The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bumper production of winter vegetables in Sirajganj

Staff Reporter, Sirajganj

Bumper production of the winter vegetables is being expected everywhere in the 16 Northern Districts under Rajshahi Division during the Rabi crop season. All kinds of winter vegetables have now appeared in abundance in the local markets and the yield rate achieved so far are found to be higher than that of the target due to early farming of all kinds of vegetables. Department of Agriculture Extension source said.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed an average yield rate of all varieties winter vegetables to 16 tonnes per hectare this time, the sources said. Following the programme, a total of 18,52,616 tonnes different varieties of vegetables will be produced in 123516 huctates in al 16 districts under Rajshahi Division this season.

Under the programme, Sirajganj 6500 hectare, in Natore 9500 hectare, in Rajshahi 7500 hectare in Chapainawabganj 1600 hectares, in Pabna. 8500 hectares, in Bogra 5000 hectares will be cultivted for winter vegetables in Joypurhat-districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone, the DAE sources said.

Apart from this, 8000 hectares of land were brought under winter vegetables in Rangpur, 6000 hectares each in Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Thakurgaon, 500 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 10000 hectares in Dinajpur and 4000 hectares in Panchagarh districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone. While talking to the New Nation, the DAE said Bangladesh Agriculture Research institute, Bangl-adesh Agriculture Development Corporation and many NGOs have been supplying adequate quality seeds, other agro inputs and providing necessary technical assistance to the farmers for making the cultivation a total success.

On the other hand, Additional Director of DAE Abul Basher told the New Nation that emphasis is being given on increasing production of high yielding best seeds and saplings through farmers level extension and application of the high yielding varieties.

Grassroot level farmers are being habituated with homested gardening through establishing projection plot of improved technologies adjacent to the localities for enhancing vegetable output. As a result of this, he said gradening around homesteads in the Barind region is becoming increasingly popular with production of different common fruits and vegetables for own consumption and also to sell the surplus for extra income.

In addition to this, he said, modern technologies are being transferred among the growers level through farmers training, projection plot, field day and different types of campaign so that the farmers could make their cultivation more effective and profitable.

Different commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and other commercial banks, NGOs have been disbursing agriculture loans and interest-free loans among the farmers to make the cultivation of winter vegetables successful.

Electioneering in upazila poll reaches peak in Magura

Our Correspondent, Magura

Electioneering of the upazila election slated for January 22 has reached the peak as the voting day is approaching closer.

The contestants and their workers went out of their homes and remain busy the whole day in campaigning to woo the voters.

The candidates are holding processions and public meetings where they are promising different development works of the areas and making commitments to resolve different problems of the upazila.

Many of the candidates are going door to door to meet the voters and trying to win their hearts to vote for.

The entire district has wore a different look with posters of candidates with their election symbols. A total of 76 candidates are on the race for the posts of Chairmen, vice-chanirmen(male) and vice-chairmen(female). Of them 37 are for chairmen, 26 for the post of vice-chairmen(male) and 13 for the post of vice-chairmen (female).

People showing keen interest in UZ elections in N-districts

BSS, Rangpur

The common people are now showing their keen interests in electing honest and efficient upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen in the upcoming January 22 Upazila polls in the northern districts.

After electing MPs of their own choice, the enthusiastic people are now busy talking about the probable chairmen and vice-chairmen candidates for 58 posts in all eight sub- Himalayan northern districts under greater Rangpur and Dinajpur.

They want educated, honest, corruption-free, dynamic and patriotic people to be elected as the upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen for ensuring smooth development of the rural Bangladesh. At the hats and bazaars, tea stalls, saloons, markets, hotels, restaurants, bus stands, terminals, rail stations and ferryghats, the common people are talking each other about the competing candidates in the upazila elections.

They have been putting special emphasis on the honesty, educational qualification, patriotism, past background and efficiency of the probable candidates irrespective of their political belongings.

The locals are of the opinion that the campaigning of the upazila elections will get huge momentum after formation of the next government just after a couple of days as the people are waiting for it with huge enthusiasm and expectations.

This time, a large number of candidates are competing in the third upazila polls and the probable candidates and their supporters have already started hectic campaigning after allocation of the symbols everywhere.

Candidates having political identities are getting huge supports from their local leaders and activists while the independent candidates are making contacts mainly with the local elite, professionals, relatives, friends and the common voters with huge enthusiasms.

Acting Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) of Rangpur Regional Election Office Shubhash Chandra Sarker on Friday told BSS that preparations are afoot to hold the upazila polls peacefully like the recent December 29 general elections.

RU students protest Israeli massacre in Palestine

RU Correspondent

The Progressive Students Alliance, a combine of left-leaning student organizations, on Sunday protested the Israeli massacre in Gaza in Palestine.

The students of the combine took the streets on the campus of the university and started their march from in front of university Central Library shouting various slogans against Israel and the US imperialism.

After the end of the protest march, the students also held a protest rally at the same venue , where the leaders of different organizations condemned the imperialist attitude of Israel and the United State.

They observed that the mass killing in Gaza would not have been possible without backing of the US and Washington will have to take the equal responsibilities for the genocide on the Palestinians.

The student leaders alleged that the Israel and the United States want to capture oil and gas of the Middle Eastern countries and for this reason Israel is continuing pounding of Gaza killing hundreds of Palestinians.

The speakers also called upon all the Muslim countries to be united against the Israeli massacre.

BAU officials accorded reception

BAU Correspondent, Mymendingh

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr.M.A. Sattar Mandal said that a firm intellectual foundation should be established for many types of careers needed for running University Administration as well as day to day professional decisions.

Speaking as chief guest at a reception to the Chief Engineer Md. Rahmatullah and Librarian in-Charge Nurul Amin of the university now on LPR at the Community Centre organised by the Administrative Council of the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), the Vice-Chancellor recalled the contribution made by the University Officers during the tensure of their services.

Presided over by Md. Nazibur Rahman, Registrar and Convener, BAU Administrative Council, the function was attended by Mrs. Fatema Sultana Sattar, President, BAU Ladies Club and wife of Vice -Chancellor as special guest.

Among others who spoke on the occasion were Treasurer Md. Idris Ali, Controller of Examinations Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Director Planning M. Mukhlesur Rahman, Chief Engineer Md. Rahmatullah and Librarian-in Charge Nurul Amin.

Diwan Rashidul Hassan, Director (PRP), read out life sketches of astute officers like Md. Rahmatullah and Nurul Amin. Dr. Md. Ali Akbar conducted the function.

Later, Vice-Chancellor presented crests to the officers who were accorded reception by the BAU Administrative Council at the function.

Warm clothes distributed in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

Sadullapur Upazila Administration has been distributing warm clothes to the affected people of all the 11 unions of the upazila in the district since December 23 last with a view to mitigating sufferings of cold.

Office sources said, a total of 1,438 pieces of blankets and wrappers have already been distributed to the worst affected people of the upazila till January 02.

UNO Abdul Wahed and upazila project implementation officer Kamrul Ahsan along with local representatives of concerned unions are distributing the clothes from door to door.

Elderly man killed in post-election violence in Rupganj

Our Corresponent, Rupganj

One Fasiuddin (65), father of Aynal Hoque, Vice Chairman of Rupganj Upazila Jubo Dal in Narayanganj died on the way to hospital and his sons Iman Mia (8) and Naim Mia 10 were wounded in an attack by the supporters of Awami League.

According to the police, the attackers ransacked his house at Tawra Village under Bhulabo Union of the said Upazila on the 5th January last. A case was filed with Rupganj Thana in this regard accusing 12 persons.

Early marriage, divorce on rise in Sirajganj

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

The number of early marriages and divorce are on the rise in rural areas of Pabna, Natore, Bogra and Sirajganj districts.

Marriage of girls below the age of 18 and the boys of below 20 years of age is restricted in this third largest Muslim country of the world, but the situation is different in rural areas and most girls of 12 years are married, locals said. There are allegations that the marriage registers record the ages of boys and girls much above their actual age in marriage documents in exchange of illegal money.

Some affluent people usually marry poor pretty girls to use them as domestic aid. Most early marriages are solemnized because of their love affairs of the boys and girls. According to a survey of an NGO 67 percent of the marriages in rural areas of these districts are solemnized through illegal ways and 43 percent of the marriages are not registered.

NID observed in Narsingdi

BSS, Narsingdi

Over four lakh children aged 0-5 years were administered with polio vaccines while over three lakh children aged between 2 and 5 years were given deworming tablets at 1,877 centres in the district in the second round of the 17th National Immunization Day on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner of Narsingdi Amrita Baroi and Civil Surgeon Dr Birandra Nath Singh inaugurated the 2nd round of NID programme at different places of the town and administered polio vaccine and albendazale tablet to the children.

Upazila Health and Family Planning officers, medical officers, public representatives, NGO activists and volunteers were engaged for this purpose throughout the district.

The district Civil Surgeon office under the assistance of the UNICEF, WHO and various departments have taken adequate steps in making the campaign successful in all six upazilas here to help make a polio free Bangladesh.

Three killed in Sirajganj road mishap

Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

Three persons were killed in a road crash on Dhaka-Natore Highway last week as a truck hit a rickshaw at Bonpara Bazar at Natore Upazila.

Witnesses said the Dhaka-bound truck hit the rickshaw from behind killing the puller and two children on the spot.

The identity of the killed person were not known immediately.

News briefs

Valuables looted

KERANIGANJ, Jan 7: Robbers looted cash and valuables worth over Tk 4.7 lakh from five houses in South Keraniganj here early Sunday leaving 10 people injured. Police, quoting the local people, said bandits, numbering 12/14, stormed into the house of Lance Nayek Abul Hossain at Chunkutia at about 2 am. They took away Tk 10,000 and two mobile sets from the house and also hacked Abul Hossain, his son Raju, daughter Farzana and wife Shahnaz Begum when they tried to resist them. Later, the robbers swooped on the houses of Malek, Hedayet, Abul Bashar and Faruq at Purbapara and Nazirerbag areas one after another and looted valuables worth over Tk 4.6 lakh, reports UNB.

Two houses looted in Bagerhat

BAGERHAT, Jan 7: Armed bandits looted cash and valuables worth Tk 50,000 from two houses at Gola village in Chitalmari upazila early Saturday. Local people said some 10 to 12 dacoits stormed the houses of Fariduddin and his neighbor Nowsher late at night. Later, they took the inmates hostage at gunpoint and looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables. The muggers also stabbed Shamima Sultana, 45, and her son Faisal, 18, as they tried to resist them during the dacoity. They were admitted to a local hospital, reports UNB.

Adulterated fertilizer seized in Natore

NATORE, Jan 7: Police arrested two brothers along with 500 sacks of adulterated gypsum fertilizer from their house at Tebaria in the district town on Saturday. On secret information, a team of Detective Brach police raided the house of Faruk Hossain in the afternoon. They arrested Faruk and his brother Farhad while they were mixing mud with the gypsum fertilizer. Later, they seized the 500 sacks of adulterated fertilizer from the house. A case was filed, reports UNB.

17 establishments gutted in Barisal

BARISAL, Jan 5: A devastating fire gutted 17 establishments, including office, shops and houses at Balur Math-KDC slum, one of the largest slums in the city on the bank of Kirtonkhola River, Saturday night. Fire Service sources said the fire originated from a tea stall at about 2:30 am and rapidly spread. Fire fighting units from Barisal and Jhalakati stations rushed to the spot and extinguished the flame within two hours with the help of local people. The gutted establishments included office of Sramik League, a primary school, tea stalls, grocery and cigarette shops, reports UNB.

2 killed in Bogra road mishap

BOGRA, Jan 7: Two businessmen were killed and 11 others injured in a road accident at Ranirhat bus stand in Shajahanpur upazila early Sunday. Police said a Rajshahi-bound truck over turned on Bogra-Natore highway as its driver lost control over the steering at about 1:30 am, killing its two passengers on the spot and injuring 11 others. One of the dead was identified as Babu, 20, son of Asadul Haq of Rajshahi district while identity of another deceased could not be known immediately. The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Bogra and Natore districts, reports UNB.