The New Nation - Internet Edition

US Trade Show ends today

Staff Reporter

The there-day US Trade Show, which drew a large number of visitors over the last two days concludes at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel today (Friday).

AmCham and the United States Embassy are cosponsoring the 17th annual US Trade Show to showcase the US products in Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Industries and Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Jamil inaugurated the show as the chief guest on Wednesday morning.

US Charge d' Affaires Geeta Pasi and AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed, among others, were present at the opening ceremony.

About 61 exhibitors occupying 91 booths are participating at the US

Trade Show.

The show remains open to public from 10:00am to 8:00pm.

The entry fee is Tk 10 per person. School students in uniform and other students with identity cards are exempted from the payment of entry fee.

BPRA election postponed

UNB, Dhaka

The biennial general election of Bangladesh Public Relations Association (BPRA) scheduled to be held on March 6 has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. The decision was taken at the executive committee meeting of BPRA held here on February 25, said a BPRA release.

The fresh date for the election will be announced soon, it added. Interested PR personnel working in various government, semi-government, autonomous body and private organizations have been requested to contact ASM Bazlul Huq, general secretary (Ph:

9560874-01710956097) and Faisal Mokammel, treasurer (Ph:

7120344-01711100519) for enrolment and membership renewal within March 15.

2000 children held hostage in Cameroon

BBC News

At least 2,000 boarding school children are being used as human shields by demonstrators in Cameroon.

Thousands of protesters went into three schools in Bamenda in the north-west to escape police pursuing them after violent demonstrations overnight.

There have been days of protests across the country, sparked by a taxi-driver strike over a fuel price rise.

President Paul Biya has blamed the opposition for violence which has left at least seven dead.

It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this

SDF's John Fru Ndi

Opposition groups have been calling for protests to stop the constitution being amended to allow Mr Biya to run for re-election when his current term expires in 2011.

John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front, denied being behind the unrest but he said he could understand the frustrations felt by Cameroonians because of the high cost of living.

"It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"The people have no other alternative than to express themselves by marching on the streets to draw government's attention to issues affecting their everyday lives."

Trapped The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Douala says the protests nationwide are continuing and the trade unions who called the strike, which was called off 24 hours ago, now seem unable to get the people off the streets.

Two post offices were razed to the ground overnight in Bamenda by demonstrators who were then chased by police.

The protestors have taken up positions at three boarding schools in the city to stop police throwing tear gas canisters at them.

While most schools have been closed all week, boarding school pupils have been unable to get home because transport has been at a standstill, our reporter says.

In Douala, there are still no taxis or motorcycles on the streets and all markets are closed.

Our correspondent says people do not seem to have received Mr Biya's comments well - and are angered that he did not address the issue of the cost of living.

Groups of angry youths carrying flags and placards have attempted to block off roads with barricades in the city and are involved in a game of cat and mouse with the police.

Some of the placards call for further price reductions and denounce plans to change the constitution.

In the capital, Yaounde, there is a heavy military deployment and the situation remains tense.

2-day haor conference in city from Mar 6

UNB, Dhaka

A two-day first ever haor conference will begin at Institution of Engineers here on March 6 for highlighting the need for development of country's haor region.

Twelve organizations, including BUET, ActionAid Bangladesh, Oxfam and Concern, have organized the conference also aimed at improving the nature and environment of haor region.

Former Chief Adviser of caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman will inaugurate the conference to be attended by over 300 representatives, including government and non-government officials.

'Haor Declaration' would be finalized on concluding of the conference on March 7, said a release.

BRAC Bank MD passes away

Imran Rahman, Managing Director & CEO of BRAC Bank Limited died of cardiac arrest in the early hours of Thursday, while on a visit to Canada. He was only 45, says a press release.

Imran was appointed Managing Director & CEO of BRAC Bank Limited on May 03, 2006. Before that, he served as the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank. Having joined BRAC Bank Limited on May 3, 2003, he was instrumental in developing the Branch and its rapid growth in all its lines of business.

Imran is survived by wife, daughter, son, mother and 3 brothers to mourn his death BRAC Bank Limited joins his family in mourning on his tragic and untimely demise.