The New Nation - Internet Edition

President, CA greet Maldives President

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Friday greeted Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Maldives today.

In a message, Professor Iajuddin said, "Bangladesh and the Maldives enjoy excellent bilateral relations. I am confident that the existing warm and friendly relations between our two countries will be further strengthened in the days to come."

He wished good health and happiness of Gayoom and continued peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of the Maldives.

Dr Fakhruddin in his message to the Maldivian President said," As you are aware, we enjoy excellent relations in bilateral, regional and multilateral levels and I have no doubts we will continue to work together to further widen and deepen the same."

He wished good health, happiness and long life of Gayoom and continued peace, progress and prosperity of the people of the Maldives.

Acting VC of JN Varsity takes charge today

BSS, Dhaka

Treasurer of Jagannath University Professor Dr Abu Hossain Siddique will be given responsibility of acting vice-chancellor of the university following the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sirajul Islam Khan.

Prof Siddique will take the charge of the acting vice- chancellor tomorrow, university sources said.

Prof Sirajul Islam will formally hand over his charges to the acting VC today, the sources said.

Cancer Camp in city

BSS, Dhaka

Mosabbir Cancer Care Centre and Urban Primary Health Care Project will jointly organize a cancer camp at City Maternity Centre in Hazaribag here today.

Cancer specialists will give advice on creating awareness about the deadly disease from 9 am to 12 noon at the camp, a press release said.

Besides, the patients of the area who have symptoms of the disease will be provided initial examinations free of cost and advice on next course, the release added.

Practicing objective journalism stressed

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a function on Friday stressed the need for practicing objective journalism for ensuring peoples' right to information.

Describing right to information as a democratic right, they said, journalists should be objective in writing reports as it is their professional responsibility.

They were addressing a function marking the Golden Jubilee of the Voice of America Bangla Service organized by VOA Fan Clubs- Bangladesh Chittaging Division at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Editor of the daily Independent and former adviser of the caretaker government Mahbubul Alam addressed the function as the chief guest.

International Radio Broadcaster Web Editor of VOA Bangla service Anis Ahmed, President of Bangladesh- America Chamber of Commerce Florida, USA Atiqur Rahman, Chief News Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) SM Zahurul Alam, Operation Director of BON Consortium Power Company Ltd Engeener SM Nur Uddin, Former of Coordinator of VOA Fan Clubs- Bangladesh Abdul Hai Khan, Advocate Mohammad Sirajul Islam Sheikh addressed the function as special guests.

President of Voice of America Fan Clubs Bangladesh, Chittagong Division Abu Sufian Chowdhury presided over the function.

Mahbubul Alam urged the journalists to write their reports objectively to ensure rights to information of the people.

He said both the print and electronic media should present objective news to perform their responsibilities properly.

Referring to two private radio stations in the country, Mahbubul Alam said the popularity of radio is increasing day by day. Community radio can play an important role in the socio- economic development of the country.

Anis Ahmed said at present radio is facing tremendous competition with television and others media for its survival.

Terming radio as popular media in the developed countries, he said people of the developed countries listen to radio so often.

Gulf Today praises Dhaka on voter list completion

BSS, Dhaka

Gulf Today, a UAE daily, on Friday praised the caretaker government on completion of a digital voters' list of Bangladesh ahead of elections later this year.

The daily, in its editorial, said the government accomplished a 'mammoth task' by preparing the scroll with photo identity cards as well as fingerprints of 80.5 million voters.

It said the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh also removed some 12.7 million "fake names and duplicate entries" from the old list.

It described the new scroll as "a landmark" on the way to restoration of democracy in the country and was expected to make rigging impossible.

"It is part of the realisation of the interim government's pledge to clean up the country's political landscape and conduct fair and free elections by the year's end", it said.

The electoral roll is the biggest digital database prepared by a developing country, the daily said adding the voters' list at a cost of $65 million involved some 300,000 data operators, including 25,000 army personnel.

"The interim government already introduced new election rules making it compulsory for political parties to register to take part, and giving voters the chance to reject all candidates if they thought none were suitable," the editorial said.

The interim government in Dhaka has also set an example for many countries in the developing world where vote rigging became common phenomenon, it added.

"It is time, clean headed reformists- there should indeed by some in every country- take cue from Bangladesh, and move to streamline their electoral system," the Gulf Today said.