The New Nation - Internet Edition

Regionalism getting priority in Barisal sadar UZ poll

Our correspondent, Barisal

Six candidates are on the race for the post of chairman of the Barisal Sadar Upazila in the poll slated for January 22, of whom three are from Awami league (AL), two from BNP and one from Jatiya Party (JP).

The candidates got the priority in placing the them, in the non-party basis upazila election. Since there is no provision of giving party tickets in the poll, more than one candidates are taking part in the election for a single post and as a result six candidates are fighting for the post of upazila chairman of Sadar.

The contestants are: Anwar Hossain, former VP of BM College, Jubo League(JL) leader Mahmudul Huq Khan Mamun, and former chairman of Char Kauarchar Monirul Islam Chabi are from AL and Azizul Huq Akkas, president of Kotwali than BNP and Jubodal leader Zakir Hossain Nannu of BNP and Bashir Ahmed Jhunu is from JP. He is the joint secretary general of the district JP. The party forum discussed the more than one candidate issue repeatedly, but because of the national election, the issue could not be settled.

None of the chairman candidates, vice-chairmen(men) candidates and vice-chairmen-candidates(women) withdrew their nomination papers on the last day of withdrawal. All are in the race for their respective posts.

In the quick heels of the general election, the contestants of the upazila poll have started their campaign to woo the voters and making various promises to win their hearts.

Regionalism is getting priority in the upazila election than that of the party.

Election symbols have been distributed to 167 candidates vying for the post of upazila chairman, vice-chairman(male) and vice-chairmen(female) of ten upazilas of the district.

Journalist injured in attack by miscreants in Jessore

BSS, Jessore

Faisal Islam, a staff reporter of the daily Grammer Kogoj, was injured as unidentified miscreants hit him indiscriminately with sharp weapon while he was returning to his residence on Wednesday night.

Local people rushed Islam to Jessore Hospital where he is now undergoing treatment.

Police said miscreants attacked Faisal Islam with sharp weapon as he reached Sujulpur, in the outskirts of the town on his way back home from office.

Injured Faisal said that the miscreants snatched his cell phone during the attack and also tried to kill him by hitting indiscriminately centering over a news published in his paper.

Jessore Press Club and the leaders of Jessore Journalists Union condemned the incident of attack on Faisal Islam.

Jessore Press Club also organized a protest meeting with Mizanur Rahman Tota in the chair. It was addressed by Ekramuddoula, Fakir Shaukat, Anwarul kabir Nantu, Mobinul Islam Mobin, Kiron Kumar Kochi, Aminur Rahman Mamun and SM Touhidur Rahman.

They demanded arrest of the culprits responsible for the attack.

Birth anniversary of Jasim Uddin observed in Faridpur

BSS, Faridpur

The 106th birth anniversary of Palli Kabi Jasim Uddin was observed here on Thursday in a befitting manner

In this connection, Jasim Foundation, district administration and various cultural organisations placed floral wreaths at the 'Mazar' of late poet, located at the ancestral home in Ambikapur in the suburb of the town.

Milad mahfil and a discussion in memory of the poet were also held at the ' Mazar' site. Speakers at the meeting paid rich tributes to the works of Jasimuddin who in his writings projected the indigenous picture of Bangladesh.

Among others, the discussion was addressed by Prof M Shahjahan, ADC M Nasir Mia, ADC Abu Masud, ASP of Police Rafiul Alam, Prof MA Samad and Munshi Haroon.

In his speech, Deputy Commissioner and president of Jasim Foundation disclosed that a museum and an auditorium would be set up here soon by the government's concern Ministry.

Poet's son Jamal Anwar presented a CD containing poet's songs sung in his own voice. Later, a photo exhibition with some rare photos of the poet was also inaugurated in a temporary gallery in poet's home.

Besides, a daylong cultural function, Gazirgaon and a film entitled "Banger Kabi Jasimuddin" directed by Khan Ataur Rahman displayed at Jasim Uddan in front of poet's ancestral home.

People give verdict against war criminals in general election

Our Correspondent, Monirampur

The newly elected lawmaker of Monirampur upazila of Jessore Advocate Khan Tipu Sultan has said the people of the country have given their verdict about the war criminals in the parliamentary poll held on December 29.

Second time elected, Tipu Sultan made the comment while he was exchanging views with the newsmen of Monirampur at his residence a day after the voting day.

He said he would table a bill before the parliament possibly in the first session proposing to make a law for trial of the war criminals of the liberation war.

Tipu Sultan thanked the people for electing him giving their mandate and he called for their cooperation in his work as a lawmaker. He also thanked the local journalists for extending their cooperation to him in the election and said they would also extend their cooperation in performing his responsibilities as a lawmaker.

Tipu Sultan, however, expressed the hope that he would be able to solve the problems the people of his constituencies have been suffering in line with the promises he made to them.

Cold wave affects normal life in Northern districts

BSS, Rangpur

Normal life and vehicular traffic are being hampered as the cold wave coupled with clouds and fogs continued sweeping over the northern districts in the sub-Himalayan region.

Though the minimum temperatures remained almost unchanged during the past 24 hours, the overall cold wave marked deterioration due to sharp falls in the maximum temperatures and thick layers of clouds and fogs in the air.

Fewer people were seen out of their houses while the day-labourers and farm- workers worked under adverse condition in the crop fields due to biting cold coupled with densely foggy air throughout the day.

The movement of vehicles on roads and highways was seriously affected from 9 pm last night to 11 am this morning as thick layers of fogs covered the air reducing visibility to less than 10 to 20 metres.

The vehicles were found plying with their headlights on in the roads and highways of the whole region to avert accidents almost throughout the day.

The sun today was remained covered throughout the day and the situation started worsening further from the afternoon when the public places started becoming deserted in Rangpur and adjoining northern districts.

The common people in Rangpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Bogra and adjoining districts on the river basins are badly exposed to the cold wave and foggy weather.

Sufferings of the people living in char villages of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Bogra and Sirajganj districts on the river basins mounted due to blowing of cooler and stronger winds from the north and northwestern directions. Local Met Office recorded the minimum temperature at 13.2 degrees Celsius at 6 am today against 12.7 degrees yesterday at Rangpur and other adjoining northern districts.

However, the gap between the temperatures was reduced to only 3 to 4 degrees Celsius as the highest temperatures dipped to around 16 to 19 degrees Celsius today against 24 degrees Celsius of yesterday in the region deteriorating the situation sharply.

The district and upazila administrations and dozens of non- government and charitable organisations have intensified distribution of warm clothes among the distressed people everywhere in the northern districts.

No enforcement of anti-smoking law in Barguna

BSS, Barguna

The Anti-tobacco law is yet to enforce in the district as general people as well as members of law enforcers smoke cigarette at public places without any care or fear.

In the initial stage when the Anti-smoking law was promulgated, those who used to smoke at public places stopped their old habit considering punishment under the law.

But with the passage of time, the smokers started the same practice everywhere, including in buses, tempos and launches, as there was no implementation of the law anywhere in the district.

Smoking was banned at academic institutions, offices, courts, cinema halls premises, etc under the law. But there is a common phenomena of smoking cigarettes by some school teachers in the district and even the addicted teachers buy cigarettes from the shops with the help of their students.

Besides, staff of different offices, including police, traffic servants, doctors and lawyers smoke cigarette and entertaining others.

News briefs

Youth arrested with revolver in Madaripur

MADARIPUR, Jan 4: Police arrested a youth with an automatic revolver and five bullets from adjacent area of Sumon hotel in the district town on Saturday afternoon. The arrested was identified as Sumon Sheikh, 25, son of M Jainal of Golabari in the town. Officer-in-charge of Sadar Thana told BSS that in a tip off, a team of the police raided the area and arrested Sumon with 3.32 bore revolver, five bullets and a knife. A case was filed with the Sadar thana in this connection, reports BSS.

34 held in Rangpur

RANGPUR, Jan 4: Police arrested 34 persons including absconding accused, listed terrorists, drug traffickers and extortionists from different places of the district during the last 24 hours ending at 6 AM on Saturday. Police said, huge quantity of Phensidyl, locally produced wine, ganja, and other illegal goods were also recovered during the period. Of them, Kotwali police arrested four persons, Gangachara police five, Taraganj police two, Badarganj police three, Mithapukur police 11 and Pirganj police five and Pirgachha police arrested four persons during the drives. The arrested persons were sent to jail, reports BSS.

VGF programme intensified to help alleviate poverty

MYMENSINGH, Jan 4: The Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme has been intensified in twelve upazilas of Mymensingh district including ten pourashavas to help alleviate poverty. The district Relief and Rehabilitation office sources said, it has already distributed 2340 metric tones of rice allotted for December 2009 among 1,56,000 destitutes in 12 upazilas of the district, reports BSS.