The New Nation - Internet Edition

UZ polls in Barisal divn: Over 200 candidates start campaign for 26 posts of chairmen

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Date for upazila election has not yet been announced but election campaign has already begun in the six districts of Barisal Division. Names of about two hundred candidates are in the air as all the political parties are getting prepared for the contest.

Awami League, after winning all the four city mayor contests, are now bent upon to do well in the upazila election while local BNP leaders and workers are also unwilling to keep away from the polls even if their central leaders do not accept it. BNP leaders of Barisal believe that Barisal Division is a strong fortress of their party and is to be defended at any cost. They further believe that any vacillation on the part of the party will only do harm to the party in future.

A crucial problem which, however, confronts both BNP and Awami League is the number of rival candidates from the same party for the same post. More than 200 candidates are already in the campaign for the posts of chairman of 26 upazilas of Barisal division. Out of them 80 are from Awami League, 72 from BNP, 15 from Jatiya Party, 4 from Jamaat, 6 PQR, 3 from Communist Party, 2 from JSD 1 from Gano Forum while others are Independent candidates.

In Ujirpur Upazila of Barisal district where Moinul Hoque, Advocate and son of Nonna Mia is a contestant from Awami League and is a very formidable candidate, none from BNP has yet appeared on the scene. But several names are also in the air. In all other upazilas, however, candidates from both major parties have begun to approach the voters.

Free Medical Camp held in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A Medical Camp jointly organised by Department of Health and Gaibandha Poursahva for flood victims was held on the Town Protection Embankment at Kutipara area under Sadar Upazila on September 6 under direct supervision of Bangladesh Army.

A portion of the embankment was washed away due to passing water of the Ghagot river through a hole made by rats at Kutipara on August 21 causing the low lying areas of Kutipara, Godarahat and Folia to be inundated and a few families took shelter on the embankment temporarily.

In order to ensure the health services to the flood affected people of the areas as a medical camp was held there on Saturday. More than 50 percent including the children were given medicine and health care services free of cost. A group of doctors led by Sadar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Prodip Kumar Karmaker conducted the camp.

A team of Bangladesh Army led by Major Bakhtiar Fahmi, in-charge of Gaibandha Army Camp, assisted the camp to hold it here successfully. Lt M. Mahmudul Hasan, public representatives and the locals including the journalists were also present on the occasion.

Over 1,000 income generating projects in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

The Department of Livestock has been playing a vital role in creating self- employment opportunities in Narsingdi district with setting up more than one thousand income generating project in the last couple of years.Official sources said, a good number of unemployed youths, poor and marginal people of the district were brought under necessary training for establishment of small and family level dairy and poultry farms. The trained people were also provided with necessary credit facilities and other technological supports.

The department has also been extending need- based training to the entrepreneurs for establishing small and medium dairy and poultry farms.

After getting training the entrepreneurs set up farms through utilizing the financial support extended by different commercial banks.

According to District Livestock Department, a good number of youths, poor and marginal farmers have been engaged in poultry and dairy farm projects.

About 1,000 small and medium poultry farms and 300 small and family level dairy farms are running business here.

Int’l Literacy Day observed in Natore

Our Correspondent, Natore

People of different parts in the district have observed International Literacy Day on Monday. A large number of students, teachers of different educational institutions of Natore district took steps to teach illiterates how to put signature.

Many of them have become successful. To become aware of literacy and curse of illiteracy, Baraigram Upazila Administration organised a colourful procession from the Upazila premises at 9 AM carrying festoons, placards, posters, banners etc.

Upazila Nirbahi Molla Educational Officer, Md. Ashraful Islam, Statistics Officers, Md. Anowarul Islam Secondary Educational Officer Md. Abdul Khair Khan Professor of Bonpara Degree College, three Assistant Education Officers, Nimai Chandra Sarker, Md. Jalal Uddin and Sharmis-tha Mazumder attended the rally.

Art competition held in Panchagarh

A Children Art Competition for school students was held at Panchagarh Awami League office ground on 29 August which was organised by Panchagarh Zilla Jubo Mohila League marking 33rd death anniversary of Bhngabondhu Sheikh Mojibur Rahman. General Secretary of Panchagarh Zilla Awami League Md. Mojaharul Islam was present as the chief guest who distributed prizes. Zila Jubo League President Md. Shahidul Islam was present as special guest. The programme was presided over by Mahmuda Akhter Molla (Dipu). Convener Zilla Jubo Mohila League Panchagarh.

JUTA condemns statements of intellectuals

JU Correspondent

The Jahangirnagar University Teachers' Association on Monday condemned the statements of the intellectuals, who made the comment about JU teachers in a solidarity programme of the students of the university.

In a statement signed by JUTA President and General Secretary the association expressed its deep concern and severe condemnation to the illogical statement made by an intellectual on September 3 at JU Shaheed Minar.

Source said, several intellectuals came to the JU campus to convey their solidarity with the JU students who are in agitation for removal of a teacher.

A former Justice commented "the teachers of the university are not educated" saying that they are unaware about their responsibility.

The Association demanded due punishment to the intellectuals for making unauthorised comment about university teachers.

News briefs

Worker electrocuted in Benapole

Benapole (Jessore), Sept 10 : A construction worker was electrocuted at Boro Achra village here Tuesday morning. The dead was identified as Russell, 22, son of Ismail Hossain, of bhaber Ber village. Witnesses said Russell came in contact with a live electric wire when he was working at a madrassah and died on the spot, reports UNB.

Indian national held in Comilla

Comilla, Sept 10 : RAB held an Indian national and recovered 1,250 bottles of phensidyl and Recodex syrup from Carpara area in Sadar upazila early Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, RAB-11 men raided the area at dead of night and arrested drug peddler Kashem Miah, 24, hailed from Sonamura area under Tripura state of India. On his confessional statement, the elite forces later recovered the syrups from the same area, reports UNB.

Youth stabbed to death in Sunamganj

Sylhet, Sept 10: A youth was stabbed to death by his rivals at Uttar Neporchhai village in Doarabazar upazila in Sunamganj district Monday. The dead was identified as Bilal Hossain,22. Witnesses said when Bilal locked into an altercation with one Mokbul of the same village over catching fish from a waterbody. At one stage of the brawl, Mokbul stabbed Bilal with a sharp weapon, leaving him dead on the spot, reports UNB.

Heroin, ganja seized in Barisal

Barisal, Sept 10 : Rapid Action Battalion and police, in separate raids, seized contraband drugs and arrested four drug peddlers, including an official of Barisal City Corporation, in the city on Sunday night and Monday early hours. RAB sources said acting on a tip-off, a patrol team of RAB searched a rickshaw at Kashipur area in the city and recovered 500 bottles of Phensidyl wrapped inside a quilt on early Monday. RAB arrested rickshaw passengers and drug peddlers Mamun and Ripon, in this connection, reports UNB.

3 held with phensidyl

Chandpur, Sept 10 : Three drug traders were arrested along with 1,120 bottles of phensidyl from Jugichapor village in Kochua upazila early Monday. Police said on suspicion community police with the help of other local people halted a microbus in the village and caught three drug traders-Ali Morshed, Badsha and Md Monir along with the phensidyl syrups. Later, they along with the phensidyl syrups were handed over to police. Police also seized the microbus, reports UNB.

Heroin seized

in Natore

Natore, Sept 10: BDR jawans seized 1.47 kg heroin from a train at Natore station here Monday. BDR sources said acting on a secret information they halted Syedpur bound inter-city Rupsha express train and seized the heroin after searching the train. The heroin worth about Tk 1.40 crore was found in abandoned condition in a toilet of the train. None was arrested in this connection, reports UNB.

Truck helper killed in Sylhet road mishap

SYLHET, Sept 10: A helper of a truck was killed and its driver and another rider were injured when the vehicle collided head-on with another truck in 13-mile area of Balaganj upazila Monday midnight. Police said the accident occurred as a Dhaka-bound truck carrying stones rammed into another milk-laden truck coming from opposite direction, killing its helper on the spot. The deceased was identified as Sohel, 25, son of Matiur Rahman of Urun village in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur district. Injured driver, Roman Khandaker, and another unidentified man were admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital, reports UNB.