The New Nation - Internet Edition

Immediate reinstallation of Baul sculptures demanded

RU Correspondent

Rajshahi University Press Club (RUPC) has demanded immediate reinstallation of Baul's sculptures at the roundabout in front of Zia International Airport and condemned fundamentalist's and government's initiatives for removing sculpture . To protest the horrific event RU Press Club organized day-long programmes included Human Chain , protest meeting and rally on Friday.

Members of the RUPC organized a human chain at in front of RU Central Library at 11 am where hundreds of student willingly participated and expressed condolence on the human chain. Soon after completion, a rally parraded the whole campus led by Club President Mahfuzur Rahman Munshi, Ex- secretary Md. Abdus Sattar Khan while they were wearing black cloth in their head

A protest meeting also organized at the Library Chattor. The meeting was addressed among others by ex- Secretary Md. Abdus Sattar Khan of the Nayadiganta, Mahrul Hasan Sujon of the daily Somokal, Ali Azgor Khokan of the Jai Jai Din and Joint Secretary of the club Arshadul Bari Kornel of the Bhorer Dak. They said that Baul's artist did not attack on religious sentimental and they always want peace for peoples. The peoples who attacked and demanded for removal of Lalon's sculpture, they are not this country peoples adding that they have some mission to destroy our culture.

Speakers strongly criticized the present government role against the fundamentalist forces and not take any action against them.

The speakers called upon the government and demanded immediate reinstallation of the sculptures and exemplary punishment of the Islamist groups who removed the sculptures.

They also rendered folk songs and patriotic songs and vowed to resist fundamentalist forces in the country.

Concerted efforts to attain 100 pc sanitation target in Gaibandha by 2010 underscored

BSS, Gaibandha

National Sanitation Month-08 is being celebrated in all the seven upazilas of the district from October 01 with much enthusiasm aimed at achieving 100 percent sanitation target by 2010.

In celebration of the month Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and different NGOs organised various programmes include holding of rallies, discussion meetings and debating competition, rendering of songs on sanitation at public places, decorating road islands with posters and banners with slogans on sanitation, showing video film and washing hands. A briefing meeting jointly organised by District Administration and DPHE was held at the hall room of the circuit house of the town here on October 22 as a part of the celebration of National Sanitation Month in cooperation with UNICEF.

Executive Engineer of DPHE Abuzar M. Masuder Rahman delivered his speech as a welcome speaker and presented the sanitation report of the district in the meeting. In the report it was disclosed that the district achieved 85.11 percent sanitation coverage with the cordial efforts of Local Government bodies, the NGOs and other development partners.

He also sought cooperation of all to mark the sanitation campaign a success and to attain 100 percent sanitation target in the district by 2010.

Presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Abul Bayes Miah, the function was also addressed, among others, by Shaghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Gulial Singh, Sub Assistant Engineer (SAE) of Sadar Upazila Akhil Chandra, SAE of Gobindaganj upazila Abdul Baki UP chairman Amanul Haque Mona, M. Zoridul Haque and Shah Alam Maznu. The speakers at the meeting stressed the need for creating public awareness about the use of sanitary latrines, safe drinking water and following hygienic rules for a better and disease free life.

Earlier, a big rally was also brought out from the Independence Square and ended at Zilla Parishad after parading the main roads of the town.

ADC Abdul Bayes Miah, Executive Engineer Abuzar M. Masuder Rahman and Gaibandha Poura Mayor Anwar-ul-Hasan Sabur led the rally. A large number of students, teachers, government officials and employees, NGO workers and public representatives participated in the rally.

Phensidyl recovered in Naogaon

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

Acting on a tip-off, Patnitola Upazila Police, led by ASI Subash Chandra Saha recovered 41 (fortyone) bottles of Phensidyl and arrested one person on Gopinath road recently.

The arrested person was identified as Ghulan Hossain (35), son of Late Kamar Uddin of Gopinagar-Sonadanga village in the said upazila. A case was registered with the thana in this connection.

2 killed in Khulna road mishap

Our Correspondent, Khulna

Two persons were killed, ten other were injured when a Khulna-bound bus turned turtle near Neechkhamar 15 km of the city on Khulna-Satkhira road on Friday afternoon.

Police said, the overloaded bus turned turtle near Neeckhamar area when the tire of a front wheel got punctured.

The victims were identified as Prashanta 35 a businessman of Tala Upazila and Rehana 10. Ten injured passengers of the bus got admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital and different clinics of the city.

8 injured in RUET BCL factional clashes

RU Correspondent

Eight activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) unit were injured in clashes between two rival factions of the organization on the RUET campus on Thursday and Wednesday night.

Earlier, BCL activists Kabiruzzman Kabir, a 4th year student of Mechanical department, Rasull, Dhrubo and Zunayed were beat up and critically injured by rivals led by Al-Amin and Nazmul in front of Shaheed Salim hall on RUET campus on Wednesday night at around 8 pm. They got admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). The attack followed a clash between two rival groups at noon on Thursday, campus sources said.

Meanwhile, four activists of BCL were injured when rival groups of BCL led by injured Rasul, Dhrobo, Zunayed with many outsiders clashed with hockey stick and bamboo sticks at around 1.00 pm in front of administrative building on Thursday, police and witnesses said. The injured were identified as Nashid Rahman alias Nayon, Saidul Islam Shahin, Nayon Kumar Pal, all are 2nd year students of Electrical department and Nasir Uddin Shah, a 3rd year student of Mechanical department.

They got admitted to RUET medical centre. On information, police rushed there and brought the situation under control. Sources said, on the RUET campus, BCL have two factions, one groups loyal to Rajshahi City Corporation mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and another group loyal to BCL central leaders who does not support RCC mayor Liton. Both the groups involved in several clashes on the campus for establishing supremacy on the campus.

Normal life disrupted in Barisal due to incessant drizzle

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Normal life in Barisal region became paralyzed as mid to heavy downpour without intervals and gusty winds continued until this report due to stormy weather prevailing over the region since early Saturday night.

Barisal weather office recorded 80 millimeters rainfall in 10 hours since 6:00 am Saturday morning with 10 to 15 nautical mile wind speed per hour and 95%-100% humidity.

People stranded in different points due to shortages of transports on roads and day labors forced to remain stay in home without going out for job.

Most of the shops, kitchen markets, grocery and confectionaries, restaurants either closed or facing shortages of sellers and buyers. Port authorities stopped plying of ML type water transports less than 65 feet in length on 76 routes including 28 inner routes of Barisal, 21 routes of Patuakhali, 13 routes of Barguna, 14 routes of Bhola and coastal services on five routes of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur-Chittagong.

The decision was taken after the low over west-central Bay and adjoining area moved slightly west-northwestwards and intensified into a well marked low over west-central Bay and adjoining northwest Bay and river port authorities in Barisal region hoisted cautionary weather signal no. 2 from Saturday morning.

Rafikul Islam, deputy director of BIWTA and officer in charge of Barisal Port said that the ML type launch operation would not be resumed till the weather condition improved.

All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice.

However, triple deck launches on Barisal-Dhaka routes continued plying till this report. Reports received from Kuakata sea beach said tourists left Kuakata shore due to adverse weather condition and local authorities and volunteers of Cyclone Preparedness Program under Red Crescent monitoring the situation and asked peoples to prepare for taking shelter in safe places within a short notice at any moment.

Advocate Kazi Munir, Barisal district Red Crescent secretary and A H M Saleh, official of CPP of Barisal Red Crescent, said regular wireless contact with their units on different shore, off shore, coastal islands and shoals, are maintaining and they informed that conditions of river estuaries and sea were very rough with high waves and strong tides and gusty winds since on Saturday afternoon.

4 killed in Habiganj road mishaps

UNB, Habiganj

Four people were killed and five others injured in separate road accidents in Madhabpur upazila early Friday.

Police said some people while returning to their houses in the upazila by a maxi after offering fateha at Karampur Mazar in Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria district a speeding truck hit the maxi at Riaznagar on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at 4am, leaving Jalal Mia, 32, dead on the spot and injuring six others.

The injured were rushed to the Sadar Hospital where Modabbir, 25, and Abidur Rahman Khan, 25, succumbed to their injuries.

The truck driver fled the scene after the accident.

In another accident, a maxi driver, Yunus Ali, 35, was critically injured as a truck hit his vehicle, which was parked on a roadside at Noapara in the same upazila at about 3:45am.

He was admitted to the upazila health complex where the attending doctors pronounced him dead. Police requisitioned his vehicle for patrolling in the area. The killer truck driver fled away.

Boy burnt to death in Sherpur

UNB, Sherpur

An adolescent boy was burnt to death as fire broke out in a house at village Char Duklai in Sadar upazila Thursday night.

Police said the fire originated in the house of Tinaruddin at about 10:30pm and burned the entire dwelling house and a cow shed. Tinaruddin's 11-year old son Taleb Ali could not come out of the house during the fire, killing him on the spot.

All the valuables of the house, three bullocks and a number of poultry birds were also burned in the fire.

Meanwhile, Tinarudin filed a case with the respective police station accusing his rival of setting fire to the house as a sequel to a land dispute.

Experience sharing meet held

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A day-long workshop on Half-yearly Divisional Experience sharing of Dhaka Division was held at Gopalganj Sadar Hospital auditorium on October 16 last. The workshop was presided over by Dr AKM Reazaul Karim, Civil Surgeon, Gopalganj and Dr Lutfar Rahman, Director (Health) Dhaka division was present as chief guest.

Dr Bariul Islam, Deputy Director. (Administration) Health and Dr Abdul Mannan, Assistant (Finance Health) were also present as special guests.

News briefs

Fish enclosure owner slaughtered in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Oct 26: A fish enclosure owner was slaughtered by miscreants at Choudda Hahajari village in Chitalmari upazila Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Eskandar Sheikh, 36. Local people said unknown assailants slaughtered Eskandar at dead of night when he was asleep in his house along with his family. On information, police recovered the body Friday morning and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. Police said Eskandar might have been killed following a past enmity. A case was filed, reports UNB.

26 hurt in Dinajpur road mishap

DINAJPUR, Oct 26: At least 26 bus passengers were injured as a bus collided head-on with a truck at Tekergram crossing in Phulbari upazila Thursday morning. Police said the mishap occurred as the Rangpur bound bus coming from Phulbari collided with the goods laden truck at about 8:30am. After the accident local people rushed to the spot and sent 11 of the injured to Phulbari upazila health complex while five others to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. Ten other wounded passengers were released first aid, reports UNB.

Fugitive convict held with arms in Magura

MAGURA, Oct 26: Police arrested a fugitive convict from Tengra bazaar in Mohammadpur upazila along with a shutter gun and three rounds of bullet on Wednesday. Police said listed terrorist Sanjay Roy Biswas, 35, was recently convicted and awarded six years imprisonment in a case in absentia. Acting on secret information, police arrested Sanjay from the area and according to his confessional statement seized the shutter gun and bullets from his house. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Fertilizer seized in Shariatpur

SHARIATPUR, Oct 25: Police captured a trawler along with 800 sacks of fertilizer from Padma River in Naria thana Thursday. Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Haider Jahan Faras said acting on a tip-off, police raided the river in WAPDA area and seized the trawler along with the fertilizer in the afternoon. The UNO said action would be taken after verifying the documents. Fertilizer dealer Dulal Bepari, owner of M/s Mary Traders, said police seized his fertilizer while it was being taken to his Noapara business centre, reports UNB.

Housewife killed in Jhalakati

JHALAKATI, Oct 26: A housewife was strangulated to death allegedly by her husband at Paschim Boria village in Rajapur upazila Thursday. The deceased was identified as Morsheda Begum, 22, wife of Milton of the village. Local people said Milton strangulated Morsheda, mother of a child, to death following a family feud at 7:00 am. Police, on information, recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. Milton went into hiding soon after the incident. A case was filed, reports UNB.

One gets life for possessing herion

GOPALGANJ, Oct 26: A special court here Thursday convicted a man and awarded him life term imprisonment for possessing heroin. The convict is Rahman Sikder, son of Riju Sikder of Sonakura village in Sadar upazila. According to the prosecution, a case was filed under Narcotics Control Act against Rahman Sikder for possessing heroin on December 8, 2006. After examining the records and witnesses, Special Tribunal Judge M Sekander Ali pronounced the verdict, reports UNB.