News in brief
3 jailed for killing schoolboy
A court in Narayanganj on Wednesday sentenced three persons to life term imprisonment for killing a schoolboy in Shiddirganj of the district in 2013.
The court also fined them Taka 50,000 each, in default, to suffer more six years of rigorous imprisonment.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Miaji Sahidul Alam Chowdhury handed down the verdict in presence of the convicted persons.
The convicts are-Hamidul Haque, resident of Nakla upazila in Sherpur district, his sister Afroja Akhter and cousin Ripon. According to the prosecution, the convicted persons abducted schoolboy Ramjan, 9, and later demanded Taka 10,000 from his parents. As Ramjans parents refused to give the money they killed him on September 7, 2013.
US mission holiday on Aug 14
The US Embassy in Dhaka including its consular section will remain closed on Monday (August 14) in observance of Janmashtami, a Bangladeshi national holiday.
The American Centre with the Archer K Blood American Centre Library and the Education USA Student Advising Centre will also remain closed on the day, said a press release on Thursday.
However, emergency services for American citizens will be available (duty officer 55662000).
Anti-drug committees formed
As part of the government initiative to keep the students away from taking drugs, anti-narcotic committees have been formed at some 25,6005 secondary and higher secondary educational institutions, across the country while the rest of the institutes will have the committees by this year.
We have so far formed 25,600 anti-narcotic committees till June this year at the educational institutes such as school, college and madrasas aimed at making aware the students about dangerous effect of drugs, which ultimately appear as a silent killer, Rabiul Islam, Deputy Director (preventive education) of Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) told BSS yesterday morning.
Natl Mourning Day programme
Khulna District Administration has taken a two-day programmes to observe the National Mourning Day and 42nd martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with due respect.
The decision came at a preparedness meeting which was held at the deputy commissioners conference room on August 3.
Representatives of various government, semi-government, autonomous bodies, socio-cultural and voluntary organisations and educational institutions were present at the meeting.
The programmes will begin on August 14 through poem recitation and art competition at Khulna Shishu Academy. The academy will also screen a documentary film on Chironjib Bangabandhu to mark the day.
Build Green School programme
Dhaka South City Corporation has launched a programme titled Build Green School as part of its efforts to make the city green. Under the programme, students would make their school premises green and clean through planting saplings and keeping garbage in dustbins.
As many as 100 schools of DSCC will be brought under the programme in phases. DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon inaugurated the programme today at Swamibag Mitali Bidyapith School in the city. Paribartan Chai, a social organisation, organised the programme.
Khokon said, We are working to make Dhaka a livable city for next generation through ensuring clean environment. DSCC has planted saplings of different varieties of trees in urban areas including streets, dividers and roadsides to make Dhaka a green city, he added.
The DSCC mayor said 12 playgrounds and 19 parks have been freed from land grabbers under the project titled Jal Sabuje Dhaka.
Independent/agency
