The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. Iftekhar congratulates new Thai Foreign Minister

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has warmly felicitated the new Foreign Minister of Thailand Noppadon Pattama.

In a message of felicitation, the Foreign Adviser said : "Bangladesh and Thailand enjoy excellent bilateral cooperation which would, I hope, deepen and widen in the future."

Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury further stated that he looked forward to working together with Pattama "in furthering our common objective."

Annual sports competition at Willes Little Flower School held

Staff Reporter

The award giving ceremony of annual sports and cultural week of Willes Little Flower Higher Secondary School was held at the school auditorium in the city yesterday.

Kazi Md Aminul Islam, Secretary of Chief Adviser's Office and Chairman of school committee, was present as chief guest in the function.

He distributed awards among the winners of the annual sports, cultural competition and students who secured top positions in the merit list in different classes in the annual examinations.

Lt Col Mohammad Mainul Islam Chowdhury, Principal of the school, chaired the function, while representatives of the guardian committee, teachers and invited guests from different institutions, among others, were present on the occasion.

Media urged to help govt, political parties for free polls

Staff Reporter

Former chief adviser Justice Latifur Rahman yesterday urged media to help the Caretaker government and political parties to mobilise public opinion for holding a free, fair, impartial and credible parliamentary election.

Rahman made the call while speaking as chief guest at the publication ceremony of two books of Prof Omar Faruque at the National Press Club.

The two books are 'Bangladeshi Expatriates in Britain' and 'Bangladeshis in Britain' where the author described the lifestyle, success and failure of over 300 noted Bangladeshis living in the United Kingdom.

Former chief election commissioner Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf presided over the ceremony where Chairman of ATN Bangla Mahfuzur Rahman, Editor of The New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Advocate Sheikh M Serajul Islam and Saad Gazi, Vice President of British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce spoke as special guest.

Latifur Rahman said for holding a free and fair election cooperation and mutual understanding of all political parties is needed. The press, media and civil society organisations are trying to create an atmosphere for a free and credible election, he said.

"If democracy could be established on a firm footing, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, efficiency, empowerment, participation, sustainability, equity and justice could be established and we would be able to advance Bangladesh towards social, political and economic development, Rahman said.

Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf said Bangladesh is passing through crucial times. He urged the Bangladeshis at home and abroad to work together to build Bangladesh a happy and prosperous country.

On the two books he said reading the books people will know the success, failure and contributions of expatriate Bangladeshis to the British society.

On the occasion 16 eminent people were given Dhaka Post Gold Medal-2007 for their contribution in their respective fields including Brig (retd) Abdul Maleq of Heart Foundation and Chowdhury Tanvirul Huq Probal of REHAB.

CA expected to inaugurate 5-day Indo-Bangla Games

UNB, Dhaka

The 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games'2008, involving hosts Bangladesh and Bengal team of India, will begin here on February 22 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to inaugurate the five-day meet Friday (Feb 22) afternoon at a gala opening ceremony.

Some 478 athletes and officials, including 228 from West Bengal, will participate in the game's second version in nine disciplines of sports-athletics, swimming, shooting, basketball, volleyball, kabaddi, kho kho, football and cricket.

Out of the nine games, both the men's and women's events have been included in four disciplines-football, shooting, athletics and swimming. Cricket, the hot favorite game of the subcontinent, has been included in the ensuing games for the first time.

The Bengal team of India will arrive here on February 21 through Benapole boarder. On their way to capital Dhaka, the team will be accorded receptions at six points.

The four-and-half-an-hour opening ceremony will start at 3:30pm soon after arrival of the chief guest at the stadium, followed by landing of four paratroopers of Bangladesh Army carrying the flags of Bangladesh, India, BOA and Indo-Bangla Games.

BOA President and Army general Moeen U Ahmed, West Bengal's State Minister for Sports and Transport Subhash Chakrawarty will address the ceremony before the chief guest declares the meet open.

Popular band star Ayub Bachchu will present theme song written by Major (retd) Anis. Performers of Shilpakala Academy will present their traditional songs and dances in the 30-minute function before the massive fireworks at the country's premier stadium.

Artistes of Kolkata cultural teams will stage a 20-minute show.

A live concert, led by Ayub Bachchu, will be the another attraction of the opening ceremony. The concert will begin at 6:35pm at the big bowl.

A dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony was held earlier on Jan 30 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Earlier, the BOA formed a strong ceremonies committee, headed by BDR director general Major General Shakil Ahmed.

Games venues: Shooting-BKSP, athletics-Banani Army Stadium, swimming-Mirpur National Swimming Pool, basketball-Mirpur Shahid Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium/BKSP, kho kho-Outer Stadium, kabaddi-Kabbadi Stadium, volleyball-Dhaka and Gazipur, Twenty/20 cricket-Bogra, Rajshahi and Fatullah.

3,000 bottles phensidyl seized in N'ganj

UNB, Narayanganj

Police seized some 3,000 bottles of phensidyl syrup from a pickup-van on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Awkhabo in Rupganj upazila early Friday and arrested three drug peddlers. Acting on-a tip-off, a team led by Rupganj thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) intercepted the Dhaka-bound pickup-van and seized the contraband drugs worth about Tk 22 lakh.

The arrested drug peddlers were identified as Habibur Rahman Siraj, son of Mona Mia in Sadar upazila and Mokbul Hossain, son of Mohammad Ali in Meghna uapzila of Comilla and Shahid Mia, son of Joynal of Mawkhali village of Khulna district.

A case was filed.

Another UNB report from Khulna adds: Joint forces, in separate drives, arrested six drug peddlers along with 3-kg of ganja and 18 bottles of phensidyl syrup in Koira upazila here on Thursday. The law-enforcers raided Amadi Bazar, Chandkhali Bazar and Dashahalia Kheya ghat and arrested them.

The arrested are Rashid, Bakkar, Jahangir, Kadam Ali, Quddus and Jotsna.

A case was filed with the police.