The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pest attack may hamper aman paddy production in Kurigram

Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Production of Transplantation Aman (T-Aman) paddy is likely to face set-back this year in Kurigram district, due to attack by varieties of pest and bacterial diseases and price hike of urea fertiliser. This pest attack may hamper production and farmers are very disappointed in the area, sources said.

They may not get their expected T-Aman production due to pest invasion this year.

Vast areas of the district including sadar upazila and other Ulipur, Rajarhat, Nageswari,

Sadar upazila and other Ulipur, Rajarhat, Nageswari, Roumari, Chilmari upazilas the transplanted Aman paddy on vast tracts of land were turning yellowish and burnt to die. Muztoba Ali Ferdous, Ranu Mia, Akhtar Ali, Vuria Dewani, Azad Khondoker, farmers of Khocha Bari Bazar area of Pandul union under Ulipur Upazila of the district told that they transplanted many Aman Paddy but now they are very dismal for pest attacking in their standing crops. They alleged that there is no way to recover from this situation in leaf burnt and leaf blight diseases. It is learnt from that farmers that they are applying potash fertiliser on their pest attack paddy fields in order to combat pests.

While talking to the Deputy Director (DD) in the District Agricultural Entension officer Md. Mohsin Ali of Kurigram told these diseases are mainly caused by imbalanced use of fertiliser, strong air and excess moisture in the paddy field. He added that flood also causes a great harm for standing T-Aman paddy.

About twelve hundred hectares of land are affected in mainly pest this year DAE sources said. They are encouraging the farmers in different ways to control the pest attacking in the paddy fields by announcing in the mike and informing important topics to the farmers in that area. But still now the farmers are fully disappointed for next Aman paddy. As a result the expected production may not be achieved in the district this year.

Excellent production of BRRI Dhan-33 expected in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Harvesting of short duration BRRI Dhan-33 started in the district on October 12 amid much enthusiasm and festivity among the farmers.

Department of Agriculture (DAE), sources said a total of 2811 hectares of high and medium high land have been brought under BRRI Dhan-33 cultivation this year in collaboration farming plan to create job opportunities for the farm and day labourers during the lean period of Bangla months Ashwin and Kartik. Of them, BRAC, a leading NGO of the country, brought 148 hectares of land in the district this year under the cultivation programmes, sources said.

A field day in the arrangement of BRAC was held at Khamrpirgachha village under Shapara union of sadar upazila in the district on Saturday on harvesting the paddy sadar upazila agriculture officer M. Mojaffar Rahman attended the function and inaugurated the cutting of BRRI Dhan-33 on the land of the village as chief guest.

Regional coordinator (Agri) of BRAC M. Mohiuddin, Programme organiser Shafiqul Islam, Sub Assistant agriculture officers Aminul Islam Khan and Rafiqul Islam and local elite including the journalists were present on the occasion.

After crop cutting land owner farmer Raza Miah disclosed to all that over 15 mounds of paddy were produced from a bigha of land after 107 days of sowing the seeds of the paddy with drum seeder through direct seeder Rice (DSR) method. He also expressed his satisfaction over the excellent production of paddy in his land. Raza Miah is also so much happy for getting start that would be used as cow foder in this crisis moment.

The harvesting of the paddy will begain a few days later on huge scale and it would continue till the middle of November next, he said. Practical training were given to the agriculture officers on the latest technologies of farming the BRRI Dhan-33, he also added.

The trained agriculture officials, motivated the farmers and educated them at the village level to acquaint with the technologies of growing this paddy in only 115 to 118 days and about 30 to 45 days ahead of the normal harvesting period of transplanted among paddy, said and official. The trained agri officials also have the training to the farmers on using leaf colour char, Guti urea, Integrated pests management method proper sowing of the seeds and nurturing the field to make the programme of sources, deputy director of DAE ANM Mizanur Rahman Amin. Dr. Mazid also said the farmers would get more profits as cultivation of BRRI Dhan-33 would be followed by the relay method growth of early variety crops like potato, wheat, moog, Maize, mustard and winter vegetable.

It this paddy is cultivated on large scale in all the northern 5 districts including Gaibandha every year the job crisis ad poverty like situation Monga would be removed have for ever, he also said.

Progatir Pathey '06 launched in Mymensingh

BSS, Mymensingh

Launching ceremony of Progatir Pathey 2006, Bangladesh was held on Wednesday at the auditorium of the Deputy commissioner.

It was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Bureau of statistics and UNICEF with Deputy commissioner Md. Ziaur Rahman in the chair.

In the launching ceremony UNICEF representative Dr. Mashhur briefed the survey report 2006 on child health, nutrition, reproductive health, child development, child protection, early marriage, health facilities of women and children, birth registration ratio, child labour position in National and district level etc.

Deputy commissioner in his address said, correct statistics is a precondition of the development. He hoped that this will help to make proper planing for improving the lives of the children and women of Bangladesh.

Parikhit Chandra delivered welcome addressed and Md. Abdul Rashid Hawlader described the summary of the book "Multiple Indicator cluster survey 2006. He informed the audience that the Bangladesh Bureau of statistics has been conducting the multiple Indicator cluster survey since 1993 with the technical support of UNICEF.

Additional deputy commissioner (ADC) general Md. Mohsin, additional deputy commissioner (Education) Ratan Chandra pandit, civil surgeon Dr. Shamsul Alam officials of Bureau of statistics and Journalists took part in the launching ceremony.

6 held, phensidyl, fertilizer seized in northern districts

BSS, Rajshahi

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) rounded up six suspected criminals including five drug- peddlers and seized phensidyl and smuggled fertilizer from different areas in five northern districts during the last 24 hours till Wednesday afternoon.

RAB sources said the elite force seized 452 bottles and 10 liters loose phensidyl, 100 grams of heroin and 22 kilograms of ganja and arrested the drug-peddlers during six separate raids at different places in Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj, Joypurhat and Rangpur districts.

The arrested persons were identified as Shahidul Islam, 32, Ratan Chandra Boshak, 35, Biplob Chandra, 26, Noyan Chandra, 22, and Rabiul Islam, 28.

In another raid conducted at Govindaganj Bazar in Gaibandha district, a RAB team seized 889 sacs of smuggled MOP fertilizer valued at around Taka 28.36 lakh and arrested an alleged smuggler identified as Firoj Mian, 23, of the same district in this connection.

The arrested persons and the seized goods including the drug items were handed over to the concerned police stations.

Bijoyapreeti confce held in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The Bijoypreeti conference 2008 was observed in Khatra Mass Kalibari Mandir premises of the Gopalganj town in colourfull function on October 11 (Saturday).

The programmes of the Bijoypreeti conference 2008 was included discussion meeting, cultural function and prize distribute.

SM Ahsfaque Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Gopalganj inaugurated the Bijoypreeti Conference 2008 as the chief guest.

A discussion Meeting was also held at Khatra Mass Kalibari Manchir premises of the Gopalganj.

The discussion meeting on the occasion of the Bijoypreeti conference was presided over by Nirmal Chandra Biswas, President Khatra Mass Khatra Mass Kalibari Mandir Committee of Gopalganj town.

The discussion meeting was addressed among others, by Rupak Kumar Biswas general secretary Khatra Mass Kalibari Mandir Committee of Gopalganj town, Advocate Jagodish Chandra Baddya, Parimal Chandra Das manager Sonali Bank Gopalganj. Shib Sankar Adhikari Governor of the Bijoya preeti conference observance committee, Naresh Chanra Das teacher SM Mondal Govt. High School and Ranjib Kumar Sarkar.

Khulna AL leader Khan Ibne Zaman murdered

Our Correspondent, Khulna

The prominent Awami League leader Khan Ibne Zaman (45) whose dead body was found in his bed room on Monday evening was murdered by the unknown assailants, police said.

Commissioner Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Helal Uddin Badry told The New Nation on Tuesday that the information gathered so far, "Khan Ibne Zaman was assassinated". Beside the RAB and CID, the detectives of KMP also investigating the case, he said.

His second brother Khan Shahabuddin lodged a FIR last Saturday afternoon at Khalishpur thana of KMP against unknown assailants. In the FIR he said political rivals killed his brother Ibne Zaman, joint secretary of city Awami League.

Meanwhile, Khan Ibne Zaman was buried at Goalkhali graveyard at Khalishpur on Tuesday evening following Numaj-e-Janaja at Shahid Hadis Park Khulna and Hazi Mohsin College at Khalishpur on Tuesday.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life including the leaders and workers attended the janaza.

District dev coordination committee held in Mymensingh

BSS, Mymensingh

The meeting of the district development coordination committee (DDC) was held yesterday at the auditorium of the deputy commissioner. Deputy commissioner Md. Ziaur Rahman Khan presided over the meeting.

The meeting discussed the on going development works of the district.

Deputy Commissioner urged the concerned heads of all departments to work sincerely and honestly for the greater interest of the people.

Police super, additional Deputy Commissioners, Civil Surgeon and all the district level officers took part in the meeting.

Cocktails recovered, 3 arrested in C'nawabganj

BSS, Chapainawabganj

Rapid Action battalion (RAB)-5 recovered 19 cocktails and materials for making cocktails and arrested three persons from Charbagdanga union under Chapainawabganj sadar upazila at early hours on Thursday. The arrested persons are identified as Moinul Islam 38, Saiful Islam 35, and Mohsin Ali 38, all of Bakhar Ali village of Charbagdanga union.

RAB said, getting a secret information that cocktails are being made and stored in Bakhar Ali village, they raided the houses of the arrested persons at around 2 a.m. and as per their statement RAB recovered 19 cocktails, 500 grams of sulphur, 50 grams of iron pins and two red colored 'crosstapes' from a ditch at Moharajnagar of the same union. A case was filed with sadar thana.

Two ULRO officers arrested in Panchbibi

BSS, Panchbibi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in a sudden raid, arrested a Land Sub-registrar and his Treasurer red-handed while taking bribe in Panchbibi Upazila Land Registration Office (ULRO) here on Wednesday. The elite force also seized Taka 4,080 bribe money from the possessions of the two arrested government officials during the raid.

The arrested persons are Land Sub-Registrar (Acting) Sambhunath Sarker, 48, of Panchbibi ULRO and his Treasurer Chalan Mohrar Narayan Chandra Mohanta, 46. The arrested persons were handed over to Panchbibi police last night, the sources said.

Appel to save Moinul's life

Our Correspondent, Faridpur

Both kidneys of Moinul Islam, a student of English Department of Govt Kabi Nazrul College in Faridpur, has been damged.

His father, Munshi Abdul Mannan has been bering the treatment expenses for four years. Being a retired government employee he is unable to bear the expenditure for his son's dialysis and other treatment anymore. Recently Firoj Khan, Head of the Department, National Institute of Kidney Diseases identified two fatal viruses in his blood. Now his treatment is impossible in the country. He has either to go to Singapore or India for treatment. Abdul Mannan is now seeking help from the affluent section of the society by contributing to Sonali Bank Savings Account No.: 34030432 Mogbazar Branch Dhaka or contact 01814249932.

25 arrested on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in anticrime drives, rounded up 25 persons including three suspected female drug-peddlers from different areas in city and eight upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till Wednesday evening.

Police said of them, 17 were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while the rest from eight upazilas. Police picked up the drug peddlers- Angura Khatun, 35, Shamima Begum, 22, and Beauty Begum, 26, and seized 13 bottles of phensidyl and 20 grams of heroin during two separate raids in the city.

Traffic police lodged 26 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized a motorbike without registration during drives against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document related malpractices in different parts of the city.