The New Nation - Internet Edition

Malaysian food festival

Staff Reporter

A nine-day long Malaysian Food festival styled "Authentic Malay Cuisine" begins at the Westin Dhaka hotel in the city today.

The Westin Dhaka hotel authority has organised the festival.

Over twenty food items of authentic Malay cuisine will on display at the festival for the consumers, said ATM Hafizullah, Director of Sales and Marketing of the hotel at a press conference yesterday.

Chef Mohammed Shukry Bin Harun and Chef Syed Nayeef Bin Syed Ibrahim of Sheraton Subang Hotel and Tower of Malaysia came to Dhaka for this purpose.

Cavin N Stevenson, Assistant Executive Manager, ATM Hafizullah, Director of Sales and Marketing, Gerard Wallace, Executive Chef of The Westin Dhaka were present at the press conference.

CPB workers observe hunger strike

Staff Reporter

Over two dozen members of the Dhaka unit of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) went on hunger strike at its central office yesterday demanding containment of price hike of essentials, introduction of rationing system across the country and stern action against the syndicate members responsible for artificial crisis of daily essentials.

The programme started at around 11am and ended at 5pm. CPB condemned the police torture on its activists on April 17 while they tried to form a human chain at Muktangon.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, General Secretary of CPB, said, "The price of rice is not coming down as the food security system has failed due to the conspiracy of world Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Bank. He also blamed corrupt businessmen for creating artificial food crisis by forming syndicate."

He was critical of the government for its inability to control and contain price-hike of essentials.

CPB demanded introduction of "Public Distribution System" in all the district towns of the country, establishing fair price shop by government across the country, building buffer store of foodgrains, checking of corruption in food transport system, expansion of Open Market Sale programme, Marketing Operation, launching Test Relief and ending of the discrimination of food among the poor of Bangladesh.

Aasan Habib Lavlu, Dilip Barua, Hayder Akbar Khan Rono, Lina hakraborty, ampng others, were present on the occasion expressing their solidarity with the programme.

327 retired defence personnel claim cheated

Staff Reporter

A group of former military officers, residents of Cantonment area, at a crowded press conference in the city alleged that they have been swindled of Tk seven crore by a group of cheaters.

Hassanuz Zaman, who was also defrauded by the group, told journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday that one such cheater Abdul Qayium and five other persons took money from at least 327 retired persons with the promise of paying a hefty monthly interest.

At the press briefing, Hassan uz Zaman (Retd) Senior Warrant officer, AGS Aktaruzzaman, Mossaraf Hossain, Anisur Rahman Khan and 50 other people, who have lost their entire savings, were present.

Hassan alleged that they invested all their pension money after retirement from the military with Al Akaba Trading and Supply Ltd of 66/3, Balur Ghat Bazar, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206.

Hassan claimed that the chairman of the organisation, Abdul Qayium and directors, Abdul Aziz, Amir Hossain, M Azad, Kamruzzaman and Abdul Aziz, were also retried military personnel.

They demanded immediate arrest of the cheaters.

Referring to their investment with the organisation they said that the company offered them Tk 1,500 interest per month against Tk one lakh.

The company, established in the 2004, provided them interest money initially. We were happy and lead our day-to-day life with the interest from our deposit, but suddenly they stopped payment of the interest without any reason.

At the time of abnormal price hike of foodstuff we are finding it difficult to provide food to our children or pay their tuition fees and we are facing ruination.

The retired defence personnel prayed to the Chief Adviser, Chief of Army, Chief of Air Force and Chief of Navy for fair investigation to save them from the hands of the cheaters.

Journalism is democracy's best friend:Speakers

UNB, Dhaka

Journalism is democracy's best friend and independent journalism is the crying need of the time to usher in a meaningful change and establishing genuine human rights in the country.

This was stated by speakers at a journalism award giving ceremony in the city on Sunday.

The High Commission of Canada and Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) jointly organized the function for distribution of 'Canadian Awards for Excellence in Bangladesh Journalism 2008'.

The awards recognized the outstanding work of the journalists to support democracy building and good governance in Bangladesh. Law Adviser AF Hasan Arif was the chief guest at the function held at the LGED Bhaban in the morning.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Barbara Richardson and BCDJC president Nayeemul Islam Khan attended the function as special guests.

Speaking on the occasion, Law Adviser AF Hasan Arif said newspapers are considered as the truly representative parliament of the country. "They portray the real picture of the society to the people." Lauding the organizers for arranging such a ceremony, he said it would encourage the "continued quest for excellence" within the journalism profession in the country.

The Law Adviser said the parliamentary election in the country would be held within December as per the roadmap declared by the Election Commission. "There is no reason for any confusion in the matter," he added.

Dr Kamal Hossain in his speech admired the grassroots journalists who continued their professional works despite the risk of incurring the wrath of godfathers across the country. "Such brave journalists deserve to have the 'Bir Shreshtha Awards'," he said. Mentioning the name of slain journalists Shamsur Rahman, Manik Saha and Humayun Kabir Balu, he said they scarified their lives in performing their professional duties.

Dr Kamal proposed allocating an entire page in every newspaper for publishing the names of "paid godfathers and terrorists" as identified by the journalists, especially at the grassroots level. "Such godfathers and terrorists resort to torch buses and trucks in the name of movement," he said.

Emphasizing on quality journalism, Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson spoke on the role of journalism and the challenges faced by the journalists in the country.

She mentioned the courage and commitment of journalists in Bangladesh and their contribution to the future of the country. "Quality journalism has made major contributions to countries around the world and particularly to the growth of democracy and the freedom. It supports the simple idea that people can govern themselves," she said.

Eminent journalists, diplomats and distinguished members of civil society were present at the function.

The four award-winning journalists are Iffat Zarin of Sangbad, Haider Akbar Khan Rono of Amar Desh, Jharna Roy of Shaptahik (Weekly) 2000 and Anwar Parvez Halim of PROBE newsmagazine. Each award recipient was given citation, crest and gift packet for their outstanding works in the print media.