The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to ensure rights of visually impaired persons

BSS, Narayanganj

Speakers at a discussion today stressed the need for ensuring the rights and privileges of visually impaired persons in the light of Bangladesh Disabled Welfare Act-2001.

The demand came at an assembly of visually impaired persons, organised by the Assistance for Blind Children (ABC) and the Department of Narayanganj Social Welfare Services at Shaheed Zia Hall.

Around 500 visually impaired persons of five upazilas of the district participated in the assembly, under the auspices of Sight Savers International, an NGO. Vice President (ABC) Lutfa Islam chaired the function, which was also addressed by Social Welfare secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain, director programme of the Department of Social Services Abdul Mannan, ADC (Education) Khodeza Aktar Khanom, additional police super Masud Karim and deputy director of Social Welfare services Dewan Abdur Rashid.

Zakir Hossain in his speech highlighted various development programmes of the government for the welfare of the visual impaired persons in the country. He said government has increased their monthly allowance and have been brought under micro-credit scheme to improve their lives. He also urged the visually impaired persons to avail the government assistance properly.

Technical problem in online trading: Barisal stock market clients sustain crores of taka losses

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Hundreds of investors of stock market in Barisal sustained crores of taka losses since last eight days due to technical glitches in online trading with Dhaka Stock Exchange.

Mizanur Rahman and Md. Shahnewaj Shahin, convener and joint convener of Barisal Investors Forum, alleged that technical problems of the on line trading servers of Dhaka Stock Exchange since Monday of last week halting trading for hours after hours at local brokerage houses in the city. Barisal capital market recently gained heavy rush due to direct on line transaction facilities.

Barisal office of Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) informed that there are more than forty two thousand account holders of ICB Barisal branch, more than sixteen hundred beneficiary account holders (BO) of ICB Securities Trading Company Limited (ISTCL) and more than nine hundred accounts of ICB Capital Management Limited (ICML), two subsidiary companies of ICB enlisted with Dhaka and Chittagong Stock Exchanges (DSE and CSE).

Besides about eight hundred BO account holders of two branches of private brokerage houses named Stock Bonds Limited and M Securities Limited enlisted only with DSE for daily transactions from Barisal and severely affected by this technical glitches.

MD.Ruhul Amin, newly joined manager of ICB,M Korban Ali manager of ISTCL and Abdul Mannan, manager of ICML, Barisal branch acknowledging the problems said that they informed higher authorities about the problem and they assured to remove the technical glitches as early as possible. They said hanging of on line trading for only some minute could cause heavy losses for the investors and investors said they sustaining this loss for day after days without any emergency step or backup faculties to avoid it.

Due to this technical problem transaction in Barisal stock market downed to daily only average Tk. 1.5 core form daily average of about 5 core taka and maximum transaction done with Chittagong Stock Exchange instead of Dhaka Stock Exchange, said the ICB,ICTCL and ICML officials.

Investment Forum leaders said that they will take protest programmes if the technical problem would not be removed immediately.

BMDA implementing quality seed production project

BSS, Rajshahi

The Seed Production Project under the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) is being implemented successfully to fulfil the deficit of quality paddy seed in the vast tract of Barind area.

Officials told BSS here today that the Taka 10.32 crore project titled "Quality Seed Production on Farmers Field" is being implemented in all the 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts since July, 2006. The main objectives of the five-year project are to motivate farmers towards producing improved varieties of local and high yielding seeds and to train up 16,000 farmers and staffs on production, procurement, processing and preservation of quality seed.

Director General (Seed Wing) of the Ministry of Agriculture Anwar Faruque on Wednesday last saw for himself the seed production and processing activities in different areas of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.

Expressing his satisfaction over the process of implementation of the project, he asked the officials concerned to expand its activities by raising the number of demonstration plots to produce more quality seeds, particularly of paddy, in the area.

Project Director Rafiqul Islam said that the BMDA is, at present, providing irrigation facilities to around 7.42 lakh hectares in Aman season and 3.84 lakh hectares in Boro season. "To cultivate these lands in both the seasons, 43,645 tonnes of seeds are required every year," he said. For the sake of sustainable crop production along with encouraging the farmers in crop farming, Rafiqul Islam said quality seed production should be ensured at the farmers level.

To make the project a complete success, he said around 1,250 tonnes of seeds were produced and some 5,000 farmers were given necessary training on production, procurement, processing and preservation of rice seed through establishing around 200 demonstration plots over the last two years.

Besides, necessary steps were undertaken to produce 100 tonnes of seed during the current transplanted Aman season. BMDA if giving technical service and providing required inputs like seed, fertiliser and pesticides to the targeted farmers, the officials said.

They said BMDA has also launched the rice seed processing activities at Amnura Zonal Seed Godown processing plant for the first time in its 21 years of journey under the quality seed production project.

"Besides, BMDA has been procuring breeder seed from BRRI and foundation seed from BADC and taking certificate from the Seed Certification Agency for producing quality seed," Rafiqul Islam said adding that necessary steps are being taken to avoid duplication in the regard.

450 families rehabilitated in CHT

BSS, Rangamati

The government has rehabilitated 450 landless families in different upazilas of Chittagong Hill Tracts under the 'Rehabilitation Project through Orange and Mixed Crop Cultivation Programme' at a cost of Taka 8.88 crore last financial year, officials said.

The rehabilitated families brought economic solvency for themselves by cultivating lands given to them by the government. Each of the families got 3.25 acres of land including a tin shed house.

Besides, they are enjoying different facilities including supply of safe drinking water, sanitary latrine, road communication, education, and community-based living under the project. The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs funded Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, a major development agency of the region to implement the project in three hill districts.

Three to die for killing businessman in Bagerhat

BSS, Bagerhat

Three persons were sentenced to death by a court here for murdering a businessman at Uttar Saralia under Morelganj upazila in the district about three years ago.

Additional District and Sessions judge Mohammad Rezaul Karim delivered the verdict in presence of the convicts in a crowded courtroom on Wednesday. The convicts are Mohammad Mohan Khalifa, Auhidul Howlader and Rafiqul Islam. The court acquitted Jarina Begum as charges against her could not be proved.

The prosecution story in brief, is that the convicts killed businessman Enamul Hasan Limon on February 2 in 2006 after calling him out of the house. His body was recovered from beneath a sand mound near his house.

Brother of the victim Mehedi Hasan Liton filed a murder case accusing four persons with Morelganj police station. The court after examining prosecution witnesses and evidence pronounced the judgment.

Steps taken to boost Netrakona civic amenities

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

Netrakona Pourashava has designed a package of development projecrts for increasing civic amenities of the pourashava citizens. Talking to a group of local newsmen here recently Mayor Mohammad Nazrul Islam Khan informed that the projects including construction of a bailey bridge on the river Mogra at Nagra area in the town, construction of a new pourashava bhaban, construc-tion of four modern overhead water tanks with pumps and a modern inter-district bus terminal by extending the old Netrakona bus terminal in the pourashava area and improvement of some roads and drainage system of the pourashava.

Works on these uplift projects would be started very soon and these are expected to be completed within the next one year at a cost of Taka 24 crore, the Mayor said.

The government and Asian Development Bank will give the financial assistance he said adding, that long-felt demand of the pourashava citizens would be materialised after implementation of the projects.

Mobile court realises Tk. 45000 as fine in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

A mobile court realised Taka 45,000/- by fine from sweet cabin, restaurant, stationery shap, departmental store, bakery and confectioneries on charge of selling adulterated and stale food items, shortage of weight in Kishoreganj town on Tuesday.

The court led by 1st class Magistrate Md. Ruhul Amin started the drive on information that some business establishments which have no valid approval from BSTI, were engaged in selling adulterated and date expired food items.

Training course on HIV/AIDS held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A day-long educator training course on HIV/AIDS held at the Ased (an N.G.O) unit office in Mymensingh on 25th August. ASED, a non-government organisation, with the assistance of Health and Family Planning Department, Save the Children and Hasab jointly organised the training course. The training course was formally inaugurated by Adviser, Ased A.K. Salahuddin Ahmed.

It was presided over by Md Mozammel Haque, Chairman, Ased, Najnin Ahmed, programme officer Hasab was present as programme facilitator. The meeting was conducted by Sheikh Md. Yusuf, executive director Ased. Speakers said this training course would improve trainer's health care and wide positive awareness on HIV/AIDS as well as sex education.

Mobile court realises Tk 3 lakh as fine in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A team of Mobile Court led separate anti-adulteration drives at different shops, hotels and restaurants of the markets of Rupganj in Narayanganj on 2 August till evening. The team traced a lot of adulterated, rotten and dirty food served by most of the hotels and restaurants of the markets.

Amalendhu Bhandari, Upazila Food Officer told the newsman that the team led separate drives in Bapra, Tarabo, Kanchan, Bhulta, Murapara Markets and found a lot of adulterated food including edible oil.

He added that more than 250 cases were registered against the vicious traders and the owners of the hotels and restaurants. More than Tk. 3 lakh was realised as fine money instantly. Apart from it, 250 food items have been sent to the BSTI to test the standard whether suitable or not.

News briefs

3.20kg heroin seized in C'nawabganj

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Sept 5: Members of Bangl-adesh Rifles (BDR) seized 3.20kg heroin from Kodalkati border in Sadar upazila Tuesday morning. BDR sources said a patrol team of BDR 39 battalion chased a gang of smugglers numbering 3-4 when they were entering into to Bangladesh near 41/8 no. pillar at about 9:00am. Sensing danger the smugglers fled away abandoning the heroin. The seized contraband drugs were deposited to the battalion headquarters, reports UNB.

Housewife sustains

acid burn injuries

in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, Sept 5: A young man allegedly threw acid on his wife at Machhkhola village in Sadar upazila Monday night for divorcing him some days back. Police said Julmat Ali, 35, of Taltala village used to beat his wife Nur Banu for dowry since he married her eight years ago. Nur Banu, 29, mother of three children, recently divorced him failing to bear his inhuman torture and started living at her father's house at Machhkhola. Locals said Julmat along with his accomplice Mukul hurled acid at her while she was cooking at about 9pm and fled the scene. The victim was rushed to the Sadar hospital on the same night. But following the deterioration of her condition she was sent to Dhaka for better treatment Tuesday. Victim's mother, Shaheda Khatun, filed a case against the two culprits. Police later arrested them, reports UNB.

Young man commits suicide in Sherpur

SHERPUR, Sept 5: A young man allegedly committed suicide by taking poison at his residence at Khaldanga village in Nalitabari upazila early Tuesday. Police quoting family members said Motaleb, 27, took his life swallowing poison over a family feud at dead of night. Family members found him dead in the morning and informed the police. Later, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A UD case was filed, reports UNB.

Two minor girls drown in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Sept 5: Two minor girls drowned in a pond near their house at Kutirgachha village in Tarash upazila on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Kakoli, 4, daughter of Kamruzzaman and Sanjida, 5, daughter of Sahadat Hossain of the village. Witnesses said the two girls slipped into the pond while they were playing on its bank and drowned at noon. Later, local people recovered the bodies from the pond, reports UNB.

Housewife strangulated to death in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Sept 5: A young housewife was allegedly strangled by her husband over a family feud at Machhuakandi village in Sadar upazila Monday midnight. The victim was identified as Mukti Khatun, 22, wife of Abdul Hannan of the village. Local people said Hannan picked up a quarrel with Mukti and beat her mercilessly at dead of night. Later, at one stage he strangulated her to death. On information, police recovered the body on Tuesday morning. Hannan went into hiding. A case was filed, reports UNB.

One held with phensidyl in Comilla

COMILLA, Sep 5: Elite force RAB seized a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and arrested a passenger along with 1800 bottles of phensidyl syrup at Kaptanbazar in the district town early Tuesday. Acting on a tip off, a team of RAB-11 raided the auto-rickshaw and arrested Suman, 23, along with the phensidyl. In another drive RAB personnel also recovered 20 kgs of hemp in an abandoned condition from near the Women's College in the town in the same morning, reports UNB.