The New Nation - Internet Edition

10 lakh people suffer from cancer countrywide

BSS, Rajshahi

Some 10 lakh people have been suffering from various kinds of cancer in the country while around two lakh is being added to the figure every year. Associate Professor Dr. Dayem Uddin of the Department of Radiotherapy of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital disclosed this and added, "Of the patients around 1.5 lakh die every year".

He was addressing a press conference arranged on the occasion of an awareness rally run by a cancer-survivor from Tetulia of Panchagarh district to Dhaka via Rajshahi at Hotel Aristocrat here on Thursday.

Sanofi Aventis, a multinational pharmaceutical company, and National Sports Council (NSC) jointly arranged the rally titled 'Flame of Hope: Relay of the Life Torch" in ahead of the Olympic Day Run-2008 was celebrated on Friday. Cancer-survivor Shirin Akter, who started the run from Tetulia last Wednesday and expected to arrive capital Dhaka on Saturday morning, described her experience during illness at the press conference along with another survivor Asfi Raihan, a teacher of Rajshahi Government City College. Main objective of the run is to create and enhance awareness about the disease and leading normal life after successful completion of treatment.

Professor Dayem said about one lakh women are being infected with uterus cancer and 25,000 others with breast cancer every year. He, however, said cancer is not infectious disease and the patient can lead normal life with other family members. In this context, Dr. Dayem said most cancers like breast, lung and uterus have been found as curable. Terming the management of early stage of breast cancer as most successful and effective, he said if the disease can be detected at early stage then it could be cured completely.

Late marriage and early marriage with excessive intercourse and pregnancy, confirmed bachelor, apathy to breast feeding, excessive consumption of tobacco, narcotics and alcohol and fatty health condition are the risk factors of the disease. Similarly, he said building confidence among the patients side by side with treatment is helpful for recovery from the disease while food-habit change and early diagnosis have been detected as precautionary measures.

The discussion was told that around 15,000 women suffering from breast cancer die in the country yearly due to lack of early detection.

Concerted efforts of all concerned especially the patients, cancer experts and other medical practitioners are very essential to create awareness among the mass people in this regard. NSC Deputy Director Badar Uddin and Sanofi representative Ashraful Haque also spoke on the occasion.

Concerted effort to ensure rights of disabled stressed

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The speakers at the function on Saturday urged all to work for the disabled to ensure their rights in all sectors of the society.

We have to change our attitude to the disabled and bring them in the mainstream so that they could enjoy all basic rights and existing facilities like other privileged section of the country. They said this in a views exchange meeting jointly organised by National Crassroots Disabled Organisation (NGDO) and Action on Disability and Development (ADD) on the involvement of the disabled persons in development activities of local Government at the conference room of Deputy Commissioner here on November 15.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abul Bayes Miah addressed in the meeting as chief guest and deputy director (acting) of local government, Gaibandha executive Magistrate Khandaker Abdullah Al-Mahmud was present as special guest.

Presided over by M Akhter Hossain, President of NGDO, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by general secretary of the organisation M Habibur Rahman, organising secretary Ahamad Ali, human rights promoter of ADD Fazlul Haque, registration officer of Social Service Department Abu M. Sufian and Ballamjhar UP Chairman M Mojammel Haque, the speakers in their speeches underscored the need for involving the disabled persons in development activities of local government to ensure a friendly atmosphere and secure a dignified position for them in the society.

A large number of people including UP chairman, member and secretaries and the journalists participated in the meeting.

RU proctor assaulted, folklore dept office vandalised

RU Correspondent

About 200 students of Folklore department at Rajshahi University (RU) on Saturday assaulted university assistant proctor, confined department teachers for one hour and vandalised department chairman room and office on the campus demanding immediate inclusion of their department under social science faculty. Earlier, the agitating students on Friday morning staged a demonstration in front of their department premises locked Ismail Hossen Siraji building. Later, the agitating students met department chairman Dr Shahidur Rahman at his office and asked his explanation about the students demand. Sources said, department chairman requested the agitating students to calm down their demonstration. On the time, an altercation was held between the agitating students and department teachers over their demand.

At one stage, the agitating students locked and confined the department teachers at chairman room for one hour.

Some agitating students also ransacked chairman office window glasses and damaged department office furnitures. Hearing the news, RU assistant Proctor Ariful Islam along with policemen rushed to the spot and tried to calm down the angry students. The agitating students also assaulted the university assistant proctor Ariful Islam and police officials. The students however settled down after the department chairman and teachers assured them that they meet RU vice chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat at his office and press home their demand. Following the assurance, the agitating students withdraw their demonstration till finishing admission test.

They threatened to go on a hunger strike if their demand is not met immediately after the admission test. Later, university assistant proctor and police leave the place following the requested by the department teachers. When contacted, Department Chairman Dr Shahidur Rahman said, 'We instantly met RU VC and informed the students demonstration'. We also formed an investigation committee to look into students demand, he also said.

Robbery, snatching on rise in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

People of Tarabo Pourashava of Rupganj Upazila in Nara-yanganj are extremely panic stricken as dacoity, looting and snatching rise on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. Many dead bodies have also been recovered by the police from Khandon and Rupshi areas close to the highway in the last 3 months.

Locals said that at least four times in a week passengers of long-route buses fall victims to robbery, snatching and looting. All suspect a group of inter-district gang commit such crimes every night in different roads in disguise of passengers and they may have close connection with the law enforces. Passengers do not take risk of filing any case in this connection.

People and the elite including students of these localities are extremely concerned over the situation. People of every sphere of life want the concerned authorities to get rid of this situation.

Two lynched in Khulna

Our Correspondent, Khulna

A day labour was beaten to death in the city on Friday.

Sonadanga police said day labourer Hasan (25) son of Late Mujibur Rahman of Railway colony area was mercilessly beaten by his rivals at powerhouse crossing on Friday morning. Police with the help of passersby shifted him to KMCH in critical condition. He succumbed to his injury on Friday night. Police came to know that a syndicate of mobile thieves killed him. Police arrested Bellal, Shah Alam and Mallik Chan on this connection.

Meanwhile, one housewife, Shadia Akhter Lima 15 of village Damodor under Fultala thana was beaten to death on Friday evening. Police arrested her husband Tahejul Islam in this connection.

IU admission test for 2008-09 session begins on Dec 1

BSS, Islamic University

The admission test of Islamic University for 2008-09 academic session will be started from December 1 next. The admission will be held in four shifts, a press release said on Saturday.

Admission test of Gha unit under social science faculty will be held in first shifts and Uma unit at second shift on December 1, while test of Cha unit under faculty of business administration in first and second shifts and test of Ga unit under faculty of social science in third and fourth shifts on December 2.

Besides, test of Ka unit under theology faculty will be held in first shift, Cha unit of faculty of law in second shift, Kha (Arts) unit under social welfare faculty in third and fourth shifts on December 3.

Mobile phone load committee holds discussion

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A discussion organised by Mymensingh District Mobile Phone Load Committee was held at Muslim Institute on Nov. 6. Mymensingh District Mobile Phone Load Committee organised the meeting.

It was presided over by Md. Helaluddin (Mym. District). Aminul Islam Bulu (Convener Central Committee) was present as chief guest.

Saiful Islam (General Secretary Central Committee) Maulana Badruzzoda (Members) Central Committee were present as special guest. The speakers stressed on flexy load problem in Bangladesh and urged all flexy load operation to be united. They said if we are united we can solve our problem.

Cop killed in Gopalganj road mishap

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

One police constable was killed and 4 other police constables and one Tempu driver were seriously injured in a road accident at Charpara of Gopinathpur village under Gopalganj sadar upazila on Dhaka-Khulna Highway on November 8 last.

Sources said a night patrol police duty team led by ASI of Police Habibur Rahman including 5 (Five) Police personnel performing duty by a Tempu in Charpara of Goppinathpur village under Gopalganj sadar upazila on Dhaka-Khulna Highway on November 8 then a passenger night coach hit the Tempo from the back and the Tempo fell into road-side ditch.

As a result one Manoar Hossain (48), a police constable (No, Kong/63) died on the spot and ASI Habibur Rahman, Abu Syed, Uttam Kumar, Abdul Barek constable and Tempo driver Alamgir were seriously injured and admitted to Gopalganj Sadar hospital in critical condition.

2 female Hijbut Tauhid activists held in Patuakhali

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

Two women activists of Hijbut Tauhid were sent to jail after police produced them before a court following their arrest with books, CD's and leaflets on Friday in Patuakhali.

The arrestees are Jeunnahar alias Poli, 30, and assistant teacher of Kalikapur Saleha Khatun Girls High School in Mirzaganj Upazila, and her sister Meherunnesa Mili, 39.

At about 11:00 am Poly and Mili went to Muncefpara in Patuakhali town to distribute books named "Dazzal Chirstian Ehudi Sabhyata" written by Mohammad Bayezid Khan Ponni, Police and locals said.

As they entered the house of Shahidul Islam and tried to give them the books and CDs, the inmates informed Patuakhali police Station. Then police rushed to the spot and arrested them. Family sources said, both Poli and Mili were divorced by their husbands for their alleged involvement with militancy.

Police sent them to the local court under Section 54 then the court sent them to jail.

News briefs

School bldg inaugurated

GAIBANDHA, Nov 17: A new building of Madhya Neezpara Government Primary School under Sadullapur upazila of the district was inaugurated here on Wednesday. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Wahed was inaugurated the building as the chief guest. Upazila Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) TIM Shamsuzzoha, head teacher Kamol Chandra Saha, public representatives and the journalists were present on the occasion, reports UNB.

Obituary

FENI, Nov 17: Shaheed Uddin Ferdous, a local leader of BNP and a member of the party's national executive committee, died of liver cirrhosis at his Rampura residence in the town on Saturday morning at the age of 56.

Shaheed Uddin, who was also editor-publisher of the weekly 'Muhuri', is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. He was a former general secretary of Feni District BNP and an ex-president of Feni Press Club. He was buried at his family graveyard at Kamalla village under Fulgazi upazila of the district after a namaz-e-janaza there, attended by a large number of people, reports UNB.

Huge smuggled Indian medicines seized in Chuadanga

CHUADANGA, Nov 17: Members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) men recovered huge quantifies of smuggled Indian medicines and other goods worth about Taka 56 lakh from Kadipur village under Damurhuda upazila of the district on Friday. BDR sources said a patrol party of Jibannagar border BDR camp recovered the goods during an anti- smuggling drive in the village. The medicine and other goods were kept in 1579 cartoons. None was arrested in this connection. A case was filed in this connection with Damurhuda police, reports UNB.

One held with LG gun in Panchbibi

JOYOURHAT, Nov 17: Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested an alleged terrorist and seized a locally made light gun from village Ramchandrapur village under Panchbibi upazila on Saturday afternoon. RAB sources said, a team of the elite force conducted a raid at the house of Babul, 42, son of Monir Uddin of the village at 4.00 pm on Saturday, seized the gun and arrested him. Babul was arrested on April 13 in 2005 with a shutter gun from the same area and an arms case is under trail with a Joypurhat Court, reports UNB.

Mobile court fines Tk 9500 in Chandpur

CHUADANGA, Nov 17: A mobile court here fined Taka 9,500 against three bakeries for selling adulterated food. The court also fined a cloth shop owner for using yard instead of metre on Friday at Karpashdanga bazar of the district. UNO Johurul Hoque conducted the drive, reports UNB.

Newly opened bank gutted in Ctg

CHITTAGONG Nov 17: Electronic goods and glasses worth about Taka 10 lakh of Prime Bank Limited of Probottak Branch under Panchlish thana in the city were gutted in a fire early on Saturday morning. Fire service sources said, the fire was originated at around 4.30 am on Saturday from an electric short circuit. The fire was brought under control with the help of local people at around 5.10 am, reports UNB.

Couple electrocuted in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Nov 14: A couple was electrocuted at Jadavpur village in Sadar upazila on Tuesday. The dead were identified as Bimol Chandra Roy, 38, and his wife Shantona Roy, 30. Police said Bimol was electrocuted while taking electric connection from local PBS line and his wife also died from electrocution while she tried to save him. The bodies were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. A UD case was filed, reports UNB.