The New Nation - Internet Edition

4,49,216 tonnes of Boro paddy to be produced in Gaibandha

BSS, Gaibandha

The government has taken up a massive plan to produce 4,49,216 tonnes of paddy by cultivating 1,12,645 hectares of land in all the seven upazilas of the district during the current Boro season.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said of the total paddy 1,63,560 tonnes of hybrid variety (HV) 2,84,296 tonnes of high yielding variety (HYV) and 1,360 tonnes of local variety (LV) would be produced this year.

Upazila wise breakup of targeted Boro paddy production is as follows: 27,025 tonnes of HV, 42,066 tonnes of HYV and 170 tonnes of LV in Sadar upazila, 28,200 tonnes of HV,31,144 tonnes of HIV and 68 tonnes of LV in Sadullapur upazila, 15,040 tonnes of HV, 30,627 tonnes of HYV and 17 tonnes of LV in Palashbari upazila, 45,120 tonnes of HV, 74,907 tonnes of HYV and 85 tonnes of LV in Gobindaganj Upazila, 33,840 tonnes of HV, 46,863 tonnes of HYV and 170 tonnes of LV in Sundarganj upazila, 11,280 tonnes of HV, 38,007 tonnes of HYV and 425 tonnes LV in Saghata upazila and 3,055 tonnes of HV, 20,682 tonnes of HYV and 425 tonnes of LV in Fulchhari upazila.

Special measures have already been taken by the DAE, BADC and BMDA to increase the production of paddy by bringing move land under this programme for the country's food security.

Meanwhile, farmers have started planting early variety of Boro seedlings to achieve a record production target fixed by the DAE.

Deputy director of DAE ANM Mizanur Rahman Amin said special emphasis has given on the using of the latest agri-technologies and quality hybrid seeds this year to help the farmers achieve the target and even exceed it this season.

Upazila election campaign gets momentum in Kishoreganj

Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

The campaign in upazila election of the district has gained momentum as the candidates are working to win the hearts of the voters till late at night.

Moreover, the entire district has wore a different look with various posters hanged with election symbols.

A total of 173 candidates are on the race for the post of 13 upazilas of the districts, election office sources said. They said the candidates, who are contesting for the post of chairmen in Sadar Upazila.

The candidates are holding public meetings, bringing out processions and using other means of campaigning like loud speakers seeking votes in their favour. As a result the entire district has become a noisy place, which is harming the students, who are preparing for their final examinations.

The contestants are visiting house to house to woo the voters and are making promises to solve their problems if elected and will do different development works.

They are also promising to construct schools, colleges and development of the road communication.

The contestants are working in their respective areas till late at night to win the hearts of the voters.

109 murders, 331 unusual deaths in Barisal during interim govt

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Law and order situation was much better during the two year's period of the interim government of Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed than that of political governments.

During the last two years, 109 persons were killed, 331 were unusual deaths in the district and over 2,000 violent incidents were recorded during the period by the emergency treatment section, morgue and One Stop Crisis Center of Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital till January 4.

According to the sources, of the 109 deaths, 11 died in encounter with law enforcers. Of the total killed, 49 occurred in 2009 and 56 in 2008. Seventeen of the victims remained unidentified.

During the period 75 unnatural deaths occurred in the district. There were also 11 extra judicial deaths occurred in the district.

DAE to bring 73010 hectares land under Irri-Boro cultivation in Ctg

BSS, Chittagong

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed the target to bring a total of 73010 hectares of land under Irri-Boro cultivation in the district and part of city areas during the upcoming season.

DAE officials said, they have also planned to prepare over 450 hectares of land as seed-bed for Boro saplings.

Mohammed Abdul Mannan, Crop Production Specialist of DAE, Chittagong told BSS that the authority has taken various steps to motivate the farmers to use latest agricultural technology for getting optimum production at minimum cost.

As part of motivation programme, he said, the authorities have been arranging training programmes for farmers at district headquarter as well as at upazila level so that they could increase crop production by applying modern technology.

The upazila and area-wise targeted lands for Irri-Boro cultivation are as follows: Anowara upazila-6590 hectares, Banshkhali-7600 hectares, Patiya-8070 hectares, Chandanaish-3840 hectares, Satkania-5620 hectares, Lohagara-4280 hectares, Boalkhali-2630 hectares, Sitakunda-235 hectares, Mirsharai-4265 hectares, Hathazari-5080 hectares, Raozan-6250 hectares, Rangunia-9350 hectares, Fatikchari-8470 hectares and city area- 730 hectares.

Ramesh Sen congratulated

Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon

The AL leaders and activists of Thakorgoan district on Wednesday hailed the appointment of local MP Ramesh Sen as the Water Resource Minister in the AL led grand alliance government.

On the occasion they brought out a procession and distributed sweets among the local people. Abu Torab Manik, President of Thakurgaon Press Club and Akhter Hossain Raza, General Secretary of Thakorgoan Press Club greeted the newly appointed minister.

In the last parliamentary election on December 29, Romesh elected MP from the constituency of Thakorgoan-1 defeating BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam by 56,000 votes.

News briefs

6 held in Ctg

CHITTAGONG, Jan 9: Police arrested six members of an organised note forging gang along with 19 fake notes of Tk 500 denomination from Kadamtali Atmasing crossing of the city on Tuesday morning. The arrested people were identified as M Javed alias Monir, 28, his wife Tania, 20, M Momin, 26, his wife Parvin Begum, 22, M Emon, 25, and his wife Sharmin Begum, 18. Police said acting on a tip-off, a team of Kotwali thana police conducted a drive in the area and arrested the gang members from a house at about 11 am, reports UNB.

Two held with foreign currency in Benapole

BENAPOLE, Jan 9: Bangladesh Rifles arrested two people along with foreign currency from a truck, carrying export goods, in Benapole check post today (Tuesday). Acting on a tip-off, BDR jawans of 22 rifles battalion searched the husk-laden truck and recovered 95,000 Saudi Riyal, approximately Tk 17.10 lakh, from under the driver's seat at about 12.15pm. They also arrested truck driver Kabir Khan and helper Mozaffar Hossain for possessing the money. The truck driver, however, said, one Animesh of Benapole gave him the money to hand over to a money exchange in Indian Petrapole check post. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Valuables stolen

BARISAL, Jan 9: Thieves took away valuables worth about Tk 2 lakh from a house after making the inmates unconscious at Sagordi-Rupatali area of the city Saturday night. Police said Abdul Ali Howladar, his wife Hosneara, daughter Farzana and domestic help Jasmine fell unconscious after taking dinner on Saturday night. Neighbors found the door of their house open and the inmates unconscious the following morning. They informed police and sent them to Barisal Sher-e Bangla Medical College Hospital, reports UNB.

Warm clothes

distributed

RANGPUR, Jan 9: The District and Upazila Administrations, different non-government and charitable organisations have further intensified distribution of warm clothes among the cold-hit people in the northern districts. Official sources said that huge number of warm clothes including quality blankets are being distributed among the poor, distressed and elderly people in all districts of the northern region to mitigate sufferings of the cold-hit people. Besides, various other organisations have also been distributing warm clothes among the distressed people of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Joypurhat, Naogaon and other areas, reports BSS.

Work on 8 sluice gates progressing fast in Pirojpur

PIROJPUR, Jan 9: Work on eight sluice gates has been progressing fast in sadar upazila of the district involving more than Tk 6 crore in the current fiscal year. Water Development Board is constructing the sluice gates and the work is likely to be finished by June next. Some 18,860 hectares of land will be saved from flood after the completion of the work, reports UNB.