The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rajshahi metropolis to be turned into digital city: Liton

BSS, Rajshahi

The process for transforming the Rajshahi metropolis into a digital city will start within the next three months for the first time in the country.

The Planning Commission will execute the "Digital City" programme as a pilot project under the Support to the ICT Task Force Programme (SICT).

Mayor of Rajshahi city AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said this while exchanging views with a delegation of the project led by its deputy director Dr Sirajul Haque Talukder at his City Bhaban office. He urged the delegation to take immediate steps for speedy implementation of the project and asked the officials concerned to perform their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty to make the project a complete success.

RCC Chief Executive Officer Korban Ali, Chief Engineer Ashraful Haque, Executive Engineer Reajat Hossain and ward councilors concerned attended the meeting.

Meeting sources said the project would launch a powerful website equipped with all essential information about the metropolis and livelihood of the citizens, and make those available for the city dwellers so that they could avail those easily and cheaply.

On successful implementation of the project, all the ward offices would be connected with the RCC head office with a digital network and the rate of expenditure cost of the civic services could be reduced to a greater extent.

City dwellers can preserve all of their necessary information using internet. Thus, an information technology knowledge-based society would be established. Apart from this, the citizens could develop their living standard significantly by meeting up essential demands with skills.

The sources informed that the project would also contribute a lot to enhance capacity of different government and non- government offices including the RCC along with ensuring transparency and accountability.

It would also accelerate the trade and business sector side by side with creation of an ICT-based social environment that would help establish good governance.

Aman paddy cultivated on 81,000 hectares in Panchagarh

BSS, Panchagarh

Aman paddy was cultivated on 81,000 hectares of land in five upaizlas of the district with target to produce 3,22,000 tonnes of foodgrains during the current season.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the paddy was cultivated on 22,000 hectares in Debiganj, 16,600 hectares in Sadar, 16,200 hectares in Boda, 16,600 hectares in Atwari and 9,600 hectares in Tetulia upazila.

The DAE has supplied all necessary seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other agricultural inputs at a fair price among the farmers to achieve the production target.

Besides, the department has also imparted training to the farmers to make them acquainted with the modern methods of Aman cultivation.

The farmers said they would start harvesting of Aman paddy within a few days.

Harvesting of hybrid paddy begins in Kurigram

BSS, Kurigram

The harvesting of hybrid paddy has began here in a festive moods as it is a sign to overcome Monga in the area.

It has also provided works to the jobless people during the lean period of Awshin and Kartic months.

Farmers are harvesting the hybrid BRI-7 and 33 paddy in villages of the district in festive mood. Farm labourers, farmers and women workers are passing busy time now. They are very happy with the bumper production in the season owing to favorable climatic conditions.

Shahinur Rahman Shahin, a farmer of Maddahya Komorpur village under sadar upazila, cultivated transplanted hybrid Aman on 30 bighas of land and expecting per bigha production at 22 to 25 mounds.

He organised a function on Friday to celebrate the early harvest of hybrid aman in presence of the agriculture officials.

DAE, Deputy Director Mohsin Ali said, the prospect of yield of locally developed Paddy Bina-7 and BRI-33 is very bright and harvesting time from sowing seeds is only 110 to 115 days.

A total of 35,000 hectares of land were brought under different varieties transplanted-Aman cultivation during this season.

BANFRU-4 leaves for UN Peace Keeping Mission in Sudan

BSS, Chittagong

A Naval Contingent of 79 members left here on Sunday morning Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport by UN Chartered Airbus for Sudan.

This Contingent consisting of 14 officers, 64 sailors and one civilian, will replace the BANFRU-3 which is stationed at Malakhall of Sudan.

Earlier, on October 4, 2008, two officers, 11 sailors and one civilian staff of Bangladesh Navy led by Contingent Commander Captain M Sajjad Alam, psc left Bangladesh for Sudan as advance team of this Contingent.

Presently 73 BN Officers and 180 Sailors have been deployed in various countries of different UN Peace Keeping Mission.

Bangladesh Navy Force Riverine Unit (FRU) has been working in Sudan for the last three years successfully.

Commodore Commanding Chittagong Commodore M Nasir and high officials from navy were present to see them off.

Immediate implementation of national coal policy demanded

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

The Oil, Gas, Mineral Resource, Electricity and Port Protection Committee, Rangpur unit formed a human chain in front of the local Press Club on Monday protesting initiatives to lease out 9 blocks in the Bay of Bengal to the foreign company for energy exploration.

The organisations also held discussion meeting simultaneously at the same place. The leaders of the organisations urged the government to refrain from leasing out any block in the Bay or Bengal.

They also demanded immediate implementation of national coal policy formulated by the Committee headed by Dr. Motin Patwari. They warned the government not to allow any company to extract coal by adopting open pit mining at Fulbari in Dinajpur. Former chairman of Rangpur municipality Mohammad Afzal, former principal of Rangpur College Reza Sha Toufiqur Rahman, Rangpur unit president of CPB Sahadat Hosen, and Rangpur unit secretary of Gonoforum Mazerul Islam Liton spoke in the discussion meeting.

Obituary

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

Kamar Uddin Ahmed (73), a prominent Awami League Leader, died of a heart-attack, at his village home recently.

He served as Tilukpur Union Awami League president for several years and also former chairman of Tilukpur Union Parishad under Sadar district Upazila.

He was buried at his family graveyard.He left behind widow, 3 sons, 2 daughters, grand-children and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Opinion sharing meet on 'Revenue’ held in Gazipur

Our Correspondent, Gazipur

An opinion sharing meet with journalists and local elite organised by Tax Region-2 Gazipur Circle was held at Gazipur Pourashava auditorium on Monday.

Tax Commissioner, Sayed Aminul Karim spoke as chief guest with Mayor Gazipur Pourasava, A.K.M. Mozammel Hoque in the chair. Karim said in his speech everybody should give The Tax in proper way. Because development work of the country is being implemented by Tax. Without Tax nation and country cannot prosper.

So, we should remember a country's national income and expense depends on revenue of the country. He requested all to give tax in time.

Besides, Joint Tax Commissioner, Nafisa Khan, Advocate Tax Division Halimullahs also spoke at the funciton. Mazammel Hoque demanded a Tax regional office in a good place and income should be distributed for the development of Gazipur district proportionately.

Advocacy meet on dev of human resources held

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

An Advisory meeting titled Religion leaders involvement for the Development of Human Resources was held at Islamic Foundation Auditorium on 21st October. It was organised by Ministry of Religion, financed by UNFPA, Bangladesh assisted by Islamic Foundation, Mymensingh Md. Zakir Hossain, UNO, Sadar was present as chief guest. It was presided over by Md. Abdul Baten, D.D. Islamic Foundation, Mymensingh. Key not paper was presented by Moulana Ferdous Hossain. The speakers stressed on religious leaders involvement for the development of human resources. They underscored that only religious leader can save people from AIDS, Drug addiction.

News briefs

2 killed, 15 hurt in Kushtia road mishap

Kushtia, Oct 26 : Two people were killed and 15 others injured in a road accident at Dashmail in Bheramara upazila Sunday morning. Police said a Jessore-bound bus from Shahjadpur of Pabna overturned on the road as its driver lost control over the steering at about 10 am, killing two of its passengers on the spot and injuring 15 others. One of the deceased was identified as Rezaul Karim Babul, 45, staff of local Public Works Department while another could not be identified immediately. Six of the injured were admitted to Bheramara Upazila Health Complex while the others to the General Hospital, reports UNB

25 injured in

Shariatpur clash

Shariatpur, Oct 26 : At least 25 people were injured in a fierce clash at Chargajipur village at Sadar upazila on Saturday afternoon. Local people said there was a long standing dispute between local UP member Gani Matbar and Akkas Matbar over establishing supremacy in the village. They said an altercation ensued between the supporters of the two rival groups when Gani Matbar hurled abusive words at a supporter of Akkas Matbar for refusing to sell cigarette to him. Later, both the groups equipped with lethal weapons and sticks attacked each other leaving 25 people from both sides injured, reports UNB

4 drug peddlers arrested with heroin in Naogaon

Naogaon, Oct 26 : Four drug peddlers, including a police constable, were arrested along with heroin worth Tk 50 lakh from in front of Raninagar upazila parishad building Saturday. Acting on secret information, police arrested Masud Rana, 21, Abdus Salam, 48, and police constable of Patnitola thana Helaluddin Munshi along with 500 grams of heroin at 3:00 pm. Later, on the basis of Helaluddin's confessional statement, police arrested Zobaidul alias Roni, 30, from Santahar area. A case was filed, reports UNB

One trample man to death by elephant

Bandarban, Oct 25 : A man was killed in elephant attack at Shukur Jhiri village in Lama upazila here Saturday. The deceased was identified as Amir Hossain. Villagers said a herd of 20/22 wild elephants attacked and trampled Amir to death when they were leaving the area after damaging standing crops, reports UNB.

One killed in Bogra clashes

Bogra, Oct 26 : A man was killed and four others were injured in a bloody clash at Hajarki Hindupara village in Nandigram upazila Thursday. The deceased was identified as Sudhanna Sarkar, 24, son of Dhirendra Nath Sarkar of the village. Police said the clash ensued at 10am between two groups of villagers following a land dispute that left five people injured. Among the injured, Sudhanna Sarker died at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Police arrested three people in this connection, reports UNB.