news in brief

Matia urges people to vote for pro-liberation forces in polls

DHAKA: Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury yesterday urged the electorates to vote for ‘Boat’, election symbol of Awami League, in the upcoming parliament to elect the pro-liberation forces, reports BSS.

The minister said this as the chief guest while she was distributing cheques, corrugated iron sheets and sports goods among different organizations on Nakla Upazila Parishad premises in Sherpur this morning.

Matia said the people have to choose between the anti-liberation forces and the pro-liberation forces to run the country. “There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina to build a country free from starvation and poverty,” she added.

About the Rohingya problem, the agriculture minister said the Rohingya infiltration started in 1978, but the then President Ziaur Rahman did not look into the problem.

Even the same problem took place in 1993 but the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had not gone to Cox’s Bazar, Matia said. Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina provided shelter to Rohingyas and for this she (Sheikh Hasina) has been awarded the honour of the ‘Mother of Humanity’.

AL leader vocal against sand lifting from Meghna River

OUR CORRESPONDENT, Chandpur

Sujit Roy Nandi, a central leader of the Awami league (AL), has called upon the authorities to "take steps to stop sand-lifting through dredger machines from  Meghna river beds as soon as possible".

"Rampant sand-lifing has endangered the Chandpur Town Protection Bundh and Harisava areas. A racket is responsible for this. Common people living near river banks are afraid of losing their houses in river erosion. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spent crores of taka to make this embankment. Saving it is our duty," he said.

Sujit, who is expected to get the nomination to contest the next polls from the Chandpur-3 constituency, was addressing people as chief guest at a meeting in Ramdasdi village of Luxmipur Model Union under Chandpur Sadar on Saturday. "It's a matter of worry that there is no government primary school within three km of this village.

A primary school in this village will certainly cater to the basic needs of local children," he said. He assured people of extending co-operation to set up a primary school there as soon as possible.

Local AL leader Shafiqur Rahman presided over the meeting. District AL vice-president Abdur Rab Bhuiyan, district Sechchyasebak League convener Joynal Abedin and district Chhatra League general secretary Parvej Karim Babu, among others, spoke on the occasion.

All the speaker urged people to re-elect Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister by casting their votes again in favour of the ‘boat’ symbol to carry forward the ongoing development projects without any interruption.

Man held with yaba in Barishal

Barishal: A joint team of Bangladesh Coastguard and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a suspected drug peddler from Chanmari area of Barishal Sadar yesterday, says a press release.

The arrestee was identified as Billal Hossain, 20.

Billal was carrying 82 pieces of yaba tablets, said sources. He was brought to Barishal Sadar Police Station later.

news in brief

Matia urges people to vote for pro-liberation forces in polls DHAKA: Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury yesterday urged the electorates to vote for Boat, election symbol of Awami League, in the upcoming parliament to elect the pro-liberation forces, reports BSS. The minister said this as the chief guest while she was distributing cheques, corrugated iron sheets and sports goods among different organizations on Nakla Upazila Parishad premises in Sherpur this morning. Matia said the people have to choose between the anti-liberation forces and the pro-liberation forces to run the country. There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina to build a country free from starvation and poverty, she added. About the Rohingya problem, the agriculture minister said the Rohingya infiltration started in 1978, but the then President Ziaur Rahman did not look into the problem. Even the same problem took place in 1993 but the then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had not gone to Coxs Bazar, Matia said. Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina provided shelter to Rohingyas and for this she (Sheikh Hasina) has been awarded the honour of the Mother of Humanity. AL leader vocal against sand lifting from Meghna River OUR CORRESPONDENT, Chandpur Sujit Roy Nandi, a central leader of the Awami league (AL), has called upon the authorities to take steps to stop sand-lifting through dredger machines from Meghna river beds as soon as possible. Rampant sand-lifing has endangered the Chandpur Town Protection Bundh and Harisava areas. A racket is responsible for this. Common people living near river banks are afraid of losing their houses in river erosion. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spent crores of taka to make this embankment. Saving it is our duty, he said. Sujit, who is expected to get the nomination to contest the next polls from the Chandpur-3 constituency, was addressing people as chief guest at a meeting in Ramdasdi village of Luxmipur Model Union under Chandpur Sadar on Saturday. Its a matter of worry that there is no government primary school within three km of this village. A primary school in this village will certainly cater to the basic needs of local children, he said. He assured people of extending co-operation to set up a primary school there as soon as possible. Local AL leader Shafiqur Rahman presided over the meeting. District AL vice-president Abdur Rab Bhuiyan, district Sechchyasebak League convener Joynal Abedin and district Chhatra League general secretary Parvej Karim Babu, among others, spoke on the occasion. All the speaker urged people to re-elect Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister by casting their votes again in favour of the boat symbol to carry forward the ongoing development projects without any interruption. Man held with yaba in Barishal Barishal: A joint team of Bangladesh Coastguard and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a suspected drug peddler from Chanmari area of Barishal Sadar yesterday, says a press release. The arrestee was identified as Billal Hossain, 20. Billal was carrying 82 pieces of yaba tablets, said sources. He was brought to Barishal Sadar Police Station later.