The New Nation - Internet Edition

Campaign for Agailjhara upazila election begins

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Campaigning for upazila election in Agailjhara Upazila of Barisal has already begun and seemingly is gaining momentum as time passes on. About a dozen VIP candidates including political leaders of different parties, industrialists, businessmen, former government officials, are already in the election field. With the declaration of polls schedule to be held in October next almost the entire upazila has become election sensitive.

Probable candidates have been holding get-togethers, cultural functions, informal meetings to attract public attention. Probable candidates are keeping regular connection with their respective party head office in Dhaka in the hope of getting nomination.

Persons who are trying to get nomination from Awami League are Ayub Ali, Gias Khan, Rustam Serniyahat, all members of Agailjhara Convening Committee of Awami League, Aminul Islam, Jubo League chairman, Asadul Haque, former joint secretary of ministry of information, young industrialist and AL leader Mortuja Khan, winners man Gias Mulla, Rais Serniyabat, former secretary of Awami League. Former upazila chairman Jahangir Serniyabat, a Jatiya Party leader, has also declared himself as a neutral candidate. So far none has declared himself as a candidate from BNP SM Afjal Hossain, chairman of Rajhar UP, Abdul Latif Mulla chairman upazila BNP, Vice-chairman Kabir Hossain, organising secretary Bashir Ahmed Pana are likely to be candidates for the post of upazila chairman. It is however, not yet certain about any candidate receiving nomination from his party.

'Fisheries sector playing key role to meet demand of protein’

BSS, Mymensingh

Speakers at a discussion on 'Fishery resources development campaign-2008' said fisheries sector has been playing a vital role in meeting the demand of protein along with creating job opportunities for many rural people.

Deputy Commissioner Md Shamsul Alam was present on the occasion as the chief guest at Zila parishad auditorium on Saturday.

Dr Saleh Uddin, chief scientific officer, Bangladesh fishery research Institute presided over it.

Livestock Officer Dr Abdul Hye, Agriculture Officer Nurul Islam, Netesh Pandit, Nurul Haque, Khurshed Alam and Abdul Baten spoke, among others.

Speakers said the government has taken various steps to develop the fishery sector and urged all to come forward for cultivating different species of fish.

They stressed the need for introduction of modern technologies in this sector.

Later, a colourful rally was brought out that paraded different roads of the district town participated by fish cultivators, hatchery owners, officers and employees of the fishery department.

3 cheats nabbed, huge forged notes seized

BSS, Rangpur

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Rangpur camp arrested three cheats, who are members of an organised gang of faker currency traders, and seized Taka 10,000 fake currency notes from Dinajpur town on Friday afternoon.

Official sources said that the arrested persons were identified as: Rezaul Karim, 35, son of late Aman Ullah, Rafikul Islam alias Babu, 32, son of late Abdul Hamid and Rumali Mian, 30, son of late Amjad Ali of Razbati area in Dinajpur town.

Acting on a tip off, the RAB team conducted a sudden raid at Razbati area in Dinajpur and arrested red-handed the cheats while they were engaged in cheating common people by transacting fake currency notes.

The RAB also seized a total of Taka 10,000 comprising fake denominations of Taka 100, 50 and 20 notes from their possessions during the raid.

After interrogation at Rangpur RAB camp, the elite force filed a case against the arrested persons and handed them over to Dinajpur Kotwali police station last night and they were sent to jail hajat when produced before a Dinajpur court today, the sources said.

Call to stop repression on disabled people

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at a seminar here on Saturday urged all to stop repression on disabled people and ensure their rights.

They also stressed the need for establishing their rights to education, employments, medicare facilities, rehabilitation and legal aids. They were addressing the seminar on "Role of civil society in preventing repression on the disabled people" organised by Legal Aid Committee (LAC) of Action on Disability and Development (ADD) at Raja Ram Mohan Club hall room. District and Sessions Judge of Rangpur M Hassan Imam was present on the occasion as the chief guest with LAC Advocate MA Basher Tipu in the chair.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Zoarder Mohammad Amirul Islam, Mayor of Rangpur municipality AKM Abdur Rouf Manik, President of Rangpur Ainjibi Samity Advocate Abdur Rashid Chowdhury, its secretary Badrul Islam Chunnu, Senior Officer of ADD Shakil Ahmed, were present as the special guests.

Programme support officer of ADD Tamzida Zannati presented the keynote paper.

Call to boost quality pry education

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A meeting was held on the 19th August at Tarabo Govt. Primary School for increasing quality education of all primary schools under the Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj.

Shamshur Rahman Upazila Education Officer, Nikhil Chandra Biswas, Assistant Education Officer, Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan, Kaniz Fatema, Abdur Rahman and Al Amin Bhuiyan, President of the Rupganj Upazila Primary Teachers Association, among others, attended and addressed the meeting. In the meeting the speakers pledged to increase quality education of the primary schools of Rupganj Upazila.

Reception accorded to sports personalities in C'nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

As many as 60 national and divisional level sports personalities who hailed in the district were given reception here on Saturday.

Chapainawabganj district sports association arranged the programme at the stadium.

Deputy Commissioner Sirajul Hoque Khan was present on the occasion as the chief guest with Police Super SM Mahfuzul Hoque Nuruzzaman in the chair. Former lawmaker Dr Mesbahul Haque Bachchu, trainer of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Abdul Hadi Ratan and General Secretary of Chapainawabganj district sports association Towfiqul Alam Tofa spoke.

Free eye camp held in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Rangpur unit of the Islami Bank Community Hospital Ltd (IBCHL) organised a free eye camp for the poorer patients at its compound in Dhap area of the city on Saturday.

A simple discussion meeting was organised on the occasion with Executive Chairman of the IBCHL Prof Mahbubur Rahman in the chair and deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Alhaj Khondker Atiar Rahman attended as the chief guest. Managing director of the IBCHL ABM Kamruzzaman Pullock, Directors Abdus Sattar Shah and Anowarul Islam, Vice-president of the Islami Bank and its Rangpur branch manager M Kaiser Ali, Dr Mohammad Hossain and eye specialist Dr Mokhlesur Rahman, addressed. A total of over 300 eye patients from all over the district were provided free medical treatments and necessary medicines free of costs in the camp.

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.

National Mourning Day observed in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

National Mourning Day, the 33rd death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were held in Mymensingh. District Awami League leaders hoisted the National Flag and Party Flag in the morning at Awami League office. Qurankhwani, Doa, milad Mahfil and distribution of foods among poor people were held in 21 wards of the Pourashava.

District President Principal Motiur Rahman, City A-4 President Aminul Islam Tara and Secretary Advocate Sadeq Khan Milki Taju visited all the wards of Pourashava and distributed foods among poor people.

Town protection dam washed away in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A portion of town protection embankment at Kutipara area under Sadar Upazila was washed away on August 21 morning.

Sources said, the water of Ghaghot river was passing slowly through a rat-hole of the embankment in the area on Wednesday night. Then the hole gradually developed causing a portion of the embankment washed away on Thursday morning. After receiving the information, the officials and employees of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) rushed to the spot and took necessary step to repair the embankment urgently with boulder, CC blocks and gunny bags in cooperation with Bangladesh Army.

Superintendent engineer of BWDB M Jahirul Islam, Executive Engineer M Shafiul Azam and other officials of the department are supervising the work round the clock. Deputy Commissioner Abu Mohammad Yousuf visited the spot and urged the authorities concerned to do the repairing and protection work properly.

39 held on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anticrime drives, picked up 39 persons on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district on Monday.

Of them, 17 were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while 22 others from nine upazilas.

Traffic police lodged 17 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized a motorbike during drives against non-registered motor vehicles and other document related malpractices in different parts of the city.

Fishery dev drive begins in Jhalakathi

BSS, Jhalakathi

Fishery Development Drive began in the district on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner Hari Prosad Pal inaugurated the drive as the chief guest. Different programmes like rally, discussion and release of fish fries have been taken as part of observing the campaign.

On the occasion, a discussion was held in the upazila parishad auditorium with Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Golam Azam in the chair.

District fisheries Officer Anisur Rahman Talukder and President of District Fisheries Association Abdul Barek, among others, addressed the function.

Fire guts huge property in Debiganj

BSS, Debiganj

A devastating fire gutted huge property of 13 business establishments at Vaulaganj Bazaar in Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh district on Friday, police and local sources said.

The sources said the fire was originated from an electric short circuit from the Photostat shop of one Mominur Rahman at noon and soon engulfed the surrounding establishments including shops and godowns.

Huge quantities of jute, paddy, stationery and grocery goods, fertilizers, and other valuables were gutted. Fire Service and Civil Defense personnel of Panchagarh station and Domar station in Nilphamari rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control with the help of the local people, the sources said.

News Briefs

One sustains acid burn injuries

NAOGAON, Aug 28: A man sustained serious burn injuries in an acid attack by his rivals at Titapara village in Porsha upazila Friday morning. The victim was identified as Nurul Islam, 50, son of Abdur Rahman. Police said there was a longstanding dispute between Nurul Islam and his cousins over their paternal lands. Family sources said when Nazrul came out of the house to respond to the call of nature early in the morning his cousins Sirajul Islam, Azizul Islam, Polash and Jewel hurled acid at him and fled the scene, leaving him critically injured, reports UNB.

Clash leaves one dead in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Aug 28: A middle aged man, who was critically injured by his rival here on Monday night died at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) Tuesday. The victim was identified as Humayun Kabir, 42, of Hasnarpara village in Polashbari upazila. Police said there was a longstanding dispute between Humayun Kabir and his relation Shahjahan Ali over the ownership of an ancestral pond. On the fateful night at about 10pm they locked into an altercation over fishing in the pond. At one stage Shahjahan Ali hit Kabir with a sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured, reports UNB.

Fish resource uplift campaign begins

in Barisal

BARISAL, Aug 28: A weeklong Fish Resource Development Campaign 2008, with the theme of 'Machher Bangsha Rakkha Pele, Khadyo Ortho Dui-e Mele' (If fish resources are protected, food and money are guaranteed) began here on Saturday. Elaborate programmes have been taken to make the campaign a success which was inaugurated by Additional divisional commissioner Kamrul Huq at Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium. The programmes included discussion meetings, seminars, fair and cultural functions, reports UNB.