The New Nation - Internet Edition

Construction of container terminal at Barisal river port emphasised

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Number of passenger launches is maximum in Barisal. This river port stands 2nd in numbers, 5th in earning revenue but stands at a poor ninth position out of eleven river ports of the country in carrying goods and merchandise. This poor position in carrying heavy goods, machineries and merchandise indicates very poor condition of the river port. There is no container terminal which has reduced goods carrying capacity of the river port . Moreover, the jetty and the pontoons underneath are fragile and weak for loading and unloading of heavy goods, machineries and merchandise. This is learnt from a source of BIWTA river port.

On 9th September of 1960 six river ports including Barisal were established in the then East Pakistan. However long before that river port was built here in 1880 by Indian General Navigation Company on Barisal Assam Barisal, Khulna and Barisal Calcutta steamer service route. But with passage of time Barisal river port has lost its importance and though river port at Mongla and Dhaka have been highly developed Barisal river port has received little attention from the authorities a result neither container terminal has been built nor proper jetty has been built. Barisal does not have any railway connection and hence heavy machineries and merchandise can suitably be brought only by river route. But without container terminal and well built jetty this task cannot be performed. The present situation, if continues Barisal river port will soon lose its importance.

123 die of AIDS in Bangladesh last year

Our Correspondent, Jessore

A total of 123 persons died from AIDS and attacked 365 persons in the year 2007 in Bangladesh and a total of 21 lakh persons died by AIDS in the world. Among them 17 lakh were adults and 3 lakh 30 thousand were children during this period. It was disclosed in a workshop at a local hotel arranged by Gubo Bandar Health Shava with the divisional officials of Family Planning and Welfare Ministry on 9th August. In this workshop also told that 3 crore 35 lakh people are living with the HIV germs in the world. Those who takes drug injection they were the most valnerable. Excepting this various women sea workers and truck labour and rickshaw sramik are the top most in the risk.

Those who are attacked with the AIDS most of them are 15 to 24 years of age. The government of Bangladesh are working with the help of various NGO's by the hands of AIDS.

Dr Aftabuddin Director of Health Department Khulna presided over the workshop. Speakers among others were Director of Family Planning Khulna Md Ziarul Islam, Program Manager National STD/AIDS programme Dr. Ferdous Alam Shibir, Deputy Programme Manager Dr Hanibuddin, programme manager of Sabe blood purification Department Dr Dr Belayet Hossain, National Adviser Jubo Bandav Health Sheva of Addin Dr AKM Shamsuddin, Departmental Adviser Dr Mahmood Hossain and Focus Person Director programme of Addin Welfare Centre and GFA TM Project Dr AKM Rezaul Haque.

Deputy Programme Manager of National STD/AIDS programme Dr Hanifuddin and the co-ordinator Jubo-Bandav Health Sheva programme Dr. Mohiruddin Khandoker read out the keynotes of the projects.

4th district scouts confce held in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

4th District Scouts programme of the Bangladesh Scouts was held at Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner's Conference room, organised by Bangladesh Scouts Gopalganj District unit on August 24 last.

S.M. Ashfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj inaugurated the day-long programme.

The programme was presided over by Mohammad Nazrul Islam, ADC (education and development) and Mohammad Moniruzzaman, ADC (general) also present as special guest. The function was addressed, among others, by Munshi Golam Mostafga, president Bangladesh Scouts Gopalganj district unit and Mohammad Enayet Hossain, Assistant teacher Goplaganj High School and Member Bangladesh Scouts Gopalganj district unit.

About 100 representatives of the Bangladesh Scouts Gopalganj district and upazila units attended.

BM College JCD for immediate release of Khaleda Zia

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wins of BNP, brought out procession wearing shrouds in Barisal Brojo Mohon College campus on Saturday noon demanding immediate release of Begum Khaleda Zia, his family members, and four party alliance leaders.

After paraded the campus area the JCD activists stayed demonstrations where Mahmudul Alam Mithu, Porag Ahmed, Arifur Rahman Babu and others addressed.

Obituary

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Zafar Ahmed, 43, police constable of Bhulta Police Station Rupganj in Narayanganj died of cardiac arrest on 30th August last.

Rashedul Islam, Sub-inspector of Bhulta Police Station said that Zafar Ahmed felt pain in his chest since at about 10.00 AM and instantly he was sent to the local hospital and then shifted to the Suhrawardy Hospital, Dhaka after giving initial treatment. At 1 PM on duty doctor of this hospital declared him dead.

Later the dead body was brought to the police Super office in Narayanganj and his Namaze janaza was held after Asar prayer. Then the dead body was sent to his native village Bhaila under the Tangail Sadar Upazila in the Tangail District.

Cattle trader killed in BSF firing in Benapole

UNB, Benapole

A Bangladeshi cattle trader was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Agrabhulat frontier here early on Friday.

The deceased was identified as Amir Mollah, 40, son of Ali Mollah of Agrabhulat village.

BDR sources said when a group of 7/8 cattle traders were retuning to their village from the border area BSF troops of Jhaudanga camp fired on them, killing one of the cattle traders, Amir Mollah, on the spot.

The border guards of India also took away the body of Amir into their territory.

Tension has been prevailing along the border.

Child marriage stopped in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

A minor girl was rescued from being married at village Monohorpur under Jibannagar upazila of the district on Tuesday.

The marriage ceremony was stopped by the police in cooperation with a local NGO, Wave.

Police said marriage of Poly Khatun, 12, also a student of class four and daughter of Nazmul Islam of Monohorpur village was arranged with one Jwel of village Ujjalpur under Sadar Upazila of the district.

Accordingly, the bridegroom along with the bridal party arrived at the residence of the bride.

Being informed, members of Wave rushed to Jibannagar Police Station and informed police. A police team from Jibannagar police station rushed to the place and stopped the marriage.

Rapists get life in Kurigram

UNB, Kirigram

A court here Wednesday convicted two people and awarded them life term imprisonment in a rape case.

The court also fined the convicts-Rahena Begum and her brother-in-law Ershadul - Tk 5,000 each, in default, to suffer five months more RI.

According to the prosecution, Ershadul, of Moddhya Kumorpur village in Sadar upazila raped a girl with the help of his sister-in-law Rahena on March 11, 2005.

Later, the victim's mother with the help of local people rescued the girl from the house of Rahena. A case was filed.

After examining the records and witnesses, District and Sessions Judge Bhabani Prasad Singh handed down the verdict in the crowded courtroom.

5 suspected criminals nabbed, firearms, smuggled goods seized in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-5), in different anti-crime drives, rounded up five suspected criminals including three drug-peddlers and also seized firearm, phensidyl and smuggled goods from different areas in four northern districts during the last 24 hours till Thursday afternoon, RAB said.

On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden raid at Jogodal village under Dhamuirhat upazila of Naogaon district and arrested one Kamal Hossain, 40, with a country-made shutter-gun loaded with a bullet.

The arrested drug-peddlers were Abul Kashem, 32, Izazul Haque, 30, and Ataur Rahman, 34. They also seized 60 bottles of phensidyl and 1.2 kilograms of ganja during two separate raids conducted at different places in Joypurhat and Rangpur districts.

In another raid at Panchur morh area under Sadar Upazila of Joypurhat district, they arrested a wanted criminal identified as Faruque Hossain, 28, a resident of the same village.

They also seized huge smuggled readymade garments and long cloth valued at around Taka 2.18 lakh during a raid at Dakara village under Charghat upazila of Rajshahi district. However, none could be arrested in this connection.

The arrested persons and the seized goods including the firearm and drug items were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases in these connections.

Triennial confce of Udichi Shilpi Gosthi held in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

Triennial Conference of Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, organised by its Narail district unit held on Saturday (August 30) at Zila Parisad auditorium.

Rizia Khatun, a participant of historic Tevaga Movement inaugurated the conference while Professor Munshi Hafizur Rahman presided over the conference and among others Central committee member of Udichi Shilpi Gosthi Nazmul Islam and M Asaduzzamam, Engineer Shoilendranath Saha, President of its Magura unit Dr. Tarikuzzaman, Anjumanara, Secretary Of Gopalgonj unit Nirala Biswas, , Subash Biswas, Advocate Abdul Matin and Khondoker Shawkat Hossain spoke at the meeting.

The speakers of the Udichi conference stressed on the trial and punishment of the main culprits who created Jessore tragedy. They also said, no nation can go forward ignoring its cultural identity. It is high time to bring the war criminals under trial, they also told.

News briefs

Opinion exchange meet on tuberculosis held in Nilphamari

NILPHAMARI, Sept-1: An opinion exchange meeting on the role of local women leaders in checking tuberculosis was held at BMA Bhaban in the district town on Thursday. Around 30 women leaders attended the meeting which was organised by National Anti Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB). NATAB district unit president Anwarul Wares presided over the meeting while Dr Nripendra Nath Roy, Dr Majibul Hasan Chowdhury, Dr Mamtajul Islam, Dr Khorshed Alam and Prof Sarwar Manik spoke on the occasion, reports UNB.

Robbers held in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, Sept-1: Eight members of inter-district dacoit gang were arrested by police from Charhajari and Charparbati villages in Companiganj upazila on Thursday. Police said acting on secret information they arrested gang member M Jahangir Alam, 32, from the upazila headquarters at night. Later, on the basis of his confessional statement, a team led by O/C M Zakir Hossain, SI Ansarul Karim and SI Shafiq arrested five dacoits, including Huq Shaheb, 32, Anwar Hossain alias Khokan, 30, M Rahmat Ullah, 29, and Jamaluddin, 30, from the two villages. Later, in another raid late at night they also arrested two notorious robbers including gang leader Shuja, 40. Police said they since long were engaged in committing robbery in different districts, reports UNB.

Consultation meet of community representatives held in Comilla

COMILLA, Sept-1: A daylong consultation meeting of community representatives was held at District Police Lines auditorium here on Thursday. Some 30 police officers from Comilla, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Noakhali, Feni and Laxmipur districts took part in the discussion, which was arranged to create awareness among the people on issues like reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry and violence on women. Comilla Police Super Imtiaz Ahmed inaugurated the meeting in the morning, reports UNB.

Land office clerk held for taking bribe in Savar

SAVAR, Sept-1: A clerk of Land Survey office here was arrested for taking bribe from a client at the Land Office on Wednesday. After receiving complaints, a high level team of Dhaka Land Settlement office, led by Settlement officer Faikuzzaman, went to the office and arrested Syed Mahmud Hossain when he was taking Tk 3,500 in bribe from a client. Mahmud was the clerk of Ejlas Bench of Tasdiq official Abdul Kuddus of Ghorapir Mazar. The team handed Mahmud over to the Ashulia thana police, reports UNB.

Indian fertilizer seized in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, Sept-1: BDR jawans, in separate drives, seized 205 sacks of Indian substandard Potash fertilizer and arrested five people in the district on Wednesday. BDR sources said acting on a tip-off they seized 32 sacks of Indian fertilizer from Ghona border in Sadar upazila. They also arrested one Abdur Rashid, 45, in this connection. In another drive, BDR members seized 173 sacks low quality Indian fertilizer from a truck in Kota area of Kalaroa upazila, reports UNB.

Valuables looted in Jhalakati

JHALAKATI, Sept-1: Armed robbers looted cash and valuables worth Tk 50,000 from a house at Sarmahal village in Nalchhiti upazila Wednesday night. Local people said the gang numbering 20/22 stormed into the house of Altaf Shikder and looted valuables, including cash, ornaments and mobile phone sets. The muggers fled the scene when local people hearing the hue and cry gave them a hot chase, reports UNB.