Four killed in Netrakona, Joypurhat road crashes

Four people were killed in separate road accidents in Netrakona and Joypurhat districts in past two days, reports UNB.

In Netrakona, two people were killed and another was injured when a Kishoreganj-bund bus hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw coming from opposite direction around 7:30am at Azampur in Kendua upazila, leaving two passengers of the auto-rickshaw dead on the spot and its driver injured, said Sirajul Islam, OC of Kendua Police Station.

The deceased were identified as Anju Miah, 55, of Kendua upazila and Aminul, 23, of Madan upazila.

Injured Shah Alam was taken to Kendua Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

In Joypurhat, two people were killed and three others sustained injuries in a head-on collision between a pickup and battery-run auto-rickshaw at Sorail of Kalai Upazila on Sunday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Azizar Rahman, 41, and Rowshon Ara, 44.

Medical students urged to acquire apt knowledge

Manikganj: State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malek said students of medical colleges should build themselves as the worthy citizens acquiring proper knowledge for providing healthcare services to country’s people in professional life, reports BSS.

The state minister said the government ensured all possible facilities for the students to build themselves properly. He said, “Students should read attentively to acquire knowledge which will be applicable in their practical life as well as services.”

Malek said this when he was speaking as the chief guest in the ceremonial reception of 4th batch students of Manikganj Colonel Malek Medical College on Sunday. The meeting was presided over by Prof Dr Aktaruzzaman, principal of the college.

Livestock Services Week starts

GAIBANDHA: Livestock Services Week-2018 began yesterday in the district as elsewhere in the country with a call to reach the livestock services at the doorsteps of common people, reports BSS.

The Department of Livestock Services, Gaibandha, in cooperation with district administration has taken various programmes, marking the week.

The theme of the week is ‘Barabo Pranij Amish Garbo Desh Shastha Medha Samriddhir Bangladesh’.

Livestock services camps are set up at Pearapur under Boali Union Parishad and Kachurar Khamar under Union Parishad to provide livestock services to local farmers.

Early in the morning, a colorful rally, led by deputy commissioner Gautam Chandra Pal, was brought out from the Independence Square and ended in front of Zila Shilpakala Academy after parading the main streets of the town. Later, a discussion was held at Shilpakala Academy auditorium with District Livestock Officer Dr Abdul Latif in the chair.

Saraswati Puja celebrated

JAMALPUR: The Hindu community yesterday celebrated the Swaraswati Puja amid religious fervor in the district yesterday, reports BSS.

Puja mandaps, mandirs and a large number of educational institutions have been colourfully decorated as devotees seek blessings since morning from the ‘Devi Swaraswati’, the Goddess of knowledge.

Subal Chandra Das, treasurer of Jamalpur district unit Bangladesh Puja Utjapan Parishad, said the devotees especially the students offered special prayers to seek knowledge from the Goddess Swaraswati.

Father, son held with hemp

BRAHMANBARIA: Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested a man and his son along with 224 kg of hemp at Alinagar village in Bijoynagar Upazila on Sunday evening, reports UNB.

The arrestees are Dhon Mia member, 70, and his son Sulaiman, 33, residents of the village.

Tipped off, a team of Rab-9 raided the house of Dhon and recovered the hemp worth about Tk 22.40 lakh and arrested the duo, said Ali Arshad, officer-in-charge of Bijoynagar Police Station. A case was filed.

26 held, drugs seized

DINAJPUR: Police, in special drives arrested 23 persons, including three activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and two drug traders from different areas of the district yesterday morning, reports BSS.

Law enforcers also recovered 200 bottles of Phensidyl and 600 liters of liquor during the drives. Police said they were picked up from different areas of the district.

In another drive, Dinajpur Sadar police arrested two drug traders along with 600 liters of locally made liquor from Chawlar Potti of the district town around 7am.

Several cases, including charges of subversive activities, are pending with different police stations against the arrested persons, the sources added.

Meanwhile, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in a drive detained three alleged drug traders with a private car and recovered 200 bottles of Phensidyl after searching the private car around 6am from Hili Railway Station in Hakimpur upazila.

BGB distributes blankets among destitute

OUR CORRESPONDENT, Chapainawabganj

The 59 battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) distributed blankets among cold-hit people in Bholahat upazila of the district on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Rashed Ali, commanding officer (CO) of the battalion,  distributed 320 blankets among the distressed people at Bholahat Rameswar Pilot High School premises. He urged all to help BGB in anti-drug and anti-smuggling programmes. A total of 180 men, 120 female and 20 orphans were provided with blankets.