The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to boost fish production to meet protein

Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj

Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Syed Atahar Rahman said Fish resources have to be increased to meet the increasing demand for protein in the country.

Addressing a workshop in Kishoreganj town, the Fisheries Secretary said new field level facilities will be set up for augmenting fish production in three categories of water bodies of the country.

The workshop of 'Dissemination of Good Practices in fisheries sector was held at local collectorate conference room on Saturday. With Deputy Commissioner ASM Mahabubul Alam in the chair, the workshop was also addressed by Director, Seneral of Fisheries Md. Rafiqul Islam and Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Division AKM Mortuza as special guest.

District and upazila level fishery Officials, zilla parishad officials, UNO's, representatives from NGOs, fish traders and concerned foreign donors attend the workshop.

The present fish production in the country is 24.40 lakh tons, according to a survey in conducted 2006-07. The workshop was further told that the targeted 35 lakh tons fish could be achieved through expending effective management of fisheries resources.

The speakers underlined the importance of providing modern training to fish cultivators for boosting production.

Couple killed, 8 hurt in road mishap

BSS, Bogra

A couple was killed and eight others were injured in a fatal road accident at Sankoa point on the Naogaon-Bogra highway under Adamdighee upazila in Bogra on Wednesday afternoon, police sources said.

The accident took place when a Adamdighee bound Votvoti from Manda in Naogaon and a Naogaon bound bus from Bogra collided head-on at the point at 3:30 pm on Wednesday killing the couple on the spot and inuring eight others.

The deceased were identified as Khalilur Rahman, 47, son of late Sober Ali Shah and Neher Banu, 40, wife of deceased Khalilur Rahman of village Jhalghoria under Dupchanchia upazila in Bogra.

Injured Marjina Begum, 14, and Mehedi Hassan, 20 daughter and son of the deceased couple and other injured passengers Masud, 32, Farzana Begum, 12, and Hassan Ali, 30, were admitted to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.

Police recovered the bodies and filed a case in this connection with Adamdighee police station, the sources said.

'AL won’t participate in JS poll without release of Hasina’

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

A view exchange meeting organised by Rupganj Awami League was held at Mahabub Spinning Mills Ltd. premises at Jatramora of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj on Saturday with Abdul Motalib Rupganj Awami League President in the chair where KM Shafi Ullah, Bir Uttom, former army chief was the chief guest.

Alhaj Mahabubur Rahman-Chairman Tarabo Pourashava, Alhaj Mojibor Rahman Bhuiyan-Chairman Kanchan Pourashava, Abu Hossain Bhuiyan-Chairman Rupganj Union Parishad, Mosiur Rahman Babu, Major (Rtd), Manjari Alam Tutul, Advocate Mofizuddin, Abul Bashar Tuku, Zahed Ali, Shaminul Islam, Abul Hossain Khan, Awami League leaders, Alfaz Khan Freedom Fighter and Amir Hossain Commissioner among others were attended and addressed the meeting KM Shafiullah in his address expressed that Awami League would never participate in the upcoming election without the release of Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders who were in custody.

Concerted efforts to stop human trafficking underscored

BSS, Lalmonirhat

Speakers at a meeting have stressed the need for concerted efforts of all to stop human trafficking in the country.

They said the problems like illiteracy, poverty and lack of adequate awareness are responsible for trafficking of women and children. Kaliganj Upazila Nari O Shishu Pachar Protirodh Committee organised the meeting at Tushbhander Mohila College auditorium in Kaliganj upazila on Thursday with the assistance of The Legal Aid Project of RDRS.

Members of the civil society, professionals, public representatives and women leaders took part in the meeting with local elite Nur Islam in the chair. Local branch Manager of Sonali Bank Masud Rana attended it as the chief guest. Acting chairman of Tushbhander UP Joynal Abedin, President of Upazila Peshajibi Committee Mokhlesur Rahman, its secretary Refaz Uddin and RDRS executive Rahela Khatun spoke as the special guests. The meeting was told that about 20,000 women and children are being trafficked annually from the country through various routes and over one million women and children have so far been trafficked since the independence of the country.

They said four-lakh Ban-gladeshi women and children are engaged in sex business in India and more than 50,000 in the Middle East and Pakistan.

The speakers underscored the need for creating awareness among the vulnerable group, especially poorer section of the poverty stricken areas in the country to stop the unholy business.

Qualitative change in education stressed

BSS, Bhurungamari

Speakers at a meeting here on Thursday stressed the need for bringing qualitative change for improving standard of education at the school levels to produce worthy citizens for the competitive 21st century.

Rangpur-Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) under its 'Qualitative Change in Education Standard Project' with the assistances of Manusher Janno Prokalpo organised the meeting for teachers, School Managing Committee members, public representatives and professionals.

Senior Manager of RDRS Nazrul Islam chaired the orientation meeting that was attended by UNO of Bhurungamari upazila Hamidul Haque as the chief guest. Area Manager of Manusher Janno Prokalpo Anwarul Islam, Acting Upazila education officer Nasir Uddin, Sadar UP chairman Mahmudur Rahman, RDRS Filed manager Mizanur Rahman and President of Bhurungamari Press Club Anwarul Haq, addressed.

Later, an upazila-level monitoring committee was formed with Sadar UP chairman Mahmudur Rahman as its convener for supervising the ongoing project activities in three Ups of the upazila for upgrading education standard.

Certificate award ceremony of 9th Sea Rover Met Course held

Certificate award ceremony of 9th Sea Rover Met Course-2008 and Mahatabu Jalsa patronised by Bangladesh Navy held at Rover Scout Training Centre, Bahadurpur in Gazipur on Thursday, says an ISPR press release.

Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel) and Commissioner of Sea Scouts Commodore M Faird Habib attended the ceremony as chief guest and gave away the certificates among the participating Sea Scouts. Addressing on the occasion the Chief Guest urged Sea Scouts to work for the country and nation through social development activities beside their education. He expressed his deep satisfaction about the role of the Sea Scouts and Rovers during rehabilitation of the last SIDR victims.

As special guest Begum Fafiza Habib distributed prizes among the trainee Sea Scouts. Earlier, National Deputy Commissioner of Sea Scouts inaugurated the course on 26 October 2008.

Mentionable that, total of 60 Sea Scouts from different naval area participated in the 5-day programme.

Among others, high officials from Navy and officers from Bangladesh Scouts were present on the occasion.

News briefs

Youth killed by rivals in C'nawabganj

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Oct 02: A young man was killed following past enmity at Laxmipur village in Gomostapur upazila Thursday. The deceased was identified as Nadim Raja, 25, son of Sukur Uddin of the village. Police quoting local people said Nadim had longstanding enmity with Shamim of the area. Shamim's people beat up Nadim on Tuesday following the enmity, leaving him seriously injured. He was first taken to the upazila health complex and later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. Police arrested two people - Shamim and Jamal- in this connection, reports UNB.

Arm, bullets seized in Chuadanga

Chuadanga, Oct 02: Police recovered a shutter gun and two rounds of bullet from Jalshuka village in Sadar upazila on Wednesday night. Acting on secret information, police raided a garden at Jalshuka village and seized the shutter gun and bullets at about 8pm. None was arrested in this connection as the terrorists fled the scene sensing the presence of the law enforcers, report UNB.

UP chairman suspended for corruption

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Oct 02: Chairman of Durlavpur union parishad in Shibganj upazila has been suspended on charge of corruption and misappropriation of money. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Taher M Masud Rana said a letter issued by Local Government and Cooperatives Ministry regarding the suspension of UP chairman Bazlar Rashid Sanu was received here on Thursday. He also said that Bazlar Rashid was directed to handover the charge to panel chairman of the union within the next three months, reports UNB.