The New Nation - Internet Edition

Record Aman paddy production expected in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Production of Aman paddy, the main crop of the southern region, may cross target in 11 districts under Barisal Agricultural region including the Sidr affected districts.

Sufficient rain, fertilizer, loan and relief distributed in Sidr affected and surrounding region and farmers efforts to cover up the loss of cyclone cause the crossing of Aman cultivation targets in the region. If Aman cultivation in this season could survive from natural calamities like flood and cyclone, dense fog, cold spell, pest attack and diseases, then this region may be turned to food surplus area instead of food shortage region, said the officials of the Barisal Agriculture Extension Department.

AED Barisal region office sources said 1,31,40,000 metric tons rice production has been expected from 53.7 lakh hectares land cultivated by Aman paddy in 64 districts of Bangladesh in this season. Among that 16.45 lakh metric ton rice production expected from targeted 7.99 lakh hectares Aman Paddy cultivated lands in 11 districts under Barisal agricultural region this season. These 11 districts are Barisal, Jhalakati, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna and Bhola of Barisal division Faridpur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Madaripur of Dhaka division. These districts included the vast areas suffered damages of 8.5 lakh metric tons crop production by cyclone Sidr in last Aman cultivation season.

However this season Aman paddy cultivated in 8,32,431 hectares, more (4% ) 30 thousand hectares land crossing the cultivation target and expecting 17.5 lakhs metric tons rice, about 0.95 lakhs tons more production from excess cultivation.

AED Barisal office sources said still tendency for cultivating local variety of Aman paddy existed among the farmers of this region.

So in six districts of Barisal division local varieties cultivated in 4,85,879 hectares while high yielding cultivated on 2,46,000 and hybrid cultivated on only 1,119 hectors of land. However in rest five districts of greater Faridpur region local variety of Aman cultivated on 15,986 hectares, high yielding on 83,367 hectares and hybrid only in 211 hectares of land.

RU teachers demand to decrease extra GPA in hon’s admission test

RU Correspondent

A group of teachers of Rajshahi University (RU) on October 20 submitted a memorandum to RU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat at his office and protested RU authorities' decision to increase GPA (grade point average) in admission test under 2008-09 academic session.

The teacher urged the RU authorities and demanded immediate cancellation of the decision. In the memorandum, the teachers mentioned that RU authorities introduce a new decision in admission test that if any applicant change his group and take part in another group examination then he will need additional GPA 0.50.

They also mentioned that normally science students needs GPA 7.5 in admission test, if they change their group then they will need GPA 8, on the other hand arts group students needs GPA 6.5 and GPA 7 will need if they change their group. Simultaneously, commerce background students need GPA 7 in admission test and they will need GPA 7.5 if they will take part in another groups, the said.

The teachers strongly protested to increase every year admission test qualification and mentioned that following the new system, the admission seekers will face GPA problem. Prof. Mustak Ahmed a teacher of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) dept of RU said that admission seekers have rights to change their group and take admission in another group's, he also added that thousand of admission seekers will deprive following the new system in admission test.

The teachers term the new admission system as an 'unfair'. The teachers urged the university authorities and demanded immediate form real, constrictive and similar with others public universities admission test system.

The memorandum Signatories are--Prof Dr Mustofa Kamal, Prof Fayekuzzman, Prof Nurul Hossain, Prof ABM Shahajan,Sharmin Shams, Kazi Rabiul Alam, Mustak Ahmed, Moshihur Rahman, Shatil Seraj, Hasibul Alam, Dil Afroj, Dr Sadekul Arafin, Akter Zahan and Tanvir Ahmed.

When contacted RU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat, he confirmed the memorandum.

Constitutional activities of BRCS stressed

BSS, Rajshahi

Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton has said the activities of the city unit of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BRCS) would be conducted in a transparent and constitutional way for welfare of the city's distressed and helpless people. He sought necessary cooperation from all concerned in this regard and viewed that there is no alternative of transparency in running the BRCS.

Mayor Liton made this remark while delivering his presidential speech at the annual general meeting of the unit at the City Bhaban conference hall here recently. Terming the BRCS as an organisation of civic welfare, he informed that all the need-based initiatives would be taken for welfare of the general people.

"We have to work with a humanitarian mentality for reducing the sufferings of the distressed people," Mayor added. He urged the unit members to expedite its activities through overcoming the past errors and deviation and keeping themselves above political affiliation.

Earlier, unit secretary Professor Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan presented a report on overall activities.

BNCC training workshop ends in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A 7-day-long couple training of BNCC ended in Mymensingh on 17th October at Ananda Mohan College. A total 124 cadets participated in the programme, a total of male 88, female 124 cadets closing parade taken by Lt. Col. Mahfur Rahman, regiment commander, Ramna regiment, Major Md. Negamul Islam, Capt. Shabuddin, Capt. Aziz Ahmed Sadeq Reza were present in the closing Parade. A cultural funciton was held on the occasion.

2 held with phensidyl in Chuadanga

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

Members of RAB held two drug peddlers along with phensidyl at Dhekesnopur area of Chuadanga sadar upazila recently.

The arrested were identified as Mahedal Islam (55), son of Rezaul Haque of Dhekisnopur in same upazila and his wife Aiaysha (30). Sources said the arrested were found carrying phensidyl in ten bags. The arrested persons and phensidyl randed over to Sadar thana police.

One held with wine in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

A team of Narcotics Control officials conducted separate drives at different areas of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj and arrested Kazi Mia, son of Farman Ali of Bholanath village of this upazila along with 102 litre indigenous wine on the 19th October and handed him over Rupganj thana.

Local sources said "Kazi Mia along with his associates have been selling illegal drug and other narcotics for many days. None could dare to protest their illegal business as they have closed relation with the law enforces.

2 killed, 50 hurt in Patuakhali road mishap

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

At least two women were killed and over 50 injured as road accident on Patuakhali-Barisal road at about 5 pm on Tuesday. Injured got admitted at different hospitals, clinics in Patuakhali and Barisal town.

Killed women were identified as Kakoli, 45, a health assistant of health department under Patuakhali sadar upzila also wife of Mrinal Kanti, an assistant teacher of govt. girls high school in Patuakhali and Sumaiya Akhter Urmi, 13, daughter of Mojibar Rahman of Itbaria village under Patuakhali sadar upazila. Urmi was coming Patuakhali town with her parents.

Sources said a Kuakata bound passengers' bus Parjatan (Barisal-ja-11-0046) was coming from Barisal. When it reached at Gabua area under Patuakhali sadar upazila its driver lost its control and hit with a roadside tree. Two women were killed on the spot. Locals and police rescued injured and sent to different hospital, clinics in Patuakhali and Barisal town.

Md. Reaz Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Patuakhali visited the spot just after the incident.

One sentenced to death for killing in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A trial court in Barisal awarded death sentence to lone accused Abdur Razzak Matubbar, 40, of Barojalia under Hizla upazila of the district for killing his neighbor Manowara Begum, 40, in dispute over land properties.

The accused also fined Tk.20 thousand and court oerdered prosecution to collect the fine by selling properties of the accused and pay to the poor complainant.

Md. Shahidullah, district and session judge of Barisal, handed down this verdict in presence of the lone accused on Tuesday afternoon after examining 19 out of 22 witnesses and other evidences.

Prosecution story in brief was that Razak chopped Manowara to death while she was going to pond for taking bath at 4:30 pm on July 7, 2007 afternoon.

Habibullah Talukdar, son of the victim as complainant lodged a murder case against Razzak on the same day with Hizla police station.

Sub Inspector Imran Hossain, filed charge sheet against Razak on October 18, 2007.

4 held with ganja in Dinajpur

BSS, Dinajpur

Four persons were arrested with 211 bottles of phensidyl and 3.5 kgs ganja from Parbatipur upazila of the district during two separate anti-drugs drives by the officials of narcotics control on Saturday.

Officials said they arrested one Joynal, 35, and his wife Kamala, 30, with the ganja from railway colony on Saturday night.

The other two Abed Khan, 38, and his brother Arif Khan, 32, was caught with the phensidyls from Aftabnagar Colony. The arrested persons and the seized drugs were handed over to the Parbatipur Police.

One held with hemp in Comilla

BSS, Comilla

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested one person and seized three kg hemps at Chandosree village of the district on Wednesday.

Police said the arrested person was identified as Abdul Matin, 22, son of Abdul Motalib of Nandail upazila.

Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team raided the area and seized three kg hemp from the possession of Abdul Matin. A case was filed with Chowddhagram thana in this connection.

News briefs

3 killed in B'baria road mishap

BRAHMANBARIA, Oct 24: At least three people were killed and another was injured in a road accident at Rajamariakandi in Sarail upazila Wednesday morning. Police said the accident took place at about 7am on Dhaka-Sylhet highway when a microbus rammed into a stationary truck on roadside, killing the truck driver Akbar Ali, 42, and two pedestrians, Lokman, 23, and Aziz, 13, on the spot and injuring the microbus driver. He was admitted to Sadar hospital in critical condition, reports UNB.

Absconding forest official sued in graft case in Ctg

CHITTAGONG, Oct 24: Local ACC filed a case against absconding Atiqul Azam, suspended divisional forest conservator, with Double Mooring thana here Tuesday for concealing information about his wealth. Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of local ACC, filed the case against Azam, who remained absconding for the last one year. Police and joint forces in their several raids failed to nab him. Later, he was suspended from his service. ACC included his name in their list of corrupt suspects and asked him to submit his wealth statement. His family on his behalf submitted his wealth statement to ACC showing his wealth worth Tk 11.7 lakh. After three months investigation, ACC found that he concealed wealth worth about 27.34 lakh, reports UNB.

One held with revolver in Jessore

JESSORE, Oct 24: Police arrested a young man along with a revolver from Sahapara in the district town early Monday. Acting on secret information, police raided the house of Mohsin, 25, son of Abul Kashem of the area and arrested him along with the revolver. Another report from Dinajpur adds: Police recovered a revolver loaded with three bullets from a canal near the town's Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday. Police said local people found the revolver in the canal in the morning and on information they recovered the firearm, reports UNB.

Abducted teenage girl rescued in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, Oct 24: A teenage girl, who was tactfully abducted and forced to engage in flesh trade, was rescued from a house at Bank Para in the district town Tuesday. The victim, aged about 15, said a woman, Aleya, brought her in the town while she was returning home at Char Ghoperdanga village in Tungipara upazila from her relative's house in Khulna on October 16. She said the woman kept her at a rented house at Bank Para assuring her of giving a good job. The victim said the woman later forced her to engage in flesh trade. Police, on secret information, rescued the girl from the house in the afternoon, reports UNB.

70 people arrested in Bagerhet

BAGERHAT, Oct 24: Some 70 people were arrested on different charges in nine upazilas of the district Monday night. The arrested persons were produced before chief judicial magistrate court on Tuesday. Police said with this, some 143 people were rounded up in their special drive in the last two days till Monday. The law enforcers said on Sunday they launched a special drive against outlaws and other criminals. Police Super Awlad Ali Fakir said the drive would continue across the district till October 28, reports UNB.