The New Nation - Internet Edition

100-day employment generation programme begins in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The governments special 100-day employment generation programme for the hardcore poor and seasonal unemployed people was launhed in all the seven upazilas of the district on September 15 morning.

The aim of the programme is to assist the poor including marginalised farmers of rural areas in overcoming the Monga, job crisis and poverty-like situation in the months of Aswin and Kartik of Bangla year.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources said a total of 4339 projects involving Tk. 49.57 crore have been taken up in 82 unions of the district for rural infrastructure development. The projects include construction and reconstruction of kutcha roads, bridges, culverts, earth fitting and excavation and re-excavation of derelict ponds and canals and removing water hyacinth from the water bodies, sources said.

A total of 49,570 workers including women aged between 18 and 50 years from the poor section of the district were enlisted as workers to complete the project work. Each worker will get Tk. 100 per day as wage.

The programme will run have in two phases, the first phase 60 days work of the project will continue from September 15 to November 30 this year while the second phase 40 days will continue from March 1 to April 30 this year while the second phase 40 days will continue from March 1 to April 30 next year.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf formally inaugurated the programme by distributing the cards among the beneficiaries of the scheme of Molangari Jheneswar area under Ballamjhar union of Sadar upazila on Monday morning as chief guest.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Abul Bayes Miah, Sadar Upazila Project Implementation Officer Abdul Mannan, UP Chairman Mojammel Haque Mondal, Public representatives, local elite and the journalists were present on the occasion.

Amin Jute Mills workers postpone work abstention programme

UNB, Chittagong

The agitating workers of state-owned Amin Jute Mills postponed their scheduled work abstention programme Tuesday following an assurance by the mill management to meet their demands.

The workers' leaders and the mill management had two meetings on Monday night and Tuesday morning to resolve the matter. On Monday, the workers declared work abstention programme for Tuesday to press home their longstanding four-point demand that include payment of outstanding wages for 21 months.

The three other demands are reinstatement of 23 sacked workers, halting appointment of casual workers and regularization of the jobs of daily-paid workers. The mill management assured that out of the seven weeks' wages of daily workers, wages for two weeks would be given immediately while for another two weeks just before the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

Out of the 21 months' outstanding wages of regular workers, one month' s arrears will be paid immediately while another one month's arrears along with Eid bonus will be given just before the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.

The mill management also assured that other demands of the workers would be considered after another meeting with the workers after the Eid holidays.

The workers on Monday declared the work abstention action programme after observing a four-hour sit-in and demonstration in front of the mills. Around 5,000 workers took part in the sit-in.

Outlaw leader killed in encounter with police in Jhenidah

UNB, Jhenidah

An outlaw was killed in a shootout between his cohorts and police at Teltupi village in Harinakundu upazila eary Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Fazar Ali,47, area commander of outlawed party JSD Gonobahini. He was wanted in eight cases, including of four murders, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Fazar from his house in Teltupi village on Monday midnight. According to his statement, police conducted operation in a brick field of the village along with Fazar at about 2.15 am.

"AS soon as police reached the spot accomplices of Fazar fired towards them forcing the law enforcers to fire back that triggered a gun battle", said an eyewitness account of police.

Fazar was caught in the line of fire while fleeing and received bullet wound. He succumbed when he was taken to upazila health complex. Police recovered one shutter gun and 10 bullets from the scene.

Son kills father in Sherpur

UNB, Sherpur

A man was killed and four of his family members were injured in an attack by his son at village Char Basti village in Nakla upazila Sunday night.

Police said Shukur Ali alongwith his associates attacked his family members at about 10pm with lethal weapons following a conflict with his father over a piece of land, killing his father Nabab Ali, 70, on the spot.

Shukur's injured mother Falani, 50, was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital while sisters and brothers Maggie, Nasima, Gafur and Mohamad Ali to Nakla upazila health complex.Police arrested three people in this connection.

Obituary

BAU Correspondent, Mymensingh

Md. Manu Mian, an employee of the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) died of massive heart attack on September 14 at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. He was 52.

He left behind wife, one daughter, two sons, relatives, colleagues and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain, Registrar Md. Nazibur Rahman students, teachers, officers, employees and leaders of the socio-cultural organisations of the University condoled at the premature death of Senior Motor Driver Manu Mian and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul. They also expressed deep sympathy to the members of the bereaved family. His namaze Janaza was held in front of administrative building which was largely attended by teachers, students, officers and employees of the University. He was buried at the University graveyard on September 15, 2008.

Mymensingh Lions Club holds Iftar, Doa mahfil

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Iftar and Doa Mahfil of Lions Club of Mymensingh was held at local restaurant on 20th September. Md Ziaur Rahman Khan, Deputy Commissioner was present as chief guest. It was presided over Dr Waliullah, President, Union Club, Mymensingh. Lion Mizanur Rahman Khan Lyton, Lion Narayan Chandra Das, Lion Dr Hari Shanker Das, Lion Advocate Rakhal Chandra and other members of the club were present. The Chief guest stressed on Significance of Ramzan and Code of Islam. Only Ramzan can check anti-social activities activities.

Indian sarees worth Tk 12 lakh seized in Habiganj

BSS, Habiganj

Police in a drive seized smuggled Indian sarees worth about Taka 12 lakh from Durlovpur village under Madhavpur upazila in the district on Sunday morning.

Acting on a secret information, a team of police raided the house of one Abdul Aziz Miah of Durlavpur village in the early hours of Sunday and recovered 550 sarees from there. Sensing the presence of police, Aziz and his accomplices fled the scene.

A case was filed with Madhavpur police station in this connection.

Rupganj Press Media centre holds Iftar Mahfil

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Press Media Centre of Rupgonj in Narayangonj organised a discussion meeting and held an iftar party at Radhuni Chinese restaurant at Bhulta, Gausia of the said Upazila on the 22nd September last.

The meeting was, among others, attended and addressed by correspondents, businessmen, religious persons.

Speakers urged the newsmen to serve the realistic and true news as they are the conscience of the nation.

Female UP chairman sued for misappropriating rice of VGD

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A case has been lodged with Hizla police station against Hawanur Chowdhury, chairman and Kamal Chowdhury, secretary of Barazalia union parishad on Tuesday for misappropriating seven sacks of rice of VGD programme.

Hawanur is the wife of Apu Chowdhury, Hizla upzila BNP convener and the case was lodged by Moazem Hossain Akand, Upazila Project Implementation officer.

In the case it was stated that 350 Kg. found shortage on Monday at the moment of starting disbursement of 9.6 ton rice allotted for distribution as per head 30 Kg among 302 people.

Tahbub Alam, UNO of Hizla ordered Tazul Islam Khan, Assistant Commissioner for Land affairs to investigate the shortage.

The case lodged under section 5(2) of Anti Corruption Commission Act after misappropriation of rice proved by the investigator.

Indian saree worth Tk 21 lakh seized in B’baria

UNB, Brahmanbaria

Police seized Indian saree worth about Tk 21 lakh from a microbus at Bisawroad crossing on Dhaka-Sylhet highway Monday.

Police halted a Dhaka bound microbus from Sylhet and seized 410 pieces Indian saree from the vehicle.

The microbus was seized and its driver Saleh arrested. A case was filed.

Minor girl killed by thunderbolt in Bagerhat

BSS, Bagerhat

A minor girl was killed and another injured by thunderbolt at Zaria Bhabna area in Fakhirhat of the district on Sunday.

The dead was identified as Kulsum,10, daughter of Rezaul Bangal of Zaria Bhabna. Another girl Mahima, daughter of Ismail Bangal, was seriously injured. Family members and local said, the accident occurred when they were reading on the outside of their house. Suddenly a thunderbolt struck them leaving Kulsum dead on the spot. Mohima was injured in the incident.

Youth commits suicide in Fulbari

BSS, Fulbari

A youth allegedly committed suicide by taking poison as she failed to marry his lover at village Naodabosh under Fulbari upazila in Kurigram on Monday.

Police said, Mithu, 25, son of Majibar Rahman of the village had an affair with a girl, daughter of a day-labourer of the area and both of them wanted to marry each other. Parents of Mithu settled his marriage with another girl, belonging to a well-off family of the area. But, Mithu did not accept the marriage proposal.

At one stage, hopeless Mithu took poison on Monday afternoon, became seriously ill and he was rushed to Fulbari Upazila Health Complex in critical condition where he died at 7.00 in the evening. A UD case was filed in this connection with Fulbari police station, the sources said.

220 sacks of fertiliser seized in Jhenidah

BSS, Jhenaidah

Police seized 220 sacks of urea fertiliser and arrested three persons from a truck during a raid at Bhatoi Bazar under Shailkupa Upazila in the district on Saturday.

Police said, acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a truck at Bhatoi bazaar on Jhenaidah-Kushtia road and seized the fertilisers.

Three persons were also arrested in this connection. Police sources said the fertilisers were being transported to Chittagong to sell those in black market. A case was filed with Shailkupa Police Station accusing five persons.

2 held, phensidyl recovered in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested two female smugglers and recovered 390 bottles of Indian smuggled Phensidyl from Darsana Anwarpur Bus Stand under Damurhuda Upazila of the district on Friday.

The arrested were identified as Shahanara , 30, and Noor Jahan , 30.

RAB sources said, acting on a tip-off, a team of the RAB raided the bus stand and arrested them with 390 bottles of Phensidyl. A case was filed with Damurhuda thana in this connection.

Meeting on Durga Puja held in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

A preparatory meeting to celebrate the greatest religious festival of the Hindu community Durga Puja in a peaceful manner and with due religious fervour in the district was held in the conference room of District Collectorate Building here on Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Abu Muhammad Yousuf was in the chair.

Additional District Magistrate M Siddiqur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner (general) Abul Bayes Miah, assistant director of RAB M Morteza Ali, Second Lt of Bangladesh Army Tousifur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Parishad, district unit Protap Ghos and general secretary Ranajit Bakshi Surja addressed the meeting.

The meeting disclosed that a total of 402 puja mandaps would be erected in all the seven upazilas of the district this year. Some 49 mandaps will be erected in Sadar Upazila, 40 in Shaghata upazila, 12 in Fulchhari upazila, 99 in Gobindaganj upazila, 40 in Palashbari Upazila, 70 in Sadullapur Upazila and 92 in Sundarganj Upazila.

The speakers urged the law-enforcing agency to maintain the law and order situation under control and sought cooperation of all to hold the Durga Puja in the district peacefully.

Members of the district and upazila Puja Utjapan Parishad, UNOs, OCs, Hindu religious leaders, local elite and the journalists participated in the meeting.

Shutter-gun, bullets recovered in Shursha

BSS, Benapole

Sharsha thana police recovered one shutter gun and two bullets in an abandoned condition at Panchtoleti village in Sharsha of the district on Monday. Police said, on secret information, a police team rushed to the spot and recovered the firearm.

JU admission tests to be held from Jan 3 next

BSS, Jahangirnagar University

The admission tests for enrolling students in the first year Honors courses in 2008-09 academic session of Jahangirnagar University (JU) will be started from January 3, next year.

The admission tests will continue till January 20, said a JU press release.

The detailed schedule of admission tests will be published later through newspapers.

News briefs

Indian sarees seized in Habiganj

HABIGANJ, Sept 22 : Police in a drive seized smuggled Indian sarees worth about Taka 12 lakh from Durlovpur village under Madhavpur upazila in the district on Sunday morning. Acting on a secret information, a team of police raided the house of one Abdul Aziz Miah of Durlavpur village in the early hours of Sunday and recovered 550 sarees from there. Sensing the presence of police, Aziz and his accomplices fled the scene. A case was filed with Madhavpur police station in this connection, reports BSS.

Phensidyl, seized in Joypurhat

JOYPURHAT, Sept 22 : Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in a drive arrested two drug peddlers and seized 79 bottles of phensidyl from Panchbibi-Kamdia road in the district on Sunday. RAB sources said, the arrested persons were identified as Manik, 22, and Nur Alam, 25. Based on a tip-off, a team of the elite force led by Major Shah Ali conducted the raid at Danejpur area on Panchbibi-Kamdia road in the district and seized 79 bottles of contraband phensidyl from their possession, reports BSS.

Firearms seized in Jessore

JESSORE, Sept 22 : Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized four firearms and three rounds of bullet from Khedapara village under Monirampur upazila in the district on Sunday morning. Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force led by ASP Mizanur Rahman conducted the drive at Khedapara village and seized four shutter-guns and three rounds of bullet from the house of one Abu Sina. None was arrested in this connection, reports BSS.

Youth slaughtered

KERANIGANJ, Sept 23: A young fruit trader was slaughtered in south Keraniganj area early today (Tuesday). The deceased was identified as Rubel, 22, son of Babul, of Aganagar Nadidhara area. Police said some friends of Rubel called him out of home at about 1am and took him to the rooftop of a nearby house. They slaughtered Rubel and left his body on the roof. The house inmates saw the body during sehri time and informed police. On information, police sent the body to Mitford Hospital in Dhaka. A case has been filed, reports UNB.

Adulterated oil seized in Sherpur

SHERPUR, Sept 23: A joint team of RAB and district administration conducted an anti adulterated drive and seized 200 drums of palm oil from an oil mill at Court Road in Nakla upazila on Monday. The team raided Popular Oil Mills at noon and caught red handed its employees while mixing palm oil with mustered oil. The team also sealed off the mill and realized Tk 50,000 in fine. RAB sources said the mill owner has long been selling palm oil mixing with mustered oil in the name of original mustered oil. Upazila administration sources said the mill owner, earlier, had been fined Tk 1 lakh for doing the same misdeed, reports UNB.

Two arrested along with Indian clothes in Gualunda

GUALUNDA, Sept 23: Two people were arrested along with some Indian clothes worth over Tk 1.5 lakh from a bus at Dauladia Ferry Ghat early Monday. Police said acting on a tip-off, they raided a Dhaka-bound bus of Hanif Paribahan at about 3am and seized the Indian clothes, kept in its side-box. Later, the law enforcers arrested two persons in this connection, reports UNB.