The New Nation - Internet Edition

Killing of Jhalakathi judges: Family members yet not financially rehabilitated

Our Correspondent, Barisal

November 14, was the third anniversary of the killing of two judges in Jhalakati district town by the blast of JMB suicidal killing team.

Jagonnath Pandey and Shahid Sohel Ahmed, two judges of Jhalakati district judge courtship killed at the spot in that powerful blast in front of their residence just after boarding into their microbus to go to their office on November 14, 2005.

The family members of Jagonnath Pandey at paternal village 'Padma' under Patharghata upazila of Barguna district and house of his father in law in Kashipur area of Barisal city and cremation ground.

Ram Narayan Pandey and Sushila Pandey, parents, Biswa Nath Pandey , Govinda Pandey and Harisangkar Pandey, brothers of Jagonnath Pandey living at Padma village without any sustainable financial rehabilitation after severely affected by cyclone Sidr within two years of losing their main earning member of the family by the hand of fundamentalist terrorists.

Thirty-three days after the hurricane Sidr smashed their house and properties they received first relief of food, three blankets, cash five thousand taka and a VGF card from the administration, world food program, Saudi relief fund after reported the issue in media.

They have to pay loans taken by Jagonnath Pandey for constructing a cow-shed in the village home even after the shed smashed and cows killed by hurricane Sidr.

Assurance for giving alternative employment to a member of the family after killing of the main earning member, government official on duty by terrorists, the commitment was not fulfilled.

Ram Narayan Pandey, eighty years old father of Jagonnath Pandey and senior most member of the lower middle class family with grief said that compensations received from the government handed over to Rita Pandey for maintenances of Shrestho Pandey, the wife and only son of Jagonnath.

Rita Pandey was given employment in UCBL Bank as an officer by the initiative of the government after the killing of Jagonnath.

Rita Pandey, widow of Jagonnath Pandey and daughter of a upper middle class family living in her paternal home in Barisal city without maintaining any connection with the family members of her father in law even after the hit of devastating hurricane Sidr, Biswanath, elder brother of Jagonnath alleged.

Even after that we have taken loan to observe religious rituals for the blessings of the departed soul of Jagonnath Pandey, he added.

On other hand family members of father in law of Jagonnath Pandey said that they also observe the mourning day with religious rituals.

However members of the both families expressed their happiness about the trial and execution of the punishment of the fundamentalist JMB killers.

Family members of another killed judge Shaid Sohel Ahmed living in Bhola district town and Dhaka city, also arranged religious programmes on this occasion without making any comment.

'Religious leaders can help prevent HIV /AIDS’

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A seminar titled HIV/AIDS preventive programme and HIV/AIDS preventive booklet handed over to religious Institution and religiouns leaders was held at Islamic foundation office on 6th November. It was organised by Islamic Foundation and R.R.C (Tangail) assisted by National STD Programme (NASP) DGHS and Save the Children. Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, CEO Zilla Parishad was present as chief guest. Dr. SM Shamsul Alam, Civil Sergeon was present as special guest while it was presided over by Md. Abdul Wadud, DD (Incharge) Islamic presided over the meeting.

The speakers said only religious faith and involvement religious leader will be able to prevent HIV/AIDS. 100 imams were attended in the meeting. Later booklets on HIV/AIDS were distributed among imams.

BRRI scientists working in 61 dists to control pest attack

There is an apprehension of widespread diseases and pest attack in the current Aman rice through outthe country due to adverse weather conditions. For giving suggestions on control measures, the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has sent 61 scientists to 61 districts. They have started working with the Deputy Directors of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) since 26 October.

It may be mentioned here that to ensure Boro production in the context of Sidr and floods, 61 BRRI scientists worked with the DAE officials since 18 January 2008 up to crop cut in April to mid-May to minimise knowledge gap on rice cultivation. Experts say, this step has an important role to obtain Boro rice production in the country at all times.

Three killed in separate road mishaps in Ctg, Mymensingh

BSS, Chittagong

Two persons were killed in separate road mishaps in the port city last night, Police and Hospital sources said.

The dead were identified as Helal Uddin, 20, son of Nurul Kader in Malumghat area under Chokoria upazila in the district, Bandhu Kumar Chakma, 5, son of Roman Kumar Chakma in Chochala area under Kaokhali upazila in Rangamati district. Helal suffered critical injury when a passenger bus hit him on Arkan road in Shah Amanat area at 10.34 .m. He was brought to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where he died at 10.55 p.m.

Bandhu Kumar Chakma was run over by a passenger bus while crossing the road in Oxyzen area under Biyazeed thana at 12.45 p.m today.

Locals brought him to CMCH at 1.30 pm, but the attending doctors declared him dead.

BSS, Mymensingh adds: A man was crushed under the wheels of an inter-city train at Minto College level crossing here today.

The dead was identified as Animesh Bhattachariya, 60, a retired bank employee, and a resident of Shib Bari area of the town, Police said adding he was reportedly, mentally retarded. Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital for autopsy.

Housewife dies from taking of pesticide wrongly in Madaripur

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

A housewife died from taking of pesticide carelessly considering medicine at Shannashir char village under Shibchar upazila of the district on October 25. Family source said, Sufia Begum (60) wife of a day labourer Abul Hassain Molla of village Shannashir, had been suffering from gastric disease.

On the night of the occurrence she called on a doctor at Pachchar bazar and bought medicine from the bazar according to the prescription of the doctor and kept the bottle of syrup medicine on a table where a bottle of pesticide was also kept. When she selt pain in her abdomen she erroneously took the pesticide from the bottle kept alongside the medicine and fell ill. She was immediately rushed to Shibchar Upazila Health Complex, the doctors on duty declared her dead. A UD case was lodged with Shibchar police station.

Removal of Lalon sculpture denounced

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Cultural activists on Wednesday organized 'Lalon Sandhaya (The Lalon Evening)' in front of Barisal Ashwani Kumar Hall on Wednesday evening in protest against removal of baul sculptures from Zia International Airport in Dhaka.

The program was organised by Gano Shilpi Sangstha Barisal branch and presided over by Shanti Das, district president of the organisation.

During the programme, cultural function based on songs of Lalon was performed by the artists of Gano Shilpi Sangstha.

During the programme, leaders of cultural organisations of the city expressing their solidarity with the issue also demanded immediate reinstatement of the sculptures and trial of those responsible for the incident. A good number of people from different walks of life and socio-cultural organisations took part in the protest meeting.

JS Poll- ’08: Bikalpadhara candidate Engr Yusuf wants to contest from Kishoregang-4

Staff Reporter

Bikal pudhara Bangladesh, Gano Forum and Jatiya Panty (Monju) jointly declared their new alliance candidate for Kishoreganj-01 seat (Kishoreganj Sadar- Hossiainpur) in a press conference at Kishoreganj Press Club on Suday evening.

The name of the candidate is Engineer AL Hajj Md. Yusuf Convener of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Kishoreganj district committee. He was a former Chief Engineer of PWD and General Secretary of Kishoreganj Samity.

Engineer Md. Yusuf is working in Sadar and Hossainpur upazila round the clock for years. He also enhanced his helping hand for the poor people during the national disasters period.

Besides, he is also involved in different managing committees of academic institutions of the area. He wants to sacrifice his life for the welfare and development of Kishoreganj.

Shops gutted in Noakhali

UNB, Nnoakhali

At least seven shops were gutted in a fierce fire at Boiragi Bazaar in Subarna Char upazila here early Tuesday.

Witnesses said the fire originated at a teashop from an electric short circuit at about 3am and soon engulfed the adjoining six other shops, burning huge valuables.

The firefighters from the district headquarters rushed in and put out the blaze after frantic efforts with the help of local people.

The affected shop owners claimed that cash and valuables worth about Tk 12 lakh were gutted in the fire.

News Briefs

270 sacks fertilizer seized in Kishoreganj

KISHOREGANJ, Nov 12: Police recovered 270 sacks of fertilizer from a house at North Nalonda village in Sadar upazilla on Tuesday night. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a drive at the house of Golap Miah of the village and recovered 270 sacks of different types of agri-inputs, including TSP and SSP. However, none was arrested in this connection as Golap Miah and his accomplice Haidul fled away sensing the presence of the law enforcers, reports UNB.

Robbers loot cloth shop in Laxmipur

LAXMIPUR, Nov 12: Muggers looted a cloth shop at Gazi Super Market in Raipur upazila headquarters early Tuesday. Police said the gang numbering 10/12 stormed into the garments shop 'Rong Tong' breaking its shutter open at about 2am and looted the cloths and other valuables worth about Tk 5 lakh. Shop owner Mahmud Hasan Sharif filed a case with the police, reports UNB.

5 motorbike lifters arrested in Dinajpur

DINAJPUR, Nov 12: Police arrested five members of an inter-district motorbike lifters' gang, including its ringleader, in separate drives in the district on Sunday. Acting on secret information, Kotwali thana police arrested Rafiqul Islam alias Rabi, 22, a member of the gang, from the town. Following his confessional statement police later arrested gang leader Mashiur Rahman, 24, of Hatikhana Kabarasthan village of Nilphamari district, and Faruque, Anwar and Momin Mostafa alias Babu of Rajbati Sabjibagan area of the town. Police said the gang since long was engaged in motorbike lifting in various parts of the district, reports UNB.

One dies falling from tree in Laxmipur

LAXMIPUR, Nov 12: A man was killed in a fall from a tree at Uttar Raipur village in Raipur upazila on Tuesday. The victim was identified as Tajul Islam, 40. Hospital sources said Tajul, who climbed up a betel-nut tree to pluck betel-nut of one Hussain Miah of the village, suddenly fell down at about 10:30am. He was rushed to the Upazila Health Complex where the attending doctors declared him dead, reports UNB.