The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to raise mass awareness against human trafficking

BSS, Satkhira

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) here has taken a massive programme to resist smuggling, border crossing, and trafficking drug, women and children.

The programme includes holding meeting to create awareness among bordering villagers, increasing number of BDR jawans of the border outposts (BOP) and also tightened its patrol along the Satkhira border areas.

As part of the programme, a discussion meeting on "Resisting Smuggling and Trafficking Drug, Women and Children" organised by Satkhira BDR 41 Battalion was held at Debhata Upazila Parishad auditorium on Thursday afternoon. Commanding Officer of 41 Battalion Lt. Colonel AKM Shamsuddin Shams was present as chief guest with Debhata Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdur Rashid in the chair.

It was addressed, among others, by BDR operation officer Major Shamim, OC of Debhata thana Lokman Hekim, UP chairman Rezaul Karim, journalist Abu Taleb Mollah, UP member Mizanur Rahman, and Ali Hossain.

The speakers said a large number of women and children are being trafficked to India by some organised gangs of human traffickers every year. The increasing trend of smuggling and human trafficking has created a grave concern among the peace- loving people of the bordering areas here. They urged the authorities concerned to take steps to combat the menace effectively.

Col. Shamsuddin Shams said the smugglers are not friends of anyone but the enemies of the country and the people.

A section of people of border areas is involved in smuggling and human trafficking, and has pushed our young generation to a great danger, he said.

"These criminals are destroying our agricultural land by bringing a huge quantity of Indian adulterated fertilisers", Col. Shams added.

Farmers asked to boost crops production thru’ using modern technologies

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Two-day-long training for the farmers concluded at the auditorium of Sadar Upazila Parishad of the district on November 8 aimed al developing the skill on the increased production of agri crops to alleviate poverty.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of Sadar Upazila office organised it under the pilot project of increasing Agri-production in Monga affected areas through applying improved minor irrigation technology, sources said. The farmers were imparted training on the modern and irrigational technologies for boosting production of different varieties of agri crops including transplanted aus, mustard, maize, jute, ground nut, mung bean, sunflower and Boro paddy.

Besides, they were also given knowledge elaborately on pest management, inter-cultural operation-pre and post-harvesting operation and seed preservation.

Deputy Director of DAE ANM Mizanur Rahman Amin, district training officer SAM Saiful Islam, Crop production specialist Satya Brata Ppaul Upazila Agriculture Officer M Mojaffar Rahman and Upazila Agriculture Extension office's Shashthi Chandra Roy conducted the training sessions as resources persons.

The agri experts also asked the participating farmers to disseminate and share the acquired knowledge from the training with their fellows at the field level to boost production of agri-crops through modern technologies.

A total of 90 farmers of Sadar Upazila took part in the training.

Call to include RU Folklore Dept in Social Science Faculty

RU Correspondent

The Students of Folklore Department of Rajshahi University (RU) on Monday locked department chairman, teachers and office rooms as the university authorities did not includetheir department under social science faculty. The students also organised a human chain in front RU central library demanding on same.

Earlier, the agitating students boycotted their scheduled classes and examinations demanding the same. Sources said, on Sunday an arts faculty meeting was held at dean complex to discuss folklore department inclusion in social science faculty where arts faculty dean Prof Muhammad Shafi in the chair. Sources said, during the faculty meeting, department teachers failed to encourage faculty members and did not present logical ground to include the department under social science faculty.

Later, the faculty member requested the folklore department teachers to discuss the issue in next faculty meeting, sources also said. Hearing the news, hundreds of students staged a demonstration in front of the department and demanded immediate inclusion of their department under social science faculty. The agitating students later locked department chairman office and department office rooms as the department teachers failed to manage faculty members. At a rally, students also alleged that as students of a department under the arts faculty they get few opportunities in the job market. They threatened to go on a hunger strike if their demand is not meet.

Earlier, the agitating students demonstrated on the department premises before the faculty meeting to press home their demand. A teacher of the department told the New Nation that department teachers presented the students demand and logical ground in front of faculty members properly.

When contacted, Department Chairman Prof. Dr Shahidur Rahman, he did not express any comment. When contacted RU registrar Prof. Mohammad Safi, he said considering the teachers-students demand and course curriculum of the department we will take our proper decision.

19 nabbed on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anticrime drives, rounded up 19 persons on various charges from different areas in city and nine upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till Sunday evening, police said.

Of them, eight were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while 11 others from nine upazilas.

Apart from this traffic police lodged 21 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized a motorbike without registration during drive against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document related malpractices in different parts of the city during the time.

Discussion on Int’l Friendship Exchange programme held in Kishoreganj

Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society of Kishoreganj unit organised a discussion meting on the occasion on International Friendship Exchange Programme-2008 held at local community center in the town on Monday.

Professor Dr Md Abdur Rob, Chairman and Dr Gaji Abdul Haque Vice-president of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society were attended as chief and special guest. Unit President Masud Helali presided over the function and it was addressed among others ADC (Gen) Nitish Chandra Sarker, Board Member Azizul Bari Kamal, Unit Secretary Lutfar Rahman Choawdhury and Press Club President Shaheen Khan.

Rob gave educational equipments among one thousand students in Kishoreganj.

Minor girl killed after rape in Naogaon

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

One minor girl was murdered after raping in a Uttara cold storage in Badalgachi Upazila in the district recently.

The dead was identified as Razvi (9), daughter of Shahinoor Islam of Cahapadal village of Paharpur UP in Badalgachi Upazila.

The dead body was recovered by police from the cold storage after five days of missing. She was raped and killed, according to the report of the post-mortem.

Five arrested persons are owner of the cold storage Azizul, night guard Abu Bakar Siddique, Rafiqul Islam, Machine-man Ghulam Sarwar and Sushantoo Kumar Mondal.

Mother of the deceased Ruba Begum filed a case with the thana in this connection, accusing the said accused.

National Co-operative Day observed in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

37th National Co-operative Day 2008 was observed in Mymensingh in a befitting manner. This year the slogan is Food security for co-operative.

A rally was brought out from Zila Parishad and paraded the main streets of the town and ended at Zila Parishad.

A discussion meeting and prize distribution among best cooperatives was held on the occasion. D.C (Mymensingh) Md. Ziaur Rahman Khan was present as chief guest and distributed the Prizes. Md. Musharraf Hussain, Editor, Ajkar Khabar presided over the discussion meeting. Principal Abul Kashem, Mrinal Kanti Roy, District Co-operative Officer. C.E.O, Zila Parishad, Md. Saidur Rahman were present.

JS poll-’08: Shaon seeks nomination from BNP for Chuadanga-2

Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

People of Damurhuda-bonagar Upazila under Chuadanga district expect that Shaon Tarafder Leader, of BNP, will be nominated for ensuing national election from Chuadanga two constituency.

An illustrious son of Darsona-2 Chuadanga has much popularity and wide acceptability among the people of his locality and elsewhere through his active participation in various socio-cultural and humanitarian activities since early days of his life.

An amiable but outspoken person Shaon Tarafdar is professionally a businessman.

Charitable hospital inaugurated in Sylhet

Golden Harvest Group inaugurated Taher Ahmed Choudhury Charitable Hospital on 8th November at East Bhadeshor, Golapgonj, Sylhet. The hospital has started with 20-bed facilities for women and children which will be increased to 100-bed in 3 year's time.

Rajeeb Samdani, Managing Director of Golden Harvest Group as well as local elite and Trustee members were present at the opening ceremony says a press release.

The hospital is set up to provide 100% free treatment and medicine entirely supported by Golden Harvest Group under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Rickshaw-puller commits suicide in N’ganj

UNB, Narayanganj

A poor rickshaw-puller allegedly committed suicide failing to maintain his family due to extreme poverty at Boilarkandi village in Araihazar upazila Friday.

Local people said Maskur, 50, son of late Arif Mia of the village, hanged himself from a mango tree near his house in the morning. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. An UD case was lodged.

Sirajul pledges for dev of Pabna-4 constituency

Our correspondent, Ishurdi

Md. Sirajul Islam Sarder Former MP and sitting President, Pabna district BNP. seeks nomination in Pabna-4 constituency. (Ishurdi-Atghoria) for JS Election.

He has been working in Ishurdi and Atghoria Upazila round the clock from 7 years ago. He has been making comunication with people and all kinds of 4 party leaders in the ishurdi Atghoria Area under Pabna-4 Constuency. If he gets nomination, there will not be internal conflict in the 4 party. He has been seeking for vote by saying that he has good relations with central high command specially for pary chief Bagum Khaleda Zia . He was former President Ishurdi Upazila Jubadal, President Ishurdi upazila BNP and member central Jubadal. Sirajul Islam Sarder said to the voters that if he gets nomination from 4 party he will sacrifice his life for the welfare and development of Ishurdi and Atghoria Upazila.

News briefs

Valuables looted, one held in Keraniganj

KERANIGANJ, Nov 9: Robbers looted cash and valuables worth about Tk 5 lakh from a house in Rajabari under South Keranigang police station early Sunday. Police said nine armed robbers entered into the house of Ali Hossin cutting grills of window at about 3am. They then took the house inmates hostage at gun point and looted Tk 50,000 in cash, 25 tolas of gold ornaments and other valuables. While fleeing after committing robbery local people caught one of the bandits, Mostafa, and handed him over to police after giving a mass beating, reports UNB.

Four outlaws lynched in Pabna

PABNA, Nov 9: Angry mob lynched four outlaws as they tried to commit robbery at a house at Hatbaria village in Sathia upazila early Sunday. The dead were identified as Ebadat, 35, Rabiul, 30, Lal, 32 and Shamim 28 residents of the upazila. They were the active cadres of extremists group 'Janajuddha', Sathia thana OC Moniruzzaman said. The OC said a group of armed bandits numbering 10/12 stormed into the house of Joynal at about 1:00am. As the house inmates raised hue and cry local people rushed to the spot and encircled the bandits. At one stage they caught five of the bandits while others managed to flee firing blank shots. Later, the angry mob gave them a good beating, killing four of them on spot and injuring another. On information police rushed in and recovered the bodies and rescued the injured Hablu, reports UNB.

30 injured in

Sirajganj clash

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 9: At least 30 people were injured in a fierce clash over land dispute at Alokdia village in Raiganj upazila on Friday. Police said there was a longstanding dispute between two groups of villagers over the ownership of a plot of land in the village. The clash ensued when a group tried to occupy the land at about 9am, leaving 30 people from both sides injured. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. Both sides filed cases with the police, reports UNB.

2 houses burnt in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, Nov 9: Two houses were gutted in a fire at Shankarpur village in Chatkhil upazila of the district on Saturday. Witnesses said the fire originated from an electric short circuit in the house of Babul Miah at about 6 pm and soon engulfed an adjoining house. A fire fighting unit from Choumuhuni rushed to the spot after the fire had gutted the valuables of the houses. Fire brigade sources said the extent of loss from the fire could go up to Tk 3 lakh, reports UNB.

Indian cloths seized in Comilla

COMILLA, Nov 9: BDR jawans seized huge Indian cloths worth about Tk one crore from Suagazi area of South Sadar upazila early Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of BDR 33-battalion raided the area at about 4am and recovered 96 bales of smuggled cloth. However, sensing the presence of the border guards, the smugglers fled the scene, leaving behind the cloths. The seized cloths were deposited to local customs house, reports UNB.

Prisoner dies in Barisal jail

BARISAL, Nov 9: A convicted prisoner who fell sick at Barisal Central Jail died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital Friday. Jail and hospital sources said Abdur Rouf Ali Howladar, 71, of Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district, was sentenced for life in a murder case by a trial court of Bagerhat on June 28, 2003. He was sent to Barisal Central Jail on September 12, 2008 and admitted to Barisal SBMCH by the jail authorities after he fell sick due to old age complications. He was sent back to jail on September 30 after his condition improved and again admitted, reports UNB.