The New Nation - Internet Edition

Immediate stoppage of 'Bijoy Bihango’ construction in Barisal demanded

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Muslim bigots in a statement signed by 101 Muslim clerics and religious leaders on Sunday demanded immediate stoppage of the construction of 'Bijoy Bihango'(The Victory Bird), the sculpture of birds on the memory of liberation of Barisal from occupation army.

The Muslim clerics related with Masjid-Madrasha-Khanka Sangrakkhon Committee, Imam Samity, Quran Sangrakkhan Committee, Islami Shasantantrik Andolon, Mujahid Committee, Jamate Islami, Khelafat Majlis and other Islamic orthodox religious-political organizations declared that they would not tolerate any attempt of constructing idols in the name of sculpture.

The signatories of the statement called Barisal City Corporation to spend their funds for development of BCC services instead of constructing sculpture of the idols.

Advocate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, Mayor of BCC, said that the design of 'Bijoy Bihango' was earlier discussed and approved by the leaders of the religious organizations.

As the sculpture has no idol or human figure included, so the bigots should withdraw their objection against the project. Now the work is going on and would be inaugurated on December 8, 2008, the Barisal liberation day, he assured.

Hayatul Islam, Assistant commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said that if BCC requests them, then they will provide all sorts of help to ensure safety and security in completion and after inauguration of 'Bijoy Bihango'

Construction work of the 'Bijoy Bihango' ( the victory bird),first sculpture on liberation war in Barisal, at the cost of 10.07 lakh taka funded by Barisal City Corporation has been inaugurated on September 24, 2008 at Amtala crossing of the city entrance point after 37 years of independence by BCC Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron.

Barisal Sangskritik Sangothan Samanaya Parishad and Charukala giving assistance in this project designed by Sculptors Hamiduzzaman Khan and Aminul Hassan and would be implemented by State Communication Firm of Dhaka.

Sources said first attempt of constructing sculpture on liberation war in the city was taken in 1996 and local people creating movement and breaking section 144 forced the authority to lay a foundation for that at Zila Parshad-Nagor Bhabon area.

However that project was abandoned by political governments.

On other hand different political and socio-cultural organizations including Barisal Reporters Unity, 27 organizations included in Sanskritik Sangothan Samonaya Parishad, Group Theatre Federation, B M College Journalist Association, condemned the removal of the sculpture and the bigotry against the Bengali culture.

They also urging the government to immediately rebuild the sculpture said this 'illegal' and 'criminal' incident shocked the whole nation and in a democratic country and threats issued by religious bigots who have no respect for the culture of their forefathers and their own country, could not be accepted by any means.

Different student organization including BCL, Chhatro Motri, Chhatra Union, Progatishil Chhatra Oikkaya, holding protest gathering and processions at Barisal B M College campus expressed its concerns about the activities of the fanatics against the monument demanded that the monument should be rebuilt and the bigots should be arrested and punished

Shrimp exporting firm in Khulna closed for mixing injurious chemical

UNB, Khulna

A shrimp exporting firm was closed and its license cancelled on October 17 last on charge of exporting shrimp abroad mixing with injurious chemical for human body.

The license of Modern Sea Food was cancelled and its office shut down following a letter from the DG office of Fisheries and Livestock Department in the capital faxed here on the day.

Managing Director of Modern Sea Food Rezaul Kabir and president of Frozen Food Exporters' Association Kazi Belayet Hossain confirmed it.

Fish inspection and quality control local office said Modern Sea Food had exported one container frozen fish valued at Tk 1.50 crore through Mongla port to Belgium in last August.

The authorities in Belgium after check up found the presence of nitrofuran, a harmful chemical for human body, in the exported fish.

Being informed of the matter by Belgium authorities, a six-member team of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, led by Joint Secretary Parikkhit Datta Chowdhury, arrived here on October 6 for inspection and later submitted a report to the ministry.

An allegation was also raised that the company exported the fish after managing quality control certificate by fraudulent means.

Later, the ministry issued a show cause notice to the company and cancelled its license as its reply was unsatisfactory.

Modern Sea Food was given national award for shrimp export this year.

2 fugitives held in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Two warrant listed criminals were arrested by the Rupganj Thana Police of Narayanganj district on the 18th October last from their respective areas. The arrested were identified as Rafiqul Islam 27, son of Abdul Mojid of Purbogram village and Badsha Mia 30, son of Akkel Pike of Chanpara rehabilitation centre of the same upazila. Later the police produced them before court.

World Child Rights Day held in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

The world Child Rights Week was observed in Mymensingh by bringing out a colourful procession from Town hall and it was ended at Krishna Chura Chattar. A short discussion meeting was held at Krishna Chura Chattar. It was organised by Saf Law and counselling Centre and sara assisted by Save the Children, Sweden, Denmark. Mohindra Nath Roy, Project Co-ordinator, Reduce Rural Urban Children Migration Project, Advocate Habib, Ain O. Salish Kndra (ASK) and representative from save the Children spoke in the discussion meeting.

10 of a family awarded life-term in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

Ten persons of a family were sentenced to life-term rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a court here on Monday.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Md Mahbub- ul-Alam delivered the verdict in a crowded court. The court also fined the convicts Taka 20,000 each, in default to suffer another one year in jail.

The convicted persons are Mosharaf Hossain, Fazlur Rahman Dhali, Khokon Dhali, Badluzzaman, Abdul Hamid Dhali and Moktar Dhali sons of late Mujibur Rahman Dhali, Shahinur Rahman and Lutfar Rahman son of Fazlur Rahman Dhali, Shahidul Islam son of Abdul Hamid Dhali and Akbar Dhali son of Khokon Dhali all of village Ekshora under Assasuni upazila of Satkhira district.

The prosecution story in brief is that the accused killed Mukhtijuddha Motiar Rahman, 48, son of late Sona Dhali of village Ballobpur under Assasuni upazila on March 18, 2002 while returning home from local Hogla Hat.

The victim's son Mostafizur Rahman filed a case with Assasuni Thana police accusing 13 persons. Police submitted charge sheet against the persons.

After examining 30 witnesses and related evidence the judge awarded the punishment.

The court acquitted three others as charges brought against them were not proved.

100-day employment generation programme continues in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The work of the special 100-day employment generation programme of the Government for the hardcore poor and the seasonal unemployed people continues in all the 82 unions of seven upazila in the district.

The objective of the programme is to asist the poor incluidng marginal farmers to over-come the Monga, job crisis and poverty-like situation at the Bangla months of Ashwin and Kartik.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources said, a total of 4,339 project involving Tk. 49.57 crore are being implemented in the district for rural infrasturcture development.

The project include construction and reconstruction of kutcha roads, bridges, culverts, earth fitting and excavation and re-excavation of derelict ponds and removing water hyacinth from the water bodies, sources said.

A total of 49,570 men including women aged between 18 and 50 years from the poorer section of the district were enlisted as workers to complete the project works. Each worker is getting Tk. 100 per day as wage.

The programme will run here in two phases the 60 day first phase will exist till November while the 40-day second phase will start from March 1 to April 30 next year.

Deputy Secretary of Food and Disaster Management Ministry M. Siddiqur Rahman visited the different unions incluidng Kholahati, Ballamjhar, Sahapara, Laxmipur, Dhapadanga, Ramjiban, Naldanga, Bangrm, Kanchipara and Betkapa of the district on October 14 and 15 and exchanged views with the workers of the projects separately. Project implementation officer of sadar upazila Abdul Mannan, Public representative including chairman and local elite accompanied him during the visit.

BRAC workshop held in Kishoreganj

Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj

BRAC Advocacy & Human Rights unit and Kishoreganj Press Club jointly organised a workshop and Project Exhibition (Challenging the Frontiers of Poverty Reduction Targeting the Ultra Poor) held at Local Collectorate conference room on Sunday. Tapan Chandra Bonik, acting DC and Deputy Secretary attended as chief guest and Md. Anowarul Haque Director of Public Affairs & Communication of BRAC presided over the workshop.

It was addressed, among others, by Spolice Super Farook Ahamed (special guest), Abdul Jalil ADC (Literature), DLO Md. Nurul Islam, Poura Chairman Al-Haj Abu Taher Miah, Press Club President Kazi Shaheen Khan, Senior Vice President Alam Sanowar Tito, Nasim Khan, BRAC area manager Zahirul Islam and Mashiur Rahman.

Women killed in Barisal road mishap

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Rabeya Begum, 40, died at the spot by the hit of a motorcycle while trying to cross the road at Sharshi of Kashipur area in the city outskirt at about11:00 am on Saturday morning.

Police seized the abandoned motorcycle (Dhaka-Ha-154492) and the motorcyclist and passenger managed to flee away.

Police lodged a case of unnatural death in this connection and handed over dead body of the victim to her son Sumon Howladar without postmortem according to his application.

Workshop on Avian Influenza held in Joypurhat

BSS, Joypurhat

A daylong workshop on Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response was held at district livestock conference room here on Sunday.

Organized by upazila livestock office the workshop was participated by 60 leading poultry farmers of the district.

Sadar Upzial Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Motaleb chaired the function while district livestock Officer Sahidul Islam attended it as chief guest.

Senior scientific officer of Regional Animal Disease Research Institute Dr. Arabendu Saha, senior technical officer of avian Influenza preparedness and response project Dr. Azizur Rahman, poultry farmers Belal Hossain and Dr Habibur Rahman Spoke.

Ctg airport operates 2,512 Int flights during last fiscal

BSS, Chittagong

Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport operated 2,512 international and 6,137 domestic flights during last fiscal and earned Taka 26,63,80,000 from landing charge and Taka 7,67,61,000 from space rent.

During the same period, 3,95,600 passengers and 1350 tonnes of goods were boarded through international and domestic routes.

This was stated today at a meeting between Special Assistant to Chief Adviser for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Jamil and concerned high officials of the airport at its conference room here.

The officials drew the attention of Special Assistant about various problems of the airport including space shortage. Jamil said necessary steps like building queue belt for proper utilization of limited space would be taken soon to solve the problems.

The Special Assistant also said the airport could play an important role in the expansion of tourism by portraying itself as a gateway to Chittagong and Hill tracts to overseas tourists.

Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Commodore (retd) Sakeb Iqbal Khan Mojlish, Chief Engineer Harunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Member Operation Captain Nayeem Hasan and Chittagong Station Manager Wahidur Rahman were present, among others.