The New Nation - Internet Edition

Glorious 25 years of BIT

Lubna Choudhury: Founder Principal of BIT

The Red Brick School, a sister concern of Bangladesh
International Tutorial (BIT). Photo : Sharif Khan

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"Twenty-five years ago, all of this started with a group of students seated around my dinner table in my living room. Bangladesh International Tutorial (BIT) is now 2,300 students strong, with a faculty of over 300. I prefer not to be nostalgic but it is hard for me not to pause for a moment and think about how all this started so long ago. In 1983, it was the government rule that any English medium school would have to incorporate the word 'Tutorial' into its name. As we started with a batch of mostly international students, we thought it apt to reflect that too. But I was still not satisfied. We all thought it essential to include 'Bangladesh' in our school identity in respect to our nation. Through time, this also led to BIT's motto, 'to serve the nation," said Lubna Choudhury, founder Principal of BIT and Chairperson of Red Brick School, while addressing the beginning of BIT, which has recently celebrated its 25 years.

The BIT started its journey with the aim of providing English medium education of the highest quality, in accordance with the London Board for the ordinary level and advanced level general certificate examinations.

Believing that education is fundamentally a social process, the Red Brick School, a sister concern of BIT, started its journey where academic success will be measured through preparation for the Cambridge general certificate of examinations, governed by the renowned University of Cambridge of England.

International architect Habib Fida Ali from Pakistan designed the school. It is situated on 15 bighas of land located at Plot No 13, Road No 1/A, Sector No 14 in Uttara Model Town and accommodates students from Playgroup to Grade-XII. The school is sub-divided into play, elementary, middle and high school sections. The school premises reflect the school's commitment to world-class education methods and services. The buildings feature an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,300 with air-conditioned class room and an extensive library. The education system also incorporates a wide ranging array of subjects from sports and dramatics to state-of-the-art computing and laboratory facilities, which complete the school's academic programme.

Lubna Choudhury said, "The motto of the Red Brick School is 'to strive and to seek' to incorporate its philosophy that teachers should work along with the children posing questions that encourage imaginative thinking, problem solving and decision-making. In a partnership of learning among students and teachers, purposeful experiences will foster responsibility, cooperation and active participation. The administration of the school believes in setting the highest standards for academic achievement, intellectual growth, ethical awareness and behaviour, sportsmanship, athletic endeavour and service to others."

The school year runs from August to July, which conforms to to an academic calendar maintained by all international schools and western universities.

"In Red Brick School, all subjects are taught in accordance with the Cambridge General Certificate Examinations (GCE) syllabi. Cambridge GCE has introduced new subject areas and qualifications and utilises efficient methods of delivery, assessment and administration. In future the school's plan is to introduce the International Baccalaureate (IB) system," said the Chairperson.

"English is the primary medium of instruction. Foreign language classes are essential for every student and currently we offer Chinese, French, Arabic and Bengali. Arabic, French and Chinese are optional from class VIII but Bengali is compulsory for all Bangladeshi children. The school has international calibre laboratory equipment to assist the completion of the O-Level and A-Level science syllabi, said Lubna.

A range of sports is offered on the school's spacious compound. The faculty and administration also regard debating, dramatics, poetry, art and dancing as a respite from strictly academic demands, she said and adding, "Our teachers are also coaches, counsellors and mentors who understand that education occurs all over the campus, not only in the classroom. We believe in educating 'the whole child' - academic, physical, personal and social growth - all that are necessary in ensuring that our students are well prepared for the 21st century. Currently, a music house is available for use and in the near future piano lessons will be offered after school for an additional cost. Private rehearsal rooms have also been designed with musical instruction such as sitar, violin and vocal training in mind."

School timing is from 9:00am to 12:00 noon for playgroup and nursery, 8:15am to 12:00 noon for KG-I, 8:15am to 1:40pm or 3:00pm to include extra curricular for KG-II, 8:15am to 3:30pm for Class-I to IV, 8:15am to 4:00pm for Class V to VIII and 8:15am to 4:00pm for Class IX to XII.

"We don’t think there is any necessity for students of the school to take lessons from private tutors. Because the longer school day reflects an additional time for the students to receive support with their homework assignments in 'prep time.' This should exclude the need for home tutors and coaching under normal circumstances, as their teachers are on hand for additional support. Therefore, extra curricular activities are also available," she also said.

No fresh Nipah attack reported

Staff Reporter

The viral encephalitis caused by Nipah virus claimed five lives in the country in the last two days in Rajbari and Faridpur. But no fresh infection was received, said health officials.

Mahmudur Rahman, a senior health official, yesterday said, "Nobody is infected with the Nipah virus today and none died. The condition of the child, who is under treatment in Dhaka Medical College, is now better."

"Our special team will visit the affected areas today (Tuesday)," he said.

Meanwhile, a woman in Rajbari died of the disease Saturday night, said doctors and added that she fell unconcisious on February 18 after she drank date juice earlier, which was the suspected cause of the disease. A special medical team after examining the blood, bone marrow and saliva of the patient confirmed Nipah virus as the cause of her death.

Twenty people affected by Nipah virus had died in Faridpur in 2004.

The virus, named after the Malaysian village where it was first detected, jumped the species barrier from fruit bats and then to humans in October 1998.

WatSan Expo begins today

Staff Reporter

A two-day water sanitation exposition titled WatSan Expo will be inaugurated at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city today (Tuesday).

This was disclosed at a press conference organised by WaterAid Bangladesh held at the National Press Club on Sunday.

Azhar Ali, acting Country Representative of WaterAid, read out a written statement, while Hasin Jahan, Programme Director and Syed Ishteaque Ali Jinnah, Director of Policy and Advocacy, spoke on the occasion.

Some 30 stalls of WaterAid and other 20 associate organizations who are working in 19 districts, three city corporations and two pourasavas will take place in the expo. The stalls remain open from 10:00am to 6:00pm everyday, said Azhar Ali.

Around 2,000 participants will attend the exposition where local representatives will also present there. Seminars and rally will be also held. Among districts of the country, Hill Tracts community is under worst situation of sanitation coverage in the country, he said.

M Anwarul Iqbal, LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser, will inaugurate the exposition, while AMM Shafiullah, Vice Chancellor of BUET, will be present as chief guest in the concluding session, said organisers.

Arefin Siddique receives death

threat

DU Correspondent

Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, former President of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association (DUTA), received death threat again yesterday.

He received the threat while he was at a meeting of the academic committee of Mass Communication and Journalism Department (MCJ) Monday morning in a letter warped with a piece of white funeral shroud.

The letter, signed by Sohel Rahman of 'Sachetan Samaj' from the city's Badda area, reads: " You're one of those teachers involved in conspiracy to destroy the lives of innocent students of the university. So, you and your colleagues have no right to live on."

The MCJ academic committee instantly condemned the death threat, demanded the matter to take necessary steps in this regard and to ensure his security.

Anonymous terrorists had also attacked Dr Arefin's house in the city's Dhanmondi area last month.

Sources said earlier Dr Abul Barakat received death threat in a similar letter and signed by the same person.

Bidisha granted bail

Court Correspondent

Bidisha, former wife of Jatiya Party (E) Chairman H M Ershad, was yesteday granted bail in another fraud case.

A K M Mosharraf Hossain, a leader of JP, filed case on February 7 against Bidisha with Gulshan Thana for making fraud and misappropriation.

Bidisha was accused of making an agreement to buy a flat of President Park of Gulshan in the city and gave a cheque to pay the price of the flat, which the bank dis-honoured on the ground of quite insufficient fund.

President urges varsity authorities: Materialise people’s hopes

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed on Monday called upon the authorities of both the public and private universities to come forward to materialise the hopes and aspirations of the people imbued with the sense of obligation to the nation.

"As the apex centre of higher education, universities have great role to play in imparting quality and time worthy education to the students so that they can face the growing challenges of the time," he added.

The President said this while speaking at the 7th Convocation of the East West University at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) here yesterday.

Former chief adviser of the caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman spoke as convocation speaker.

Vice-Chancellor of the East West University Professor Muhammad Sharif, President of the Board of Directors Jamaluddin Ahmed and the convocation marshal Syed Akhtar Hossain also spoke on the occasion of conferring degrees upon the graduating students.

The President said the main purpose of education in countries like ours is to develop and enhance the potential of human resources and progressively transform it into a knowledge- based society.

"This society will produce efficient and effective, responsible and rational human-being, who will contribute immensely towards nation building activities," he added.

Putting immense importance on learning Information Technology, the President said we are witnessing the convergence of information technology encompasses us in every step of our daily life. In the current era of IT revolution, the IT knowledge has become a must for every one's survival.

He said the emergence of worldwide economic order and the rapid development of Information Technology have extended us to the horizon of higher education particularly in the fields of market economy and information technology. "It is obvious that the policymakers, institutions and the academia of the country need to gear themselves up to deal with the challenges posed by the new situation. It is time for all those who are associated with planning and implementing of educational programmes to revitalize thinking and focusing on the subject," he added.

"Therefore, we have to pay more attention on science and IT education along with the conventional arts and commerce in dealing with the present world order," he said.

Turning to the impacts of global warming as revealed by the Inter- governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) through its impact assessments identifying Bangladesh as one of the most 'susceptible countries' of the world, Professor Iajuddin urged all both at home and abroad to maintain an ecological balance in order to build a safe and habitable abode for all.

He said the impacts of global warming would increase the sea level, atmospheric temperature and rainfall and will intensify natural disasters in the form of floods, cyclones, storm surges and drought.

He also urged the students to keep accumulating knowledge, make the best use of your learning and pursue higher scholarship in ways that will enable you to take your full share of national responsibility when the time comes.

Launch capsize: One more body found in Buriganga

Staff Repoter

One more body was recovered yesterday from the River Buriganga after five days of the capsize of a passenger launch MV Shourav -1, the death toll rose to 47 with about 10 people still missing.

The rescue and recovery operation of the ill-fated launch had been called off on Friday, following the retrieval of 39 bodies from the river.

However, relatives and friends continued their search for the missing victims. They have so far retrieved 8 bodies since the recovery operation was called off.

The body recovered yesterday was identified as Habibur Rahman, 30, son of late Mohiuddin from Kandahar in Alamdanga upazila in Chuadanga. His father-in-law, Joj Miah, identified and recovered the body from the river.

Joj Miah said, he used the grappling hook to search the riverbed for the body of his missing son-in-law after the rescue operation was called off on Friday.

The official rescue team declared there were no more bodies, but many relatives continued to scour the river for their loved ones.

Local people said yesterday that a schoolboy, Sajib, and nine others were still unaccounted for.

The launch bound for Munshiganj capsized on Thursday afternoon, with about 200 passengers on board as a sand-carrying vessel rammed into it from behind.

BDR asked to cope with pre-poll situation: Terrorists may hit back if emergency relaxed

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed on Monday said the present caretaker government is working for holding a free, fair and credible election in December this year or before, if possible.

In this connection, he said efforts are being taken to create an atmosphere conducive to staging the election by maintaining law and order, stability as well as containing militancy and terrorist activities.

The Chief adviser said this while addressing a Darbar of Bangladesh Rifles on the occasion of Rifles Week-2008 at BDR headquarters here.

Mentioning the responsibilities of Bangladesh Rifles ahead of the polls, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed asked them to take preparations in advance along with undertaking a work strategy to this end.

Referring to the godfathers of terrorists active in the boarder areas, he apprehended that their evil activities may increase when state of emergency would be relaxed in the run up to the election.

In this context, he directed them to be more cautious and vigilant to ensure flawless security in and around the border areas keeping in mind the changing situation.

On his arrival at the venue, the chief adviser was received by Home Affairs Adviser Maj. Gen. (Rtd) MA Matin, Home Secretary Md. Abdul Karim and Director General of BDR Maj. Gen Shakil Ahmed.

The chief adviser said the BDR personnel have been playing significant role in maintaining law and order, curbing terrorism, facing emergency situation and recovering illegal arms.

"Your activities while facing natural calamities including the cyclone Sidr and floods and post disaster relief works have drawn attention to the people", he added.

Dr.Fakhruddin said the "Dal -Bhat (pulse-rice)" and " Fair Price Markets" programmes of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) aimed at keeping the prices of essentials under control have also been acclaimed by the people of all walks of lives and the people belonging to middle and lower middle class have heaved a sigh of relief with these initiatives.

Referring to the role of BDR, he said curbing smugglings and crimes and maintaining internal law and order are one of the main pre-requisites for socio- economic development of the country. He said the BDR has a great role to play in this regard.

The chief adviser said that some structural changes have so far been made to raise operational efficiency and excellence of the forces. In this context, he said approval has been given to set up one new Rifles Battalion in Patnitala under Rajshahi sector.

Besides, the matters regarding setting up three Rifles Battalion in Khagrachari and Khulna sectors and another six in the unprotected border areas of Chittagong Hill Tracts are remained under active consideration of the government, he added.

Apart from these, he said the matters to set up a fire support company with each sector headquarters is also remained under active consideration of the government. These changes and development will strengthen the Bangladesh Rifles and help raise its efficiency, the chief adviser added.

Listing different steps taken by the government to provide some facilities to the border security forces, the chief adviser said the matters to raise ration for the welfare of sepoy families up to 100 per cent from the existing 60 per cent and offer risk allowances for officials and sepoy of BDR are remained under active consideration of the government.

He said process is underway to impart training as well as taking others preparations for sending the BDR personnel in UN missions. In this connection, he informed the BDR personnel that the UN has also shown interest to deploy two "formed police units" of Bangladesh Rifles under UN peace keeping mission in Sudan.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed asked the BDR personnel to uphold their dignity and use their talent and merit to maintain good neighbourly relations while discharging their duties.

He called upon them to discharge responsibilities vested upon them with patriotism aimed at protecting independence and sovereignty and protecting borders of the country along with maintaining internal law and order.

Recalling the contributions of the BDR personnel who sacrificed their lives for the cause of liberating the country with gratitude, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the people of the country would ever remember the enlightened sons of the soil for their supreme sacrifices for the motherland.

Director General of BDR Maj. Gen. Shakil Ahmed also gave address of welcome in the function.

Later, the chief adviser distributed "Bangladesh Rifles Award-2007" and "President Rifles Award-2007" to the six BDR personnel for their courage and dedication while discharging their duties.

Nayek Subeder Md. Ayubur Rahman and Nayek Subeder Mohammad Ali got the prestigious "Bangladesh Rifles Award-2007" and Lt. Col. Mohammad Abdul Razzak, Major Mohammad Ekramul Haque Khan, Captain Md. Abdul Khaleq and Sepoy Md. Abdul Mannan were awarded the "President Rifles Award-2007".

The programme over, the chief adviser joined a lunch with the BDR personnel on the occasion.

The Chief Adviser also held a meeting with BDR sector commanders there.

Transparent international transactions stressed

Chittagong Correspondent

Speakers here at the inaugural session of a workshop yesterday emphasized the need for better understanding and applications of the uniform customs and practices (UCP) in paying the international trade bills.

They said that easy, quick and transparent transactions particularly in the international trade had long been considered as the basic precondition of dynamic and favorable trade environment apart from pacing up the global economy and in the region as well.

They were addressing the opening session of the daylong workshop on "International Trade payment Practices" at a city hotel. International Chamber of Commerce - Bangladesh (ICCB) and the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) jointly hosted the workshop.

President of the International Chamber of Commerce - Bangladesh (ICCB) Mahbubur Rahman chaired the session while First Vice-President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) MA Salam and expert on international trade billing Vincent O Brien among others addressed it.

Mahbubur Rahman said that documentary credit method had become most popular way of addressing the international trade bills over the decades, and currently its newest version - UCP 600 - just had been brought into operation.

The UCP provides a common set of rules for the institutional lenders and the financial companies all over the world what are open and free for subscription to any financial organization wants to benefit from it.

Referring to the growing dependence on the international documentary credit mainly in south and Southeast Asian and Middle-eastern countries Mahbubur Rahman said that international standard banking practices (ISBP) would be a great help in cutting the rates of rejections of payment.

He dubbed the ISBP as the driving force of the UCP and observed that lesser chances were there for hazard free international trading without fair knowledge on international standard banking practices.

First Vice President of the BGMEA MA Salam thanked the ICC and the GTZ for hosting the workshop and hoped that the workshop would help the local bankers and the exporters better understand the ISBP. He urged the organizers to undertake such events in the future for capacity building of the local professionals.

More than 80 officials from different public and private financial institutions, readymade garment manufacturing firms and the BGMEA joined the daylong workshop.

100 crore Taka scheme for shipbuilding

BSS, Narayanganj

The Dockyard and Engineering Works Ltd. (DEW) run by Bangladesh Navy at Sonakanda in the district has undertaken a comprehensive plan for modernising the dockyard.

Official sources said, under the Taka 100-crore scheme the DWE will build ocean-going vessels of international standard and overhaul old, obsolete and dilapidated machinery.

The naval engineers and technicians by this time undertook a work plan to repair machinery and equipment worth about Taka 25 crore. Nearly 80 percent work on the plan has already been completed.

The repaired machinery included one jetty crane, one floating crane, one mobile crane, two over head cranes of the work shop, six lathe machines, including one multipurpose universal machine, three shaper machines, one bending machine, two boilers, one saw mills and slippers plat and rail carriages along with hard standing floor, one blacksmith shop, one foundry, one Russian store and 11 workshops.

Established in 1926 on a 22-acre plot on the eastern bank of the river Shitalakkha, the ocean-going ship building dockyard went into production in 1950. Many foreign firms used to have their ocean-going tugs built at the dockyard through international tender during the pre- liberation period.

After independence of the country in 1971, it was placed under the supervision of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) of the Ministry of Industries. The dockyard was laid off on December 21, 2002. Subsequently, it was handed over to Bangladesh Privatisation Board as a sick industrial unit in 2004.

The Ministry of Industries through the Defence Ministry handed over the management of the dockyard to Bangladesh Navy on December 7, 2006 through a gazette notification.

Gano Forum, Bikalpa Dhara support EC plan to hold local polls prior to national one

Staff Reporter

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) led by former President Prof Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Gano Froum (GF) led by former Foreign Minister Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday extended support to the Election Commission's plan for holding elections to the city corporations before the national polls as per its roadmap.

Urging other political parties to make the ensuing city corporation polls, front ranking leaders of the BDB and GF asked the Government to hold dialogue with the civil society and professional groups and individuals side by side with the political parties in order to make talks meaningful to arrive at a consensus on the issues of national interests.

Making the calls after a joint meeting at the GF office at Hotel Eden Complex in the city, leaders of both the BDB and GF said they have decided to work together on national issues to bring about meaningful changes in the interest of the country and its people and democracy in the future.

They also demanded the lifting of the state of emergency before the polls as per the Government's commitment to encourage peoples' participation in the elections.

"We don't want mere elections, we want meaningful polls," Gano Forum Presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya told journalists after the meeting.

He urged the Election Commission (EC) to complete the unfinished task within the timeframe, as there is no alternative to elections.

Bikalpa Dhara Secretary General Maj (retd) MA Mannan said his party also wants credible elections free from black money, terrorism and corruption to establish a sustainable democracy in the country.

He said Bikalpa Dhara wants to cooperate with the Government if it holds dialogue on the present problems.

Mannan said his party also likes to reach a consensus with other parties on national interest, but they would not go for any understanding with war criminals.

BDB leaders Mahi B Chowdhury, Commander (retd) Shahidur Rahman, Dr Muzaffar Ahmed, Aziz Akand and Advocate Sabera Begum and GF leaders Mofizul Islam Khan Kamal, Commander (retd) Rouf, former Whip Abdur Rouf, and Dr Farid Ahmed were, among others, present at the meeting.

Baropukuria Coal Mine case: ACC appoints IO to launch investigation

BSS, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday appointed investigation officer (IO) to examine the allegation brought against former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and 15 others in the Baropukuria Coal Mine graft case.

The ACC appointed its Deputy Director Monirul Haque as the IO entrusting him with the power to arrest any accused person of the case if he feels necessary in the interest of proper investigation. In his regular briefing, ACC Director General (admin) Colonel Hanif Iqbal today said the appointment letter was issued yesterday and we hope that the investigation will begin immediately.

The ACC filed the case on February 26 last against Begum Zia and 15 others including former chairman of the cabinet committee on public procurement and former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, former BNP secretary general and LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former health and family welfare minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former industries minister and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami.

Former members of the cabinet committee on Public Procurement and former information minister M Shamsul Islam, former agriculture minister MK Anwar, former post and telecommunications minister Barrister Mohammad Aminul Haque, former commerce minister Alhaj Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and former social welfare minister and secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and state minister for energy and mineral resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain were also accused in the case.