The New Nation - Internet Edition

New govt to reach health services to people’s doorsteps: Ruhul

BSS, Khulna

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr AFM Ruhul Haq has said the present government will make its allout efforts to reach health services to the doorsteps of the people.

"In this respect, the community clinics across the country will be reformed to further improve the health services for the people," he said while addressing a function organized in connection with his visit to the under-construction Abu Naser Specialized Hospital here on Thursday. Khulna City Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khaleque was present as the special guest at the function chaired by project director of the hospital Dr Zafrullah. Molla Jalal Uddin, MP, among others, was present.

The minister said all possible efforts would be made for the uplift of Khulna division. Mongla Port will be made fully operational after the construction of Padma Bridge, he added. Besides, Ruhul Haq said, expansion of the railway lines up to the Sundarbans in Satkhira district and gas supply in the Khulna region will be given priority in the greater national interest. Later, the health minister visited Khulna Press Club and urged the journalists to suggest the government through their writings as to what should be done for development of the region. "I think progress and prosperity in the region could be possible through concerted efforts," he said.

Earlier, the minister offered fateha at the mazar of Khanbahadur Ahsan Ullah at Nalta in Kaliganj upazila and several other mazars at Gunka in Ashashuni upazila.

Birth, death registration charges introduced in BCC

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Barisal City Corporation has introduced charges for birth and death registration from the current month following an order issued by the LGRD ministry.

Mehdi Hassan, chief executive officer of the corporation and Russel Sikdar, inspector of Birth and death registration of BCC said the charges were introduced following a letter from the LGRD ministry on Sunday.

From now on all birth and death registration will require nominal charges.

For registration of names of a person above two years will have to pay Taka 5 for each year of his or her age to the Municipality or Union Parishad and Taka 10 to the city corporation or Cantonment Board for birth registration.

Besides, one has to pay to municipality or union parishad an additional amount of Taka 20 for getting birth certificate in Bangla and Taka 50 in English.

The BCC officials said birth registration of 70 percent people living in the corporation has already been completed and certificate of 40 percent of the dwellers have been delivered.

Brick kilns at Mirersarai bother little for pollution policy

Our Correspondent, Miresarai (Chittagong)

The brick kilns at Mirersarai of Chittagong bother little for the government environment policy though there is a definite policy in the country.

The owners of the brick kilns are setting up kilns wherever they like defying the environment policy and polluting the environment.

A letter has already been set to the upazila authority from the Ministry of Forest and Environment.

It was gathered that the government is not offering ner permission for setting brick kilns from September 2006 as the number of brick kilns has already gone than that of required. But some people at Miresarai have planned setting up brock kilns in several places prior getting the permission.

The work of setting up of a brick kiln has already been started near Mitachara without government permission for the kiln. The kiln is being set up 50 feet away from a hill, but the policy stipulates that no brick kiln should be set up withing two kilometres from a hill.

Different brick kilns set up near schools and madrasas, which are creating problems for the school children. Many of the kiln owners are collecting mud from farm lands, which is telling on the fertility of the lands and this would discourage farmers from paddy cultivation.

Some of the kiln owners are collecting mud cutting hills, which has been banned by the government for stopping mudslide during the monsoon.

Holy Ashura observed in befitting manner in Barisal

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Holy Ashura observed on Thursday in Barisal to commemorate the Karbala tragedy in which Hazrat Imam Hossain ® embraced martyrdom along with his family and friends.

On the tenth of Muharram, the fateful day, Muslims vent remorse over the martyrdom of Imam Hossain, grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad at the hands of renegades over 1300 years ago.

The day was a public holiday. Various organisations arranged programmes in observance of Ashura. Tazia procession by mourners, milad, feeding to poor (Kangali Bhoj) were main features of the occasion.

Participants of the programmes said that the holy Ashura teaches all not to bow before repression and injustice. 'It inspires us to stand against all disturbances and malice in every stage of national life,' they said.

They called upon the countrymen to go by the lessons and inspirations that come from Ashura and prayed to the Almighty for the strength so that people, being inspired by the spirit of supreme sacrifice, can fight against all the untruth and ugliness.

Rupganj Olama Dal urges govt to ensure security

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

Rupganj unit of Bangladesh Olama Dal has urged the newly formed democratic government of Prime minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure security of the people.

The Dal made the call at a meeting held on January 4 with Alhaj Alauddin, president of Tarabo Pourasava Olama Dal in the chair in which Munshi Shamsur Rahman Khan Benu, a central leader of the Dal was the chief guest.

Among others, Rahmat Ullah Bhandari, secretary, Mojibullah, vice-chairman, Abdul Hai Talukder, organizing secretary of the Dal addressed the meeting.

The speakers urged the new government to provide security to all and reduce the price line of essential commodities.

Transport workers beaten by UNO in Jhalakati

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Md. Jasimuddin, upazila nirbahi officer of Rajapur under Jhalakati district beat Md. Sabuj, a bus driver of Barisal-Vandaria route after dragging out from the vehicle and Md. Milon, a driver of Vandaria-Jhalakati route after chasing at 10:30 am Monday morning for misplacing their vehicles during loading and unloading passengers at bypass crossing of Rajapur on Jhalakati-Vandaria route.

Tipu Sultan, secretary of Jhalakati district road transport workers association gave seven days ultimatum to punish and withdraw the UNO from the post, or to start road transport strike from next Tuesday.

UNO Jasimuddin denying beating or assaulting of any road transport worker said he only requested them to park their vehicles properly during loading and unloading passengers and goods for smooth transportations on the busy and risky highway.

Dacoity committed at Rupganj

Our Correspondent, Rupganj

A daring dacoity was committed at a house of a businessman at the village Golakandail under Rupganj of Narayanganj district on December 3.

According to the family sources, a group of dacoits numbering about 10-12 equipped with lethal weapons entered the house of Habibur Rahman breaking open the door at dead of night and looted cash and valuables, including ornaments.

The dacoits threatened the business man and asked him not to file any case in this connection.

For this reason, Rahman did not file any case with police on the incident.

News briefs

Toll demanded from bank officials

Thakurgaon, Jan 11: Miscreants identifying them as outlawed party activists are demanding tolls from officials of different banks in Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts. A criminal identifying him as a regional commander of outlawed Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party, over cell phone demanded Tk one lakh from Golam Mostafa, Haripur branch manager of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Tuesday. The caller also threatened to kill him along with his family members if he failed to meet the demand. The victim lodged a general diary with the police, reports UNB.

14 held for illegal border crossing in Satkhira

Satkhira, Jan 11: BDR troops arrested 14 people when they intruded into Bangladesh from India through Gazipur and Rajpur border areas here Monday evening. The arrested are Dalim Moral, Abdur Rahim, Abdul Hannan, Shibapad Mondal, Belal Sheikh and his wife Jobeda Khatun, Abu Sayed, M Shipon, Shreemanta Das, Shipra Das, Amita Das, Bina Das, Devrani and Nipa Das. Sadar thana police said the arrested were citizens of Bangladesh and entered into the country from India without valid documents. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Phensidyl recovered 2 held in Satkhira

Satkhira, Jan 11: RAB and BDR in separate raids recovered 880 bottles of phensidyl syrup and held two drug peddlers in Kolaroa upazila Monday. Police said RAB members in guise of customers were lying in wait at a place near the residence of Abdul Gani Sarder at Jhikra village after contacting drug peddler Abul Kashem. RAB members held Abul Kashem, 36, and Anwar Hossain, 34, as they brought 730 bottles of phensidyl and handed the drugs over to the elite force members unknowingly, reports UNB.

BSTI realises Tk 4 lakh as fine in six months in Barisal

BARISAL, Jan 11: Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in its anti-adulteration drives realized Tk 4 lakh in fine and filed 122 cases in Barisal division in the last six months. Local BSTI office sources said 42 mobile courts were operated during the July-December 2008 period. Shawkat Osman, deputy director in charge of Barisal regional office of BSTI said the fines were collected for using unauthorized weighing scale and system, selling sub-standard and adulterated food items, reports UNB.

Abducted schoolgirl rescued

JHALAKATI, Jan 11: Police rescued a schoolgirl from Kathalia upazila on Wednesday, after six days of her abduction. The victim was identified as Labani, a student of class 10 of Morichbunia High School in Morichbunia village in Kathalia upazila. Labani was later produced before the court next day. Labani said when she was walking in front of her house on January 1, co-villager Sohel forcibly took her to his brother-in-law Chunnu's house at neighboring Amarbunia village. Later, he married her against her will on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Motorcyclist killed in road mishap in Jhalakati

JHALAKATI, Jan 11: A motorcyclist was killed in a road accident at Kachua on Rajapur-Kathalia road here Thursday. The deceased was identified as Oliul Islam Oli, 25, of Bara Kathalia village in Kathalia upazila. Witnesses said Oli sustained critical injuries when his motorbike hit a roadside tree in the afternoon, reports UNB.