The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Secretary of Social Welfare Ministry M A Hai Hawlader on Saturday said the desired goal of the country could not be achieved without involving the disabled population in the mainstream of development.

"The present government has undertaken a number of steps for the development of the disabled people in Bangladesh for integrating themselves into the development process," he said at a function on the occasion of the World White Cane Day-07.

The function, jointly organized by National Disabled Development Foundation and National Disabled Forum, was held in the auditorium of the Social Service Bhaban here.

The secretary said Taka 5 crore has also been earmarked in the current budget as stipend for the education of the blind students of the country.

One third of the disabled population of the country are blind, he said and added that about 30,000 children lose eyesight every year due to malnutrition and liven of vitamin-A.

White Canes have been distributed among 200 blind students of 12 organizations at the function.

With president of the National Disabled Forum Khondaker Zahrul Alam in the chair, the function was also addressed, among others, by Managing Director of the National Disabled Development Foundation AKM Azizul Huq, Director General of Department of Social Services Hafizul Islam Miah and Assistant Secretary General of National Disabled Forum M. Khalalur Rahman.

The speakers said the government and private media could play an important role in creating awareness about the usage of white canes.

BSS, Dhaka

PRAN-RFL, the country's one of the leading beverage and allied food products manufacturing companies, on Saturday signed export contracts of 2.5 million US dollars with two leading trading companies of the Middle East.

According to a press release of PRAN-RFL, under the agreement with Saudi-based M/s Ahmed Al Wadaani Est Trading, PRAN-RFL products worth US Dollar 1.5 million would be exported to Saudi Arabia for next one year.

Through another contract signed with Qatar-based Aspen Trading and Contracting Company, PRAN-RFL would export products of 1.0 million US dollars to Qatar for next one year.

The contracts were signed by Abul Kashem, representative of M/s Ahmed Al Wadaani Est trading and Md Abdul Wadud, representative of Aspen Trading and Contracting Company.

On behalf of PRAN-RFL Group, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Deputy Managing Director of the Group, signed the agreement.

Abul Kashem told the signing ceremony that there was a huge potential of Bangladeshi processed agro food products abroad, especially in the Middle East.

Abdul Wadud said the Bangladeshi food products were not only consumed by expatriate Bangladeshis but the products become more popular among the foreigners because of their quality.

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury said PRAN products are not being exported only to Middle East but also to 70 other countries all over the world including the Africa, America and other European countries.

BSS, Dhaka

Telecommunication network between Bangladesh and the outside world was restored on Saturday after repair of optical fibre cable in Feni and Cox's Bazar.

The fibre cable was snapped at two points between Feni and Cox's Bazar on Friday night, according to a press release of Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB).

The snapping at one point occurred at Madamdebir Hat, 15 km from Feni, due to a landslide while criminals cut off cable at the other point at Dulahazra, 116.8 km off Cox's Bazar.

The BTTB has filed a general diary (GD) with Chokoria police in connection with the snapping of fibre cable at Dulahazra.

The BTTB has regretted the inconvenience caused to subscribers.

BSS, Dhaka

M. Fazlur Rahman, Chief National Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts, has been elected a member of the Asia Pacific Regional (APR) Scout Committee.

He was elected the member of APR Scout Committee for the next six years by the direct vote of all 24 member countries of the Asia-Pacific region during the 22nd APR Scout Conference on October 19.

The six-day conference began in the Japanese capital Tokyo on October 18, a press release said here on Saturday.

Fazlur Rahman is leading an 18-member Bangladesh Scouts team in the conference as the chief delegate.