The New Nation - Internet Edition

Many river routes of southern region may be closed due to lack of dredging

Tapan Chakraborty, Barisal

Many river routes including important ones of Barisal division and southern zone of the country may have to be closed to navigation after the rainy season due to lack of dredging and siltation.

According to statistics given by BIWTA Port Officer Rafiqul Islam two dredgers are in operation in this Zone out of seven dredgers owned by BIWTA. Rafiqul Islam and Port Officer, while talking to this newsman further said that in the annual budget for development of communication throughout the country only 0.5 percent money are allotted for development of river routes while 83% money are spent for development of roads and highways and the rest 15 and half percent for railways. This meagre amount is never enough for maintaining such huge river routes.

According to statistics available BITWA maintains 6000 kilometres of river routes in the rainy season and 3800 kilometres in dry season. About 50 percent of their river routes are situated in southern zone of the country but only one-sixth of dredging work is done in the southern zone of the country.

Bamnirchar channel, an important part of river route from Dhaka to Barisal near Mehendiganj, has lost navigability due to siltation and will pose a serious threat to navigation in the coming dry season. In last 5 years 29.63 cubic lakhs of metres of earth have been cut by dredgers in the southern zone of the country while the amount in the whole country is 180.81 lakhs of cubic metres of earth.

Char lands are developing in the midst of rivers posing serious threat to river traffic on both Dhaka-Barisal and Barisal-Khulna routes. Barisal is the mid point of Dhaka. Khulna river route which is a extremely important one for the country and passes through famous 'Gab Khan Channel' which requires immediate and urgent dredging. Loss of navigability in Barisal Division may soon become a very big problem.

New Agri technologies to achieve food security underscored

BAU Correspondent, Mymensingh

Food Security is a priority goal for the Government of Bangladesh and researches in different branches of agriculture can play a vital role in developing new agricultural technologies leading to increased production of crops, livestock, fisheries and forest resources. Such increases in production, development of post production, technologies, efficient marketing and better distribution system jointly with diversification of food habits can greatly contributes towards achieving food security.

This was stated by Scientist of international repute and National Professor Dr. A.K. Aminul Haque while speaking as chief guest at a day-long seminar on 'Household Food Security: Problems and Opportunities for the Resource Poor Farmers' at the TSC Conference Hall organised by the Ph.D. Students' Association of the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU).

Presided over by Professor Dr. M. Burhan Uddin, Co-coordinator, CASR, BAU, the annual session were attended by BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain as chief patron while Dr. F. H. Ansarey, Executive Director, Agri-Business, ACI Ltd was special guest. Eminent agriculturalist Professor Dr. S. M. Altaf Hossain of the BAU Agronomy Department presented the keynote paper at the seminar. BARI Director Dr. Md. Azizur Rahman stressed the need for agricultural research and autarky in food production of the country.

Former UGC Professor Dr. Md. Aziziul Haque of the Department of Horticulture presided over the Technical session. In all, 31 research papers and articles were presented in the seminar.

Dr. Md. Aftab Hossain and Mr. Md. Abdul Awal, President and General Secretary respectively of the BAU Ph.D. Association spoke on the occasion explaining the academic and research activities of the students.

'Basak’ tree plantation on road sides, surroundings of homesteads emphasised

BSS, Gaibandha

Speakers at a meeting stressed the need for planting 'basak' tree on road sides, surroundings of homesteads, on the banks of ponds and fallow lands aimed at changing the socio-economic condition of the poor side by side with maintaining the ecological balance.

"A medicinal plant 'basak' may be one of the income generating sources for the poor as the leaves of the plant are used to produce medicine for diseases like runny nose, cough, gout, dysentery and asthma," they said. They were addressing a meeting on " Role of medicinal plants in alleviating poverty," at the auditorium of Sahapara union parishad under Sadar Upazila on August 23. Uddyog, a local NGO, organized it with the financial support of Inter Cooperation (IC), an international NGO.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abu Muhammad Yousuf addressed the meeting as the chief guest and executive director of the ACME Laboratories Ltd. M. Hasibur Rahman and regional coordinator of IC Mostafa Nurul Islam Reza were present as special guests. Presided over by acting chairman of the UP M. Bazlur Rahman, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by president of district chamber of commerce and industry Shajada Anwarul Quadir, regional sales manager of ACME Laboratories Sarwar Hossain, associate adviser of IC Stamina, executive director of Uddyog Zillur Rahman Khandaker and farmer Younus Ali.

Regional coordinator of IC Mostafa Nurul Islam Reza said at first a small piece of land was brought under 'basak' plantation experimentally at Bhabanipur village of the union last year.

After initial success, a massive plan was taken to plant basak tree commercially to change the lot of the poor as according to plan both the sides of 13 km road of the union, three bighas of fallow land on the surroundings of the homesteads and 23 decimal of land on bank of the pond were brought under basak cultivation, he said.

Besides, 32,000 seedlings of basak have been planted to bring other areas under cultivation, he said adding that the prospect of growing the trees is very bright as the cattle do not eat its leaves. The farmers could cut leaves in every six months, he added.

The DC in his speech, urged the authorities concerned to expand the 'basak' cultivation in other parts of the district in order to alleviate poverty and assured them of giving administrative help to run the programme.

Executive director of Uddyog Zillur Rahman Khandaker said that a total of 750 poor people including women have been engaged in 'basak' cultivation through 32 village organisations. An agreement was signed with the ACME Laboratories Ltd. to supply 'basak' leaves.

A large number of people including 'basak' farmers, NGO workers, local elite, public representatives and the journalists of print and electronic media were present on the occasion.

Housewife killed, 3 held in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A housewife named Nasrin Begum, 20, daughter of Abdus Salam was beaten to death by her husband Eklas Uddin, 25, father-in-law Safiuddin- 55, and mother-in-law Najuka Begum, 45, on 26th August last at Moikuli village of Rupganj Upazila in Narayanganj

Acting on a tip off, a team of Rupganj Thana police recovered the dead body and found marks of injuries in the body. The police team arrested her husband, farther-in-law and mother-in-law from the spot and sent the dead body to the morgue for autopsy. Later, they registered a murder case in this connection implicating the arrested as the accused. Police sources said, Nasrin might have been killed for dowry.

Fishery dev drive begins in C’nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

An eight-day-long fishery development drive began in the district on Saturday. Different programmes like rally, discussion and release of fish fries have been taken as part of observing the campaign. A discussion was arranged on the accession at the auditorium of Chapainawabganj Sadar Uupazila Parishad with district Fishery Officer Abu Bakar Siddiqui in the chair.

Deputy Commissioner Sirajul Haque Khan was present on the occasion as the chief guest.

ADC (rev) Shah Alam Mridha, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shafiqul Islam, Chairman of Baliadanga Abdul Hye, Chairman of Gobratala UP Asjadur Rahman Mannu and Chairman of Jhilim UP Afsar Ali spoke. Three best fish cultivators and fishermen of Sadar Uazila were awarded prizes. Later, the chief guest released fish fries into the Upazila pond.

The same programme will also take place in Shibganj, Bholahat, Gomostapur and Nachole upazilas. The programme will continue until August 30.

OMS of rice begins in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Open Market Sale (OMS) programme has been started in Mymensingh from 20th August. Mymensingh Food Department has been operating 132 centres in the district.

Centres are: Mym. Poura-shava 30, Dubaura 8, Gouripur 8, Muktagacha 10, Fulbari 10, Halughat 11, Trishal 9, Bhaluka 8, Gaffargaon, 10, Isharganj 10, Nandail 10, Fulpur 10. It will continue upto 31st October. 3 kg. rice per head. 500 kg. rice were distributed. District Food Official and staff monitored the operation round the clock.

News briefs

Terrorists shoot businessman in Keraniganj

KERANIGANJ, Aug 29: Terrorists shot a businessman at Khejurbagh in Dakshin Keraniganj on Tuesday as he refused them to pay toll. Witnesses said two terrorists intercepted businessman Atiqur Rahman, 38, at about 11am when he was going to his working place. "They shot him twice on his throat and head at point blank and left the place," said an eye witness account of the incident. Atiq was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. Victim's family sources said local terrorists had long been demanding money from Atiq. But, he refused them to pay the money, the said, reports UNB.

Schoolboy electrocuted

BARISAL, Aug 29: A minor school boy was electrocuted in Gouranadi upazila here Saturday. The dead was identified as Ridoy, 7, a class I student of local Barodulali registered primary school. Witnesses said Ridoy died on the spot when he came in contact with a live electric wire of Rural Electrification Board. A UD case was filed, reports UNB.

2 killed in Natore road mishap

NATORE, Aug 29: Two passengers were killed and at least 40 others injured in a fatal bus accident near the district police lines in the town on Saturday. One of the deceased was identified as Abdul Hamid while identity of another passenger who died on the spot could not be known immediately. Witnesses said the accident occurred at about 7pm as the bus from Dhaka suddenly plunged into a roadside ditch near the police lines. All the injured were admitted to the Sadar hospital and local Mission Hospital. Later, another injured passenger, Abdul Hamid, died at the Mission Hospital, reports UNB.

One killed by brothers-in-law in Brahmanbaria

BRAHMANBARIA, Aug 29: A man was beaten to death by his brothers-in-law at village Shibpur in Nabinagar upazila Sunday night. The dead was identified as Akkas Mia, 45. Police said Akkas had an altercation with his brothers-in-law over a dispute related to boundary of their house on Sunday night. At one stage, the brothers-in-law severely beat up Akkas, leaving him critically injured, reports UNB.

Fire burns 15 shops in Chandpur

CHANDPUR, Aug 29: Fire gutted 15 shops at Gopalbhar bazar in Faridganj uapzila of the district Monday. Fire Service sources said the fire originated from electric short circuit in a mobile shop and soon engulfed the adjoining shops including restaurant, grocery shop, pharmacy and tailoring shops. On information fire fighters from the town rushed to the spot and doused the blaze after two hours frantic efforts. Ten people were injured while trying to extinguish the blaze. The extent of loss could go up to Tk 50 lakh, shop owners said, reports UNB.

Youth killed in lightning in Sunamganj

SUNAMGANJ, Aug 29: A youth was killed in lightning at Upotir Par village in Dakkhin Sunamganj uapzila here Monday. The dead was identified as Faisal,22, son of Ustarullah. Witnesses said lightning struck Faisal while he was fishing in a waterbody, leaving him dead on the spot. Police sent the body to sadar hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

Fertilizer seized

in Comilla

COMILLA, Aug 29: Police seized 119 sacks of Indian Potash fertilizer from Bataichhari bazar in Barura upazila Saturday. Police said acting on a tip off, they raided the rice mill of Siddique Miah in the bazar and arrested him along with the smuggled fertilizer sacks. A case was filed, reports UNB.