News In Brief

Wild elephants damage houses, crops in Jamalpur
JAMALPUR: A herd of wild elephants from India damaged houses, crops and paddy fields at Makhanerchar village under Dewanganj upazila of the district on Friday. Local people said the wild elephants entered the village under Dangdhara union at about 11pm.During the attack, the elephants damaged 13 houses belong to Jahidul, Billal, Saidur, Anwar Hossain, Zahurul Islam and Shafiqul and also damaged wheat and vegetable fields. The herd also ate up paddy stored at homes of the villagers. Abdur Rashid Mandol, chairman of Dangdhara Union Parishad, said the elephants left the area at about 3am today. He also distributed blankets and rice among the victim villagers. Villager Nuruzzaman said the wild elephants damaged his crop field, reports BSS.
Man chopped to death in Narail
Narail: A man was chopped to death over a land dispute at Kalinagar village in Kalia Upazila here on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Firoj Bhuyan, 55, of the village. Local sources said during arbitration over a disputed land Alomgir chopped Firoj and injured him seriously with sharp weapon. Locals admitted him to Kalia upazila health complex and later, shifted to Khulna Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Sub inspector of Naragati Police Station Sheikh Saiful confirmed the incident. A case was filed with the thana in this connection, reports BSS.
2 meat sellers fined in Meherpur
Meherpur Correspondent
A mobile court here on Saturday fined two meat sellers Taka 40,000 for selling dead cow’s meat in the market. The court gave the penalty to Israil Hossain and Mintu Ahmed, both meat traders. Police said being informed, a team of police force led by sub inspector Kamal Hossain of sadar thana raided the market and arrested them at 11 am. Later, assistant commissioner of mobile court Saem Monaem Majumdar fined them at noon.
Inter-school debate competition held in Barisal
Barisal Correspondent
The Barisal divisional Inter-School Debate Competition ‘Bitarka Bikash 2013’ among the students and teachers held on Saturday stressing on practicing debate for freedom of mankind from ignorance and make the students and teachers inspired to flourish their merits. The competition styled as ‘ searching freedom of mankind under the light of reason’ held at Begum Sufia Kamal Brac Learning Center in the city. Teacher’s team of Zamena Khatun Secondary School of Babuganj Barisal telling in favour of the topic ‘urban culture is a threat for rural culture’ defeated the against team of Chhoto Beghai Secondary School of Patuakahali. On other hand students team of Chhitka Mohsin Bidyaloy of Baufal Patuakhali telling against the topic ‘role of traffic police is the
key to resolve traffic jam’ defeated the team of Khanpur Model Secondary School of Babuganj Barisal.
Protest meeting against attacks on minorities held
Netrakona: Speakers at a “protest meeting” against attacks on religious minority people across the country held on Netrakona central Shaheed minar premises here on Saturday. District unit of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad (HBCOP) organized the meeting for denouncing the incidents of torching and vandalizing the houses of the minority communities people and carrying out repression on them in different parts of the county, the organization sources said. Chaired by president of HBCOP district unit Advocate Sitangshu Bikash Acharya, the meeting was addressed, among others, by mayor of the municipality Proshanta Ray, president of district Puja celebration committee Nirmol Kumar Das, district joint secretary of Awami League Nazrul Islam Khan and president of district Udichi Shilpi Gushthi Mustafijur Rahman. The speakers demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers. They also drew the attention of the government to ensure security of the minorities and give compensation to the affected familie reports BSS.