The New Nation - Internet Edition

45950 hectares of land taken under Aman cultivation in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken up a plan to cultivate transplanted Aman paddy on 45950 hectares of land in six upazilas of the district during the current season.

Under the programme, highbred variety will be cultivated on 770 hectares, high yielding variety on 35550 hectares and local variety on 8630 hectares, official sources said. Farmers of the district are now preparing seedbeds and they will start transplantation of Aman seedlings on their lands very soon.

The DAE has been providing necessary support including seeds, fertilisers and equi-pment to farmers while BADC distributing high yielding varieties (HYV) of Aman seeds in the district.

Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Sonali Bank, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank and BRDB are also providing short-term loan to the farmers, the sources added.

Three suspected drug peddlers arrested

BSS, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) rounded up three suspected drug peddlers and seized heroin and smuggled goods in Rajshahi and Chapaina-wabganj districts on Saturday afternoon.

On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden operation on a residential hotel in Luxmipur area under Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi city and arrested the drug peddlers and seized 50 grams of heroin from them. They were Bakul Hossain, 32, Rubel, 27, and Borhan Uddin, 20.

They seized 200 grams of heroin in another raid in Arambagh area under Chapai-nawabgonj Sadar upazila in an abandoned condition.

In two other operations at Muralipur and in Yousufpur areas under Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi city, they seized 70 smuggled Indian sarees valued at around Taka 1.05 lakh. However, none could be arrested in these connections.

The arrested persons and seized goods were handed over to the concerned police stations.

Date, Palm seeds being sowed to meet demand of sugar in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

NGO Forum has started sowing seeds of date and palm trees in the district from Tuesday amid much enthusiasm.

The date and palm seeds are being sowed in order to meet the demands of sugar to maintain the ecological balance and to enhance the natural beauty.

To launch the programme, a function was held at the hall room of Tulshighat Rebeka Habib Girls High School under Sadar Upazila.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gaibandha Abu Mohammad Yousuf addressed the function as the chief guest while Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abu Bayes Miah and Executive Engineer of BMDA M Habibur Rahman Khan were present as special guests.

Presided over by M Zillur Rahman Khandaker, Presi-dent of district NGO Forum and executive director of Uddgo, the function was also addressed among others by president of NGO Forum sadar upazila unit M Morshedur Rahman and its secretary M Ataur Rahman Sahnur, Executive Director Mouchak Sangstha M Jangli Nuri, Executive Director, Green Sangstha M Hilon Haider, Executive Director Right Sangstha, M Mokdubar Rahman Director Kandari Sangstha Anwar Hossain were also present on the occasion.

Office sources said, the District Administration has taken up a plan to sow 9,45,000 date and palm seeds in all seven upazilas of the district during the current season through different government and non-government organisations.

As a part of the progrmame district and upazila NGO Forum will sow the seeds on both sides of 25 km long road from Matherhat to Balshighat of the district this year.

A noble initiative indeed

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Five thousand people of fifteen villages of two unions under Gangachar and Kaunia upazila, constructed one kilometre flood protection embankment by voluntary labour.

The cooperation of Bang-ladesh Government, USAD and Shouhardo Progrmame, Care Bangladesh constructed the embankment. The emban-kment was constructed in the programme of Kajer Binimay-ataka. Last year one km embankment was washed away by flood.

This year the villagers of the fifteen villages to save the honestead and four thousand hectares of crop land from water constructed the embankment the by voluntary labour.

During construction work, present UP Chairman Shamsul Alam, Ex-Chairman AKM Mahamud Ali Azad, Fahim Khan, team leader Shouhardo Programme, Care Sabrata Kumar Saka, regional co-ordinator Care, Anisul Haque Khan, Engineer LGED, Rajab Ali, Manager regional programme Care were present to inspire the villagers.

During construction work of embankment the villagers locally arranged rice, meat and dal for their meals.

Fire guts 8 shops in Madaripur

BSS, Madaripur

Eight shops were gutted in a fire at Puran Bazar in the town in the early hours of Saturday, Fire Service sources said.

They said the fire might have sparked from Adarsha Library, a book shop, at 3.30 AM and rapidly spread engulfing seven other shops---Modhumita Confectionery, Books and Books, Asha Tailors, Paradise Tailors, Nabin Library, Nahar Store and Boi Mela.

Getting information, firefighters rushed to the spot and tackled the flames after two-hour frantic efforts. The reason behind the fire could not be known immediately.

Owners of the shops claimed that property worth about Taka 50 lakh was burnt to ashes in the fire.

Catching of hilsha fries continuing at alarming level in Chandpur

BSS, Chandpur

Catching of fries of hilsha and other species of fish are continuing at an alarming level in the rivers of Meghna and Padma in Chandpur district.

The fishermen, battered by growing fuel and food prices, have been using current nets indiscriminately to make their livelihoods, district fisheries office said.

The authorities have destroyed nearly 5,000 pieces of 'current nets' worth Taka one crore last month. Every day five hundred current nets are being used to catch fish fries in different areas of Chandpur, where mobile courts are active for a month.

Two hundred metric tons of Hilsha fries called Jatka are caught by the current nets.

NGO man flees with money in Nilphamari

BSS, Nilphamari

The officials and employees of 'Manab Kallyan Samity', a local NGO, fled away with a large amount of money collected from people of the district.

The NGO reportedly collected Taka several lakhs from people through its field level workers in the name of providing jobs and savings schemes.

The affected people, who deposited money with the NGO, found on Thursday that all the officials and employees have left the Dada Bhai Road office, leaving it under lock and key.

Shahnaz Pervin, a victim, filed a case against five persons including Ansarul Alam Chanu, a former chairman of Shimulbari Union, as main accused for the cheating.

Fruit bearing tree fair begins in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

A four-day fruit bearing tree fair organised by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has began on the premises of Palashbari upazila par-ishad in the district on Tuesday.

The inaugural function was attended by Upazila Nirbahi Officer M. Akteru-zzaman as the chief guest and was presided over by upazila agriculture officer M. Haider Ali.

The function was also addressed, by upazila fisheries officer M. Akteru-zzaman, upazila agricu-lture extension officer Abdullah Al-Mamun, nursery owner Abdul Halim and farmer Alhaj Younus Ali.

The speakers laid stress on the need of planting more saplings of fruit bearing trees as well as wood and medicinal trees with a view to keeping the environment balanced and produce more fruits.

A total of 10 stalls has been set up in the fair.

Call to preserve Lotus

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Some water bodies of Rupganj Upazila under Narayanganj district are spreading beauty and have made localities charming by the lovely blooming Lotus.

Tetlabo Bill under Tarabo pourashava is one of the water bodies bearing Lotus and spreading beauty.

Curious people and children come here everyday to have a glance.

Children extend their hands to capsize the natural uncultivated Lotus. Locals say, Lotus is gradually being disappeared from our country as most of the water bodies are being used for fish cultivation.

Rare of species this attractive flower should be protected.

The Environment and Forest Ministry should come forward to save Lotus from extinction.

Bangladeshi youth killed by BSF

BSS, Chuadanga

Border Security Force (BSF) of India shot dead a Bangladeshi youth along the Nimtala border under Damurhuda upazila of the district in the early hours of Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Rokibul Islam, son of Babar Ali, of bordering village Sultanpur under Damurhuda upazila.

BDR sources said the Indian border Guards of gedenath Para opened fire on Rokibul when he went to the spot inside Bangladesh territory to bring his cattle. He died on the spot.

The BSF men later entered in to Bangladesh territory and took Rokibul's body away to India. Tense situation was prevailing along the border areas at Nimtala.

Madrasah student killed in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

A madrasah student was killed by miscreants over a previous enmity at Purbagamaria village under Islampur upazila in the district on Thursday.

The victim was identified as Jahanara Begum, 14, daughter of Jahangir Alam and a student of class eight of a local Dakhil madrasa.

Police said, the miscreants killed her and left the body under Koira bridge in the area.

They recovered the body and sent it to Jamalpur General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Jubo League observes token hunger strike in Panchagarh

Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

A token hunger striker District Jubo League Panchagarh was observed at Panchagarh Zila Awamileage Office on 17 July.

The programme was presided by Md. Shahidul Islam, President of Zila Jubo Leage, Panchagarh.

The strike was broken by Md. Mojaharul Islam, general Secretary of Panchagarh Zila. Awami Leage & Md. Abbas Ali, Joint Secretary Panchagarh Zila. Awami Leage.

CCL’s tree plantation programme held

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

The annual plantation week of Chittagong Club Limited began at the swimming pool premises of the club July 19 last.

Chairman of the Club Kashem Chowdhury formally inaugurated the week as chief guest.

Vice-Chairman and in-charge of the club's environment committee Dr. Omar Faruq Yusuf and convener of environment committee Ashraful Karim among others addressed the programme. Member of the club's Executive committee Akther Rahim Chowdhury Ferdous, members of Garden Sub-Committee Dr. Masud Ahmed, Engineer Mohammed Shahajahan, Sharikul Islam, Shoyeba Yusuf, Jashim Uddin Chowdhury of the Daily Purbakone and Dr. Salma Parvin attended the function.

Web for checking juvenile offence opens

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Youth Crime Watch of Bangladesh (WCYB), a forum for preventing juvenile offence, launched its web site at Chittagong Collegiate (Pilot) School on July 19 last.

The WCYB technical-team members - Shakil Uddin Ahmed, Mushfiqur Rahman and Progya Peramita - joined the inaugural function. Establishing a crime free society is the goal of the WCYB.

Phensidyl seized One held in Goalando

BSS, Rajbari

Goalundo thana police recovered 40 bottles of Phensidyl and arrested a drug trader from Daulatdia truck terminal area on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in the district on Thursday night.

Acting on a tip-off, police charged a Dhaka-bound bus-Rajdhani Paribahan-and recovered 40 bottles of phensidyl kept in a travel bag and arrested its owner Swapan Shanta of Hertel Horipur village under Khustia district.

News briefs

Husband kills wife for dowry in Rangpur

RANGPUR, July 29: A housewife was allegedly beaten to death by her husband for dowry at Dhumerkuti Haragachha village in Kaunia upazila on Tuesday. The victim was identified as Rozina Khatun, 25, wife of Tanjil Rahman of the village and daughter of Naya Mia of nearby Dhumerekuti Chandnipara village. Witnesses said Tanjil, son of Abdus Sattar, married Rozina a few years back. Since their marriage he used to torture her demanding Tk 30,000 as dowry. On the fateful day, following a quarrel over the issue Tanjil along with his family members beat Rozina mercilessly leaving her dead on the spot, reports UNB.

Freedom fighter dead

MADARIPUR, July 29: Valiant freedom fighter Abul Kalam passed away at his Kalinagar house in Kalkini upazila Monday night. He was 57. He left behind his wife, two sons, two daughters and host ofrelatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

He had been suffering from paralysis for long, family sources said.

Abul Kalam was buried with state honour at his family graveyard after namaje Namaj-e-Janaza Tuesday morning, reports UNB.

Weeklong tree fair begins in Chandpur

CHANDPUR, July 29: A weeklong tree fair, to encourage people for afforestation, began in the district town on Tuesday. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Forest Department jointly organized the fair at Hasan Ali Government High School ground. Deputy Commis-sioner SM Monirul Islam formally inaugurated the fair with DAE deputy director AKM Aminur Rahman in the chair. Different species of saplings of various fruit bearing, timber and medicinal trees are being displayed at 15 stalls of the fair, reports UNB.

23 sacks fertilizer seized in Kurigram

KURIGRAM, July 29: Elite force RAB seized over 23 sacks of Urea fertilizer from a house at Galakata village in Rajarhat upazila on Sunday. Acting on a tip off, a team of RAB raided the house of Altaf Hossian in the village and recovered the fertilizer. He hoarded the fertilizer to sell in the black market. A case was filed. Altaf went into hiding, reports UNB.

Library for prisoners in Gaibandha jail

Gaibandha, July 29: Prisoners of the district jail will be able to avail library facilities from now as a library has been set up in the jail for their mental develop-ment and corr-ection. Deputy Comm-issioner Abu Md Yusuf inaugurated the library for the prisoners on Wedn-esday. High govern-ment officials and local elite were also present on the occasion. Jailer of the district jail Jabed Ali in his own initiative constructed the library for the welfare of the prisoners, reports UNB.

RAB seizes firearms, bullets at Madaripur

Madaripur, July 29: Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in a raid, seized three automatic firearms and eight bullets from Char Shamalil village under Shibchar thana of the district late last night. A team of the elite force, led by Major Saiful Islam, conducted the raid at 2:30 AM and recovered one revolver, two shutter guns, four (3 -0- 3) bullets and four revolver bullets under the haystack of one Abul Kalam Sarder of village Char Shamalil. The arms and bullets were handed over to Shibchar police, but none was arrested in this connection, reports BSS.