The New Nation - Internet Edition

Aman seedlings distributed among farmers in Netrakona

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

The members of the Bangladesh Army haved distributed Aman seedlings among the 60 local small and marginal farmers of the Purbadhala Upazila under Netrakona district on August 27 last.

Purbadhala Upazila Parishad office sources said, the armed forces distributed the Aman seedlings at free of cost to encouraging and helping the cultivators especially the poverty-stricken cultivators for taking their 30 acres of lands under Aman cultivation programme. Officer of 5th East Bengal Regiment of the Army Major Golam Mahiuddin Mahi attended the Aman seedlings distribution ceremony as chief guest while Upazila Nirbahi officer Haider Ali was in the chair. The function was addressed among by Upazila level Government officers and civil society members including Purbadhala Upazila Krishi officer Mohammad Tafizuddin, Principal of Purbadhala women college Abdul Karim and Headmaster of Purbadhala High School Saidur Rahman Talukder.

The Aman seedlings were kept on the playgrounds of different local educational institutions under joint supervision of the Army and the upazila Agriculture Department Officials. The armed forces disbursed the among sees for the purpose, the sources added.

Practicing religious rituals can check AIDS

BSS, Mymensingh

Speakers at a seminar today said that social awareness and practicing of religious rituals can check spreading of deadly disease HIV/AIDS .

They said as the number drug users through injection has been alarmingly increasing the risk of getting infected by HIV is also increasing.

They said this at a seminar titled "Greater Mymensingh is in AIDS risk" held at Mymensingh Press Club jointly organised by Mymensingh Press Club and World Vision AIDS prevention project.

Deputy Commissioner Md Shamsul Alam was present at the seminar as the chief guest while vice-president of the Press Club Advocate Waredul Islam chaired it.

The seminar was addressed, among others, by manager of World Vision, Mymensingh, Somerendra Sangma, additional district magistrate Md Mohsin, ADC Ratan Chandra Pandit, deputy civil surgeon Dr Atiqur Rahman, Ziauddin Ahmed, Ataul Karim, Prof Lutfar Rahman Khan, Advocate Mosharraf Hossain, Mozammel Haque and Dr Joganta Kumar Nath.

The speakers said that at present the number of AIDS patients in the country is 1,207 while the figure was 874 in 2006.

They said according to a study, the place of Mymensingh regarding using drugs through injection is second in the country which is next to Dhaka. They underscored the need for organizing social campaign to raise awareness about the deadly disease AIDS.

People urged to pay taxes voluntarily

BSS, Munshiganj

Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Mohammad Abdul Mazid today urged people to pay their taxes regularly and voluntarily to help make the country's economy self- reliant.

He said people who have ability to pay tax should pay tax in their interest.

The NBR Chairman was addressing as the chief guest at a self- declared tax-payers inspiring programme at the Shrinagar Upazila Training Development auditorium of the district. Founder of Biswa Sahittya Kendra Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed and NBR Member (Tax Policy) Parsa Begum addressed the function as special guests while Commission of Taxes Zone-7 Ziauddin Mahmud in the chair.

Abdul Mazid said people including businessmen should pay taxes properly so that the government can give better services to the people.

He said proper payment of taxes would increase internal resource mobilisation and reduce dependence on foreign loan. The NBR chairman said about one crore people of the country have the ability to pay taxes. But at present only 22 to 23 lakh people are included in the Tax Identification Number (TIN), he said adding that 6.5 lakh people pay their taxes regularly.

"To become a proud citizen of the country, one should bring himself under the taxnet coverage," he said. Abdul Mazid said those who would voluntarily pay taxes under the self-declared tax programme, the NBR would not ask any question about their source of income within next three years. He said the NBR has taken steps to ease its existing procedures of tax payment for reducing harassment of the tax payers.

The NBR chairman said "We will give honour to five persons from every district for paying highest amount of taxes for a long period with a view to giving them recognition on behalf of the nation."

The NBR has already selected 320 taxpayers for giving them this honour.

Abdullah Abu Sayeed called upon the people to pay taxes to enrich the country economically for the betterment of the people. He said "We have a responsibility to pay taxes as the country needs money for providing services to the people".

A total of 558 tax payers voluntarily paid taxes at the function.

Opinion sharing meet on UZ election held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

An opinion sharing meeting among the DC (Mymensingh) Regeion, Mymensingh all District Election Officer, Mymensingh sadar, all Upazila Election Officer was held at Mymensingh Circuit House on August 28.

Election Commissioner, Brig (Rtd) Shakhawat Hossain was present as chief guest and briefed about the coming upazila election. The chief guest said using of Black money should be resisted in election. The character of Voter and candidate shall have to change. Commission is preparing for talks with the political parties for third time. All ADC, UNO will he given training for upcoming Upazila Election. New laws will be implemented in upcoming election.

One killed in Jessore road mishap

UNB, Jessore

A bus driver was killed and five passengers were injured as the bus crashed against a tree at Khajura here on Jessore-Magura road Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Tota Miah, 45, hailed from Barisal district.

Witnesses said when driver Tota Miah lost control over the steering of the Barisal bound bus while giving side to a rickshaw van it hit a roadside tree at 9:30am, leaving him dead on the spot.

Two of the injured passengers were admitted to the district 250-bed general hospital.

Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy.

4 JP leaders expelled in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Four leaders of the district and city Jatiyo Party have been expelled from the party. Prof Moshinul Islam Habul, district JP president said that central office secretary Advocate Md. Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan sent copy of this expulsion letter to them by the order of party chairperson Gen Ershad.

The expelled four JP leaders included Golam Morshed Chunnu, joint secretary Rustam Ali Howladar, organising secretary of district branch, Rustam Ali Khan, vice president and Mainul Islam, organising secretary of the city branch of JP.

Rustam Ali Howladar said that before this expulsion he already resigned from the party protesting illegal collection of huge money by support-giving business of the district JP president Prof. Habul and his associates Altaf Bhatti and Giasuddin and central secretary general Ruhul Amin Howlader in recent Barisal City Corporation election.

Dacoit leader killed in encounter in Narsingdi

UNB, Narsingdi

A dacoit ringleader was killed in a shootout between his cohorts and police at Narendrapur village in Monohordi upazila early Saturday. Police said they arrested Hiron, 28, wanted in a number of robbery cases, from his house at Dairerpar village in Monohordi Friday afternoon.

As per his confessional statement, police along with Hiron went to Narendrapur village to recover hidden firearms at about 3.30am. As soon as they reached there, Hiron's cohorts opened fire on them forcing the law enforcers to fire back triggering a gun battle.

Hiron was caught in the line of fire while trying to flee and died on the spot, police said. Police later recovered the body and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.

Aus paddy harvesting begins in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

The harvesting of Aus paddy has started in all four upazilas of the district. The upazilas are Sadar, Alamdanga, Damurhuda and Jibannagar. Official source said during the current season a total of 78,000 tonnes Aus paddy are expected to be produced here.

Of which 27,000 tonnes would be produced in Sadar upazila, 16,000 tonnes in Alamdanga upazila, 19,000 tonnes in Damurhuda upazila and 16,000 tonnes in Jibannagar upazila.

The harvesting of the paddy is expected to be completed within the next 20 days, the source added. This year a total of 22,250 hectares of land brought under Aus paddy cultivation.

News briefs

Workshop on journalism held in Thakurgaon

THAKURGAON, Sept 03: A two-day training workshop on Journalism for the working journalists of eight northern districts concluded at local press club on Saturday. Deputy commissioner Mia Abdullah Mamun inaugurated the workshop on Friday which was jointly organized by Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO) and Thakurgaon Press club. Some 50 journalists of Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts took part in the training workshop, reports UNB.

Young man crushed under train in Jamalpur

JAMALPUR, Sept 03: A young man was crushed under the wheels of a train at west Nayapara near the district town early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Shahjahan, 22, of Bhabki village in Melandaha upazila. Railway police said being informed by local people they recovered the body of Shahjahan in the morning and sent it to district general hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed in this connection, reports UNB.

Trader stabbed to death in Jessore

JESSORE, Sept 03: A fertilizer trader was stabbed to death by some muggers in the district town Saturday. The deceased was identified as Akhil Kumar Banik, 45, a resident of the Missionpara of the town. Police said when Akhil was returning to his residence in the early morning a gang of muggers halted him and snatched away his mobile phone set and cash at gun point. They left the place after stabbing him mercilessly. Local people rushed him to the 250-bed general hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A case was filed. Police arrested eight people in this connection, reports UNB.

Minor boy killed in Chuadanga road mishap

CHUADANGA, Sept 03: A minor boy was killed in a road accident at Teourvila village in Sadar upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Ashique, 4, son of Manwar Hossain of the village. Local people said a human hauler locally known as 'Kariman' hit Ashique when he was crossing the road in front of his house at 12 noon, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to the Sadar hospital where the attending doctors declared him dead. A case was filed, reports UNB.

One killed in Jessore

JESSORE, Sept 03: An old man was stabbed to death by miscreants at Narengali village in Sadar upazila on Thursday night. Police said some unknown assailants entered the house of Shariatullah, 72, and stabbed him indiscriminately when he was sleeping at about 10 pm. Hearing screams, local people rushed to the spot and rescued Shariatullah. He died on the way to 250-bed General Hospital. Reason behind the killing could not be known immediately. A case was filed, reports UNB.

2 human traffickers held

JAMALPUR, Sept 03: Police arrested two members of a human trafficking gang from Tangail district and Jamalpur town on Friday. Police said garment worker Barsha was rescued from Jamalpur Raniganj brothel after she was sold by the traffickers. Based on her information, a team of police led by Sadar Circle ASP Jahid Hossain Bhuiyan arrested Nurunnabi from Dhonbari area of Tangail while Bachchu Khan from Madhupur road in Jamalpur town. A case was filed against Nurunnabi, hailed from Rupshanti village in Dhonbari thana of Tangail and Bachchu Khan, of Sabilapur village in Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur, reports UNB.