The New Nation - Internet Edition

USACB demands political leadership, seeks nomination in JS polls

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

University Students Association of Charghat-Bhaga (USACB), an organisation comprised of students reading at various universities from Charghat and Bagha upazilas has demanded to the political leaderships of the country to nominate local candidates for contesting in the next Parliamentary Election from Bagha or Charghat areas. Specially, the leaders of USACB demanded to the political leaderships inspired by the conscience of freedom movement, to become more pragmatic to choose their MP candidates who should not be the outsiders rather should be from the inhabitants of Charghat-Bagha constituency.

In a press conference held at Metropolitan Press club, Rajshahi on Wednesday noon, USACB leaders mentioned with grief that despite there being a huge number of qualified candidates to vie in the MP elections, the political leaderships of the country had nominated alien candidates for contesting the polls in Charghat-Bagha constituency. As a result, there was no development of areas. They further mentioned that those candidates being alien and outsiders, did not pay any attention for the development of the areas but the people of Bagha and Charghat had to eat humble pie for the sake of greater interest of the parties.

USACB vehemently condemned such low and opportunist, political mentality and demanded thinking the future politics of the constituency, only the fittest candidates from inside the constituency should be nominated as contestants for the MP election.

USACB leaders and activists numbering more that 60 also organised a human chain infront of the Metropolitan Press club at Boalia for the same demand. Among others the press conference was attended by Abu Sohel Rana and Ohidur Rahman, Convener and the Member Secretary of USACB, Milon Haque, onirul Islam Mamun, Mohidul Islam Himu, Shafiqul Islam and Zahid Iqbal.

AIGP distributes prizes among best Puja Mandops in N’ganj

BSS, Narayanganj

Additional inspector general of police (AIGP) Nabo Bikram Kishore Tripura distributed prizes to the best Durga Puja Mandops in the district on Wednesday.

Addressing a function on this occasion at Ram Krishna Mission as the chief guest, the AIGP said 21,000 Puja mandops have been set up throughout the country this year to celebrate the Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu community. The Puja Mandops set up in the last year was 15,000, he said.

He said the increased number of Puja Mandops reflects the unique communal harmony and friendship between the Hindus and Muslims in Bangladesh.

The prize giving ceremony was organized under the auspicious of Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI). NCCI President Mohammad Ali presided over the function. The function was addressed by DC AMA Rahman, SP Nurul Amin and Swami Bhargaba Nanda Maharaj of Ram Krishna Mission.

A total of 9 Puja Mandops were awarded prizes for their outstanding artisan work. The AIGP visited different Puja Mandops in the town.

ACC sues 7 CDA engrs for plundering public funds

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) here on Wednesday recorded 15 cases accusing 24 persons including seven engineers of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) of public funds plundering.

Deputy Assistant Director of the ACC in Chittagong Shamsuddin Ahmed filed the cases with Kotwali police station after primary investigation.

The accused are Superintendent Engineer Iqbal Hossain Majumder, Executive Engineer and Project Director of 'Oxygen-Kaptai' link road Kazi Hassan Bin Shams, Assistant Engineer Nurul Amin Bhuiyan, Assistant Engineer Mohammad Elias, Assistant Engineer Sayed Golam Sorwar, Sub Assistant Engineer Mohammad Jahangir Alam and Sub Assistant Engineer Mohammad Hamidul Haque. Other accused are contractors.

According to the anti-graft watchdog, the CDA started its construction work on a 6-kilometer link road of Oxygen-Kuwaish on Kaptai road at a cost of Taka 50 million through 15 tenders in November 2001.

The project was scheduled to complete by June 2007. During the period, CDA drew all the allocation but 45 percent of the works were yet to be completed. Moreover, the ACC also found many irregularities in the construction works.

ACC official Obadilluah quoting the FIR (first information report) said that the accused had eaten up over Taka 7.9 million from the project.

Farmers produce 7.5 lakh mts vegetables in Khulna division

UNB, Narail

Farmers of the 10 districts of Khulna division have produced 7.5 lakh mts of vegetables from 60,683 hectares of land during the current season.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), farmers brought 11,829 hectares of land under vegetable cultivation in Jessore, 9,767 hectares in Jhenidah, 2,865 hectares in Magura, 1,270 hecatres in Narail, 3,635 hectares in Khulna, 2,728 hectares in Bagerhat, 6,920 hectares in Satkhira, 5,978 hectares in Kushtia, 9,505 hectares in Chuadanga and 6,195 hectares in Meherpur district.

The cultivated vegetables include brinjal, green banana, gourd, pumpkin, snake-gourd, patal, ladies finger, kakrol, turnip, arum, cabbage, tomato, cucumber, bean and potato.

DAE officials said they ensured supply of quality seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other necessary inputs among the farmers at fair prices to make the cultivation scheme a success.

Woman killed in Baraigram road mishap

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

A old woman Amina Khatun died in a road accident on October 7.

She was a wife of Ayez Uddin of the village Nagar under Baraigram upazila. She was seriously injured by a hit of a motor-cycle on Koyen-Junaid Road under Baraigram upazila and succumbed to her injuries later.

Body found in Baraigram

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

A dead body of Muntaz Ali Mondol (70) was found in a sugarcane field of the village Dhanaidah under Baraigram upazila on October 7.

Muntaz Ali Mondol is an inhabitant of the village Dhaniadah under Baraigram Upazila. He went away from his own house on October 4. But he did not return home again. Several marks of injuries were found in his body. The dead body was sent to Natore Hospital morgue for autopsy. A case has been field in this connection.

Body of divorcee recovered in Jaldhaka

BSS, Jaldhaka

Police recovered the hanging body of a divorcee, mother of a child, from village Uttar Majhipara in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district on Wednesday, police sources said.

Quoting local people, police said the victim was identified as Rashida Begum, 28, daughter of poor Nasim Uddin of the village and the villagers discovered her body hanging from a tree.

After recovering the body, police conducted its autopsy at Nilphamari Sadar Hospital and filed a UD case in connection with the mysterious death of the hapless divorcee, the sources said.

Suspected drug peddler held, firearms, phensidyl seized

BSS, Rajshahi

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5, in different anti-crime drives, nabbed a suspected drug- peddler and seized a firearm and phensidyl from different areas in three northern districts during the last 24 hours till Thursday noon, police said.

Being tipped off, the elite force conducted a sudden raid at Bhogabantapur area under Godagari upazila of Rajshahi district and recovered a shutter-gun loaded with one bullet in an abandoned condition.

In another drive at Bholamari village under Shibgonj upazila of Chapainawabgonj district, they seized 298 bottles of phensidyl.

They also arrested drug-peddler Taherul Islam, 30, with two Kgs of ganja during a raid at his Kosalgaon village under Sadar upazila of Thakurgaon district.

The arrested, firearm and drug items were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases.

Trawler passenger shot dead by pirates in Noakhali

UNB, Noakhali

A passenger of a trawler was shot dead by pirates in the river Meghna in Hatiya upazila on Thursday morning.

Police said a gang of pirates numbering 7/8 opened fire on the chittagong bound goods-laden trawler coming from Char Iswar Bangla Bazaar near Char Isman at 7am, leaving one of its passengers killed on the spot.

The deceased was identified as Shamsuddin, 30, of Char Ishwar Purba Gamchhakhali in the upazila.

The trawler returned to Bangla Bazaar ghat soon after the incident.

News briefs

Deer recovered in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, Oct 11: Forest Department and BDR, in a joint drive, seized four live and slaughtered deer and venison from Patakhali in Shyamnagar upazila on Wednesday. Forest department sources said the team searched a boat and found a live and three slaughtered deer and also venison of two deer from the Sundarbans area at about 8.30 am. The poacher fled the scene sensing the presence of forest officials and BDR men, reports UNB.

Valuables looted in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Oct 11: Robbers looted cash and valuables worth Tk 2.50 lakh from a house in the outskirts of the Mongla town here early Tuesday. Local people said a gang of armed bandits numbering 5/6 stormed into the house of local trader Nurul Islam late at night. They took the house inmates hostage at gun point looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables. A case was filed with the police Earlier, muggers on Sunday midnight broke open the shutters of a shop at Mongla Chila Bazaar and took away cash and valuables worth over Tk one lakh. Police on Monday morning in separate raids arrested Milan and Zakir in connection with the robbery, reports UNB.

10 hurt in Mymensingh clash

MYMENSINGH, Oct 11: At least 10 people, including two policemen, were injured in a clash between two rival groups in Dhobaura upazila on Wednesday night. Police said UP Chairman Shamsur Rashid Majnu of Goatala union and his people went to visit the puja mandap at nearby Purakandulia union at about 8pm. At one stage, the fierce clash ensued when the supporters of local UP Chairman Manjurul Haque tried to resist them. On information, police rushed to the spot and tried to bring the situation under control but they came under attack of the both groups, which left SI Muzibur Rahman and constable Abdur Rashid injured. Constable Abdur Rashid was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital in critical condition, reports UNB.

Four robbers arrested with bombs in Shariatpur

SHARIATPUR, Oct 11: Four alleged robbers were arrested along with six bombs in Zazira upazila headquarters on Wednesday early morning. On secret information, police with the help of local people surrounded the bandits, numbering 15/16, when they were taking preparation for committing a dacoity. Police managed to arrest four of them while the rest fled the scene. The arrested were identified as Shahin Sardar, 25, and his elder brother Shah Alam Sardar, 28, of Thantali village, Sabuj, 26, of Harikumaria village and Babu Syed, 25, of Mobarak Kandi village in Sadar upazila. Police also recovered six bombs and a number of sharp weapons from their possession, reports UNB.

Old man killed by son, daughter in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Oct 11: A septuagenarian man was beaten to death allegedly by his son and daughter at Diodobar village in Sadar upazila Monday midnight. Police said Abdul Baki and his sister Maya Begum beat their father Habibur Rahman, 75, mercilessly following a family feud, leaving him critically injured. Habibur died on the way to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH). On information, police recovered the body and sent it to the RMCH morgue for autopsy. Police arrested Abdul Baki and Maya in this connection. A case was filed, reports UNB.