The New Nation - Internet Edition

Army-assisted efforts help in mitigating Monga in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

The ongoing comprehensive initiatives under the guidance of Bangladesh army have ushered in a fresh hope to eradicate the century-old seasonal Monga by making the distressed people economically self-reliant in greater Rangpur.

The initiatives include short-duration BRRI Dhan-33 variety T-Aman paddy farming, pisciculture in the canal of the Teesta Barrage Project (TBP), providing training and employment to the unemployed youths in the garments sector, tree plantation and dairy projects.

Officials concerned on Saturday told BSS that as per direction of Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed, Rangpur Area Commander and GOC of 66 Infantry Division Major General Syed Fatemy Ahmed Roomy in cooperation with the senior military and civil officials launched the projects.

The army chief and officials first identified the prospects, possibilities and potentials of the poverty-prone area with a view to launching various feasible projects for bringing an end to the century-old monga and changing the fate of the economically backward people.

As a part of the initiatives, the agro-related departments are involved in implementing the BRRI Dhan-33 farming with the help of the NGOs in 40,000 hectares land to harvest the same during the peak Monga hour for creating job opportunities to the farm labourers. Under a special action plan, the officials said, a total of 107,000 hectares of land suitable for farming BRRI Dhan-33 would be brought subsequently under BRRI Dhan-33 paddy farming by 2010 to harvest about five lakh tonnes of paddy during 115 to 118 days.

And thus, 19 lakh farm labourers would get jobs by 2010 during Monga period when the land earmarked for cultivation would be brought under BRRI Dhan-33 farming and a total of 43 NGOs are working with the government to make the action plan successful.

Besides, harvesting periods of all crops will be advanced by at least 40 days to enable farmers get more profits as farming of BRRI Dhan-33 would be followed by relay-method cultivation of early variety crops potato, mog, vegetables, maize and mustard.

As per direction of Gen. Moeen, the army took pragmatic steps releasing fish fries in 109.7 km, out of the 119 km long main canal, of the TBP in Rangpur, Nilphamari and Dinajpur districts in July last year and in only nine months, a huge quantity of fishes were cultivated. Fish has been cultivated in 17 segments of the 109.7 km canal where 18,613 kg fish fries worth Taka 18.77 lakh were released in July last year involving 3,004 canal-side destitute beneficiaries including women for changing their fates, economical conditions and meeting their protein demands.

Small water transports resume operation in Barisal routes

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Port authorities permitted to resume plying of ML type water transports less than 65 feet in length on 76 routes including 28 inner routes of Barisal, 21 routes of Patuakhali,13 routes of Barguna,14 routes of Bhola and coastal services on five routes of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong, after 24 hours as weather condition improved on Monday noon.

Rafiqul Islam, Barisal Port Officer, said as the low created on Bay crossed our coast and hoisted cautionary weather signals downed to signal no. 1, then we permitted to ply the ML type launch operation from Monday noon. However the fishing boats and trawlers earlier directed to stay at safe shelters until the weather condition improved, also advised to ply with caution and alertness as sea beds still rough and turbulent, he added. Mid and light raining with long intervals and gusty winds and sunlight at afternoon were seen in Barisal city on Monday.

Weather department recorded 60 millimeters rainfalls in coastal areas and 45 millimeters rainfalls in Barisal city areas in last 24 hours ended on Monday 3:00 pm. Water level of Kirtonkhola river reaches near to danger level and river and canal banks and lower parts of the city engulfed with tidal waters.

RU Physics Dept will celebrate golden jubilee Oct 16, 17

RU Correspondent

The Physics department of Rajshahi University (RU) is going to celebrate it's two day long golden jubilee with massive enthusiasm on August 16,17. Said on a press conference on Tuesday.

Following that the department have taken various preparation of rally, seminar, and orientation with participation of present -former students and fantastic cultural programme.

For participator on the jubilee celebration registration fees have fixed for present student, teachers and employees Tk 700, for former students 1200, every member of the family extra Tk 600 and for every child above 3 years Tk 500.

Interested person could collect the registration form from the Physics department of RU and by wed address www.ru.ac.bd/phy before September 1.

Besides registration form will get by post office and will be sent to convener, golden jubilee, Physics dept, RU with return envelope said on press conference. Any one would contract for details 0721-750041/4102 (Tel), 01711-451501 (mobile), 0721-750064 (Fax) or phygi@ru.ac.bd.

At the press conference Chairman of the department and convener of golden jubilee celebration Professor Dr. A K M Azharul Islam presented a keynote paper on the programme while Assistant professor Razaul Karim, Fazlul Haque, Musfikur Rahman and Shafikur Rahman were also present there.

Abducted minor girls rescued in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Police rescued two minor girl students of Ahmmadia Fazil Madrasha of Rupganj in Narayanganj from Dhaka on 11th August last.

According to Rupgaj thana police, two girl students of this Madrasha were abducted by two unruly youths named. Razib 20, son of Abdul Hossain of Talaskut Village and Shahidullah, 22, son of a Motalib of the same village from the way of Madrasha by a babytaxi and took them to an unknown place.

They raped them over night. Later they sold them to a group of child and woman trafficking party at Kamalapur railway station Dhaka. Traffickers took them to Chittagong by train where police and some people challenged them as abductors. The police as well as people sent the girls back to Kamalapur station. On information two abductors again abducted them from the station and led their to an unknown residence of Goran area of Dhaka where neighbouring people informed the police being suspicious. The police rescued the girls and informed the Rupganj thana police. The police rushed to the spot and brought the abducted to the Rupganj thana and registered a case in this connection. None of the abductors have yet been arrested.

Body recovered at Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Acting on a tip-off a team of Rupganj Thana police recovered a dead body of a young girl from one Momen's house of Borpa village under the Rupganj Thana in Narayanganj on the 7th August last in the evening.

The police found the dead body hanging on a ceiling of a thatched house with a scarf around her neck. She used to live in this house on rent as she was working in a garment factory near the house.

Locals informed she may have love affair with anybody and being refused she may have commited suicide. The dead body was identified as Shanaz Begum, daughter of Iman Ali of Bajnabo village of Belabo Upazila under Narshingdi District. Police sent the dead body to the morgue for autopsy. A case was filed in this connection.

Barisal Kotwali SI closed for abusing power

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Saiful Islam, a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Barisal Kotwali Police Station under Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) was closed Wednesday on charge of abusing power and misbehavior.

Hayetul Islam, assistant police commissioner of BMP, told that, Sub Inspector Saiful recently joined at Barisal Kotwali PS from Magura Sadar PS and he was accused for misuse of power and misbehavior while stationed at Magura.

According to that allegation police head quarter sent a letter to close him to Barisal Metropolitan Police Line on Wednesday, the ACP of BMP said.

NPP district confce held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

National Peoples' Party, District conference was held at Muslim Institute in Mymensingh on 6th August. Sheikh Shaokat Hossain Nilu, chairman NPP was present as chief guest. Khalequzzaman Khan Dudu, senior presidium member, NDP was present as special guest. Advocate Fariduzzaman Farhad, secretary NPP was present as chief speaker. It was presided over by Professor Khan Mosadaque, convenor, District NPP Sheikh Hasan Imam, Secretary, District NPP was also present.

Reception accorded to GPA-5 students in Kishoreganj

BSS, Kishoreganj

A reception was accorded to the GPA-5 students of Ververi Majhipara High School in the remote area of Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district Friday.

Chaired by President of the School Managing Committee (SMC) Hafizur Rahman, the ceremony was attended by UNO of Kishoreganj Upazila M Shamsul Haque as the chief guest.

Upazila Secondary Education Officer Ashrafuzzaman and Upazila Academic Supervisor Aftabur Rahman were present as the special guests.

The speakers expressed their satisfaction on the good pass percentage of 91 in the educational institution situated at remote rural area of Nilphamari and praised the role of the teachers, members of the SMC and students and guardians for the success.

After the discussion, the chief guest distributed crests and certificates among the recipient students of the school, who got GPA-5 in the last SSC examinations. Later, a cultural function was organised in this connection.

News briefs

One killed in Sherpur road mishap

SHERPUR, Aug 17: A microbus driver was killed and two people were injured in a road accident at Gouradar crossing in Nakla upazila on Monday. The accident occurred at about 4pm when a bus rammed a microbus, coming from opposite direction, leaving microbus driver Anwar Hossain, 22, dead on the spot and two its passengers seriously injured. The injured were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Police seized both vehicles, reports UNB.

4 injured as police fires rubber bullets in Dinajpur

DINAJPUR, Aug 17: Four people were wounded when police fired on them during a chase at Osmanpur in Badarganj upazila on early Monday. Officer in-Charge of Parbartipur police station Habibur Rahman said a patrol police team was informed that a gang of robbers in a tractor was heading towards Badarganj upazila from Parbatipur with looted booty. Being informed, the team, led by SI Haidar Ali, tried to stop the tractor loaded with Indian onion at about 5am. But, as the tractor driver ignored the signal, police chased the vehicle and lobbed rubber bullets on the passengers, leaving four people injured, reports UNB.

Phensidyl destroyed in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, Aug 17: Rapid Action Battalion members destroyed 1000 bottles of phensidyl at old collectorate building premises in the town here Monday. These bottles of phensidyl were seized in different raids in the district. Deputy Commissioner Abu Sayeed Fakir, Police Super Jahangir Hossain Matobber were present during the destruction of the drugs, reports UNB.

World Adibasi Day observed in C’nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

World Adibasi Day was observed in Chapainawabganj on Saturday in a befitting manner.

Barendra Development Organisation (BDO) and Bangladesh Rural Development Community (BRDC) jointly arranged rallies, discussion meetings and cultural functions in the town and Nachole upazila of the district on the occasion.

The discussion meeting here was held at Shahid Satu Hall with freedom fighter Chaitanya Dev Barman in the chair. The discussion was addressed, among others, by Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chapainawabganj Md. Sirajul Haque Khan as the chief guest. Mayor of Chapainawabganj Municipality Ataur Rahman, ADC (Rev) Shah Alam Mridha, convenor of the Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC) of Transparency International Bangla-desh (TIB) Advocate Saiful Islam Reza, journalist Anwar Hossain Dilu, executive director of BDO Aktar Hassain and Adibasi leader Shuvanker Sarkar addressed the meeting.

After the discussion, a grand culture function was held with the participation of the Adibasi artistes.