The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mass awareness about HIV/AIDS emphasised

Our Correspondent, Barisal

The World AIDS day was observed at Barisal staging out processions and holding discussion meeting on December 1.

The day's programmes was opened by Advocate Shawkat Hossain Hiron, Mayor of Barisal City Corporation who also led a procession at Aswani Kumar Hall, which dispersed on the Circuit House premises.

The district administration also organised a discussion on the deadly virus, which was presided over by Dr. Pulin Kumar Sinha, Civil Surgeon of the district. The discussion was attended by officials, representatives of health, Social Welfare Department NGO officials and representatives of voluntary organisations.

Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College also observed the day. The college also organised a procession in the city streets and a discussion on the virus. Dr. Lutfar Rahman, associate professor of the Community Medicine presided over the discussion meeting. Principal of the college Prof. Syed Zahid Hossain attended the discussion as the chief guest. The discussants called for creating awareness among people about the deadly virus and give them a clear conception about the virus.

They also stressed for practising religious ethics and developing moral values in the minds of young people involving the social and religious leaders for preventing AIDS. It was revealed at the discussion that in Bangladesh AIDS was detected first in 1986, but at present the number of AIDS patients were between 13,000 and 20,000 in the country.

It takes five to seven years to detect a HIV patient after being infected by the virus.

Dr. Brindabon Das, head of blood transfusion department of the Medical College said only seven HIV positive cases were detected in the college and of them four in 2006 and three in 2007.

Prof. Golam Mahmud suggested blood scanning of transport workers of long distance, sex workers and drug addicts at a regular interval.

Denmark Govt keen to rebuild Sidr-affected infrastructures

A Correspondent, Patuakhali

Einar Hebogard Jensen, the Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, laid the foundation stone of Bangladesh-Denmark Friendship Bridge at Kalapara in Patuakhali district on 1 December. The bridge would be constructed by LGED as part of Danish support to rehabilitate roads and bridges damaged by the devastating cyclone Sidr in November 2007.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, the Danish Ambassador said, immediately after last year's Cyclone Sidr, the Embassy of Denmark together with partners assessed the damages in a bid to provide support through the sector programmes in agriculture and rural roads as well as water sanitation for helping the Sidr affected people in Bangladesh.

Chaired by Md Nurul Islam, Chief Engineer, LGED the foundation laying ceremony of Bangladesh-Denmark Friendship Bridge at Kalapara was also attended by, among others, Mr. Reaz Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner, Patuakhali, Harun-ur-Rashid, Senior Programme Officer, Danish Embassy, Dhaka and Humayun Sikdar, Chairman Kalapara Pourashava.

In his address Md Nurul Islam said, Denmark is a good friend of Bangladesh since long. He said, immediately after the sever devastation caused by the cyclone 'Sidr' in November 2007, DANIDA has been extending support to the helpless people of the affected areas and declared to assist rebuilding the damaged in infrastructure to restore the connectivity.

Navy new entry sailors passing out parade held

The passing out parade marking the induction of 2008/B batch of New Entry Sailors of Bangladesh Navy was held at BNS TITUMIR parade ground Khulna on Monday.

Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam reviewed the smartly turned out parade and took salute at the impressive marchpast. He also distributed awards among the outstanding New Entry Sailors.

M Shohel Ahmed, DE/ UC was adjudged the best all round New Entry Sailor in SSC group and was awarded with the coveted Cup of the Chief of the Naval Staff while M Saddam Hossian, DE/CAT-2/UT received the TITUMIR cup as the best sailor in non SSC group.

Speakig on the occasion the Chief of Naval Staff called upon the new entry sailors to make the best use to the valuable training which they obtained from the new entry School of BNS TITUMIR and to build themselves as worthy sailors to discharge any responsibility in future. He hoped that soon Bangladesh Navy will emerge as a Tri-dimensional Naval Force and will obtain dignified position in South Asia region. He also urged the Navy personnel to remain vigilant to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the mother land from any external threats.

The spectacular parade was witnessed among others by Principal Staff Officers of Naval Headquarters, Commodore Commanding Khulna and local high civil and military officials of Khulna and Jessore area.

Biodiversity conservation workshop held at BAU

BAU Correspondent, Mymensingh

The speakers at a workshop stressed the need for developing dairy breeding using the germplasm of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) in the existing feeding and management practices of Bangladesh.

The daylong workshop billed' Characterisation, conservation and Improvement of Red Chittagong Cattle' was held at the Bangladesh Agricultural University(BAU) arranged by the faculty of Animal Husbandry of BAU with the cooperation of USDA.

Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Syed Ataur Rahman attended the work as the chief guest while Prof. Ma Sattar Mondol, vice-chairman of the BAU was present as the chief patron at the workshop.

Presided Over by Prof. Md. Shahid Ullah Talukder, director of BAU Research System, the workshop was attended, among others, by Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division of the Finance Ministry, Ad Spijkers, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, Theophil Hajong, Operation Director of World Vision Bangladesh.

A keynote paper was presented by Prof. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Principal Investigator, USDA funded RCC project of BAU.

The speakers said biodiversity for ensuring food security is a national and a global mandate as well.

Conservation and development of an endemic but appropriate breed like RCC would ensure maintenance of sustainable animal production for the livelihood of rural people, they observed.

Rupganj UZ to celebrate Victory Day

Our correspondent, Rupganj

The administration of the Rupganj upazila under Narayanganj district has taken programmes to celebrate the Victory Day on December 16.

The highlights of the programme are placing of wreaths at Shaheed Minars of the liberation martyrs, hoisting of the national flag at government offices, illumination of the government buildings in the evening, march past, screening of documentary fild on the liberation war and cultural sessions.

The administration will accord a reception to the veteran freedom fighters, and family members of the freedom fighters, who embraced martyrdom during the war and who died after the liberation of the country.

A discussion meeting will be organised marking the significance of the victory day in the national life.

Open House Day held in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

Open house day of Kotwali Model Thana was held on the thana premises on November 25. Additional Police Super ASM Akhtaruzzaman was present as the chief guest with officer incharge of Kotwali Thana Nazrul Islam in the chair.

ASP Sadar Circle Md Idris Ali Mia was present as the special guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Akhteruzzaman said drug pedlers, drug addicts were being arrested. He said the law and order situation strictly maintained during the election time.

JS poll: N'ganj-1: BNP candidate Kazi Moniruzzaman submits nomination paper

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Kazi Moniruzzaman Monir, leading industrialist and freedom fighter, at last got nomination from the BNP for contesting upcoming JS poll for Narayanganj-1 Rupganj constituency and submitted his nomination paper to the Returning Officer at Rupganj on Narayanganj on the 30th November at 2 PM.

At that time Hasan Ali Upazila BNP Vice Chairman, Golam Faruk Chairman Murapara Union Parishad, Shamsu Uddin, chairman Bulabo Union Parishad, Nasir Uddin Ahmed Upazila BNP Vice Chairman, Mosarraf Hossain, District Chhatra Dal Vice Chairman, Anwar Sadat, Upazila Chhatra Dal leader along with a lot of BNP leaders and activists were with him.

After submitting the nomination paper Kazi Monir exchanged greeting with the people attended there and sought blessings from all.

News Briefs

Tk 6 lakh looted in Pabna

PABNA, Nov 30: Unidentified terrorists looted Tk 6 lakh after shooting down a local BNP leader and hardware businessman at his shop at Kashinathpur Bazaar in Sathia upazila Sunday morning. The victim was identified as Arif Hossain, 38, son of Yusuf Ali of Haridebpur village. Police quoting local people said a gang of armed terrorists, who came by a private car, opened fire on Arif at about 9:30am killing him on the spot and wounding his younger brother, Amin. Later, the miscreants took away Tk 6 lakh from the cash box of the shop. Police seized the car of the terrorists as they fled away hurriedly by a trawler leaving the vehicle behind at Najirganj Ghat, reports UNB.

Drug peddler held in Benapole

BENAPOLE, Nov 30: Police arrested a drug peddler along with 588 bottles of Indian phensidyl syrup from Gogasatmile area here Sunday morning. Acting on a tip-off, police chased a microbus in the area early in the morning. At one stage the driver of the microbus fled away leaving behind the vehicle. Later, police arrested drug peddler Abdur Rahim along with the phensidyl syrup from the microbus. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Housewife killed in Jessore

BENAPOLE, (JESSORE) Nov 30: A housewife was strangulated to death allegedly by her brother-in-law at Gangapur village in Jhikargachha upazila on Friday night. The victim was identified as Marjina, 25, wife of expatriate Ansar Ali. Police said Marjina's brother-in-law Mansur Ali developed an extramarital affair with her since his younger brother Ansar went abroad one year back. Meanwhile, Mansur got Marjina pregnant and for fear of public disgrace he decided to kill her, reports UNB.

Cash, valuables looted in Sylhet

SYLHET, Nov 30: Robbers looted cash and valuables worth Tk 5 lakh from the house of an expatriate at Nagor village in Golapganj upazila Friday night. Police said 10/12 armed bandits entered into the house of expatriate Abdul Hamid breaking the door open at dead of night. The robbers then took the house inmates hostage at gunpoint and looted Tk 60,000 in cash, nine tolas of gold ornaments and other valuables worth Tk 5 lakh. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

One killed by younger brother in Pabna

PABNA, Nov 30: A man was killed by his younger brother over a land dispute at Manpur village in Santhia upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Mojibar Rahman, 50, son of late Azhar Gomasta of the village. Police said there was a longstanding dispute between Mojibar Rahman and his younger brother Habibur Rahman over the ownership of a plot of land. In the evening, the two brothers locked in a brawl and at one stage Habibur struck Mojibar with a crowbar, killing him on the spot. Police arrested Habibur. A case was filed, reports UNB.