The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The European Commission has approved 1.5 million euro in humanitarian aid package for the unregistered Rohingya refugees of Teknaf and Cox's Bazar.

The assistance will focus on the relocation of refugees to a sustainable place and the provision of humanitarian aid, including shelter, water, health and nutrition, said an EC press release on Monday. Funds are being allocated via European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the responsibility of EC Commi-ssioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel. "The situation of these Rohingya refugees is continuing to deteriorate. These vulnerable people rely on international solidarity. There is an urgent need to create adequate living conditions for them. The Commission wants to express its solidarity by helping the victims of this forgotten crisis," said Louis Michel. Since 1978, around 2,00,000 Rohingya people have fled from Myanmar. More than 28,000 have found refuge in camps managed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Most of the others are hosted by local communities. In the region of Teknaf, around 10,000 undocumented Rohi-ngya refugees need to be relocated in order to empty overcrowded camp where living conditions are appalling.

The Commission funding will help this population resettle in a suitable place where their immediate needs will be met. Funds will provide multi-sectorial humanitarian support such as shelter, water and sanitation, access to healthcare, nutrition, protection activities and livelihood projects.

As this area is prone to neutral catastrophes, disaster preparedness activities will be also implemented. Interna-tional non-governmental organisations will operate this funding.

Besides, victims of natural disasters in Bangladesh have already benefited from ECHO humanitarian assistance in 2007 - euro 2.5 million after the flooding in August and euro 6.5 million following the recent cyclone Sidr. This fresh allocation will bring the Commission's support to the victims of crises in Bangladesh up to euro 10.5 million this year.

UNB, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed have greeted the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani on the occasion of the National Day of the country that falls on Tuesday.

In a message to his counterpart of Qatar President Prof. Dr Iajuddin Ahmed said, "I sincerely believe that the existing bonds of friendship and fraternity between our two nations would continue to grow to the mutual benefit of our people in the days ahead." In a separate message Dr Fakhurddin Ahmed said, "My firm conviction is that the existing bonds of relationship that happily exist between our two nations will further be consolidated and strengthened to the mutual benefit of our peoples in the years ahead."

The President and the Chief Advisor also wished his good health, happiness and long life and continued peace, progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of Qatar.

Staff Reporter

Ideal School and college Guardians' Forum Monday demanded of the Department of Secondary and Higher secondary education to take action against Principal of the institution Shahan Ara Begum, as per an order of the ministry, otherwise the forum will stage a sit-in programme on December 27.

The one-hour sit-in programme will be staged in front of the Motijheel Ideal School and College.

Leaders of the forum said this at a press conference on Monday at the conference lounge of the National Press Club. Chairman of the forum Ziaul Kabir Dulu read out the written speech and answered questions of journalists.

The forum demanded of the Anti Corruption Commission to file cases against Shana Ara Begum and all members of all Ad hoc committees of the institution to ask them to submit their wealth statements.

At the same time they demanded a fair admission in the session 2008, based on quality of students and publishing of detail numbers achieved by the candidates.

The leaders of the forum alleged that Abdus Salam Khan and Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan opened a new educational institution by using the goodwill of the Ideal School and College. They also demanded punishment of the two.

General Secretary of the forum Md Salimuddin, Vice Chairman Md Belaet Hossain and Women secretary Shirin Naeem, among others, were present at the press conference.

UNB, Dhaka

Germany has provided an additional amount of Tk 5.28 crore in relief and rehabilitation assistance for Bangladesh's cyclone victims, bringing the total German government's assistance in this regard to Tk 17.5 crore.

The humanitarian aid is channeled to World Food Programme and through German aid agencies to their partners in Bangladesh like the Red Crescent Society, Care and Caritas, which are operating relief operation for those in dire need.

The relief organisations have been working in the worst affected districts with focus on medical care and water and food supplies.

UNB, Dhaka

An alleged criminal was killed and two RAB members were injured during a gunfight between the elite force and miscreants at Maddhya Badda in the city Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-2 raided a sand field to catch criminals who were allegedly preparing to commit a crime in the area at about 2am.

Sensing the arrival of the elite force, the criminals numbering 6-7 opened fire on them who also returned the fire that left Mohammad Kamal, 24, dead on the spot.

Two RAB members - Lieutenant Farhad, 28, and cop Kabul, 26, injured in the gunfight, were taken to CMH for treatment.

Other miscreants, however, managed to flee.

One sawed-off rifle, one revolver, two pistols and nine bullets were recovered from the spot following the gunfight that lasted for about half an hour.

The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

BSS, Chittagong

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh GP Trotsenko called on acting mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) M Manjur Alam at the latter's office yesterday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral issues and mutual interests of Bangladesh and Russia, a CCC press release said.

Trotsenko described Chittagong as an excellent destination for investment and expressed Russia's keen interest to invest in different prospective medium and small industries, particularly in constructing small power plants.

He said Russia was ready to extend whole-hearted cooperation to Bangladeshi businessmen and entrepreneurs for expanding economic ties and forging a strong bond between the young generations of the two countries through reducing gap in the area of information and communication.

Referring to the Russian support and cooperation during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971, the CCC mayor hoped that the excellent relations between the two countries would be consolidated further in the interest of both the sides.

The mayor sought cooperation from Russia in setting up small power plants in Chittagong and also in building sluice gates, dredging and setting up garbage treatment plants to free the city from water-logging.

Russian Consul General in Chittagong Oleg N Avdeev, CCC Secretary AKM Khairul Alam and CCC ward commissioners Saleh Ahmed, M Giasuddin, MA Malek and Jobaida Narges were present at the meeting, the press release added.

BSS, Chittagong

Members of the RAB-7 recovered four sophisticated firearms and 11 bullets in abandoned states from separate places in the city and district Sunday and Monday.

According to a RAB press release, a German-made double-barrel gun was recovered from city's Katalganj area at about 2.15 pm today, while a Mark-3 rifle and 11 bullets were seized from Pantirisha area under Lohagara upazila in the district at about 11.30 Sunday night.

A discussion on “Education in English Medium: Bangl-adesh perspective” was held at the auditorium of Just Int’l School and College in the city’s Dhanmondi recently, says a press release.

The discussion was attended among others by Kamrul Ahsan Chowdhury, Professor of Dhaka University Sociology Department and Alamgir Mohiuddin, Editor, The Naya Digonto as the chef guest and main speaker respectiv ely. Md. Ruhul Amin Khokon, Professor of International Relation Department of Dhaka University was present as the special guest.

Kamrul Hasan Chowdhury in his speech said “There is no alternative to English education in the International arena”. He gave emphasis on learning English.

Staff Reporter

Twenty-sixth post-election Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Shippers' Council of Bangladesh was held with it newly elected committee at its office in the city yesterday.

New Chairman of the council committee Mahbub Ali, who has been elected as Chairman of the council for the 2nd time, said, "As a measure to renovate Shippers' Council service oriented character, we would request all members and also non members who are in the export and import related organisations and individual traders to come forward and address their grievances and problems to this Council in writing."

Mahbub Ali assured that if the problems were genuine, his committee would definitely take up the issues with the relevant authorities and try its best to help resolve the issues.

The Chairman also invited new organisations and trade bodies to come and joint the Shippers' Council as members and help them to make the organisation more dynamic and progressive.

He hopped that they would be able to achieve their objectives, if they could work as a unit with renewed vigour.

Newly elected Senior Vice President Rezaul Karim hoped that all members of the Council would continue their supports and cooperation in all endeavours led by the newly elected committee.

He said the Shippers' Council of Bangladesh was formed in 1979 to facilitate the international trade and maritime business of the country. It was fundamentally aimed at protecting the interests of the shippers in various aspects.

The committee members for 2008-2009 elected on December 8 are Chairman Mahbub Ali (immediate past chairman), Senior Vice Chairman Rezaul Karim, Vice Chairman SM Mahfuzul Huq, Directors Firoz Alam, Jasim U Ahmed, Mohammed Zainul Abedin, Kamran Uddin, Syed Mostafizur Rahman, Humayun Kabir (FCA), Nanda Kishore Agarwala and Ariful Ahsan.