News In Brief

Mannan visits flood-hit areas in Sunamganj
Sylhet Correspondent
State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan visited some flood-affected areas in Sunamganj on Sunday. He observed that many farmers in Haor areas are facing food scarcity due to recent flash flood. About 150,000 hectare paddy fields in the Haor and low-lying areas of Sunamganj have been inundated by the flash flood The government would take steps to provide relief to the affected people, he assured while speaking at a special meeting of the law and order at the district administration auditorium on Sunday. He added that allocations for social safety net programmes, already being implemented in the flood-affected areas, would be increased while some steps for the rehabilitation of the farmers had also been taken. Mannan also noted that he would advocate for exempting the affected farmers from loan repayment. MP of Sunamganj 1 constituency Moazzem Hossain Ratan and Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam were also present at the meeting. About 150,000 hectare paddy fields in the Haor and low-lying areas of Sunamganj have been inundated by the flash flood, prompted by heavy rainfall in the Meghalaya hills in India.
Learners urged to equip with time befitting technical edn
Gaibandha: Speakers at a function here urged the learners to equip themselves with the time befitting technical and vocational education to make Bangladesh as a happy and prosperous modern country. “In this context, the 4-year course on diploma in livestock can play important role to expand technical education to the learners of the country and help them turn into skilled human resources as well”, they said. They made the comments while addressing a freshers’ reception function for the first batch learners of Gaibandha Institute of Livestock Science and Technology (GILST) organized by Bangladesh Diploma Livestock Association (BDLA) at the auditorium of GILST here on Saturday afternoon. Director General (DG) of directorate of livestock services (DLS) Dr. M. Aynul Haque addressed the function as the chief guest and deputy director of DLS, Rangpur division Dr. M. Mahbubur Rahman and project director of ILST Dr. Muhammad Haider Ali were present at the event as the special guests. With principal of GILST M. Abdul Mannan in the chair, the function was also addressed among others by district livestock officer Dr. Abdul Latif, and general secretary of central committee of BDLA SM Saiful Matin Tipu, reports BSS.
2 robbers held with firearms in C’nawabganj
CHAPAINAWABGANJ:Police arrested two suspected robbers along with firearms from Ekhlaspur in Shibganj upazila on Monday evening. Acting on secret information, police conducted a drive around 7:30pm and arrested Abdul Wahab, 22, and Habib Ali, 19, while they were preparing for committing robberies in the area, said Shahidul Islam, a sub-inspector of Shibganj Police Station. Police recovered a pistol, one shooter gun, one magazine and seven bullets from their possession, the SI added, reports UNB.
4 shops burnt in Thakurgaon fire
THAKURGAON: Four shops were gutted in a fire at a market in the district town on Monday evening. Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Thakurgaon fire service, said the fire originated from an electric short-circuit at ‘Laboni Aluminum’ of the crockeries market adjacent to Chowrasta around 6:30pm, and it soon engulfed the adjoining three shops. On information, two units of firefighters rushed in and doused the blaze, reports UNB.