The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jute harvests complete with sizeable yield under BAEZ

BSS, Barisal

Jute harvests in 11 southern districts under Barisal Agriculture Extension Zone (BAEZ) are complete with production of a sizeable amount of raw jute during the current season.

Official sources told BSS here today that farmers in these districts cultivated jute on 1,31,126 hectares of lands and produced 14,28,679 bales of raw jute within the BAEZ area this year.

Of the total acreage, the Tosha variety was cultivated on 1,25,459 hectares while the local variety on 4,569 hectares. The Tosha variety was produced at the rate of 11 bales per hectare while the local variety at the rate of 8 bales per hectare. The sources said jute was cultivated on 1,550 hectares in Barisal, 227 hectares in Jhalakathi, 56 hectares in Pirojpur, 65 hectares in Patuakhali, 37 hectares in Barguna, 210 hectares in Bhola, 56,255 hectares in Faridpur, 19,138 hectares in Madaripur, 13,637 hectares in Gopalganj, 26,355 hectares in Rajbari and 13,591 hectares in Shariatpur districts.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Agriculture Extension Department (BAED) established several demonstration plots in these districts for familiarising the farmers with scientific methods of jute cultivation. The BADC supplied necessary amount of seeds, fertilisers and insecticides to the farmers for making this year's jute cultivation a success with higher yield.

Besides, both government and private banks disbursed short-term loans among the small and marginal farmers for jute cultivation in these districts.

The farmers are now selling newly harvested jute at Taka 900 to Taka 1,000 per maund (40 kgs) at the local markets. Finer variety of jute is being sold at over Taka 1,200 per maund here now, market sources said.

Jute growers told BSS that they would get better prices of the golden fibre if the market prices go up to Taka 1,500 per maund depending on its varieties and qualities. They urged the government to raise the prices of raw jute to further encourage the farmers towards increased cultivation of the golden fibre for reviving the past glory of the jute sector in this part of the world.

One held with polythene bags, phensidyl

BSS, Sylhet

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in separate drives arrested a drug trader along with seven bottles of Phensidyl and contraband polythene bags worth about Taka 10 lakh on Monday.

Acting on tip-off, the elite force raided the rail station area in the early hours of Monday and seized polythene bags worth about Taka 10 lakh in an abandoned state.

In a separate drive at Bandar Bazar area, the RAB members arrested a person and recovered seven bottles of Phensidyl from his possession.

Durga Puja to be observed in 412 mandops in Barisal district

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A five-day celebration of Sharodiya Durga Utsob, the main religious festival of the Bengali Hindu Community, would be started in festive mood from October 6, 2008 in 412 Puja Mandops of the district including 27 Mondops of the city.

It would be ended on October 10 night by immersion of the idols and images of the deities with solemnities and religious rituals.

The Barisal district branch of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Porishad sources said number of Puja Mondops increased 11 in the district and increased 2 in the city than the previous year.

The festival would be observed with minimum budget and curtailing expenditures of decorations, gates, pandels, electrifications, cultural functions.

Rakhal Chandra Dey and Manik Mukharjee Kudu, president and secretary of 71 member district puja udjapon parishad committee, said the saved money would be donated to the relief funds for the flood affected people.

Preparations for Durga Puja and making of idols of the deities are smoothly going on full swing in the Puja Mandops of the district and all upazilas, they said.

Concerned authorities are also asked to ensure undisrupted electricity supply and ensure peace and discipline and law and order situation in puja mandops during the festival days.

Generators for emergency power supply and volunteers for maintaining discipline would also be arranged by the committees, the Puja Parishad leaders further added.

Grant money distributed among river erosion-hit people in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

AKOTA, a local non-government humanitarian organisation, distributed grant money among the river erosion affected people of Horipur and Kapasia Unions under Sundarganj Upazila in the district on September 7 with the financial support of Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP), funded by DFID, UK.

A simple function was also held at the branch office of AKOTA of Porarchar under Kapasia union of the upazila on Monday noon with M. Lutfar Rahman, Executive Director of AKOTA in the Chair.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf addressed the meeting as chief guest and Gaibandha Army Camp in-charge Major Bakhtiar Fahmi was present as special guest.

Later, the guests distributed the cash money amounting to Tk. 2,69,500/- among the 77 river erosion victims of the unions. Each of the beneficiaries got Tk. 3500. UP Chairman Nesab Uddin, Project Manager Abdus Samad, Community Development Supervisor community development organisers and the public representatives including the journalists were also present on the occasion. Executive Director of AKOTA M. Lutfar Rahman said a total of Tk. 5.19 lakh were also distributed among the 173 river eroded people of the unions of the upazila last year for the shifting of their houses to the safer places.

25 persons nabbed on various charges in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Police in separate drives during the past 24 hours ending at 6 this morning picked up 25 persons, including criminals, from various places in the district. Police said the arrested included alleged criminals, muggers, listed terrorists, cheats, absconding murderers, thieves, drug traffickers, extortionists, gamblers, absconding accused and warrantees.

The police also recovered good quantity of phensidyl, locally produced wine, ganja, narcotics substances, stolen, robbed and other illegal goods during the raids, the sources said.

Of them, Kotwali police arrested seven persons, Gangachara police three, Taraganj police one, Badarganj police one, Mithapukur police two, Pirganj police nine, Kawnia police one and Rangpur DB police one person during the period. The arrested were sent to jail after producing them before different courts today, the sources said.

Fisheries dev campaign held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A week-long fisheries campaign 2008 began in Mymensingh on 23rd August. This year the theme is, If fish are protected, food and money both will be gained. A grand rally was brought out from Zilla Parishad and it paraded the main streets of the town.

A discussion meeting was held on the occasion at Zilla Parishad auditorium. Md. Shamsul Alam, D.C Mymensingh was present as chief guest.

It was presided over by D. Selehuddin Ahmed, Chief Scientific Officer B.F.R.I. Welcome address delivered by Sayed Arif Azad, D.F.O, Mymensingh. The meeting was conducted by Upazila Fisheries Officer. District Fisheries Department organised the meeting.

JU BCL demands unconditional release of Hasina

JU Correspondent

The activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Jahangirnagar university unit on Monday. submitted a memorandum to the Chief Adviser through JU Vice Chancellor demanding unconditional release of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.

Leaders and activists of BCL gave a copy of memorandum to the office of JU Vice-Chancellor urging the authorities concerned to withdraw all cases filled against Sheikh Hasina.

BCL leader Abdul Hye, Bhyan Sharif, Azibur Rahman and Adnan Bhyan, Ayan were present, among others.

Literacy Day observed in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Riupganj

Literacy Day as part of the International level was observed at Rupganj in Narayanganj on 8th September. In this regard, a big colourful procession led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nahida Sultana Mollick was brought out at 10 AM.

Later, a discussion meeting was held at the Upazila Auditorium, with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer in the chair. Siddiqur Rahman, Upazila Secondary Education Officer, Md. Shamsur Rahman. Upazila Education Officer (UEO) Md. Mostafa Kamal, Upzila Human Resource Officer, Md. Monir Hossain, Election Officer, M.A Momen, Ittefaq Correspondent, among others, attended the meeting and addressed.

IF plays important role in eradicating illiteracy

BSS, Narsingdi

Islamic Foundation, Narsingdi branch under its mosque-based child and mass education programme has been playing an important role in eradicating illiteracy from the district during the last 15 years.

Since the programme began in 1993 in the district, the Islamic Foundation set up 237 mosque based child education centres and 12 mosque-based mass education centres in the district.

Besides, Islamic Foundation set up 159 mosque-based Nurani Quran education centres in the six upazilas of the district. During the period, three programmes organised by Islamic Foundation have gained popularity in the district. About 40,000 children aged between four and five years and 20,000 adults aged between 13 and 45 years have received education on Bangla, Arabic, Mathematics, English and Holy Quran from these centre, Islamic Foundation also set up about 350 mosque-based libraries in six upazilas of Narsingdi district. Recently Islamic Foundation Narsingdi has distributed books worth Taka six lakh among 29 mosque based libraries in different upazilas of the district.

Deputy Commissioner of Narsingdi Zillar Rahman distributed the books among the libraries as the chief guest.

Extortionist held in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

An extortionist has been arrested from his workplace in the city today.

Quoting his confessional statement police said Shafiqul Islam, 31, son of Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Basua area under Rajpara Police Station in the city, used to collect money from richer section of people through flexi-load after threatening them of life over mobile phone for the last couple of months.

After taking the matter into consideration DB police carried out an investigation and captured him from his UCC Coaching Centre on Monday.

Talking to BSS Assistant Police Commissioner of DB Mahfuzur Rahman viewed that such kinds of criminal activities are being continued frequently and police have been trying to prevent those through using mobile intelligence.

Telecommunication collapses for 27 hrs in Rangamati

BSS, Rangamati

The telecommunications authorities have restored telecommunication that was disrupted for 27 hours with others parts of the country.

The telecommunication system had collapsed at around 3.30 AM on Saturday as thieves cut optical fibre line while stealing telephone wire at Hathazari area of Chittagong district officials said.

People of the district including government and non-government agencies failed to communicate with other parts of the country as disruption in the optical fibre cut all types of NWD, land phone and mobile communication, sources added.

On information, experts concerned rushed to problematic area around 2 kilometres off the Hathazari telephone office and restored the communication after 27 hours at around 6.30 AM on Sunday.

Huge properties gutted in Chandpur

BSS, Chandpur

A devastating fire damaged huge properties at Zahangir Market under Matlab Upazila (North) on Thursday night.

Ten shops including merchandised goods were gutted by fire.

Ten persons were injured while trying to extinguish the blaze.

The fire was originated from an electric short circuit at a shop.

Local people brought the fire under control with the help of irrigation pumps.

Aman cultivation likely to cross target in C'nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

The target of cultivation of transplantated Aman is likely to cross this year in the district. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said, the target for cultivating high yielding variety (HYV) in 49,000 hectares and local varieties in 4,000 hectares was fixed up.

The upazila-wise target was 10,750 hectares of HYV and 330 hectares of local variety in Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila, 1,280 hectares for HYV and 10 hectares for local variety in Shibganj upazila, 13,180 hectares for HYV and 1,665 hectares for local in Gomostapur upazila, 22,040 hectares for HYV and 1,685 hectares for local in Nachole upazila and 1,750 hectares for HYV and 310 hectares for local in Bholahat upazila.

The sources added that HYV has so far been cultivated in 41,290 and local in 5,530 hectares.