The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to boost fruit farming to achieve economic self-reliance

BSS, Chilmari

Speakers at a function emphasised the need for boosting fruit farming to achieve economic self- reliance to change the country's rural economy.

They were speaking at the concluding ceremony of a three-day Fruit-Tree Fair-2008 organised by Chilmari Upazila Agricultural Extension Office on the local upazila parishad premises in Kurigram district on Wednesday.

They laid stress on the need of increasing fruit production side by side with all other crops through using the latest technologies and imparting trainings and creating proper marketing facilities for fruits and utilising every inch of land including the homesteads.

Chaired by Chilmari Upazila Agriculture Officer Zulfikar Haider, the concluding ceremony was attended and addressed by Chilmari UNO Enamul Haque as the chief guest. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sudeep Kumar Bose, Veterinary surgeon Dr Habibur Rahman, Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer Syeed Hossain Ansari, Secretary of Chilmari press club SM Nurul Amin Sarker, addressed. Experts of the DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, nursery owners and farmers both male and female attended the function.

Nursery owners, government organisations, NGOs and local entrepreneurs set up 20 stalls in the fair where over 80 varieties of fruit including indigenous species of fruits and over 90 varieties of fruit tree saplings were exhibited and sold.

The speakers discussed the huge prospects of fruit production in rural Bangladesh and asked all including the rural people and housewives for increased fruit production through integrated steps and commitments for changing economical status of all. "More and more indigenous species of fruits and vegetables along with hybrid fruits and vegetables should be cultivated in the homesteads to meet nutritional demands of the people throughout the country," they said.

Barisal City Corporation polls: Workers Party withdraws support from 14-party mayor candidate

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Bangladesh Workers Party and its student's organ Chhatra Moitri have withdrawn their support from 14 party alliance candidate of Barisal City Corporation poll.

Rafikul Islam Sujan, central president of Chhatro Moitri and Prof. Abdus Sattar, central committee member and Barisal district WP president acknowledging the facts said that the decision was taken according to the directions of their party presidium committees and already conveyed to grass root level units.

However our activists have been advised to cast their votes in favour

It may be mentioned that CM and WP leaders and activists became inactive in propagation favoring 14 party alliance candidates of BCC poll since the withdrawal of WP leader Fazle Hossain Badsha from mayor candidate post of RCC poll.

They also refrained from attending the crucial meeting of the alliance held on Monday to form Barisal Nagorik Committee for election propagation in favor of 14 party Mayor candidates AL leader Shawkat Hossain Hiron against Nagorik Parishad candidate Advocate Enayet Pir Khan.

Mass awareness to check spreading of Malaria underscored

BSS, Netrakona

A discussion meeting on Cooperation of Media in Checking Malaria was held at the conference room of deputy commissioner's office on Wednesday.

Department of Health, Ministry of Health and Family Planning, BRAC and Netrakona Press Club jointly organised the meeting.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aiyatullah Majumder formally attended the meeting as the chief guest while it was presided over by civil surgeon of Netrakona Dr Sudhir Chandra Banik.

Among others, the discussion was addressed, by additional deputy commissioner (revenue) Mohammad Mujaheed Hussain, deputy director of district family planning office Dr Saidul Amin and unit chief of BRAC advocacy and human rights unit HM Manjurul Azim.

The speakers underlined the need for creating mass awareness to check spreading of malaria. They said the media can play an important role to raise consciousness about prevention of malaria as well as making the malaria eradication programme of the government a success.

District level officials, civil society members and newsmen attended the discussion.

Reception accorded to meritorious students in Mymensingh

BSS, Mymensingh

A reception was accorded to the meritorious students of MN Girls High School of Muktagachha in the district, who secured GPA-5 on Wednesday.

UNO of Muktagachha AKM Tepu Sultan was present at the function as the chief guest and distributed crests among them.

Chaired by Abdul Karim Akanda, the reception was addressed, among others, by upazila education officer Maniruzzaman, upazila primary education officer Tahmina Begum, president of Muktagachha Press Club Imamuddin Mukta, Ekhlasur Rahman, Nushrat Jahan, Farhana Rahman, Hosne Ara, Atiqur Rahman, Wazaed Ali and Abdul Jabbar.

A total of 18 GPA-5 holders were given crest.

Students urged to keep themselves away from drugs

BSS, Gaibandha

Speakers at a meeting urged the Students to keep themselves away from drugs in order to make the nation healthy and prosperous.

They made this call at a discussion on "Role of students in Stopping Drug Addiction" held at the hall room of Gaibandha Government Women's College on Tuesday. Presided over by Professor Atiqa Banu, principal of the college, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by vice Principal M. Zakaria, lecturers Sandwip Kumar Sarkar, M Jahurul Islam, Khandakar Sarwar Hossain, Jannatul Ferdousi and Runa Laila. The speakers also underscored the need for creating awareness among the people particularly the youths about the bad effects of drugs.

More than 300 students of the college attended the meeting.

Current nets worth Tk 12 lakh seized in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

A special task force raided at Niamatpur Bazar, Karimganj under Kishoreganj district seized 300 kg current nets worth about Taka 12 lakh from six godown on Wednesday, 1st class Magistrate Abul Kalam Azad and senior ASP Liton Chandra Shaha led the raid.

A mobile court realised Tk 66,000 in fine from bakeries hotel-restaurant stationery shop departmental cabine iron shop and heardowang stones on charge of selling adulterated and stale food items, shortage of weight in Niamotpur Bazar, Karimganj on Wednesday.

The court led by 1st class Magistrate Abul Kalam Azad, started the drive on information that some business establishments which have no valid approval from BSTI, were engaged in selling adulterated and date-expired food items.

Total birth registration to be achieved in Narsingdi by 2008

BSS, Narsingdi

Narsingdi district will achieve total birth registration by September 2008, official sources said.

It said 11 unions and one pourasabha under Monohardi upazila have already achieved hundred percent success in birth registration within August last year and nine unions under Shibpur upazila have achieved hundred percent by June last. According to a review meeting on the birth registration held at the deputy commissioner's conference room on July 3 on the occasion of National Birth Registration Day stated that progress in birth registration at rest four upazilas are going on satisfactorily.

Among the upazilas, 99 percent work on birth registration of Polash upazila has already been completed, 87 percent work completed in Raipura upazila, 74 percent in Belabo and 66.5 percent in Sadar upazila.

Voter number reduced in Gopalganj

BSS, Gopalganj

The number of voters in five upazilas in the district has been reduced in the just completed registration compared to the number of voters in the last voter list.

District Election office sources said the number of voters in the district was 8,62,273 in 2006, but it has come down to 6,69,591 as per the number of photographs taken till June 28 last.

The number of voters in Sadar Upazila is 1,91,264, in Kashiani 1,22,782, in Kotalipara 1,33,331, in Muksudpur 1,67,211 and in Tungipara 54,973. Initiatives have been taken to distribute the national identity cards through local Pourasabha and Union Parishads.

Absconding accused arrested in Jessore

BSS, Jessore

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested an absconding accused of a murder case from Mollapara in the town on Wednesday.

The arrested was identified as Abdur Rahman alias Shawkat Ali, 25. He is an accused in Belal Hossain murder case. Police said, Belal Hossain, 28, son of Helal Hossain of Barandi Mollapara was murdered last month. His body was recovered from a water tank of an abandoned house on June 10, 2008.

License of 31 millers in Pancahgarh canceled

Our Correspondent, Pancahgarh

District food controller has cancelled 31 rice mill owner licence cancelled. In 5 Upazilla in Pancahgarh District of running food collection seasons for violations contact with government. The cancelled rice mills are 11 in Boda Upazilla, 6 in Pancahgarh Sadar Upazilla, 6 in Deiganj Upazilla and 8 in Atwary Upozilla. District food department says 31 Rice mills owners are not completed the terms and condition of running food collection season in the 303 rice mills of Pancahgarh zilla.

61 cobras killed in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

Two big cobras, fifty nine young of this species and forty eggs have been recovered unearthing the hut of a village under sadar upazila in Narail district. The cobra and its young kids have been beaten to death soon after the recovery.

Sensing the incident hundreds of curious villagers rushed to the home of Abdur Rahman of Dhonda village. Search work in the house for more snakes has been desparately going on for last two days.

On Monday noon July 14 a venomous Cobra was caught in sight while if was moving into sacks of crops in his hut, Abdur Rahman, the owner of the house said, Later, he saw two more snakes in the other part of the house. Suddenly a hole was spotted in the hut. Following the hole the co-villagers began to dig and found out a total of sixty-one snakes and forty eggs one by one. The villagers than beat these venomous creatures to death and the eggs were destroyed.

Fulkuri Ashor Sudhi Samabesh '08 held in Manikganj

Our Correspondent, Manikganj

Avivabok and Sudhi Samabesh 2008 of Fulkuri Ashor was held on Thursday at Manikgnaj Zila Parishad Auditorium. Zila unit of Fulkuri Ashor organised it.

Zila unit president Adv. Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan (Farid) presided this programme where police super Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hassan was present as chief guest. Chief Director of Fulkuri Ashor Central Committee Hasan Murtoza addressed the function as chief speaker. It was also addressed among others, by Manikganj unit. Director Md Nuruzzaman and Kari Md Murad Hossain. In the function, about 200 people including different professionals participated.

Licences of 2 auto-rice mills cancelled in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

The District Administration and Food Department have cancelled licences of 2 (two) auto-rice mills out of 74 licence holders of rice husking mills in the district as owners of the mills did not renew their licences and make any contract for supplying rice to the government. District food controller Parimol Shaha said on Monday the licences of 2 rice mills in Tarail and Pakundia upazilas were cancelled.

The task Forces an emergency meeting at local collectorate building with Deputy Commissioner Sultan Ahmed in the chair.

Week-long tree fair begins in Jhenaidah

BSS, Jhenaidah

A week-long tree fair has begun on the premises of old DC Court in the town on Wednesday. The tree fair was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner of Jhenaidah Mohammad Abu Sayeed Fakir while it was presided over by ADC Mezbahul Islam. Mayor of Jhenaidah Pourasabha Abdul Malek, Divisional forest officer Rakibul Hasan Mukul, UNO Roma Rani Roy addressed the function.

The function was followed by cultural programme.

Reception accorded to brilliant students in Manikganj

BSS, Manikganj

The two-day reception programmes organised for the brilliant students of Manikganj SK Government Girls High School ended on Sunday.

Md. Ataur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj attended the inaugural function as the chief guest while police super Sheikh Mohammad Maruf Hasan was present at the concluding ceremony as the chief guest.

Md. Abdul Monnaf Khan, district education officer, Md. Majid Ali, additional SP were present as special guests respectively.Rebeka Jahan, headmistress of the school, presided over the function.

A total of 40 students of SK Government Girls School have secured GPA-5 in the last SSC examination which is the highest number in the district.

The concluding function was followed by a musical soiree.

Tree fair begins at Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A day-long tree fair began at Bhulta, Rupganj in Narayangonj on the 17th Julys Rupganj. Upazila Administration and Upazila Agriculture Extension Office have jointly organized the fair. TNO Firoj Sarker of respective Upazila inaugurated the fair. Begum Shamsun Nahar, Chairman of Gaoshia Corporation and Hazi Mozzammel Hoq Bhuiyan Establishment of the Marof Smriti Sangsta, among others attended the inauguration function and addressed. Later a lot of saplings have been distributed to the mass people free of cost.

News briefs

Brilliant students accorded reception in Jamalpur

Jamalpur, July 19: Students of different schools under Islampur upazila in the district, who have secured GPA-5 in the last SSC and Dakhil examinations were accorded reception on Wednesday. Organised by Upazila Administration and Secondary Education Office, the function was chaired by UNO of Islampur upazila M Motiul Islam while district secondary education office ASM Abdul Khaleque was present as the chief guest. A total of 134 students of whom 28 obtained GPA-5 were accorded reception, reports BSS.

10 held in B'baria

Brahmanbaria, July 19: Police arrested 10 persons on various charges from different places under Sadar upazila of the district on Wednesday. The arrested were identified as Amir Hossain son of late Nuso Mia of Bhatpara, Mohammad Sumon Mia son of late Akhter Mia of Ashuganj Tongipara,Chanu Mia son of late Abu Rahmat , Mohammad Abdul Alim son of late Kachon Ali of Ibrahimpur, Zahed Ali son of Arafat Ali of Atkapara, Minto son of late Tanjob Ali of Chaturpur, Mohammad Liton Mia son of Mohammad Shamsu Mia of Shampur, Anis Mia son of late Hasu Mia of Shimrailkandi and Srilab Chandra Saha son of Nitaichandra Saha of Kazipara, reports BSS.

BDR seize huge Indian clothes

Dinajpur, July 19: The members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) seized huge quantity of Indian sarees and three-pieces from Monipur frontier under Sadar upazila of the district on Wednesday. The border guards conducted a drive at Monipur frontier village on the basis of secret information on Wednesday dawn and recovered 530 three-pieces and 500 pieces of saree from 11 bundles. BDR sources said, the local smugglers left the 11 bundles of Indian clothes when the BDR chased them, reports BSS.

Revolver seized in Jessore

Jessore, July 19: Police of Kotwali Model Thana seized a revolver from a lane in front of Continental Courier Service office at Islam Market at Garikhana Road in the town on Wednesday in abandoned condition.Acting on a tip-off, police raided the market and seized the German-made revolver wrapped in a packet. A case has been filed with the police station in theis connection, reports BSS.

Pregnant mothers get maternity allowance

Gaibandha, July 19: Department of Women Affairs at Sadullapur upazila distributed maternity allowance among pregnant and nursing mothers of the upazila in the district on Monday. Upazila women affairs Officer Shahnaj Akhter distributed the allowance amounting to Taka 2.97 lakh among 165 women. Each of the beneficiaries received Taka 1,800 for six months of the last fiscal year, reports BSS.

3 school buildings constructed in Gaibandha

Gaibandha, July 19: Extension work of three government primary schools under Polashbari Upazila in the district has been completed. The project was implemented at the end of last fiscal year under the Primary Education Development Programme. Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) of the upazila implemented the project at a cost of Taka 32.10 lakh. UNO M Akhteruzzaman formally inaugurated the two-storey buildings of the schools on Tuesday as the chief guest, reports BSS.