The New Nation - Internet Edition

BRDB disburses Tk 589.23 cr among poor in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

The regional office of Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) here has disbursed Taka 589.23 crore as loan among the poor and low-income group people in last 10 years under its Rural Livelihood Project (RLP) till October last.

Sources said the BRDB has also recovered Taka 604.75 crore against the targeted Taka 622.84 crore under the revolving-fund method during the same period till last month. The project is being implemented in 49 upazilas of Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Pabna and Sirajganj districts since 1998 under the ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives.

The main thrust of the project is to supplement the government's poverty alleviation efforts through income generation and creating employment for the disadvantaged and low- income group people involving them in both the agricultural and non-agricultural fields.

The main activities of the project are being implemented through formation of two-tier cooperative societies at village level like Bittahin Somobai Samity and Mohila Bittahin Somobai Samity while Upazila Bittahin Somobai Samity at upazila level.

Formation of village-level cooperative society and member-capital through depositing savings and shares, skill development training and providing soft-term loan among the target group people for their employment and income generation are the major components of the project.

Under the project, a total of 1,88,544 vulnerable people including 1,52,586 women were brought under the income generating activities through 5,695 registered cooperative societies including 4,575 for women in 49 upazilas.

Loans are given in sectors like fish farming, 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.

The society members have deposited Taka 4.84 crore as share and another Taka 14.47 crore as savings.

Some 86,044 beneficiaries were imparted training on different need-based fields like cooperative management, bookkeeping and skill development under the project.

Regional Director (RLP) of BRDB Ayub Hossain told BSS that 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.

The project has created opportunity for the poor people to change their standard of living, Ayub said adding it has been contributing a lot in women empowerment along with creating awareness about their rights.

'Conspiracy on to bring a certain party to power’

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Speakers at a round table conference entitled, " Ensuing Parliamentary Election : Role of Media" organised by National Interest Group(NIG), Rajshahi Monday night at the City Press Club have alleged, the incumbent Election Commission was engaged in conspiracy to bring a certain group to power through Media Coup by implementing a code of conduct for the media. They further said, to execute this blue print of the EC, both the local and foreign forces are working hand to hand and the sovereignty of the country will be at stake if the people of the country fail to resist the conspirators.

Presided over by the former Vice-Chancellor of RU and President of Zia Parishad Professor Altaf Hossain and conducted by the Member Secretary of NIG Dr. Nazib Wadood, the round table was addressed, among others by former Energy Adviser, columnist Mahmudur Rahman, former Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University Professor Rafiqul Islam, Professor Faiz-ud-Deen of the department of Law of RU, Professor Sarowar Zahan, Professor Main Uddin, Professor Akhter Hossain Majumder, Professor Mahfuzur Rahman Akanda, Vice-president of BFUJ Rezaul Karim Razu, Editor of the local daily Tahsiqul Islam Bokul, General Secretary of Rajshahi Advocate Bar Nazmus Sadat and Advocate Enamul Haque.

Former Energy Adviser said, the nation was facing a hard time now because an emergency period for long two years can not be good for any nation that is why the next 9th Parliamentary election was very crucial for the nation. The fate of Bangladeshi Muslims will be determined through this election. He called upon the people inspired in nationalism and Islamic values to resist those unitedly who have been declared to resist

Islamism in the country. He urged all like minded people to start campaigning for the election from this moment if the election is held according to the new schedules. "Even if the elections are not held, the power inspired in Islamic values and nationalism should remain alert" he said.

He alleged that both the local and international powers were active to implement a 'blue print' election and they have been engaged in heinous activities aiming at holding such an election.

JS, UZ polls: 50 nomination papers submitted in Sylhet

Our Correspondent, Sylhet

A total of 50 candidates of upcoming parliamentary and upazila polls submitted nomination paper to their respecting returning officers of Sylhet District till Monday last..

Off it 6 in parliament, 24 upazila chairman, 14 Vice-Chairman and 6 female Vice Chairman posts. The candidates submitted their papers without any show-down.

Sources said in Sylhet-3 Awami League nominated candidate Mahmudus Samad Chowdhury Kayes filed his nomination paper to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Fenchuganj Upazila, Moulana Husam Uddin Chowdhury submitted nomination paper to the DC of Sylhet of Sylhet-5 constituency as 14-party alliance candidate. Nasreen Rashid Chowdhury filed nomination paper as JP (Ershad) candidate to the UNO of Companygonj of Sylhet-4 constituency. Moulana Helal Uddin also filed nomination papers in Sylhet-4 constituency as Kolyan Party candidates. He submitted his papers to the UZ Nirbahi Officer of Companyganj on Monday.

Abdulla Siddique filed nomination in Sylhet-2 as (Ershad) nominated candidate. He submitted his papers to the D.C of Sylhet on Monday. Ohid Uddin offered his candidature of Sylhet-6 constituency as Bikolpo Dhara nominee. He submitted his papers to the D.C of Sylhet on Monday.

Meanwhile, 44 candidates of upazila chairman, vice chairmen, female vice-Chairmen filed their nomination papers to different upazilas of the district. Off them 24 for upazila chairman, 14 vice-chairmen and 6 female vice chairmen.

Seminar on child health held in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

Accelerated Interventions in Maternal, Neonatal and child health upazila disseminating meeting was held at Haluaghat upazila Auditorium on 20th November. UNO Sanjoy Chakraborty presided over the meeting while Civil Surgeon (Mymensingh) Dr SM Shamsul Alam was present as chief guest. UH FPO Dr. Md. Abdul Jabbar and Upazila Brac MNC Rafiqul Islam were present as special guests. It was organised by health reproductive ESD, DGHS and assisted by UNICEF and Brac.

The speakers stressed on Maternal, Neonatal and child health. Upazila health complex should give service to labour patients. 70 health officials, teachers were present on the occasion.

100-day employment generation programme nears completion in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

The work of the first 60-day of 100-day employment generation programme of the government for the hardcore and the seasonal unemployed people is near about completion in all the seven upazilas of the district. The objective of the programme was to assist the poor including marginal farmers in overcoming the monga, job crisis and poverty-like situation during the Bengali months of Ashwin and Kartik.

Upazila relief office sources said a total of 777 projects involving Taka 8.38 crore have been taken up in Sadar upazila and 8,380 labourers including women enlisted to complete the project work.

Each worker is getting Taka 100 per day as wage. As many as 54 projects have been taken in Laxmipur Union, 26 in Malibari Union, 55 in Kuptala Union, 57 in Badiakhali Union, 73 in Boali Union, 69 in Gidari Union, 40 in Kholahati Union, 76 in Ramchandrapur Union, 61 in Ghagoa Union, 90 in Dahapara Union, 100 in Ballamjhar Union, 29 in Mollarchar Union and 47 in Kamarjani Union of the Upazila. A total of 90 percent work of the projects has already been completed, said Abdul Mannan, Sadar upazila project implementation officer.

While three-km long maintenance work of an embankment at Mafurzan area under Badiakhali Union of the upazila is also going on in full swing under this programme.

Fake DB Inspector held in Naogaon

BSS, Naogaon

Detective Branch (DB) of Naogaon police arrested a fake DB Inspector and seized Taka 25,000 in cash during his bribing attempt at Santahar Police Camp here on Monday, Police said.

The arrested fake DB Inspector was identified as Masud Rana, 40, son of Moksed Ali of village Ghoshpara Betgari under Rani Nagar upazila in the district. Arrested Masud Rana went to Sub-Inspector (SI) Ashutosh Kumar of the Police Camp and introduced himself as a DB Inspector of Naogaon DB police office.

He also proposed SI Ashutosh, who is also the Investigation Officer of a criminal case, to exclude the name of an accused person from the charge sheet of the case in exchange of Taka 25,000.

Santu joins in BNP, Delwar quits AL

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Sarfuddin Santu, the PDP nominee for Barisal City Corporation election, who defeated only a difference of 588 votes to his AL grand alliance nominated candidate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, joined in BNP after visiting Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Sunday.

Santu a man from Uzirpur seeking nomination for Barisal-2 (Banaripara-Uzirpur) upazila and he has defeated from Barisal-2 constituency for two times in previous elections as independent candidates.

A close aide of Santu said that he may seek nomination Barisal-5 (city corporation and sadar upazila) constituency if only Majibor Rahman Sarwar, former BCC Mayor barred from contesting election for next three years after performing duties of Mayorship as per PRO.

On the other hand Delwar Hossain, former AL lawmaker of Barguna-1, declared his decision of quitting from AL after Dhirendra Devnath Shamvu nominated for that seat by central AL violating the decision of grassroot AL leaders.

The decision was declared in a gathering of his followers held at Barguna on Sunday and announced to media.

Delwar, as a rebel AL candidate, defeated former AL law maker and minister Shamvu with a large difference of more than thirty thousand votes and again reinstated in the party after wining.

His close aides said Delwar may join in BNP if his nomination assured for Barguna-1 constituency.