The New Nation - Internet Edition

Janaza of ex-MP Shamsul Haq held

BSS, Dhaka

The namaz-e-janaza of former MP Advocate M Shamsul Haq was held at the south plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 3 pm on Friday.

Speaker Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui, former chief whip Khandaker Delwar

Hossain, former MPs Alhaj Sohrab Uddin and Dr Rustam Ali Farazi, Parliament Secretary Ashfaq Hamid and relatives and well-wishers of the deceased took part in the janaza, said a Parliament Secretariat press release.

After the janaza, the speaker and deputy speaker placed wreath at the coffin of Shamsul Haq and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. Wreaths were also placed at the coffin on behalf of former Leader of the House and former Leader of the Opposition.

Shamsul Haq, also a former MNA, died of old age complications at BIRDEM Hospital in the city on Thursday, the press release said.

CA greets Bosnian head of Govt on Independence Day

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Friday greeted Nikola Spiric, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of the independence day.

"On the Suspicious occasion of the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina I would like to extend on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh our heartiest greetings to the government and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the chief adviser said in a message to Nikola Spiric.

Dr Fakhruddin expressed his firm conviction that the existing bonds of friendship between the two countries would further flourish in the years to come.

"I convey my best wishes for your good health happiness and long life and continued peace, progress and well-being of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said.

Prof Tamim leaves for US today

BSS, Dhaka

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Professor M Tamim leaves here today for the United States to attend an international conference on renewable energy.

The conference on 'Washington International Renewable Energy 2008' is being organised by American Council on Renewable Energy and a body of 14 renewable energy companies, said an official handout on Friday.

Seventy-five minister-level representatives will attend the conference from across the globe.

This will be the third conference of world leaders on renewable energy. Earlier, two conferences were held in Germany and China in 2004 and 2005.

Prof Tamim is expected to return home on March 8, the handout said.

President greets Bosnian counterpart on Independence Day

BSS, Dhaka

President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Friday felicitated Zeljko Komsic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of the independence day.

In a message to Komsic, the President said, " It gives me great pleasure to convey to you my warmest greetings and felicitations on the auspicious occasion of the Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina."

Prof Iajuddin expressed his firm belief that the existing friendly relations between the two countries would further strengthen in the coming years.

The President wished good health, long life and happiness of Komsic, as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Need for pesticide-free agriculture underscored

BSS, Dhaka

Scientists, experts and farmers on Friday called for formulation of a long-term sustainable agriculture plan to boost output side by side protecting health and livelihood of the people and environment and ecology in the country by stopping the use of harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals.

They also underscored the need for pesticide-free agriculture through continuous research and marketing of environment-friendly cultivation methods and technologies, land use planning and ensuring fair prices for agricultural output.

They were participating a roundtable on " Hazardous Chemical- free agricultural technology: Role of the Media" organised by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) at National Press Club here.

UNESCAP's former environment division chief Dr Rezaul Karim, director general of BARI Md Nasir Uddin, former director general of BJRI Dr Ameerul Islam, IRRI scientist Dr Joynal Abedin, Dhaka University Prof Dr ABM Faruque, noted physician Prof Dr Hasina Banu, Aranyak Foundation executive director Dr Fariduddin Ahmed, former director of BARC Dr Gul Hossain, farmers Nazrul Islam Khan, Ayub Hosain, Mohan Kumer, former WHO expert Tapan Kumer Nath, TV presenter Rezaul Karim and journalist Qamruzzaman took part in the roundtable.

BARI scientist Dr Syed Nurul Alam made the keynote presentation while it was moderated by FEJB chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury.

They pointed out the adverse impacts of over use of harmful pesticides across the country making lives of millions of farmers and consumers at risk.

They said, because of the adverse impacts of pesticides, the people had to incur a significant portion of their family income as well as national budget.

The farmers demanded government support for proper marketing of pesticide-free agricultural produces including setting up of earmarked places and markets.

They also urged the journalists to highlight the success stories of the farmers and scientists in the national print and electronic media.

A large number of journalists, farmers, experts and scientists took part in the roundtable.

Shamsul Haq laid to rest

BSS, Dhaka

Elderly Awami League leader and former MP from Pirojpur-Mathbaria Shamsul Haq was laid to rest at Mirpur Intellecuals' graveyard in the city on Friday.

Earlier, his namaz-e-janaza was held at the south plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 3 PM. Speaker Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui, former chief whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain, former MPs Alhaj Sohrab Uddin and Dr Rustam Ali Farazi, Parliament Secretary Ashfaq Hamid and relatives and well-wishers of the diseased took part in the janaza.

After the janaza, the speaker and the deputy speaker placed wreath at the coffin of Shamsul Haq and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. Wreaths were also placed at the coffin on behalf of former Leader of the House and former Leader of the Opposition.

Two more namaz-e-janaza for Shamsul Haq were held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and in front the Awami League office. Awami League leaders Amir Hosain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Abdul Mannan and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin attended the janaza at party office.

Shamsul Haq, also a former MNA, died of old age complications at BIRDEM Hospital in the city on Thursday.

Qulkhwani of Bazlur Rahman held

BSS, Dhaka

Qulkhwani of Bazlur Rahman, eminent journalist and Editor of the daily Sangbad, was held at I/2, Ramna Apartment Complex, Boro Maghbazar here after Asr prayers on Friday.

Bazlur Rahman, also a freedom fighter, passed away due to a cardiac arrest on Tuesday night at the age of 67.

Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, Adviser for Health and Family Welfare Dr AMM Shwakat Ali, Acting President of Awami League (AL) Zillur Rahman, AL Presidium members Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sengupta, AL Organizing Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Mostofa Jamal Haider of Jatiya Party, former AL lawmaker Faruk Khan, former adviser of caretaker government Geeti Ara Safiya Chowdhury, CPD Chairman Rehman Sobhan, Barrister Amirul Islam, Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Editor of the daily Financial Express Moazzem Hossain and Executive Editor of the daily Sangbad Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul attended the qulkhwani, among others.

Jamir Uddin Sircar met Motia Chowdhury, Awami League leader and wife of Bazlur Rahman, and consoled her.

Dr AMM Shwakat Ali, Zillur Rahman, Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Amir Hossain Amu, Suranjit Sengupta and Geeti Ara Safiya Chowdhury, among others, also met Motia Chowdhury and consoled her.

Leaders of Awami League and other political parties, professionals and journalists, and relatives, friends, well-wishers and colleagues of Bazlur Rahman also attended the qulkhwani.

Special prayers were offered seeking eternal peace of the departed soul.

ORBOLUN, Bangladesh Chapter formed

A 31-member 'Organisation for Recognition of Bangla as an Official Language of the UN' (ORBOLUN), Bangladesh Chapter was formed making Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf as its president and Dhaka Post editor and creative writer Prof Omar Faruque as General Secretary. In this connection a meeting was held at former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf's residence at House # 9, Road # 16, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212 in the capital at 10.00 AM an on February 29. The meeting was presided over by the former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Mohammad Abdur Rouf and attended among others, by Advocate Sheikh Muhd. Serajul Islam, Daily New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Prof Dr Shaheda Obaed, Dhaka Post editor Prof Omar Faruque, eminent litterateur Farida Hossain, Deputy Director of Bangla Academy Zahidul Islam, Advocate Bakhtiar Uddin Khan Iqbal, Barrister Ahmed Sohel, Dr Raihan Ahmed Chowdhury, Dr Morjina Akhter, Md Monir Hossain (BTV) Zainul Abedin Liton (Bangla Academy) and Md Lutfur Rahman Robin BTV, says a press release.

It may be mentioned that organisation for Recognition of Bangla as an Official Language of the UN' (ORBOLUN) is a UK-based organisation which has taken the pioneering move to make Bangladesh as one of the UN official languages.

Organisation for Recognition of Bangla as an Official Language of the UN (ORBOLUN), was formed in a meeting held at Bangladesh Centre in Birmingham on July 8, 2006. In that meeting a five-member ORBOLUN committee was formed making Tofazzal Hussain Chowdhury as its Convener. Subsequently, a full-fledged 21-member committee was formed making former Ambassador Dr Tozammel Huq (who is better known as Tony Haque in the UK) its president and Tofazzal Hussain Chowdhury as General Secretary.

Dhaka Post editor Prof Omar Faruque attended different meetings of this organisation in the UK. Especially in the meetings in London and Cardiff in July 2007 he was requested by the ORBOLUN leaders there to open a branch of this organisation in Bangladesh to expedite the movement for making Bangla as one of the UN Languages. In this context a 31-member ORBOLUN, Bangladesh Chapter was formed through this meeting.

ORBOLUN Bangladesh Chapter will carry out its activities in Bangladesh in coordination with ORBOLUN UK.

Kite-flying festival held

BSS, Dhaka

The traditional Annual Kite-flying Festival of the city dwellers was held yesterday at the Dhaka University playground amid much enthusiasm and merriment.

The committee for celebrating 400 years of Dhaka and 'Dhakabashi', an organisation of the city's residents, jointly organized the kite-flying festival and competition with the slogan, "Love Dhaka and keep the city clean."

Primary and Mass Education, and Women, Children and Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury inaugurated the festival in presence of a cheerful crowd of men, women and children.

Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson, Malaysian High Commissioner Abdul Malek Bin Abdul Aziz, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor A F M Eusuf Haider, Nestle Bangladesh Ltd. senior manager Shammi Rubaiyat Karim and Khan Saleh Mahmud were present as the special guests.

The holiday crowd was enthralled with musical performance by some traditional cultural bodies of old Dhaka including Kalachand Bandparty Dal, colourful horse carts display and playing of the lute by Abdul Kader on the sidelines of the kite-flying festival.

Hazaribagh central chapter of Bangladesh Kite Federation, Kayettuli Kite Club and Dhaka Kite Club took part in the spectacular kite-flying competition.

Besides, a children's kite-related art competition was arranged to mark the occasion.

The festival ended with the distribution of prizes among the winners.