Reckless sand liftingon in Jamuneswari

Our Correspondent RANGPUR, Oct 9: Sand lifting from Jamuneswari river at Chantari village under Mithapukur upazila in the district is going on unabated posing serious risk for the river bank and cultivable lands. Thousands of hectares of cultivable land and houses on the river bank are now threatened by erosion, the locals said. The sand traders are resorting to this illegal practice in collusion with some influential local political leaders and dishonest officials in the administration, it is alleged. People claimed that they lodged complaint several times with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer but no step has been taken so far in this regard. They further said that law enforcing agencies seem to be reluctant to take any action against the traders who are involved in continuous sand lifting. Some dwellers of Chantari village said hundreds of acres of land of their areas have become unfit for cultivation due to continuous sand lifting. They urged the concerned authorities to take immediate measures to stop it from Jamuneswari river. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO),Mithapukur SM Abu Horaira said they have already served a notice banning all kinds of sand lifting from the river. Stern action will be taken if any sand trader is found lifting sand, he added. BRUR admission tests registration begins BSS reports: The online registration for admission tests for the first year Honours and BBA programme for the 2011- 12 sessions at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) began from today, university officials said. "The admission seekers can register them through sending SMS using Teletalk mobile phone numbers till November 15," Director of the varsity's Public Relations, Publications and Information Department Dr Saidul Haque said. Admission tests will be held on December 2 and 1,200 students will get admission opportunity with 60 seats in each of the 20 departments under six faculties including newly launched five departments from upcoming 2011-2012 session. The newly launched five departments are Women and Gender Studies, Disaster Management, Finance and Banking, Mass Communications and Journalism and Electronics and Telecommunications, Dr Saidul Haque elaborated. The varsity authorities have advised all concerned to contact at varsity website www.brur.ac.bd for further details about the whole admission process and necessary information. The admission tests for eight departments under B-Unit comprising the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Faculty of Life and Earth Science will he held here from 9:30 am to 10:30 am on December 2. The admission seekers for four departments under C-Unit comprising the Faculty of Business Studies will appear in the admission tests from 11:30 am to 12:30 noon on the same day. Besides, admission tests for eight departments under A-Unit comprising the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Science will be held from 3pm to 4 pm at different venues in the city. After publication of written admission test results on December 8, the successful candidates will have to appear for viva- voce as per merit list serial numbers when they will be provided Choice Form and Subject Eligibility, varsity officials said.