The New Nation - Internet Edition

Repairing work of town protection embankment progressing fast in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Repairing work of town protection embankment of Kutipara point of Sadar Upazila is progressing fast. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is implementing the work with the help of Bangladesh Army.

Sources said a portion of the embankment of Kutipara area was washed away on Thursday morning while the water of the Ghaghot river was passing through a rat hole beyond the knowledge of the locals.

With the erosion of the embankment the water quickly entered and the low-lying areas of Kutipara Purbo Komarnoi and Folia were inundated.

On information the officials of BWDB rushed to the spot and took necessary measures to repair the embankment with boulders, CC blocks, geo- textile bags and gunny bags in cooperation with Bangladesh Army.

66 Artillery Brigade Commander Brigadier General Abdullah Muhammad Firoz Chowdhury visited the spot on Friday morning and instructed the authorities concerned to finish the repairing work urgently in order to mitigate the suffering of the locals as quick as possible.

Chief Engineer of northern zone of BWDB Abdul Kalam Azad, Deputy Commissioner Abu Mohammad Yousuf, Police Super SM Monir-Uz-Zaman, Army camp incharge of Gaibandha Major Bakhtiar Fahmi, Executive Engineer of BWDB M. Shafiul Azam and other officials accompanied him during the visit.

Janmastami celebrated with much enthusiasm in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Janmastami, the birthday of Lord Krishna and one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community has been celebrated in Barisal on Sunday in festive mood and with much enthusiasm and religious fervor glory,

In Hindu mythology Krishna is regarded as the epitome of transcendental qualities. His mission was to free the earth from evil and wrongdoing. Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad Barisal branch has taken a 41 days program to celebrate the festival in a befitting manner. The day's programme began with bringing out a colorful traditional Janmastami procession named as 'Mongol Shovajatra' with placards, festoons, and traditional motifs and drama scenes from Dharmarakkhini Sava at Kalibari Road area of the city at 10:00 am and Krishna Puja at night.

The procession moving on main city streets ended at Barisal Ramkrishna Mission. Worship (puja) of Sree Krishna, recitation from the holy Geeta and Yagga for seeking divine blessings for peace and prosperity of the community, nation and country held at Ramakrishna Mission. Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Barisal Range inaugurated the programs and Mongol Shovajatra. Participants of theses programs emphasized strengthening the existing bond of harmony and fraternity in society and building up Bangladesh as a happy and prosperous country.

'The bonds of communal harmony and fraternity have been prevailing among the people of Bangladesh for thousands of years. I hope Sri Krishna's ideology and lesson of love for mankind and justice would encourage his followers', they opined. On the second day of the festival, worship of the goddess Mahamaya and Chandi Path (recitation from Chandi) would be held at the Bishnu Temple of the city. Pala Kirtan, Harinam Sankirton, Ramayan Gaan, recitations from Sreemat Bhagobat Geeta and Puran will also be held.

A 39 days long program of Kirtan, recitation from holy books and discussion meetings would also be started from Monday at Dharma Rakkhini Sava and Ramakrishna Mission. The serial programs on the occasion of Janamastami would be ended on October 3, 2008.

Abducted schoolgirl rescued in Thakurgaon, one held

BSS, Thakurgaon

Police rescued an abducted school girl and arrested one of the abductors Thursday from village Vulli under Sadar upazila in the district after five days of her kidnap, police sources said.

Class eight student of Old Thakurgaon girls' High School and daughter of late Shariot Ullah of village Uttar Thakurgaon in Sadar upazila Ensana Begum, 14, was tactfully kidnapped by three youths while she was returning home from her school by a van-cart on August 17.

The victim's paternal uncle Amir Uddin filed a case in this connection with Thakurgaon Sadar Thana against abductors Sobuj alias Waliullah, Helal and Sirajul Islam of the same area.

Conducting a sudden raid on secret information, Sadar Thana police rescued the abducted girl from Vulli area and arrested abductor Sobuj on Thursday and the other abductors were still absconding, the sources said.

14,219 hectares land brought under spices cultivation in Bogra

UNB, Bogra

Some 14,219 hectares of land have been brought under common spices cultivation in the district this season, which is nearly double than that of the previous season.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said due to high prices in the local market growers cultivated spices in large scale this season to earn windfall profit. They said spices were cultivated last year on some 12,891 hectares of land.

Of the total land, this season onion was cultivated on 2,201 hectares against last year's 1,705 hectares, garlic on 615 hectares against last year's 458 hectares, chilli on 10,464 hectares against last year' s 5317 hectares, ginger on 278 hectares against last year's 210 hectares.

The farmers also cultivated turmeric on 498 hectares of land which is 288 hectares higher than the last year. Coriander was also cultivated on 163 hectares this year.

Fisheries dev programme launches in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

An eight-day long " Fisheries Resources Development Programme-08" was launched in the port city on Sunday aimed at motivating people to contribute more in expanding fish cultivation.

Chittagong District Administration and Chittagong Fisheries Department (CFD) jointly organised the function as per the national programme.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) of Chittagong S M Alahi formally inaugurated the programme as the chief guest by freeing spices of Rui fish in Laldighi pond at 11 am in presence of a large number of fishermen.

District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Mohammed Seraj Uddin and Chief Scientific Officer of CFD Jafar Ahmed, among others, attended the function.

Earlier, a grand procession led by the chief guest with colorful banners, festoons was brought from Muslim Institute premises and ended at Laldighi maidan after parading main streets of the city.

People of different strata including government officials, NGO activists, fishermen and students participated in the procession.

4-party alliance gives memorandum for release of party leaders

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Local leaders of Four Party alliance in Barisal following a central programme handed over a 18-point memorandum to Chief Advisor through District Administration demanding immediate unconditional release of their central leaders including chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, senior joint secretary general Tarek Rahman, Arafat Rahman and others.

Advocate Nazrul Islam Rajon, Barisal district secretary of BNP, said that he along with district BNP prsident in charge HM Saleh, city BNP secretary Asaduzaman Khasru, city Jamaat Amir Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal and secretary Principal Aminul Islam Khasru, district Khelafat Majlis president Mawlana Delwar Hossain and secretary Prof Moazzem Hossain and other leaders of four-party alliance and front organisations handed over the memorandum to ANM Ahsan, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Barisal on Thursday noon.

Filters, sanitary goods distributed in Chandpur

BSS, Chandpur

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, Chandpur branch, has donated water filters and sanitary goods for ten high schools of the district.

M Masud Bhuyan, General Secretary, Red Crescent Chandpur Unit, in co-operation with Red Cross Japan started distribution of the goods free of cost from August 16.

The main purpose of the project is to supply pure water to the students. The projects will continue by phases, official sources said.

Income-tax return form distribution programme held

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Volunarily Tax Payers motivational TIN and Income-tax return form distribution programme was held at Muktagacha Upazila auditorium recently. Md. Mazibur Rahman, Additional Tax Commissioner was present as chief guest. Alhaj Md. Mansurur Rahman Khan, Mayor Muktagacha Pourashava was present as special guest. A.K.M. Tipu Sultan, UNO, Muktagacha presided over the meeting. Deputy Commissioner of Taxes Circle-2 and Asstt. Commissioner of Taxes were also present.

The chief guest said we should not depend on foreign aid. Internal revenue income should have been developed. If we pay income-tax it will enhance our revenue income. 50 return forms had been distributed among the participating chairman, member and people from all walks of life were present.

Training on women rights held in Gaibandha.

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Two-day long refreshers training for the leaders of family clubs on women rights and family law affairs ended at Rahman Nagar Technical School and College under Gidari Union of Sadar Upazila in the district on August 21.

SKS organised the training with the financial assistantce of Manusher Jonno Foundation under strengthening capacity of women to protest domestic violence, sources said. A total of 25 women of the union took part in the training.

Besides, the same training was also held at SKS office at Fazlupur union under Fulchar Upazila and North Dighalkandi Flood-shelter under Shaghata Upazila in the district on August 21 in two batches. As many as 52 women participated in the training.

News briefs

Project taken for palm tree cultivation

BENAPOLE (Jessore), Aug 27: A pilot project has been taken up to bring some 99.14 bighas of land under palm tree cultivation in the district to produce palm oil. The project was inaugurated in Jhikargachha uapzila Saturday by Commander of the Joint Force Lt. Col. M Tanvir Iqbal. Under the project, 7.5 bighas of land will be brought under palm tree cultivation in Sadar upazila, 30 bighas in Jhikargachha, 17 bighas in Chougachh, 6 bighas in Bagharpara, 11.5 bighas in Sharsa and 27.14 bighas in Kesabpur upazila. A total of 1905 saplings were planted on the first day in Sadar, Jhikargachha, Sharsa, Chougachh, Bagharpara and Kesabpur upazilas of the district. Army and land owners have been implementing the project jointly, reports UNB.

Father hands over drug addict son to police in Sylhet

SYLHET, Aug 27: A father handed over his drug addict son to police at Mirarpara in the city on Friday. The annoyed father Jamir Ali also filed a case against the spoilt son Jiblu Mia with Kotwali police station. Police said Jiblu Mia, 22, used to steal valuables and torture his family members for refusing to pay him money for buying drugs. They said few days back he hacked his father with a 'dao' leaving him critically injured when he rebuked Jiblu for his unruly activities. When produced the court sent Jiblu to jail hajat on Saturday, reports UNB.

3 held with fake

currency

DINAJPUR, Aug 27: Rapid Action Battalion members arrested three people along with fake currency notes worth Tk 10,000 from a house in Rajbari area of the district town Friday. The arrested are Rezaul Islam, 35, Rafiqul Islam, 30, and Romali, 30. Acting on secret information, a RAB team raided the house of Rezaul Islam and arrested him along with his two accomplices and recovered the fake notes of various denominations from their possession. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

Clash leaves 20 injured in Moulvibazar

MOULVIBAZAR, Aug 27: At least 20 people were injured and 10 shops damaged in a clash between two rival groups at Sherpur here on Dhaka-Sylhet highway on Saturday. Police said two young men - one from Bahadurpur village of Moulvibazar and another from Khasrupur of Sylhet - locked into an altercation while going to the 1st floor of Sherpur Foisal Market on Friday evening. Later, supporters of both the groups equipped with roads and sticks attacked each other Saturday noon, leaving 20 people from both sides injured. The attackers also damaged 10 shops during the one hour long clash. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The injured were admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital and Moulvibazar sadar hospital, reports UNB.

Phensidyl recovered in Dinajpur, 3 held

DINAJPUR, Aug 27: BDR jawans in separate drives recovered 720 bottles of Indian phensidyl syrup from different areas of Birampur upazila on Friday night and Saturday. BDR sources said on secret information they conducted drives at Puratan Bazaar, Katla and Ghatrpara areas from Friday night to Saturday 10am and arrested three drug peddlers along with the phensidyl syrup. The arrested are Rashid, 32, Kamela Bewa, 40, and Mafizuddin, 35. In another drive the border guards also recovered 96 sacks of Indian substandard Potash fertilizer in an abandoned condition at Ochintapur in Fulbari upazila on Saturday morning, reports UNB.