The New Nation - Internet Edition

Flight on Dhaka-Barisal route to resume soon

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Aerial flight on Dhaka-Barisal route will again resume in September next after about two years.

A private company United Airways has announced to reopen the flight. It will fly two days every week in a 37-seater plane. Fare for each seat has been fixed at Taka 4695. This decision to reopen the aerial route has been welcomed by the people from all walks of life though everyone has termed the fare as evorbigant and beyond the reach of middle class people.

On 16th July of 1995 aerial flight on Dhaka-Barisal route began through private organisation Aero Bengal.

On 3rd December of same year Bangladesh Biman started its flight on the same route. But the acrial route was never uniform and used to be closed on and off.

Air Parabat also commenced flights on this route but ultimately on 29th October of 2006 the aerial route was closed in spite of protest from people of Barisal.

There was movement in Barisal in demand of resumplion of flight but due to political situation flight could not be resumed. Under this circumstances United Airways company has made the declaration.

Ataul Hoque, officer in charge of Barisal office informed that flight will resume from 2nd week of September next.

Mass awareness to reduce neo-natal mortality stressed

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Experts in Perinatology have said at a seminar here on August 28 that like other developing countries, Bangladesh is also having high maternal mortality rate (MMR). In Bangladesh at present MMR is 3.2/1000 live birth, neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is 36/1000 live birth, infant mortality rate (NMR) is 52/1000 live birth and under 5 mortality rate is 69/1000 live birth, Bangladesh Perinatal Society (BPS) has taken the initiative towards the fulfillment of the MDG target Nos. 4 and 5 and help reduce the childhood mortality and maternal mortality.

In this regard the speakers stressed on the mass awareness to reduce neo-natal morlality.

They said this at the seminar titled Perinatal Health at the conference room of Mymensingh Medical Hospital with eminent Gynaecologist Prof. Dr. T.I. Chowudhury as the chief guest. BPS, pediatrics and Gynaecology Department of MMCH jointly organised the seminar with Hospital Director Brig. Gen. Dr. Maung Tin Win in the chair.

BPS Vice-President, Prof. Dr. A. Bayes Bhuiyan, MMC Principal Prof. Dr. Sayeedur Rahman. PS Secretary General Prof. Dr. Shahidullah, Treasurer Prof. Dr. Nazmun Nahal', eminent Gynecologists. Head, Gynae Dept. of Dhaka Medical College Prof. Dr. Kohinoor Begum, BNF President Prof. Dr. M.A.K Azad Chowdury, Dr. Azizul Haque, Dr. Mirza Manjurul Haque. among others, spoke at the seminar. At the Scientific session of the seminar separate papers on topics "Essential Newborn Care, Neonatal Infections, Management of pregnancy with diabetes and infants of diabetic mothers" were presented by Prof. Dr. Kamrun Nahar, Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam, Prof. Dr. Md. Shahidullah, Prof. Dr. Laila Arjumand Banu and Dr. A Mannan.

Dr. Ayesha Beg conducted the seminar while Dr. Ayub Ali and Dr. Riffat Rahim were the rapportius at the scientific session.

About 150 doctors and health services providers from greater Mymensingh region participated in the seminar which ended through discussions on relevant technical issues.

Boat capsize on Meghna: 2 missing bodies recovered

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Dead bodies of missing two victims who were drowned in a boat capsize on Meghna River on last Friday night, were recovered on Sunday afternoon. Md. Yunus Ali, sub inspector of Hizla and Liakat Ali of Mehendiganj police station confirmed this report.

They said to the journalists that local fishermen recovered the dead bodies of two missing victims named Sekandar Gazi, 44, and Salauddin Farazi, 47, from a shoal at Lalkharabad under Char Ekkoria union of Mehendiganj upazila at about 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.

It may be mentioned that a boat carrying seven passengers capsized on Meghna River near Batarchar of Dhulkhola union under Hizla upazila of Barisal district on Friday night after an oil tanker named OT Sharmin Sagor plying on Chittagong-Mehendiganj route hit the boat without showing any cautionary signals. The seven day labourers were returning home after agricultural works at Batuar Char of Hizla to Palpara and Dadpur of Mehendiganj on Friday evening.

Local people and fishermen rescued five passengers identified as Muhammad Ali, Basir Gazi, Alamgir Mridha, Fazle Gharami and Sobahan Bepari.

The rest two passengers Sekandar Gazi, 44, of Uttarer Char and Salauddin Farazi, 47, of Shashipur under Mehendiganj upazila of the district, were missing.

Meanwhile, ferry service operation at Dapdapia ferry ghat on Barisal-Patukhali highway has been disrupted for four hours after launch hit the ferry pontoon on Kirtonkhola River on Saturday night, resulting one was missing.

The missing man was identified as Rafiq, 32, a resident of Barisal Rupatali gas Turbine area and employee of Opsosin Chemical Industries. Shilmoni Chakma, officer in charge of Nalchhity police station, said that police registered a general diary in this connection and dead body of the victim has yet not been recovered.

Police and witnesses said that MV Sundarbon-2, a triple-decker passenger launch plying on Jhalakati-Dhaka route and hit the pontoon of Dapdapia ferry ghat during anchoring at the adjacent lunch ghat at about 9:00 pm Saturday night. Four of the road transportation passengers standing abroad the ferry fall in to river from the ferry pontoon instantly. Local people, fishermen and transport workers rescued 3 of them and Rafiq remained missing. The road communication on Barisal-Patuakhali-Barguna route became disrupted for four hours long after the incident and resumed at about 1:00 am early Sunday night with intervention of police and local people.

Heavy rains trigger fresh flood in five northern districts

UNB, Lalmonirhat

Heavy rainfall and onrush of hilly waters for the last few days has triggered fresh flood in Lalmonirhat,

Kurigram, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts. Water-level in every rivers of the northern region has increased and started overflowing its banks causing untold sufferings to the people.

Sources said about 20,000 people have become marooned at 50 unions in 20 upazilas of these districts. Standing crops on 10,000 hectares of land also went under the floodwater.

Besides, about 200 metres of 6km-long Guide Dam, near Flood Bypass of the biggest irrigation project Teesta barrage, were washed away by the river water on Friday night.

Officials of the local Water Development Board (WDB) said necessary measures are being taken to protect the dam.

The WDB officials also informed that water of the river Dharala at present was flowing 39cm above the danger level while water in Brahmaputra rose by 34cm in last three days.

They said water of Teesta river is flowing only 3cm below the danger level at Dhalia point, adding that the flood situation may deteriorate further if the incessant rainfall continues.

Memory Hosptial in Rupganj provides free medical service

A Correspondent, Rupganj

Memory Hospital of Bhulta Rupganj in Narayanganj has set up an example of providing free treatment to the cleft lip and cleft palate patients of the country from 12th August to 15th August last. A total of 73 patients including 40 cleft lip and 33 other cleft palate patients hailing from the different areas of the country were given free treatment.

Dr Shahidul Bari and Dr Iqbal Mohmud led the group of Doctors and successfully provided all medical facilities including operation to the patients. The patients expressed deep gratitude and satisfaction to the authority of the hospital as well as the doctors and nurses who served the patients.

2 killed in separate road accidents in Benapole

UNB, Benapole

Two people were killed in two separate road accidents here on Friday. The deceased were identified as Jabbar Ali, 40, son of Hamzar Ali of Lawtara village in Sharsha upazila, and Laily Begum, 50, wife of late Ramzan Ali of Baro Achra village in Benapole. Police said a speeding bus crushed Jabbar at Kagozpukur while he was going to Benapole Bazaar riding a bicycle in the morning. He later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

In another accident, a truck ran over Laily Begum while she was crossing road in front of export terminal of the land port.

News Briefs

50 injured in B’baria clash

BRAHMANBARIA, Sept 02: At least 50 people were injured in a fierce clash between two groups at a local market in the district town Saturday. Witnesses said an altercation ensued at 10am between a buyer and a vegetable seller over the price of vegetables at the main market of town Ananda Bazaar. Later, the supporters of both the men attacked each other leaving 50 people from both sides injured. A number of shops were also looted during two hours long clash. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control, reports UNB.

Body recovered

NARAYANGANJ, Sept 02: Body of a schoolgirl was recovered from a residential hotel in district town on Friday. The dead was identified as Sania Akhter alias Sajeda, 15, a student of class ten and daughter of Solimullah Miah of Sarulia area of Demra. Police said Alauddin, 20, son of Abdul Gafur of Tungibari under Munsiganj district, along the with the schoolgirl rented No. 15 room of Dada Hotel in No. 1 Rail Gate area at noon introducing themselves as married couple. But in the evening the hotel authorities found the door closed and smelling something wrong they informed the police who recovered the body from the attached bathroom with a scarf tied around her neck. Police suspected that she was strangulated to death after rape. Police Super visited the spot, reports UNB.

Housemaster killed by robbers in Joypurhat

JOYPURHAT, Sept 02: Robbers killed a house owner while committing dacoities in three houses at Dadra-Jontigram Babupara village in Sadar upazila early Saturday. Local people said a gang of bandits, numbering 20/25, swooped on the houses of Pratul Chandra Mandal, Utpal Kumar Mandal and Amulya Chandra Pramanik and looted cash and valuables worth Tk 3 lakh between 12:30am and 1:30 am. During the robberies, the muggers also beat up the family members of the three houses indiscriminately, leaving Pratul Chandra dead on the spot and six others injured. Of the Injured, Polash Chandra, son of Pratul Chandra, was admitted to the district Adhunik Hospital from where he was shifted to Bogra Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital with deteriorating condition. Police arrested a man in this connection, reports UNB.

Rubber seized

HABIGANJ, Sept 02: An auto-rickshaw along with 19 sacks of rubber was seized at Kamaichhara in Bahubal upazila on Thursday night. Police said they searched the Srimongal-bound auto-rickshaw near Kamaichhara police outpost and recovered the rubbers. Sensing danger, the auto-rickshaw driver managed to flee the scene. A case was filed, reports UNB.

2 held with phensidyl

DINAJPUR, Sept 02: BDR jawans arrested two people along with 465 bottles of phensidyl syrup from a truck on Dinajpur-Birampur road early Friday. Acting on a tip off, BDR members of Fulbari 40 Rifle Battalion gave signal to the speeding truck to stop at about 4:30 am. But sensing danger when the driver ignoring signal tried to flee the border guards at one stage stopped vehicle by firing on its wheels. Later, they recovered 465 bottles of phensidyl syrup from the truck and arrested its driver Farhad Hossain and a youth, Bablu Shikder, reports UNB.

One beaten to death in Nilphamari

NILPHAMARI, Sept-2: A man was beaten to death by passengers of a rickshaw van at Kishoriganj upazila headquarters here on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Awal, 55, a teashop owner of Kishoriganj Bazaar. Witnesses said rickshaw van passengers-Humayun, Nazrul, Rashedul and Labu - beat up Abdur Rahim, puller of another rickshaw van, as Rahim's van knocked them while giving side to their van. As Awal tried to save Rahim from beating, the angry passengers beat him up mercilessly, killing him on the spot. A case was filed, reports UNB.