The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mass awareness against environment pollution emphasised

Our Correspondent, Narail

A seminar on environment pollution organised by Nadi Banchao Andolan (Save the Rivers) was held at Multi purpose Hall room of Narail Govt. Victoria College on Saturday (August 23).

The keynote paper titled 'The present condition of the rivers of Narail District' was presented by Dilara Begum, ex district education officer.

The seminar was chaired by Professor Munshi Hafizur Rahman, president of Nadi Bancho Andolon, Narail While Prof Mozaffar Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon ( BAPA) addressed the seminar as chief guest.

Among others Prof Md. Jamal Hossain, acting principal, Narail Government Victoria College, Dr. Abdul Matin Khan, General Secretary, BAPA, Mahidul Haque Khan, Cashier, BAPA, Sharif Jamil, joint secretary, BAPA, Khondakar Azizul Haque Moni, Executive director, Ulashi Srijony Sangha, Principal Shariful Islam, Advocate Nazrul Islam, Advocate Abdul Matin, Prof Malay Nandi spoke in the seminar.

The speakers on the occasion emphasized on the mass awareness as the people themselves are mainly responsible for environmental pollution and global warming.

The projects to control flood in early sixties are being implemented now when the rivers are dried up. Professor Muzaffar Ahmed said, we have got three assets naturally- People, Water and Land but due to proper utilization of these assets we failed to have maximum benefit from these.

He also said if this pollution continues the world will become warmer, the sea level will rise, in the southern part of country will be devoured by sea water in recent future and moreover the country will be inhabitable.

He underscored to make public awareness against the pollution.

He also asked people to create pressure on political leaders to take this problem into account in coming election.

'Civil society members can play vital role in poverty alleviation’

BSS, Aditmari

Speakers at a workshop here have said that the civil society members can play vital role in upgrading the living standard of the ultra-poor through accelerated reduction of their poverty involving all stakeholders.

They also said that their coordinated efforts in other fields like dowry, child marriage, family planning, nutrition, healthcare could also reduce the menace of social curses and rate of maternal and child mortality in rural areas.

Aditmari Upazila unit of BRAC under its Advocacy and Human Rights Programme organised the workshop titled "Role of Civil Society Members in Upgrading the Life Standard of the Hardcore Poor" for the civil society members at the upazila parishad hall room in the upazila town on Thursday.

Chaired by Aditmari UNO Mohammad Solaiman Ali, the workshop was addressed by Secondary Education Officer Manjurul Haque, Livestocks Officer Mamunur Rashid, Primary Education Officer Akhterul Islam, Principal Azizur Rahman, Social Service Officer Fazle Elahi and Youth Development Officer Sadhan Kumar Saha.

Members of the civil society, upazila level government officers and employees, BRAC officials and activists, public representatives, professionals and elite took part.

Mujahid warns govt against violation of constitution

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Ali Ahsan Muhammad Muzahid, secretary general of Jamate Islami Bangladesh and former minister of four party alliance government cautioned government against violation of constitution and demanded transfer of power by holding national assembly election before upazila election.

Muzahid was addressing a day long gathering of the different branch in charges of district and city Jamaat-e-Islami of Barisal at Barisal Auditorium on Friday.

He further cautioned the caretaker government not to continue violation of constitution by holding power illegally, crossing their limit and jurisdiction like handing over primary education to a NGO BRAC or trying to hold upazila election before national assembly election breaking the continuation.

Muzahid alleged that this government is acting as puppets of the external foreign forces and but non elected government or their puppets never reign this country for long time.

So it would be better for this government to transfer of power to an elected political government by holding national assembly election as early as possible before any other election is urgently need to save the country from clashes, crisis and famine, he suggested.

Jamaat secretary general said present government came in power showing the causes of eliminate poverty and curb corruption, but poverty increased 19% and corruption boosted 2.5% in the 19 months rule of this government and so life and assists of the people are not safe and secured under this regime.

He also called the grass root level JI leaders to maintain transparencies in their personal and private life maintaining legal sources of income and accountability before the Almighty Allah.

Mawlana Abu Taher Md. Masum, Barisal regional in charge accusing the present government as caretaker of foreign vested forces and interested corners, biased and non-impartial said that this government has no legal right to stay and they must go.

Advocate Moazem Hossain Helal, Barisal city Amir of Jamaat presided over and among others Mwalana Nur Muhammad Mia, Abu Hasan Md. Nurrullah, Aminul Islam Khasru, addressed the programme.

4 killed by lightning in Kurigram, Dinajpur

BSS, Rangpur

Four persons were killed and two others injured by separate incidents of lightning strikes amid stormy weather in Kurigram and Dinajpur districts on Monday, police sources said.

The sources said one Monwar Hossain, 25, son of Mohammad Ali of village Dakshin Feichka under Chilmari upazila in Kurigram was killed by lightning while he was going to take a bathe in the river Brahmaputra.

In another incident of lightning, three persons were killed and two others injured while they were watching a football match in Noyapara High School ground under Birganj upazila in Dinajpur district.

The deceased were identified as: Asaduzzaman, 16, son of Ferdous Alam, Chandan Debnath, 22, son of Dipenrda Nath of village Noyapara and Dhiraj Chandra Roy, 26, son of Sureshlal Roy of village Mahanpur in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur.

Injured Shujan, 20, and Enamul Haque, 18, were admitted to Birganj Upazila Health Complex, the sources said.

Orientation course on TB held in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A day-long orientation course for the graduate private medical practitioners on TB was held at the conference room of civil surgeon (CS) here on Monday with CS Dr. M Shamsul Haque in the chair. CS office organised it in cooperation with BRAC under National TB Control programme.

Consultant of chest diseases clinic Dr. SMA Jalil delivered his speech as resource person. Dr. Jalil said 3 lakh people are attacked by TB in Bangladesh every year and 70,000 people die by this disease each year. One person dies of TB every 10 minutes in our country and an active TB patient spreads garms among 10 persons, he also said.

CS in his speech sought cooperation from all to bring the TB patients under treatment in order to make TB-free society. District Manager (health) M. Shajahan Ali and District Coordinator of BRAC Biswajit Sarker were also present on the occasion.

A total of 25 medical practitioners of the district participated in the course.

29 held on various charges in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Police arrested a total of 29 persons on different charges from various places in the district during the last 24 hours ending at noon on Wednesday.

Police sources said the arrested persons include absconding convicts, warrantees and accused persons in different cases, listed terrorists, smugglers, drug-peddlers, muggers, thieves, extortionists and others.

Police also recovered huge quantities of stolen and robbed goods, ganja, phensidyl, locally produced fermented wine and other illegal goods during the drives. Kotwali police arrested absconding convict Abdul Baki, of village Rotirampur in Sadar upazila in a sudden drive conducted last night.

Of the arrested, Kotwali Police arrested 12 persons, Gangachara one, Taraganj one, Badarganj three, Mithapukur three, Pirganj six, Pirgacha one and Kawnia Police arrested two persons during the period, the sources said. The arrested persons were sent to jail hajat when police produced them before different Rangpur courts today, the sources added.

Rapist held in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Rupganj thana police have arrested Misan Biswas, 34 of Bangshi Nagar, Rapist of one Nomita Rani Biswas, from Jarabo area of Rupganj Narayanganj early in the morning of 20th August in connection with Nomita's suicide. It may be mentioned that Nomita Rani committed suicide on 19th August as she was threatened by the arrested to rape again.

Locals demanded exemplary punishment to the culprit.

Moss found in medicine syrup in Bhanga

Moss found in a bottle of Syprosis Syrup of a medicine company in Bhanga Bazar in Faridpur district on August 21 last.

This situation has created panic among the customers of the bazar. Consequently the drug traders of the bazaar have stopped to take order from that company, says a press release.

Meanwhile, drug traders and authority concerned of that company held a meeting and reached a consensus for not marketing the medicine belonging to that company.

Workshop on avian influenza held in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Institute of Epidemiology Disease, Control and Research (IEDCR) and Health Department jointly organised multicultural orientation workshop on Avian Influenza held at local Circuit House conference hall on Thursday.

Dhaka Divisional Director of Health Dr Lutfur Rahman attended as chief guest and Civil Surgeon Dr Abdul Haque presided over the workshop. It was addressed among others, by Deputy Commissioner Sultan Ahamed (special guest), Police Super Mizanur Rahman, Principal Scientific Officer (IEDCR) Dr Mustaq Hossain, Dr Owazed Miah, and Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Deen Mohammad.

Agriculture fair begins at Alamdanga

BSS, Chuadanga

A five-day-long agricultural fair organised by Alamdanga Upazila Agriculture Extension Department begin on the upazila parisad premises of the district on Wednesday.

Additional Director of Agriculture Extension Department of Jessore region Mesab Ali formally inaugurated the fair with Deputy Director Mamtaz Hossain in the chair.

As many as 15 stalls were set up in the fair displaying agricultural apparatus like paddy cutting, threshing and clearing machine, tractor, insecticide spraying and granule urea producing machine.

Illegal current net, other equipment seized in Natore

BSS, Natore

The authorities seized current net and other equipment, illegally used for catching fish species, through various raids conducted in Chalan Beel and Halti Beel in the district during the rainy season.

The seized materials also include 'Badai Jaal' 'Suti Jaal', three boats and under sized fishes, officials said at the inaugural session of a week long fish development drive launched here on Saturday.

The raids were conducted at Sadar, Shingrha and Baraigram upazilas of the district. At least 10 persons were arrested in this connection and sent to jail, they said.

Natore District Fishery Office arranged the function, where Deputy Commissioner SM Ahsan Kabir was the chief guest, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ahmed Ullah was in the chair.

District Fishery Officer Md. Esahaq Bhuiyan and Fish Trader Golam Nabi, among others, also addressed the function explaining the beneficial aspects of pisciculture in the national economy.

Cheque distributed among disabled in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A cheque distribution programme among handicapped students was held at Sadar Upazila Auditorium recently. UNO Sadar Md Zabiur Hossain was present as chief guest. Azhar Ali, Astt. Director Social Welfare Department presided over the meeting. Tk 68,500 were distributed among 21 handicapped students.

One arrested with phensidyl in Akkelpur

BSS, Akkelpur

Police arrested a drug trafficker and seized 50 bottles of Phensidyl from his possession from Chow Rasta Mour in Akkelpur Upazila town of Joypurhat district on Tuesday.

Police arrested person was identified as Dulal Hossain, 35 of village Patripara in Sadar upazila of Joypurhat and he was arrested with the phensidyl while fleeing the area sensing police presence.

News briefs

Dacoits held in Feni

Feni, Aug 23 : Local people caught three members of a robber gang while committing a series robberies at village West Char Darbesh in Sonagazi upazila Thursday night. Police said the gang numbering 15/16 stormed into the village at dead of night and started looting cows and valuables beating the house inmates indiscriminately. They also stabbed one Nizamuddin mercilessly. Hearing the hue and cry of the house inmates villagers surrounded the robbers and caught three of them, identified as Abdur Rahman, Shahadat Hossain and Hazrat Ali. They also recovered one pipe gun and some sharp weapons from them, report UNB.

Adolescent boy slaughtered in Savar

Savar, Aug 23 : Slaughtered body of an adolescent boy was found at Chhoto Walia village in Birulia union here Saturday morning. Family sources said some friends of Ronny, 13, called him out of the house on Friday evening and since then he remained missing. After a hectic search, Ronny's family members found the body in a bush at the village this morning. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. Family members claimed that Ronny was murdered by his friends, , report UNB.

One sentenced to death for killing wife for dowry in Jhenidah

Jhenidah, Aug 23 : A special court here on Thursday sentenced a man to death for killing his wife for dowry in 2005. The condemned convict was identified as Waliur Rahman of Armuk village in Sadar upazila. According to the prosecution, Waliur beat up his wife Tulsi Khatun, 30, indiscriminately as she refused to bring Tk 30,000 dowry from her parents on August 24, 2005. She succumbed to her injuries at Sadar Hospital on the following day. After examining the records and witnesses, Special Judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Mofizul Islam handed down the verdict acquitting six others, report UNB.

Trawlers looted

Bagerhat, Aug 23 : Pirates looted 52 fishing trawlers and also abducted 48 fishermen from the coastal areas of Bagerhat and Barguna districts during the last seven days till Thursday. The bandits looted fishing nets and fish worth Tk 10 lakh from the trawlers when the fishermen were fishing in Narikelbaria, Kochikhal and Katka area of the district and Darazalia and other places in Patharghata upazila of Barguna district. They also abducted the 48 fishermen from the trawlers for Tk 10 lakh ransom, report UNB.

2 children drowned in Chandpur

Chandpur, Aug 23 : Two children drowned in a pond at South Algi village in Haimchar upazila on Thursday afternoon. The dead were identified as Anamika, 9, daughter of Alauddin and Raihan, 2, son of Nasir Bepari of the village. Family sources said the two children fell into the pond nearby their house when they were playing beside it. Later, local people recovered the floating bodies of the two children, report UNB.

2 killed in Sylhet boat capsize

Sylhet, Aug 23 : Two people were killed and another was injured in a boat capsize during a storm at Gorapur Haor in Balaganj upazila on Wednesday evening. Local people said an engine boat carrying 80 maunds of firewood sank in the haor when it was going to Jalalpur Bazaar in Dakkhin Surma upazila along with three passengers, including a businessman, at about 7 pm. Local people recovered the body of businessman Abdul Malik, 60, and also rescued injured boatman Shipon, 22, from the haor at about 10am. The body of helper Almas Ali, 25, was recovered on Thursday morning, report UNB.