The New Nation - Internet Edition

Special attention to research development underscored

JU Correspondent

Vice-Chancellor of Jahang-irnagar University (JU) Professor Dr. Mohammed Muniruzzaman called for giving special importance to the research development of knowledge, science and technology and food security meeting the requirement of time. He made the call while addressing as chief guest a the annual seminar on presen-tation of research data of Biological sciences Faculty at JU here on 26 July last.

The Vice-Chancellor stre-ssed the need for a massive participation of new faculty members in research along with the senior teachers. The image of the university on biodiversity, environment and human welfare. Addressing as the special guest Treasurer of the university Professor Syed Abdul Hye said "We should be more attentive to research in the interest of development of education."

Dean of the Biological sciences Faculty Professor Dr. Shahabuddin Kabir Chowdhury presided over the inaugural session where 26 research papers were presented. Professor Dr. A B M Anayet Hossain, Professor Dr. Abdul Jabbar Howlader and Professor Dr. Sakina Sultana chaired the first, second and third session respectively.

Malaria kills 193 people, affects 56,789 last year in CHT

UNB, Rangamati

Malaria, a serious infectious disease, claimed some 193 lives and infected 56,789 people last year in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region, according to official figures.

Unofficial sources, however, claimed that the death toll and the number of people affected by malaria in the region would be much higher.

This was disclosed at a roundtable on "Media assistance in malaria control programme" held at the Zila Parishad auditorium here on Tuesday. Rangamati Press Club, BRAC, Health Direc-torate, and Health and Family Welfare Ministry jointly organized the discussion.

Deputy Commissioner Nurul Amin, BRAC health programme officer Jahangir Alam, journalist Maksud Ahmed and Zila Parishad chairman Jagat Jyoti Chakma, among others, spoke at the programme, chaired by district civil surgeon Dr M Abdullah.

The speakers said 70 upazilas of 13 districts of the country are more vulnerable to malaria. Of these, the three hill districts are the most vulnerable.

Mentioning that malaria claims hundreds of lives every year in the malaria prone-CHT region, they said the disease is more rampant in the hill districts during the rainy season, which is favourable for mosquito breeding.

Giving the global scenario of malaria, the speakers said the deadly disease kills over a million worldwide each year - mostly children.

More than half a billion people are infected with malaria every year.

Heed Bangladesh distributes saplings of fruit bearing trees in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

HEED Bangladesh, a volun-tary organisation, distrib-uted saplings of different fruit-bearing trees among the ultra poor of 3 upazilas in the district on July 27 free of cost in order to meet the demand of nutrition, help them to be self-reliant and to maintain the economical balance of the environment.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Mohammad Yousuf formally inaugurated the sapling distribution programme among the poor at the Sadar upazila office of the town here on Sunday as chief guest and sadar upaizla Nirbahi officer Iftekhar Hossain was present as special guest. Rafiel Tushar Chakraborty, disaster management Officer of the organisation, local elite and the journalists were present on the occasion.

Office sources said a total at of 6200 saplings of different fruit-bearing trees including mango, blackberry, plum and olive among 1550 beneficiaries of Sadar Gobindagonj and Palashbari upazilas in the district on July 27 under its plantation programme.

HEED Bangladesh has been working in the district for two years on different issues like disaster risk reduction, homestead raising, tubewell raising and installation, seed distribution, disaster mana-gement committee form-ation and rescue operation.

4 electrocuted in three districts

BSS, Barisal

Four persons were electrocuted at different places of Barisal, Jhalakathi and Pirojpur districts on Wednesday, police said.

They said, one Farook Mukain, 55, was electrocuted at Fazlul Huq Avenue of the city when he came in contact with a live electric wire at his Neon Stationery Shop at 10 AM Wednesday.

Another Milon, 25, was electrocuted when he came in contact with a live electric wire at a brickfield in Kalaskathi village under Bakerganj upazila of this district on Wednesday afternoon. One Zakir Khalifa, 32, was electrocuted at Kumarkhali Bazaar of Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi district at 4-30 PM Wednesday while he was engaged in electric wiring at a house.

Besides, one Mostem Ali Gazi, 70, of Jolagati village under Kaukhali upazila of Pirojpur district was electrocuted at 6 PM on Wednesday when he was engaged in giving an electric connection to a fish-gher near by his house.

Separate cases were lodged with respective thana police in these connections.

3 killed in separate incidents in Sylhet, Sunamganj

UNB, Sylhet

Three people, including a young housemaid, died in separate incidents here and nearby Sunamganj district on Sunday and Monday. Witnesses said the housemaid drowned when she was taking bath in a pond in Akhalia area of Sylhet city on Monday noon.

The deceased was identified as Binta Das, 20, a domestic help of Pashubati Pal of the area, and daughter of late Amar Chan Das of Bhatipara village in Biswambharpur upazila of Sunamganj district.

In another incident, police recovered the body of a young man from a Chhanmati Beel (water body) in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet Sunday noon.

Family sources said Juber Ahmed, 32, son of Mohammad Lal Mia of Najirgaon village in the same upazila, went to the beel for fishing Saturday afternoon and since then he remained missing.

Later, his floating body was found in the beel. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for postmortem.

Besides, a young man, who was critically injured on Sunday by his rival at Rajargaon village in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj district, died at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital on Monday.

Witnesses said Dulal Ahmed, 18, son of Abdus Shahid of the area, was beaten up mercilessly by his rival Alimuddin, son of Jonai Mia following an altercation over a trifling matter. He was rushed to the Osmani Medical College Hospital where he died at 3pm Monday.

Opinion sharing meet held in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A view exchange meeting was held at Bhulta Press Media Centre, under Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj with the police officers and the newsmen of Rupganj Upazila on July 29 last with M.A Momen,Rupganj Correspondent of the Daily Ittefaq in the chair.

In the meeting, Assistant Police Superintendent of Narayanganj District said, "The newsmen are the conscientious men in the country. If they provide correct news, all kinds of crimes would be possible to curb. Correspondents Shafiqul Alam Bhuiyan of the Naya Diganta, Kamruzzaman Kamrul of the Dandi Barta, Masum Khan of The Destiny, Monir Hossain of the Deshar Alo, Masud Bhuiyan of the Daily Jai Jai Din, Kamal Hossain Organising Secretary of the Araihazar Press Club, Zahirul Islam of the Desh Janata, Masum Mia of the Dainik Ead, Saiful Islam of Sitalakhya, Alamin Bhuyian Destiny Araihazar Correspondent, Shafiqul Islam Mir Suza Shapta and Incharge of Bhulta Police Camp Rashadul Islam, among others, attended and exchanged their views.

Fruit, tree fair held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A 3 day-long fruit and tree fair began at Dhubaura Shahid Minar Square of the district on 22nd June. Md. Maqbul Hossain Taluddar, DD. DAE inaugurated the fair as chief guest. The chief guest said. "We should have to increase our rice production.

To increase food production we shall have to tabe action food plan programme. Md. Asaduzzaman, UNO (Incharge) presided over the function. Altab Hossain, crop specialist, Md Fajlur Rahman, Upazila Agriculture Officer, Md Fazlul Haque, Astt. Information Officer, Journalist and President, Secretary of Dhubaura Prass Club we also present. 15 stalls we set up in the fair.

Seminar on national budget held at RU

BSS, Rajshahi

Rajshahi University Economics Society, an organisation of Rajshahi University Economics Department, organised a seminar on the national budget for 2008- 2009 on the campus on Wednesday.

Held at the hallroom of the economics department, the seminar was chaired by the chairman of the department Prof. M. Mohsin Ali.

Sarmin Sultana Falguni, Zakia Halfsha, Naznin Sultana, M.

Fahad Akther presented their research papers in the seminar. RU teachers Prof. Dr Tareq Saiful Islam, Dr ANK Noman, Dr Eliyas Hossain, and Dr Abdul Wadud spoke on the occasion. M. Hanifa Liton and Mahmuda Shirin Munmoon conducted the programme.

IFB distributes books in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Narsingdi district office under its mosque library project distributed book, and book shelves to mosque-based libraries in the district on Wednesday.

Zillar Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of the district, distributed books and shelves at a simple function as the chief guest at Narsingdi Press Club with Manzurul Alam Majumdar, deputy director of Islamic Foundation in the chair.

The function were addressed, among others, by Mostafa Kamal, ADC (general), Moulana Mahmudul Hassan Madani, vice principal, Jamia Kashemia, Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan, president of Press Club Narsingdi, Mohammad Abu Taher, BSS correspondent, Moulana Sultan Uddin Nori and Moulana Mohammad Zakaria. Islamic Foundation sources said a total of 3,262 books and 37 book shelves were distributed among 35 mosque based libraries in the district.

4 fake newsmen held in Ctg

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Police detained four fake journalists when they allegedly went to extract money from Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) on July 28 last.

The arrestees are identified as Editor of The Daily Ajker Padma MM Rahman Mukul (44), son of Mohammad Sadek Majumder, Bureau Chief KSM Touhid (30), son of late Pulla Mian, Chief Reporter Mohammad Raihan Chowdhury (34), son of Mohammad Fosond Mia and Mohammad Emdadul Islam alias Rubel (23), son of Abdul Awal.

A news release issued by Assistant Police Commissioner (DB) on Sunday night claimed that the four arrestees went to office of CMP commissioner M Akbar Ali at about 5:00 p.m. impersonating themselves as journalists.

At a stage, they demanded money from the CMP Commissioner M Akbar Ali after narrating their financial hardship. The CMP Commissioner immediately directed to arrest them. A case was filed with Doublemooring police station in connection with the incident.

Death condoled

Nurtaz Begum, wife of Alhaj Mafijur Rahman and mother of Dr Saidur Rahman Hilali, Academic Director, University of Information Technology and Science (UITS) died of old-age complications in Chittagong Medical College Hospital on July 22 last. She was 78.

She left behind husband, six sons and five daughters, a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death, says a press release.

Officials, employees of UITS have condoled the death of Nurtaj and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

PBCP commander killed in encounter with police in Rajbari

UNB, Rajbari

A regional commander of outlawed Burbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) was killed in an encounter between his cohorts and police at Mohishshahi Chandpur village in Pangsha upazila early on Wednesday.

The dead was identified as Tofazzal Hossain Tufan alias Shimul, 32, son of Gafur Mollah of Dayalnagar village in Sadar upazila. Police said Tufan was wanted in a number of criminal cases, including murder and extortion.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Tufan from Suryanagar area in Pangsha upazila Monday night. According to his confessional statement, they recovered a shutter gun from the area on Tuesday.

Police later took him on a three-day remand for interrogation after his arrest.

On the basis of his confession, police along with Tufan when reached near a bailey bridge at Mahishshahi Chandpur on their way to Suryanagar to recover hidden arms at about 4am, his cohorts opened fire on them forcing the law enforcers to fire back.

While trying to flee, Tufan received bullet injuries in the shootout.

3 drug peddlers get one year jail in Jhalakati

UNB, Jhalakati

A court here Monday sentenced three drug peddlers, in absentia, to one year simple imprisonment each on charges of selling ganja.

The convicts are Sanjoy Mistri, 20, Kamruzzaman, 40, of Ishwarkati village in Nalchhity upazila and Jasimuddin Hawladar, 35, of Krishnakati area of the town.

According to the prosecution, police arrested Sanjoy along with 7-grams of hemp and Tk 400 in cash from Bazarnola Lohapotti in the town on May 11, 2006.

In another incident, RAB members of Barisal arrested two drug-peddlers - Kamruzzaman and Jasim - along with 15 grams of ganja from near Garudham bridge in the town on June 20, 2005.

Later, separate cases were filed against them under Narcotics Control Act.

The three arrested drug-peddlers secured bail and later went into hiding.

After examining the records and witnesses of the two cases, Judge Yusuf Ali of the district judicial magistrate court handed over verdict.

News briefs

Burglary at cell phone shop in Thakurgaon

THAKURGAON, August 01: Burglars took away cash and cell phones worth about Tk 3.5 lakh from a phone shop in the district town early Monday. Police said the thieves broke the shutters of Makkah Telecom at Noor Jahan Plaza at dead of night and looted the phone sets and Tk 50,000 in cash. The shop owner Lutfar Rahman expressed his wonder how the thieves took away the cash and cell phones where night guards of the market were on duty. He filed a case with local police station in this connection, reports UNB.

Valuables looted in Sunamganj

SUNAMGANJ, August 01: Armed pirates wearing police uniforms looted cash and valuables worth Tk 2 lakh from a boat at Borhanpur village in Dirai upazila Sunday afternoon. Police said Faisal Chowdhury of Jamalganj upazila along with some of his friends was going to the house of noted Baul singer Shah Abdul Karim by a boat. When their boat reached the Borhanpur village the bandits dressed in police uniforms in another boat stopped them claiming that they are patrolling the area and the boat needs to be searched. At one stage the bandits took the boat passengers hostage at gun point and plundered Tk 18,000 in cash, six mobile phone sets and other valuables from them. A case has been filed in this connection with Dirai police station, reports UNB.

Body recovered in Gazipur

GAZIPUR, August 01: Body of an auto-rickshaw driver was recovered from Telipara area in Sadar upazila on Tuesday, after two days of missing along with his CNG-run vehicle. The deceased was identified as Jahangir Alam, 30, son of Ansar Ali of Madarganj upazila in Jamalpur district. Victim's family sources said Jahangir was residing in Sabujbagh area of Dhaka city and he was engaged in driving auto-rickshaw since long. On Sunday, he along with his vehicle went out of his house and didn't return throughout the day. Victim's brother identified his body which was later sent to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. It is suspected that miscreants snatched away his vehicle after murdering him at night, reports UNB.

Husband jailed for life for killing wife in Kushtia

KUSHTIA, August 01: A special court here Tuesday sentenced a man to life term imprisonment for the killing his wife for dowry in 2006. The lifer was identified as Rahidul Islam Pukari, son of Palan Mandal of Sewria Mandalpara on the outskirts of the town. He was also fined Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer six months more in prison. According to the prosecution, Rahidul with the help of his accomplices beat his wife Shahanara Khantun on March 19, 2006 for refusing to bring dowry money from her parents, leaving her critically injured. Later, she died at Sadar Hospital on March 21. A case was lodged against five people, including Rahidul, with local police station. After examining the records and 12 witnesses, Judge Didar Ali Fakir of the district Special Judge Court pronounced the verdict in a crowded courtroom acquitting four others, reports UNB.