The New Nation - Internet Edition

Private sector urged to help develop major infrastructures

BSS, Khulna

Discussants at a workshop in the city on Tuesday urged banks, financial institutions and other private sector players to come forward and help develop major infrastructures in the county.

The event titled 'infrastructure building under private sector' organised by Board of Investment (BOI) focused on creating awareness among businessmen of taking part in developing major infrastructures.

BOI executive chairman Kamaluddin Ahmed pre-sided the workshop while Vice-President of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Forhad Ahmed Akhand was the special guest.

BOI director Mamdud Hossain Alamgir, executive director and CEO of Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Center (IIFC) Nazrul Islam, entrepreneurs, and senior officials of banks, financial institutions, Mongla Port, Western Zone Power Distribution Company, REB, Khulna Unnayan Katripakkha, BSTI, EPB and such other organisations took part in the workshop.

The BOI executive chairman said the government is interested in promoting infrastructure projects with private sector participation and continuing to encourage it. He said the BOI has so far received 22 infrastructure project proposals. If the projects can be implemented, he said, there would be revolutionary change in the country's infrastructure development.

The workshop especially discussed the possibility of private sector investment in developing Mongla Port infrastructures to remove impediments to its proper running. It tried to identify the real problems and ways to find solution.

The discussants also suggested developing tourism infrastructures for the Sundarbans to make it an attractive destination for people from home and abroad.

Contempt of court: 9 journalists served show cause notice in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

District and Sessions Judge served show cause notice on 9 journalists of local regional and national dailies on November 16 on charge of contempt of court.

Sources said, the show cause notice signed by the District and Sessions Judge Taj Mohammad Sheikh said a group of lawyers of Gaibandha Bar Association (GBA) arranged a press conference in the local Press Club on October 30 and delivered false, concocted and fabricated speeches there against the district judge following court boycotting programme from October 23.

Later, the editor and reporters of the newspapers published the false and concocted news in their respective dailies on the following day without the opinion of the district judge about the news resulting in the image of the court and its judge being lost to the people and the justice seekers, the show cause notice said.

Then, the district judge directed the editors and the reporters of the newspapers to reply to the show cause notices issued on November 16 within 3 days by attending the court in person.

The show cause notice recipients are district correspondent of the Samakal Aumitav Das Himun, acting editor of the Ajker Janagon, Abu Jafar Sabu, staff reporter Abdul Kuddus, acting editor of the Madhukar KM Rezaul Karim, reporters Uzzal Chakraborty, editor of the Jana Sanket Dipok Kumar Pal, staff reporter of the newspaper, editor of the Daily Bogra Rezaul Karim Badsha and the staff reporter of the newspaper.

Earlier, the district judge also served the show cause notice on the 26 lawyers of GBA on November 9 on charge of bringing the court in contempt.

Boro cultivation may face setback due to lack of irrigation facilities

UNB, Lalmonirhat

Boro cultivation is likely to be hampered in the district in current season as the authority of Teesta Irrigation Project could not supply any water to farmers to irrigate their lands.

The Tk 1,500 crore barrage, largest of such projects in the country, now stands on sandy land as the river has almost dried before the beginning of the dry season.

Farmers in the region everyday throng in the office of the Water Development Board (WDB) urging the authority to supply irrigation water. But the authority could not ensure them of providing water.

Executive Engineer at Dalia Division of the WDB Atiqul Islam told UNB that 10,000 Cusec water is necessary to conduct normal irrigation programme. But the flow of water at Teesta Barrage point is now 2,000 to 3,000 Cusec, he added.

While visiting the area, UNB Lalmonirhat correspondent observed that all 44, but one, gates of the barrage were closed due to lack of water in the river. According to a source close to the WDB, India unilaterally withdraws water of the Teesta River by closing all the gates of Gajaldoba barrage, constructed 65 km upstream to provide irrigate facilities in Rajasthan province.

Official sources said the WDB implemented the first phase work of country's largest Teesta Barrage Project at Doani in Hatibandha upazila here in 1998 spending Tk 1,500 crore. The project was undertaken to provide irrigation facilities to 13.35 lakh acres of land in 35 upazilas of the northern districts. But, the project is no use to the farmers for want of adequate water in the river.

BRDB disburses Tk 96.30cr as loan among poor in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) here has disbursed Taka 96.30 crore as loan among the poor and low-income group people in last 8 years under its rural livelihood project named as Palli Jibikayan Prokolpa.

The project was taken up by the LGRD ministry in 2000 to improve the lifestyle and overall economic condition of the poor segment of the population particularly the women by providing them soft term loan under a revolving fund. Under the project, a total of Taka about 96.30 crore have been allocated for 42,519 poor people who are the members of 1398 registered cooperative societies of 13 upazilas in the district. During last fiscal year, BRDB distributed Taka 17.11 crore while it recovered Taka 91.62 crore.

Officials said, the government initially allocated Taka 20.6 crore for running the project but the fund increased up to Taka around 100 crore in last 8 years by managing the fund under a revolving method.

Under the project, BRDB disbursed Taka 7.61 crore in Patiya upzila, Taka 8.9 crore in Anowara upzila, Taka 9.87 crore in Hathazari upzila, Taka 7.98 crore in Boalkhali upzila, Taka 5.79 crore Mirshrai upzila, Taka 6.95 crore in Fatikchari upzila, Taka 6.15 crore in Banshkhali upzila, Taka 5.66 crore Sitakunda, Taka 10.14 crore in Satkania upzila, Taka 6.60 crore among 3436 persons in Raozan upzila, Taka 4.61 crore in Lohagara upzila, Taka 5.50 crore in Rangunia upzila and Taka 6.70 crore in Sawndip upazila.

Ranjit Kumar Chowdhury, deputy director (DD) of BRDB, Chittagong said the project has opened a new opportunity among the poor people to change their standared of their livings.

Under the project, loans are given to various potential sectors like fish cultivation, pottery, nursery, horticulture development, cow fattening, poultry firm, goat rearing, food processing, repairing and selling of irrigation equipment, paddy husking, carpeting, tailoring, sericulture, mat making, black smith and other incoming generating projects.

According to BRDB, the scheme are gaining popularity among the marginal and low-income groups in the remote areas and helped them to become economically self- reliant as well as to free them from abject poverty.

Nutrition centre inaugurated in Monirampur

Our Correspondent, Monirampur

Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh has inaugurated a centre of nutrition for development of nutrition.

On the occassion Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahabibur Rahman Talukder inaugurated Mohanpur Nutrition centre on November 15. Area Manager Anzala Grown presided over the inaugural function. Among others Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer spoke. Programme officer Health Sulava Mondal was present at the function.

SSC examinee commits suicide in Gopalganj

UNB, Gopalganj

A SSC candidate ended her life in disgust after being subjected to frequent teasing by a few disgruntled local youths.

Lima, 15, daughter of Kuwaiti expatriate Nazrul Sheikh, and also a student of Rajpat High School, committed suicide by hanging herself from ceiling fan of her village home room. The incident took place in Rajpat village under Kashiani upazila on Friday night after she was teased and humiliated by the spoiled youths on her way back home from the school on completion of formalities for appearing in next year's SSC exam.

Locals complained that Suman, Mithun and some others of the locality, who used to tease Lima on her way to and from school, Friday again waylaid and assaulted her to her great physical and mental humiliation.

The culprits were specially aggressive on the day apparently angered by the complaint lodged by Lima's guardians to village elders against their indecent and anti-social activities.

A case was filed with local police against Sumon, Mithun and their accomplices.

Lima's family and villagers have asked the authorities to immediately arrest the culprits and give them exemplary punishment so that no more young girls like Lima face such humiliation and had to take such extreme decisions like suicide.

Actor Amal Majumder passes away

UNB, Jessore

Veteran actor of Jessore Amal Majumder died of old age complications at a hospital here on Sunday night. He was 74.

Majumder left behind his wife, two sons, one daughter and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death. He was cremated at Nilganj crematory on Monday.

Earlier, his body was kept at Jessore Institute premises for his admirers to pay their last respect.

Amal started his acting career through the drama 'Dakghar' in 1952.

Obituary

Our Correspondent, Naogaon

Begum Zamila Haq (62), wife of late Advocate Mazharul Haq Poona, a prominent politician, freedom fighter and social worker, died due to heart attack at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital recently.

She was buried at Naogaon central graveyard.

She left behind her one son and three daughters to mourn her death.

National Agriculture Day observed in Panchagarh

BSS, Panchagarh

The first day of Agrahayan was observed as the National Agriculture Day- 2008 in Panchagarh district in a benefiting manner on Saturday.

District administration and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office jointly organized it by holding rally, discussion meeting, prize distribution, fair. A rally was brought out from zila parishad office and paraded the main streets of the town. A discussion meeting and prize distribution among the best farmers was held on the occasion.

D.C. (Panchagarh) Md. Munir Hossain was present as chief guest and distributed the prizes.

Deputy Director (DAE) Md. Abul Kalam Azad presided over the function, ADC general of Panchagarh Md. Manjur Hasan, police super (SP) Md. Harun-or- Rashid Hajari were present at the function as special guest, among others, UNO Ziauddin, krishi officer Md. Safiul Alam, were present.

A total of 500 farmers, government officers, local elite and journalists, took part in the rally.

Re-union of Nasirabad Collegiate School held in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

98th year reunion of Nasirabad Collegiate School was held in Mymensingh on 17th November at the School premises.

A rally was brought out on the occasion. Professor Dr M Shamsur Rahman VC Kazi Nazrul Islam University was present as chief guest while Farid Ahmed, ADC (Revenue) was present as special guest while it was presided our by AZM Mohmudul Hasan, Head Philosophy Depth. Welcome address delivered by Md Iqbal Headmaster (incharge), Nasirabad Collegiate School. Eminent Actor M Hamid, Mahmud Sazzad were handed over to late Moulana Abbas Ali (posthumous) late Reiazuddin Ahmed (posthumous), late Mublazur Rahman, Md Obaidur Rahman. Self introduction, recall memory of past, were raffle draw and cultural function were held.

3 tribal people shot dead in Bandarban

UNB, Bandarban

Assailants shot dead three tribal people in separate incidents at Boro Modok and Wangthong in Thanchi upazila Monday night.

The dead were identified as Pie Thui Marma, headman of Singafa mouja, and Karbari Chhangdhui Mro, and Rui Rang Mro, of Wangtong para.

Thanchhi UNO Nurulla Nabi said police left for the spot in the morning to recover the bodies. Local people suspected activists of Aarakan Liberal Party (ALP) might have involved in the killings following the deceased persons' involvement with rescuing abducted DANIDA official Sumon two years ago.

News briefs

Illegal timber seized in Ctg

CHITTAGONG, Nov 20: Chittagong North Forest Division (CNFD) has seized 745 cubic feet (cft) illegal timbers worth about Taka 12 lakh from different parts of the city during last four days. Acting on secret information, a special team of CNFD led by its DFO Mohammed Shafiul Alam, conducted separate drives in Badurtala, Kalurghat and Balurtal areas in the city and seized the timbers, reports BSS.

34 arrested in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Nov 20: Police arrested 34 persons including suspected criminals from different parts of the district during the last 24 hours till Monday morning. The arrested persons include thieves, absconding accused in different cases, warrantees, drug peddlers and traffickers, smugglers, suspected criminals and anti-social elements. Police also seized ganja, phensidyl, smuggled goods, locally produced wine and recovered stolen goods during the drives. The DB police arrested smuggler Ferdous, 35, of village Harinchhra with 13-kg smuggled Indian cumin from Modern Mour on the Lalmonirhat-Dhaka highway in the outskirts of Rangpur town last night, reports BSS.

Drug peddlers held with phensidyl

BARISAL, Nov 18: Police and Rapid Action Battalion, in separate drives, arrested five drug peddlers and recoeverd 440 bottles of phensidyl syrup from Gournadi upazila and the city on Sunday night. In the first drive, RAB members intercepted a tempo rickshaw at Rupatali near Rab-8 headquarters and recovered 250 bottles of contraband syrup kept inside a piece of coconut tree making a hole on it. They arrested alleged drug peddlers Amir Hossain, Abdus Salam and Kader Ali in this connection. In another drive, a team of police raided the house of one Badal sikder at Bijoypur area and recovered 150 bottles of phensidyl packed in a cartoon. Police also arrested Badal's wife Zahura Begum, reports UNB.