The New Nation - Internet Edition

No 'monga’ bite due to effective govt initiatives in N-dists

BSS, Rangpur

The poorer people in the poverty-prone greater Rangpur and other adjoining northern districts have been facing the current seasonal lean period of monga very successfully following various effective steps of the government this year.

The day- and farm labourers and all other distressed people are now leading almost a normal life for the first time this year without any bite of seasonal monga that repeated every year during the months of Aswin and Kartik in the region, officials said.

The steps including the 100-day employment generation programme, Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programmes, Test Relief (TR), BRRI Dhan-33 farming, and various allowances programmes have been proved to be very effective this year.

The concerned district and upazila level officials today told BSS that there is no incident of any starving by anyone and anywhere in all eight districts of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur as the poorer section people are getting the ongoing government assistances.

They also hoped that there will be no monga situation at all in the poverty and natural calamity prone northern districts in near future and the people of the area will get complete rid of the century-old curse of monga buy the year 2013 as targeted by the government. The ongoing Taka 302.04 crore two-phase 100-day special employment generation programmes has been continuing very successfully and helping the poor during this lean period in all eight districts of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur, officials said.

The river-eroded hapless people, poor and farm-labourers have now been earning Taka 100 as wage per day since last September 15 to tackle the seasonal monga situation that significantly helps them avoiding any impact of it this year.

The Deputy Commissioners, UNOs and government officials formally launched the first 60-day phase of programme at various places at all unions of all upazilas in these eight districts on September 15 last like elsewhere in the country.

The programme has been helping the targeted people, especially in the poverty-prone char areas in the river basins, to overcome the monga and also helping the poor in earning their livelihoods and helped celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja festivities.

The Food and Disaster Management Ministry has allocated 60 percent of the money amounting to Taka 181.224 cr for the first 60- day phase to create jobs during the monga period in these districts.

The targeted beneficiary group of people has been working under the programme in all unions of all upazilas in the districts of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur.

The first 60-day works of the programme will continue till November 30 next during the months of Aswin and Kartik, the peak period of the seasonal monga in the poverty-stricken northern region, the officials said. The ministry will allocate the other 40 percent of the total money amounting to Taka 120.816 crore to continue the programme for another 40 days under the second phase from March 1 to April 15 next year.

Senior officials concerned today told BSS that a total of 30,20,400 beneficiaries including women labourers will get Taka 100 as wage a day in two phases of the 100-day programme. Each of the beneficiaries might get a total amount of Taka 10,000 after completion of his or her 100-day works under the programme to combat seasonal job crisis of monga this year, they said. The government has allocated Taka 33.01 crore in the first phase for Rangpur, Taka 32.58 crore for Dinajpur, Taka 25.52 crore for Kurigram, Taka 13.68 crore for Lalmonirhat and first phase Taka 21.09 crore for Nilphamari districts.

Besides, Taka 29.74 crore has been allocated in the first phase for Gaibandha, Taka 9.70 crore for Panchagarh and first phase Taka 15.87 crore has been allocated for Thakurgaon districts.

Shortage of potash urea hits Aman cultivation in Chuadanga

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

The farmers of Chuadanga district expressed deep concern as the Aman plants are attacked by the pests due to absence of timely rainfall and non application of classified fertiliser properly.

Aman planted on a vast area of land in the four upazilas of Chuadanga district have been attacked with the different diseases and pests. The Department of Agriculture Extension has engaged its field level workers and officials to provide farmers with remedies to protect the aman plants in the fields from further damage.

A number of agriculturists of the department on condition of anonymity said that shortage of potash fertiliser in the fields weakened the plants.

They said that price hike of potash for about five weeks from the last week of August and September the farmers could not use potash in the Aman field when the plants need the potash application.

They observed that the farmers instead of potash and T.S.P used heavy doses of urea. They also said that excessive use of urea in the Aman field encouraged the pests to attack the plants.

13 held, smuggled goods seized in 5 North dists

BSS, Rangpur

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 13 alleged criminals and seized huge quantities of contraband narcotics substances and medicines from five northern districts during the past 24 hours till Sunday afternoon, RAB sources said.

Acting on a tip off, a team of elite force conducted a sudden raid in village Sotranjipara under Sadar Upazila in Rangpur and arrested smuggler Rajekul Islam, 24, of village Kanchabari Baniapara of the district.

They also seized 3,650 ampoules of smuggled Indian sex- stimulating and sedative injections from his possession.

Another RAB team arrested smugglers Golam Robbani, 28, of Joypurhat and private car driver Obaidur Khan, 35, of Kamardaho village in Gaibandha from Panchbibi Upazila town in Joypurhat on Sunday morning.

They also seized huge quantities of sex-stimulating and sedative smuggled Indian medicines and a private car.

The same RAB team arrested drug traffickers Anwar Hossain, 32, of Bogra with 165 bottles of Phensidyl and a motorcycle and recovered a snatched motorcycle and arrested mugger Sadek Ali, 32, from different places in Joypurhat on Sunday morning.

The elite force arrested drug traffickers Shahidul Islam, 37, with 46 bottles of Phensidyl from Nababganj in Dinajpur, Ataur Rahman, 40, of Joypurhat with a motorcycle and 40 bottles of Phensidyl from village Baona in Ghoraghat upazila in Dinajpur on Sunday night.

The RAB arrested drug traffickers Baki Pramanik, 50, of Bogra and Tushar Mandal, 25, of Joypurhat with a motorcycle and 100 bottles of Phensidyl from Shalban Cluster village in Joypurhat and fake fertiliser maker Khorshed, 30, from Durgapur in Gaibandha on Sunday night.

Besides, the RAB arrested drug trafficker Al-Amin, 20, of Narayanganj district with 20 bottles of Phensidyl, adulterated turmeric powder sellers Dolan Mian, 30, and Roksanul, 45, with 60 kg powder from Bogra town in separate drives.

The RAB filed separate cases and handed over the arrested and seized contraband goods to the concerned police stations Sunday, the sources said.

Baby girl drowned in river in Bogra

UNB, Bogra

Body of a baby girl, who drowned in river Karatoa at Bangra village in Sherpur upazila on Thursday, was recovered Friday morning.

The deceased was identified as Sathi, 4, daughter of rickshaw-van driver Shahadat Hossain of the village.

Family sources said Sathi along with her aunt went to the river beside their house Thursday noon for taking bath and at one stage drowned.

After frantic search her body was recovered from the river on Friday at about 9:00am.

Fire burns 35 houses in Kishoreganj

UNB, Kishoreganj

Fire gutted 35 dwelling houses at Alinagar village in Austagram upazila here on Friday midnight.

Police said the fire originated from an electric short circuit in the house of Mokhtar Miah of the village and soon engulfed the adjoining houses.

Police and local people brought the blaze under control after four hours of frantic efforts. Officer-in-Charge of Austagran thana Jahirul Islam said the extent of loss could go up to Tk 1 crore.

3 killed, 5 hurt in separate road mishaps in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Three persons were killed and five others inured in separate road accidents at different places of three northern districts on Saturday and Sunday.

Police sources said Sekendar Ali, 55, son of late Kobbat Ali of village Keshobpur in Pirganj Upazila of Rangpur, was killed on the spot when a Rangpur bound coach from Dhaka hit him at Laldighee point on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway on Sunday night.

Tara Mina, 18, son of Amir Hossain of village Fulchharipara under Dimla Upazila in Nilphamari district, was killed on the spot when a trolley crushed him in Purbo Chhatnai area in the Upazila on Saturday night.

Abdul Aziz, 40, of village Aranagar, was killed and Abdus Salam, 45, Nurul Islam, 45, Solaiman, 60, and Jalil, 30, injured when two Votvotis collided head on at Amaitara village under Dhamoirhat Upazila in Naogaon on Sunday night.

Separate cases were filed in these connections with the respective police stations, the sources said.

Freshers reception held

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Freshers Reception of Alamgir Monsur Memorial College, Mymensingh was held at college premises on 18th October. D. Ratan Chandra Pandit, ADC (Education) was present as chief guest. Md. Matiur Rahman, founder Principal of the college, Dr. A.K.M Waliullah and convener of the refusher committee were present as special guests.

The speaker stressed on education, discpline, non political activities of the institution. A cultural programme was held on the occasion.

2 smugglers held with timber in Gopalganj

UNB, Gopalganj

Police recovered 25,000 cft sundari timber and arrested two smugglers at Jalirpar village in Muksudpur upazila Friday night.

Patrol police of Sindia Ghat Investigation Centre challenged Aziz, 22, and Shukur Ali, 25, while they reached at Jalirpar from Khulna with the timber by a trawler at about 11pm. As they failed to show valid documents police arrested them and seized the timber. A case was filed.

In another drive police seized 511 bottles of Indian phensidyl syrup from the house of Dhirendra Majumder in Pirerbari area of Kotalipara upazila on Saturday night.

Advocacy meet on Kala-azar elimination held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

An advocacy meeting on Kala Azar elimination programme was held at D.C (Mym.) conference room on15th October in Mymensingh. It was organised by Civil Surgeon Office, Mymensingh assisted by disease Control Department, D.G.H.S. Civil Surgeon Dr. SM Shamsul Alam presided over the meeting. D.C. (Mym.) Md. Ziaur Rahman Khan was present as chief guest. Journalist, Government official, NGO representatives were present in the meeting. Hookworm control meeting was held on the occasion. Hoom Worm Control Department organised the meeting. The sopeakers stressed on Kala Azar elimination. They said Mymensingh should have to be declareo Kala Aoar Zone and suggested for establishing a Kala Aoar hospital. The speakers stressed on education on Hygienee and sanitation among school students.

News briefs

2 killed in separate incidents in Magura

MAGURA, Oct 23: A rice mill worker was strangulated to death by unknown miscreants at Khamarpara village in Sripur upazila Monday. The dead was identified as Habil, 35, hailed from Ghoramach village in Sadar upazila, and a worker of a rice mill in Khamarpara village. Police said miscreants strangulated Habil to death and hanged his body from a branch of a tree in the village. In another incident, one Asadul Islam drowned in a water body when he was catching fishes at Dostina village in Sripur upazila Monday. After a search, local people rescued the body. Separate cases were filed with the police, reports UNB.

Fire at Ashuganj Zia fertilizer factory

BRAHMANBARIA, Oct 23: A fire broke out at Ashuganj Zia fertilizer factory Monday afternoon. Witnesses said the fire originated from electric short circuit in the sales centre of the factory and burned some important documents. Two fire fighting teams rushed in and doused the fire. Factory authority has formed a five-member inquiry committee to probe the incident which will submit report by three days, reports UNB.

Child worker burnt to death in Chandpur

CHANDPUR, Oct 23: A child worker was brunt to death in a fire that broke out in a shop at Chandra bazaar in Sadar upazila on Monday night. The dead was identified as Kamal,10, hailed from Dakshin Balia of the upazila. Witnesses said the fire broke out in a cycle repairing garage, where petrol and kerosene were also sold illegally, and soon engulfed an adjoining shop at about 8.45pm. Kamal, working in the garage, could not come out and met the tragic end of his life. The fire burned down valuables of the two shops. Fire fighters from Natun and Puran Bazar rushed in and brought the blaze under control, reports UNB.

Minor girl killed in road accident in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, Oct 23: A minor girl was killed in a road accident on Dhaka-Khulna Highway at Pona in Kashiani upazila Monday. Police said a bus crushed Sinthia (8), a student of class one of a local kindergarten school, to death while he was crossing the road at about 8:30am. An UD case was filed with the police. UNB Madaripur correspondent adds: A septuagenarian woman was killed in a road accident on Dhaka-Khulna Highway at Dattapara in Shibchar upazila Monday. Witnesses said Achia Begum, 70, hailed from Char Doa village in Faridpur upazila, was run over by a bus while she was crossing the road at 4pm, reports UNB.

Huge Indian cloths seized in Comilla

COMILLA, Oct 23: Rapid Action Battalion and BDR members in separate drives in Sadar South upazila seized huge Indian cloths worth about Tk 2 crore on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-11 led by ASP Abdul Mannan raided frontier Krishnapur village at about 6:30pm and seized some 54 bundles of sari and three-piece dress materials worth about Tk one crore. Besides, BDR jawans in two separate drives at Suaganj and Padua Bazaar in the upazila seized some 1,903 pieces of Indian sari and a covered-van worth about Tk one crore in the morning. Separate cases were filed with the police, reports UNB.