The New Nation - Internet Edition

NAP leader Syed Ashraf passes away

BSS, Dhaka

Syed Ashraf, a former lawmaker, language veteran and former general secretary of National Awami Party (NAP), died of prolonged illness at a city hospital on Saturday night. He was 78, said a press release.

He left behind his wife, only son and a host of relatives and political admirers to mourn his death.

Ashraf, also an organiser of the War of Liberation, served in jail in 1950 and 1952 during the language movement, and also in 1965 for his role in anti-Ayub movement. He was elected member of the provincial assembly from Baufal in 1965.

The first namaj-e-janaza of Syed Ashraf was held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad after Zohr prayers yesterday. Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar and leaders of different political parties attended the janaza.

After the janaza, Speaker Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, Khandaker Delwar Hossain on behalf of BNP and Advocate Abdul Hamid on behalf of Awami League placed wreaths at his coffin.

Leaders of different political parties, socio-cultural organisations, professional groups and student orgnisations paid rich tributes to Syed Ashraf when his body was brought to the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday morning.

Syed Ashraf will be buried at his village Dhulia under Baufal upazila of Patuakhali district today.

Dhaka elected to 3 UN bodies

BSS, Dhaka

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has elected Bangladesh to three prestigious bodies.

The bodies are: Commission on population and development for a four-year term (2009-2013), executive board of UNICEF for a three- year term (2009-2012) and governing council of UN-HABITAT for a four-year term (2009-2013), said a foreign ministry press release.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "We are pleased with the election since it reflects international acknowledgement of a Bangladesh's key role in economic and social issues. This can be seen as a foreign policy achievement."

CIRDAP technical body meet in Nepal from today

BSS, Dhaka

A three-day 24th regular meeting of the CIRDAP Technical Committee will be held from May 5 to 7 at the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort of Nepal.

Ministry of Local Development and Local Development Training Academy (LDTA) of Nepal will host the meeting, to be attended by Technical Committee members and representatives from 14 CIRDAP member countries, a press release said on Sunday.

The meeting will discuss, among other things, presentation on the role of CIRDAP in the changing global context by experts and future opportunities review progress of country focused study under the title 'an assessment of rural development initiatives in CIRDAP member countries.

Nepalese Minister for Local Development Dev Prasad Gurung will inaugurate the meeting today at the Dhulikhel Mountain Resort, about 2 km away from Kathmandu.

The inaugural function will also be attended, among others, by Navin Kumar Bisokarma, State Minister of the Ministry of Local Development of Nepal, Ganga Dutta Awasthi, Secretary of Ministry of Local Development of Nepal, Kasem Prasutsangchan, Senior Policy and Planning Analyst of the Ministry of Agriculture of Thailand and Chairperson of CIRDAP Technical Committee.

The CIRDAP Technical Committee, an advisory body to the centre, meets annually and provides technical inputs and reviews the technical aspects of the programmes of the centre.

The technical committee comprises the heads of the CIRDAP Link Institutions (CLIS) which are designated rural development institutions of the governments of the fourteen CIRDAP member countries (CMCs).

Other members include an expert of outstanding professional experience in IRD, representatives from FAO and other donor agencies, donor countries and development partners associated with CIRDAP.

US lauds Dhaka's anti-terrorism efforts

BSS, Dhaka

The government of the United States has lauded the efforts of Bangladesh government in curbing terrorism in Bangladesh.

This was stated in the 2007 country reports on terrorism released in Washington DC, a foreign office press release said yesterday.

They also acknowledged the growing cooperation between the law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh and USA. In this context the report said, the US and Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies cooperated well on several cases related to domestic and international terrorism.

The report said that the United States continued to fund anti terrorism assistance programmes for Bangladeshi security forces. Bangladesh also continued cooperation with the United States to strengthen control of its borders and land, sea, and air ports of entry.

The report also mentioned about the US government's 20 million US dollar five year anti-corruption programme in Bangladesh to further transparency and good governance efforts, which are "necessary foundations for counter terrorism activity."