The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Prices of essentials were cheaper on Thursday at BDR-run sales centres and markets compared to those of ordinary markets in the city.

Prices of onion, green chili and vegetables have declined further at the ordinary markets.

According to a market report released by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) here today, the price of flour (packet) in the ordinary markets was 38 per kg.

The flour was also sold for Taka 37 per kg at the BDR-run open markets and Taka 35 at the BDR-run sales centers. The price of the item in Kolkata is Taka 25.62.

Coarse rice was sold at the different markets between Taka 23 and Taka 26 per kg while the price of the rice at the BDR-run open markets was Taka 24 and at the BDR sales centres Taka 20. In Kolkata markets it was sold at Taka 22.80.

The price of imported lentil (mashur) is ranging from Taka 64 to Taka 66 per kg at ordinary markets, while it is being sold for Taka 64 at BDR-run open markets and Taka 58 to Taka 60 at BDR-run sale centres. In Kolkata, the price of the lentil is Taka 59.64 per kg.

Sugar is being sold Taka 30 per kg at ordinary markets, Taka 30 at BDR-run open markets while the price of sugar is Taka 26.31 in Kolkata.

Onion was sold from Taka 24 per kg at BDR-run sales centres, its price at BDR-run open market was Taka 20. Onion prices at other city markets were between Taka 24 and Taka 32 while the item is bring sold in Kolkata at Taka 17.40.

Potato is being sold from Taka 25 to Taka 26 per kg at ordinary markets. The price of potato at BDR-run open markets is Taka 23 and Taka 18 at BDR sales centres. In Kolkata, the price of the item is Taka 13.50.

Soybean oil is being sold between Taka 88 and Taka 95 per liter in ordinary markets, while it is available at Taka 87 from BDR-run open markets and Taka 82 from BDR-run sales centers. In Kolkata, the price of soybean oil is Taka 101.95 per liter.

Palm oil is being sold at Taka 78 and per liter in ordinary markets while it is available at Taka 80 per liter in BDR-run open market. In Kolkata, the price of palm oil is Taka 96.49 per liter.

Hilsha fish was sold at different markets from Taka 210 to Taka 280 per kg, the report said.

BSS, Dhaka

Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Professor Mohammad Abdur Rob on Friday inaugurated a training course with a call to intensify humanitarian activities during the disaster by exchanging experiences with the societies of other regional counties.

"BDRCS has achieved practical knowledge through its various programmes to face the disaster though Bangladesh is a disaster prone country," he told the participants.

A total of 22 participants, including host Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Inida, Pakistan, Srilanka, Maldavis,Nepal of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are participating in the six-day training course, a press release said here.

The training course on "Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) Training in Relief and Shelter" was jointly organized by BDRCS and International Federation.

Chief of International Federation Selvaratnam Sinnadurai, regional cooperation delegate Thomas Russel, other delegates and vice-chairman, treasurers, secretary general and members of board of directors of the BDRCS were present on the occasion.

Staff Reporter

Veteran communist leader comrade Nurunnabi died at 10:00am at Community Hospital in the city yesterday.

He was 83. He left behind his wife, two sons, one daughter and many well-wishers. He passed most of the times of his life for the contribution of left and progressive works.

President of Workers Party Rashed Khan Menon, General Secretary Bimal Biswas, Haider Akbar Khan Rano and Nurul Hasan, President of Communist Party Manjurul Ahsan Khan, General Secretary Muzahidul Islam Selim, JSD (Inu) President Hasanul Haque Inu, Shirin Akhter, Convenor of BSD Khalequzzaman, among others went to the hospital to see the deceased.

The dead body of Nurunnabi took in front of Workers Party office later and on behalf the party he was given guard of honour.

BSS, Dhaka

Education Adviser Ayub Quadri yesterday said the government has taken various programmes for creating skilled manpower in the country.

The Adviser was addressing a function as the chief guest on the occasion of handing over stipends to the meritorious students of greater Chittagong district held at Chittagong Bhaban in the city yesterday afternoon.

Organised by Dhaka-based Chittagong Samity, the function was also addressed by Samity leaders Abu Alam Chowdhury, ATM Piarul Islam and Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, and former Bangla Academy Director General Mansur Musa.

The Education Adviser gave away stipends to 147 students hailed from Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban districts.

Ayub Quadri said the government is trying to build a world-class education system in the country flourishing technology. The elders should take care of students and provide all kinds of cooperation to groom them as worthy citizens, he said.

National Professor Dr Nurul Islam, former Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Ruhul Amin and Home Secretary Abdul Karim, among others, were present.

BSS, Barisal

The eighth of December is a memorable day for the people of Barisal.

On this day in 1971, Barisal was freed from the hands of occupation of the barbarous Pakistan Army.

The freedom fighters first attacked the Pak Army on April 26, 1971 in Gournodi area on Barisal-Dhaka highway. The valiant fighters Abul Hasem, Mokter Ali, Allauddin and Parimal Ghose were killed on the spot during fierce fighting here.

The freedom fighters, however, failed to free the Barisal from the hands of the Pak Army on the day.

With the help of local people, the freedom fighters freed the Barisal district from the occupation forces on December 8. Patuakhali, Jhalakathi and Pirojpur districts were also freed on the day.

To observe this historic day, the Freedom Fighters of Barisal sub-sector have taken various programmes here. The programmes include placing of wreaths, rally and discussion meeting.

Special prayer and cultural function will also be rendered to mark the day.

UNB, Bagerhat

In a bid to facilitate the study of the students of cyclone-battered Sharankhola upazila ahead of the SSC examination, the Army has set up an evening library at Tafalbari village.

The library was opened Thursday in two rooms of Rayenda Pilot High School, adjacent to the temporary army camp.

Teachers from nearby schools are imparting lessons to some 300 students who lost their books and other study materials during the severe Cyclone Sidr.

The Army will open another library next week at the same village.

Commander of the local Army camp Lt. Col. Sayeed Siddiqui told UNB that the students are being provided with all kinds of teaching materials so they could properly prepare themselves for the examination.

UNB, Dhaka

Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh (WTB) took the intellectually challenged (disabled) children of the Sena Sahayok School of Dhaka Cantonment to Dhaka Zoo on Friday for the whole day.

This was to launch 'Dreamnight at the Zoo' programme in Bangladesh, with WTB a partner of the global initiative.

The programme was designed for the children to raise their voice for the conservation of tigers and hoolock gibbon (ulluk) through different activities.

An international event, 'Dreamnight at the Zoo', started its journey in 1996. The programme has been designed by the Dreamnight at the Zoo Foundation, based at Rotterdam (The Netherlands).

The foundation has more than 150 partners in 30 countries of the world who celebrate this event annually.

This programme is designed to take intellectually disabled persons, including children, who are very special to all of us.

People in the northern Hemisphere celebrate the event on the first Friday of June and of the southern Hemisphere on the first Friday of December.

The goal of the programme is to make an annual and entrance-free day/evening at a zoo exclusively for intellectually challenged children, their parents and family members.

Bangladesh joined this international initiative this year and this was the first programme of the 'Dreamnight at the Zoo' in Bangladesh.

This is an initiative to ensure that intellectually challenged persons have a direct role in conserving the bio-diversity of the country. They can influence others by expressing their love for other life forms.

The objective of the programme is to give the participants a good feeling towards the animals through games, songs, paintings and various other activities using hoolock and tiger as examples.

The importance of theses unique animals, their conservation and the importance of suitable habitats and the need to preserve forests were explained through these activities.

The programme also aims to sparking the enthusiasm of disabled persons to inspire others.

During this programme, the children were treated as VIPs and given a warm reception by the members of the WTB and the zoo personnel.

The children were allowed to draw their favourite animals. They sang animal songs and danced wearing tiger and hoolock masks. The programme was designed to gift a special "day of love for animals" to these very special people.

The children were accompanied by their parents and other family members. A conservation movement can be initiated in the country through these intellectually challenged persons and their family members.

A photographic exhibition on birds by Enam Ul Haque was arranged for them. They were able to watch birds of Dhaka Zoo through telescopes and binoculars.

The members of WTB feel that December 7 should be declared a national event for the intellectually and physically challenged persons and the zoo should remain open only for them on this day, said a press release.

UNB, Dhaka

The inaugural flight of newly launched Air Slovakia on Friday left here for Italy via Slovakian capital Bratislava.

The first Air Slovakia flight, a 757 Boeing aircraft with 200 passenger accommodation, left the Zia International Airport at 10:30 am for European destination.

Air Slovakia officials said the flight would take 11 hours to reach Bologna of Italy with one hour's stay in the Slovakian capital.

They said the new Eastern European airline would operate its flight regularly once a week for the European destinations, including London. However, the London-bound flight will operate from second part of the current month.

Earlier, the Air Slovakia authority announced their new flight operation from Dhaka to London via Bratislava with a very competitive ticket tariff.

Air Slovakia will be the second airline after British Airways to operate direct flights from Dhaka to London.

Air Slovakia's chairman HS Sidhu said his airline would initially operate a flight once a week.

The number of flights might be increased to two or three a week depending on the demand from passengers, he said and expected a huge prospect for his airline, now operating flights from India to different European destinations.

Air Slovakia's flights will also touch some other European destinations, including Vienna in Austria in course of time.

Air Slovakia has flight operations in 35 destinations across the world, mostly in Europe.

About the new flight operation from Bangladesh and food, Air Slovakia chairman said: "We'll treat human as human and will serve Bengali foods for the Bangladeshi passengers."

Local firm Aerospeed International is the GSA of the Air Slovakia.

UNB, Dhaka

The US military that conducted a 2-week emergency relief operation code named 'Operation Sea Angel-II' was formally given farewell at the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Friday as US Charge de Affaires Geeta Pasi said military operation has transformed into a long-term reconstruction and rehabilitation programme.

Speaking at the farewell reception, Brig Gen Bailey said the traumatic experience caused by the cyclone has bound the US and the Bangladesh army into a long-term friendship and partnership. He said the US Navy ship "Tarawa" would remain on the coast until December 9-10 before sailing for its headquarters in Japan. Principal Staff Officer at the AFD Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury thanked the US marines for helping the emergency relief operation, saying the US navy would come in to help if specially needed. The US, he said, has assured long-term cooperation in rebuilding the life in the cyclone-hit areas.

US Charge de Affaires Geeta Pasi said the US would extend all out cooperation with their resources in areas where required. She said an "incredible partnership" has been established not only between USA and Bangladesh, but also between the State department, the US army, USAID and Bangladesh defence.

Later, Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury presented crests of the Armed Forces to US marines officers.

American warships USS Kearsarge and USS Tarawa, anchored off the coast of the Bay of Bengal, have conducted the "Operation Sea Angel-II" emergency relief operation in two phases since November 23. During the Operation Sea Angel-II, the US military has delivered more than 113,000 kilograms (249,000 pounds) of food and medicines and 54,000 liters (14,000 US gallons) of drinking water. The US ships' medical teams also treated 2,355 people.

The Tarawa also participated in relief operations in 1991 - dubbed Operation Sea Angel I when a powerful cyclone killed about 140,000 people in Chittagong region.

UNB, New Delhi

Foreign Advisor Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury held talks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Inam Ul Haque in his hotel suite Thursday evening and discussed bilateral relations on the sidelines of the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in New Delhi. The Pakistani Foreign Minister expressed deepest sympathy on behalf of his government and people for the victims of cyclone Sidr that had caused extensive loss to life, property and crops. Iftekhar thanked the Pak Foreign Minister for "the demonstration of solidarity through words and deeds", in particular for dispatching substantial relief for the cyclone victims.

The Advisor said that President Pervez Musharraf's telephone call to Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone was much appreciated.

They discussed further strengthening of relations both bilaterally and within the framework of SAARC. Cooperation in other international fora including the United Nations was also came up.

UNB, Bagerhat

About 40,000 people in four unions of Sharankhola upazila beside the Baleswar river embankment are passing their days in great uncertainty.

Several portions of the 20-km embankment on the river were washed away by tidal waves during the cyclone Sidr that left a trail of destruction at different villages in Sharankhola upazila. It is apprehended that 21 villages on the riverbank in the four unions might be inundated again if the tidal wave more than normal level hit the embankment.

Executive engineer of district Water Development Board Mohammad Abdur Razzak said some 66 kms of embankments were damaged by the recent devastating cyclone.

He said a letter has been sent to the higher authorities seeking necessary funds for reconstruction and renovation of these embankments.