The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mass awareness to abstain from catching 'jatka' underscored

BSS, Chittagong

A week-long programme to preserve 'Jatka' (fish fry) as well as create awareness among the people to abstain from catching them was launched here today.

Anowara Upazila Fisheries Department in cooperation with the upazila administration has taken the elaborate programme titled " Jatka Preservation Week -2008" in conformity with the national programme to preserve Jatka.

A large number of people particularly the poor fishermen of this coastal upazila of the district used to catch fish fries during breeding season of the year for their subsistence.

The week-long programmes includes organising discussion, rally, motivation and awareness programme, carrying publicity through loud speakers, screening of documentary shows and drawing competition among the primary level students.

At the maiden day of the programme, a big procession was brought out at the upazila headquarter with the participation of people from all walks of life including government officials, fishermen, teachers and UP chairmen.

Dredging of River Meghna (Bhola-Laxmipur) route for easy navigability stressed

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Ferry service for crossing Meghna River on Bhola-Laxmipur route was formally inaugurated on March 11 after successful trials since February 26, 2008.

Major General M A Matin (rtd.), adviser for water transportation will formally inaugurate the long desired service after expending Tk.78 crore for construction of Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur road.

During the last two weeks successful trial it was felt that rescheduling of timetable adjusting with the road transport rush and regular dredging for maintaining navigability, are must for better and fruitful service.

However time, fuel, operation costing and length of this route may be reduced fifty percent if navigability increased by dredging at three points of the route. Sources said although the river crossing distance is only 11 kilometers, but due to emerged and under water shoals and shortage of navigability it takes at least double time to cross more 17 kilometers distances by three old modeled BIWTC ferries.

However, BIWTC officials said that dredging at Bonger Char point never gave better result as it silted again within a short time and Motir Hut is an erosion-prone area. Detail hydrographic survey is need immediately for taking any sustainable decision about making this service permanent, easier, time, fuel and cost saving,.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority sources said expert opinion for starting ferry service in this route was given after feasibility study completed on December 24, 2007 and BIWTC technical team submitted study report on December 28.

Then a meeting of the water transport ministry approved the decision about starting ferry service in this route on January 15, 2008.

According to that decision preparation for starting ferry service on trial basis within February 2008 was taken and three Ro-Ro ferries were placed.

Team of BIWTC monitoring and checking the route regularly. Sources said this ferry service will linkup Chittagong-Khulna highway connecting Barisal and Khulna divisional headquarters, Mongla seaport and three core people of 21 districts of south, west and northern parts of the country.

They said that stations already have been opened at Tajumuddin and Monju Chowdhurir Hut in Bhola and Laxmipur ends of the ferry crossing points after constructing link roads.

Knowledge, attitude, practice can help prevent 80 pc diseases

BSS, Rajshahi

Knowledge, attitude and practice can help preventing 80 percent of both the communicable and non- communicable diseases along with malnutrition.

To make this idea accessible to every sections of the society, due attention should be given to creation of mass awareness through using both the print and electronic media and other state-level machineries responsible for the purposes.

Speakers made these observations while addressing a daylong sensitising workshop with stakeholders and journalists on health education and promotion in the conference hall of Divisional Director of Health here today.

They also said some prolonged non-communicable diseases like diabetic, cardiac ailment, high blood pressure, stroke and respiratory inflammation are responsible for 60 percent of the total death. But the death rate could be reduced to a greater extent after following some health related rules and regulations strictly.

Similarly, some communicable diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, highly pathogenic avian influenza, leprosy, kalazar and phyleriasis are also being adjudged as the social burden.

Bureau of Health Education (BHE) and Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) jointly arranged the divisional workshop styled "Sensitisation on Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases and Malnutrition".

Divisional Director of Health Dr. ABM Tanzimul Haque, Civil Surgeon Dr. Sazedul Islam, BCCP Director Shajahan, Deputy Director of Family Planning Mazidul Islam and Health Education Officer Abdus Salam addressed the opening session as the guest speakers. Main objective of the workshop was to disseminate ideas among the newsmen, stakeholders and other policy-makers so that they can play a vital role in creating awareness about prevalence, causes and preventing measures of the diseases.

In the technical session, Deputy Director of Health Dr. Fakhrul Islam, Medical Officer Dr. Alauddin and Journalist Mustafizur Rahman Khan presented four separate keynote papers portraying their expertise opinion on the diseases along with the role of media relating to their prevention.

Discussion on shrimp industry held in Khulna

A discussion meeting was held on the Labour Force Development Strategy for the Exportable Shrimp Industry in Khulna under the joint initiatives of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association (BFFEA) and Fish Inspection and Quality Control (FIQC) Office, Department of Fisheries. Under the auspices of UNIDO supported Bangladesh Quality Support Programme (BQSP) Fisheries component, Khulna and Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), an NGO engaged in lobbying and advocacy locally, the discussion meeting was chaired by Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan, Deputy Director, FIQC, Khulna while Mr. Kazi Belayet Hossain, and Sk Abdul Baki, President and Vice President of the BFFEA was present as chief guest and special guest respectively.

Before the discussion an overview of the BQSP and its components was presented by the National Project Coordinator K. R. Hassan on behalf of UNIDO. The issues-based discussions was initiated by presenting an introductory paper on 'Women in Development (WID) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues in the Shrimp Sector by Nuruzzaman, National Consultant, BQSP, UNIDO, and a keynote paper on 'The Importance of Addressing the Labour issues: the Market Demand' by Quazi Kudrat-e-Kabir from World Fish Centre, Dhaka.