The New Nation - Internet Edition

Latest tech can help achieve self-reliance on oil seeds, pulses, spices production

BSS, Rangpur

Experts and scientists have opined that the country has immense prospects to achieve self-reliance in oil seed, pulse and spice production by using latest agro-technologies and disseminating proper knowledge.

Self-reliance in edible oil could be achieved through increasing production of oil seeds in a comprehensive and well- coordinated manner saving over Taka 5,000 crore annually by bringing its import to the zero level, they said. They also underscored the need for increasing production of all varieties of pulse and spicy crops, especially the high yielding and hybrid varieties, throughout the country with a view to achieve a complete self-reliance on these essentials in near future. To achieve the goal, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has been implementing a Special Action Plan (SAP) for increasing oil seed, pulse and spice productions in Rangpur Agriculture Zone (RAZ) as elsewhere in the country.

The SAP is being implemented in all eight districts of greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts under the RAZ with financial assistance of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) and technical assistance of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI).

Deputy Directors of DAE Nur Mohammad and Aftab Uddin Khan, Scientific Officer of BARI Zannatul Ferdous, Scientific Officer of Soil Resource Development Institute Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Deputy Director of BADC Asadur Rahman, RDRS expert Salah Uddin recently narrated BSS on importance of increasing oil seed productions. They laid emphasis on the need for Increasing Mustard Cultivation and Ground Nuts and Soybean farming to move further forward in achieving the goals using the latest agro- technologies in the region.

Under the ongoing SAP in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon and Nilphamari districts, tremendous successes were achieved in oil seed farming last season.

The experts said the RAZ that always produces huge surplus quantity of major crops like rice, potato, maize, vegetables, has tremendous potentialities to increase production of all varieties of oil seeds, pulse and spices through proper crop diversification, land management and utilization of the latest technologies.

They suggested that the mixed and inter- cropping methods of crop farming with proper seed and pest management has already been proved to be very effective for increasing production of all these crops everywhere in the region.

Productions of these crops could be increased in RAZ further through conducting motivational and awareness building activities for the farmers and providing them with the latest technologies, quality seeds, inputs and imparting proper training, they said.

They asked for cultivating hybrid varieties of oil seeds, pulses and spicy crops invented by BARI and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) in between the gap of harvesting the short duration BRRI Dhan-33 and cultivation of Boro to get maximum production and quality seeds.

Under the SAP that was launched since 2004, hundreds of block exhibitions have so far been demonstrated under the supervision of the DAE experts and high quality foundation seeds, necessary fertilizers, pesticides and inputs have been distributed among the farmers in the RAZ.

The experts said that increased oil seed, spices and pulse cultivation would not only boost their productions and meet the local demand but would also improve soil health and meet nutritional demand of human body simultaneously.

JS Poll: Jhenidah-4: All candidates pledge to curb terrorism, corruption

BSS, Jhenaidah

A meeting on pre-election law and order situation was held here with all candidates participating in the December 29 parliamentary elections from Kaliganj upazila in the district.

In a unique gesture, all the five candidates from Jhenaidah- 4 constituency (Kaliganj and a part of Sadar upazila) got together in one stage committing that they would fight unitedly to combat terrorism and corruption.

Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Monirul Huda presided over the meeting. Deputy Commissioner of Jhenaidah AKM Rafiqul Islam addressed the meeting as the chief guest.

Mohajote candidate Abdul Mannan, four-party alliance candidate former lawmaker Alhaj Shahiduzzaman Beltu, Noor Uddin Ahmed of Oikyobaddha Nagorik Andolon, M Quamrul Hasan of National Peoples Party and Abdus Salam of Biplobi Workers Party were present.

Besides, local NGO representatives, teachers, government officials and employees and a large number of people attended the meeting.

All the contesting candidates pledged at the meeting that they would work together for freeing Kaliganj from the ills of terrorism and corruption.

10 held on various charges in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

Police, in different anticrime drives, arrested 10 persons including a drug-peddler on various charges from different areas in city and four upazilas of the district in last 24 hours till on Friday evening, police said.

Of them, five were arrested from different areas in the metropolis while five others from four upazilas.

Police arrested the drug-peddler identified as Kaoser Ali, 26, son of Jalal Uddin of Ramchandrapur village under Chapainawabganj district, with 84 bottles of phensidyl during a raid in a Dhaka-bound coach at Rajshahi bus terminal area.

Apart from this, traffic police lodged 62 cases under the motor vehicles ordinance and seized a truck and seven motorbikes without registration during drives against the non-registered motor vehicles and other document related malpractices in different parts of the city during the time.

Begum Rokeya Day observed in Gopalganj

Our correspondent, Gopalganj

Begum Rokeya Day 2008 was observed in a befitting manner paying rich tribute to her in Gopalganj on December 23.

A discussion meeting on begum Rokeya, procession, seminar and cultural function were organized to observe the day by the Gopalganj District Alliance.

The procession was brought out from Gopalganj District Shilpakala Academy premises led by Hasmat Ali Sikder Chunnu, Mayor Gopalganj pourasava, Bithika Mondol, president District Alliance, Sultana Zahid Parveen, Social Welfare Officer, Mahbubur Rahman, general secretary of the Alliance.

A discussion meeting on the life and works of Begum Rokeya was held at the Pourasava auditorium.

The discussion meetin with Bithika Mondol, president of the alliance was addressed, among others, by Hasmat Ali Sikder Chunnu, mayor of the Pourasava as the chief guest.

Others, who addressed the meeting, were Mahbubur Rahman, general secretary of the alliance, GM Shahbuddin, a councilor Kabi Rabindra Nath Adhikari. A cultural function followed the discussion meeting.

Review meeting of community police held in Gopalganj

Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

A review meeting of the Gopalganj policing community committee was held on December 23 on the premises of Sadar thana premises.

The review meeting was presided over by Mohammad Matiur Rahman Mollah, President of Sadar Upazila policing committee.

Abdul Quddus Amin, Superintendent of police, gopalganj was present at the meeting as the chief guest.

Mohammad Hamidul Huq, ASP(circle) and Hasmat Ali Sikder Chunnu, Mayor of Gopalganj Pourasava were also president as special guests respectively. The meeting was addressed, among others, by Rajendra Nath Das, former principal of Gopalganj Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Government Women's College, Joseph Mondol, Latifa Zamal Chowdhury, Women Secretary of the committee.

The speakers reached a consensus to work unitedly for maintaining law and order situation. They meeting also resolved that the community members will try to settle all disputes through negotiations to maintain law and order, except murders, dacoity and rape cases.

About 1,000 members of the committee, including members of the police officers, businessmen, lawyers, newsmen attended the meeying.

Govt gives Tk 296 cr to poor under 17,893 projects in Rajshahi

BSS, Rajshahi

The Government has distributed Taka 296.58 crore among 6.56 lakh poor people of Rajshahi division till last month under a 100-day employment generation programme.

Officials here said, the programme was taken by the present care taker government to create employments for the poor especially who live in poverty-prone rural and chars areas and face economic hardship during lean Periods for job scarcity. Under the programme, a total of 52,540 employment generating projects would be implemented at the cost of 393.91 crore in two phases. A total of 27,367 projects under first phase have already been completed last month, officials concerned said.

A total of 6,56,520 poor including a good number of women have been involved directly in the development activities such as repairing of bridges, culverts, roads, water bodies, ponds, canals, institutions and other infrastructures, earth filling, cleaning of weeds, preparing compost using water hyacinth.

Officials said the infrastructure development works have created job opportunities and flow of money in rural areas to help poor farm-labourers earning wages during the lean period.

Each poor worker earned Taka 100 as wage per day and Taka 6,000 during the first phase of the programme. After completion of the 100-day programme by April 15 next year, they will earn Taka 10,000, they said.

RAB seizes fake gold-statue in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized a fake gold-statue and arrested so-called cheat, locally known as 'Jiner Badsha', from Hajirhat area under Sadar upazila here last evening, RAB and police sources said.

Acting on a tip off, a special team of the RAB conducted a raid and arrested cheat Belal Hossain, 35, son of Nurul Hossain of Satkolmi Hatiardaho under Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district.

The RAB also seized the fake gold-statue, made by galvanizing the lead-statue with gold layers from his possession from the spot.

The cheat was arrested while he was cheating one Moktar Hossain through the statue at Taka 75,000 to the later.

The RAB filed a case in this connection against the cheat and handed him over to Rangpur Kotwali police station from where he was sent to the jail hajat yesterday, the sources said.

Marriage of a minor girl stopped in Joypurhat

BSS, Joypurhat

A child marriage was stopped at village Keshabpur under Sadar upazila in the district with the direct interference of Sadar upazila Nirbahi officer of Joypurhat with support from local NGO Upama Samaj Unnayan Sangstha.

The marriage of minor girl, Sumi Akter, 11, daughter of Abdul Khaleque of the village was scheduled to be solemnized Friday morning at the residence of Sumi's grandfather.

UNO Sadar was informed about Sumi's marriage, who immediately ordered the police and stopped Sumi's marriage. Local NGO Upoma Samaj Unnayan Songstha helped the police and upazila administration to stop the child marriage.

Sumi told BSS she was a student of class five at Joypurhat Kashiabari Government Primary School.

News Briefs

Local BNP leader hacked in Kushtia

KUSHTIA, Dec 28: A group of miscreants hacked a local BNP leader at Mathurapur Dargatala village in Daulatpur upazila on Wednesday morning. Police said some terrorists led by Arif attacked Akram Hossain, local BNP leader and headmaster of Mathurapur High School following a previous enmity and chopped him with sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured. He was first rushed to Sadar hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Pangu hospital in critical condition. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Bombs recovered in Benapole

BENAPOLE, Dec 28: Police recovered three live bombs from a house at Lautara village here Friday morning. Acting on a tip off, police raided the house of Mobarak and recovered the bombs. Mobarak fled the scene sensing the presence of the law enforcers. A bomb expert team of army reached the spot. Police said in a drive on Monday they also recovered three time bombs from nearby Chatkapota village. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Phensidyl seized

in Habiganj

HABIGANJ, Dec 28: Police recovered 50 bottles of Indian phensidyl syrup and one kg hemp at village Teliapara in Madhabpur upazila on Thursday evening. Acting on a tip-off, police recovered the contraband syrup and hemp from a place beside local Hafezia Madrassah Mosque in abandoned condition. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Elderly man drowned in Satkhira

SATKHIRA, Dec 28: An elderly man drowned in a pond at Bokchar village in Assasuni upazila Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Amir Ali Sarder, 80. Family sources said when Amir Ali went out of his house to respond to the call of nature at night he suddenly fell into the nearby pond and drowned. The body was recovered from the pond on Wednesday morning, reports UNB.

One killed in Habiganj clash

HABIGANJ, Dec 28: A man was killed and two others were injured in a clash at Agua village in Baniachng upazila over land dispute on Thursday. Local people said there was a longstanding dispute between Ibrahim Mia and Asgar Mia of the village over the ownership of a plot of land. An altercation ensued between them when Asgar along with his men went to capture the land in the morning. At one stage, Asgar and his supporters attacked on their rivals with harpoons and sticks that left one Hossain Ali dead on the and two others injured. A case was filed with the police, reports UNB.

5 shops gutted in Nilphamari

NILPHAMARI, Dec 28: Fire gutted five shops at Ramkola bazaar in the district headquarters Thursday early morning. Sources said the fire originated from the stove in a shop and soon engulfed the adjoining shops. On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control with the help of the local people. The affected shop owners claimed that cash and valuables worth over Tk 10 lakh were gutted in the blaze, reports UNB.