The New Nation - Internet Edition

Massive pulses’ farming programme taken in N-region

BSS, Rajshahi

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 1,04,415 tonnes of pulses including lentil, gram and mashkalai from around 1.04 lakh hectares of lands in the country's 16 northern districts under Rajshahi Division.

Officials told BSS here today that 50,313 tonnes of lentil, 5,812 tonnes of gram and 48,290 tonnes of mashkalai would be produced during the current Rabi season in the region. Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), DAE and several NGOs have taken necessary steps to make the cultivation of pulses a success in the region.

Under the programme, the farmers soon after harvesting the transplanted Aman paddy have brought 95,112 hectares of land under pulses production in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Sirajganj and Bogra districts and also 1,389 hectares in Joypurhat district under the Rajshahi Agriculture Zone during the current season.

Similarly, a total of 9,303 hectares of land were brought under farming in eight other districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts under the Rangpur Agriculture Zone. Adequate training, technical assistances, inputs, high quality imported and locally produced seeds and agri-loans are being provided to the farmers under various programmes of different government and non-government organisations. The officials said special steps, taken in recent years to produce pulses, helped increase production of pulses to keep the price of these food items within tolerable limit.

On Farm Research Division (OFRD) of the BARI has been implementing the field-level research programmes styled "Reduction of Yield Gap of Gram" aimed at making the gram farming popular at the growers' level through applying modern method.

OFRD Senior Officer Shafiqul Islam told BSS that the research programmes have already created a positive impact among the target groups and said the prospect of gram cultivation in the high lands is bright. "Chickpea seeds should be sown in lands under the arrangement of insufficient irrigation within two to three days after the harvest of Aman paddy," he said.

Under the programme, the OFRD has been providing all sorts of inputs like seed and other technical know-how to reduce the yield gap at the farmers' level. In the developed method, Islam said, if the gram farming among farmers could be made popular, the government can save huge hard-earned foreign currencies being spent for importing this item.

Additional Director of DAE Abul Basher said emphasis is being given on increasing production of high yielding seeds through the farmers' level extension and application of the high yielding varieties.

Farmers are being habituated with the modern cultivation method along with using quality seed through establishing projection plot of improved technologies for enhancing pulse output.

Chief Scientific Officer of Regional Agriculture Research Station at Ishwardi under BARI Dr. Jalal Uddin said BARI and BINA have developed 11 high yielding varieties of lentil and gram and said required steps were taken to increase production of the varieties by providing modern technology to the farmers. He said the farmers are being imparted training on Inter-cropping of lentil and gram with sugarcane and the method has become popular in many places in the region.

To remove the crisis of quality seed, Dr Jalal said step has been taken to establish seed-village with farmers' participation for enhancing production of breeder seed.

Considering the agricultural environment and socio-economic condition of the region, the rice-gram crop-diversification method should be promoted at the grassroots as it has been adjudged as profit making, cost-effective and timesaving. Referring to the immense prospect of the crop, he said if the yield could be enhanced to the expected level through expansion of modern cultivation methods the nation could save the hard- earned foreign currency.

Experts said importance should be given on formation of farmers group in block system instead of personal initiative. As such, the existing prospects in the agriculture sector could be made realistic.

Senior agro-experts of DAE, BADC and BARI said pulse import would be reduced further next year if its production target were achieved.

Election campaign gaining momentum in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

As the date for parliamentary election is drawing near, electioneering is gaining momentum in four constituencies in the district.

The candidates are busy visiting the voters, attending gatherings across the constituencies to attract support in their favour.

Election issues dominate talks in the public places like hat-bazars, tea-stalls, restaurants and other public places both in urban and rural areas of the district.

People from all walks of life have been showing keen interest in electing representatives of their choice in the 9th Jatiya Sangsad polls to be held on December 29. District Election Office sources said, a total of 17 candidates are now in the election race in four constituencies in the district.

The candidates who are contesting the polls are Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (AL-led Mohajote), Habibul Islam Habib (BNP led 4-Party Alliance), and FM Asadul Haque (Islami Andolon Bangladesh) in Satkhira-1 seat. MA Jabbar (Mohajote), Vittanando Sarkar (BSD), Mostafa Shamsuzzaman (Islami Indolon Bangladesh), Habibur Rahman Hobi (JP-Manju) and Moulana Abdul Khalek Mondol (4-Party alliance) in Satkhira-2 seat. AFM Ruhul Haque (Mohajote), Abul Khayer Md. Ruhul Amin (Islami Andolon Bangladesh) and Moulana AM Reasat Ali Biswas (4-Party alliance) in Satkhira-3 seat. HM Golam Reza (Mohajote), Khogendra Nath Ghosh (BSD), Gazi Nazrul Islam (4-Party alliance), Tarun Kumer Karmoker (Bikalpo Dhara), Md. Abdul Hai (NAP) and Sheikh Hasan Ali (Zaker Party) in Satkhira-4 seat.

Satkhira District Election Officer (DEO) Bibhor Kumar Biswas told BSS that necessary arrangements have been completed for holding the polls in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner.

He said that voters will cast their votes at 2,503 booths in 537 polling centres in seven upazilas of the district. The number of voters in Satkhira district is now 12,28,255, of them 6,05,030 are male and 6,23,225 are female, he added.

DBBL organises Smile-Brighter programme in Rangpur

A Correspondent, Rangpur

Under the DBBL "Smile-Brighter" programme, Dutch-Bangla Bank organised 4-day- long plastic surgery operation recently in Rangpur District for the poor cleft-lipped boys and girls to bring back the endearing smile on their faces at Bank's own cost. The operations were performed at Prime Specialised Hospital in Rangpur District Town. A Plastic Surgery Team consisting of 10 members headed by Dr. Sharif Hasan operated the programme. About 60 cleft-lipped boys and girls have been successfully operated, says a press release.

Md Yeasin Ali, Managing Director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited and Dr. Mozammel Hossain Khan, Medical Consultant and Coordinator of Dutch-Bangla Bank Foundation visited the cleft-lipped boys and girls who have been operated under this program. Among others, Dr. Ferdous Quader Minu, eminent ENT Specialist, Dr Md Akkas Ali Sarker, Project Director and Consultant of Prime Specialised Hospital were present at this time.

Tributes paid to Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir

BSS, Barisal

Birshreshtha Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir, one of the seven greatest heroes of the 1971 Liberation War, was remembered here on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of his martyrdom on Friday.

Birshreshtha Shaheed Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Smriti Parishad organised elaborate programmes including discussion on his life and achievements, opening a free medical camp and holding milad mahfil on Babuganj Degree College premises in Babuganj Upazila of Barisal district.

Advocate Abdul Mannan Akand, President of Barisal District Bar Association, presided over the discussion and Mushfiq Ahmed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner of Barisal district, was the chief guest.

Among others, Ratan Ali Sharif, Bir Protik, Barrister Maniruzzaman Asad, Abul Kalam Azad, SM Safiullah, Manzur Rahman Bachchu and members of the martyr's family took part in the discussion. They called upon the people not to vote for anti-liberation elements and friends of autocrats and to elect honest, competent and pro-liberation and pro-people candidates in the upcoming election to be held in the month of victory.

Participants of the programme demanded naming Babuganj Upazila Hospital and Barisal Airport after Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir. They also demanded immediate stoppage of distortion of history of the Great Liberation war and inclusion of real history of independence of the country in the curriculum from primary to the highest level of education.

More than a hundred people were treated at the free medical camp opened on this occasion. Patients were operated upon by Dr Harunur Rashid, Dr Alamgir Hossain, Dr Shahnaj Parvin Shimul, Dr Arafat Hossain and Dr Emdadul Huq Russell.

Mohiuddin Jahangir was born on March 8, 1949 at Rahimganj, about 30 kilometres from Barisal city. Late Moulvi Abdul Kader and Safia Khatun were his parents. He joined the Engineering Corps of Pakistan Army in 1967 and joined the liberation war of Bangladesh on July 3, 1971 as a Commander of freedom fighters of Sector 7 in Chapainawabganj area of Rajshahi. On December 14 early morning, just two days before the final victory, he crossed Mahanada River at Rehairchar of Nawabganj, got engaged in a direct fight with Pakistan occupation army and lost his life receiving bullet injury on forehead. His body was recovered and buried on the premises of Sona Masjid of Chapainawabganj on December 15, 1971 and he was later honoured by Birshreshtha Award, the highest honour for the freedom fighters.

Barisal district council constructed Birshrestha Mohiuddin Jahangir Memorial Museum with a library on a 3,500 square feet building at a cost of Taka 62.90 lakh on 0.30-acre land. It was inaugurated on May 21, 2008 officially naming his native village Rahimganj as Jahangir Nagar after him.

Safiat Khatun, mother of Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir, was honoured as 'Shreshtha Ma' (best mother) by Amardesh Pathak Mela on the occasion of International Mothers Day 2008. Besides, the Doarika Bridge on the Sugandha River on Barisal-Dhaka Highway was named as Birshreshtha Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge in 2005.

UZ Poll: Khulna 55 submit nomination paper for chairman post

BSS, Khulna

A total 55 persons has submitted nomination papers for the post of upazila chairman, 65 for vice-chairman and 46 for vice-chairman (women) posts in nine upazilas of the district, Returning Office sources said.

Among the woman vice-chairman candidates, the highest 10 candidates have filed nomination papers in Dumuria Upazila.

Youth commits suicide in Satkhira

BSS, Satkhira

One drug addicted youth allegedly committed suicide by setting fire to himself at Zhutitola village under Sadar Upazila on Wednesday.

The dead was identified as Humayon Kabir, 24, son of Shamser Ali of Zhutitola village under Kalaroa Upazila.

Police said, Humayon Kabir set fire to himself by kerosene oil when the door was closed. As a result he died on the spot.

Getting information, a police team rushed to the spot and recovered the body and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. A UD case was filed with Sadar Thana police in this connection.

News briefs

One killed, 30 hurt in Natore clash

NATORE, Dec 15: A young man was killed and 30 others were injured in a clash at Sarkarpara in Bagatipara upazila on Saturday over land dispute. Witnesses said the clash broke out between the supporters of Sattar Sarkar and Dabloo Sarker at about 9am over establishing supremacy on a disputed land that left 31 people of both the groups injured. Of the injured Abdul Latif died at Bagatipara Health Complex after admission. Other injured were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Bagatipara health complex and different hospitals in Natore. Police have been deployed in the area to fend off further violence, reports UNB.

Auto-rickshaw driver killed in Laxmipur

LAXMIPUR, Dec 15: Miscreants hijacked a CNG-run auto-rickshaw after killing its driver in Sadar upazila on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Sabuj, 28, son of Abul Kashem, of Rajibpur village in the upazila. Police said the terrorists, in guise of passengers, hired the auto-rickshaw of Sabuj for going to Daserhat Bazaar in the upazila from the district town. As soon as the auto-rickshaw reached Dighuli-Daserhat road, the miscreants stabbed driver Sabuj to death and fled the scene along with the auto-rickshaw leaving the body on the road. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy, reports UNB

Road crash kills two in Comilla

COMILLA, Dec 15: Two motorcycle riders were killed when a bus crashed into their bike at Chouwara in Sadar Dakkhin upazila Saturday morning. Police said the Kashinagar-bound bus from Comilla town rammed into the motorcycle, coming from opposite direction, at about 7:30 am, killing its two riders on the spot. The deceased were identified as Khokan, 30, and Sagar, 35. On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to Comilla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Police also seized the bus, reports UNB.

Hundi traders held in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Dec 15: RAB members arrested three suspected hundi traders along with Tk 45 lakh at Modern Crossing on the outskirts of district town. The arrested are Saidur Rahman, 34, son of late Shamsuddin, Abul Kalam Azad, 35, son of Mofizuddin of Sadar upazila of Dinajpur and Malek Afsari, 30, son of Yusuf Ali of Sirajganj district. Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team nabbed them at the crossing when they were going to Dhaka from Dinajpur by a BRTC bus that stopped there for a while. Later, they were handed over to the Kotwali police station. Investigation into the matter was on, police said, reports UNB.

Two held with phensidyl in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA, Dec 15: Police arrested two persons with huge quantity of Phensidyl from a car on Dinajpur-Bogra highway at Buzruk Boalia area under Gabindaganj upazila of the district on Wednesday. The arrested were identified as Mahbubullah alias Aynal and his wife Monira Begum. Acting on a tip-off, a police team halted the car at the area and recovered 70 bottles of Indian smuggled phensidyl from their possessions, reports BSS.