The New Nation - Internet Edition

Richer nations should take effective step to tackle climate change impact’

BSS, Rajshahi

The industrialised and richer nations should take effective decisions right now for reducing the alarming rate of global climate changes to save the planet and its habitat from possible man-made devastations in near future.

Discussants made this observation while addressing a district level seminar in Chapainawabgonj on Tuesday and stressed the need for creating proper awareness among the general masses, particularly the grassroots ones about the impact of climate change.

Side by side, they, however, said Bangladesh and its neighbouring countries should come together to ensure proper water management to keep boosting agriculture sector intact, resist the process of desertification and maintain ecological balance and bio-diversity, they added.

They underscored the need for a collective effort of all concerned to address the effects of climate change and to identify the statistical issues of the environmental and ecological challenges ahead and work together to address the issues in an integrated manner.

Ashrai with financial support from OXFAM-GB arranged the seminar titled "Problems of Climate Change and Our Responsibilities" at Chapainawabgonj Town Club Auditorium.

In his address of welcome, Zonal Manager of Ashrai Hassan Tarique explained the objectives of the seminar and how to address the effect of climate change as well as build capacities to adapt with climate change and escape from flood and drought in particular.

Dr Akhter Hossain, Chairman of Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of Rajshahi University, presented the keynote paper with a local college teacher Sirajul Islam in the chair.

Some 60 persons representing various government and non-government organisations concerned and research and other professional groups attended the seminar and gave their views on the issue.

Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Abdul Quddus, District Livestock Officer Dr Mahbub Alam, District Women Affairs Officer Selina Begum, Deputy Director of Social Service Department Mustafizul Haque and District Information Officer Wahiduzzaman, among others, took part in the open discussion.

Irrigation in Noakhali being hampered as three canals dry up

Our Correspondent, Noakhali

Aus and Aman cultivation have become impossible in three upazila of Noakhali, including BegumGanj following water stagnation.

The farmers cultivate their farm lands detaining the waters in the canals through building small embankment during the winter. The canals dried up this time as the farmers did not detain waters in the canals. As a result the Boro cultivation in Begumganj, Sonaimuri and Chatkhil upazilas is under threat..

Flood waters remain stagnated as the the upazilas are low and the depth of the canals has reduced. The waters are detained in the canals constructing embankment in November and these waters are used for irrigation purposes in the three upazilas for Boro cultivation.

The farmers are preparing their lands for Boro cultivation during the current season, but the canals have dried up. One agriculture officer said Boro cultivation will be difficult unless there is rain waters in the three upazilas.

Pirates loot fish and fishing nets worth Tk 15 lakh in Bagerhat

UNB, Bagerhat

Pirates looted fish and fishing nets worth Tk 15 lakh from 10 fishing trawlers at Kochikhali, Dublerchar and Narikelbaria areas of the Bay Friday night.

A fisherman, who returned from the Bay, said a gang of 15/16 pirates swooped on 10 trawlers one after another and looted fish and fishing nets, leaving seven fishermen injured.

He said the bandits later abducted six fishermen and demanded Tk 3 lakh for their release.

Sources said with this, pirates looted fish and fishing nets worth Tk 25 lakh from 60 trawlers in four days and abducted 20 fishermen for ransom.

Youth held with revolver in B'baria

UNB, Brahmanbaria

A youth was arrested along with a revolver from Bhabanathpur village in Banchharampur upazila Saturday.

Acting on secret information, police arrested Porosh, 20, from the village in the evening.

A case was filed in this connection.

Ershad happy after casting vote in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Jatiya Party chairman former president Hussein Muhammad Ershad on Monday expressed his happiness after casting his vote in a free atmosphere after a long period.

The longest serving former President of the country cast his vote this morning at Senpara Government Primary School polling centre in Rangpur City here on Monday morning.

Coming out of the polling booth, Ershad said that he was very happy to cast his vote after waiting for a long time. Later, Ershad left Rangpur for the capital city of Dhaka by road at around 9:40 am Monday.

Disable Shafidur wants his land back

Our Correspondent, Monirampur

Disable Shafidur Rahman is seeking justice from people to get back his one decimal land.

According to Rahman, he lost possession of the piece of land at Monirampur Bazar near the thana complex in 1988 by Dr Nawsher Ali, who was then thana president of Awami League, who ousted Safidur from the land illegally. Safidur had a Homeopathic dispensary on the land. Safidur Rahman filed a case with Monirampur thana. He urged the district administration to take measures so that he could get back the piece of land.

20 hurt in pre-poll violence in Comilla

UNB, Comilla

Twenty people were injured in a pre-election clash between the workers of Awami League and Liberal Democratic Party during their election rallies in Mohichail Bazar in Chandina upazila Thursday night.

Witnesses said the clash broke out between the workers of the two parties at about 8pm when two election rallies-one in support of AL candidate Prof Ali Ashraf and another in favour of LDP candidate Advocate Redwan-came face to face at the bazaar, leaving the 20 people injured on both sides.

AL and LDP offices were ransacked during the dustup.

Ferry services on Maowa Kawrakandi suspended

UNB, Munshiganj

Ferry services on Maowa-Kawrakandi route in the Padma River remained suspended since early Friday due to dense fog.

BIWTC sources said four ferries with a large number of vehicles got stranded in the mid-river. The ferries could not operate till 8:30 am on Sunday.

A huge traffic jam was created on both sides of the route, causing untold sufferings to the passengers.

Manager of BIWTC at Maowa, said the ferries could not be operated due to poor visibility caused by dense fog.

Election held peacefully in Faridpur

BSS, Faridpur

High casting ballot battle held in a very peaceful and disciplined atmosphere in four constituencies of the district.

Describing the prevailing situation as a 'universal festival,' one high officials of this district told BSS that people of all communities in a festive mood forgetting their caste and creed are exercising their national and social responsibilities to choose their representatives.

The DC and returning officer (RO) of Faridpur told BSS that in all 549 polling centers balloting was going on satisfactorily without any untoward incidents.

When contacted Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury of AL, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, independent, Khondker Mosharraf of AL and Shah Md. Abu Zafar of BNP told BSS that the casting of votes was very high because of the fresh voter list with photographs, sound law and order situation and enthusiasm among the people. Some of the heavyweight candidates said they never experienced such a 'nice' election.

However, Shah Md. Abu Zafar alleged that a 'level playing filed' could not be ensured in his constituency (Alfadanga, Boalmari and Madhukhali). But, the RO when contacted told BSS that incumbent candidate Shah Zafar did not complain anything so far regarding his observation.

The RO said that he is always in close contact with the polling officials of the district, but did not receive any complaints.

Minor boy killed in Sherpur road mishap

UNB, Sherpur

A minor boy was crushed under the wheels of a three-wheeler tempo at Nabinagar in Sadar upazila on Sherpur-Mymensingh highway Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Nipul, 6, son of Sultan Miah. Witnesses said the fish laden tempo ran over Nipul when he was crossing the road at about 10am. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. The driver managed to flee along with the vehicle. A case was filed.

82 unions of Chandpur dist electrified

BSS, Chandpur

Eighty-two out of 87 unions of the district have been electrified under the Rural Electrification Programme of Chandpur Polly Biddut Samity.

Office sources said Rural Electrification Programme was started in 1981 at Chandpur on commercial basis. So far, 2,10,800 electric connections have been provided to the consumers and about 20 lakh people of the district are being benefited by electricity.

About 3,700 km area of Sader, Haziganj, Matlab South, Matlab North, Faridganj, Shahrasti and Kachua Upazilas of Chandpur district were brought under Rural Electrification Programme. About 920 villages of the district have been covered under the programme.

Couple killed in Bogra road mishap

UNB, Bogra

A couple was killed and three others, including their two daughters, were injured in a road accident near Boalia Police Box in Adamdighi upazila on Friday morning.

The deceased were identified as Shyamol Chandra Sarkar, 42, a teacher of Bakhrahat High School in Ulipur pourashava of Kurigram district, and his wife Kalpana Rani, 35. Witnesses said a Noagaon-bound bus collided with a three-wheeler tempo at about 11:30am, killing the couple on the spot and injuring three others.

Voting held peacefully in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur

Polling in the district was held in peaceful and festive atmosphere on Monday.

In all five constituencies of the district, a total of 503 polling centres were set up.

When contacted, returning officer and Deputy Commissioner M Abdul Mabud said polling in all centres were peaceful and turnout of the voters was satisfactory.

Sources said, at least five persons were injured when the supporters of grand alliance, four-party alliance and independent candidates locked in clashes outside a centre in Bokshiganj upazila.

News Briefs

Candidate's uncle killed in Narsingdi

Narsingdi, Dec 28 :The uncle of a Jukta Front candidate for the national election was hacked to death by unknown assailants at Dakkhin Savar Char in Shibpur upazila Sunday afternoon. The dead was identified as Zakir Hossain, 50, uncle of Adv Jaglul Haider Afrik, a candidate from Narsingdi-1 constituency. Locals said masked miscreants hacked Zakir Hossain to death in broad day light and left the scene without any resistance at about 1 pm. While contacted, Afrik told UNB that Zakir Hossain did not have any enemy. "He might have been killed over polls related issue," he said, report UNB.

3 killed in Comilla road mishap

Comilla, Dec 28 : Three people, including a boy child, were killed and three others injured when a bus rammed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw on Comilla-Brahmanbaria road in Burichang upazila Sunday noon. Police said the Comilla-bound bus from Sylhet dashed the auto-rickshaw at 12 noon, killing its three passengers on the spot and injuring three others. The injured were admitted to hospital. Police could not arrest the driver as he managed to flee with the vehicle, report UNB.

UP chairman killed in crossfire in Barisal

Barisal, Dec 28 : A union parishad (UP) chairman was killed in a reported shootout during a RAB-police joint operation at Muripara in Ujirpur upazila early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Zafar Mollah, 42, chairman of Satla union and a leader of the outlawed Sarbohara Party. Police said Zafar was arrested from Banaripara along with his three associates on Friday night. Police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) took the UP chairman to Muripara for recovering hidden arms in the early hours on Sunday. "As soon as they reached the spot, Zafar's associates opened fire on the law-enforcers, forcing them to fire back. A gun-battle ensued," says a RAB account of the encounter. "He was caught in the line of fire while trying to flee and died on the spot," it said. One LG, two revolvers, one sharp weapon and 12 rounds of bullet were recovered from the scene, report UNB.

Youth killed in Bagerhat road mishap

Bagerhat, Dec 28 : A young man was killed as an auto-rickshaw turned turtle near Nobbirashi bus stand in Morelganj upazila here on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Ibrahim Talukdar, 25, of Gulishakhali village of the upazila. He was an activist of four-party alliance. Witnesses said when Ibrahim was returning home from an election meeting of four-party alliance by the three-wheeler it suddenly overturned on the road, leaving him dead on the spot, report UNB.