The New Nation - Internet Edition

Timely transmission of warnings can reduce disaster losses in char areas

BSS, Rangpur

Speakers at Chilmari upazila town in Kurigram on Thursday said that transmission of warnings during and before natural calamities including floods from radio stations on time could minimise disaster losses in remote chars in the river basins.

The observation came at a programme organised at the conference hall of Chilmari upazila parishad marking distribution of radio sets among the Union Parishad level volunteers of the disaster-prone char areas of Chilmari upazila in Kurigram district.

Eso Desh Gori (EDG), an NGO, distributed the radios among the volunteers organised by Nagorik Uddog Committee (NUC) with its Convener Abdul Kuddus Akand in the chair.

Chilmari Upazila Project Implementation Officer Yunus Ali attended as it the chief guest while representative of Action Aid Bangladesh Nur Ahmmed, Executive director of EDG Feroz Alam were present as the special guests.

Programme Officer Habibur Rahman, Programme manager Toffael Hossain and Trainer on disaster management Nur Alam spoke.

The speakers said radio is the only medium for entertainment of the people living in the char areas in river basins, where access to television is a far cry due to non-availability of electricity.

Radio, still a popular medium, can make people aware in advance about any natural calamities, they said They urged for transmission of additional programmes on disaster management to enabling char dwellers in getting access to forecasts about floods, erosion and nor'westers.

Later, the chief guest distributed radios among 16 UP level volunteers of Thanahat, Raniganj, Ostomir Char and Chilmari UPs in the upazila with a view to quickly dissemination of information to the char dwellers.

College girl succumbed to burn injuries after suicidal attempt

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Sumi Akter, 22, a student of Soil Science department of Barisal Brojo Mohon (BM) College, succumbed to burn injuries after suicidal attempt over love affairs on Friday afternoon at burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Fakhrul Alam, Chairman of Soil Science Department of B M College and Sumon and Harunur Rashid, brother and father of the victim, confirmed the death on Saturday.

Agitated students and classmates of the victim demanded punishment of their classmate and lover Arif in this connection. Hospital, police, college and family sources said Sumi and Arif both lived in two male and female student messes in B M College area and loved each-other and Sumi became pregnant.

On Thursday morning Sumi went to the room of Arif and toll about her physical condition and requested him to marry her as early as possible.

But Arif denying the responsibility of pregnancy declared end of relation with Sumi and mentally broken down Sumi then set fire on her own body on the spot.

Arif, hailed from College Road of Bhola district town fled away from the scene and college teachers, students and local people admitted Sumi to Barisal SBMCH and then she was rushed to DMCH burn unit after her condition was deteriorated.

Sumi died there on Friday afternoon and her dead body laid to rest at family graveyard at Varpasha village of Bakerganj on early Saturday night, family sources said.

Police visited the spot and interrogated Sajib, another student and friend of Arif.

Hayatul Islam, assistant commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan police, said Sub Inspector Farid of Barisal Kotwali police station, recorded the statement of Sumi at SBMCH and she admitted her suicidal attempt following her love affairs with Arif , but accused none for her suicidal attempt and no case also registered in this connection fill writing this report.

Seven sentenced to life-term for murder in Mehendiganj

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A trial court in Barisal convicted seven accused including father, 4 sons, 1 daughter and 1 daughter in law to life imprisonment on Sunday for sensational Yunus Bepari murder case of Mehendiganj.

The sentenced seven accused are Abdur Rob Khan, father, Jamal, ,Baker, Zaker and absconding Jahangir Hossain Khan, sons, Kohinoor Begum, daughter of Abdur Rob and Taslima Begum, wife of Jamal.

The all of seven accused were convicted for life term under section 302 of penal code with per head Tk. 25 thousand as fine or to serve more one year RI in default.

Main accused and life term convicted Jamal Hossain Khan also sentenced for more 5 years rigorous imprisonment under section 326 of penal code with Tk 10 thousand as fine or to serve more six months RI in default. Md. Shahidullah, district and session judge in charge of the tribunal for prevention of crimes violating public safety handed down the verdict on Sunday afternoon in presence of six accused and in absentia of absconding Jahangir after examining 13 out of 16 witnesses.

Prosecution story in brief was that Yunus Bepari, 40, was the husband of Kohinur Begum and the couple has 2 children.

Conflicts between Yunus and the accused created after Kohinoor was divorced and Yunus was beaten to death by the accused on August 8, 2004 at Noyakhali village.

Habib Bepari, brother of the victim, lodged a case in this connection on next day with Mehendiganj police station and Sub Inspector Abdul Huq, investigation officer of the case filed charge sheet of the case on March 11, 2005.

Week long fisheries campaign ends in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

A week long 'Fishery Resources Development Campaign' organized by Department of Fisheries and District Administration ended in all the seven upazilas of the district on Saturday amid much enthusiasm.

The aim of the campaign was to raise fish production through expanding the pisciculture technology by encouraging the people towards for the development of this highly potential sector. A concluding ceremony was also held at the conference room at the deputy commission here on Saturday noon with district fisheries officer ASM Rashedul Haque in the chair.

Additional district magistrate M Siddiqur Rahman addressed the function as the chief guest while deputy director of social services department M Afzal Hossain was present as special guest.

The meeting was also addressed, among others, by sadar upazila senior fisheries officer M Mahbubur Rahman Talukder, Fisheries coordinator of Practical action-Bangladesh Utpal Datta, executive director of Sinnamul Mohila Samity M Morshedur Rahman Khan, president of District fish cultivators Association M Saiful Islam Dulu and President of District Fishermen Association Opendra Chandra Das. Later, the prizes and the crests were distributed among the winners in the function. A cultural function was also held on the occasion. After the function the different kinds of seized nets by the department worth about Taka 3.92 lakh were also burnt to ashes on the premises of District Fisheries office of the town in presence of additional district magistrate M Siddiqur Rahman.

Youth stabbed to death in Jessore

BSS, Jessore

A youth was stabbed to death by unidentified muggers in Mission Para area of the town this morning.

Police sources said, the victim was identified as Akhil Banik, son of Gourhari Banik, of Chotechandpur upazila under Jhenaidah district and he has been residing at Mission Para of the town.

Unidentified muggers stabbed him mercilessly in front of his residence after his just return from Dhaka this morning.

His family members rushed him to the Jessore General Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries after some time.

Fishery resources dev campaign starts in Netrakona

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

A week long fishery resources development campaign was started in the district on Saturday last. District fisheries department sources said, the campaign programme was launched with a view to encouraging people to rise fish production to meet the protein demand and change socio-economic condition of the fishermen through expanding pisciculture technology. Deputy Commissioner Netrakona Mohammad Aiyatullah Mojumder formally inaugurated the programme by releasing fish fries of different variety of fishes into the pond of Netrakona Sadar.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Netrakona sadar upazila Nurul Alam, District fishery officer Parimal Chandra Das, district Livestock officer DR Tafizuddin, Mayor of Netrakona pourashava Nazrul Islam Khan, civil society members and a large number of local people including students and fishermen were present at the inaugural function.

Earlier, a colourful rally of students of different educational institutions was brought out in the district town under the auspices of Netrakona district administration and district fishery department marking the launching day of the week long fishery resources development campaign programme.

Rapist gets life in Noakhali

BSS, Noakhali

One person was sentenced to life term imprisonment for raping a girl at Chatkhil five and a half years ago.

Judge of the Women and Child Repression Prevention Court Monir Ahmed Patwary pronounced the verdict in a crowded courtroom on Tuesday. The convict was identified as Joynal Abedin, 60, grandfather of the victim. The prosecution story in brief, is that, Joynal Abedin raped his teenage grand daughter on April 27, 2003 taking the chance of her staying alone at home. Victims father Harun-ur-Rashid filed a rape case with Chatkhil police station.

Police after investigation filed chargesheet accusing Joynal Abedin. The court after examining records and witnesses pronounced the verdict

2 women traffickers arrested in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

Police arrested two women traffickers in the district on Friday.

The arrested were Nur Nabi, 25, of Rupshandi village of Tangail district and Bacchu Khan, 20, of Sabilapur village of Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur district. They used to live in Dhanbari and were engaged in women trafficking promising them wedding for a long time.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police led by Assistant Police Super Zahid Hossain Bhuiyan arrested Bacchu Khan from Fulbaria area in the town and Nur Nabi from Dhanbari in Tangail district. A case was registered with Jamalpur Sadar thana police in this connection.

4 drug peddlers held, phensidyl seized in Joypurhat

BSS, Joypurhat

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in separate drives arrested four drug peddlers and seized 140 bottles of contraband Indian Phensidyl from Panchbibi Upazila of the district on Friday morning, Rab sources said.

The sources said a team of the elite force conducted a drive at West Ramchandrapur village under Panchbibi Upazila and arrested four drug peddlers named Alam, 30, Nur Alam, 28, Habib, 38 and Rafiqul Islam, 35 of Sreepur village Kalai Upazila of the district and seized 140 bottles of Phensidyl from their possession

A case was filed with Panchbibi Thana in this connection.

Naogaon Newsletter

Opinion sharing

meet held

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

An opinion meeting was held, organised by bnoth district information office and Sapahar uapzila administration in the district on August 12, entitled grow more food campaign and free terrorism campaign, presided over by Naogaon district information officer Md. Farhad Hossain.

Local journalists, elite teachers and others wee participated in the opinion sharing meet. Later, a musical soiree was staged.

Fertiliser seized

Acting on a tif-off, the district DB police led by Pradeep Chakravarty and Mohadevpur thana OC Ilias Fakir recovered 1325 bags of fertiliser from Kazi Abul Kalam's Minar auto-rice mill godown at Hossainpur in Mohadevpur upazila in the district on August 11, at night. Recovered fertiliser were 349 bags of TSP, 496 bags of DAP and 480 bags of Mop which were stocked unauthorised for selling. Manager of the said mill Belal Hossain was arrested. SP Mofazzal Hossain rushed to the spot. A case was registered with the thana in this connection.

One killed in

road Mishap

A truck, carrying fertiliser, was over-turned at Enayetpur under Naogaon sadar uapzila killing its helper on the spot on August 13. The dead was identified as Sajjad Hossain (28), son of late Abdus Sattar of Mongalpara in the said upazila. The ill-fated truck was coming from Jamalpur district bearing No. Dhaka Metro 14-4434. The dead body was sent for post mortem. A case was registered with the thana in this connection.

National ID cards

distributed

National Identity Cards and voter lists of Sapahar upazila in the district, distribution ceremony was held on August 10 in a simple ceremony, on the upazila parishad, presided over by Sapahar Upazila Nirbahai Officer Md. Ziaul Huq. District Joint forces commander Lt. Col. Md. Shamim Ahsan, psc, handed over NI cards and Voter lists to Sapahar UNO. Some NI cards were distributed among elites on it.

Janmastami celebrated in Netrakona

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

Janmastami, the birth day of lord Sree Krishna and one of the biggest religious festival of the hindu community, was celebrated in the district with festivity and due religious fervous recently. Netrakona district Puja celebration parishad chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day with pomp and gaiety. The day's programme included recitation from the holy Geeta, bringing out Janmastami procession, holding of discussion meeting, Geeta-Jagya and offering of special prayer seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the nation.

To mark the festival, a colourful Janamastami procession was brought out in the district town from Sree Narashinha Zior temple here on August 26 of Hindu devotees and people from all walks of life attended the procession which paraded main roads of the town. Deputy Commissioner Netrakona Mohammad Aiyatullah Mojumder and Mayor of Netrakona Pourashava Nazrul Islam Khan and civil society members also attended the rally as honorable guests.

News briefs

Injured man succumbed at KMCH

GOPALGANJ, Sept 04: A man, who was injured in a clash at Ghoshagati village in Sadar upazila, died at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) on Sunday afternoon. The dead was identified as Chand Miah, 50. Police said 11 people were injured when a clash ensued between the groups of Chand Miah and Julfikar while playing Kabaddi at Ghoshagati village on Saturday afternoon. The injured were admitted to Sadar Hospital from where Chand Miah was shifted to KMCH with deteriorating condition. He died there at about 3.30 pm today, reports UNB.

Valuables looted

in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, Sept 04: Two persons were wounded as the robbers sprayed bullets on them while fleeing after committing dacoity at two houses at Ekhlaspur village in Begumgnaj upazila early Saturday. Witnesses said a gang of bandits, numbering 15/20, swooped on the houses of Habibullah and Nurul Islam Sardar late at night and looted cash and valuables worth Tk 2 lakh. At one stage when the villagers chased the bandits they opened fire on them indiscriminately, leaving two people wounded. Locals later caught one of the robbers, Shukkar Ali, with a firearm and 6 bullets and handed him over to police, reports UNB.

One gets life for

possessing phensidyl

MAGURA, Sept 04: A special court here on Thursday sentenced a man to life term imprisonment for possessing phensidyl syrup. The court also fined the convict Asgar Tk 20,000, in default, to suffer six months RI more. Asgar, 35, son of Rustom Ali, hailed from Uthali Dakkhinpara village in Jiban Nagar upazila of Chuadanga district. According to the prosecution, police arrested Asgar for moving suspiciously near WAPDA crossing bus stand in Sripur upazila here on March 3 in 2007. Later, they recovered 22 bottles of phensidyl syrup searching his bag. A case was filed. After examining the records and witnesses Additional District and Sessions Judge and also Judge of Special Tribunal-2 Nazir Ahmad pronounced the verdict, reports UNB.

Old man stabbed to death in Sylhet

SYLHET, Sept 04: An old man was stabbed to death at his house at Atia village in Goainghat upazila by miscreants on Friday night. Local people said a gang of assailants stormed into the house of haji Azizus Samad alias Tunu Mia, 65, at dead of night and stabbed him indiscriminately leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body Saturday morning and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. Police suspected that Tunu Mia might have been killed by the assailants following a previous enmity. A case was filed, reports UNB.

366 metric tons of rice sold under OMS in Chuadanga

CHUADANGA, Sept 04: A total of 366 metric tons of rice have been sold under Open Market Sale programme in the district during the last 12 days. Source said 56 dealers were appointed in four upazilas and four pourasabhas of the district. The programme will continue for two months. Each person was allowed to purchase three kg of rice at a time at the rate of Taka 28 per kg in a week. But from now on each person would be allowed to purchase 5 kg of rice at a time four days a week, reports BSS.

21 arrested in

Panchagarh

PANCHAGARH, Sept 04: Police in separate drives arrested 21 people from different places of the district on Wednesday night. The arrested included terrorists, absconding convicts, warrantees, gamblers and drug peddlers, police said. The arrested persons were sent to jail hajat after police produced them before a court on Thursday, reports BSS.