The New Nation - Internet Edition

Drug addicts increasing alarmingly in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

The number of drug addicts recently increased alarmingly in Shibchar Upazila under Madaripur causing concern among the peace loving people. Local people alleged that rectified spirit, phensidyl, dendrite gum, foreign liquor, opium, charas, fanergan, ganja and herion are sold almost openly in different homeo path-pharmacies, medicine and groecry shops of the 18 union under Shibchar Upazila before the nose to the law enforces.

A large number of youths have become addicted due to the easy availability of the drugs. The government is also being deprived of huge amount of tax due to illegal trading of drugs sources said, illegal trading of drugs is going on in some homeopath pharmacies and betel leaf shops since long. These shops are kept open during the day time just to show the people and turn into liquor shops after the sundown rectified spirit is also sold in these shops leading the youths to the path of ruination.

The officials of Narcotics Control department are quite reluctant to take action against the drugs traders as they also get share from the traders on monthly basis. General Secretary of MANAS (Madak Nirod Sanagstha) Madaripur unit Sahadat Hossain Liton told that the district administration to look into the matter and take stern action in this regard without any delay.

SAARC Chief Scout Commissioner’s meeting held in Tangail

SAARC Scout Chief Commissioner's meeting was held at Jamuna Resort, Tangail on 13 October. Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts Md. Abul Kalam Azad Presided over the meeting. He welcomed all distinguished guest from South Asia Region.

The meeting was attended among others by Chief Scout Commissioner of Nepal Sree Ram Larnichhane, National Commissioner Sree M. Jain from Bharat Scouts and Guides, Chief Commissioner of Sri Lanka C. Batuwangala, Chief Commissioner of Maldives Ahamed Ali Manika, Internaitonal Commissioner of Pakistan Ghazufar Maskoor, APR Regional Director Syed Castillo and founder of South Asia Foundation Madnjieet Singh.

They discussed the problems and prospect of expansion of Scouting and programme and related activities of this region. Md. Abul Kalam Azad take over the Chairmanship of SAF. The leaders vesited the 6th SAF Scout friendship Camp at Mouchak Gazipur.

Onion cultivation may be hampered due to seed crisis in Rajshahi

UNB, Rajshahi

Onion cultivation is likely to be hampered in the district due to crisis of seeds.

Local farmers said there are stocks of only one fourth seeds against the demand. Last year onion farmers did not get a good harvest due to unfavourable weather and low quality seeds.

Cultivators are keen to bring more land under onion cultivation this year but they are worried about the availability of seeds. Besides, the price of seeds has also increased due to the crisis. Onion seeds are now selling at Tk 3000-4000 per kg in the local markets.

Sources concerned said if the government did not take any measure to supply onion seeds in the district on urgent basis its cultivation would be badly hampered.

47 persons arrested on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anticrime drives, arrested 47 persons including a suspected drug-peddler on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till on Saturday evening, police said.

Of them, 26 were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while 21 others from nine upazilas. Police arrested the drug peddler- Humayun Kabir, 19, son of Babul Hossain, and seized one kilogram of ganja from his possession after searching a Rajshahi bound passengers' bus from Chapainawabganj in Balia area under Rajpara police station in the city.

During the drives, traffic police lodged 16 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized a motorbike without registration.

60 students get Tk 1,32,000 stipends in Faridpur

BSS, Faridpur

District administration distributed stipends Taka 1,32,000 among 60 students of 'Faridpur Foundation Stipend' in different educational institutions here on Saturday.

The function was presided by Deputy Commissioner Akhteruzzaman Mohammad Mostafa Kamal. Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed attended the function as the Chief guest while Director of Bangladesh Freedom Fighter Kallyan Trust, Mohammad Yeahia Bhuiyan was present as the special guest.

The function distributed crests, certificates and cash money to two disable players.

Human chain formed demanding release of Taimur Alam

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Rupganj Upazila Mohila Women Worker Dal (BNP) formed a human chain at Tarabo Bisha Road intersection under the Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj on the 11th October at 3 PM demanding the unconditional and immediate realise of Taimur Alam Khandaker, former BRTC chairman and central leader of the BNP. The brought out a procession and held a discussion meeting on the spot.

Nurunnahar Begum, Rokeya Begum, Mohila Dal leaders, Advocate Shamsuzzaman, Akter Hossain, Khokan Shah Abdus Salam, Shaidur Rahman, Jakir Hossain, and Monshi Shamsur Rahman among others BNP leaders addressed the discussion meeting.

Two held with smuggled diesel in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Acting on a tip off a team of Rab-11 seized 26 Barrels of diesel and mobile oil and arrested two thieves from the ferry ghat of Rupshi area under the Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj on the 13th October at noon.

The arrested were identified as Zakir Hossain 26 son of late Chand Miah Prodhan of Tarabo village and Kazir Hossain Miah son of late Samsul Haque of Purbogram village of the said upazila. They were handed over to Rupganj thana. Later the police registered a case in this connection.

Dacoity committed in Rupganj

A daring dacoity was committed at Mother Fabrics Mills Ltd. of Tarabo Pourashava under the Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj on the 13th October night.

On information a team of Rupganj thana police led by ASI Mofazzal Hossain raided the spot and seized a container full of 280 cartons sweaters. The robbers were able to flee the scene. The seized container and goods were taken to the Bhulta Police Station and lodged a case in this connection.

2 held with electric wire in Chittagong

BSS, Chittagong

Member of Chittagong Metropolitan Police in a raid on October 11 last arrested two thieves with 25-kg stolen electric wire from Mirpara area under Biyazeed thana in the port city.

The arrested are Abdul Mannan, 23, son of Bashir Ahmed and Babu, 24, son of Zamal Uddin, both hailed from Mirpara.

Police said, acting on a tip off, a team of Biyazeed police raided the house of Babu and arrested the two with the electric wire.

The arrested persons confessed that they were engaged with stealing of electric wire from different parts in the city and district for a long time. A case was lodged with Biyazeed thana in this connection.

10 villages submerged as embankment cut in Satkhira

UNB, Satkhira

Vast tracts of land in 10 villages of Tala upazila have been submerged as a vested quarter cut the embankment on Kapotaksha river Sunday midnight.

Crops on 10,000 hectares and fishes of thousands of shrimp enclosures and ponds of Dhandia union washed away by the gushing river waters.

Villagers failed to repair the embankment on Monday due to strong current of waters in the river. The affected villages are :

Katakhali, Krishnanagar, Manikhar, Senergati, Garerdanga, Natun Gao, Panchpara and Krikirampur.

Locals alleged that supporters of an influential political leader cut the cross dam near sluice gate area because of conflict with another group.

Cop stabbed, cash looted in Narsingdi

UNB, Narsingdi

A gang of snatchers stabbed a police constable grievously and took away his cash amounting to Tk 950 from near Sadar Model thana here early Wednesday.

The victim was identified as Abdul Hamid, 45, (constable no. 759) jeep drive of the police station. Police said the muggers attacked Hamid and stabbed him with sharp weapons indiscriminately at about 2:30am and took away the money when he went out of the police station after completion of his duty. He was first taken to the Sadar hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital following the deterioration of condition.

7 held with fertiliser

UNB, Habiganj

Police arrested seven people along with 90 sacks of fertilizer at Muradpur village in Baniachang upazila on Tuesday.

Police said on secret information they arrested Chhabu Mia, Manjur Ali, Taher Ali, Sabur Ali, Abdus Salam, Ahad Mia and Yusuf while they were carrying the fertilizer by a boat.

The arrested men claimed that they bought the fertilizers from Juri upazila of Moulavibazar district to use in their crop fields.

A case was filed with local police in this connection.

Ghoradaha fair beings in Rajshahi

UNB, Rajshahi

Traditional "Ghoradaha Fair" will begin at Ujal Khalsi in Durgapur upazila on Thursday, the first day of Bengali month Kartik.

The fair begins on the first day of Kartik and lasts for five to six days, locals said.

The century old fair every year brings a festive mood among the people in the upazila as they spend the days of fair with inviting relatives and witnessing rural games including boat race.

Traders from different districts have started arriving with their goods.

President of the fair organizing committee Abdul Jabbar said measures have been taken to hold the fair peacefully.

News briefs

EED implements 45 schemes in Pirojpur

PIROJPUR, Oct 15: Education Engineering Department (EED) has implemented some 45 schemes, with an involvement of Tk 3.50 crore, in the district. The works included repair and renovation of government educational institutions and construction of academic buildings of non-government institutions. Upazila wise break-up of schemes are : Five in Nazirpur, four in Nesarabad, three in Kaokhali, three in Zia Nagar, eight in Bhandaria, six in Mathbaria and 16 in Sadar, reports UNB.

GPA-5 students accorded reception at Natore

NATORE, Oct 14: Natore police today accorded a reception to the meritorious students who secured GPA-5 in the HSC examination from different educational institutions of the district this year. Superintendent of police (SP) Chowdhury Monjurul Kabir presided over the function while additional inspector general (AIGP) Aminul Islam was the chief guest. Additional deputy commissioner (ADC) KM Abdus Salam, CS Dr Habibur Rahman and Rubel Ahmed from the students spoke at the function held in the hall room of the district police line. The students were awarded medals and books, reports BSS.

Fisherman killed in tiger attack in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, Oct 15: A fisherman was killed in an attack by a tiger at Satira range in the Sunderbans Sunday. The dead was identified as Tariqul Islam,40. Sources said a tiger attacked Rafiqul and took him to the deep forest when he was fishing in the confluence of Chunkuri and Mamondo river. Later, Rafiqul's companions recovered his body with the help of Forest Department officials on Monday, reports UNB.

Revenue Dept set target to realize over Tk 1.45 cr land tax in Pirojpur

PIROJPUR, Oct 15: Revenue Department here has set a target to realize over Tk 1.45 crore land tax from the district in the current fiscal (2008-09). Of the total amount, over Tk 1.06 crore would be realized from the general sector while Tk 39 lakh from different organizations through 51 'tahshil' offices. Upazila wise break-up of amount is : Nazirpur - Tk 13,20,366, Nesarabad - 16,25,771, Kaokhali - TK 5,35,970, Zia Nagar - Tk 7,61,202, Bhandaria - Tk 15,12,446, Mathbaria - Tk 58,99,177 and Sadar - Tk 28,55,869, reports UNB.

Minor boy drowns in Sunamganj

SUNAMGANJ, Oct 15: A minor boy drowned in a river at Kakiam village in Dharamshala upazila Sunday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Shuvo, 7, son of Anwar Hossain. Family sources said Shuvo slipped into the river and drowned at about 3:30pm while playing on its bank. Shuvo was rescued and rushed to upazila Sadar hospital where doctors declared him dead, reports UNB.

Phensidyl recovered in Sylhet

SYLHET, Oct 15: RAB personnel in separate drives recovered 170 bottles of Indian phensidyl syrup and arrested two drug peddlers in Jakiganj upazila on Monday night. RAB sources said they arrested drug peddlers Abdus Sukur, 32, and Shihabuddin, 22, along with 10 bottles phensidyl syrup from near Muradkhan Bridge. Later, following their confession, the elite force recovered 160 bottle of phensidyl syrup from the house of Abdun Nur of Duderchak village. Another report from Munshiganj adds: RAB members arrested a drug peddler, Mohsin, along with 50 bottles phensidyl from Munshiganj General Hospital compound on Monday. Separate cases were filed with the police, reports UNB.