The New Nation - Internet Edition

Online web portal on Shariatpur launched

Staff Reporter

Shariatpur Charity Foundation yesterday launched a district based an online web portal to release important news and contemporary issues of the district.

Awami League Presidium Member and former minister Abdur Razzak who hailed from Shariatpur inaugurated the web portal at a function held at Azad Grand Hotel in the city.

The address of the web portal is www.focus-shariatpur. org, which will also contain history, tradition and introduction of the district.

The main objective of introducing the portal is also to develop relation with residents of Shariatpur and provide them opportunity to express their opinion of different issue including development of the district, which is considered neglected one.

Presided over by Alauddin Ahmed, President of the foundation, the function was also addressed, among others, by Maulana Noor Uddin, Acting Khatib of Baitual Mukarram National Mosque, Azizul Haque Mollick, Brig Ismail Hossain, Prof Dr Hedayetul Islam, Principal ABM Jonab Ali, Principal AKM Zahirul Islam and Altaf Hossain, Executive Director of the foundation.

Eminent dignities and personalities of the district were present at the function.

Appeal for help

Staff Reporter

Madrasa student Shahadat Hosen, 10, has been suffering from Non Hodking's Lymphoma Cancer. He is now under treatment at Mohakhali Cancer Research Institute (Bed No. # F-7).

Mustafa Chowdhury, father of ailing Shahdat, requested for financial help from affluent section of the society to continue treatment of his son as he fails to cope with the expenses.

Financial help can be sent to Mustafa Chowdhury, Account No: 43684, Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd, Mirpur Branch, Dhaka. Phone: 01722-106282.

Guardian Forum to state sit-in protesting structural questioner system in SSC exams

UNB, Dhaka

Guardian Forum, a conglomerate of SSC candidates' guardians, will stage a sit-in at Central Shaheed Minar at 3:30pm today demanding postponement of the newly introduced structural questioner system, applicable for the SSC examination from the year 2010.

The forum will announce its next programme and bring out a protest procession from the demonstration venue, said a press release.

"The forum is compelled to undertake the programme even in the prevailing sate of emergency for the sake of the children's future," the release said.

Research programme for PhD award held in city

Staff Reporter

The presentation ceremony of research programme for the award of PhD conducted by Centre for Executive Development Studies (CEDS) was held on March 07 at its seminar hall.

DR Md Selim Bhuiya, Chairman and Director of academic affairs of CEDS presided over the function.

Four Research fellows presented their thesis paper on different important subjects in Bangladesh perspective. The fellows are Engineer Md Wazed Ali, Advocate Md Iqbal Karim, Akram H Chowdhury and ASM Manjoor Morshed.

It may be mentioned that CEDS is an affiliated body of American World University of California,USA.

A new medical board may be formed for Hasina's treatment

UNB, Dhaka

Another medical board may be formed in a couple of days for appropriate treatment of detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, official sources indicated.

So far five specialist physicians examined Hasina at makeshift jail in past few days and some of them recommended that she should be admitted to hospital.

Hasina has been suffering from multiple health complications including serious problems to her ears and eyes.

When contacted IG(Prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hassan told UNB yesterday that four specialists physicians of the former Prime Minister' s choice have advised her to get admitted to hospital for treatment.

He said two more physicians will examine her tomorrow (Sunday).

In reply to a question Brig Hassan said the jail authorities have already requested her to get admitted to hospital following the physicians' recommendation but she did not agree.

Meanwhile, acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman today demanded her immediate release and proper treatment outside the country.

"For a pretty long time we are not getting any information about her. She should immediately be freed and arrangements be made for her treatment abroad," he told reporters at his Gulshan house.

Wife, son killed by a man in Narayanganj

UNB, Narayanganj

A man allegedly killed his wife and son in sleep at Shahimasjid Khanpara in Bandar upazila on Friday night following a scandal over an extramarital affair.

The victims are Rabeya Begum Sonia, 22, and her two-year- old son Sojol.

Sources said day-labourer Abdul Karim, hailed from Noakhali district, got married with Sonia, daughter of late Shamsuddin of Jamaipara area in the upazila, after an affair with her four years back.

But the philanderer developed an extramarital affair with a garment worker, which embittered their conjugal life.

In recent times, the couple used to quarrel with each other.

Moreover, they said, Karim often asked Sonia to bring money from her father's house. "As she failed to bring the dowry, Karim used to torture her," it was alleged to the police.

Sonia went to her father's house along with her son in Jamaipara area a month back following a merciless beating by her husband. But Karim' s mother brought them on Friday.

She went to sleep with son and husband in her room on Friday night. As Sonia did not open the doors till 11am yesterday, neighbours went to her room and found both the mother and son dead.

On information, police recovered the bodies and sent to hospital morgue.

Police said, "Karim might have strangled his wife and son to death and fled home."

A pall of gloom descended on the area following the cruel double-murder incident.

Zillur steps into 80

UNB, Dhaka

Veteran politician and Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman steps into 80.

On March 9, 1929 he was born in Brahmanbaria. In 1952 Zillur was suspended from Dhaka University for the time being for joining the Language Movement and his Masters degree was snatched away at the instruction of the then government.

In 1953 he was elected unopposed Vice-President of Fazlul Huq Hall Students Union. In the same year, he became the founding president of Kishoreganj Subdivision Awami Muslim League and Vice-president of greater Mymensingh District.

In 1954 he was elected president of Awami Swecchasebak Bahini.

In his long political career, Zillur joined all democratic and progressive movements and had to face imprisonments time and again.

Zillur who is a lawyer by profession was elected general secretary of Dhaka Bar Association.

In 1970 he was elected Member of National Assembly of Pakistan and played significant role during the Liberation War in 1971. He was elected several times to national parliament.

After independence, Zillur was elected general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League. He was elected the first Secretary of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BKSAL).

Zillur served as LGRD Minister for five years from 1996-2001.

Suu Kyi meets UN envoy

BBC News

Aung San Su Kyi, 30 January 2008 Burma's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has left her house for a meeting with a visiting UN envoy, reports say.

Ms Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, was seen leaving in an official convoy for the state guest house where the envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, is staying.

Gambari is currently in Burma to mediate between the military government and opposition.

It is his third visit since last year's government crackdown on protests led by the country's revered Buddhist monks.

Gambari earlier met other members of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), along with representatives of ethnic minorities and non-governmental organisations.

The five NLD leaders are said to have expressed the need for more talks with the military government and the release of political prisoners.

Teachers team calls on President

UNB, Dhaka

A delegation of Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed Residential Model School and College, Munshiganj called on President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban on Saturday. The delegation, led by college principal Lt. Colonel Khondoker Farhad Hossain, apprised the President of the activities of Residential Model School and College.

President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed gave them a patient hearing and asked to provide quality education so that the students could build the country's image.

He also said, "Quality education is a must to make the country's independence meaningful."