The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sufficient fund for reconstruction in SIDR-hit southern regions yet not reached

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Sufficient funds needed for repair, reconstruction and renovation of devastating hurricane Sidr damaged and destroyed flood and water control structures and prevention of saline water infiltration yet not placed in affected southern region.

However experts emphasised on implementation of both immediate short term and sustainable long term projects to avoid post disaster losses.

The official sources of Water Development Board said recently International Development Agency (IDA) sanctioned 184-crore taka for this work. From this amount Tk.122 would be spent for basic structural development and rest 62 crore taka would be spent for office management, survey, design and other works, said Engineer Humaun Kabir, additional chief engineer of planning circle of WDB. Dr. Md. Abu Taher Khandokar, chief engineer of WDB for southern region, said primarily we stressed on stopping infiltration of saline water inside the crop filed though destroyed or damaged flood and water control structures. All operation and maintenance units of WDB ordered to be alert and prepared for taking emergency steps to avoid after disaster affects of natural calamities like hurricane Sidr in cultivation sectors, he added. Gazi Salam, a farmer of Sundra Kalikapur village under Mirzagonj Upazila in Patuakhali district said, 'My 2 acres of land was damaged. We will try to recover the loss during the coming Aman."

Our agricultural land is being flooded by salty water rising from the nearby rivers as many parts of flood control dam on Payera River bank are yet to be repaired," Nuru Gazi, another farmer of Galachipa village said.

'We have no need of relief but we demand steps to repair dam that we can cultivate our land during the plantation season,' farmer Shajahan Howlader of Agunmukha River Bank of Patuakhali district added.

In a primary assessment it was estimated that Tk. 2000 cores including Tk.700 core for damaged and destroyed embankment Would be needed for this work. The assessment report sent by local officials of Water Development Board to water resources ministry said that about 300 kilometers long embankment including flood and water control structures destroyed and about 2000 kilometers long embankment have been damaged by hurricane Sidr in coastal and southern belt.

This assessment included 166 kilometers and 311 establishment destroyed and 1300 kilometers and 411 establishments related with embankments damaged embankments and in Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Jhalakati, Pirojpur and Bagerhut districts. Besides 75 kilometers irrigation canals and 14 kilometers branch canals also damaged by Sidr in this region.

Water Development Board sources said the then Pakistan government took a project with financial assistances from United States of America government to construct embankment locally known as Bhery Bandh in coastal region at the cost of 38.60 core taka in 1960-61. The forty core taka project was named as ' coastal flood control dam' and ended in 1979-80 fiscal after constructing about one thousand kilometers long embankments, 177 drainage sluice, 320 flopping sluice, 272 river closer and 188 dispense shed and related structures and establishments in coastal region. By implementing this project 6 lakhs acres of land in coastal areas were saved from tidal bore, flood and salinity and came under irrigation schemes in coastal belts.

After success of that project Water Development Board constructed more hundreds of kilometers of embankments in different regions of coastal districts.

District offices with executive and sub divisional engineers were opened under Barisal, Bhola, and Chittagong and Khulna circles of WDB for maintenances and supervision of these embankments.

However Tk.4 core fund for maintenances of those structure were not placed timely and properly and so condition of those became dilapidated in course of time.

Barisal office of WDB failed to give current and correct information and data about the total lengths of constructed embankment and its existence after damaged and washed away by river erosions in different areas of the region since starting of the project. The damages may exceed Tk.1000 cores after starting repairing and reconstruction as labor and material costing increasing day by day and delay in replacing funds and completing works only increase salinity and other damages in the affected areas, the sources added.

Special steps taken to produce 6,50,430 mt paddy in Dinajpur

BSS, Dinajpur

A total of 249,860 hectors of 13 upazilas of the district have been brought under the current aman cultivation to produce 650,438 metric tons of paddy.

District Agriculture Exten-sion Department sources said 588,367 metric tons of paddy was produced last year on 247,400 hectors of land in the district.

Deputy Director of the department Aktaruzzaman Mondal said a number of special steps have been taken this year to boost aman production by reducing use of urea fertiliser.

Plantation of Upashi variety seedling, expansion of national paddy and motivational campaign for farmers for using urea fertiliser proportionately are the main steps taken this year to boost aman production.

Mondal further said and hoped that the production target is expected to fulfil through using Goti urea fertiliser as well as dram sidder.

One gets life for raping in Kishoreganj

BSS, Kishoreganj

One person was sentenced to life term imprisonment for raping a minor girl at Brahmankachuri village under sadar upazila about seven years ago.

The convict was identified as Bakul Miah, son of Gias Uddin of the same village.

Judge of the Women and Child repression Prevention Tribunal GSM Farid delivered the verdict in a crowded courtroom on Wednesday. The court also fined the convict Taka one lakh, in default, to suffer one year more in prison.

The prosecution story, in brief, is that, Bakul Miah, entered the house of Bilkis, 7, (not real name), daughter of late Abdur Rashid of Brahmankachuri village in absence of her mother and forcibly raped her. Bilkis's mother Amiron was at Lalitabad UP office to bring wheat under VGF card.

On return, Amiron came to know about the incident as her daughter was belleding and filed a case with Kishoreganj police station accusing Bakul Miah. Police arrested Bakul.

After examining witnesses and evidence, the judge pronounced the judgment.

3 killed in separate incidents in C’nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

One woman committed suicide by taking insecticide and two others died in separate incidents on Wednesday and Thursday.

A woman identified as Asia Begum, 43, wife of Alauddin of Alinagar Madhyapara under Gomostapur upazila committed suicide by taking insecticide on Wednesday night. Police recovered the body on the same night. Saddam Ali, 22, of Kamarpur under Syedpur of Nilphamari District, was killed as he suddenly fell on the oven of Nabab rice mill of BSCIC shilpanagari at Nayagola on Thursday at 12-30 p.m.

A UD case was recorded with sadar thana. A freedom fighter identified as Abdur Rashid, 55, of Upar Rajarampur under Chapainawabganj municip-ality was killed on the spot when a Dhaka bound bus of 'Hanif Paribahan' hit him while he was crossing the road at Upar Rajarampur on Thursday at 4.30 p.m.

Meeting on rice procurement held in Mymensingh

BSS, Mymensingh

A review meeting on progress of procurement of Boro rice organised by upazila procurement committee was held at the auditorium of Muktagacha upazila parisad on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Md Shamsul Alam presided over the meeting.

The meeting was informed that 8,800 tonnes of rice have already been procured against the target of 1,940 tonnes.

The meeting discussed problems related to procurement of rice and uninterrupted supply of electricity in the rice mills. The owner of rice mills gave assurances of supplying 3,140 tonnes of rice by this week to fulfil the target. Deputy Commissioner thanked the mill owners. About two hundred rice mill owners, up chairmen, members of the procurement committee, officers and employees of food department at upazila level and journalists were present in the meeting.

BKB disburses Tk 58.21 cr loan in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) has disbursed Taka 58.21 crore as agricultural loan among 11,055 farmers through its 16 branches in six upazilas of the district during the last fiscal.

Official sources said BKB had earmarked Taka 72 crore for distribution among the Naesingdi farmers for the last financial year (2007-08). The ration of loan disbursement by BKB stood at 81 per cent till June 30 last.

Besides, the BKB Narsingdi region has realised a total of Taka 78.88 crore as against the target to realize Taka 67.13 crore from the farmers in the last fiscal year. The BKB Narsingdi region has earned a profit of Taka 44.40 crore during the last financial year.

The loan was disbursed for aman, boro, wheat, maize, banana, papya, vegetables cultivation and setting up of poultry and dairy farms, cow fattening, pisciculture and purchasing of irrigation equipment.

Reception accorded to GPA-5 students in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A reception was accorded to meritorious students who got GPA-5 in the SSC examination from Gopalganj Bina Pani Government Girls High School, organised by the students and teachers of the Bina Pani Government Girls High School on July 12 last.

The programmes of the reception included discussion meeting, cultural function and prize distributing function.

SM Ashfaque Hussion Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj inaugurated the day long programmes of the reception ceremony as the chief guest.

Mrs. Nurur Nahar, Headmistress Bina Pani Government Girls High School presided over reception and Mansumur Rahman UNO Gopalganj Sadar and Advocate Shamsun Nahar, Mayor, Gopalganj Pourashava also present as special guests.

The reception was addressed among others, by Tashlia Hassan Ridita student of Class X Suraia Qaium GPA-5, student Muslima Anjan Shuchona GPA-5, student Dipanita Golden GPA-5, student. 24 students of the Bina Pani Government Girls High School has gotten GPA-5 and 22 students has gotten GPA-5 in Science Group and only two students has gotten GPA-5 in Arts group.

SM Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj distributed prizes among the best GPA-5 students.

Woman dies by snake bite in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

A housewife died by snake bite on July 14 last. The deceased was identified as Rahima Khatun (40), wife of Zillar Rahman of village Tarashi under Narail Sadar Upazila.

On the day early in the morning, when she went to collect a piece of coal to brush her teeth, a venomous snake bit her or the hand, Zillar Rahman, husband of victim said. She was rushed to a local 'Ojha' but her condition deteriorated soon. Then she was taken to the Narail Sadar Hospital and the attending doctor declared her dead.

One killed, 3 hurt in Feni road mishap

Our Correspondent, Feni

One person was killed and three others were injured in a road accident in Feni on Wednesday noon.

Source said, a speeding bus dashed a CNG auto-rickshaw coming from opposite direction at Gaibbari in Feni. As a result one was killed on the spot and three injured. The dead was identified as Halim Ullah Chowdhury and injured were Mainul, Mithun Chakravarty and Mamun. The injured were admitted to Femi Sadar Hospital.

Candidates start poll campaign in Manikganj

Our Correspondent, Manikganj

Manikganj Pouro election will be held on August 4 next. On 14 July candidates got their symbols 8 candidates including husband-wife (current chairman Md. Ramjan Ali and his wife) are contesting as pouro mayor candidate and 73 candidates are contesting as general councillor (commissioner).

From 15 July all candidates formally started their polls campaign. Candidates are going to voter's house and seeking vote. In addition candidate and current chairman of the pouroshava Md. Ramjan Ali is now jail.

Nazrul Academy unveiled at Feni

BSS, Feni

The Nazrul Academy at Feni was formally inaugurated by Khil Khil Kazi, the grand daughter of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam , amid much enthusiasm on Thursday.

A discussion meeting was held at Shahid Zahir Raihan Hall of the town on the occasion, with Deputy Commissioner of Feni Mohammad Masum Khan attending as the chief guest.

President of Feni Nazrul Academy Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Titu chaired the function.

Ekushey awardee and noted singer Khaled Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Hasna Jahan Khanam, Fulgazi UNO Mohammad Ali and poet Ziad Ali of Kolkata were present in the discussion as special guests.

Later, a cultural function was also held on the occasion where noted singers Fatematuzz Zohora, Yasmin Mustari, Khaled Hussain and Salauddin Ahmed rendered their songs.

A colourful procession was organised to mark the programme.

President of Feni Press Club Nurul Karim Mojumder led it.

Cop killed, 7 hurt in Barisal road mishap

Our Correspondent, Barisal

One police constable killed and other 7 injured when a tempo skidded to roadside ditch by the hit of a bus on Barisal-Patuakhali road on Thursday noon.

Hospital and witnesses sources said a passenger bus of Antora Paribahon plying on Patuakhali-Dhaka route directly hit a tempo carrying 8 passengers from opposite direction in front of Sonargao Textile mills at about 12:30 pm Thursday noon.

The bus disappeared from the scene and local people rushed to the spot and rescued the injured tempo passengers and sent them to Barisal SBMCH.

There Khalilur Rahman, 42, a police constable of at Barisal Range Reserve Force succumbed to his injuries within a short time.

He was going to his village home at Charamoddi of Bakerganj upazila under Barisal district after collecting ration from Barisal RRF line.

Among other injured Neseruddin Khan, Oviram Ghosh, Sekandar Ali, Bazlur Rahman and Binoy Kundu, admitted at SBMCH with serious injuries and condition of Binoy stated to be critical till writing the report.

Newsman dead

BSS, Chittagong

Noted journalist and a former Chittagong bureau chief of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Nazir Ahmed died at a private hospital here on Saturday night at the age of 72, family sources said.

He left behind his wife, three sons, three daughters, friends, collegues and relatives to mourn his death. Nazir Ahmed had been suffering from diabetes and hypertension for a long time. He was undergoing treatment at Metropolitan Hospital for the last few days after suffering a stroke. His namaz-e-janaza will be held at Jamiatul Falah Mosque after Zohr prayers on Sunday.

News briefs

3 held for fuel-oil pilferage in Sylhet

Sylhet, July 20: Police arrested three people from Lalmatia area of South Surma upazila here on charge of pilfering fuel oil on Tuesday. The arrested were identified as Abdul Mannan, 45, Aftab Mia, 35, and Chan Mia, 30. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Detective Branch of police arrested them along with an oil-laden vehicle while they were illegally selling oil to local businessmen. Sources said several dishonest employees of fuel oil companies - Padma, Meghna and Jamuna - usually load some 100 liters oil more in the company vehicles from Koilashtila field in Golapganj upazila and sell those on the way before reaching the depots, report UNB.

One gets life term in Ctg

Chittagong, July 20: A court here on Monday convicted a shopkeeper in absentia and sentenced him to life term imprisonment for drug peddling. According to the prosecution, officials of Narcotics Control Department arrested Saidur Rahman along with 600gms of heroin from his grocery shop at Kadhamtali in the city on February 3, 2006. Later, a case was filed against him, report UNB.

College teacher strangulated to death in Comilla

Comilla, July 20: A college teacher was strangulated to death by unknown assailants in Thartha area of district town on Tuesday night. The victim was identified as Imtiaz Ahmed, lecturer of Burichang Abdul Matin Khosru College. Police said a gang of terrorists attacked Imtiaz at Kandirpar at about 9:15pm and took him to Thartha area, beat him mercilessly and strangulated him to death, report UNB.

Week-long tree fair begins in Moulvibazar

Sylhet, July 20: A week long tree fair to encourage people for afforestation began in Moulvibazar district town on Tuesday. District administration, Forest Department and Agriculture Extension Depar-tment jointly organized the fair at Moulvibazar Government High School field. Deputy Commissioner of the district inaugurated the fair after a colourful rally in the morning. Different species of saplings of various fruit bearing, timber and medicinal trees are being displayed at the fair. The visitors, male and female, crowded the fair with much enthusiasm on the first day of the fair, report UNB.

One killed in Natore road mishap

NATORE, July 12: A man was killed and 30 others were injured in an accident at Bakshore Ghat on Natore-Bogra highway in Sadar upazila Thursday. Police said a Bogra-bound bus from Natore plunged into a roadside ditch after hitting a bicyclist at noon. The bicyclist died on the spot but his identity could not be known immediately. On information, police and fire fighters rushed to the spot and with the help of local people rescued 30 passengers from inside the bus, reports UNB.

Tk 1.21 cr realised as land development tax in Pirojpur

PIROJPUR, July 20: Revenue Department realised over Tk 1.21 crore as land development tax in the district in fiscal 2007-08. Official sources said, of the total amount.Tk 11.99 lakh was realised in Nazirpur, Tk 17.74 lakh in Nesarabad, Tk 4.91 lakh in Kaukhali, Tk 19.78 lakh in Sadar, Tk 7.45 lkah in Zianagar, 14.85 lakh in Bhandaria and Tk 45.10 lakh in Mothbaria uapzilas. The tax was realised through 51 land offices in all the seven upazilas of the district, reports UNB.