The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bumper jute harvest likely, lower market price worries farmers in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

A bumper production of jute is likely as its harvesting has been nearing completion everywhere in all 58 upazilas of eight districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone (RAZ), officials said here today.

Due to less rainfalls this year than that of the average normal, farmers in few areas have been facing little problems in rotting of the fibre plants and expressed their dissatisfaction on the declining jute prices now prevailing in the local markets.

Officials, market sources and farmers today told BSS that the newly harvested jute is now selling at rates of Taka 750 and 900 per maund (every 40 kgs) depending on their qualities and varieties though the same was in between Taka 1,100 and 1,200 last month.

Senior officials in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here today said that a target of producing 4,72,920 bales of jute from 67,560 hectares was fixed for the current season in eight northern districts under the RAZ.

They said. the farmers in the region brought over 67,950 hectares land under jute farming during the current season and the crop grew excellently under totally favourable climatic conditions this time in the Zone. The fixed jute-farming target included 10,020 hectares in Rangpur, 8,250 hectares in Gaibandha, 16,150 hectares in Kurigram, 6,039 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 11,406 hectares in Nilphamari, 4,878 hectares in Dinajpur, 4,595 hectares in Thakurgaon and 6,244 hectares in Panchagarh districts.

While talking to BSS, a number of jute growers at bigger jute markets told that it would be best if the market price of the golden fibre would remain in between Taka 1,200 and Taka 1,400 per maund depending on the varieties and qualities. They also urged the government for taking necessary steps in this regard to increase the market prices of the fibre with a view to encourage the farmers and reviving the jute sector to its past glory.

Gang of pirates create reign of terror in Barisal coastal areas

Our Correspondent, Barisal

As soon as the Hilsha fishing season started, the armed pirate gangs based in deep forest of Sundarban created reign of terror in the coastal fishing belts and looted 31 fishing trawlers abducted at least 35 fishermen in recent days.

Reports received from Kuakata, Patharghata and Sharonkhola coasts of Patuakhai, Bagerhut and Khulna districts said that Zulfikar, Razu and Ziad, three notorious gang leaders of the pirates created this reign of terror.

These gangs not only looted properties worth Tk. 50 lakhs in cash and kinds including the fishing nets, equipments, engines and fuels of the fishing boats, but also collected huge money in exchange of freeing abducted hostages. Nitai Chandra, Golam Mustafa and A Huq Farazi, leaders of the fishing trawlers and merchant associations of Kalapara, Patharghata and Sharonkhola said that after killing the pirate gang leader Taslim and arrest of Kabir by the law enforcers , Sundarbon based pirate gangs became inactive for few times.

But recently the miscreants organised under the leadership of Zulfikar, Razu and Riaz started mass piracies in the bay and coastal areas. In this most unsafe situations fishermen became panicked to go for fishing in the bay and coastal areas. These gangs have more than one hundred members with sophisticated fire arms, speedy water transports and strong hidden safe shelters in deep forest under influential godfathers.

These gangs after looting the fishing boats took the crews and fishermen as hostages with them and freed them after collecting ransoms through their godfather at Khulna, Mongla and Bagerhut, the association leaders alleged. We often hesitate to inform law enforcers after the incidents of looting our properties to save the lives of abducted hostages and operating combing operations and random patrol of navy and coastguard only can improve the situation, they opined.

Taher Ahmed Laboratory inaugurated at RU

RU Correspondent

The Geology and Mining Department of Rajshahi University (RU) on Wednesday launched research laboratory named "Dr. S. Taher Ahmed micropaleontology research laboratory ".

RU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Mamnunul Keramat launched the laboratory formally at the inauguration session while there was present registrar Professor M. Shafi and dean of life and earth faculty professor Golam Kabir as special guest. There also spoke Prof. Dr. Sarwar Jahan, Dr. Anwarul Islam, Dr. Sayed Shamsuddin Ahmed and others. The inauguration programme was presided over by the department chairman Prof. Dr. Kamrul Hasan Mozumder.

Speakers clarified the unique contribution of Prof. Dr. S. Taher Ahmed for Rajshahi University and urged all to refuse socially the killer of Prof. Dr.Taher.

Noted that Prof. Dr. S. Taher Ahmed was killed on 1st February 2005 at his campus residence. He was the most senior Professor of RU Geology and Mining department.

Two bodies exhumed in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Two bodies were exhumed from separate spots in Badarganj and Kawnia upazilas in the district as per court orders recently, Police sources said.

Body of Mohammad Rubel, 18, son of Jahangir Alam of village Hajipur Dangipara, was exhumed as per the court order in presence of first class Magistrate Mazharul Islam on Thursday afternoon after four days of his burial. Rubel died on August 3 last and was buried at their family graveyard. His maternal uncle Monwar Hossain filed a case in this connection on August 6 and the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of Rangpur ordered exhuming the body for autopsy. According to the court order, body of Nur Islam Babu, 28, son of Mohammad Ali of village Nazirdaho in Kawnia upazila, was also exhumed in presence of first class Magistrate Feroz Ahmed on Tuesday, after eight days of his death.

Nur Islam died on July 29 and buried at his family graveyard in absence of his wife Arzina Begum, who was living at her father's house and had bad relations with husband.

As Arzina filed case with Kawnia police station, the same court also ordered to exhume the body of Nur for autopsy, police said.

Open House Day held in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Open House Day was held under auspices of the District Police Administration on August 5 at Kotwali thana premises. The programme was attended by Police Superintendent Md Hasib Aziz and presided over by the Kotwali thana officer in charge Md Ali Ahamed Hazami.

Acting Mayor Edris Ali, Councilor Abdul Ohab Zarnee, Ferdausi. Begum ex-poura commissioner Moslim Uddin Chata and others spoke on the occasion.

51 held on various charges in Rangpur

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Police arrested a total of 51 persons including notorious criminals on different changes from various places of all eight upazilas in the district during the past one week.

Police said the arrested persons included listed terrorists, drug smugglers, addicts, gamblers absconding convicts and accused persons in different cases, drug peddlers, thieves, extortionists and other anti-social elements.

Police also recorded huge quantities of narcotic materials including ganja, phensidyl, locally produced wine, smuggled cumin, stolen and robbed goods and other illegal things during the drives.

Police arrested absconding convicts Naginhogen, 35, Bakul 40, Naic Begum (33), notorious thief Idris Ali 45. The arrested persons were sent to jail hajat.

Huge forged revenue stamps recovered

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Members of RAB-5, Railway colony camp recovered a huge number of counterfeit revenue stamps and arrested one person from Bonpara by pass crossing of Natore and Baghail Nutunpara village under Pabna district last noon.

Acting on a tip off, RAB members arrested Majnu Mia(25) son of Abdul Ghafur of Bonpara by pass crossing and based on his confessional statement recovered counterfeit 500 revenue stamps of taka four denomination each, 5,200 revenue stamps of taka one denomination each, Again accoring to the information of arrested Majnu, RAB members conducted an operation at Baghail Nutun Para village under Pabna district and arrested Anowarul Alam Khokon(35) son of late Saiful Islam of villlage Sultanabad of Rajshahi and recovered 2000 counterfeit revenue stamp of taka four denomination, 2000 counterfeit stamp of taka one deno, 93 stamps of taka 100 deno, 220 stamp of taka 50 denomination and 76 counterfeit revenue stamp of taka 25 denomination from his possession.

Fugitive convict held in Kishoreganj

BSS, Kishoreganj

Police arrested an absconding life-term convict from his house at village Chhit Rajib in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district on Friday, police said.

The arrested convict was identified as Badsha Hossain, 34, son of Abul Hossain of the village and he was sentenced to life term rigorous imprisonment in a rape case by a Nilphamari court in 2001 in his absence.

On a tip-off, a police team conducted a sudden raid at his house and arrested the convict, who had been absconding for the past seven years. The arrested convict was sent to jail hajat when Kishoreganj police produced him before the Judicial Magistrate court of Nilphamari today, police added.

One held in MKCS govt pilot high school robbery incident

BSS, Netrakona

Durgapur thana police arrested one suspected dacoit in connection with MKCS government pilot high School office robbery incident at Durgapur Upazila in the district on Tuesday night.

The arrested is Alamgir Hussain, night guard, of the school, police said. A gang of robbers entered the school's office room and looted away cash and valuables worth about Taka one lakh by breaking open lockers.

Headmaster of the school Parimal Chandra Pandith filed a case with Durgapur Police Station in this connection.

News briefs

One awarded life term for rape in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, Aug 18: A court here Monday convicted a middle aged man and awarded him life term imprisonment for violating a minor girl. According to prosecution, the convict, Khoka,50, picked up the minor girl from her house and raped her taking to a filed at Rangerpota village in sadar upazila on March 23,2007. A case was filed. After examining records and witnesses, additional district judge Rokeya Begum handed down the verdict, reports UNB.

2 get 10 years

RI in Sylhet

SYLHET, Aug 18: A court here on Sunday sentenced two people to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and acquitted three others, including two Indian nationals, in a case filed against them on charge of possessing high-powered explosives. Additional District and Session Judge Ferdous Ahmed handed down the verdict to Kala Gupta and Md Gias Uddin. Shailendra of Companyganj upazila under Comilla district and Chandan Hajang and Suresh Hajang of Icchamoti village in Shiling district of India were acquitted as the allegation brought against them could not be proved. Of them, Shailendra died in jail. According to the prosecution, BDR jawans held five people, including the Indian nationals, along with four packets of high-powered explosives, five detonator's gel and some Indian rupees from West Islampur area in Companyganj upazila of Comilla district on September 9, 2004, reports UNB.

Dacoit killed in shootout with police in Gazipur

Gazipur, Aug 18: A suspected robber was killed in a shootout between his cohorts and police at Joynarayanpur in Sreepur upazila early on Tuesday. Police arrested Solaiman, 40, allegedly a notorious dacoit, from Sreepur on Monday evening. As per his statement, Sreepur thana police along with Solaiman went to Joynarayanpur to arrest his associates at about 4.30 am. Sensing the presence of the law-enforcers, his cohorts opened fire on the police, forcing them to retaliate. "Solaiman fell in the line of fire during the gunfight that ensued and died on way to Sadar Hospital," says spot account of the encounter given by police, report UNB.

Tk 1.22 cr land tax realised in Rangpur

PIROJPUR, Aug 18: The Revenue Department realizsed about Tk 1.22 crore land development tax in the district in last fiscal (2007-08). The money have been realised through 51 tahsil offices of the district. Of the money, Tk 1,05, 76,667 have been collected from the house owners and Tk 16,08,355 from different organizations. Upazila-wise break up of realised money : Sadar -Tk 5,28,989, Kaokhali - Tk 70,935, Nazirpur - Tk 11,36,583, Nesarabad-Tk 17,74,176, Zianagar-Tk 6,95,198, Bhandaria-Tk 2,83,168 and Mathbaria-Tk 42,23,770.

One killed in gas cylinder blast in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI, Aug 18: One passenger was killed and four others were injured as the gas cylinder of a bus exploded during refueling at a filling- station in Kararchar area of Shibpur upazila Wednesday. The identity of the dead, aged about 60, could not be known immediately. Police and witnesses said the cylinder of the passenger-packed CNG-run bus of Meghalaya Transport service exploded during the refueling, leaving one dead on the spot and injuring four others. "The bus went up in flames as soon as the cylinder exploded into fire. The bus got reduced to wrecks in no time," says a spot account of the incident, reports UNB.