The New Nation - Internet Edition

Vitamin-A can save 20,000 infants in Bangladesh per year

BSS, Gaibandha

The experts at a conference here on Tuesday said as many as 20,000 Bangladeshi infants' lives could be saved each year if all new born babies were fed oral dose of vitamin A shortly after birth.

According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University and published in July, 2008 in pediatrics, official Journal of the American Academy of pediatrics, giving a single dose of vitamin A to Bangladeshi newborns can reduce infant deaths by 15 percent.

They disclosed in a press conference on 'New Born Vitamin A supplementation Reduces infant Mortality is Rural Bangladesh' organized by Jivita, a Maternal and child Health and Nutrition Research Project, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at its office of the town here on Tuesday. The study findings were presented by Dr Rolf Klemm, scientist, John Hopkins University and Dr Mahbubur Rashid, senior medical epidemiologist of Jivita.

It was also revealed that John Hopkins University and the Jivita project, research component of the UBHPP (USAID-Bangladesh Health and population programmes) conducted the study among 16,000 newborns in Gaibandha and Rangpur districts from 2004 to 2007.

At the time of study which was approved by Bangladesh Medical Research council, 80 percent of the newborns were fed vitamin A oral dose within 7 hours after birth, UBHPP sources said. The mortality rate in first six months among babies who were administered vitamin A at birth was 15 percent lower than the babies who were given oil supplement in a control group, UBHPP also said.

According to Keith P West, professor of infant and child Nutrition, Department of international health, Johns Hopkins University, USA, the study findings confirm those of two other studies in Indonesia and India making newborn vitamin A delivery a promising new intervention to reduce infant mortality across South Asia where the overall average reduction may be closer to twenty percent.

A dose of vitamin A costs less than Taka 2 but the major challenge is to find the best ways to administer the vitamin within the first two days of life to four million.

Over 90 percent of baby are born at home, experts also said in the press conference.

Senior nutritionist Abu Ahmed Shamim, field administrator M. Abdul Jabbar and the officials of the project were also present on the occasion. More than 30 journalists of print and electronic media working in the district attended the press conference.

7000 SIDR-hit fishermen rehabilitated in Patuakhali

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

Around seven thousands small and marginal fish farmers are rehabilitated through CAARP (Cyclone Affected Aquaculture Rehabilitation Project) technical assisted by the World Fish Centre-Bangladesh and funded by the USAID.

Devastating SIDR has rendered the coastal areas with empty of wealth, public health and broken rural economy created a long term effect on south-western coastal people's livelihoods.

Ravaged 38 unions of five highly affected upazillas like Mirjagonj, Galachipa, Dosmma, Kalapara and Patuakhali sadar under Patuakhali district's small and marginal fish farmers have received around 3.1 million white fish fingerlings and prawn juveniles, some 52 metric tons limestone and around 15 metric tons of TSP, of urea and of mustered oil cake, respectively.

Furthermore, around 25 per cent farmers have taken money proportionately of their ponds area against dyke repairing & construction.

Recently, Dosmina upazila Nirbari Officer's (UNO) quoted on dyke repairing money distribution ceremony of his inaugural speech that unparallel Sidr package will have been made the small fish farmer's livelihood strengthening and created an opportunity to household level IGAs (Income Generating Activities) support.

Dr. Manjurul Karim, programme manager of CAARP specked out that we would like to involve making work oriented of sidr affected poor people, especially involved to earn pro-poor and poor women for increasing capabilities of family income. Pre-stocking, stocking and post stocking aquaculture inputs package including informal training enable to cultivate fish on their household ponds and earn a lot for family with keeping role for increasing nutrition level through intake their cultivated fish.

Housewife murdered for dowry in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

An innocent housewife was beaten to death for dowry by her husband in village Khotkhotia Bhatabari in the outskirts of Rangpur city under Sadar upazila here on Monday night.

Villagers held the killer husband and handed him over to Kotwali police station, police sources said. Hesanur Rahman, 28, of village Khotkhotia Bhatabari married Rezia Begum, 24, daughter of poor Entaz Ali of the same village some five years back. Rezia's father paid Taka 8,000 out of the settled amount of Taka 12,000 money during the marriage as dowry. But, Rezia was frequently being tortured by her husband as her poor father failed to pay the rest amount of Taka 4,000 dowry money to the greedy husband.

As a part of the regular physical torture, Hesanur started beating her mercilessly on Monday and at one stage, the innocent housewife was killed on the spot. Knowing the incident, the villagers immediately caught the killer husband and handed him over to Kotwali police station. The victim's father filed a murder case in this connection with Kotwali police station on Tuesday, the sources said.

Two dacoits held in Syedpur

BSS, Syedpur

Police arrested two out of three dacoits involved with snatching a motorcycle of a headmaster from Syedpur in Nilphamari district in the small hours of Tuesday, police sources said.

A group of three notorious dacoits snatched a motorcycle of schoolteacher Mizanur Rahman, while he was returning home at Bangalipur area in Syedpur upazila town of Nilphamari from his Matiakora High School in nearby Birganj upazila of Dinajpur. After a long chase from Birganj by another motorcycle, the criminals snatched away the motorcycle (Dianjpur-Ha-12-2213) of the headmaster from Naria Khamber area in Syedpur town.

Being informed, a police team of Syedpur Thana conducted raids at different places and arrested two dacoits Akaruzzaman alias Akaru, 50, and Mossarraf Hossain, 45, of village Chit Rajib Nandipara under Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari.

A case was filed against the arrested dacoits with Syedpur police station and a number of dacoity cases are pending against them, with different police stations in the region, the sources said.

Founding anniversary of BAU to be celebrated Aug 18

BAU Correspondent, Mymensingh

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has chalked out a series of a two-day programmes to celebrate 48th years of Agricultural Education in Bangladesh beginning from 17th August 2008.

The two day programme and events to commemorate the 48th of agricultural education in Bangladesh includes exhibition of historical photographs at BAU Library, children painting competition, essay competition among the students, blood group detection programme to be organised by Bandhon, Feature exhibition by BAU Journalists, colourful rally to be participated by students, teachers, officers and employees and other socio cultural organizations of the campus, BAU First Gate inauguration ceremony, tree plantation, releasing fish fry and special prayers will be offered in mosques and other holy places seeking divine blessings for the welfare and development of the university. Besides Video exhibition based on the activities of the University, Prize distribution and cultural prgrammes are included in the evening to mark the historical day.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain was in the chair at the BAU Administration building.

The inception of the erstwhile veterinary college in 1957 Which later turned into BAU in 18 August 1961, introduced higher agricultural education in the country.

On the recommendation of the Education Commission, which was set up by the then government of Pakistan in 1958, it was decided to establish two technological universities - a university of engineering and technology and an agricultural university in each wing (East and West) of Pakistan. Subsequently a separate recommendation was followed by National Education and the Food and Agricultural Commission in 1959 and the Government promulgated its ordinance on August 18, 1961. With the appointment of its fist Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. MO Ghani, the University formally came into existence on 2 September 1961.

Education being the concurrent subjects, these universities was established in each part (1961) by ordinances of the respective provincial governments. Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) Agricultural University (BAU) was established at Mymensingh in 1961 on the campus of the then East Pakistan College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, and has since been developed as the only affiliating, residential and teaching agricultural University in the country, providing facilities for higher education and research in agriculture and allied fields.

PAB starts sowing seeds of date, palm trees in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

River Erosion Project of Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB) on UK base non-government International organization started sowing the seeds of date and palm trees on the side of the embankment under sadar upazila in the district on August 03.

The aim of programme is to meet the demand of Sugar, to enhance the beaury of the nature and to maintain the ecological balance of the environment.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer M. Iftekhar Hossain formally inaugurated the progrmame by sowing the seeds of flate trees on the side of the embankment, near to New Bridge of the town here on Sunday morning as chief guest.

Regional manager of PAB M. Mizanur Rahman, Programme Development Officer Ikbal Hossain, Project Officers Bimal Chandra Adhikary and Joynal Abedin and the locals including the journalists were present on the occasion.

The seeds of the trees would be sown on the both sides of 12-km long embankment from New Bridge area to Kamarjani of the upazila during the current season under plantation and beautification programme, said and official of PAB.

Slaughtered body recovered in Netrakona

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

Madan upazila police recovered a slaughtered body of a youngman from a jute-field at village Kaitail under Madan upazila of Netrakona district on July 28.

Police and local sources said , the dead was identified as Humayun (18) son of Apus Mia of the village Kaitail. Quoting the victim's family members, the sources said that a group of miscreants brutally killed Humayun by slaughtering with sharp weapons and threw his body to the jute-field police sent the dead body to Netrakona hospital morgue for post mortem, sources said and that they have already started investigation into the killing incident.

Dist representative meet of JSD held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

The District representative meeting of Jatiya Samajtrantik Dal, Mymensingh unit was held at Jashad office premises on August 2. Sherin Akthar, Joint Secretary Jashad Central committee was present as chief guest.

The meeting was presided over by advocate President District Jashad General leader Md Khaled, Advocate Delwar Hossain Nayan, Monirul Islam Liton, Ashraful Haque Rokeya Sultana Anyle also shope in the meeting.

District leader advocate Sadiq Hossain Advocate Najrul Islam Chunnu, Sayhed Shafiqul Islam Mintoo Advocate Shibbir Ahmed Liston also shope in the meeting.

The chief guest said Election should be held accordingly Road Map.

Emergency law should he conclude and war criminals will not be allowed to participate in the Election.

One hundred lighten representative from the district were present in the meeting.

12 head posts of educational instts lying vacant in Kurigram

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

The post of head of 13 educational institutes of Fulbari upazila of the district are lying vacant for long causing educational activities to be hampered.

Sources said junior teacher are in charge of the institutes. So many problems are being created.

The students and other teachers are fully depressed for want of the Headmaster of the institutions.

The educational institute are Fulbari Degree college, Fulbari Jasimia High School, Gangerhat High School, Berakutihat High School, Nagarajpur High School, Char Gorekmondal Govt Primary School, Dharniram Govt. Primary School.

Ateabari Govt. Primary School, Bamoner Bazar Govt. Primary School, Char Dhaniram regd, Primary school, Rajarhat regd Primary School, Dakkin Khochabari Regd. Primary School.

News briefs

2 killed in Noakhali road mishap

NOAKHALI, Aug 7: Two people were killed and a minor boy was injured in a road accident on Chandraganj-Khil-para Road at Baropur in Chatakhil upazila on Monday. Police said the accident took place at about 7pm when a Khilpara-bound pick-up van rammed a rickshaw from behind, killing rickshaw peddler Nur Islam, 30, and an unidentified woman on spot and injuring a minor boy, reports UNB.

Minor boy crushed under wheels of bus

JAHALAKATI, Aug 7: A minor boy was crushed under the wheels of a district-bound bus on Jhalakati-Rajapur Road in front of BRAC office in Baghari area here at 1pm on Monday. The dead was identified as Mahmud, 8, son of Anwar Hossain of Baghari area. After the accident, agitated people blocked the road for one hour, reports UNB.

Robbers loot houses, shop in Jhalakati

JHALAKATI, Aug 7: Robbers looted valuables from two houses and a shop at Amtoli village in Nolchhiti upazila Saturday. Police sources said, when a gang of 10/12 robbers broke open the door of Noor Mohammad and Eskandar's house the villagers came to know it and they chased the robbers. Seven villagers were injured during the chase and counter chase with the robbers. Two villagers-Noor Hussain, 55 and Forkan, 25 were admitted to the hospital. The robbers looted valuables from a shop at Amtoli bazar while fleeting, reports UNB.

Housewife stabbed to death in Comilla

COMILLA, Aug 7: A housewife was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband at Gunaighar Banguri village in Debidar upazila Monday. Police said Hannan stabbed his wife Rina Akhter to death over family feud when she was asleep in the morning. Hannan used to torture her wife Rina, mother of three children. The victim's maternal uncle Azizul Haque Munsi filed a case with the police, reports UNB.

3 dacoits held with arms in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Aug 7: Three dacoits along with arms and ammunition were arrested after a mass beating from Shyambagat village in Fakirthat upazila early Monday. Police said 10 to 12 dacoits, introduced themselves as policemen, entered the house of Yusuf Sheikh at Piljang village at dead of night and tried to commit a robbery. Hearing cry for help by the inmates, local people rushed in and chased the bandits. At one stage, they caught three robbers along with one LG, five bullets and some sharp weapons from Shyambagat village, three kilometers away from the house. Later, they gave the bandits a good beating, leaving them seriously injured. They were handed over to police. The robbers were later admitted to Upazila Health Complex. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

4 held with fertilizer in Pabna

PABNA, August 07: Police seized 150 sacks of fertilizer and held four people, including two agri block supervisors, for cheating in weight and realising excess money from the farmers while selling fertilizer at Jalalpur in Sadar upazila on Wednesday. Local farmers started demonstration when staff of Gani and Brothers were selling 41 to 42 kgs of MOP and TSP fertilizer in the sack of 50 kgs and realizing excess money from them than the government rate. On information, a team of joint forces rushed to the spot and arrested manager of Gani and Brothers Shakil Ahmed and another employee Abdul Hannan. They also seized the fertilizer. The team also arrested block supervisors of Agriculture Department Saiful Islam Osmani and Ahmed Ali Sardar form the spot for helping the Gani and Brothers in realizing the excess money from the farmers, reports UNB.