The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shitalakhya erosion takes serious turn in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A large number of dwelling houses along with a vast cropland of Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj were devoured by Shitalakhya river erosion. The residents of Munshuri, South Nobagram, Baralo, Zangir, Shimulia, Pitolganj, Hatabo, Birabo, Atlapur, Khaishar villages are panic stricken as in the meantime a lot of houses and a big area of croplands have disappeared into the river.

At present Rupganj thana complex, Health complex, Land Registration office, Kazi Abdul Hamid High School, Baralo Dhakhil Madrasha are at a risk of erosion.

Locals inform illegal sandlifting from the river and trading by the influential is cause of the erosion. Until this activities are stopped the situation will be more havoc and dreadful.

People who have lost their homes they have taken shelter on high lands under open sky at their relatives' houses.

Local Administration is hardly in a position to mitigate the sufferings of erosion-hit people due to limited resources.

Locals have urged the Authority concerned to take necessary steps to prevent it otherwise a vast part of the Rupganj will be devoured, by the river.

GPA-5 holders honoured in Noakhali

BSS, Noakhali

The students who obtained GPA-5 in the secondary school certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations of Noakhali Pouasabha this year were accorded a reception on Thursday.

The Noakhali Municipality Authority organised the reception at its auditorium to award 166 winners of grade point average 5 or GPA-5.

Mayor Harun-Ur-Rashid Azad presided over the function while Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hoque was the chief guest.

Police super Khandaker Lutful Kabir and district education officer Kazi Solim Ullah was the special guests.

Headmistress of Noakhali Government Girls High School Begum Nusrat Jahan, principal of Islamia Kamil Madrasah Mowlana Obaidul Hoque, councillor Noakhali Municipality Delowar Hossain, among others, were present.

Shanglia Datta Gupta of Noakhali Govt. Girls High School and Sayed Mahfuzur Rahman of Islamia Kamil Madrasah addressed the function on behalf of GPA-5 holders.

Later, certificate and cres's were distributed among the bright students.

A noble initiative indeed

RU Correspondent

About 500 students of Rajshahi University (RU) on Wednesday brought out a rally in Rajshahi city to raise fund for the treatment of ailing RU student Saswata Satya.

Saswata Satya, a first-year student of the department has been suffering from ankilosing spondylitis since 1998.

The rally was observed with a slogan - "Saswata Satya Holo Manusher Jonno Manusher Bhalobasa" (Saswata Satya means love for man) that started from Alupotty corner to Shaheb Bazar that was about 1.5 kilometers.

The department also introduced Saswata Chikitsa Sahayata Fund to collect contribution for Saswata's treatment.

The fundraiser programme including film festival, concert, rally and silent procession at RU campus and city area is being processed.

Saswata, only son of a retired schoolteacher, who is quite unable to manage Tk. 35 lakh for his son's treatment in India.

Contributions can be sent to Saswata Chikitsa Sahayata, Account No 34260498, Agrani Bank, RU Branch, or Saswata Chikitsa Sahayata, Account No 135-101-33705, Dutch Bangla Bank Ltd, Dhaka.

Four killed in Ctg road mishap

BSS, Chittagong

Four persons were killed and four others injured in a road mishap at Shantirhat on Chittagong-Cox's Bazar road here tonight.

Police said, the accident occurred when a Cox's Bazar-bound passenger bus from Chittagong collided head-on with a microbus coming from the opposite direction at Shantirhat in Patiya, causing instantaneous deaths to two persons. Two others died on way to hospital.

Of the dead, three were identified as Sakil, 20, Fahima, 30 and Munir Ahmed, 40. The other one could not be identified. Sakil and Fahim were son and daughter of Haji Abul Mansur of Dohazari under Chandanaish upazila of the district. Police seized two vehicles and filed a case in this regard.

Relief good seized in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Police of Dashmina police station recovered 15 sacks of relief food item and arrested S M Malek veterinary field assistant of Dashmina upazila livestock office on early hours of July 20 last.

Police sources said actions on a on tip off they searched the house of S M Malek and recovered 10 sacks of nutritious food items from there. Later more five sacks of food items also recovered from different places Pujakhola area of the upazila on the basis of the confession of S M Malek. The food items were given under project of distributing nutritious foods among the distressed mothers and child of Palbaria union of Dashmina upazila by South Asian Partnership (SAP) with assistances from UNICEF.

Md. Shahjanahan, local coordinator of SAP became absconding since the raid and police lodging a case in this connection sent the livestock officer to jail July 20 last.

Child trafficker gets life in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

A court here today sentenced a man to life in prison for his involvement in trafficking a child in the district more than four years ago.

Judge of the Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression (PWCR) Abdus Saleque pronounced the verdict in a crowded courtroom.

The convict-Jakir Hossain, son of late Iliash Hossain of Shalgram Jheorpara village under Bogra district-was also fined Taka 5,000, in default, to suffer six months more in jail.

According to the prosecution story, Jakir Hossain abducted Nur Box, 11, son of Shishbar Rahman, from their residence at Moheshpur village under Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district and was trying to traffic him to India through Godagari frontier under the district.

Local people caught him along with the boy at Sarangpur under the same upazila on May 31, 2004. Godagari police arrested him and rescued the boy.

A case was lodged with Godagari police station and police after investigation pressed charges against him.

Public Prosecutor Mahbubul Islam appeared in the case on behalf of the State while Advocate Hossain Ramjan defended the accused.

Jamaat meet held in Panchagarh

Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

A meeting was held of Jamaat-i-Islami, Panchagarh Branch at Panchagarh Govt. Auditorium on Frday. Secretary General of Jamaat-i-Islami Central Branch and ex-Minister Ali Ahasan Md. Mujahid was present as the chief guest in the meeting. The meeting was presided over by District Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Panchagarh Moulana Abdul Khalek. The meeting was addressed also, among others, by Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-i-Islami Panchagarh ATM Azaharul Islam.

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.

Advocate Toshirul Alam Mallick conducted the day-long election as chief election commissioner.

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.

A case was filed in this connection with Shibganj police station.

Workshop for disabled held Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A two-day workshop on work plan to turn the disabled people to human resources in light of 'Jatiya Protibondhi Kalyan Ain-2001' was held in Gazipur on July 21 and 22 last.

Md. Rejauk Karim, ADMP Gazipur, was present on the occasion as chief guest while District Education Officer Syed Md. Mohsin, Social Welfare Official Md. Monjurul Islam as special guests with M Khalilur Rahman, Executive Director, BODA in the chair.

The workshop was addressed, among others, by District Women's Affairs Officer Piksy Naznin, Executive Director of Association for Rural Development Mohammad Ali Sarkar, Gazipur Poura Councillor Akbor Hossain.

Activities at Sonamasjid land port resume

BSS, Chapainawabganj

Functioning of Sonamasjid land port resumed here today.

Official sources said, a total of 242 trucks carrying imported goods from India entered into Bangladesh today.

The activities were suspended in the port following gunfire between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at Pirojpur border on Wednesday.

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.

Housewife violated in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

A housewife of village Chargobindopur under Khoajpur union of Sadar upazila of the district was raped recently.

According to the statement of the victim, the accused persons are Naser Matubbar (42), son of Hatem Ali Matubbar, Sabahan Ghatok (45), son of Saijuddin Ghotok, Mannan Matubbar (38) son of A. Rashel Matubbar and Dulal Khan (25) son of Majid Khan of the same village raped her one after another taking her in a jute field. Hearing her hue and cry the villagers rushed to the spot and renued her.

A case was filed with Madaripur Sadar police station in this connection but myteriously police are indifferent to arrest the accused persons, victim alleged.

Obituary

BSS, Chittagong

Sayera Begum, mother of Shimul Nazrul, a staff reporter of the daily Amar Desh, Chittagong bureau died of a cardiac arrest at a clinic in the city at about 2.30 p.m. today at the age of 58.

She is survived by husband Islam Meah, 3 sons and 3 daughters and a host of relations.

After namaz-e-janaza on Halishahar 'K' block Mosque premises after Magreb prayer, her body will be taken to Cox's Bazar town for burial at Nuniyachata family graveyard.

President of Chittagong Press Club Ali Abbas, General Secretary Ejaj Yousufee, president of Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) Mostak Ahmed and General Secretary Nazimuddin Shayamal, president of Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalists (CMUJ) Shamsul Haq Haidari and General Secretary Mohammad Shah Nowaz, in separate statements, expressed deep shock at the death of Sayera Begum and prayed to Almighty Allah for salvation of her departed soul.

They also conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Garment workers set fire to bus in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Garment workers set fire to a bus centering an accident in front of Harvest Rick Garment factory near Bhulta at Rupganj in Narayanganj on Tuesday. Police sources said, a female worker of the mentioned factory was run over while crossing the road by a Dhaka bound bus. The agitating workers seized the bus and set fire.

Later they rushed the wounded body to the Bhulta general hospital where she was combating with death. She was identified as Laizu Begum (22) of village Proba Kardi, Mokshedpur Upazila in Gopalganj District. She has been working in this factory for several years and living near the factory.

Vehicles plying was stopped till the police forces took control over the situation.

News briefs

Son kills his father in Kishoreganj

Kishoreganj, July 23 : A youth allegedly stabbed his father to death at Karmuli village in Sadar upazila on Tuesday. The victim was identified as M Israil Mia, 60, also a former guard of local Swarani Girls' High School. Police said his son Mamun, 18, attacked and indiscriminately stabbed Israil when he was sleeping in his room at about 11pm. He was rushed to the Sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Locals said Mamun, son of Israil's second wife, became furious and stabbed his father as he gave away his dwelling house to the children of his first wife through a registered deed, report UNB.

One gets 17 yr RI

in Sylhet

Sylhet, July 23: A court here on Tuesday sentenced a young man to 17 years imprisonment in an arms case filed two years back. The convict Mostak Ahmed, son of Tofazzal Ali, was also fined Tk 4000, in default, to suffer six months more RI. According to the prosecution a team of elite force RAB arrested Mostak with a revolver and three rounds of bullet on 8 February, 2006, from in front of a hotel in Rikabibazar area of the city. RAB filed a case with Kotwali police station against him and after investigation police submitted charge sheet on March 2, 2006, report UNB.

Fertilizer seized in Comilla

Comilla, July 23 : Police seized some 1,200 sacks of fertilizer from the godowns of a dealer in Chouddagram upazila here and arrested his one employee on Tuesday. Police said they received information that dealer Oli Ahmed has recently hoarded huge fertiliser illegally in the godowns of his Fatema Enterprise at Khiranshal and Felna bazars in Munsirhat union of the upazila. Later, a police team raided the godowns and recovered some 1,200 sacks of urea, TSP, MP, and DAP fertilisers. During the raid, police arrested Akkas Ali, an employee of Oli's godown while Oli Ahmed managed to flee the scene, report UNB.

Woman killed in Sylhet road mishap

Sylhet, July 23 : An unidentified woman was crushed under the wheels of a truck in Lalbazar area of South Surma upazila on Sylhet-Dhaka highway Monday night. Witnesses said the accident took place at about 10 pm when the speeding truck ran over the woman, aged about 50, leaving her dead on spot. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed, report UNB.

Phensidyl seized

Dinajpur, July 23: Police recovered 85 bottles of Indian Phensidyl syrup from an ambulance in Bhadoria bazar area of Nababganj upazila Tuesday morning. Acting on secret information that some smugglers are carrying phensidyl syrup to Dhaka by an ambulance of Toyeba Majumder Red Crescent Blood Bank, police chased the vehicle. At one stage the driver and two smugglers fled away leaving the ambulance at Bhadoria bazar. Later, police recovered the phensidyl searching the ambulance, report UNB.

10 get life term in Meherpur

Meherpur, July 23: A court here on Monday convicted 10 people and sentenced them to life term imprisonment for killing a man four years back. The court also fined the convicts Tk 5,000 each, in default to suffer two years more RI. The convicts are Selim, Pavel, Rajon, Robiul, Kalam, Raihan, Jewel, Rana, Sohel and Mamun inhabitants of the district town. All but Kalam and Mamun were on the dock. According to the prosecution the convicts called their friend Arman out of his house in the evening on October 10, 2004 and chopped him to death near Gorer Pukur in town following a previous enmity, report UNB.