The New Nation - Internet Edition

Theater festival in memory of Selim Al Deen ends

BSS, Dhaka

The ten-day theater festival in memory of playwright Dr Selim Al Deen ended at Jahangirnagar University (JU) Monday.

At the concluding session on the open stage Monday evening, JU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Muniruzzaman said dramas mirror real-life characters.

A creative playwright is also a social reformer and portrays different problems of society and its possibilities in dramas, he said.

Paying tributes to Professor Dr Selim Al Deen, Muniruzzaman said he was a pioneer of the cultural activities of the JU and his efforts were to make the university as a center of culture.

By dedicating the theater festival to his name, Jahangirnagar Theater has honoured itself, he added.

Chaired by President of the theater Professor Dr AKM Shahnawaz, the function was also addressed by General Secretary of Group Theater Federation Jhuna Choudhury.

On the concluding day, Dhaka Subochan Theater staged the drama 'Khona', a press release said on Tuesday.

Terre des Hommes donates Tk 28.6m for SIDR victims

BSS, Dhaka

The Terre des Hommes Netherlands has donated Taka 28.6 million for SIDR victims of Golachipa, Dashmina, Bauphal and Kalapara upazilas under Patuakhali district.

Lei Brouns, Regional Director, and Mahmudul Kabir, Country Director, of the Terre des Hommes were present during the distribution of food and non-food items among the 15,000 cyclone victims of Char Borhan under Dashimina upazilas on February 23.

The items include rice, pulses, vegetable oil, sharees, lungis, blankets and aluminum water jars.

Besides, the organisation has also provided free medical services for the people of Golachipa and Kalapara upazilas through three medical teams and one floating hospital.

Tk 2.44 lakh donated to CA's Relief Fund

BSS, Dhaka

Two organisations today donated an amount of Taka 2.44 lakh to the Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund for the people affected by the cyclone Sidr on November 15 last year.

According to an official handout, Green Bypass Model Town, Sobahanighat, Sylhet donated Taka 2,12,000 and Sylhet Osmani Medical College Ex-Students Association 25th Batch Taka 32,000 to the fund.

Salimullah Hall Alumni Assoc AGM Mar 1

BSS, Dhaka

An annual general meeting (AGM) of Salimullah Muslim Hall Alumni Association (SMHAA) will be held on March 1 in the afternoon at the BIAM auditorium at New Eskaton in the city.

Acting Secretary General of the SMHAA Mizanur Rahman Mesbah requested the members of the Association to attend the AGM, said a press release on Tuesday.

Seminar on 'Mother Tongue' today

BSS, Dhaka

A seminar on "Mother Tongue: Its Inside and Outside" will be held at 4 pm tomorrow at the Center for Advance Research in Humanities of Dhaka University (DU.

Professor Nusrat Sultana, former Principal of Government Jaheda Safir Women College, Jamalpur, will present the paper.

Professor Abu Hamid Latif, former director, Institute of Education and Research, DU, and Professor Mansur Musa, former Director General of Bangla Academy will take part in the discussion.

Professor Aminul Islam, the Chairman of the Center, will preside over the seminar.

National seminar on climate change today

BSS, Dhaka

A day-long national level seminar on 'Mangrove for Sustainable Livelihood and Adaptation to Climate Change' will be held at the meeting room of IDB Bhaban at Sher-e- Bangla Nagar today.

The seminar will be inaugurated by Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Khandker Rashedul Haque as the chief guest at 9.30 am tomorrow while it will be chaired by president of Bangladesh Poush Sanowar Hossain, said a press release.

PFF executive committee elected

BSS, Dhaka

The executive committee of the Public Finance Foundation (PFF) was elected unanimously for a two-year term at the first annual general meeting of the PFF recently.

The newly elected office bearers included: President Dr Mohammad Tareque, Vice-President Hayat Khan, Secretary General Ekram Ahmed, Treasurer Mohiuddin Khan and Joint-Secretary General Helal Uddin Ahmed, said a press release.

The Foundation is expected to act as a resource pool of financial experts for dealing with public sector financial management issues. PFF meeting was held at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre attended by 65 members.

PSC annual report submitted to President

BSS, Dhaka

The annual report of Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) for the year 2007 was submitted to President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday.

Chairman of the PSC Dr Sadat Hussain handed over the report to the President while eight members of the commission and its secretary were present.

After handing over the report, the Chairman apprised the President of different activities of the PSC and its ongoing reform programme to make the commission more efficient, transparent and accountable.

He briefed the President that new guidelines and principles were adopted for nominating examiners, questioners and moderators to ensure neutrality and transparency in the examinations.

Besides, he said noted professionals of society including journalists, bankers, doctors from public and private sectors have also been involved in the process of undertaking different examinations and activities of the PSC.

Dr Sadat said the PSC has already recommended for appointing 71 officers who qualified the 23rd BCS examination held six years ago.

Besides, he said, a total of 464 persons were also recommended for appointment, who qualified different examinations under the PSC in which a total of 2,13,637 candidates participated.

The PSC chairman also apprised the President of a high-level study financed by the World Bank on quota system in the BCS examination and its different recommendations to make it more rationalised.

President Iajuddin expressed his satisfaction at the present activities and on going reform programme at the PSC.

He also asked the Chairman and members of the commission to keep the body above all controversy and ensure holding BCS examinations regularly in the process of appointing public officials.

Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohd Aminul Karim, Secretary Md Sirajul Islam and Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were also present.

Good governance for advancement of democracy urged

BSS, Dhaka

Danish ambassador in Bangladesh Einar H Jensen yesterday underscored the need for promoting good governance and human rights and said, those are essential parts to the advancement of democracy.

"Assistance to the efforts designed to promote respect for human rights and good governance is a central and integrated element of Danish development cooperation policy," the ambassador said.

Jensen was addressing at the award distribution ceremony of an essay competition on 'How to be a Good Citizen' at the Alliance Francaise here organized by News Network with support from the Danish Embassy in Bangladesh.

With Editor of News Network Shahiduzzaman in the chair, the function was attended by noted journalist and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, International President of Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) Hassan Shahriar and Bureau Chief of Associated Press in Bangladesh Farid Hossain as the special guests.

Jensen said, "Denmark's development policy promotes the rights of children and young people and ensure their opportunity for democratic influence."

The prime time for the children to learn the basics of human rights as future leaders of the nation will have a positive long- lasting impact on their minds, the ambassador said.

He said, "Children are considered as a long-term resource in the development process of the Danish development cooperation policy."

School is the most appropriate place to teach the children about the challenges they would face in their everyday life, he pointed out.

Zaglul A Chowdhury stressed the need for development of citizen rights and opportunities in Bangladesh. He advised the youngsters to learn properly the mother tongue Bangla with an international language for knowing bitterly the citizens rights and opportunities.

Hassan Shahriar commended the Danish Embassy and News Network to take the initiatives for the children of Bangladesh.

Farid Hossain said, good governance is required for the sustainable democracy in Bangladesh.

Among others, journalists Rabiul Karim Helal and Khan Mohammad Khaled, and award winners Mahmuda Afroze Rimu and Lelina Akter also spoke on the occasion.

15 projects under Information Ministry reviewed

BSS, Dhaka

A meeting yesterday reviewed the progress of the 15 ongoing projects of the Information Ministry under the annual development programme (ADP).

Information Secretary Jamil Osman presided over the meeting in the conference room of the ministry.

The meeting was informed that work for the digital technology project of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) and the transmitter project of Bangladesh Betar is nearing completion.

Besides, expenses from the revenue budget by various directorates and organisations under the ministry, it discussed construction of the head office building for Bangladesh Television. The information secretary asked officials concerned to send a project proposal to the ministry in this regard.

Besides, the meeting discussed construction of own buildings for BSS, Press Information Department and Film Archive.

Jamil Osman asked officials concerned for preparing proposals for necessary funds for the organisations so that the funds may be allocated from the revised budget.

Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of Information Ministry Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Iftekhar Hossain, Director General of Bangladesh Betar Mahbubul Alam, Director General of Film and Publication Directorate Sanat Kumar Biswas, Director General of Department of Mass Communication Mohammad Abdul Mannan and project directors concerned were present at the meeting.