More rice mill-chatal closed in Kurigram Rice price increased

Khandaker Mahfuz Tutor:

The price of rice has been increasing more in Kurigram. The flow of supplying rice is being limited than the demand. The supply of rice to the local market is being stopped. Due to rice supply the rice mill-chatal are to be closed one by one. At least 4 hundreds rice mill-chatal of 520 have been closed by one and half months ago. As a result, thousands of day labourer become workless. The family members of those labourers are living sub-standard life. Besides this, the price of parboiled rice is increasing in local market day by day.

While visiting some local market, daylobourer, ricksaw pullers, Umar Ali (48), Aumal Chandra (40), Mozahar (55) and Shahidul Islam (30) told that they have gradually lost their ability to bye the rice as their need to food.

Rice mill worker Abdul Hamid (38) of Munshipara under Kurigram municipality told that he has been living sub standard life with his family due to rice mill vacant. Other workers of those mills are in same condition.

President of district rice mill owner’s association, Md. Saber Hossain told that the production of paddy was bumper in last boro season. But now the rice is being sold about Taka 870 to 920 per mound. The rice is not available in local market.

The businessmen from different area of the country were bought more rice from local mill of Kurigram from the very beginning of the season. But the local miller could not able to preserve more rice due to lacking of money. They have supplied rice to the government godown which they bought. So, their godowns are empty, he added.

Md. Rafiqul Islam Shahi, owner of a mill, told that daily need of rice in his mill about 250 to 300 mounds. But the mill has closed due to poor supply of rice. Not that,at least 13 of 15 rice mill-chatals in BSIC industrial area are now closed due to poor supply of rice.

The rice merchant of Kurigram Zia bazar, Babla Ghosh told that the local rice merchants could not get rice from local mill-chatal. They are trying to stabilize market by preserving rice which they bought from Naogon,

Setabgonj, Dinajpur and other areas of the country. It is one of the causes to increasing the price of rice. The coarse rice is selling at taka 32 to 35 per kg in Kurigram.

District Food Control Officer, Abdus Salam told that the numbers of mill-chatal are closed here due to poor supply of rice. The price of rice is lightly excessive.

Information fair begins in Kurigram.

Khandaker Mahfuz Tutor:

A two day long information fair with the slogan ‘The administration bound to deliver information if people want’ has began at the premises of Kurigram municipality on September 27.

District branch of Sachetan Nagorik Committee (Sanak), Kurigram arranged the fair in observance of the international ‘Right to Information Day.’

Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram, Md. Habibur Rahman formally inaugurated the fair.

After the inaugural session, a discussion meeting was held while Md. Shahabuddin, convener of Sanak, Kurigram was in the chair. The key note paper on ‘The challenges of implementation and continuance of right to information act’ was read out by the Secretary of Kurigram press club, Ahsan Habib Nilu in the meeting. Among others, prominent journalist Mominul Islam Monzu, Executive Director of Solidarity Harun ar Rashid Lal, President of Suzan, Kurigram, Khandaker Khairul Anam, Assitt.G.S of District Shilpakala Academy, Yousuf Alamgir and Area Manager of TIB, Ashraf Mahmud spoke in the meeting.

Numbers of government and non-government organization were took part in the fair by their stall. The stall exhibits to people that how they provide service to all. Later an art exhibition on Muktijuddha and a cultural function were held on that day.

Mother lineages three babies at a time.

Abdul Wahed/Khandaker Mahfuz Tutor:
Mother lineages three baby one by one at a time which shown the whimsical play of nature. The incident took place at hardly reaching remote area Dakkhin Khauria village under Nayarhat union of Chilmari upazila in the district recently. The incident makes a fickle in the area.
According to local sources, Mosammat Beauty (18) was getting married with Yousuf Ali (24), a resident of Dakkhin Khauria village, one year ago. The poor new couple has been waiting for coming baby. On September 23 night, Beauty lineages three immature babies one by one at a time in her residence. People of the area were gathering at the house every day to visit the incident.
The three babies all are female and called by Asma, Asia and Anjuara. But baby Asia was in critical condition. Day labour Yousuf could not receive proper treatment for his baby Asia due to money. At one stage, Asia has died on Friday noon. Other babies and Mother are in well condition as well as late Asia.
Nayarhat union chairman, SM Naoshad Ali told this correspondent that he heard the news of three babies but did not visit. The babies were born with immaturity and one of them has died last Friday noon. I requested to local UP member of the ward for necessary help to the family, he added.

A protest meeting held in Kurigram Press Club

Correspondent:

A protest meeting was held in Kurigram Press Club demanding exemplary punishment of assaulter of journalist Mahabur Rahman Habu on September 27.

At Jahaj Company More area of Rangpur town at about 8.00 pm on Saturday, an unidentified assailant stabbed the journalist Mahabur Rahman Habu, Rangpur Correspondent of the Bengali daily ‘Jugantor’. The journalist came under attacked when he was coming into his office (Jugantor Beuro office) at the area from local press club. Then he was admitted in Good Health Care Centre (a private Hospital).

It was learnt that few days ago the journalist reported in the daily Jugantor on an incident about tender manipulation of Roads and Highways Department, Rangpur involving some local ruling party activists.

In this connection Kurigram Press Club arranged a protest meeting in its conference room at 11.30 am while the press club president Shafi Khan presided over the meeting. Among others, Vice-president Fazley Elahi Shawpon (Ittefaq correspondent), Generel Secretary Ahsan Habib Nilu (Jugantor and BTV correspondent), Treasurer Raju Mostafij (Janakantha), Cultural Secretary Abdul Khaleque Faruk (Kaler Kantha correspondent) and Editor of local daily ‘Jago Bahey’ spoke in the meeting. Numbers of local journalists attended in the meeting.They strongly demanded to the administration to arrest and punish exemplary to the unidentified assailant with his leaders. Besides, they demanded to stop harassment on journalists.

A protest meeting held in Kurigram Press Club

Correspondent:

A protest meeting was held in Kurigram Press Club demanding exemplary punishment of assaulter of journalist Mahabur Rahman Habu on September 27.

At Jahaj Company More area of Rangpur town at about 8.00 pm on Saturday, an unidentified assailant stabbed the journalist Mahabur Rahman Habu, Rangpur Correspondent of the Bengali daily ‘Jugantor’. The journalist came under attacked when he was coming into his office (Jugantor Beuro office) at the area from local press club. Then he was admitted in Good Health Care Centre (a private Hospital).

It was learnt that few days ago the journalist reported in the daily Jugantor on an incident about tender manipulation of Roads and Highways Department, Rangpur involving some local ruling party activists.

In this connection Kurigram Press Club arranged a protest meeting in its conference room at 11.30 am while the press club president Shafi Khan presided over the meeting. Among others, Vice-president Fazley Elahi Shawpon (Ittefaq correspondent), Generel Secretary Ahsan Habib Nilu (Jugantor and BTV correspondent), Treasurer Raju Mostafij (Janakantha), Cultural Secretary Abdul Khaleque Faruk (Kaler Kantha correspondent) and Editor of local daily ‘Jago Bahey’ spoke in the meeting. Numbers of local journalists attended in the meeting.They strongly demanded to the administration to arrest and punish exemplary to the unidentified assailant with his leaders. Besides, they demanded to stop harassment on journalists.

Chilmari Press Club provides free treatment to flood-hit people

Correspondent:
Chilmari Press Club with the assistance of different organizations provided free medical treatments and medicines among 520 people in remote char areas under Chilmari upazila in Kurigram on September 25.
A medical team with five members was comprised Dr ASM Ferdous of Chilmari Upazila Health Complex, Paramedic of RDRS Ms. Marilyn Hembrom, Nursing Supervisor of Chilmari Upazila Health Complex Mujibur Rahman, Medical Assistant Amrita Lal Halder of Tdh and Senior Medical Assistant Jalal Uddin provided the services.
The Chilmari Upazila Health Complex, upazila administration, RDRS, Tdh, Suhrid Somabesh, KDAB, BRAC, Friendship and Uddipon assisted in arranging medical camps at remote Dakshin Khauria, Khauria School and Dakkhin Feichkar Char on the Brahmaputra bed.

Secretary of Chilmari Press Club Nurul Amin Sarker, journalists Nazmul Huda Parvez and Saorat Hossain Sohel, Lecturers Mizanur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman Zia, CLP officials Shahanul Islam and Tarikul Islam, Abdus Sattar of Uddipon and National Service Workers Rezaul Alam and Anwarul Islam were directly assisted the programme.

Chilmari UNO Enamul Haque, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Motassim Billah Azad, Noyarhat union chairman SM Nowshad Ali Sarker also extended all-out cooperation in arranging and providing the free medical treatments.
Chilmari Upazila Health Complex, ten medical stores and pharmacies, and other organizations assisted with medicines worth Taka 50,000 those were distributed among the flood-hit char people of all ages to check breakout of the post-flood related various diseases.

Save a college student Farjana Siddika

ABDUL WAHED:

An Honours second year student of the Department of Islamic History of Rangpur Carmichel Government College Farjana Siddika Momi, 20, is suffering from Lupus Nephritis virus of kidney related diseases. She has under treatment in SLE unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College. Her two kidneys have been affected with the virus. Water is being storage in her hole body and blood is being out through her urinary tub. The unit experts advised her that about twenty five lakh taka are being needed for batter treatment to cure her. At first she took treatment in Rangpur Medical College Hospital and later Dhaka Ibnesina Hospital. In this time about five lakh taka have already been used in the treatment. Now there is no money of her mother for her treatment. Her mother Nazma Begum, inhabitant of Chilari upazila of the district, has requested to all kind hearted persons to send their help to Nazma Begum, Saving Account No.3114/6, Sonali Bank, Chilmari Branch, Kurigram. Contact mail- 01745-522083.

Two police constables killed in a road accident in Kurigram

Khandaker Mahfuz Tutor:

Two police constables were killed in a road accident on Kurigram-Rangpur highway in front of Sadar Upazila Parishad gate of Kurigram district on September 17.

The deceased were identified as one police constable Abdul Baten (35) (police badge no. 84) who was a motor-driver of Kurigram police lines and his home district is Shirajganj and another police constable was identified as Jahangir Alam (36) (police badge No. 186), of Kurigram police lines and his home district is Lalmonir Hat.

According to police and local sources, at about 10.15 am on the day a Dhaka-bound day-coach (named Haque Special) hit a running motor bike from behind at the area while the bike was taking turn to another side road. The two police men were going to the Trimohani Bazar near the Sadar Upazila Parishad with driving the motor bike. The bike driver Abdul Baten died on the spot, but his associate Jahangir Alam was injured seriously. Local people took away Jahangir to Kurigram Sadar Hospital in a critical condition.

Residential Medical Officer (RMO) of the hospital Dr. Krishna Kumar Pal told that the police Jahangir Alom injured condition was so much critical. He was rushed to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, but he died on the way to RMCH.

After accident the day-coach flied away from the spot. On getting information the thana police rushed to the spot and recovered the dead body and communicated with highway police. Later the coach with driver Shafiqul Islam (35) was held from Teesta Bridge area in Lalmonirhat district at about 10.45 am.

A preparation of autopsy of the deceased was going on till filling the report. A process of filling case was going on with Kurigram police station in this connection.

Training on rice seed production and storage held

Khandaker Mahfuz Tutor:

A day long training on ‘flood tolerant rice quality seed production and storage’ was held at Solidarity training centre in Kurigram on September 16.

The programme was arranged by the Solidarity-STRASA (Stress Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia) Project with cordial assistance of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

A total of 25 farmers of Ghogadaha, Holokhana and Belgacha union under Kurigram Sadar and Gharialdanga union under Rajarhat upazila of the district, participated in the training.

Among others, Assistant Manager (social science division) of IRRI-Philippines Ms. Gina E Zarsodias, Country Manager of IRRI-Bangladesh Dr. M A Bari, Executive Director of Solidarity S M Harun ar Rashid Lal, Principal Investigator of Solidarity- STRASA project, Sheikh Humaun Kabir Surjo, Ataur Rahman and Jayonto Roy addressed the training.

The project has a plan to train-up at least 3 thousand farmers of 88 villages of 37 unions in the district. At least 2 thousand 5 hundred farmers have already been cultivated 550 acres land of T-Aman flood tolerant rice under this project. The flood tolerant varieties of rice are BRRI-51, BRRI-52, IR-64 and Samba Masuri.

Flood situation by Brahmaputra River is unchanged in Kurigram

Khandaker Mahfuz Tutor:

The Flood situation has been unchanged by Brahmaputra River at Chilmari, Raumari and Rajibpur upazilas of the district.

The 1,200-meter of town protection embankment of Rajibpur upazila fully washed away in the flood on September 16. A total of 3,400 hectares land of T-Aman paddy have been inundated in the district, according to agriculture office. But local sources said the inundated measure of the land may be up.

The river Brahmaputra was flowing 21-cm above danger mark at dawn on September 16 while local water development board (WDB) marked the level as 24.21-meter in Chilmari point.

According to UP chairmen and administration sources, about 30 thousand people are facing directly the recent flood in three upazilas where more than 85 thousand people have been victimized by flood-hits of the last two times. But in this period, about eight thousand people of two thousand families at Chilmari upazila, about nine thousands people of two thousand families of Raumari upazila and 13 thousand people of 2,600 families of Rajibpur upazila have been marooned by the flood. Most of people are passing their sub-standard life. Local administrations have prayed necessary supports for the flood victims. But no government help has placed to the victims.

Chilmari UP Chairman Md. Bakta Jaman told that about eight thousand people of 25 shoals and low-land areas of Chilmari, Nayarhat and Austamir Char unions under Chilmari upazila have been inundated in the recent flood. The people could not get any help during the flood. Vast tract of T-Aman plants have inundated in the flood.

Chilmari Upazila Agriculture Officer Julfikar Haidar told that a total of 1,660 hectares of crop lands including ten hectares of vegetables have already been gone under water in the upazila. “We shall advise the farmers to replant seedlings of Nabi variety of Aman paddy when the water will go down under danger level in the river”, he added.

Rajibpur UNO Md. Abdul Kader told that about 13,000 people are marooned by the flood and 1,200-meter of town protection embankment of Rajibpur has already washed away with the flood. The upazila town is threatened by the flood and erosion. A letter for necessary help was sent

Deputy Director of local Department of Agriculture Extension D. Kalipada Debnath told that a total of 3,400 hectares of crop land has been gone under water during the recent flood. Some Aman plants have kept ready in our different upazila agriculture campuses. The plants could be distributed in need of flood victim farmers.

Erosion by the Teesta has taken a serious turn at Rajarhat.

ABDUL WAHED

Erosion by the river Teesta has taken a serious turn in three unions under Rajarhat upazila of the district due to down fall water from the danger level in the river. The river has washed away about 165 acres of land and dwells 230 families within a week. The poor victims would not enjoy the great Eid festival in this term.

According to chairmen and local sources, 25 families and 25 acres of crop land at Som Naraian village under Nagimkhan union, 75 families and 75 acres of crop land at Burir Hat village under Gharial Danga union and 130 families and 65 acres of crop land at Hangshadhar, Tayab Kha and Chatura villages under Biddanada union have been washed away by the river. Of them, about 60 families have lost their houses who are leading their sub-standard live on the nearest road and high land. Other victims have shifted their houses in the nearest safer place. Local administration gave 15 metric tons of rice and cash 70 thousand taka to the victims recently.

Erosion victims of Chatura village Bhupen Chandra and Lankeshwar told that the river took wash away to dwells of about 100 families at Chatura village within a week. Most of us could not save houses and are passing sub-standard live on the road side.

“There is no money of purchasing something for our families. We have received only 20 kg of rice as per family by the upazila administration. The amount is not sufficient for us. We could not entertain in coming Eid festival due to fund”, they said.

Najimkhan UP Chairman Md. Jamal Uddin told this correspondent that erosion is going on in my area (Som Naraian village). But I have not got allotment for the victims before Eid.

Gharial Danga UP Chairman Md. Abdul Kuddus told this Correspondent that the erosion has taken a serious turn in Burir Hast area. About 75 families have lost their houses. In the Eid period I can not giving relief them. Some of them received 20 kg of rice from government relief. I have demanded for government help to the administration. But no help has received for the Eid festival.

Rajarhat UNO Md. Rahenul Islam told this correspondent that erosion by the river Teesta is going on in various points under Rajarhat upazila. About 300 families have lost their dwells. Of them 60 families have completely lost their houses and have taken shelter on road side. Others victims have shifted their houses in safer place. “We have distributed 15 metric tons of rice and cash 70 thousand taka among the victims”, he added.

CS Kurigram

CS Kurigram

In this video clip Kurigram, a city of Bangladesh, people are protesting against the corruption in recruitment procedures in the Civil Surgeon office.

Chandamary mosque of Moghal reign at Kurigram

ABDUL WAHED:

Chandamary mosque of Moghal reign is the one of ancient mosque of Kurigram. The plaque of architecture art of the mosque is being ruin due to high salinity and lack of proper maintenance.

The mosque is situated at Chandamary (Mandol Para) village of Chakirpasha union under Rajarhat upazila of the district. None knows the accurate foundation year of the mosque. Local people assumed it is the oldest mosque of about five hundred years. There are many similarities of it with the building structure and architecture design of Moghal reign. Some local historians found it’s similar with the architecture of Sultany reign. When and who or whom have built the mosque, none can said.

It is mentioned that there is no the department of Archaeology in the district. If the department visits the mosque for experiment but its foundation year or age may be known.

During a visit to the site, local people Abdul zalil Sarker, 53, and President of the mosque committee Jakir Hossen Chawdhury told The Daily Star that their passing fourth generations could not insure the age of the mosque. "It may be made in the 16th and 17th century. There is some similarities of it with the structure of Atia mosque (1609 AD) at Tangail", the local historian said. But most of the local people expressed their opinions to the mosque as the Moghal reign's mosque.

Local sources said there are 52 decimals of land under the mosque is established on only five decimals of land. The height of the mosque is 45 ©. There are three big size dome (hemispherical roof on the mosque), four middle size miners in four corners on the mosque and 24 small gambuds (dome) around on the mosque. Nine of small gambuds (dome) have already been damaged.

Its ground space is 46 ©×25 © in out side and 42 ©×21© in inside where wall-fitness is about 4 © around the mosque. There are three doors of 5.5 ©×2.5 © size (short height) in the east side, two windows of 5.25 ©×2.5 © size in north and the south sides and ten wall set book-selves of 1.5 © ×1 © size in inner side of the mosque.

The mosque has made with flat size tally bricks where one kind of the pest (named Bhishkas) has been used as alternative of cement. The fitness of whole wall, roof and domes are 4 ©(fit).

For a long time in having careless, a creak in a middle gambud (dome) was found before the last three years. Being unfit the middle gambud, the mosque committee cut about ¹/₂ © (fit) around the gambud and repaired it in previous same manner. They also made tin-shed veranda in its front side before 15 years.

The local people demand that the ancient mosque should be taken under the Department of Archaeology and should be step to preserve the mosque. Everyday five time prayers are held. Sometimes visitors came here to observe the ancient architecture of the mosque.

'Methojan', a cultural organization for young generation

ABDUL WAHED:

There are numbers of only oral folk songs these are not brought in written papers. To strong our Bengali culture 'Methojan' is finding these for preservation.

'Methojan', a cultural organization for young generation, was set up formally in Kurigram town on November 13, 2008 on the theme of 'Banglar gun, Bangalir gun (Bangladeshi song, Bangali's song)'. A committee of nine members including President Yousuf Alamgir, who is a journalist and cultural personalist, has been conducting the Methojan. They have been able to through out the activity into another districts. Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Gaibandha committee already have been formed and are working with Methojan.

Members of Methojan committee talked with The Kurigram news. They said about their Methojan, human mind is changeable. So, the field of human's test, mind, thinking and exercise has been already changed in the world. New ages are being known with modern information technology. The technology is shaking human minds effectively. As a result, acceptances of human are being rapidly changed. The 'Methojan' is only supporting a good change of the technology.

They said it is not an emotion of 'Methojan' on Bangladeshi songs or Bengali's songs. But it is a shinning observation to the Bengali songs, is spreading its field. In the cultural field, various events have been exercising so long. 'Methojan' wants to kept continue the exercise to strong our culture.

Culture is not a static matter it's an exceptional power in the human society. 'Methojan' wants to extend it keeping unchanged to main elements of Bengali culture.

In the mean time 'Methojan' has fixed some assignments on collection different folk songs from the rout level. Some of these have been already collected. They are trying to present these in different functions through the modern musical instruments along with folk related musical instruments. Of the folk musical instruments, aar-bashi (flout), dotara, bangla-dhol (dram), mondira, harmonium, dugi, tabola, shanay and khanjhori are mentionable here.

The 'Methojan' has completed about 50 programs on their collections through its young artists in Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonir Hat, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts. Ten activists in Lalmonirhat, ten activists in Gaibandha, 15 activist in Rangpur and 15 activists in Kurigram are contributing to collect the folks. In the collection, song "Dhik... Dhik...Dhik... mohishal, Oho...mohishal...re........", "Kisher mor radhon, Kisher mor baron........" and " O... re... garial bandhu....'' are mentioned here.

They said there are no entrance of all here except young singer artists. Because' there is no schooling system for new comers. Only young singers may exercise the folk songs.

President of the organization (Methojan) Yousuf Alamgir said to The Kurigram news, "We are trying to present only oral folk and old ages' folk songs through using folk instruments including modern technology by our artists. Works of a new album with collected folk songs is going on. We expect it could be completed within short times and may be brought in market".

Jharna Memorial School: It is a sparking light in the dark

ABDUL WAHED:

Jharna Memorial School. It is a non-government residential learning center, which is situated in the border village West Rumkhana under Nageswari upazila of the district. The institution so that is a sparking light in the dark in education sector here.

The school was set up there in 2002. Some students of other upazilas are learning education beside local students. The students are becoming talent and all squares through residential teaching. They are being talented on sports and creative activates in parallel of their lessons. In the average result of school scholarship examinations in the last some sessions, about 95 percentage of participating students obtained scholarship. The feature and image of the all areas are being changed through the education activity.

Rumkhana is a border adjacent village at Nageswari upazila in 46 kilometers far from Kurigram town. In the village in 2002, Afsar ali and his wife Jharna Begam arranged of founding a primary school. But a pathetic incident was that Jharna Begam died on the inauguration day of the school. Later the name of the school was decided as Jharna Memorial School. The construction of school has been made fully with tin-shed on two acres of land. There are 12 residential tin-shed houses except classrooms. Where there are separate residential houses for boys and girls students.

One of the main disciplines is the students could not learn in any tuition or coaching centre. The students come in the school in the early morning and back their houses afternoon after completing their lesson in school. There are arrangement of sports and cultural exercise for students. The School obtained the top awarded as top school in 'Mathematics Olympiad' in 2006. The 14 teachers taught 250 students in all times there.

The founder Headmaster of the school told this correspondent that the school has been set up with all supports of my family and mine. The school is my dream and desire. The children will be measured properly this is my hope. Model classes of revolt poet Kazi Nazrul Islam have been started as their special class. I think of constructing a separate bhaban for it.

Spenditure in learning for students are limited as rural area. He wants to establish as a model school with the help of all in our country, he added.