The New Nation - Internet Edition

Massive plan undertaken to cultivate maize in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken up a massive plan to cultivate maize in all the seven upazilas in the district during the current season.

DAE sources said a total of 10,000 hectares of land would be brought under maize cultivation this year with the production target of 60,000 metric tons of maize.

1,250 hectares of land would be cultivated in sadar upazila, 200 hectares in Sadullahpur, 850 hectares in Palashbari, 3,100 hectares in Gobindaganj upazila, 1,500 hectares in Sundarganj, 550 hectares in Shaghata and 2,550 hectares in Fulchhari upazila. Necessary steps have been taken to ensure supply of quality seeds, fertilizer and other agri inputs among the growers at fair prices to boost production of maize during the current season, said deputy director of the DAE ANM Mizanur Rahman Amin.

The farmers who lost their standing crops during the last floods have been encouraged to cultivate maize on large scale in their land to recover their losses, he also said.

76 kgs of fish fries released in Chuadanga

BSS, Chuadanga

As many as 76 kgs of various species of fish fries were released in the Bhairab river at Andulbaria point under Jibannagar upazila in the district on Thursday.

Jibannagar upazila fishery officer SM Ashiqur Rahman and upazila youth development officer Hasanul Aziz released the fish fries.

Muktijoddhar Santan demand FF quota at RUET

RU Correspondent

Amra Muktijoddhar Santan (AMS), a platform of children of freedom fighters, of Rajshahi University (RU) unit on Saturday urged the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) authorities and demanded immediate preservation freedom fighters quota in RUET including all engineering and technology universities.

In a statement, they also urged the government to increase the number of seats in freedom fighters quota at the public universities and government colleges. AMS convener Zinna-Al-Mamun and former convener Masud Rana Mintu on Saturday said that all public universities preserved freedom fighter quota except engineering and technology universities.

For this reason, a good number of meritorious students of freedom fighters could not get enough opportunity of engineering and technology studies, the said. For not preservation of freedom fighter quota at engineering universities, sons and daughter of freedom fighters fully deprive engineering education, they also said. If the engineering universities preserve freedom fighter then a good number of meritorious students will be able to receive engineering education and the discrimination in education sector will be removed, they also said.

They also urged the government and education advisor to consider the demand sympathetically. AMS of RU unit will submit a memorandum to RUET VC on Sunday on the same demand, they said.

When contacted RUET vice chancellor Prof Dr Fazlul Bari, he said that the mater is depend on the government higher authorities.

Progotir Pathey-06 launched in Gaibandha: Assessing proper situation of children, women in Bangladesh underscored

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A day long launching ceremony on the publication of the report of Multiple indicator cluster Survey (MICS) Progotir Pathey 2006 was held at the hall room of the Circuit House of the town here on October 29.

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, (BBS) organised the ceremony in cooperation with UNICEF. The aim of the survey was to provide up to date information for assessing the proper situation of children and women in Bangladesh. The survey also aimed at furnishing data need for monitoring progress towards goals established by the MDGS and the goals of A world fit for children.

Deputy Commissioner Abu Muhammad Yousuf addressed the function as chief guest and medicinal officer of civil surgeon's officer Dr M Rafiqul Islam was present as special guest.

Parveen Begum, programme officer of UNICEF, Rajshahi Division and SM Anisuzzaman regional statistical officer, were present as resource persons and said the report covers a wide range of issues pertaining to child health and nutrition reproductive health, child development child protection, early marriage, orphan hood and child disability. It is presented in two volumes: volume 1 is the full technical report while volume 11 presents the district date they also said.

Presided over by ADC (General) M. Abdul Bayes Miah, the fucntion was also addressed among others by present of district chamber of commerce and industry Shahjada Anwarul Quadir, district fisheries officer SM Rashedul Haque and district information officer Sabina Akter Luckey.

The speakers at their speeches thanked the BBS and the UNICEF for publishing the reports of MICS Progotir Pathey as the findings of this report would be very useful to the planners, researchers and policy makers of different institutions for developing appropriate measures to improve the lives of children and women in Bangladesh.

More than 60 district level officials, leader of different professional groups NGO representatives social workers and the journalists attended the ceremony.

Farewell reception to former BAU VC, teachers

BAU Correspondent, Mymensingh

Speakers at a farewell reception said that energy and commitment of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor M Mustafizur Rahman and qualified teachers of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology (FAERS) enriched the academic profession who maintained high quality of graduates of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU).

Held at the Faculty Gallery, the farewell reception was organised by the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural sociology and it was chaired by the Deal, FEARS, Prof Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah. The reception were accorded to Karim Talukder, department of Agricultural Economics and prof Dr. Md. Ferdous Alam, Department of Agricultural Finance of the same faculty of the University.

Among others spoke on the occasion were Prof Md Azinal Abedin Khan, Prof Mrs Rafiqunnessa Ali, Dr Abdur Rashid Ahmed, Prof Dr MA Sattar Mondal, Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, Prof Atiar Rahman Mollah, Registrar Md Nazibur Rahman, Controller Md Tafazzal Hossain Bhuiyan and other teachers of the university. They expressed gratitude to the retired teachers for their valuable contributions to the University.

Later, Dean, FEARS, Prof Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah formally presented BAU crests to the outgoing teachers who were accorded hearty reception by the teachers and students of the University.

News Briefs

Powder milk seized in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Oct 31: For the first time in the metropolis, a mobile court on Wednesday in different drives, realized Taka 4,000 from two business establishments for selling and displaying the alleged melamine-contaminated eight brands of powered milk. The court, led by Executive Magistrate Monjur Hafiz including BSTI officials and RAB conducted drives at different markets and shopping malls. During the operation, the court also seized different brands of powered milk worth of about Taka five lakh. It has also destroyed some of the seized packets and sealed off a warehouse at Shaheb Bazar, reports UNB.

Fake candidates held in Natore

NATORE, Nov 1 : Eleven fake candidates were arrested during government's primary teacher recruiting test here on Friday. Police said the arrested are brilliant students of different universities and were caught while giving proxy in the test for money. Acting on a secret information, the invigilators challenged the fake examinees and handed over to the police after being sure they were not actual candidates, reports UNB.

3 killed in Bagerhat road mishap

BAGERHAT, Nov 1: Three people, including a woman, were killed and two others seriously injured when a bus rammed a rickshaw van on Muniganj-Patgati road in front of Kachipara Primary School in Chitalmari upazila on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Habibur Rahman, 55, his son Niamul, 20, and Kanok Mandol, 35. They hailed from Santoshpur village in Sadar Upazila. Police said the accident took place at about 11am when a bus from the district hit the rickshaw van from behind, killing three van passengers on the spot and injuring two others, including the van puller. The rickshaw van puller and the deceased woman's son Joyram, 4, were rushed to Sadar Hospital where their condition was stated to be critical, reports UNB.

397 held in Magura

MAGURA, Nov 1: Police arrested 397 people on different charges in a special drive across the district in the last 10 days till Thursday. Six firearms, eight bullets, 60 sharp weapons, 850 grams ganja and one statue were also recovered during the drive, police said. Assistant Police Super Habibur Rahman said the statue of lord Bishnu, made of touchstone, worth about Tk one crore and was recovered from a house on the outskirts of the district town, reports UNB.

Dowry free wedding ceremony held in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, Nov 1: A dowry free wedding ceremony of four pairs of orphans was held at the Scout Bhaban in the district town on Thursday amid much fanfare. The unique ceremony was organized jointly by district administration, the Scouts, local donors and social workers. Each new couple got one sewing machine and some necessaries. Some well-wishers and donors from the society, including district administration, provided the financial supports. Deputy Commissioner AKM Rafiqul Islam attended the ceremony as chief guest with ADC (Rev) Rafiqul Islam Mia was in the chair, reports UNB.

50-bed hostel constructed for Rangamati Girls’ College

RANGAMATI, Nov 1: Construction work for a 50-bed hostel for Rangamati Government Girls' College has been completed recently. Education Engineering Department has implemented the work at a cost of Tk 70 lakh. Students of the lone female college in the district will have chance for prosecuting their studies in improved residential facilities with the construction of the hostel. Another 50-bed residential hostel for the girls' college will be constructed during the current fiscal year, officials said, reports UNB.