The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shortage of passengers: Flight of Biman Air United Airlines on Barisal-Dhaka route on the verge of closure

Tapan Chakraborty, Barisal

Flight of Biman Air United Airlines on Barisal-Dhaka air route appears to be on the verge of closure due to shortage of passengers. Special reduced fare rate has been offered by this private airline but little response is received from passengers. This air route was resumed on 28th September last after remaining closed for about two years.

United Air fixed fare rate at Taka 4,495 including taxes for one way trip and Taka 8990 for a trip with return journey. Flight contained for three days a week. Though it has a capacity of 37 passengers but more than two-third seats remain unoccupied in almost each flight. To reduce the loss United Air has offered to sell each seat at attracts 2250 if booking be done 72 hours ahead. But even this offer has failed to altruist passengers who mostly prefer to travel by launch or bus. The airline is maintaining the air route despite heavy loss but it is doubtful whether it can continue much longer. The officer in charge Abul Hassan has expressed disappointment at the number of passengers but said that they would try to maintain the aerial route.

Biman Bangladesh used to ply on this route at a profitable rate compared to other aerial routes of the country. Yet Biman closed down the route on 29th October of 2006. As a result, the airport built at a cost of Taka 30 crores became a useless cattle-grazing ground and a den of anti-social elements. The air route was resumed after about two years but again is about to he closed due to passenger crisis.

JS Poll’-08: Narail-1: Candidate crisis grips 4-party alliance

Our Correspondent, Narail

There is acute candidate crisis in 4-party alliance in Narail-1 constituency (Kalia-Narail Sadar). Dhirendranath Saha was made lawmaker in 2001 by-election after Sheikh Hasina left the seat. Now he is on the run to avoid arrest as ACC has filed a graft case against him. Secondly, as he was involved in pro-reformist activity after 1/11 changeover, he is not in the good books of party high command. Jahangir Biswas, district Vice-President of BNP, is also an aspirant of nomination. The main quality that he possesses is his affluence. He has no notable base in the mind of the voters of this minority dominating constituency.

On the other hand, the organisation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is not so strong in this area of the district. Principal Bahauddin is also a candidate projected by the party. Other organisations of the alliance are not functioning here. So, the 4 party alliance is in a crisis to choose a suitable candidate to face the candidate of the grand alliance.

6 nomination papers submitted in Narsingdi

Staff Reporter

A total of six candidates on Saturday submitted nomination paper to the district returning officer in Narshingdi.

The aspirants are Lt Col. (Retd) Mohammad Nazrul Islam Hiro of Awami League (AL) and Ashraful Islam of Islami Sashontontro Andolon for the constituency of Narshingdi-1, Dr Anawrul Ashraf of AL for Narshingdi-2, Zahirul Haque Mohan for Narshingdi-3, Former MP Nurul Mahjed Humayan for Narshingdi-4 and former MP Rajuddin Raju for Narshingdi-5.

3 held with smuggled goods in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

Members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) arrested three smugglers with Indian contraband goods worth about Taka 1,37,200 from Nathpara area under Kalaroa Upazila in the district on Friday.

The arrested smugglers were Shajahan Ali ,21, son of Momtaj Ali, Osman Goni ,26, and Ananda Kumar Ghosh,21, all of village Garakhali under Kalaroa Upazila.

Advocacy meet on Nat’l Immunisation Day held in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

An advocacy meeting was held on 17th National Immunisation Day (NID) on 3rd November. DC (Mymensingh) Md. Ziaur Rahman was present as chief guest while Civil Surgeon Dr SM Shamsul Alam presided over the meeting. Medical Officer CS District Immunisation Officers Surveillance Medical Officer (SMO) were also present. Go, NGO, Journalists UHFPO and health official were present.

The speakering stressed on making munisation Programme a success. They asked health officials to motivate people about immunization. 1st round will be held on 29th November and 2nd round will be held in January 2009.

Diabetic patients care centre inaugurated in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

Diabetic patients care centre was inaugurated in Mymensingh 22nd November at Nasirabad collegiate school Dr. K. Zaman in augurated the centre.

Mayor AD. Mahmud Alnoor Tarek C.E.O. Fame Pharmaceutical, A.K.M Khairul Basher was present as special guest. Dr. SM Abdur Rahaman, Shafiqul Islam Minto, Mohammad Mustofa Didar were present.

This centre will provide treatment to diabetic patients through Anti diabetic tea diabino.

Bank official killed, 11 hurt in B'baria road mishap

UNB, Brahmanbaria

A Rupali Bank official was killed and 11 people were injured in a head-on collision between two microbuses at Malihata on Dhaka-Sylhet highway on Sunday.

The dead was identified as Hasan Babu, 42, manager of Rupali Bank, Doyamoye branch of Sylhet. He hailed from Bhairab of Kishoreganj district.

Police said a Sylhet-bound microbus from Dhaka crashed into a Dhaka-bound microbus, killing the bank official on the spot and injuring 11 others.

Of the injured, three were sent to Dhaka in critical condition and two were admitted to Sadar Hospital.

Bumper production of T-Aman in Naogaon likely

BSS, Naogaon

Farmers are expecting a bumper production of T-Aman in the district during the current season following cultivation of high yielding varieties on more lands, official sources said.

Local Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said a total of 19,000 hectares of more land have been brought under T-Aman cultivation this year due to favorable climatic condition. It was fixed to cultivate T-Aman on 1,90,000 hectares of land with producing 5,04,200 tonnes of rice in all the 11 upazilas of the district. While the farmers have cultivated the paddy on 2,09,010 hectares of land.

Of them, high yielding and hybrid variety of T-Aman was cultivated on 1,76,215 hectares of land and local varieties on 32,795 hectares.

Upazila-wise cultivated lands are as follows 10,110 hectares in Sadar upazila, 17,600 hectares in Rani Nagar, 7,000 hectares in Atari, 13,400 hectares in Badalgachi, 28,400 hectares in Mohadebpur, 28,100 hectares in Potnitola, 21,400 hectares in Dhamoirhat, 18,500 hectares in Sapahar, 20,200 hectares in Porsha, 14,350 hectares in Manda and 29,800 hectares in Niamatpur upazilas.

Aman paddy harvesting begins in Dinajpur

UNB, Sinajpur

Farmers of the district have started harvesting Aman paddy with the hope of achieving bumper production.

Department of Agricultural Extension sources said some 2.41 lakh hectares of land were brought under Aman cultivation this season with an output target of 6.15 lakh mts.

Of the total land, 29,945 hectares were cultivated in Birganj upazila, 26,600 hectares in Sadar, 17025 hectares in Birol, 13,455 hectares in Kaharol, 23,140 hectares in Chirirbandar, 27,290 hectares in Parbatipur, 17,740 hectares in Phulbari, 15,860 hectares in Bochaganj, 11,655 hectares in Khansama, 17,550 hectares in Birampur, 21,070 hectares in Nababganj, 8,540 hectares in Hakimpur and 11,900 hectares in Ghoraghat upazilas.

Farmers said although the cultivation was hampered in some upazilas due to pest attack and leaf blight diseases but the overall production was satisfactory. DAE officials are also optimistic about bumper production of Aman this season.

News Briefs

Two garment factories catch fire in Ctg

CHITTAGONG, Nov 23: Two garment factories caught fire in Asatganj area of the port city on Sunday afternoon. According to a firsthand report, the fire first broke out in Angelic Apparels Ltd at about 1pm and then raged through adjacent Apollo Garments housed in the same building. On information, firefighters rushed in and continued their hectic effort to douse the blaze till 3pm. The outbreak of fire was attributed to electric short circuit. Further details were awaited, reports UNB.

'Terrorists’ held with arms in Jhenidah

Jhenidah, Nov 23: Police arrested three suspected terrorists along with arms at Shythli village in Harinakundu upazila Saturday midnight. The arrestees are Gias of Shythli village, Reajul Haque of Baribathan village and Rezaul Karim of Korapara village in Sadar upazila. Police said on secret information that the three terrorists entered the village for committing crime they with the help of local people arrested them after a hot chase. Police recovered one revolver and two bullets from their possession. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Youth found dead in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 23: A rich young man was found dead at Gabargari village in Tarash upazila Sunday morning. The deceased was identified as Alauddin Mia Montu, 35, of Jayantapur village in the upazila. Local people said unidentified miscreants strangulated Montu to death on his way home from a local market Saturday night. The reason behind the murder could not be known immediately. On information, police recovered the body this morning and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Woman strangulated to death in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Nov 23: Unidentified assailants strangulated a middle aged woman to death at Masni village in Kachua upazila Saturday night. The victim was identified as Radha Rani Mitra, 55, widow of late Chitta Ranjan Mitra. Police said Radha was owner of huge property and used to live in the village alone as her sons live in India. The assailants entered her house at dead of night and strangled her. On information police recovered the body this (Sunday) morning. Police said the miscreants might have killed the rich lady to grab her land property. A case was filed, reports UNB.

2 held with phensidyl in Munshiganj

MUNSHIGANJ, Nov 23: Police arrested two drug peddlers along with 90 bottles of phensidyl syrup from a covered van at Baluakandia in Gazaria upazila on Dhaka-Chittagong highway Saturday. Police said they halted the covered van and arrested Nizam, 25 and Jony, 24, when they were going to Narayanganj from Comilla along with the Indian contraband drugs. Police said they were involved in drug peddling since long. Police also seized the covered van. A case was filed, reports UNB.