The New Nation - Internet Edition

Huge production of potato may be achieved in N region

BSS, Rangpur

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a record target of producing 58,99,250 tonnes of potato from 3,37,100 hectares of land during the current season in all 16 northern districts of the country.

The fixed target is much higher than that of the previous season when the DAE had a target of producing 44,07,936 tonnes of potato from 2,49,600 hectares land and the farmers achieved the target in the northern region, officials said.

DAE sources told BSS that the farmers have already started sowing early variety potato in many areas and the process will get momentum with the proceedings of transplanted aman harvesting that just started in the region.

At the same time, most of the early variety potato fields are growing excellent everywhere as the farmers sowed potato seeds in those lands after harvesting the short duration BRRI Dhan-33 variety T-Aman paddy. The farmers are expected to cultivate the major crop in more land including the vast sandy char lands in the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Jamuna and other river basins in the region during this season. The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute and a number of NGOs have taken steps for providing potato seeds among the farmers to make the programme a success, officials said.

The concerned departments and administration have taken adequate steps for ensuring smooth supply of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, technical assistances and other inputs to the potato growers.

The early variety potato may appear in the markets by the middle of December as farmers have cultivated those ahead of the traditional periods in Bogra, Joypurhat, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari and in the other districts of the region, sources said.

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, commercial banks, other financial institutions and a number of NGOs are providing easy-term agri-loans for farming Rabi crops including potato in more land this season.

The DAE has fixed the per hectare production target of potato at 17.50 tonnes this time. A total of 50,000 hectares land will be brought under potato farming in Rangpur, 12,000 in Gaibandha, 6,500 hectares in Kurigram, 5,500 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 23,400 hectares in Nilphamari, 40,500 hectares in Dinajpur, 10,000 hectares in Panchagarh and 23,000 hectares in Thakurgaon under Rangpur Agriculture Zone.

Besides, potato will be cultivated in 34,000 hectares in Rajshahi, 23,000 hectares in Naogaon, 1,700 hectares in Natore, 2,500 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 63,000 hectares in Bogra, 37,000 hectares in Joypurhat, 2,000 hectares in Pabna and 3,000 hectares in Sirajganj districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone this season, the sources said.

Jail Killing Day observed in

Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Jail Killing Day was observed in Mymensingh in a befetting manner. A mourning rally wearing black badge started from Krisha Chattar and ended at Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam residence. 4-leader Smtrity (Memorial) Parishad organised the rally. A discussion meeting was held at District Awami League office.

A milad Mahfil was held at Shahid Syed Nayrul Islam residence and District Awami League office. Welcome address delivered by Sadeq Khan Milki Taju General Secretary city Awami League. Principal Motiur Rahman, District Awami League addressed as chief guest. He said Jail Killing was a heinous crime.

3 die, 8 fall sick after drinking spirit in Savar

UNB, Savar

Three people died and eight others fell sick after drinking spirit at Jethail village in Dhamrai upazila Wednesday night. The deceased were identified Mozammel, 55, of Kawali village, Khabir, 30, of Nabogram and Shamsuddin, 40, of Jethail villages.

Police said about 11 people fell sick after they took the spirit, which was bought from a drug peddler at nearby Amta village at night. Of them, six were admitted to nearby health centre where three died. Rest others were taking treatment in some other clinics secretly apprehending arrest by police.

Application of Guti urea in Boro cultivation suggested

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

A two-day-long orientation course on "The method of using of Guti-Urea fertiliser in Boro crop" for the sub-assistant agriculture officers concluded at the meeting room of District Agriculture Extension Department (DAED) office here recently.

Senior Agriculture Specialist of International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDS) Dhaka, Mohammad Mafizul Islam, Project Director of Urea Super Granular Project Dhaka, Mohammad A Moyeed and additional director of DAED Mymensingh Abdul Mannan and crop specialist of the DAED Netrakona imparted training at the concluding session of the training programme while Deputy Director of the DAED, Netrakona Nikil Chandra Paul was in the chair.

According to the DAED, Netrakona Ooffice sources, the training programme was designed to acquaint the field-level agriculture officers with the modern method of application of Guti-urea fertilizer in Boro crop so that they could inform the Bboro cultivators about the method of using the fertiliser in the crop. A total of 108 sub-assistant agriculture officers of the DAED, Netrakona participated in the orientation course. Earlier, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Purbadhala Upaizla Mohammad Haider Ali formally inaugurated the training course on Wednesday last.

Body recovered

BSS, Chittagong

District police recovered a body of a youth from Diwpchar area under Chandanaish upazila on Thursday morning.

Police identified the body as Abdur Rashid, 30, son of late Sagir Ahmed at Satbaria village under Chandanaish upazila in the district.

On information, a team of Chananaish police recovered the body of the youth from Diwpchar area of Bailtali union under the upazila at around 10.00 am on Thursday. The body bore marks of injuries.

Scholarship distributed among meritorious students in Sirajdikhan

A Correspondent, Munshiganj

Syed Mozammel Hossain Education Assistance Project based at Sirajdikhan Upazilla in Munshiganj district, has provided scholarships to 60 poor and meritorious students of different educational institutions in the area.

Under the scholarship, Tk 2500 was given to each SSC examinee. Besides, two teachers were also given Tk 10,000 and crest each as best teacher.

The scholarship was given at a function on Tuesday held at Kushumpur High School with Syed Abdus Sattar in the chair.

In assistance of Bangladeshi expatriates in USA Syed Tipu Sultan, Syful Islam, Syed Fardin Islam and Farida Islam, the scholarship was given in remembrance of Syeda Sufia Khatun, Syed Mozmmel Hossain and Modasser Hossain.

Local UNO Md Mahmudur Rahman Habib, who was attended the function as chief guest, handed over money and crest.

Among others, the function was addressed by Md Abdul Quaiyum Khan, educationist Abdul Quddus Dhiron, Kamal Chowdhury, Ali Ahmmad Howlader and Syed Hasan Mukut, said a press release.

News briefs

Month-long trade fair begins in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, Nov 14: A month long trade fair began on Satkhira Government High Boys' School premises Thursday. Khulna divisional Commissioner Yunusur Rahman inaugurated the fair, which was jointly organized by local Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Benarasi Weavers Private Limited. A total of 95 stalls have been set up displaying various commodities. The fair, arranged for the second time here to publicize home made goods, will remain open for visitors from 10am to 10pm daily, reports UNB.

Husband kills wife in Dinajpur

DINAJPUR, Nov 14: A man allegedly killed his newly married wife at a village in Birganj upazila Thursday. Local people said Mahadev, 25, resident of Khamar Kharikadam village, following a family feud tortured his wife Bulbuli Rani, 19, and strangulated her to death in the afternoon. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy and arrested Mahadev, who married Bulbuli five months back. Victim's uncle Sukumar Roy filed a murder case with the police, reports UNB.

One gets 14-yr RI for possessing arms

BARISAL, Nov 14: A special court here Tuesday convicted a man and awarded him 14 years imprisonment for possessing arms. The convict is Masum Sharif of Polerhat village of Sadar upazila. According to the prosecution, Masum was handed over to police by local people along with a pipe gun on April 17, 2003 and police lodged a case against him under Arms Act with Kotwali police station on the same day. Special Tribunal Judge M Shahidullah handed down the verdict after examining 12 witnesses and other records, reports UNB.