The New Nation - Internet Edition

Any move to amend coal policy to protect Asia Energy's interests won't be acceptable

Staff Reporter

National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Mineral Resources and Power-Port yesterday asserted that the nation would not accept any amendment to the coal policy for protecting the interests of Asia Energy.

Expressing deep concern about the recent remarks of Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Energy Affairs Dr M Tamim for reconsidering the coal policy, leaders of the National Committee said the nation would not accept any move to loot the country's coal resources and protect the interests of Asia Energy.

"Any amendment to the proposed coal policy for implementing the Phulbari Coal Project through Asia Energy will not be acceptable to the country's people as the company has already been rejected by the people," they said at a meeting held yesterday.

The meeting demanded of the government to ensure 100 per cent rights of people in the coal policy and exracting coal through any national agency, instead of a foreign one.

The meeting also expressed great satisfaction over the non-renewal of environmen clearance of Asia Energy on the ground of its failure to fulfill the requirements.

It observed that the expert committee earlier termed the development plan of Asia Energy as illegal. The committee also escribed the Asia Energy's project as contrary to the nation's interests.

"There is no legal basis of the activities of Asia Energy although the company presented a disastrous project as a development project spreading corruption in the entire North Bengal," the meeting said and demanding of the government to expel Asia Energy from the country and taking necessary punitive measures against its corruption.

With National Committee convener Engr Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah in the chair, the meeting was held at the organisation's Green Road office in the city.

The meeting was addressed by National Committee's member secretary Prof Anu Muhammad, Prof Akmal Hossain, Dr Shamsul Alam, Noor Mohammad, Morshed Ali of CPB, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Workers Party's Nurul Hasan, Tipu Biswas and Nazrul Islam of Jatiya Gano Front, Saiful Huq of Workers Party, Ismail Hossain of NAP, Advocate Abdus Salam of Mazdur Party, Junayed Saki and Taslima Aktar of Gano Sanghati, M Enamul Huq, Enamul Latif and Mehedi Hasan of Bhasani Parishad.

Science fair held at Int'l Turkish Hope School

Int'l Turkish Hope School (ITHS) organised a day-long Annual Science Fair which was held on its main campus at Uttara on Saturday.

Students of Uttara, Gulshan Junior Sections and Uttara Senior Sections with the supervision of their teachers demonstrated their projects to the visitors. This year, there was a nice involvement since all the teachers have been involved for over 8 years with science fair, says a press release.

Details of comprehensive projects prepared by talented junior and senior section students were displayed to the visitors from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Computer. Colourful Bangladesh and Turkey corners, traditional Turkish cuisine were also present in the fair.

Afzal Hossain-Founder Chairman of South East University, Justice Afzul Hossain Ahmed-Supreme Court of Bangladesh & High Court Division of Dhaka, Fakrul Islam-Joint Secretary M/O. Civil Aviation and Tourism, Prof Dr. Farruk Ahmed-IML University of Dhaka, Syed Marghub Murshed Ex Chairman of BTRC, Mrs. Jasmin Masud-wife of Lt. Gen. Masud U. Chowdhury visited the science fair.

Academic Excellence

JU Correspondent

Prof Dr Golam Hossen of Government and Politics Department of Jahangirnagar University has attained a glorious achievement in his academic excellence.

He was selected recently as an external examiner for PhD degree at the Department of Politics of Sheffield University, one of the top five universities in England. He is the first academician from Bangladesh to be honoured at such a height.

UN Peacekeeper Flt. Lt Nazmul Huda laid to rest

UNB, Dhaka

Flight Lieutenant AKM Nazmul Huda, a Bangladeshis peacekeeper who died of Malaria during a UN mission to Congo on February 26, buried at his family graveyard in Bakerganj of Barisal district on Monday.

Earlier, Namaz-e-janaza for late Nazmul Huda was held at BAF Base Bashar C-130 tarmac, Tejgaon on Monday.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam, former Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal (retd) Fakhrul Azam, father of the deceased AKM Shah Alam, senior officials and all ranks of Armed Forces attended the janaza.

Flight Lieutenant Nazmul, commissioned in Bangladesh Air Force in GD (P) Branch in 2002, had joined UN Peacekeeping Mission to Congo on September 12, 2007.

Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury expressed his deep shock at the death of Flight Lieutenant AKM Nazmul Huda.

"The nation is proud of her sons like Nazmul Huda who put themselves in harm's way, serving the cause of peace, in distant lands," said the Foreign Adviser in a condolence message on Monday.

He prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and that the Almighty Allah grant his family the strength to bear this loss.

Call to raise awareness on veterinary infection disease

DU Correspondent

British Council in Dhaka yesterday organised a seminar on 'Infection Disease: A Vision for Future Detection, Identification and Monitoring System' at the Fullar Road centre to raise awareness of the universal action plan on veterinary infection disease, detection and vaccinology in order to familiarise policy makers, researchers and health experts in the field with the issues.

Professor Joe Brownlie of Royal Veterinary College, London widely discussed on the topics where he highlighted the result of a recent UK foresight report on the technology and policy priorities for meeting the future challenges of infectious disease which will affect humans, plants and animals.

He said it is expected that human and animal diseases will require integrated approaches and action as new disease are developing with climate change.

The man of different fields like infectious disease, public health, veterinary science, microbiology, pharmacy participated in the seminar.

Dr June Rollinson, Director of the council made the welcome address and Raiqah walie-Khan, Manger, Education and Society thanked the participants.

Bangladesh, Myanmar boat people starve to death near Sri Lanka

UNB, Dhaka

Three Bangladeshi nationals and 17 Myanmar citizens died of starvation or dehydration when their wooden boat drifted in Sri Lankan seas for 12 days.

Quoting a navy spokesman Bloomberg said fishermen reported the boat, with 71 survivors on board, about 280 kilometers northeast of Sri Lanka Sunday.

Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said according to the survivors they ran out of food and water. They have thrown the bodies overboard. The navy has not recovered any bodies. The boat was towed to the northeastern port of Trincomalee where authorities decided the people were "illegal foreign job seekers," the navy said in a statement.

The vessel left Cox's Bazaar near the border between Myanmar and Bangladeshi on Feb. 9. There were 67 people from Myanmar and 24 from Bangladesh on board.

"They were heading for Thailand and Malaysia for lucrative employment," the navy said. The boat's engine failed on Feb. 20 and it began to drift.

Sri Lanka has provided food and medicines to the survivors, according to the statement.

Former Minister MM Zaman dead

Staff Reporter

Former minister and cabinet secretary Mohammad Mabub Uzzaman died of cardiac arrest yesterday at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore (Inna Lillahe……Rajeun).

He was 82 and left behind his wife and two sons and scores of relatives, friends and well-wishers to mourn his death.

The dead body of MM Zaman is expected to be brought in Dhaka tonight.

His namaj-e-janaza will be held at Dhanmondi Baitul Aman Jame Mosque at Road No, 7 after Zohr prayer on Wednesday.

MM Zaman was founder co-chairman of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital and President of Bangladesh Retired Government Employees' Welfare Association.

Attack on NGO office at Natore : 20 injured

UNB, Natore

At least 20 people were injured as an NGO office came under attack by angry mob at Majdia village in Sadar upazila Sunday.

Police said officials of the NGO, Jagorani Unnayan Sangstha, tried to flee away taking huge amount of money deposited with them by local subscribers.

As per direction of administration, the NGO authorities, however, started returning the subscribers' money since Sunday afternoon.

As the NGO authorities delayed disbursing money and deprived many others, local people turned violent and damaged and plundered the NGO office at about 8pm.

Twenty people, including union parishad chairman Tofazzal Hossain, were injured during the incident.

Later, police and RAB rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Tornado lashes Gaibandha villages

Gaibandha Correspondent

A tornado lashed some villages over sadar upazila in the district yesterday at 6:30pm.

The tornado sudden0ly hit south Gidari, Dhutichara, Matikola, Sarker para, Nayan Gram, Kunderpara, Goghat villages of Sadar upazila and damaged one hundred kutcha houses and standing crops.

Many trees were uprooted on the road causing road communications snapped. Five persons including children were seriously injured due to the sudden storm and they have been given first aid. No casually was reported.

The UNO of sadar upazila Iftekhar Hossain said the rescue operation is going on in full swing with the help of local NGOs.