The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rotary Club distributes 140 wheelchairs among handicapped people

Rafique Ahmed Siddique, Convener of Rotary Club,
handing over the Wheelchairs among the disabled at
Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on Friday. NN
photo

Staff Reporter

The Rotary Club of Dhaka yesterday distributed 140 wheelchairs among physically handicapped people.

The distribution programme was held at Bangladesh-China friendship conference centre. Peoples Leasing and Financial services Ltd was the partner in the programme. CI, Singapore donated the wheel chairs.

Speaking on the occasion, Rafiq Ahmed Siddique, Convenor of Rotary Club in Bangladesh, said some organisations in the country are giving leadership in helping the unprivileged people. The Rotary club is one of them. The Club always tries to help the people who are deprived of the'r rights he added.

FH Arif, president of the Rotary Club in Dhaka, said the Club had initiated steps to make the world polio free. The club donated Tk130 crore to the Bangladesh Government for implementing various welfare projects. The club also provided scholarship to the students in different disciplines.

Mohammad Nurul Alam, General Secretary, Sultana Abedin Molla, vice preident, Anawarul Kabir Bhuiyan, joint Secretary of Rotary Club of Dhaka, among others, were present at the wheel chair distribution programme.

Tibet monks won’t be punished: China

Reuters, Beijing

China will not punish a group of Tibetan monks for disrupting a government-organised foreign media tour of Lhasa and voicing support for the Dalai Lama, a senior official said in a bid to allay fears of repercussions.

Baema Chilain, vice-chairman of the Chinese-controlled Tibet Autonomous Region, also said "separatists" were planning to disrupt the Olympic torch relay in Tibet.

However, he pledged to ensure the flame's security there and on its planned ascent of Mount Everest, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday.

On Thursday, about 30 monks at the Jokhang Temple, one of the holiest in Tibet, shoved their way into a briefing and spent about 15 minutes telling reporters the government was lying about recent unrest. They also rejected Chinese claims the Tibetan spiritual leader was directing the rash of protests.

These monks who staged the bold protest will not be punished, Xinhua quoted Baema Chilain as saying. "But what they said is not true. They were attempting to mislead the world's opinion," he said. "The facts shouldn't be distorted."

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader who fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959, said on Friday China's media were using "deceit and distortion" in coverage of protests in Tibet. He said this could cause racial tension between Tibetans and Han Chinese with unpredictable long-term consequences.

"This is of grave concern to me," the Dalai Lama said in a statement on www.tibet.net, appealing to "Chinese brothers and sisters" to dispel misunderstanding and find a peaceful solution.

"I assure you I have no desire to seek Tibet's separation. Nor do I have any wish to drive a wedge between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples," he said. The Tibetan leader has condemned the violence and denies he seeks more than greater autonomy for his homeland.

Missing girl returns home

Anjana Roy

Staff Reporter

A seven-year-old girl Anjana Roy, who had been missing from her native village in Barisal for the last two years, was finally returned to her mother from Murshidabad of West Bengal on March 25.

Joint initiatives of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and Indian Red Cross have made this emotional return possible.

The Indian Red Cross came to know that Anjana was sheltered at 'Shilyan after Care Home' in Murshidabad. Later they communicated to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society about Anjana, giving her home address.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society found the address of Anjana's village home during the post SIDR rehabilitation operation and sent a return message confirming that her mother was anxious to receive Anjana.

Anjana was handed over to Jahid Hossain Tokon, Secretary, Red Crescent of Jessore unit by the Indian Red Cross, On February 12, 2008.

Anjana was reunited with her family at a ceremony that took place in Jessore. Since Anjana's father is a blind man and her mother is ill, she was handed over to her elder sister.

The officials of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; Monwara Sarkar and Shirin Akter accompanied Anjan's sister to Jessore.

When Anjana was returned to her village Harta, under Ujirpur in Barisal amid atmosphere of high emotion.

Thai PM warns of coup plot

AFP, Bangkok

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday he had been warned of a coup plot against his government, but refused to say who was scheming against him.

Samak, whose government replaced a military regime after his People Power Party (PPP) won elections in December, said he had received a letter listing people who were planning to overthrow him.

"Anyone who might try another coup must ponder, why should he do that? For whom should he do that? Why and how?" Samak said, without revealing details of the threat.

But the premier said he did not believe there would be another putsch because the military top brass have already said they would not try to seize power.

"The military's supreme commander has said that he would never do that. The army chief, the navy chief, the air force chief and the supreme commander-none of them have ever said that they would consider a coup," Samak said.

He later told reporters that the plotters wanted to use the legal system to place the government in deadlock in the hope of forcing the military to stage a new coup. "This group wants to create confusion in hopes that will lead to a military coup," he said.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people gathered at a university auditorium late Friday in central Bangkok to hear speeches against Samak's government.

The event was staged by the People's Alliance for Democracy, the same group that spearheaded protests against Thaksin's government in the run up to the coup. Hundreds of supporters of Samak's government held their own demonstration in a nearby plaza.

Royalist generals in the military toppled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup in September 2007.

Expatriate welfare desks at Ctg, Sylhet airports soon

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Friday said expatriate welfare desks would be introduced at Chittagong and Sylhet airports soon like that in Dhaka. He said this while talking to journalists in Dhaka, said a press release of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry.

The adviser said an expatriate welfare desk was inaugurated at Zia International Airport on March 27 to facilitate travelling of workers to foreign countries. The government wants to create such facilities at Chittagong and Sylhet airports for the workers going abroad, he added. He hoped that the government would be able to introduce expatriate welfare desks at Chittagong Shah Amanat Airport and Sylhet Osmani Airport very soon.

Standard of education more important than expansion

BSS, Chittagong

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman here yesterday stressed the importance of quality education, saying improving the standard of education is more important than its mere expansion.

Speaking at a function in the city as the chief guest, he said the government is working relentlessly to improve the overall standard of education.

The function was organized to mark foundation laying of an academic building of Aparna Charan City Corporation Girls' High School and to distribute prizes among the winners of its annual sports and cultural competition.

The building will be built at an estimated cost of Taka six crore. Acting city mayor M Manjur Alam chaired the function on the school premises.

Chairman of Chittagong Secondary and Higher Secondary Board Dr Mohammad Yousuf, elderly politician Binode Bihari Chowdhury, chief executive officer of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) AKM Khairul Alam, chief education officer of CCC Prof Raushan Akhter Hanif, vice president of the school management committee Bakhteyer Noor Siddique and headmistress of the school Lutfun Nahar also spoke at the function.

Dr Hossain Zillur said the nation would reap the benefits after successful implementation of the programmes taken by the government to bring about qualitative changes in education.

He advised the students to put in their best efforts in acquiring human virtues as well as mental and physical excellence side by side with earning knowledge.

Bangladesh calls for more investment in ICT sector

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh team at a country- showcasing event at the United Nations on Wednesday called for more investment in ICT sector by global investors.

Organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the two-day event included a series of interactive panel discussions and country presentations by emerging markets like Bangladesh and Turkey as well as already developed markets like India.

It was attended by a large number of information technology professionals, investors, venture capitalists and representatives from developing countries and international financial institutions, said a press release of Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN from New York yesterday .

The Bangladesh team comprised of a government representative from the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN and three representatives from the private sector who apprised the forum of the positive environment created in Bangladesh to attract more investment in the ICT sector. Javed Ahmad, CEO of Aprosoft, a Boston based IT consulting and outsourcing company with an offshore development centre in Bangladesh, briefed on the recent developments of the ICT industry and its future potentials.

Kamal Quadir, founder of CellBazaar, which introduced electronic platform for market information via cell phones, shared his experience in transferring technology to Bangladesh. Kazi Islam, CEO of Grameen Solutions, spoke on the opportunities and future possibilities of ICT development in Bangladesh and called for increased investment by technology partners.

The presentation was followed by lively exchange of views by investors and panelists. Some investors openly informed that they were very bullish about Bangladesh's investment climate and the potentials of return on equity.

Expressing deep appreciation for the recent developments in the ICT sector, a representative of an international financial organisation informed that his organisation would focus on possibilities of more investment in Bangladesh since much of the information he got today made him take a fresh look at the emerging investment climate.

No scope to separate religious, political leaderships: Jamaat

Staff Reporter

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami yesterday said that there is no scope in Islam to separate religious leadership from political leadership.

In this regard, he referred that four Khalifas of Kholafa-e-Rashedin, along with running the state, had given sermons at the mosques and conducted the daily prayers. The Jamaat Ameer was addressing a discussion meeting and prize giving ceremony at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDE,B) auditorium in the city as chief guest to mark the holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi.

He alleged that some atheists with Muslims names present Islamic teaching in a distorted manner. If such atheist intellectuals with Muslims names were not vocal against Islam, none could show the audacity of opposing Islamic teachings, he said.

The function, organised by Dhaka City Unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, was held with city Ameer Rafiqul Islam Khan in the chair.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary Generals Abdul Qader Mollah, ATM Azharul Islam and Prof Mojibur Rahman, city secretary Hamidur Rahman Azad, Nurul Islam Bulbul, Maulana Abdul Halim, Maulana Abdus Shahid Nasim and Maulana Zainul Abedin, among others, addressed the meeting.

Maulana Nizami said those demanding imposition of a ban on religion-based politics; were indeed talking about imposing ban on the ideals of Prophet Mohammad (SM).

He regretted that some intellectuals with Muslims names like Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury are hatching conspiracy against Islam.

The Jamaat Ameer termed the doctrine of Allah given to Prophet Mohammad (SM) consistent with human nature.

"Islam cannot be accepted partially. The Quran should be abided fully," he observed.

He said those who called people towards the true path had always faced obstructions.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Women Affairs Secretary Shamsunnahar Nizami yesterday said the womenfolk in the country would not accept any law giving approval to the women development policy, which is contrary to the Quran and Sunnah.

Addressing a separate discussion meeting at IDE,B auditorium she alleged that a vested quarter is trying to approve what she called an imbalance policy in the name of equity between men and women.

"No problem related to women can be resolved ignoring the teachings of Islam," she observed.

Jagannath varsity clash: Injured JCD activist dies in hospital

Staff Reporter

Kajol Devnath, who was injured in a clash between two factions of JCD in Jagannath University on March 22, died at Rashmono Hospital in the city yesterday.

After being injured in the clash, Kajol, 21, student of Bangla department of the university, was admitted to the hospital where he died at about 8.00am.

Later, his body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Supporters of JCD's two factions, led by Jagannath University unit president ABM Parvez and general secretary Talukder Khokon, attacked each other's men following internal feud, leaving several students injured.

Muslim countries, Europeans condemn anti-Islam film

AFP, The Hague

An anti-Islam film posted online by a far-right Dutch deputy drew fire Friday from Muslims and European officials, and a call for calm from Muslims in The Netherlands fearing a violent response.

Muslim countries warned of strong reactions to the film, which came two years after a series of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed published in Danish media sparked violent worldwide outrage.

The Shiite government of Iran was among the first to react, saying that the film showed some Westerners were waging a "vendetta" against Islam, and warning of unspecified repercussions. A coalition of Jordanian media said they would take Wilders to court over the film and launch a campaign to boycott Dutch products. They urged Arab leaders to review ties with Denmark and the Netherlands.

In Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, about 40 supporters of the hardline Islamist party Jamaat-i-Islami protested, chanting "Death to the filmmaker" and demanding Pakistan's government sever diplomatic ties with The Netherlands.

The government of Muslim-majority Bangladesh also condemned the film, saying in a statement that it could have "grave consequences t because it will offend millions of Muslims around the world."

Muslim leaders in The Netherlands called at a joint news conference for their co-religionists in other countries not to over-react.

"We call on them to follow our strategy and not react with attacks on Dutch embassies or tourists," the head of the Dutch Moroccan community, Mohamed Rabbae, said.

"We feel offended by the link between violence and Islam but we know this guy (Wilders), the best response is a response in a responsible manner."

The European Union's Slovenian presidency attacked the film, saying it served "no other purpose than inflaming hatred."

British Foreign Minister David Miliband stressed the importance of freedom of speech but said it should be combined with "respect for religious and racial diversity."

Europe's top human rights authority, the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, called the film "a distasteful manipulation which exploits ignorance, prejudice and fear."

"It is simply political propaganda and it plays into the hands of extremists who are given such a prominent role in his film," the council's secretary general, Terry Davis, said in a statement..

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende issued a statement condemning the film which he said "equates Islam with violence. We reject that interpretation."

Bangladesh condemns posting of a film criticising holy Quran

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh strongly condemned the posting of a film criticizing the holy Quran on the website by a Dutch right-wing politician.

"This totally unwarranted and mindless action can have grave consequences as it will offend millions of Muslims around the world", said a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. No right thinking person can endorse this, the spokesman further stated, also noting that the Dutch government has distanced itself from this aberrant act.

"Islam is a faith of peace which preaches patience and understanding, and the message of the holy Quran has been the source of hope and inspiration for humanity through centuries.

The posting of this film on the web does not alter that abiding truth in any way," the spokesman observed.

Algeria to set up embassy in Dhaka soon

UNB, Dhaka

Algeria is going to establish its embassy in Dhaka soon to further promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

"The process is going on. We'll set up our embassy here as soon as possible to improve trade and economic cooperation," said Nadir Larbaoui, Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh who is resident in Islamabad, in an interview with UNB at Sonargaon Hotel yesterday. The Ambassador said: "We're also going to renew all agreements in the fields of trade and commerce and planning to establish foreign office consultations."

He said a 20-member business delegation from Bangladesh visited Algeria last year to promote bilateral trade and investment.

Ambassador Larbaoui, who had meetings with Bangladeshi businesses and companies, said: "We're thinking to set up a business council of Bangladeshi and Algerian businessmen."

The present bilateral trade is insignificant and done through third country. Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products and medicines are mainly exported to Algeria.

Ambassador Larbaoui said that although based in Pakistan, he always made a point of coming to Dhaka to share with brotherly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the Independence Day and express good wishes on behalf of Algerian President M Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the Algerian people.

Replying to a question, he said Algeria as a brotherly country is following with great interest political and economic developments in Bangladesh and praised the government efforts to promote democratic process and ensure stability, security and development of the country.

Witch caught while drinking blood of 10-year old

Staff Reporter

Police in a Catholic village in northern Bangladesh have detained an indigenous woman for biting a girl and drinking her blood.

Tumpi Mij, the indigenous woman, was caught attacking the 10-year-old victim,Swarna Tirkir, during a Christian ceremony marking Easter Sunday on March 23 in the village of kalikhetro, under the district of Thakurgoan

The head of the Catholic church in Thakurgaon told the newspaper that Mij was declared a witch.

Father Anthony Sen said local indigenous people had embraced Christianity but many converts still practised witchcraft as part of the indigenous culture.

Tumpi Mij said she was assigned to do the task by her brother Francis who was also accused of drinking human blood as part of practicing witchcraft, the local people told the newspaper.

Discord among FFs delays war crime trial: Khandker

Bdnews24.com, Patuakhali

The trials of "war criminals" have not been possible partly because of a discord among freedom fighters, said AK Khandker, convenor of the Sector Commanders' Forum, yesterday.

"The nation now stands united in calls for the trials of war criminals," Khandker said at freedom fighters' reunion in Patuakhali.

The former Air Force chief called upon the government to initiate the trial of war criminals by constituting an international tribunal.

"The trials didn't take place in the past 37 years because freedom fighters were not pushing the agenda together. It helped the war criminals take up important positions in this independent country," Khandker said.