The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mass awareness to make leprosy-free society stressed

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

The speakers at a function on Monday stressed the need for creating mass awareness among the people to bring the leprosy patients under treatment to build a Leprosy disease-free healthy society.

"Pale or reddish patches on the skin, loss of sensation, tingling of hands or feet or earlobes, painless wounds, painful tender nerves, swelling or lumps in face are the clinical signs of the leprosy disease that can cause not only physical disability but also social problems".

They said this in a day-long advocacy seminar for the leprosy affected people jointly organised by Gaibandha-Jaypurhat Leprosy Care Project (GJLCP) of The Leprosy Mission Bangladesh and National Leprosy Eradication Programe of Directorate of Health at the hall room of Gaibandha Pourashava of the town here on November 24.

Prodwip Bahar Pramanik, Programme Director of GJLCP, addressed it as chief guest. Presided over by M. Anwar-ul-Hasan Sabur, Mayor of the pourashava, the function was also addressed, among others, by councillor Abdul Hai, Leprosy control officer Keshab Chandra Roy, Leprosy control superviser Nasima Ferdous and Advocate Badrun Nahar.

There is no risk of disease spreading to anyone within twenty-four hours of starting multi drug therapy they said adding that the dose is either 6 months or 12 months period to be fully effective, they also said.

Laying the importance and emphasis on changing the moral attitudes to the Leprosy- affected people, they urged all to stand beside them avoiding the discrimination and stigma so that they could live in the community with dignity like other people.

A group of singers also rendered songs on the awareness of Leprosy in the function. More than 60 councilors and the employees of the pourashava including the journalists participated in the seminar.

Besides, health education materials, assistive devices and photos relating to the disease were also displayed through a stall set up on the premises of the pourashava.

Police foil road blockade programme by BGVC students

Our correspondent, Barisal

Police foiled a planned blockade on the Barisal-Dhaka high way by the teachers and students of Barisal Government Veterinary College (BGVC) in favour of their three-week programme for realising their demand.

The teachers and students of the college have been demanding implementation of the government decision to make the college a veterinary medicine campus of Patuakhali Science and Technology University and put the college under revenue department from a development one. They are agitating since November 9 through boycotting classes, examinations, shutting down administrative and academic buildings, forming human chain, burning effigy of the Vice-chancellor of the PSTU, demonstrations and processions.

They attempted to put the planned blockade on the Barisal-Dhaka highway on Monday last, but police cordoned the campus confining the teachers and students on the campus. Babuganj police said putting barricade on the highway would be a violation of the emergency power rules(EPR) and for this reason police did not allow them to put the obstruction.

The agitating teachers said the government has approved a five-year degree course for students of veterinary medicine in 1997-98 fiscal and course was implemented in Sylhet and Chittagong Veterinary colleges.

On completion of the course, the teachers said, Sylhet veterinary college was upgraded to Sylhet Agriculture University and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University.

The five-year degree course are for four veterinary colleges-Barisal, Sylhet, Chittagong and Dinajpur, but the course was not implemented in Barisal.

The PSTU authorities said absorption of the college as a faculty campus is being delayed because of fund shortage. They said the government has not placed enough fund to do that.

Taltala bridge not constructed for decades despite election promises

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A bridge on the river Taltala on the outskirt of Barisal city was not constructed over the decades despite promises by even Bangladesh president and election candidates.

Former Bangladesh President Abdur Rahman Biswas while in office took the initiative to construct the bridge, which is in his own constituency, and laid foundation stone in February, 1995

Tender was floated for the construction of the bridge with 18 km connecting road and the cost of the bridge was estimated at TK 1.83 crore. The Moitry International got the work for construction of the bridge in 15 months. But after defeat of the BNP in the 1996 election, Awami League (AL) came to power and the AL government abandoned the project. The construction firm made an exit from the site with Taka 1.33 crore without completing construction of the bridge. Officials said even 40 percent work of the bridge were not completed yet.

Again Initiative was taken after BNP's return to power in 2001 for construction of the bridge but prices of construction work went several time up by then. Fresh tender was floated in 2002 with increased estimated cost of 1.19 crore taka, but the authorities of Roads and High Ways had stopped the process in 2002 and since then the construction work of the bridge remained unimplemented.

Truck loaded with fertiliser seized

in Rupganj

Our Corresponent, Rupganj

A team of RAB-11 led by Lt. Col Mahtab Ali seized a truck loaded with 220 sacks of urea fertiliser from Acs Textiles Mmills Ltd of Ariabo area of Rupganj in Narayanganj on Monday evening during unloading of fertiliser.

Abu Mohammad Fazlul Karim, OC Rupganj Thana was with them, Police sources said.

Sources said, some unholy traders are trying to create fertiliser crisis ahead of IRRI season. Mahtab Ali said that culprits might have been given punitive punishment.

Later RAB members sent the fertiliser-laden truck to the Adamjee Nagar RAB camp.

JS polls : ’08: 5 candidates submit nomination papers in Muktagacha

Our Correspondent, Muktagacha

Five candidates including BNP, AL, Krihak Sramik Jonota League, Workers Party and Jatiya Party aspirants have submitted nomination papers in Muktagacha Constituency of Mymensingh District on Sunday.

Zakir Hossain, younger brother of AKM Mosrrof Hossain former State Minister a submitted his nomination papers as official candidate of 4-party alliance for Mymensingh-5 constituency to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Muktagacha Upazila on Sunday. KM Khalid of AL, Sayed Ali of Krisak Sramik Jonota League, Golam Mustofa of workers party and Mukti of JP submitted their nomination papers for Muktagacha constituency.

PSTU employees return to work on assurance

Our Correspondent, Barisal

The employees of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), who went on an indefinite strike on November 17, returned to work on Monday on assurance from the University Authorities to meet their 9-point demand.

The demands of the staff, appointed on temporary basis, included regularisation of their job, but the issue is under the University Grants Commission. During their work stoppage, the employees staged sit-in, brought out processions, held protest meetings and laid siege before the administrative building and stopped water and power supply and movement of university transport.

Prof. Harun-or-Rashid, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University admitting the incident said the authorities are willing to meet their demands, which are within their authority. He said he had informed the UGC about the situation on the campus following the work stoppage by the staff.

Ctg acting mayor to contest JS election as independent candidate

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Acting Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation Alhaj M Monjur Alam has finally decided to contest the parliamentary polls slated for December 29 as an independent candidate in Chittagong -9 (Doublemooring) constituency.

Formerly an Awami Leager for three decades changed side joining Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) failing to earn Awami League ticket to contest the polls.

Later, he met BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and sought BNP ticket, but Zia rejected his proposal. BNP high ups in Chittagon suggested him to make ready for the next mayoral election.

Frustrated Monju now has decided to go to the polls as an independent candidate and has submitted his nomination. He said people of the constituency desperately wanting him as a candidate of the parliamentary elections and for this reason has taken such decision.

BNP nominee served show-cause notice in Narail

Our Correspondent, Narail

Assistant returning officer of Narail Rezaul Karim has served a show-cause notice to 4-Party alliance nominee Sharif Khasruzzaman allegedly for violating election code of conduct on November 29.

After getting the 4-party ticket to contest the parliamentary election while Sharif was returning to Narail from Dhaka was greeted him by a motorcycle procession from Kalna ghat. For this reason, the returning officer served the notice, local Election Office sources said.

When asked Sharif said he was completely unaware about the election code of conduct. He said he had expressed his regret for the incident.

News Briefs

Ansar-VDP meet held in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Dec. 3: A daylong Ansar and VDP gathering was held at the auditorium of Palashbari Upazila Parishad of the district with a call to build a crime-free society on Thursday. Upazila Nirbahi Officer M Aktaruzzaman addressed it as the chief guest and senior upazila fisheries Officer Shubash Chandra Saha was present as the special guest. Presided over by upazila agriculture officer M Haider Ali, the function was also addressed, among others, by upazila Ansar and VDP officer M Mostafizar Rahman, sub-inspector Zalal Uddin and team leader Salma Begum, reports BSS.

Voters’ list in CD on sale

NARAYANGANJ, Dec. 3: The District Election Office here has started selling the Compact Disc (CD) containing voters' list to the candidates and their supporters ahead of the upcoming parliamentary and the upazila elections. Officials told BSS here Saturday that a total of 55 CDs were sold on the first day at the rate of Taka 500.00 each. These CDs contain only names, addresses and ward numbers of the voters with no photograph, they said, reports BSS.

Training for polling agents held

CHANDPUR, Dec. 3: A training programme for polling agents of Awami League candidates was held at Chandpur Municipal auditorium last Wednesday. Over two hundred polling agents took part in the training. They were given training on how to perform their duties during the voting day. Sayedur Rahman was the chief coordinator of the day-long training programme while Eng. Subur, Air-Vice Marshal (Rtd) Rafiqul Islam, Dr Dipu Mohi spoke on the occasion, reports BSS.