News in brief

2 Jamaat men among 29 held 
Jhenaidah: Police in a drive arrested 29 people, including two activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, on various charges from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning from separate places of the district, reports UNB.
Additional Superintendent of Police Azbahar Ali Sheikh said police launched a drive in different areas of the district and arrested the 29, including the two Jamaat activists.
There are warrants for arrest of the two Jamaat men in some specific cases, the ASP added.
Eight gold bars recovered from Naf’s bank in Cox’s Bazar
Cox’s Bazar: Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered eight gold bars weighing 114 tolas from Myanmar Transit Ghat area of the Naf River in Teknaf upazila on Tuesday night, reports UNB.
Major Abu Rasel Siddiki, deputy commander of BGB-2, said acting on secret information, a team of the border force launched a drive in the area and recovered an abandoned packet containing eight gold bars around 8pm.
The seized eight gold bars weighing 114 tolas would be worth Tk47.88 lakh.
Man dies inhaling septic tank gas 
Nilphamari: A man died after inhaling toxic gas in a septic tank of a house at Masterpara village in Sadar upazila on Tuesday night, reports UNB.
The deceased was identified as Monir Uddin, 35, son of Mansur Ali of the village.
Manager Kebad Ali of Fire Service and Civil Defence of Sadar station said Monir died on the spot after he fell into the septic tank while opening its lid.
On information, a fire-fighting unit rushed in and recovered the body.
Schoolgirl drowns in Naogaon
NAOGAON: A schoolgirl drowned in a pond at Sadarpara village in Atrai upazila yesterday, reports BSS.
The girl was identified as Ayesa, 10, a resident of the same area.
Police said Ayesa drowned in the pond while she was taking a bath in the pond. Later, her body was recovered from the pond.
Officer-in-Charge of Atrai police Badruddoja confirmed the incident.
5 restaurants fined in Laxmipur
Laxmipur: A mobile court fined five restaurants Tk 3.5 lakh in the district town yesterday, reports BSS.
The mobile team led by executive magistrate M Nuruzzaman conducted drives in different areas of the town and fined the restaurants for manufacturing, possessing and selling foods in unhygienic and sub-standard condition.
The operation team fined Hotel Mohammadia Tk one lakh, Hotel Madina Tk one lakh while the other three restaurants were fined Tk 50 thousands each.
Man arrested with firearms, bullet 
NAOGAON: Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 in a drive arrested an illegal arms trader and recovered a foreign made pistol, three bullets and a magazine from Ganguria village under Porsha upazila yesterday, reports BSS.
The arrested was identified as Hanif, resident of the same area.
On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted the drive in the area yesterday afternoon and arrested Hanif with the arms and bullets from his residence, RAB official said.
A case was filed with Porsha police in this connection.
Sewing machines distributed 
HABIGANJ: Habiganj Zila Parishad distributed sewing machines among 30 distressed women in the district yesterday, reports BSS.
Deputy Director of Sylhet Local Government Division Motiur Rahman distributed the sewing machines as the chief guest at a simple function arranged at Zila Parishad auditorium.
Zila Parishad Administrator Dr Mushfik Hossain Chowdhury presided over the function.
The chief guest said Zila Parishad gave the sewing machines to help the women for their financial solvency.
Money distributed among Natore cultural activists
NATORE: Ministry of Cultural Affairs has distributed Tk 3,72,000 among 22 cultural activists of the district who have been facing financial hardship,  reports.
Sources at the deputy commissioner office said the grant was distributed among the insolvent cultural activists including singers, artists, dancers, drama artistes and folklorists.
Deputy Commissioner of Natore Kazi Atiur Rahman said the amount was given for minimizing the sufferings of the cultural activists and flourishing a healthy growth of culture in the district.
Rice procurement drive begins 
GAIBANDHA: Rice procurement drive of Department of Food has begun in Gaibandha Sadar upazila yesterday amid much enthusiasm to the millers, reports BSS.
The government has set a target to purchase a total of 2,553 tonnes of rice from the millers of the upazila during the current Boro season.
Sadar UNO Ashraful Momin Khan formally inaugurated the procurement drive at the godown of local supply depot of the town yesterday afternoon as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion local lawmaker asked the food officials to conduct rice procurement drive as per government guidelines rising above all kinds of criticism and irregularities. He also urged the millers to sell their rice to the local purchasing center at fair prices and sought cooperation of all to make the rice procurement drive a grand success in the upazila.
Upazila food controller M Abdus Salam, officer in charge of LSD Mamunar Rashid, and rice mills owners, including the journalists of print and electronic media were present on the occasion.

News in brief

2 Jamaat men among 29 held Jhenaidah: Police in a drive arrested 29 people, including two activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, on various charges from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning from separate places of the district, reports UNB. Additional Superintendent of Police Azbahar Ali Sheikh said police launched a drive in different areas of the district and arrested the 29, including the two Jamaat activists. There are warrants for arrest of the two Jamaat men in some specific cases, the ASP added. Eight gold bars recovered from Nafs bank in Coxs Bazar Coxs Bazar: Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered eight gold bars weighing 114 tolas from Myanmar Transit Ghat area of the Naf River in Teknaf upazila on Tuesday night, reports UNB. Major Abu Rasel Siddiki, deputy commander of BGB-2, said acting on secret information, a team of the border force launched a drive in the area and recovered an abandoned packet containing eight gold bars around 8pm. The seized eight gold bars weighing 114 tolas would be worth Tk47.88 lakh. Man dies inhaling septic tank gas Nilphamari: A man died after inhaling toxic gas in a septic tank of a house at Masterpara village in Sadar upazila on Tuesday night, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Monir Uddin, 35, son of Mansur Ali of the village. Manager Kebad Ali of Fire Service and Civil Defence of Sadar station said Monir died on the spot after he fell into the septic tank while opening its lid. On information, a fire-fighting unit rushed in and recovered the body. Schoolgirl drowns in Naogaon NAOGAON: A schoolgirl drowned in a pond at Sadarpara village in Atrai upazila yesterday, reports BSS. The girl was identified as Ayesa, 10, a resident of the same area. Police said Ayesa drowned in the pond while she was taking a bath in the pond. Later, her body was recovered from the pond. Officer-in-Charge of Atrai police Badruddoja confirmed the incident. 5 restaurants fined in Laxmipur Laxmipur: A mobile court fined five restaurants Tk 3.5 lakh in the district town yesterday, reports BSS. The mobile team led by executive magistrate M Nuruzzaman conducted drives in different areas of the town and fined the restaurants for manufacturing, possessing and selling foods in unhygienic and sub-standard condition. The operation team fined Hotel Mohammadia Tk one lakh, Hotel Madina Tk one lakh while the other three restaurants were fined Tk 50 thousands each. Man arrested with firearms, bullet NAOGAON: Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5 in a drive arrested an illegal arms trader and recovered a foreign made pistol, three bullets and a magazine from Ganguria village under Porsha upazila yesterday, reports BSS. The arrested was identified as Hanif, resident of the same area. On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted the drive in the area yesterday afternoon and arrested Hanif with the arms and bullets from his residence, RAB official said. A case was filed with Porsha police in this connection. Sewing machines distributed HABIGANJ: Habiganj Zila Parishad distributed sewing machines among 30 distressed women in the district yesterday, reports BSS. Deputy Director of Sylhet Local Government Division Motiur Rahman distributed the sewing machines as the chief guest at a simple function arranged at Zila Parishad auditorium. Zila Parishad Administrator Dr Mushfik Hossain Chowdhury presided over the function. The chief guest said Zila Parishad gave the sewing machines to help the women for their financial solvency. Money distributed among Natore cultural activists NATORE: Ministry of Cultural Affairs has distributed Tk 3,72,000 among 22 cultural activists of the district who have been facing financial hardship, reports. Sources at the deputy commissioner office said the grant was distributed among the insolvent cultural activists including singers, artists, dancers, drama artistes and folklorists. Deputy Commissioner of Natore Kazi Atiur Rahman said the amount was given for minimizing the sufferings of the cultural activists and flourishing a healthy growth of culture in the district. Rice procurement drive begins GAIBANDHA: Rice procurement drive of Department of Food has begun in Gaibandha Sadar upazila yesterday amid much enthusiasm to the millers, reports BSS. The government has set a target to purchase a total of 2,553 tonnes of rice from the millers of the upazila during the current Boro season. Sadar UNO Ashraful Momin Khan formally inaugurated the procurement drive at the godown of local supply depot of the town yesterday afternoon as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion local lawmaker asked the food officials to conduct rice procurement drive as per government guidelines rising above all kinds of criticism and irregularities. He also urged the millers to sell their rice to the local purchasing center at fair prices and sought cooperation of all to make the rice procurement drive a grand success in the upazila. Upazila food controller M Abdus Salam, officer in charge of LSD Mamunar Rashid, and rice mills owners, including the journalists of print and electronic media were present on the occasion.