The New Nation - Internet Edition

Need for learning English for professional dev underscored

BAU Correspondent

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Md. Akhtar Hosssain of Bangla-desh Agricultural University (BAU) stressed the need for learning English Language for the professional development of the students as well as to enhance their knowledge and skills incidence and technology now prevailing in the world Speaking as chief guest on the concluding day and certificate awarding ceremony of the Advance Course on Communicative English' at the Language Laboratory of the Department of language of the University the Vice-Chancellor advised the students to improve English for education and work adding to develop their life through language and communication.

Presided over by Prof & Dr. Najrul Islam, Head, Department of Languages, it was addressed among others by Prof. Abdur Razzaq Md. Motaher Khaled, Muhammad Sajedul Arefin and trainees of the course.

Later, the Vice-Chancellor awarded certificates among the 26 graduate students of the various faculties of the University who took part in three week long English course.

Fertiliser crisis hampers Aman cultivation in Pabna

UNB, Pabna

Aman paddy cultivation is being hampered in the district due to acute scarcity of fertilisers.

Sources said farmers need 6,000 tons of TSP and 3,000 tons of Potash fertilizers in the current season for cultivating Aman but no fertilizer was allocated for the district in the last two months.

As farmers achieved bumper Boro production last season they have taken preparation to bring more land under Aman cultivation this season.

Department of Agricultural Extension sources said a scheme has been taken up to bring some 46,300 hectares of land under Aman cultivation in the current season in all the nine upazilas with an output target of 1.14 lakh mts paddy.

Although the farmers have prepared the land but the cultivation is facing setback due to shortage of Potash and TSP fertilizers.

DAE officials said NPKS mixed fertilizer is now available in the market which the farmers could use as alternative to Potash and TSP. But farmers seem reluctant to buy NPKS fertilizer as most of them don' t know the use of the fertilizer.

Jalaluddin, a farmer of Char Ramchandrapur village in Sadar uapzila, said he prepared eight bighas of land but could not plant paddy for lack of Potash and TSP fertilizers.

A DAE official told UNB that NPKS fertilizer is prepared mixing urea, TSP and Potash fertilizers and this type of fertilizer can easily be used instead of Potash and TSP.

Computer training to achieve professional skills emphasised

BAU Correspondent

Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain underscored the need for computer training in order to achieve professional skil and academic excellence of the University students as well as to create employment opportu-nities for the computer programmer. He said that start practicing and learning the computer skills side by side English language that are essential to future career success and meet global challenges for obtaining employment.

Speaking as chief guest at the closing ceremony of third batch one year Post Graduate Diploma in Information and Communication Technology (PGD-in-ICT) held at the Faculty of Agricultural and Engineering Technology under the auspices of Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology in order to develop human resounds in the country organised by the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics.

Presided over by Prof Dr. ATM Ziauddin, the function was attended among others by Professor Dr. Md. Shams-Ud-Din, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology was the special guest. Professor Md. Maminul Hug of the Department of Computer Science and Mathethatics and Program Co-Ordinator, PGD-in-ICT and Professor Dr. Md. Murshed Alam of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery and Course Co-Ordinator, PGD-in ICT spoke at the function explaining the aims and objective of the course. Md. Zobayer Ahmed, Captain S.A. Mahmud Hassan, Mir Arifur Rahman and Golam Haider spoke among the trainees

Later, the chief guest Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hossain distributed certificates among the trained formally inaugurated fourth batch of the PGD-in-ICT course for the next one year.

Couple commits suicide in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

A pair of couple has chosen the way to commit suicide as they failed to get recognition from their respective families at Fulbari village under Kodombari union of Rajoir upazila of the district recently.

Local people and family sources said they found Nithu Sarkar (19) and his lover purnima Gyne (14) lying in hugged position in their bed. Sources said that Nithu son of Nitai Sarkar and purnima Gyne daughter of Babu Gyne developed love each of her for long time.

Parents of the both did not recognise the love affairs rather the parents of both tried to prevent them from loving.

Finding no alternative they managed a bottle of pesticide, drank the poison and embraced each other at the time of their death.

Hearing the news of their death a pall of gloom came down among the villagers.

Licences of 175 rice mills in Rangpur cancelled

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Food department cancelled licence of 175 rice mills in Rangpur, as the mill owners had not sign on rice procurement agreement paper with the government during the boro season.

Owners of the mills were informed on July 15 that licence of their mills were cancelled due to violation of condition with the government. Meanwhile, cancellation of 175 licenses of rice mills disappointed the rice traders, other rice mill owners and rice dealers of the district.

Preferring to the unnamed a rice mill owner of Rangpur sadar upazila told that he did not sign on the agreement with the government this boro season due to prices of rice in the markets. "I know I will incur a great loss if I signed the agreement," the mill owner explained.

The government has tar-geted to procure 490000 mt of rice and 18000 mt of boro paddy this season. A total 572 number of rice mill owners signed the agreement to help the government in procuring rice. Rest 175 did not comply with the department of food.

Of the target about 36000 mt of rice and 230 mt of paddy have been procured from the first week of April. District Food Controller Mr. Mohshin said, "Price of rice in the market is higher than the government rate. Hopefully, we may be able to procure rest 13000 mt of rice within the stipulated period." The DC food about procurement of boro paddy said, "We are still not sure if we ca fulfil the target."

About the rice mill owners whose licenses were cancelled Mr. Mohshin said. "It is not true that they ignored signing the deal due to higher prices of rice in the markets. At the outset of the procurement drive, price of rice.

Licence of 6 rice mills cancelled in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

Authorities have cancelled licences of 6 rice mills for not supplying rice and paddy to government godowns at official rate during the ongoing rice and paddy procurement drive in Narail.

The cancelled rice husking mills are Rezaul Karim rice mill, Ilias rice mill, Karent rice mill, and Brishti rice mill under Sadar upazila and Biplob rice mill and Tona rice mill in Kalia upazila.

Kawsar Ahmed, District Food Controller informed, 64 mills out of 72 mills made agreement to supply rice and paddy with the food office. But 6 mills failed to supply. However, other 58 mills are supplying rice and paddy to government godowns as per the agreement.

Food department sources said, against the target to procure 2,270 metric tonnes of paddy and 4,997 tonnes of rice from the district in this season, only 118.30 tonnes of paddy and 2,594 tonnes of rice have been collected so far.

BCCI election held at Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

The biennial election of the executive committee of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) of the district was held at its office yesterday. Habibur Rahman Lablu and Yakub Hossain Malick were reelected as the president and general secretary respectively.

The other elected office-bearers are: vice-presidents Saiful Hasan Joardar and Salauddin Mohammad Mortuza, joint-secretaries Shahrin Hoque Mallick and Nasir Ahad Joarder and treasurer Nil Ratan Shah.

The members are: Haji M Nazmul Hoque, SM Toslim Arif Babu, Jahangir Hossain, Monjur Alam, AKM Salauddin, Samsuzzoha Mollick, Azizur Rahman, Arif Hossain Joarder, Selim Ahammad, Abu Zafar Montu, Rafatulla Mahaldar, Dilip Kumar Agarwalla, Alauddin Helal and Tajul Islam. A total of 1,153 voters cast their votes out of 1,282. The election was held through secret ballot. A total of 41 candidates took part in election against 21 posts.

Two killed in separate incidents in Sirajganj

UNB, Sirajganj

A woman and a minor girl were killed and a teenaged girl was injured in separate incidents in the district on Sunday.

Police said Bithi, 6, crushed under the wheels of a truck at Bechir crossing in Chouhali upazila at about 10.30am.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed and her daughter injured when a wall of their house collapsed at the Road and Highways Department Office premises in the district town on Sunday. Witnesses said the wall of the house of R&H Department driver Saiful Islam collapsed at about 1:30pm during heavy rain, killing his wife Shefali,35, on the spot.

Saiful's daughter Banya, 15, sustained severe injuries in the wall collapse incident. She was admitted to Sadar Hospaital.

Four sentenced to life for killing in Rajbari

UNB, Rajbari

A court here on Sunday sentenced four people to life term imprisonment in a sensational murder case.

The lifers are Zahid, Iqbal Pramanik, Kabir and Mosharraf.

The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer two years RI more.

According to the prosecution, Labu, 32, hailed from Faridpur district was found dead at a wheat field near Jamtala Government Primary School in Goalanda upazila on February 10, 2002. A case was filed in this connection. After examining 20 witnesses, Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Shahidullah Bakaul handed down the judgment.

Eleven accused were acquit-ted from the case as their guilt was not proved.

5 sentenced to 4 years RI in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

A court here convicted and sentenced on July 22, 5 persons to suffer 4 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10-thousand each in default to suffer another 4 months R.I on charge of creating violence in the senior judicial magistrate court Ejlas on June 11.

The convicted persons are Habibur Rahman (50) Sayed (40), Mizan (38), Esrarul Haque Nilu (40) and Ekramul Haq Hiru (50).

The prosecution alleged that they were plaintiff and accused persons in another case they gathered on the premises of senior judicial magistrate court to appear before the court on June 11. All on a sudden the men of the two parties engaged in an altercation, later on they ransaked the windows and doors of the court. The police on duty nabbed them. After examining the witness and documents. The learned magistrate awarded them the punishment.

One arrested, firearms seized in C'nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

One person was arrested along with a shutter-gun from Kansat new bridge area under Shibganj upazila in the district on Sunday.

The arrested person was identified as Zakir Hossain, of Shyampur Gopalnagar village of the same upazila. Police said, acting on a secret information, members of the Rapid Action Battalion raided the area and arrested the person while he was trying to sell the firearm.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, other people managed to escape the place.

Terrorist killed in shootout with RAB in Keraniganj

UNB, Keraniganj

A notorious terrorist was killed in a shootout between RAB and his cohorts in Jheelmil project area of South Keraniganj early on Saturday.

The dead was identified as Moksed, 30, of Shyampur area and close associate of infamous Shaheed Dakat.

Acting on a tip-off, RAB-10 men raided the area beside Maowa Road at about 5am when a gang of bandits was preparing for committing a dacoity. Sensing the presence of the elite force, the muggers opened fire on them forcing the law enforcers to fire back. Moksed received bullet during the shootout and died on the spot.

After the gunfight, RAB men recovered one pistol, one short gun and three bullets from the spot. Moksed was wanted in 10 murder cases with different police stations in the capital, police said.

Indian clothes seized in Comilla

BSS, Comilla

The members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) seized huge Indian sarees and 3 pieces worth more than Taka 1.3 crore in a pre-dawn raid at Anandapur under Chauddagram upazila of the district on Friday.

BDR said during the raid the border guards recovered high quality 2,030 Indian sarees and 893 three pieces from the village in an abandoned state. The seized clothes were deposited with the district customs warehouse.

News briefs

Reception accorded to GPA-5 students

SHATKHIRA, July 24: Some 150 students who obtained GPA-5 in this year's SSC and Dakhil examinations were accorded reception at the town's poura auditorium Saturday. Bangladesh Ahle Hadith Jubo Sangha organized the function with its president Moulana Altaf Hossain in the chair. The editor of monthly At-Tahrik Dr. Sakhawat Hossain later distributed prizes among the successful students as chief guest, reports UNB.

Schoolgirl assaulted in B'baria

BRAHMANBARIA, July 24: A sexually perverted youth assaulted a teenage girl on way to her school at Sayedtula village in Sarail upazila on Saturday. Witnesses said the daredevil Abdus Sattar swooped on the 13 years old girl when she was going to Sarail Girls' High School at about 9am and bit different parts of her body, leaving her injured. Hearing the screams of the victim local people rushed to the scene and rescued her but the spoilt youth managed to flee. She was admitted to Sarail health complex. Headmistress of the school Gouri Rani Roy filed a case with the police in this connection. Police said they have launched a drive to arrest the culprit, reports UNB.

Truck helper killed

in road accident

SYLHET, July 24: A young truck helper was killed in a road accident at Fakirbad in Balagnaj upazila here Saturday morning. The deceased was identified as Rajib Hossain, 26, son of late Motlab Member of Rampur village in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur district. Police and witnesses said the accident occurred on Dhaka-Sylhet highway when a speeding truck rammed into a stationary truck from behind killing its helper Rajib on the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy A case was filed, reports UNB.

3 awarded 10-yr

RI in Sherpur

SHERPUR, July 24: A court here Thursday convicted three people and awarded them 10 years rigorous imprisonment each for killing a man. The court also fined the convicts Tk 5000 each, in default, to suffer two months more RI. The convicts are Abdul Motaleb of Killapara village, Farhad Ali of Gerapocha village and Abdus Salam of Krishnapotti village in Nalitabari upazila. According to the prosecution, the three convicts indiscri-minately stabbed Monirul Islam of Gerapocha village following a past enmity, leaving him critically injured. He succumbed to his injuries at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital after two weeks. A case was filed, reports UNB.

4 killed in road mishaps

Sirajganj, July 24: Four people, including a physician, were killed and 32 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck at Konabari near western part of Jamuna bridge Saturday morning. Police said the northern region-bound truck from Dhaka collided with the Dhaka-bound passenger bus coming from Lalmonirhat at about 5am killing two passengers of the bus - Alamgir, 38, and Dr MA Matin, 50, - on the spot and injuring 34 others. Two of the injured died on the way to Sadar Hospital. One of them was identified as Akher Ali, 50, while the others could not be identified immediately. Of the injured, 21 passengers, including the bus driver, were admitted to Sadar Hospital while seven others to different local clinics, report UNB.