Robbery at journalist's house in Lakshmipur

January 18, 2019

Lakshmipur:

A theft occurred at the house of journalist Kazi Makshudul Haque in Lakshmipur municipal area.

The incident took place at a house adjacent to Happy Cinema Hall in Ward No. 6 of the Municipal Council at around 8 pm on Friday (January 18).

That night, Lakshmipur Additional Superintendent of Police Reazul Kabir, Press Club President Kamal Uddin Howlader, City Police Outpost In-charge Md. Solaiman and members of the Detective Police visited the scene.

Journalist Maksud's wife, Assistant Engineer Fatematujjuhura of the Ramgati Upazila Public Health Department, said that the thieves broke the iron window of the house and entered the house. The thieves took away a laptop, a mobile set, 5 lakh taka in cash and 8 bhoris of gold ornaments.

Fatematuzzhuura also said that none of them were at home at the time of the incident.

Lakshmipur city police outpost in-charge Md. Solaiman said efforts are underway to arrest those involved in the incident.

Youth arrested with Yaba in Lakshmipur

January 18, 2019

Lakshmipur:

The Detective Branch (DB) has arrested a young man named Md. Zahir with 900 pieces of Yaba in Lakshmipur.

He was arrested from the Banchanagar area of Ward No. 5 of Lakshmipur Municipality at around 8 pm on Friday (January 18).

Laxmipur Detective Branch (DB) OC Moktar Hossain said that the arrested Zahir is a resident of Banchanagar area. He is an identified drug dealer. There are three cases against him under the Narcotics Act. He was arrested with 900 pieces of Yaba in a raid on Friday night based on a secret tip-off.

Worker killed in pickup van crash in Lakshmipur

January 18, 2019

Lakshmipur:

A sand worker named Md. Idris Mia (35) was killed after being run over by a pickup van in Laxmipur.

The accident occurred on the Lakshmipur-Majuchoudhurir Hat road on Thursday afternoon (January 17). Idris is the son of Abdul Matin of Shakchar village in Sadar upazila.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Model Police Station Lokman Hossain told Banglanews that Idris was picking up sand in a pickup van on that road at noon. At that time, another freight pickup van ran over him from behind. He was seriously injured. He was immediately rescued by locals and taken to Sadar Hospital, where he died.

Fish killed by poisoning at Kamalnagar farm

January 18, 2019

Lakshmipur:
An allegation has been made that fish were killed by pouring poison into a fish farm in Char Lorench village of Kamalnagar upazila of Lakshmipur. Farmer Md. Shah Alam has claimed that about 2.5 lakh taka has been lost due to this. The incident took place on Wednesday (January 16) morning. Upazila Fisheries Officer Abdul Quddus and police from Hazirhat Investigation Center visited the scene.
Locals said that Md. Shah Alam (55), son of Haji Sultan Ahmed of Lorench village in Char Lorench union of the upazila, leased 5 acres of land from Md. Sekantor of Hazirhat union and cultivated various species of domestic fish on it. He spent at least 2 lakh taka including fish and feed. He could have sold the fish for 3 lakh taka.
Fish farmer Shah Alam alleged that miscreants poured poison into the fish farm sometime on Tuesday night due to a past enmity. He went to the farm on Wednesday morning and saw the dead fish floating on the water.
SI Md. Abul Kalam Azad of Hazirhat Investigation Center said, "I went to the spot after receiving the news and saw the dead fish, but how it died cannot be said without the forensic examination report. Legal action will be taken if a written complaint is received, he said.

Primary teacher recruitment exam begins on March 15

January 18, 2019

The written examination for the recruitment of assistant teachers in government primary schools will begin from March 15. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has decided in this regard. The decision was taken at a meeting of the ministry on Tuesday (January 15).

The ministry has announced that radical changes have been made to the examination system this time.

According to sources from the Department of Primary Education (DPE), a record number of candidates applied for the recruitment of assistant teachers in government primary schools in 2018 compared to other times. More than 2.4 million applications were submitted online from August 1 to August 30 last year.

Of the applications, 452,760 people applied in Dhaka division, 382,335 in Chittagong division, 362,925 in Rajshahi division, 248,730 in Khulna division, 255,827 in Barisal division, 120,623 in Sylhet division, 294,368 in Rangpur division and 282,437 in Mymensingh division.

Officials of the Department of Primary Education said that about 1.2 million candidates applied for the last recruitment. Accordingly, the number of candidates who applied has doubled this time. In the last recruitment, the number of examination centers across the country was 3,662. This time, the number of centers has been increased due to the double number of candidates. The ministry may prepare more than 20 sets of questions to conduct the examination smoothly.

A source in the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said that the DPE leads the preparation of questions for the recruitment exam, including conducting the exam. But the ministry will now determine the question selection and seating arrangement to bring in more stringent measures to prevent question paper leaks and organize the exam in a fair manner.

The question paper of the recruitment exam will be prepared digitally. The exam schedule, OMR form design and evaluation, and the method of result publication have been decided after a meeting with BUET. This time too, the exam will be conducted at both written and oral levels as before. According to the previous rules, the written exam of MCQ system will carry 80 marks and the viva will carry 20 marks.

It is known that currently there are about 64,820 government primary schools across the country. Of these, about 12,000 assistant teachers are vacant. For this reason, it was decided to recruit another 12,000 assistant teachers. The recruitment notice was published following the old recruitment rules. In light of this, 60 percent quota of female applicants are required to have HSC or equivalent pass and 40 percent quota of graduation or equivalent pass for males.

Candidates can download the admit card from the website dpe.teletalk.com.bd. Instructions for filling the OMR sheet and other information related to the exam can be found on the website (www.dpe.gov.bd).

42,000 electricity poles destroyed in Kamalnagar

January 18, 2019

Amjad Hossain Amu, Lakshmipur: 42,000 meters of current nets seized in a Coast Guard operation in Kamalnagar, Lakshmipur have been destroyed. Earlier, the nets were seized in a drive in the Meghna River from Monday to Tuesday.

A fake fire was set on the Char Jagabandhu Primary School grounds of the upazila on Tuesday (January 15) afternoon. Kamalnagar UNO Md. Imtiaz Hossain, Fisheries Officer A. Kuddus and Coast Guard Upazila CC Md. Rezaul Karim, Kamalnagar Police Station (OC) Md. Iqbal Hossain, UP Chairman Abul Khair, among others, were present at the time.

Upazila Fisheries Officer A. Kuddus said that catching, selling, transporting and storing small hilsa fry under 10 inches in size from November 1 to June 30 is a punishable offense.

Upazila Coast Guard Officer (CC) Md. Rezaul said that about 42,000 meters of illegal current nets were seized in a two-day raid.

AL forms for reserved women seats begin to be sold

January 18, 2019

Dhaka:

The Awami League has started distributing nomination forms for reserved seats for women in the 11th National Parliament election. Interested women leaders have flocked to the Awami League President's office in Dhanmondi in the capital to receive nominations from the party, which has returned to power for a third consecutive term.

The party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader officially inaugurated the nomination form distribution program at 10 am on Tuesday (January 15). Nomination forms are being distributed from two booths.

Nomination forms are being distributed from one booth for Dhaka, Rajshahi, Barisal and Mymensingh divisions and from another booth for Chittagong, Rangpur, Khulna and Sylhet divisions.

The first person to buy the nomination form was the general secretary of the Dhaka South Metropolitan Committee of the Jubo Mohila League.

Candidates who bought nomination forms have faith in getting the party's nomination. Mahmuda Begum Krik, General Secretary of the Women's Awami League, said, "I am very hopeful of getting the party's nomination as a reserved seat woman MP in the 11th National Parliament. I have been working with the common people and party leaders and activists for a long time. I hope the party will appreciate my work."

Meanwhile, Nazma Akhter, president of the central committee of the Jubo Mahila League, said after collecting the nomination forms, "I am very optimistic about getting the nomination. Still, I will accept whatever decision the party makes. If I get the opportunity, I will work for women's rights."

Arifuzzaman Mia Tutul, a member of the nomination form sales committee and co-secretary of the Awami League central sub-committee, said that the process of selling nomination forms will continue until Friday (January 18). The party has a rally on the next day, Saturday (January 19). Even then, nomination forms will be sold if necessary.

‘"In addition, nomination forms will be sold every day from 10 am to 4 pm. However, if there is a large crowd of aspirants, the time may be extended," he said.

There are 50 reserved seats for women in the National Parliament. The Election Commission (EC) will announce the schedule for the election of these 50 people's representatives in the 11th National Parliament on February 17.

EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said that before announcing the schedule, the EC will write to political parties asking them whether they will vote individually or in alliance. The parties will have to inform their decision on this by January 30.

After that, the EC will prepare the voter list on February 12. And the schedule will be announced on February 17. The schedule will indicate the last date for filing nomination papers, selection of nomination papers and withdrawal of candidacy.

BMGTA leaders pay courtesy call on Education Minister and Deputy Minister

January 18, 2019

Leaders of the Bangladesh Madrasa General Teachers Association (BMGTA) paid a courtesy call on Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and Deputy Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel. They paid a courtesy call on the Education Minister and Deputy Minister separately on Monday (January 14). The teacher leaders greeted the two with flowers.

Bangladesh Madrasa General Teachers Association Central Committee President Md. Harun Or Rashid led the meeting, which was also attended by the organization's Secretary General Zahir Uddin Howlader, Senior Vice President Sultan Mahmud, Fazlul Bari Belal, Senior Joint Secretary General Md. Shanto Islam, Senior Organizing Secretary Md. Delwar Hossain, Office Secretary Mehedi Hasan Sarkar and Finance Secretary Md. Khorshed.

Education Minister orders closure of coaching business

January 18, 2019

Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni has ordered to change the curriculum of textbooks, including stopping the coaching business, preventing question leaks, collecting additional money from educational institutions, and making education administration more effective. The minister gave these instructions to the officials at a meeting to review the overall activities with the eight wing heads of the secondary and higher divisions of the Ministry of Education at the Secretariat on Monday (January 14). Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel was present at the time.

Several officials present at the meeting said that the new education minister held a meeting with the wing heads of the secondary and higher education departments of the education ministry for the first time on Monday after taking office. In the meeting, the wing heads highlighted all the achievements and successes of the last 10 years. Along with this, the existing problems were also mentioned. The meeting lasted from 11 am to 1:30 pm in the meeting room of the education ministry. The meeting was attended by heads and officials of the government-private school branches, two branches of the college branch, universities, development, administration, planning wings.

Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, who was present at the meeting, told reporters, "We believe in the continuity of development, so the trend of all developments in the education sector in the past will be maintained. We have been instructed to solve the existing problems quickly. We have also been instructed to be aware of our sense of responsibility."

Officials said that currently preventing the leakage of public examination question papers is a big challenge for the Ministry of Education. New steps have been asked to be taken in this regard. Extra money is being collected in various fields including admissions and form filling in various educational institutions. New steps have been asked to be taken to stop this quickly. The Education Minister has directed to work to make the education administration more effective in managing the education sector, stop the violence of the coaching business and formulate a modern curriculum. In addition, there was a discussion on implementing the Education Act, which has been stalled for a long time. The wing heads commented that if the Education Act is implemented, it will be possible to eliminate many existing problems.

Secondary and Higher Education Department Secretary Md. Sohrab Hossain told reporters that the overall activities of the Ministry of Education were presented to the minister. Along with this, current crises including question paper leaks were also discussed. The Education Minister has ordered to quickly alleviate these problems and make the education administration more effective.

The secretary said, "There has been a discussion about changing the curriculum of textbooks for our children. Therefore, a new curriculum has been asked to be created. Additional money is being collected in the name of various sectors of educational institutions. We have also discussed how it can be brought to a certain level."

Schedule of reserved seats on February 17

January 18, 2019

Dhaka: The schedule for reserved seats in the National Parliament will be announced on February 17, said Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed.

He made this announcement at a press conference held at the Media Center of the Election Building on Monday (January 14).

Helaluddin Ahmed said, according to Article 65(3) of the Constitution, 50 seats have been set aside for reserved seats for women. We will inform those who have political parties by letter. They will send a letter to inform us whether they will form an alliance with any other political party for the election of women's seats. And those who are independent candidates, they must inform us by January 30 whether they will stand alone or in an alliance.

He said, the Election Commission has instructed, when we know by January 30 how they will conduct the elections, then we will prepare the voter list on February 12. The schedule will be announced on February 17. The detailed schedule will include the last date for filing nomination papers, selection of nomination papers and withdrawal of candidacy.