The New Nation - Internet Edition

Square Hospital, Sing HealthGroup sign accord

Staff Reporter

Square Hospitals Limited and Sing Health Group-Singapore signed a partnership agreement yesterday to develop bilateral relationship in the health sector of both countries.

On behalf of the Square Hospital, professor Sanawar Hossain, Director of medical services, Square Hospital and on behalf of the Sing Health, professor Boon Keng Tay, Chairman of medical Board, Sing Health Signed the agreement.

According to the agreement, the doctors, nurses, technicians and administrative managers of Square Hospitals will get all the training and technical support they need from Sing Health group-Singapore. Sing Health will provide a monthly doctor consultation programme at Square Hospital. The referred patients from Sing Health-Singapore will obtain follow-up treatment at Square hospital and the hospital will also be affiliated partner of Sing Health Group in the country.

Prof Sanawar Hassain said, "We have a strong desire to make a revolution in the healthcare sector of the country. This agreement is a successful step towards the revolutions".

Prof Boon Keng expressed his satisfaction after seeing all facilities and the qualities of healthcare provided in Bangladesh.

Tapan Chowdhury, managing Director of Square hospital; Vijaya Sreenidhi, Senior Director-programme development of Sing Health Group, among others, were present in the agreement signing ceremony.

It may be mentioned that The Sing Health Group is the largest group of healthcare institutions including a number of hospitals and healthcare centres. Sing Health performs 175,000 surgeries and handles over three million patients per year.

Dr MR Molla passes away

Dr MR Molla, a paediatrician of Dhaka Shishu Hospital died at Square Hospital in the city at about 11:00pm on April 3 last. He was 58.

He left behind wife, four daughters and a host of relatives and friends.

His first namaz-e-janaza was held at Dhaka Shishu Hospital Jame Mosque and second namaz-e-janaza was held at his Saidabad residence on April 4.

After namaj-e-janaza, he was buried at Banani Graveyard.

A condolence meeting was held at Dhaka Shishu Hospital on Saturday morning where a munajat was offered seeking blessings of the departed soul of the late physician. His qulkhawni will be held today (Sunday).

Indo-Bangla border confce from tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka

A six-day-long border conference between Bangladesh and India begins Monday in New Delhi with a long list of issues between the two neighbors.

Killing or injuring by BSF and Indian nationals, "provocative" firing, trespass and push-in of women and children by the Indian border guards and citizens, trafficking in illegal arms and ammunition, and smuggling of explosive and narcotic substances, including phensidyl, heroin and hemp from India, will be placed by the Bangladesh side in the meeting, said a BDR release here Saturday. Establishment of structures, roads, trench and barbed-wire fences within 150 yards of the no man's land, Bangladeshi "terrorists acting from inside India" and other security issues, BSF interception in development works inside Bangladesh, BSF's non-response in repatriation of Indian nationals after serving jail terms in Bangladesh, inroad of industrial waste from Agartala into canals and some other issues would also be discussed at the conference. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) will also place a number of issues like alleged trans-border crimes by Bangladeshi citizens and criminals entering into Indian territory, illegal stay of Bangladeshis in India, interception by BDR in border fencing within 150 yards of the international border and development works within 150 yards from the zero line, prevention of smuggling of cattle-heads and drugs, "unprovoked" firing by BDR on BSF and Indian civilians and "stay of Indian separatists" in Bangladesh.

A 19-member Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) delegation led by its DG major general Shakil Ahmed will leave for New Delhi on the day to attend the border conference between the two border forces. Representatives from Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Land Ministry, Bangladesh-India Joint Rivers Commission, sector commanders and staff officers of the BDR headquarters will participate in the top-level conference that will conclude on April 12.

Teletalk services suffer disruption for over 5 hrs

UNB, Dhaka

The subscribers of Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, a state-run cellphone operator, experienced disruption in its services across the country for over five hours as its network went out of order.

"It was a transit defect of HLR software and a section of our subscribers was out of our network for this," Teletalk managing director Mujibar Rahman told UNB.

He said the problem started at about 9am and continued till 2:30pm.

A three-member inquiry committee was formed to probe the incident.

CRAB protests misbehavior with its members by law-enforcers

UNB, Dhaka

Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) Saturday demanded punishment and withdrawal of two RAB officials who allegedly misbehaved with its members at RAB-1 office Friday. CRAB also decided to boycott the news of the elite force until actions are taken against the officials.

The decision was taken at a protest rally held on the premises of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Saturday.

Chaired by CRAB president Madhusudhan Mondal, the rally was addressed, among others, by former DRU president Mahfuzur Rahman, general secretary Ilias Khan, former DRU general secretary Shahed Chowdhury, former DRU organising secretary Mahmudur Rahman Khokon, general secretary of DRU multipurpose cooperative society Mohsinul Karim Lebu and CRAB organising secretary Kamruzzaman. CRAB general secretary Azhar Mahmud conducted the protest meeting. Former president of Dhaka University Journalists Association Kazi Saifuddin Ovi, Bangladesh Today reporter Ainul Haque Royal, who had fallen victims to physical torture by RAB earlier, and CRAB training secretary Omar Faruk Al Hadi and CRAB member ABU Sufian Tipu, victims of Friday's misbehavior by RAB, also addressed the rally. They demanded punishment of Major Shamsuddoha and captain Sharif for their alleged involvement in Friday's incident in a press briefing. They also called for their immediate withdrawal.

AK-47, recovered in Kushtia

UNB, Kushtia

Police in a raid recovered arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, from a hideout at Bongram in Khoksha upaizla Saturday.

The seized weapons are one AK-47 rifle, one .22- bore rifle, a single-barrel gun and 66 rounds of ammunition. Police said the operation was launched at noon on a tip-off that "some cadres of 'Razzaq Bahini' are holding a secret meeting" at a house at the village.

"Sensing police presence, the terrorists fled the scene, leaving behind their arms," a police official said.

Police Super Moslehuddin Ahmed visited the spot after the raid.