The New Nation - Internet Edition

Seminar on access to land by rural poor in Nepal held

UNB, Dhaka

A seminar on access to land by rural poor in Nepal was held on Sunday at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) on occasion of the 29th founding anniversary of the centre.

Academicians, rural development practitioners, and development professionals took part in the seminar, inaugurated by ATM Fazlul Karim, Secretary of Rural Development and Co-operatives Division under the Ministry of LGRD & Cooperatives.

In his keynote paper, Dr Jagannath Adhikary, programme coordinator (Development Studies) of Nepal Development Research Institute in Kathmandu, analysed the relationship between 'access' and poverty, the present situation regarding land, the various policies and agendas in land access and other emerging issues in the context of Nepal.

The paper is a part of another CIRDAP study involving four countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines, which is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

Addressing the seminar, Fazlul Karim said despite global awareness and efforts, progress on securing access to land by the poor on a sustainable basis has been rather slow, and the subsequent discussion of the crucial factors and issues relating to access of land and other natural resources is extremely important.

Dr Durga Paudyal, Director General, and Dr Nasreen Khundker, Director Research of CIRDAP, also spoke on the occasion.

Bangladesh issues commemorative stamps on Beijing Olympics

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Postal Department on Sunday issued a set of four commemorative stamps and the first day cover marking the 29th Olympic Games to be held in Beijing on August 8-24 this year.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for Posts and Telecommunication Ministry Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek formally released the commemorative stamps at a simple function at the conference room of Postal Bhaban.

Chaired by Director General of Postal Department Mobasherur Rahman, the function was addressed by Posts and Telecommunication Iqbal Mahmud, CEO of Bangladesh Olympic Association Col (retd) M Wali Ullah and philatelist AKM Anwarul Qadir.

Speaking on the occasion, CA's special assistant Malek announced that from this year, the Postal Department would observe the "National Stamp Day" marking the historic occasion when the first postage stamp of independent Bangladesh was released on July 29, 1971.

The four commemorative stamps of Tk 10, Tk 15, Tk 20 and Tk 25 denominations along with the first day cover (Tk 8) went on sale from today (Sunday) at the four General Post Offices (GPOs) in the country. Later, these stamps will go on sale in all the post offices.

Mrs Atima Mowla died in Dallas, US

Mrs Atima Mowla died of brain haemorrhage in Dallas of the United States at about 7:50pm (Bangladesh time) on July 1 last. She was 75.

She left behind her husband Enayet Mowla, a son, daughter in law and two grand daughters to mourn her death.

A doa mahfil was organised in Dhaka on Friday last seeking divine blessings for her departed soul.

Late Atima Mowla used to give arms training to youths and female freedom fighters during the War of Liberation in 1971. Her valiant role during the War of Liberation has specially been depicted in a series of writings titled "Women of Chittagong in Liberation War" by Begum Mustari Shafi, which were published in the Dainik Purbokon of Chittagong.

Her husband Enayet Mowla was also a freedom-fighter and writer. Enayet Mowla wrote 'Chattagramer Kakoli: Muktijuddher Bhinna Chobi' which was published by Sahitya Prokash. Since then Atima Mowla had been known as 'Khalamma of Kakolibari.'

Atima Mowla secured third position taking part in the then East Pakistan Ladies' Shooting Competition in 1965. The Hunters Association of the United States has recently awarded her with the title 'The Iron Lady.'

Besides, she was an expert in needlework. An exhibition of her solo needlework was held at Manju Art Gallery in Gulshan in 2004. Eminent writer and poet late Khaleda Edib Chowdhury inaugurated the exhibition.