The New Nation - Internet Edition

NBR Chief calls for lessening foreign aid dependence, boost domestic fund

Our Correspondent, Barisal

National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdul Mazid has called for lessening dependence on foreign aid and boost international resources for development of the country.

Mazid made the call while addressing a views exchange meeting at the local Circuit House with the business leaders and officials on Sunday.

He said Bangladesh has taken huge foreign assistance at low interest rates, but failure to repay those within the stipulated time has become a over burden for the nation as the loan money grew with compound interest, the NBR chairman pointed out.

"Time has come to reduce dependence on foreign aid and increase fund locally paying income tax and other taxes regularly," Mazid said.

He quoted a NBR survey as saying that the country has over 15 million people eligible to pay income tax, but less than 20 percent of them shell out their taxes.

Mazid said the payment system has been simplified and the rate of taxes lowered. Still 93,000 people submitted their return this year and the rest are attempting to evade payment of taxes, but it will be very difficult for them to dodge, Mazid warned.

He said the NBR will find them out and go for legal actions against them

The meeting with Nurul Islam, Khulna Customs Commissioner in the chair, was addressed, among others, by Sheikh Abdur Rahim, President of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Abdur Razzak, former vice-president of BCCI, Moniruzzaman Talukder, a business leader.

Khas land distributed among 130 landless families in Gaibandha

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Khas land were distributed to the 130 landless families of Kamarjani Union under Sadar Upazila in the district on November 29.

A simple function organised by Sadar Upazila Administration was held at the conference room of district collectorate building here on Saturday noon.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abu Muhmmad Yousuf addressed it as cheif guest and ADC (Revenue) Ranjit Kumar Das and ADC (General) Abul Bayes Miah were present as special guests.

Presided over by UNO Arif Nazmul Hasan, the function was also addressed, among others, by assistant commissioner (Land) Lubna Siddique, UP Chairman M Solaiman Islam and a beneficiary farmer M Ashraf Aloi. DC in his speech urged the beneficiaries to use the land properly aimed at changing their lots economically.

He also asked them to send their children in schools and to keep their families small by applying family planning methods in order to build a happy and prosperous country.

Lates, the guests handed over the documents of the land ownerships to the 130 beneficiary families of the union.

Women-friendly trade policy stressed to make economy stronger

Our correspondent, Chittagong

The speakers at a workshop stressed the need for making more income generating scopes for women through easy access to fund for setting up small and medium scale enterprises for increasing national economic growth.

They said the national development would simply be impossible keeping the women, who constitute almost half of the total population, on the sidelines of the economic activities.

The speakers expressed the views at a workshop dubbed 'Stakeholder Consultation Workshop' arranged by the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) at a local hotel today with the cooperation of the Centre for International Private Enterprise(CIPE).

The speakers felt for a comprehensive women-friendly business policy, which they said would help develop women entrepreneurship quickly in the country.

The speakers at the workshop discussed the hurdles the women face in the run up to their entrepreneurship.

Vice-chancellor of Chittagong University Prof. Anupam Sen was the Chief guest at the workshop while Chief education officer of Chittagong City Corporation(CCC) Prof. Rawshan Akhter Hanee and senior journalist M Nasirul Huq attended it as the special guests.

Director of Promoting Women Entrepreneurship Through Advocacy Project(PWETAP) Mujibur Rahman highlighted outcome of such workshops held earlier at Rajshahi, Barisal, Khulna and Sylhet.

He said lack of access of women to fund, social taboo, lack of leadership of the women to entrepreneurships , poor marketing facilities, information gap, bureaucratic complexity, corruption and inadequate skill were blamed as the major hurdles for the women. The women entrepreneurs said they would be major partners in the economic growth provided the barriers are removed by formulating a comprehensive business policy for them.

Rahman said they hope to place the brief and finalized proposals after summing up recommendations and requirements to the government for action.

They stressed that convincing of the decision makers of banks and financial agencies for easy access to fund support to the women entrepreneurs, setting up of bank exclusively for wormen, media campaign for drawing state support, providing need-based training, continuous follow up, adequate storage facilities access to information, and logical period for interest holiday on the capital supplied were identified as the means for solution to their problems.

100 years founding anniversary of Jhalakati Govt High School Feb 13-14

A Correspondent, Jhalakati

The 100 years anniversary of Jhalakati Government High School will be celebrated on 13-14 February 2009 in a befitting manner. A souvenir will be published to mark the occasion. Articles and features highlighting history and culture of the school is invited.

Rare pictures of the school, if anybody preserved, are also requested to submit to the Convener, Souvenir Sub-committee through e-mails: rahmatbsl@yahoo.com, jktgschool100@ yahoo.com, moral@inmail 24.com, info@a-ccesshl.com, akm.rahmat @gmail.com by 08 January 2009.

Library inaugurated in Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

23rd Branch of Marof Sharmen Smirty Library was inaugurated by its establishment Hazi Mozammel Hoque Bhuiyan, leading industrialist on 29th November at Noapara area of Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj.

On the occasion, a discussion meeting was held with Hazi Mostafa Kamal, former Chairman of the Bangladesh National Industry Association in the chair. Among others Mir Abdul Alim, journalist, Farhad Hossain industrialist, Fakruzzaman footballer were special quests and Md Shahidulla Kaisar, Md, Jashim Uddin Bhuiyan, social activists, Habibur Rahman, vice-chairman of the said library, addressed the meeting.

The speakers underscored the need for reading books for increasing knowledge and morality.

Folk songs confce held in Bandarban

UNB, Bandarban

A folk songs conference was held at Upajatiya Sangskritic Institute auditorium here Friday amid much enthusiasm.

The lost songs of 11 ethnic groups of the district were sung at the function while their oldest and diversified cultural traditions were also exhibited.

Bandarban Parbatya Zila Parishad chairman Prof Thanjama Lusai was present as chief guest while parishad member U Nu Shoi Pru and Institute Director Mong Nu Ching, among others, attended the function.

The conference was held to protect the lost folk songs of the native people and uphold the traditional songs before the new generations.

BIWTC to introduce special steamer service during Eid

Our correspondent, Barisal

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation(BIWTC) has taken steps to introduce special steamer service on Dhaka-Barisal- Khulna routes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to facilitate journey of home-going passengers.

Millions of people of the country go to their village home to be with their near and dear ones on this occasion.

Officials sources said BIWTC will not charge extra money from passengers taking the facilities for 11 days in addition to usual services.

Khalid Newaz, Assistant Manager, Barisal station of BIWTC said the special service will start operation from December 4 to end on December 15. Advance booking for seats of upper classes began on November 30.

The sources said besides the special steamer services, one sea truck will ply from Barisal as usual.

Mother, daughter killed in road accident in Chuadanga

UNB, Chuadanga

A woman and her six-month-old daughter were killed in a tragic road accident on Chuadanga-Jibannagar road in Damurhuda upazila here on Friday.

The dead were identified as Momtaz, 40, and her baby Shormila of Joyrampur village.

Local people said while going to the upazila headquarters by a rickshaw van from her village with the baby in her lap a speeding human hauler dashed the van in the evening killing the baby on the spot and injuring Momtaz critically.

She was rushed to a local hospital where the attending doctors declared her dead.

News briefs

Bar Assoc election held in Jhenidah

JHENIDAH, Nov 28: The annual election of district Bar Association was held here on Wednesday amid much enthusiasm. Advocate SM Moshiur Rahman was elected president defeating his opponent Adv Hafizuddin while Adv Mozammel Hossain elected general secretary defeating his rival Adv Khan Aktheruzzaman. Moshiur Rahman bagged 126 votes while Mozammel 104 votes. Some 231 members cast votes in the election held peacefully. The winners were backed by Jatiyatabadi Aynjibi Forum, reports UNB.

Road communication snapped

BAGERHAT, Nov 29: Road communication of the southern region with Khulna and Barisal divisional headquarters was snapped as a Bailey bridge collapsed on Bagerhat-Pirojpur road in Badhal Bazaar area of Kochua upazila Saturday. Local people said a portion of the bridge collapsed when a cement-laden Piriojpur bound truck was trying to cross it in the morning. However, no one was injured. They said the Bailey bridge was risky and unfit for plying heavy vehicles since long. Officials of the district Roads and Highways Department said emergency measures have been taken to repair the bridge, reports UNB.

Couple killed over land dispute

MYMENSINGH, Nov 29: A couple was killed following a land dispute at Langoljora village in Dhubaura upazila on Friday night. The dead were identified as Nurul Amin, 35, and his wife Zarina, 30. Police said Sadeq and his supporters of the village stormed into their house at dead of night and hacked them to death over a land dispute. On information, police recovered the bodies of Nurul and Zarina on Saturday morning and send those to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB.

Schoolgirl commits suicide in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 29: A schoolgirl allegedly committed suicide at Baniyagati village in Kamarkand upazila on Thursday night. Local people said, Arzina Khatun, student of class five and daughter of Abdul Mannan, committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of her father's room at dead of night. On information, police recovered the body on Friday morning and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. Neighbors said Arzina's step mother used to torture her frequently on flimsy excuses. Police suspected that she might have committed suicide due to the torture. A UD case was filed, reports UNB.

21 hurt in Sirajganj clash

SIRAJGANJ, Nov 29: At least 21 people, including two women, were injured in a fierce clash between two groups of people at Baghbati Bazaar in Sadar upazila Friday. Police said Nur Hossain of the bazaar area wanted some cigarettes on credit from the shop owner Tapan Thursday night. An altercation ensued between them when Tapan refused to sell cigarettes on credit. On Friday morning both the groups equipped with lethal weapons attacked each other, leaving 21 people injured from both sides. A number of shops and houses were ransacked during the clash. Of the injured, nine were admitted to Sadar hospital, reports UNB.