The New Nation - Internet Edition

Acute shortage of doctors hits treatment facilities at SBMCH

Our Correspondent, Barisal

More than fifty percent shortage of internee and huge vacancies in other posts of doctors is creating miserable condition in indoor and outdoor health services at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Dr. Mohaddes Hossain and Dr. Abdul Khalek Sikdar, Director and Deputy Director of the hospital, acknowledging the fact said that they informed higher authorities about the crisis.

SBMCH sources said the indoor health services of the hospital with 40 units in 20 wards mainly depended on the internee doctors and needed at least 160 internee doctors for 24 hours duty in four shifts.

But the hospital has 149 posts for interneeship and now only 79 are engaged in duty.

This crisis became acute because of session jam, changes in curriculum and duration of selection of final year passed medical students for interneeship in other hospitals than SBMCH due to lack of infrastructural facilities.

Interneeship crisis may continue for next three months till starting of new interneeship course, the SBCH officials added. On the other hand, 8 out of 20 posts of registrars, 12 out of 40 posts of assistant registrars, 7 out of 40 medical officers in 40 units of 20 wards of the hospital are lying vacant.

Rest 73 senior and junior doctors with the help of internee doctors are responsible for the indoor treatment of admitted average 1200 patients of the hospital.

During the night and vacation days the crisis became so acute that patients have to wait for the daylight and working days to receive proper health care and services from the doctors as many of them do not reside at the campus.

Daily about 1800-2000 patients came to outdoor of the hospital for taking treatment including emergency services.

Only 33 doctors are appointed for treatment of this huge number of patients and daily average, one fourth of the outdoor doctors are found absent in their seats either enjoying leave or engaged in other duties.

Seven out of 28 posts of resident medical officer, 5 out of 10 posts of emergency medical officers, 2 out of 5 posts of pathologists, 2 out of 6 posts of radiologists and 3 out of 6 posts of anesthesiologists are also vacant in the SBMCH.

Farmers likely to achieve bumper Aush paddy in Kishoreganj

UNB, Kishoreganj

Farmers of the district are expecting bumper production of Aush this season due to favourable weather and adequate supply of fertilizer and seed.

Department of Agricultural Extension said farmers brought 23,536 hectares of land under Aush cultivation in the district in the current season against the target of 18,150 hectares. Farmers have already started harvesting the paddy and are expecting to achieve at least one lakh metric tons.

Abdul Awal, an Aush cultivator of Kamalir Char village in Sadar upazila, said that he had received a good harvest this year like previous years. Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension said farmers increased Aush cultivation in the district as they received fair price from Aush in the previous years.

Moreover, they received adequate seeds and fertilizer timely to cultivate their lands, which are the reasons behind the bumper production, he added.

7 get life for killing a madrasa student in Jhenidah

BSS, Jhenaidah

Seven persons were sentenced to life term rigorous imprisonment (RI) for murdering a madrasa student at Falsi village under Harinakundu upazila in the district about six years ago.

District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Quamrul Hossain delivered the verdict on Wednesday.

The convicts were identified as Shahjahan Mollah, Moinuddin, Rezaul Islam, Shahidul Islam, Amirul Mollah, Jamirul Mollah and Taizel Biwas of the same village.

The court also fined the convicts Taka 20,000 each, in default to suffer more prison terms.

The prosecution story in brief, is that, the convicts killed Anisur Rahman, son of Ayub Hossain, of Falsi village and a madrasa student after calling him out of his house on February 15 night in 2003. Body of Anisur was found at a field of the village. Father of the victim Ayub Hossain filed a murder case with Harinakundu police station.

The judge, after examining 13 witnesses and relevant evidence delivered the judgment.

Flood situation worsens in Munshiganj

UNB, Munshiganj

Flood situation of the district has worsened as more areas are being submerged causing untold sufferings to the people.

Transport movement on Dhaka-Srinagar-Dohar route remained suspended as floodwater inundated Balasur area of Srinagar upazila.

The water of the river Dhaleswari is flowing 17cms while Padma 92cms above the danger levels this (Thursday) morning.

According to the local administration, 1,097 families have become marooned only in Tongibari upazila due to flood.

District administration with the help of army distributed 10 kgs of rice to each of the affected families in Tongibari upazila on Tuesday. The government has allocated 1,893 mts of rice for the flood-affected people of the district.

Meanwhile, erosion by the river has taken a serious turn in last 24 hours in the Tongibari upazila rendering some 69 families homeless.

Opinion sharing meet on tax payment held in Rupganj

A Correspondent, Rupganj

A view exchange meeting was held among tax payees and the high-ups of the Dhaka Tax Zone-1 on 2nd September last in the auditorium of the Rupgonj Upazila in Narayangonj. Nahid Sultana Mallik, Upazilla Nirbahi Officer was in the chair. Asraf Uddin, Tax Commissioner, Mokbul Hossain Pike, Joint Tax Commissioner, Anwar Islam, Deputy Tax Commissioner of Dhaka Tax Zone-1, Nuruzzaman Khan, Chairman, Kayetpara Union, Golam Faruk Khokon, Chairman, Murapara Union, Nurunnabi, businessman among others attended and addressed in the meeting. All high-ups requested to the volunteer tax payees to pay taxes.

Discussion meet on environment held in Natore

Our Correspondent, Natore

A discussion meeting was held on Strategy for Environmental Preservation specially for the river Baral and Chalanbil at Bonpara Pourasava Auditorium of Baraigram Upazila under Natore District on Tuesday.

The meeting was chaired by A.Z.M Ashrafuzzaman, Executive Director of Karbala Gram Unnayan Kendra. DR. Abdul Matin, General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA) attended the meeting as chief guest while Sanaullah-Nur-Babu, Mayor of Bonpara Pourasava, S.M Mizanur Rahman, Executive Director of Chalanbil Uddog Society were the special guests. Among others Md. Khalilur Rahman Sarker, Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal and Mohibur Rahman former UP Chairmen spoke at the meeting. The speakers of the meeting urged the people to attend the environment safety movement. The meeting was conducted by Md. Atikur Rahman Mridha, Director of ALFA Foundation, Bonpara, Natore.

DC holds meeting with civil society members in Netrakona

BSS, Netrakona

Deputy Commissioner of Netrakona Mohammad Mofazzel Hossain held a views exchange meeting with local civil society members, heads of different educational institutions, NGOs and newsmen at his conference room on Monday. The meeting discussed matters relating to local problems and methods of resolving the problems, progress of ongoing development programmes, food procurement drive, fertiliser distribution and law and order in the district.

It was addressed, among others, by Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) Mohammad Mizanur Rahaman, Mayor of Netrakona Pourashava Nazrul Islam Khan, president of District Anti Corruption Prevention Committee Dr MA Hamid, Headmaster of Netrakona High School Saidur Rahaman, freedom fighter Osman Gani Talukder and editor of Daily Jananetra Patrika Muklesur Rahaman Khan.

Mohammad Mufazzel Hossain took over as the deputy commissioner of Netrakona district on Sunday.

Fire guts madrasah hostel in Chandpur

UNB, Chandpur

A devastating fire gutted a hostel of a madrassah at Chapatoli village in Kochua upazila Monday morning. Fire brigade sources said the fire originated from a kerosene stove at a room of the hostel of Chapatoli Senior Madrassah at around 10:00am and gutted the entire 75 feet long semi-pucca hostel. On information, firefighters from Kochua Sadar rushed to the spot and doused the flame with the help of local people. All the belongings of the 135 students of the hostel and its furniture were charred.

Fish resource dev programme ends in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The eight-day-long Fish Resource Development Drive 2008 was concluded on August 30 (Saturday) at Gopalganj Government Public Library Auditorium.

On the occasion colourful rally, essay and painting competition, discussion meeting, cultural function and prize distributing function among the best fish cultivators were held.

The programme was presided over by Mohammad Hassan, Gopalganj District Fishery Officer and Mohammad Motiar Rahman, ADC (Rev) was also present as chief guest and Probir Kumar Roy, ASP (Circle) as special guest. The programme was addressed, among others, by Dipu Chowdhury, fish cultivator, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Principal, Shaikh Fazilatunnessa Govt. Women's College.

Drug trader gets life in Habiganj

BSS, Bagerhat

A drug trader was sentenced to life term imprisonment by a court here on Wednesday.

The convict was identified as Kamal Miah, son of late Mehedi Hossain of Alipur village under Sadar upazila of the district.

District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Miaz Uddin delivered the verdict. The court also fined the convict Taka 2,000 in default to suffer two more months in prison. According to the prosecution, police arrested Kamal Miah from his house along with heroin on April 29 in 2005.

A case was filed against Kamal under the Narcotics Control Act. After hearing the witnesses and examining evidence, the judge pronounced the verdict.

Phensidyl, medicine seized in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

Members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) of Neemtala BDR camp under Damurhuda upazila recovered 435 bottles of smuggled Phensidyl, 8,007 pieces of tablets and injections from a field of Akondobaria village under Chuadanga Sadar upazila on Wednesday.

Based on a tip-off, the BDR team rushed to the spot and recovered the Phensidyl and medicines from the spot.

None was arrested in this connection.

Anti-drug seminar held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymenisngh

To raise awareness among the students against drug and smoking, a seminar was held at Mukul Neketan School on 1st September. Mymensingh District Community Police organised the seminar. SP (Mymensingh) Md. Rafiqul Islam was present as chief guest in the seminar while Amir Ahmed Chowdhury, Headmaster, Mukul Niketan School, president, Mymensingh Community Police presided over the meeting.

Additional SP, ASM Akhtaruzzaman and ASP Apel Mahmud were present as special guests. Advocate Anisur Rahman Khan, Advocate AHM Khalequzzaman, Professor Anwarul Islam Bakul, Commander Najmul Haque Tara and Advocate Nazrul Islam Chunnu also addressed in the meeting. The speakers stressed on raising awareness among the students about the bad effects of drug addiction and smoking, 500 students participated in the meeting.

News briefs

4 fake water plants sealed off in Keraniganj

Keraniganj, Sept 4 : RAB in separate drives sealed off four fake water plants in Model and south Keraniganj thanas Thursday. Members of RAB-10 raided Bandadakpara in Model thana and Kadamtali and Chunkutia in south Keraniganj thana where they detected four spurious water plants at about 3pm. Four owners of the plants were fined different amount and 60 bottles also seized during the hour long drives. RAB sources said owners of the fake plants have been engaged in supplying water of their illegal plants to different hotels and restaurants in capital since long, report UNB.

Fertiliser seized

in Jhenidah

Jhenidah, Sept 4 : Police seized 250 bags of urea fertilizer from a truck at Bezpara in Kaliganj upazila Tuesday. Police said acting on secret information they seized the Jessore bound fertilizer laden truck at Bezpara when it halted for unloading the fertilizer. Sensing police presence the truck driver and smugglers fled the scene, report UNB.

Road barricated

for fertiliser

Benapole (Jessore), Sept 4 : Farmers barricaded Jessore-Narail road at Dhagla Bazar for 30 minutes on Wednesday demanding supply of sufficient fertiliser. Local sources said fertilizer dealer Sabur Miah and deputy assistant agriculture officer Gobinda Das were distributing 7 kgs of fertilizer among each of the farmers for per bigha of land. But the farmers started demonstration saying the quantity of fertilizer fixed for per bigha is quite 'insufficient'. They also assaulted Gobinda Das and put barricade on the Jessore-Narail road. On information, police rushed to the spot but the agitated farmers started pelting brickbats on the law enforcers leaving constable Badshah Miah slightly injured, report UNB.

One killed in Bagerhat road mishap

Bagerhat, Aug 4 : A pedestrian was killed and 10 bus passengers were injured as a bus plunged into a ditch at Patabaria in Morelganj upazila Wednesday. Police said as the driver of the bus lost control over the steering it fell into a roadside ditch after hitting pedestrian Abdur Rob, 25, leaving him dead on the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. The injured were given treatment at local clinics, report UNB..

One killed in lightning in Pirojpur

Pirojpur, Sept 4 : A man was killed and another injured in lightning at Tilikhali village in Bhandaria upazila this Thursday morning. The deceased was identified as Jalal, 40, son of Asmat Ali of the village. Locals said the thunderbolt struck on Jalal at about 11am while he along with some of his relatives was working in his farmland, killing him on the spot. Jalal's nephew Kawsar, who was injured in the lightning, was admitted to nearby hospital for treatment, report UNB.

Lightning kills one

in Sylhet

Sylhet, Sept 4 :A man was killed in lightning at Pakri village in Jointaput upazila on Wednesday morning. Local people said thunderbolt struck Arab Ali, 55, when he was fishing in the river near Darbasta Bazaar of the upazila at about 11am, report UNB.

One killed in Comilla road mishap

Comilla, Sept 4 : A man was killed and four others were injured as a bus rammed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Shatsala in Brahmanpara uapzila on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Abdus Sobhan, a retired police officer of Sidlai village of the upazila. Police said the Comilla bound bus from Mirpur area of the upazila hit the auto-rickshaw on Brhamnanpara-Mirpur road at about 9am killing auto-rickshaw passenger Sobhan on the spot and injuring four others. The injured auto-rickshaw passengers were admitted to a local hospital report UNB.