The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dispute over formation of BCCI executive committee

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Dispute over formation of executive committee of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) after list of a newly uncontested elected committee which was sent to media on Thursday. Election appeal board of BCCI defined publication of that list as illegal and violation of imposed postponed order against publishing BCCI election result for 2008-10 term.

M Majibul Huq, convener of the election board of BCCI, said according to constitution of the organization schedule to elect a biannual executive committee for 2008-10 term was declared duly and 18 directors of BCCI were elected uncontested on September 30, 2008 after observing all formalities. Sheikh Abdur Rahim, president of Barisal Sadar Upazila BNP , was elected as president, Jahangir Hossain Manik, another BNP leader as vice president from associate group and Saidur Rahman Rintu, an Awami Leaguer as vice president from general group also elected as uncontested by the vote of the elected directors on the same day, claimed Majibul Huq.

Advocate Ismail Hossain Negahban, chairman of the three-member election appeal board of BCCI, said according to the election procedure and BCCI constitution an appeal petition submitted by Anisur Rahman, a BCCI member and voter, was submitted against the election and heard on October 4, 2008 after giving proper notices.

All of the concerned parties related with BCCI election were participated in that hearing and it was found that Sheikh Abdur Rahim successively elected three times in 2002-4, 2004-6 and 2006-08 as vice president and director of BCCI, and duly participated executive body meetings and activities.

So Sheikh Rahim could not be included in the committee for the fourth time and elected him as director and president of BCCI declared as null and void by the appeal tribunal. The decision was conveyed to director, business organization under ministry of commerce and general secretary of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dhaka by registered post on October 6.

So publishing of election result on October 9 and forming new committee is illegal and violation of the decision of appeal board according to the BCCI and FBCCI constitution, BCCI election appeal board chairman added.

Sheikh Abdur Rahim said his name was included in the committee of 2006-08, but he refusing that inclusion lodged case before the court and declaration of election result is duty of BCCI election board, not his.

Ebaidul Huq Chan, out going president of BCCI and director of FBCCI, said that Sheikh Rahim was defeated in that legal fight and continued his executive membership in 2006-8 term. M Majibul Huq, convener of the BCCI election board , acknowledging the decision of appeal board said that under pressure from certain corners he became bound to send press release of BCCI election result on October 9, 2008 signed in back date of September 30, 2008.

Durga Puja celebrated in 253 mandops in Natore

Our correspondent, Natore

The greatest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community Sharodiya Durga Utsob was celebrated in Natore with great enthusiasm in festive mood on Thursday in 253 Puja Mandops of the district. It was ended on Thursday night with immersion of the idols and images of the deities withdue solemnities and religious rituals.

Chittaranjon Saha and Nogendranath Roy, president and Secretary of Natore district Puja Udjapon Parishad told the correspondent, these numbers included 70 Mandops of Singra, 50 Mandops of Natore Sadar, 35 Mandops of Naldanga, 35 Mandops of Baraigram, 24 Mandops of Lalpur, 20 Mandops of Gurudaspur and 16 Mandops of Bagatipara Upazila of the district. The Mandops were decorated with colorfully gates, electric lights and cultural functions. Shahin Ahmed Chowdhury Deputy Commissioner, Natore informed a special necessary step had been taken for security the visitors and worshipper on the occasion. Deputy Commissioner, Natore,. leaders from different political parties and other innumerable visitors from different communities visited the Mandops.

3,870 tons VGF rice distributed in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

The government has distributed 3,870 metric tons of rice under vulnerable group feeding (VGF) programme among the distressed people here in two phases.

District Relief and Rehabilitation office sources said 1,935 metric tons of VGF rice allocated for October was distributed by Wednesday in all 83 unions and three pouras-abhas of the district.

Earlier, the authorities distributed another 1,935 tons VGF rice for September among 1,29,000 distressed families just ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Ministry of Food and Disaster Management has so far allocated 1,935 metric tons of rice for each of the months of September and October and its distribution among 1,29,000 distressed families with 15-kg per month per family has just completed in Rangpur. A total of 1,500 selected beneficiaries in each of the 83 unions and three pourasabhas of the district have been getting 15-kg rice per VGF card every month, the officials said. Under the programme, a total of 540 tons of rice were distributed in September and October among 18,000 beneficiary families with 1,500 VGF cards in each of the 11 UPs and Rangpur pourasabha under Sadar upazila.

A total of 25,500 families so far received 765 tons of rice in 17 UPs of Mithapukur upazila, 22,500 families got 675 tons in 15 unions of Pirganj upazila and 16,500 families received 495 tons in 10 UPs in Badarganj upazila.

Besides, 7,500 families got 225 tons in five UPs of Taraganj upazila, 13,500 families of nine UPs got 405 tons in Pirgachha, 10,500 families received 315 tons in six unions and Haragach pourasabha of Kawnia and 15,000 families of 10 unions in Gangachara upazila got 450 tons of rice.

5 killed, 7 injured in Mymensingh road accident

BSS, Mymensingh

Five persons, including three women, were killed and seven others injured in a road accident in Dashat Bridge area on Mymensingh-Haluaghat road in the district on Friday night. Police said the dead were identified as Khodeja Begum, 50, Sabina Yesmin, 30, Mamun, 15, Roksana, 33 and Mainul, 31.

The accident occurred when a Haluaghat bound passenger bus from Mymensingh collided head on with a tempo. Five passengers of the tempo died on the spot and another seven suffered critical injury.

The injured persons were rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital A case was filed with Haluaghat thana in this connection.

One beaten to death in Jhalakathi

BSS, Barisal

A retired army man was beaten to death over a land dispute at Nakhullabad Union Parishad office under Sadar upazila of Jhalakathi district on Friday. Police said the ex-army soldier Mir Badsha was mercilessly beaten during arbitration on the land in presence of the local UP chairman.

Critically injured Badsha was rushed to Barisal Shere Bangla Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. The body was handed over to the victim's family members after autopsy.

Jhalakathi Police were taking preparations to file a murder case in this connection till filing this report.

Tense situation prevails at Joya garments in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Workers of Joya Garment Factory of Tarabo Pourashava in Rupbanj in Narayanganj have started to return after ending of the Eid holidays but the authority concerned has kept the garment locked and closed.

The authority has already deployed the law enforcing agency in fear of causing any more occurrence.

It may be mentioned that some incidents including road barricade, bus attacking and burning, chasing and counter chasing between police and workers occurred prior to Eid holiday as the authority did not pay the due payment of the workers.

Tauhidul Islam assistant Police Super of Narayanganj has visited the said.

Gopalganj AL leader Sheikh Abdullah released on bail

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, religious Affairs Secretary of the Awami League central committee and former general secretary of the Gopalganj district Awami League was released recently from Dhaka central jail in bail.

Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and his wife Advocate Rasheda Parbin with Gopalganj district Awami League and its front organisations leaders and workers placed floral wreaths to the Mazar of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara of the Gopalganj district and offered Fateha and munajat on October 4 last.

UP chairman sent to jail hajat in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

A UP chairman was sent to jail hajat after canceling his bail by a local court here on Wednesday, police sources said.

The sources said chairman of Tukuria Union Parishad Atoar Rahman was on bail and a case was filed against him for grabbing rice of the distressed people recently. The leaned court again sent him to the jail hajat when he appeared before it on Wednesday, the sources said.

Phensidyl seized in Shibchar

A Correspondent, Shibchar

Shibchar thana police 481 bottles pensidyle and arrested two persons at Kawrakandi ghat under Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district on Monday night.

The arrested persons were identified as Shiraj Sheikh (25), his brother Arshed Sheikh (21) of Pathkandi village of Sadar Upazila in Faridpur district.

A case was registered with the thana in this connection.

Memorial plaque unveiled in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

Former Air-vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker, Bir Uttam, on Friday unveiled the memorial plaque of five martyrs of Liberation War who were killed on October 10, 1971.

With Abdul Malek, a freedom fighter, in the chair it was addressed, among others, by Mofidul Haq, Trustee and Secretary of Muktijoddha Jadhughar, Dhaka and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.

In the afternoon, he unveiled another memorial plaque, set up at Baraipatal area in the upazila in memory of 58 martyrs, including 11 freedom fighters.

Work on CTPE progressing fast

BSS, Chandpur

The work on Chandpur Town Protection Embankment (CTPE) is progressing rapidly.

Official sources said the government has allotted Taka 12 crore for the protection of Chandpur town from river erosion in the current financial year.

About 90 percent work on the project has been completed. According to Bangladesh Water Development Board, the one-kilometer embankment will be constructed by placing RCC blocks in the erosion affected areas.

One lakh 26 thousand two hundred 50 blocks will be dumped in the eroded area. The work on the project is expected to be completed by December next 2008.

Life term convict arrested in Kishoreganj

BSS, Kishoreganj (Nilphamari)

Kishoreganj police on Wednesday arrested a fugitive convicted for life imprisonment from Dinajpur district for killing one person in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district, police said.

The arrested was identified as Mohammad Ali of Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari district and earlier he was sentenced to life term rigorous imprisonment by a Nilphamari court in connection with the sensational Babul murder case.

Acting on secret information, a police team of Kishoreganj Thana led by Sub-Inspector Abu Nasser Raihan with the help of Birganj police conducted a sudden raid to the house of one Hassan Ali in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur.

After searching the house, the police team arrested Mohammad Ali, brought him to Kishoreganj police station and later sent him the jail after producing him before a Nilphamari court, the sources said.

Chandpur to have 100 pc sanitation by 2009

BSS, Chandpur

Hundred percent sanitation coverage will be achieved in the district within the next year (2009).

Sources with Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) said the work on sanitation programmes in all eight upazilas of the district are progressing very swiftly.

Sanitary latrines are being installed in every house in both rural and urban areas the district. So far 90 percent sanitation coverage has been achieved in six upazilas. Hundred percent sanitation coverage has already been achieved in Haimchar and Kachua upazilas of the district.

News briefs

3 snatchers jailed in Mymensingh

MYMENSINGH, Oct 12: A court here Tuesday sentenced three snatchers to two years imprisonment each for snatching Tk 25,000 from a businessman. The convicts are Jafar Ali, Amir Hamza and Azharul alias Swapan. According to the prosecution, the accused in the guise of pineapple traders snatched the money from businessman Bachchu Mia of Gopinathpur village in Muktagachha upazila while he came to buy the fruits on June 29 this year. Hearing his cry for help police with the help of local people arrested the three frauds along with the stanched money, reports UNB.

Fake RAB man held in Patuakhali

PATUAKHALI, Oct 12: Detective Branch (DB) police arrested a fake RAB member from the Bridge area of the district town Monday night. The arrested was identified as Shahin Mridha, 26. Police said Shahin and his accomplice Obaidul caught four young men - Jakir Hossain, Munna, Faisal and Sohel - introducing them as RAB personnel and while trying to snatch their belongings a team of plainclothes DB police challenged them. Sensing danger Obaidul managed to flee scene while the law enforcers arrested Shahin. Local people said Shahin and Obaidul since long were engaged in different criminal activities in the town area identifying them as RAB officials, reports UNB.

One killed in Bogra road mishap

BOGRA, Oct 12: A head-on collision between a truck and a coach at Chandihara in Shibganj upazila of the district left the truck driver killed and six coach passengers injured on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Dulu Fakir, 36, son of Nuruddin of Kalai village in Adamdighi upazila of the district. Witnesses said the Bogra-bound truck from Joypurhat collided with the Dhaka-bound coach of SA Paribahan at about 1:30pm, leaving the truck driver dead on the spot. The injured coach passengers - Nur Amin, 36, son of Habil and Ruhul, 37, son of Mofizuddin, Abdur Razzak, 37, son of Ismail Hossain, Nurul Islam, 42, son of Mokbul, Lutfar, 45, son of Ismail and Azizul Haq, 40, son of Alauddin, all of Matrai village in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat district - were admitted to local clinics, reports UNB.

Body recovered

in Barisal

BARISAL, Oct 12: Police recovered the decomposed body of an unidentified youth aged about 25 from a place near the under construction Dapdapia bridge in the Kirtonkhola river on Wednesday last evening. Police said, being informed by locals, a team of Kotwali police rushed to the spot and found the body floating in the river. The police team then recovered the body and sent it to hospital for autopsy. A UD case was filed with Kotwali thana in this connection report BSS.

Ganja seized in Lalmonirhat

LALMONIRHAT, Oct 12: Police sized huge ganja worth over Taka six lakh and arrested two notorious smugglers from the northern point of the Teesta Railway Bridge under Sadar upazila in Lalmonirhat on Wednesday, police said. Acting on a tip off, a special police team from Lalmonirhat Sadar Thana challenged a Dhaka bound private car (Dhaka-Gha-2030) from Lalmonirhat frontier at the point in the morning. After searching the car, the police seized 60-kg smuggled Indian ganja and arrested smugglers Mizanur Rahman of village Piyadapara in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi district and Anwar Ali of village Mandalpara in Kurigram district, report BSS.