The New Nation - Internet Edition

Number of unlicensed vehicles increasing rapidly in N dists

Staff Reporter, Sirajgonj

Most vehicles of the Northern districts are plying on the roads without fitness certificates. valid documents and real number plates.

The number of unlicensed and unfit vehicles including bus, truck, pickup, microbus, baby-taxi, tempo car and motorcycles are increasing rapidly throughout the region.

According to a survey report of a local transport association, 75 percent vehicles of Sirajganj, Pabna, Natore, Bogra, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts have no fitness certificates.

It is alleged that, about 40 percent vehicles have no valid papers and 30 percent route permits, while 45 percent vehicles do not pay regularly taxes.

In Sirajganj, a huge number of the vehicles plying on the roads do not have valid certificates from the BRTA, Moreover, most vehicles are of three to four decade's old. The emission of black smoke from these vehicles has been polluting environment in the region.

The survey reveals that only 40 percent drivers possess valid licences and 30 percent duplicate or fake licences. While 30 percent drivers do not have licences.

Sometimes helpers of the drivers drive the vehicles which causes frequent accidents on the roads. Moreover, absence of proper monitoring, inspection and regular checking on the roads is also responsible for the roads mishap, sources added.

'Religious leaders can help prevent HIV/AIDS’

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

A seminar titled HIV/ AIDS preventive programme and HIV/AIDs preventive booklet was handed over to religious institutions and religious leaders was held at Fulpur Upaizila Auditorium on 18th November.

It was organised by Islamic Foundation and R.R.C (Tangail) assisted by National STO programme (NASP) DGHS and Save the Cchildren. UNO, Fulpur Babul Miah was present as chief guest while it was presided over by DD (Incharge) Islamic Foundation Abdul Wadud and UH. FPO Dr Mahmudunsa and Moulana Joinal Abedin, Moulana AKM Zalaluddin uddin were present as special guest .

The speakers said only religious faith and involvement of religious leader of will be able to prevent HIV/AID. 70 Imams attended in the meeting.

Welcome address was delivered by senior field supervisor Fazlul Karim Faruque.

UZ electioneering campaign gaining momentum in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Upcoming upazila electioneering campaign is going on with much enthusiasm in Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj. People of every sphere of life are seen gossiping centreing the polls sitting at the tea stalls of markets.

All who have bought nomination papers have started door-to-poor mass contact inquiring about their well-being and exchanging pleasantries along side lobbying their respective party leaders. In the meantime, Shahjahan Bhuiyan, upazila Awami League Secretary, Nuruzzaman Khan, chairman Kaitpara union parishad and industrialist, Nashir Uddin Ahmed BNP leader and industrialist, Manjari Alam Tutul Awami league leader, Abu Hossain Bhuiyan Ranu chiarman Murapara union parishad, Mahbubur Rahman chairman Tarabo pourashava, Shcikh Shaiful Islam upazila Awami league Vice Chairman, Mofiz Uddin Adkvocate and Awami League leader and besides Azizul Hoque Bhuiyan, Ataur Rahman, Majharul Hoq, Firoj Ahmed, Sazzad Hossain Tuhin, Mustafa Kamal, Sarif Hossain, leaders of different political parties have collected nomination forms as upazila chiarman. Among therm, Shajahan Bhuiyan, upazila Awami League secretary, Nuruzzaman Khan chairman and upazila BNP leader, Mahbubur Rahman chairman Tarabo pourashava are top of the town. They are committed to work for the welfare of the destitute along side the development activities of the upazila, they said.

Upazila Vice Chairman Nurul Mollah of Paragawn village, Abdul Mannan of Masimpur village, Manjari Alam of Mitaba village, Habibur Rahman of Bramman Khali village Rafiqul Islam of Naora village and Monir Hossain former VP of Murapara college have collected nomination form.

Apart from it Nasrin Akter Champa, Syeda Lipi Akter, Ayesha Akter, Syeda Ferdousi Alam, Hazera Akter, Shirin Akter will compete as Mohila upazila vice chairman and they have already collected nomination papers in this regard and have already started electioneering campaign.

Massive plan to cultivate maize in Comilla dist taken

BSS, Comilla

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken up a massive plan to cultivate maize in all 16 upazilas in the district during the current season.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said a total of 4000 hectares of land would be brought under maize cultivation this year with the production target of 24000 tons of maize.

Of the total land, 250 hectares would be cultivated in Chandina Upazila, 60 hectares in Devidwar, 10 hectares in Muradnagar, 3430 hectares in Daudkandi, 10 hectares in Homna, 5 hectares in Comilla Adarsha Sadar, 10 hectares in Burichang, 10 hectares in Brahmanpara, 10 hectares in Chouddagram, 10 hectares in Laksam, 5 hectares in Nangalkot, 40 hectares in Barura, 70 hectares in Meghna, 60 hectares in Titas, 5 hectares in Monohorgonj and 15 hectares in Sadar Dakkhin Upazila.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) is supplying quality seeds among the growers through their sales centers and dealers at fair prices.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) have taken necessary steps to supply fertilizer and other agriculture inputs among the growers at fair prices to boost the production of maize during the current season, concerned sources said.

RUET JCD activist injured by RU BCL men

RU Correspondent

A Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activist of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) unit was seriously injured, in attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Rajshahi University (RU) activists over a trifling matter on Sunday night.

Campus sources said BCL RU unit leader Masud along with his fellow party activists went to RUET campus and beat up Shehab, a 4th year student of Electrical department with iron rods on Sunday night as Shehab criticized Awami League and its party chief Sheikh Hasina.

The attackers left the place after chase by Shehab fellows Ahmed and others activists when they came to the rescue of Shehab.

Later, Sehab rushed to RUET medical centre and later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, sources said..

A huge number of police have been deployed on the campus to avert any untoward incident.

2 arrested in Baraigram

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

Police and RAB jointly arrested two terrorists from Koyen Bazar of Baraigram Upazila in the morning of November 24. Two terrorists were identified as Aftab Ali (40) of the village Dhanaidah and Md Samaullah (38) of the village Koyen under Baraigram upazila when they were taking tea at a tea-stall in Koyen Bazar RAB personnel in civil dress arrested them.

One commits suicide failing to pay dowry money

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

A helpless mother committed suicide she failed to pay the remnant amount of only taka 1,000 dowry for her daughter's marriage. The victim has been identified as Zahura Begum(35), wife of Babul, a van-puller of village Pananagar village under Durgapur upazila.

Sources said Babul's daughter Rakhi was married to Momin son of Ali Hossain of village Kapasia of Puthia upazila some one year ago under the contract of paying taka 25,000 dowry. After the marriage, Babul paid taka 20,000 as dowry to his son-in-law and sought six-month more time to pay the remaining amount of taka 5,000. But son-in-law Momin continued to press his wife and in-laws for the rest of dowry amount. As a result, Babul's wife Zahura took taka 4,000 loan from an NGO and paid it to Momin last month but he continued to press her wife Rakhi for rest of taka 1,000.

On last Friday night, Momin beat his wife Rekha mercilessly demanding taka 1,000 of dowry money injuring her seriously. When the news of beating her daughter reached to mother Zahura, she could not check her passion she committed suicide at her room on Sunday early morning.

A UD case has been filed with Durgapur thana in this connection. The dead body of Zohura was buried at the village graveyard after autopsy.

News briefs

Valuables looted in Rajbari

RAJBARI, Nov 23: Robbers looted cash and valuables worth about Tk 3 lakh from a house at Betanga village in Baliakandi upazila Friday night. Police quoting local people said some 8/10 armed bandits entered into the house of Nikhil Chandra when he came out from the house to respond to the call of nature at about 10:30pm. The bandits then took the house inmates hostage at gun point and took away cash, gold ornaments and other valuables. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

Two outlaws held in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 23: Police arrested two regional leaders of outlawed Sharbahara Party at Jatibari village in Kamarkhand upazila early Saturday. Acting on a tip off, police conducted a drive at the village at about 4am and arrested Abdul Kuddus and Mostafa. Police said they were wanted in a number of cases including of murder and dacoity, reports UNB.

Ansar, VDP confce held in Panchagarh

PANCHAGARH, Nov 23: The Annual Conference of Ansar and VDP members of Boda Upazila was held on Thursday. Presided over by UP chairman Mafizar Rahman Dinu, the function was attended by District Adjutant Badrul Alam as the chief guest while Upazila Nirbahi Officer M Sarwar Alam was present as the special guest. Official sources said a total 200 Ansar and VDP members of the upazila took part in the conference, reports BSS.

Prisoner attempts to commit suicide

in Jessore jail

JESSSORE, Nov 23 : An under trial prisoner attempted to commit suicide in Jessore Central Jail on Friday afternoon. The prisoner was identified as Abdur Razzak, 40, son of Cherag Ali of Hayatpur village under Monirampur upazila in Jessore. Police and Jail sources said Abdur Razzak tried to commit suicide with a broken plate cutting his throat causing serious injuries. He was given treatment at the jail hospital and later shifted to Jessore General Hospital at night. Police and local sources said Abdur Razzak was arrested for his alleged involvement in murdering his wife about two years ago, reports BSS.

19 arrested in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Nov 23 : Police arrested 19 persons from different areas of the city and nine upazilas of the district on Saturday. Of them, 10 were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while nine others from nine upazilas. Besides, traffic police lodged 24 cases under the Motor Vehicles Ordinance and seized a motorbike without registration during drives against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document-related malpractices in different parts of the city during the time, reports BSS.

Urs sharif

CHITTAGONG, Nov 24 : The day-long annual holy Urs of famous saint Hazrat Shah Amanat ( Raht.) will be held at Mazar premises in the port city on November 29. The holy event will be featured with recitation from holy Quran, Zikir and Milad Mahfil, a press release said. Devotees and disciples have been requested to attend the holy Urs timely to make it a success, reports BSS.