The New Nation - Internet Edition

Call to enhance seed yield for more production of foodgrains

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a daylong regional workshop here on Thursday called upon field level officials to motivate the farmers to enhance seed yield for increasing production of paddy, wheat and jute.

Terming the quality seed as the precondition for increasing production of the major foodgrains and the golden fibre, they said all the authorities concerned especially the government level agricultural officials should put in their best efforts in this regard.

They viewed that field level extension of improved technology and knowledge about improved varieties and their availability is very essential to encourage the cultivators. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under its 'Farmer's level quality paddy, wheat and jute seed production, preservation and distribution Project' arranged the workshop at NCDP conference hall.

Main thrust of the Project is to fulfil the demands of quality seeds of paddy and wheat for enhancing production of the crops to make the nation self-reliant in food and jute as economic crops.

Speakers observed that the farmers suffer and face harassment for quality seeds during the sowing time every year as the supply of quality seeds is very limited in comparison to the demand. Taking advantage of the situation, they said many private companies deceit farmers providing them with inferior quality seeds.

To overcome the crisis, they said the DAE has undertaken various seed production and distribution projects and the field level officials concerned have a vital role in making the projects a total success.

Additional Director of the DAE Abul Basher and Project Director Abdul Matin addressed the workshop as the chief and special guests respectively with DAE Deputy Director of Natore Shakhawat Ali in the chair.

The speakers said importance should be given to training of farmers on various issues concerned particularly selection of land, land preparation, seed-variety and seed-sowing, application of fertilizer, irrigation, crop-cutting, yield detection and seed preservation.

Similarly, they laid stress on establishing demonstration plots in comparatively suitable places so that a large number of farmers could get chance to visit those.

They urged the participants to motivate the trained farmers so that they disseminate their acquired knowledge among the fellow farmers to cultivate paddy, wheat and jute in modern and scientific method so that the production of quality and quantity seeds could be enhanced.

According to the meeting sources, the five-year Project would be implemented in all the districts and upazilas of the country by spending Taka 84.97 crore. The project will create 9,90,180 capable farmers for ensuring production of 2,35,050 tonnes of paddy, 42,000 tonnes of wheat and 350 tonnes of jute seed by 2012.

Some 120 district and upazila level agriculture officials from eight districts under the region attended the workshop and gave their views on how to make the project a complete success.

Number of voters decreased in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

About 48 lakh voter enlisted and fourteen lakh voter decreased in voter lists of present 21 constituencies of Barisal division.

While the number of female voters more than male in most of the constituencies to dominate the casting rate and results of the election, no female candidate yet nominated by any major party for any of the 21 constituencies of Barisal division.

After completing data collection and registering eligible voters of 21 electoral constituencies in six districts of Barisal division it was found that number of voters is 13, 81,714 less than previous voter list of total 61,62,356 voters.

The number of voters in final voter lists of 21 constituencies of Barisal division now stands on 47,80,642 including 23,36,503 male and 24,44,139 female voters. Total number of female voters are 1, 07,636 more than male voters of the division.

However political party sources said number of female nomination aspirants except Begum Selima Rahman, central BNP leader and former minister for Barisal-2, Zeeba Ahmed Khan and former lawmaker Nusrat Sultana Elen Bhutto of BNP for Jhalakati-2, Ratna Amin, JP leader, municipal chairman of Bakerganj and wife of JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Howlader for Barisal-6 constituency, were not seen active in the field.

Barisal divisional election office sources said the number of voters were decreased even after registering floating, boat and gypsy people and prisoners for the first time after independence of Bangladesh.

The number of vote centers also decreased 52 in the 21 constituencies in six districts of Barisal division.

On other hand out of 2008 vote centers, 248 marked as most vulnerable, 1,248 mid-vulnerable and 345 as risk prone in 21 constituencies of six district of Barisal division.

In Barisal divisional head quarter including city and sadar upazila, out of 121 vote centers 81 vote centers marked as most vulnerable, 13 as mid-vulnerable and 27 as risk prone.

Special security arrangement before, after and during vote casting would be made for most vulnerable vote centers and the list may be changed further, election commission sources said.

Operations for arresting listed criminals, terrorists and intensifying patrols of the law enforcing agencies as part of maintaining law and order to conduct free fair election smoothly also going on, Barisal range police office sources said.

Drug peddler held, phensidyl, smuggled goods recovered

BSS, Rajshahi

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a suspected drug-peddler and seized phensidyl and smuggled goods from different areas of two northern districts during the last 24 hours till Friday afternoon.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a sudden raid at Belpukur area under Charghat upazila of the district and arrested the drug-peddler identified as Ratan Mondal, 25, son of Jafar Mondal and seized 89 bottles of phensidyl from his possession.

They also seized 1,005 packets of smuggled facial cream during a raid at RDA market area under Boalia police station in the city in abandoned condition. In another raid conducted at Pancher Bazar under Punchbibi upazila of Joypurhat district, the RAB members seized 28 sacks of smuggled fertilizer valued at around Taka 1.20 lakh along with a mechanized vehicle. However, none could be arrested in this connection.

The arrested person and the seized goods including the drugs were handed over to the concerned police stations after recording separate cases in these connections.

Deworming tablets, baby food distributed in Mymensingh

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A training workshop and baby food distribution programme was held at 13, Baira Union in Mymensingh on 30th October. Under the project Civil Surgeon Dr SM Shamsul Alam was present a chief guests and distributed baby food and medicine among 500 poor women and children. It was presided over by Md Abdul Malek, Chairman Baira Union. Dr Anwarul Islam MOCS, Md Bazlur Rahman, senior health officer, Md Abu Hanif and Md Abdur Rahim Mintoo were also present. It was organised by Unnayan Sheba Kendra (USEKA) with the assistance of Bangladesh NGO Foundation. Nutritious food and anti-worm tablets were also distributed.

Free orthopaedic camp held in Faridpur

BSS, Faridpur

A day-long free medical camp for the orthopaedic and trauma patients held on Thursday here.

A group of eminent Orthopaedic surgeons led by BOS president Prof Dr Md Sirajul Islam, Director of National Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) Dhaka provided free treatment and advices to 55 patients with orthopaedic and trauma complications.

Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society (BOS) and Orthopaedic Department of Faridpur Medical College and Hospital (FMCH) organised the camp.

A scientific seminar Orthopaedic surgery and the treatment facilities in the country was also held in evening at local hotel. BOS president Prof Dr Md Sirajul Islam attended as chief guest while Dr A S M Jahangir Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Department of FMCH presented a paper.

Presided over by Prof Md Aziz Rahim, Head of Orthopaedic Department of FMCH, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Prof DrMd Enamul Karim, principal of FMCH, Dr Dhirendra Nath Sarder, Supdt of FMCH and BMA president Dr Mustafizur Rahman Shamim.

News briefs

Indian coal seized in Sunamganj

Sylhet, Nov 20 : BDR jawans seized an engine-boat along with 180 sacks of smuggled Indian coal from Baliaghat border in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj district on Tuesday. On secret information, a patrol team of BDR conducted the drive at a canal near Bangram village and seized the coal laden boat in the afternoon. None was arrested in this connection as the smugglers fled the scene sensing the presence of the BDR men. The border guards estimated the value of the seized boat and coal at Tk 1.37 lakh, report UNB.

Robbers held with arms in Comilla

Comilla, Nov 20 : Police arrested four suspected robbers along with arms at Jamtoli village in Brahmanpara upazila early Thursday. Police said on secret information, they encircled a gang of robbers when they were taking preparation to commit robbery at the house of Rouf Miah of the village at about 2:30 am. They caught four of the robbers - Kajal, his brother Sajal of Shiteshala village, and Nabi and Alamin of Jamtoli village along with one SMG, nine rounds of bullet and one sharp weapon, report UNB.

Phensidyl seized

Munshiganj, Nov 20 :Police recovered 1800 bottles of phensidyl syrup from a private car at Baluakandi in Gazaria upazila Wednesday. Police said when they gave signal to the private car it stopped on the road but its riders and the driver fled away quickly after locking the car. Later, police broke the lock open and seized the bottles of contraband Indian phensidyl syrup. A case was filed, report UNB.

24 police officials of Khulna division awarded

Benapole, Nov 20 : Some 24 police officials of 10 districts in Khulna division have been awarded in recognition of their professional excellence and courageous role in their respective field. DIG of Khulna Range Asaduzzaman Miah handed over the crests and cash money among the police officials on Wednesday morning. The cops have been awarded for their professional excellence in last one month, report UNB.

One killed in Munshiganj road mishap

Munshiganj, Nov 20 :A pedestrian was crushed under the wheels of a bus at Tetuitola in Gazaria upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Rafiqul Islam, 42, of Nabingagar village. Police said the Dhaka bound bus ran over Rafiqul when he was crossing the road, leaving him dead on the spot. Police sent the body to hospital morgue for autopsy. They also later seized the bus. A case was filed, report UNB.

One held with pistol in Naogaon

Joypurhat, Nov 20 : Rapid Action Battalion recovered a firearm and bullets and also arrested a man from Dhantara village in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon district on Wednesday afternoon. Acting on a tip-off, RAB-5 of Joypurhat camp conducted the drive at the nearby Dhantara village and recovered the 9mm Chinese pistol and five rounds of bullet and a magazine from a paddy field. Later, they arrested Ataur Rahman, 40, son of late Safir Uddin of the village in this connection, report UNB.