796 killed in various incidents

RAJSHAHI. Feb 1: At least 796 people were killed in various incidents in 16 northern districts of Rajshahi division in last one year, reports UNB.

According to police, a good number of people were killed in different thanas of the districts over land disputes. The causes behind the killings also included family feud, clash, stabbing, enmities, extortion and kidnapping for ransom. Of the deaths. 44 were reported front Rajshahi while 70 from Naogaon. 39 from Natore. 33 from Chapainawabhanj. 103 from Bogra, 29 from Joypurhat. 93 from Sirajganj. 60 each from Pabna and Gaibandha. 69 from Rangpur. 43 from Nilphamarl, 26 from Kurigram, 18 from Lalmonirhat. 57 from Dinajpur, 30 from Thakurgaon and 22 from Panchagarh districts.

Pirates swoop on fishing trawlers

BARGUNA. Feb 1: Pirates swooped on seven fishing trawlers In the Bay, 100 miles off the town, and looted valuables, including spare parts, worth about Tk 15 lakh on Thursday and Friday, reports UNB.

President of Patharghata Trawler Owners' Association said the armed pirates looted the valuables from the trawlers, leaving 11 fishermen injured. The trawlers were FB Mayer Doya. FB Nupur, FB Bhai Bhai, FB Shahjahan, FB Nahar. FB Sonia and FB Gous-e-Pak. The injured — Sultan, 22. Jalil. 20. Jafar. 35. Kalu, 40. Moslem. 35. Babul. 26. Sunil, 25. Habib. 30. Nuru Mia. 40. Chan Mia. 28. and Alamgir, 23 — were undergoing treatment at Barguna General Hospital and Patharghata thana health complex.

672 criminal cases lodged last year

MAGURA. Feb 1: A total of 672 criminal cases were lodged with court and police in the district last year, reports APB.

These include eight cases of rape, 32 cases of repression on women. 12 murders, 11 dacoits. and 41 cases of toll collection. Police and court sources told that out of these. 382 were filed with Sadar thana. 76 with the Sreepur thana. 120 with Sha-likha thana and 93 with Mohammadpur thana. Besides, some 3.0O0 cases relating to dowry, land dispute and other incidents were filed during the period.

Housewife burnt to death

RAJSHAHI. Feb 1: A newly married housewife was allegedly burnt to death in Mohanpur on Thursday, reports UNB.

Family sources said Babita Begum. 21, was roasted alive when her clothes caught fire in their kitchen while she was cooking. She was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where she succumbed to her burn injuries after admission.

Man killed in road accident

MAGURA. Feb 1: A man died at Sadar Hospital on Saturday after receiving injuries in a road accident at. Arunakandi in Shalika thana on Magura-Jessore highway, on Friday night, reports UNB.

Police said Abdur Rashid was injured when a Dhaka-bound bus hit him at 9 pm while he was crossing the road. He was rushed to Sadar Hospital where he succumbed to his injury. Police arrested the driver along with the vehicle.

School teacher killed in road accident

KUSHTIA. Feb 1: A school teacher was killed in a road accident at Majampur gate in the district on Friday, reports UNB.

The victim was identified as Ashraful Haque, a senior teacher of Kushtia High School. Witnesses said Haque met the tragic end of his life when a bus knocked his bicycle down on the road. He was rushed to Kushtia General Hospital where he died at midnight on the day.

Old man beaten to death

SUNAMGANJ, Feb 1: An old man was beaten to death by his rivals over a minor dispute in Jagannathpur thana on Saturday, reports UNB.

The victim was identified as Abbas Ali, 70. of Nadampur village. Police said one Kadris Ullah aided by his associates attacked Abbas when he went to Kadris's house in search of his missing hen. He died on the spot.

Kidnapped boy rescued

KHULNA, Feb 1: Police rescued a kidnapped boy from Chaterhat in the city and arrested a man in this connection on Saturday, reports UNB. । ,

Police said one Badsha Mia picked up three-year-old boy Raqib, son of Abdur Rahman, from Shamsur Rahman Road on Friday and demanded a ransom of Tk 5,000 for his release. His father filed a case with the local police and police rescued the boy and arrested his kidnapper within 24 hours of his abduction.

65 schemes under RIDP completed

JHENIDAH, Feb 1; A total of 65 schemes has so far been completed under the Rural Infrastructure Development Programme (RIDP) in Jhenidah Sadar thana this financial year, reports APB.

Official sources said that the Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation had allotted 118 tonnes of wheat worth Tk 10 lakh for the programme. The programme included digging of canals and repair of roads, educational institutions, mosques and markets. The programme created 100,000 job-hours for poor and jobless villagers.

Agri-loans disbursement progressing

JESSORE, Feb 1: Disbursement of agricultural loans under a 42.36 crore taka post-flood rehabilitation programme is in progress in eight thanas here, reports APB.

Sources said 15 crore taka loans have already been disbursed among about 10,000 farmers through Bangladesh Krishi Bank and four nationalised commercial banks. The disbursement began in October through 18 branches of the banks. The disbursement will be completed by June next.

Vegetables farming gains popularity

PABNA, Feb 1: Cultivation of winter vegetables in nine thanas here may reach the target of 59,000 hectares during the current season, officials of the district Agricultural Extension Department said, reports APB.

They said there has been a great enthusiasm among farmers for vegetable cultivation to recover their losses during the last flood. AED block supervisors are also advising farmers in improved methods of cultivation. Raising seed beds and selling saplings of vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, chilly, tomato have become a good commercial venture in rural areas, they said.

Man crushed under wheels of train

KUSHTIA, Feb 1: One person was crushed under the wheels of a Puradah-bound goods train near Alamdanga rail station here Sunday evening, reports APB.

The dead was identified as Reazuddin, 26, of village Boalia under Alamdanga thana. He was a microbus driver, police said.

Old man killed in road accident

SATKHIRA, Feb 1: Ail o.'d woman was killed in a road accident near Kumira Girls School on Khulna-Satkhira road in Tala thana recently.

Police sources said, a Khulna-bound pick-up van ran over one Phulian Bibi. 75, of village Islamkati in Tala thana near Kumira Girls' School on Khulna-Satkhira road while she was trying to cross the road. She died on the spot. The body sent to the Satkhira Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Acute scarcity of fodder

LAXMIPUR, Feb 1: Acute crisis of fodder and lack of institutional support have brought a good.number of dairy farms in four thanas of the district to the verge of closure, reports UNB.

According to sources, 172 dairy farms have been set up in the thanas with the financial assistance from Bangladesh Krishi Bank in the wake of growing demand for milk. But these farms are hurtling towards closure due to fodder and medicine crisis and lack of farm credits. The farm owners alleged that they were not getting adequate support from the government although their farms were eligible for further credits. They urged the government to take necessary steps to prop up the sinking dairy farms by providing necessary loans.

95 FWP projects being implemented

THAKURGAON, Feb 1: Under the "Food for Work Programme (FWP)“ 95 projects are being implemented in Thakurgaon district in the current fiscal year, reports BSS.

According to an official source, the government has alloted 1,235 tonnes of wheat for implementation of the projects. The thana-wise break-up is as follows : Thakurgaon sadar 501 tonnes against 25 projects. Baliadangi 189 tonnes against 17 projects. PirganJ 213 tonnes against 20 projects. Ranisankail 201 tonnes gainst 20 protects and Haripur 131 tonnes against 13 projects. The work of the projects being implemented under the programme includes excavation and re-excavation of ponds for pisciculture, repairing of roads, culverts, mosques, temples ana madrashas.