP in N’ganj

Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

More than one thousand cotton processing mills in Narayanganj closed due to fixation of Export Minimum Price (EMP) by the government recently.

A total of 50,000 workers were rendered jobless and a state of unrest was prevailing in the areas where these factories are located.

These small factories were set up over the last decade depending on huge cutting waste available from the knit garment factories. Sources said that the knit garment factories in and around Narayangonj consume 10,000 metric tons of yarn per month to produce garments for export. In the process a total of 500 metric tons of cutting are available which popularly known as garment jute.

Factories located al Lakhkhankhola, Ispahani bazaar & Nabiganj under Bandar Upazila, Siddirganj, Goadnail and Dhakeswari under Sadar Upazila have the capacity to produce 250 metric tons of processed cotton per day using the garment waste. India and Nepal are the major buyers of this item.

Ministry of Commerce recently fixed the export minimum price (EMP) at US $ 1.60 per kilogram where these factories are exporting the same at much lower price till date.

The factory owners handed over a memorandum to the Ministry of Commerce through the Deputy Commissioner of Narayangonj demanding withdrawal of the (EMP) immediately.

Betel nut cultivation gaining popularity in Kurigram

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Betel nut is produced sufficiently in Kurigram every year. But this year it is cultivated under vast land of Kurigram district including other eight upozilas. Though it is produced in the district but it has a great demand in the country even in the markets of the district.

This cultivation may be set back for many problems due to lack of proper patronisation of the concerned department.

Sources said, betel nut is cultivated much in the rural areas, it's a cheap production cost and a little handsome profit. So the growers are not going ahead of the profession. There are research centres about betel nut which is a good production for the local areas. One of the growers Md Abdul Hamid of the village Belgacha under Sadar upozila of the district told his experiences to the New Nation. He told that he cultivated three bighas of land and he got so much production this year. On the other hand, many growers also got a good harvest this season. The locals said if the farmers do not face problems the production of betel nut may increase in the rural areas of the district.

BDR seizes huge Indian smuggled goods in Dinajpur

BSS, Dinajpur

The members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), in separate anti-smuggling drives, seized 500 grams of heroin, 351 bottles of Phensidyl and huge Indian goods worth about Taka 52 lakh on Sunday and Saturday.

BDR sources said, on a tip-off, a team of the force raided different bogies of a train at Cirirbandar Railway Station at 12 noon on Sunday and recovered huge Indian steel products and spices.

In another raid, the BDR also recovered 351 bottles of Indian Phensidyl from a pond at Chakgopal village under Sadar upazila of the district on the same day.

The border guards also raided a compartment of Purbatipur-bound mail train from Khulna at 11:30 PM at Fulbari Station on Saturday and seized 500 grams of heroin.

The BDR filed three separate cases accusing in these connections with the concerned police stations.

Tk 3.50 cr Karimganj Poura budget announced

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

The authority of Karimganj Pourashava has approved a proposed budget of Taka 3.33,65,364.37 crore for 2008-09 fiscal.

Administrator UNO of Karimganj of the Pourashava Md Atikur Rahman formally announced the budget at a citizens conference at New Poura Bhaban on Monday noon.

Deputy Commissioner Sultan Ahamed, Police Super Mizanur Rahman attended as chief and special guests. Highlighting the budget Administrator said of the total amount, Taka 98,13.716.37 will come from the revenue income of the pourashava.

Tk 23 cr uplift project taken to improve water, sanitation system in Sherpur

UNB, Sherpur

The government has undertaken a development project, involving Tk 23 crore, to improve the water and sanitation system of Sherpur municipal area.

Pourashova and Public Engineering Department sources said water supply and sanitation projects have been taken for country's 16 municipalities with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Executive Engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) AKM Basir Uddin said the project would be implemented in four phases during the period 2008-2010. Under the project, Tk 20.47 crore has been allocated for improvement of water supply system while Tk 2.35 crore for sanitation sector, Tk 1.5 crore for rehabilitation, reconstruction and repairing of old pipelines and Tk 5.21 crore for setting up new pipelines.

Five tube-well and pump houses will also be set up in the pourashava at a cost of Tk 1.60 crore while two arsenic and iron treatment plants and two overhead tanks at a cost of Tk 9 crore.

Besides, Tk 54 lakh has been allocated for creating public awareness in the improvement of the sanitation system in the pourashava.

The rest of the amount has been allocated for constructing community latrines, public toilets and school latrines and other renovation works to improve the water and sanitation system.

School-based gardening programme taken in Netrakona

BSS, Netrakona

School-based gardening progra-mme has been undertaken on Parla Government Primary School premises in the district town on Sunday.

Sabolambi Unnayan Sang-stha (SUS) in cooperation with Action Aid and International Food Security Network has taken the school-based gardening programme to create awareness among the school students for planting more fruit-bearing and trees with medicinal value on their school and house premises. Netrakona Sadar upazila education officer AKM Manirul Hasan inaugurated the programme by planting a number of fruit-bearing and medicinal trees there.

School students, teachers, civil society members were present in the function.

Later, the SUS distributed 300 saplings of different trees among the students.

Emergency not obstacle in holding national elections: Ershad

BSS, Barisal

Chairman of Jatiya Party former president HM Ershad on Saturday said the state of emergency is not at all an obstacle in holding national elections as we are already experienced in taking part in the elections under the martial law in 1970.

He said that his party has been taking preparation to take part in the national election scheduled to be held in December next.

The JP chairman said this while addressing the divisional conference of the party at Barisal auditorium on Saturday as the chief guest.

Presided over by JP Presidium member Golam Kibria Tipu, the conference was attended, among others, by former prime minister Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, S.Alam, Nasrin Jahan Ratna, Mostafa Jamal Hyder and Sunil Gupta.Referring to BNP, the former president said, there is no need to hold any discussion with the BNP as its leaders had plundered a huge amount national property and contributed nothing to the development of the country.

He said if voted to power his party will set up eight provinces for smooth functioning of the administration and ensuring balanced development in all parts of the country.

Lightning kills one in Sunamganj

BSS, Sunamganj

One person was killed and another injured seriously b y lightning at Konatchhara of Tahirpur upazila today.

The dead was Awal Mia, 35, son of late Ahmed Ali of Konatchhara in Badaghat union. Local people said the incident took place at about 12 noon while they were working in the field. Awal died on the spot. Injured Sharafat Ali, 28, was given treatment locally. He was reportedly out of danger.

Jamalpur Pourasabha implements over Tk. 12 cr projects

BSS, Jamalpur

Jamalpur Pourasabha implem-ented a good number of development projects at cost of Taka 12,57,33,361 in the last fiscal year (2008-09).

Pourasabha sources said the projects comprise construction of roads, drains, public toilets, box culverts, children's park, supplying potable water and lighting.

The projects were implemented with funds provided by the government and various multi-national donor agencies.

Police law to be reformed for modernisation: IGP

BSS, Kurigram

Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad on Saturday said efforts are continuing to reform police law with the aim of making the force modern and people-friendly.

"The image of police has to be brightened," he said addressing a gathering at Kurigram Town Hall organised by the district police.

Chaired by Police Super Chowdhury Manjurul Kabir, the meeting was addressed, among others, by DIG of Rajshahi Range Mukhlesur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner M Jalal Uddin and Commanding Officer of 27 Rifles Battalion Lt Col Suman Barua.The IGP underlined the need for reaching community policing at the grassroots level which would help improve the image of police.

Tree fair ends in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The Gopalganj district tree fair 2008 was concluded on July 14 last. SM Ashfaque Hussain, deputy commissioner Gopalganj inaugurated the seven days long tree fair at Gopalganj district Shilpakala Academy premises on July 8.

Mohammad Nazrul Islam ADC (general) presided over the district tree fair 2008 and addressed, among others, by Advocate Shamsun Nahar Mayor Gopalganj Pourashava Md Tohidul Islam divisional forest officer Faridpur Md Shakhwat Hossain Deputy Director Agriculture Extension Department Gopalganj Md Mansumur Rahman UNO Gopalganj Sadar. Exan Paragh Sarker of BRAC Gopalganj, Shaikh Mosharraf Hossain General Secretary Gopalganj district Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gopalganj. The tree fair was conducted by Shadhan Kumar Das, Gopalganj District Child Affairs Officer.

3 including mother, son killed in Habiganj road crash

BSS, Habiganj

Three people, including a woman and her minor son, were killed in a road accident at Mirpur under Bahubal upazila on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway this afternoon.

Police and witnesses said the accident occurred at 2.30 PM when a Srimangal-bound bus crushed a Shaestaganj-bound 'mishuk' (a three-wheeler) at Titarkona on the highway, leaving five passengers of the 'mishuk' injured. Of the injured, Nazma Aktar Nazu, 25, and her one-year-old son Nazmul and driver of the 'mishuk' Tajul,30, died on the way to hospital. Principal of Bahubal College Abdur Rab Shaheen and Anu Mia,30, of Titarkona village, who were injured in the crash, were admitted to Habiganj Sadar Hospital in a critical condition, the sources said.

15 shops burnt to ashes at Rajbari

BSS, Rajbari

At least 10 persons were injured and 15 shops burnt to ashes in a devastating fire that broke out at dawn on Friday at Hat Bonogram Bazar under Pangsa upazila of the district.

District Fire Brigade sources said the fire, originated from an electric short circuit at Tutul Store at 4 pm, quickly engulfed the nearby others shops.

Being informed, fire fighters from Rajbari and Kushtia district headquarters rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after a three-hour fight. A GD was recorded with Pangsa thana in this connection.

Eight bridges constructed in Mymensingh

BSS, Mymensingh

District Relief and Reha-bilitation Department constru-cted eight bridges and culverts at a cost of Taka over 55 lakh in three upazilas of the district during the last fiscal year (2008- 09).

Department sources said, of the projects, three bridges and culverts were constructed in Mymensingh Sadar upazila, three in Muktagacha and two in Dubaura.

The government implemented the projects to improve the rural communication network in the areas.

The projects are the 26 feet bridge on Bapareekhal, 16 feet bridge on Andabilkhal and 6 feet culvert on Batiparakhal in Sadar upazila, 10 feet culvert on Ragunathkhal, 30 feet bridge on Sherkhalikhal and 26 feet bridge on Shingrakhal in Muktagacha upazila, 40 feet bridge on Golaibangakhal and 30 feet bridge on Mokearkandakhal in Dubaura upazila.

News briefs

Boy electrocuted in Sherpur

SHERPUR, July 17: A teenage boy was electrocuted in the town here Sunday. The dead was identified as Md Solaiman,16, son of Chan Miah of Baghber village of Nalitabari upazila. Sources said Solaiman, a student of Idrisia Alim Madrasha, came contact with a live electric wire when he was returning from Sheikhhati beel after catching fish with his friends. He died on the spot, reports UNB.

Five get life term for murder inPatuakhali

PATUAKHALI, July 17: A court here Monday convicted five people and awarded them life term rigorous imprisonment for killing a minor boy in 2005. The court also fined the convicts Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer one year more RI. The convicts are-Jahangir Hawla-der, 35, Alamgir,30, Ajimuddin,50, Jalil Kha,45, Harun Sarder,45. They were also sentenced to three years imprisonment under another section of the case and fined Tk 1000, in default, to suffer one month more RI, reports UNB.

Arrest warrant issued against OC, SI in Munshiganj

MUNSHIGANJ, Jul 17: A magistrate court Monday issued arrest warrant against Srinagar police station officer-in-charge Quamrul Islam and sub-inspector Elias Hossain in a criminal case. Senior Judicial Magistrate Habibur Rahman passed the orders in the case filed by a housewife, Shamsunnahar, of Hasargaon village in Srinagar upazila. Delwar Hossain, the lawyer for the plaintiff, said police took Abu Sayed, Shamsunnahar's husband, to the police station and "looted" fishes worth Tk 80,000 from him while he was going to market for selling his catches from his pond, reports UNB.

Classrooms, toilets at 24 high schools to be built in Dinajpur

NATORE, July 17: The district education office has decided to build class rooms and toilets at 24 high schools under six upazilas of the district at a cost of more than Taka seven crore. Under the scheme, Education Engineering Department (EED) will construct three classrooms and two toilets in each school within the next eight months, official sources said. The schools will have electricity and water supply facilities under the project, report UNB.

Tree fair ends in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, July 17: A seven-day tree fair organized by divisional forest office, district Agricultural Extension Department (DAE) and local administration ended at Eidgah here on Sunday. A discussion was held at deputy commissioner's office on the concluding day. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Abdul Hoque, Deputy Director of DAE Dr Anis Uddin and Forest Office Md Safiul Alam Chowdhury spoke on the occasion. Later, prizes were given among the best nursery owners report UNB.

144 bottles of rectified spirit recovered in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, July 17: The members of DB police in a raid recovered a good quantity of bottles of rectified spirit from a rickshaw at Board Bazar of the town here on Sunday evening. Police said, acting on a tip-off, a team of D B police led by S I Ashok Singh halted a rickshaw at Board Bazar area of the town and recovered 144 bottles of rectified spirit worth about Taka 28,800 from the rickshaw. The police also held the rickshaw puller Naya Miah, 30, of Komorwnai village under sadar upazila in the district on charge of carrying the narcotics. A case was filed with sadar thana in this connection under Narcotics Control Act, report BSS.