The New Nation - Internet Edition

Photo show of children

School children watching photo at the exhibition at
Royal Residential High School in the city yesterday. NN
photo

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"Ichchey Media Group is a platform where children from different socio-economic background comes together to enjoy and claim their own right and it is run by a group of children with strong support from adults," said one of the children of the media group at an exhibition in the city yesterday.

A photography exhibition titled 'Our life in our views' organised by the Ichchey Media Group (IMG) at the Royal Residential High School at Adabar in the city yesterday.

The three-day exhibition is a part of the regular activities of the group. Photographs of the members of the IMG are on display at the show.

Mahibur Rahman, Headmaster of Royal Residential High School, inaugurated the exhibition, while Seuli Akhtar of Centre for the Service and Information on Disability, Amirul Islam and Samina Shahin of Child Brigade, Rahmat Ullah Rumi of Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, members of the IMG, among others, were present at the inauguration.

One of the participants at the exhibition said, "Photo exhibition is a part of our regular actives. We want to show the real situation of children and try to change children's' life and create awareness among people through this Photo exhibition."

The exhibition remains open from 9:00am to 2:00pm till September 11.

The IMG consists of girls and boys from various sections of society who use media to raise issues on matters that are critical to their lives. They use contemporary media like newspapers, television, radio, the Internet, drama, workshops and seminars to make their opinions heard. One of their initiatives was to produce a film on violence against children in Bangladesh.

The major activities of the children platform IMG are - 'Amader Khobor,' a monthly publication, making video film on violence against children, theatre show, media monitoring, developing a website, facilitating children through organising photo exhibition, film show, meeting and training on children issues and 'Chhayabrikkha,' a saving initiative by the children for the livelihood survival.

The media group also made films on the children rights. The objective of the film was to initiate a dialogue between children and community leaders, parents, teachers and policy-makers and to hold them accountable for stopping violence against children. The film highlighted violence against children in different settings, including the family, school, workplace, community and on the street.

Strong local govt must to ensure poor people’s land rights

Staff Reporter

Eminent Economist and former Adviser of Caretaker Government Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud said yesterday that poor peoples' access to land cannot be ensured unless there are integrated effort of the government, NGO's and local people.

He made the remark as a chief guest at a workshop on the poor peoples' land access issue at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city.

"We couldn't ensure the poor people access to land except there is strong local government body in the country," Prof Mahmud said.

He quoted the example of West Bengal of India where poor people are successful to use land due to their strong local government body.

He alleged that illegal land grabbers including political influence are still continuing to grab khas lands.

"You will find the land grabbers built garden houses on the forest lands if you travel by the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. They took lease of those lands in the name of industry or filling station," he said.

Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) organised the workshop as a part of its ongoing research study project on `Access to Land and Other Natural Resources by the Rural Poor: The Case of Bangladesh'.

Economist Mahmud said, "I have suggested the present Caretaker Government to take under exemplary punishment against these land grabbers. Unfortunately, they were not punished till now. They are still continuing their misdeeds."

He also alleged that the rich and politically influential people are also grabbing the riverbeds of Buriganga and other rivers and also the newly created char lands in the coastal areas across the country.

He called upon the government, NGO's and local organisations to work together for resisting the land grabbers.

Prof Mahmud thought that the country's 90 percent farmers are marginal farmers and they have got very small piece of land or no land at all.

"So, if they want to get out of poverty, they have to have diversified sources of income along with the agricultural farming. Otherwise, they will always remain as poor," he said. He suggested for building planned suburb to protect the cultivable lands.

LGRD Secretary ATM Fazlul Karim and CIRDAP Director General Dr. Durga P Paudyl also spoke at the function, while Dhaka University Associate Professor Dr. Selim Raihan presented a keynote paper at the function.

ATM Fazlul Karim said that farmer can not be sure whether they will benefit from their land when property rights are insecure.

He said that the workshop help the government to rearrange land use policy.

In his keynote, Dr. Raihan claimed that rural people are losing their access to land due to various factors. They could only be protected through land reforms, he said.

He said that Land reform is not just about the redistribution of the ownership of land, but also about establishing the rights of tenants.

"Reform in land administration is a must," he emphasised.

Economist MM Akash said that the Khas land should be given for those who are living their livelihood on agriculture.

Shamsuzzaman Siddiqui, President of Bangladesh Agriculture Labour Association said that all the successive government were in corruption while distribution of khas land. He called upon the government to frame a land use policy to save the cultivable land.

Eng Kamal Hossain called for moral change for the accurate distribution of khas land.

Climate change confce in London: Dhaka to place 11-point agenda

Staff Reporter

Representatives of Climate Change Development Forum, Bangladesh, an umbrella of around 50 Non-Governmental Organisations, will put forward 11 points at the UK-Bangladesh Climate Change Conference that begins today in London.

Zakir Hossain, Executive Director of Nagorik Uddyog, a member NGO of the forum said, "We deeply feel that Bangladesh and UK can play vital role in addressing the impacts of climate change and make it more effective through incorporating the following issues in their effort."

He said this while addressing at a press conference yesterday in the city.

Zakir said that they had demanded justice and equity through transfer of technology and resources in both adaptation and mitigation measures to reduce the risks of climate change.

UK and other industrialised countries must concentrate on climate change by addressing its root causes and initiate carbon neutral development he said and added UK and other industrialised countries must recognise the adverse impacts of their historical emissions and compensate, in addition to Official Development Assistance (ODA) to address climate change.

Executive Director of Nagorik Uddyog urged for support to implement the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) in the Least Developed Countries which ensure right to food, water, shelter, health, livelihood and culture with special attention to the poor, women, children, disable and ingenious communities.

"The Government need to recognise the climate change as an issue of global justice, human rights, human security and displacement," said he adding "poor and marginal community in Bangladesh and other least developed countries should get preferential treatment in other multilateral agreement."

Zakir said creation of mechanism for adequate and predictable finance through burden sharing as compensatory payments to deal with adverse impacts of climate change and creation of a mechanism to support adaption measures for the most affected and vulnerable communities.

Climate financing and utilisation must be transparent and accountable he claimed and asked to strengthen efforts to actualise the "G8 Action Plan for climate Change to Enhance the Engagement of Private and Public Financial Institutions."

He also asked for adopting Bangladesh-UK Climate Change Strategy for 20 years.

Among others, Anowara Begum Shelly, Director of Caritas-Bangladesh, Khorshed Alam, Executive Director of AMRF, Abdul Halim of Action Aid-Bangladesh were present in the conference.

Justice Fazlul Haque granted bail in graft case

UNB, Dhaka

Former Law Adviser Justice Fazlul Haque was granted bail yesterday in a graft case filed against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission for amassing illegal wealth and hiding information about it.

The ex-Adviser surrendered to Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court through his lawyers and submitted bail petition.

After hearing, Metropolitan Sessions Judge M Azizul Haque granted him bail on a security bond of Tk 20,000.

Charge-sheet was submitted to the court on September 2 accusing him of acquiring wealth worth Tk 1.8 crore beyond known sources of income and concealment of information of wealth worth about Tk 91 lakh.

The court had issued warrant of arrest against the former Adviser of President Iajuddin-led caretaker government. He was also granted three months ad-interim bail by the High Court.

Govt to introduce integrated pry education system

BSS, Dhaka

Primary and Mass Education Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury on Tuesday said the government is planning to introduce an integrated primary education system comprising formal and non-formal education to achieve a higher literacy rate.

Dwelling on the causes of unsatisfactory literacy rate, the adviser said formal education has been the focus of primary education system and for that reason those who were left out, missed out and dropped out from formal education could not get the chance of education.

She was addressing a roundtable conference marking the 'International Literacy Day-2008' jointly organised by Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE) and Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) in the auditorium of BANBEIS in the city.

Primary and Mass Education Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan chaired the meeting, while Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Prof AMM Shafiullah joined it as the special guest.

Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of Primary and Mass Education Kazi Akhter Hossain, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka International University Dr Nurul Momen and UNESCO Representative in Dhaka Malama Melissa were panel discussants.

Rasheda K Chowdhury said the present government has put equal emphasis on non-formal education along with formal education to eradicate illiteracy from the country She called upon all to take concerted efforts to free the nation from the curse of illiteracy aiming at turning the huge population into human resources.

"There were a lot of projects and programmes but they did not get much success due to lack of long-term vision and proper planning," the adviser said.

Describing literacy as the key to education, she placed emphasis on creating mass awareness about literacy and taking rapid steps in implementing the programmes taken to increase the rate of literacy in the country.

Presenting the keynote paper at the roundtable, Chairman of Bangla Department of Dhaka University Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque said for achieving a satisfactory literacy rate, quality education and economic opportunities for the people should be created during and after education.

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said that all would have to come forward in taking concerted efforts to free the country from the curse of illiteracy on an urgent basis.

Principal of Eden Girls College Yasmin Ahmed, Prof Nazrul Hossain of BRAC University and Principal of Dhaka Teachers Training College Taslima Begum took part in the discussion, among others.

Simplification of admission discussed with VCs

BSS, Dhaka

Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Tuesday held a meeting with the authorities of 29 universities on the simplification of admission process, reduction of the fee of admission forms and other issues.

The meeting was held at the education ministry the day before publishing the HSC results. It discussed in detail removing sufferings of students about admission to higher educational institutions.

Education Secretary Mohammad Momtazul Islam, vice- chancellors of 29 universities, including Dhaka University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and National University, attended the meeting.

Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Professor Nazrul Islam also joined the meeting.

After the meeting, the education adviser said the meeting elaborately discussed that the students, who will pass HSC exams, would not suffer during admission.

Dr Zillur said most of the universities except Dhaka University take separate admission test for each subject. Mentioning the system very troubling for the students, the meeting urged the concerned authorities to consider taking admission test on a faculty basis.

Besides, the adviser said, the matters relating to the reduction of gap of dates between two subjects and fixation of uniform fee for admission forms for all universities that means Taka 200 to 300 also came up for discussion.

The meeting took decisions that academic and admission council of the respective universities would inform the ministry of the matters after taking decisions.

The meeting also asked the concerned engineering universities to consider holding of admission test on the same date like the government medial colleges.

The adviser further said the UGC has formulated an identical code of conduct following the allegations of sexual harassment at different universities. The code of conduct will be finalized by the next two months, he said.

Bangla-EU ties strategic: Iftekhar

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury had separate meetings with Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen and Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders of the Netherlands in the Dutch capital on Monday.

In his talks with Foreign Minister Verhagen, it was agreed that the European Union (EU) in general and the Netherlands in particular considered bilateral relations with Bangladesh as "strategic", and based on "shared values", according to a message received here yesterday.

Dr Iftekhar said to the Dutch foreign minister that Bangladesh saw in the Netherlands a "dependable development partner".

He thanked the Netherlands for the "market-access benefits" and urged that the import-basket from Bangladesh be widened beyond readymade garments, including items like small and medium- sized ships, a new manufacturing industry in Bangladesh, the message added.

Foreign Minister Verhagen praised Bangladesh's role as a "constructive international actor", and also its contribution to UN reforms and peacekeeping.

He assured support to the electoral process and was keen to learn about the preparations leading to the elections in Bangladesh, the message said.

In providing a briefing on domestic reforms undertaken by the caretaker government, Dr Iftekhar stressed the need for a European Union Observer Mission during the forthcoming elections.

They agreed to work together on issues of common interest such as climate change, which was critical to both the countries. With the Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders, the foreign adviser underscored the importance of channelling Dutch assistance through government. In recent times, this has been done largely through multilateral agencies and NGOs.

They identified new areas of possible cooperation such as in modernization of Bangladesh's irrigation system, development of potato varieties with improved seed production and marketing, livestock and dairy industry, food processing and agro-business development, and intensified cooperation in higher studies in agriculture and rural development.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands Mizanur Rahman, Director General M Zulfiqur Rahman of the Foreign Ministry and Dutch envoy to Bangladesh Bea Ten Touscher were present in both the meetings.

5 killed in Rajshahi road accident

BSS, Rajshahi

Five people including a teenage girl and a woman were killed and seven others injured in an accident at Bhangra of Puthiya upazila of the district yesterday morning.

Witnesses and police said the accident occurred on the Rajshahi-Natore Highway when a passenger bus collided head-on with an `Emma' (human haulier). The dead and injured were in the Baneswar-bound Emma from Rajshahi.

They said three passengers - Sharmin, 13, Monsur Rahman, 45, and Emma driver Shameem, 32, - died on the spot and two others including a woman, Shushmita, 40, at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

The identity of another victim could not be known immediately, they said adding the injured were undergoing treatment at the RMCH. Police seized both the vehicles.

DU teacher mugged, thrown out of microbus in city

UNB, Dhaka

A Dhaka University teacher was injured as muggers threw him out of microbus after snatching his purse and cell phone in front of Institute of Engineers Monday night.

Wounded, M Bahauddin, 30, a lecturer of Persian language and literature, was taken to DMCH.

He got into the microbus from Shahbag at about 10:30pm to reach home at Jatrabari. But soon the muggers, who were already in the vehicle in guise of passengers, gave ointment in his eyes and snatched away the purse containing Tk 5,000 and the cell phone.

After robbing Bahabuddin the muggers threw him out of the microbus in front of the Institute of Engineers.

Pedestrians rescued him and took to the residence of his colleague Dr M Ohiduzzaman at Fuller Road. Later he was taken to DMCH where he was admitted.

HC to hear Jalil’s bail petition today

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League general secretary M Abdul Jalil accused in an ill-gotten wealth case yesterday filed an interim anticipatory bail petition with the vacation bench of the High Court.

"The petition is likely to come up for hearing today," Jalil's counsel Barrister Rafique-ul Huq told reporters at his Supreme Court cubicle.

Jalil filed the bail petition, as his release on parole for overseas treatment also expires today.

The ailing Awami League leader and former minister returned home on August 31, after about six months of medical treatment in Singapore.

After his release on parole for a month, Jalil flew to Singapore on March 3 and underwent treatment in Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Later, his parole was extended several times.

On December 18 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna police station against Jalil. He was charge-sheeted for acquiring wealth worth Tk 35.08 lakh beyond his known sources of income and concealing information about assets worth Tk 36.04 lakh.

On May 28 last year, the army-led joint forces arrested Jalil.

Shaikh Rahman’s wife, daughter released on bail

UNB, Sylhet

Executed JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman's wife Nurjahan Begum Rupa and their daughter Arifa Begum were released on bail from Sylhet central jail yesterday.

Jail authorities released them at noon after receiving the copy of their bail-bond on Monday.

Earlier on August 28, a High Court Division bench granted them bail for six months in the much-talked-about explosion case filed with Kotwali police station in the city.

Shaikh Abdur Rahman and several members of his family were arrested along with huge explosives from Surya Dighal house at Shaplabagh in the city on March 2, 2006.

After their arrest, a case was filed against 13 persons, mostly belong to his family.

Police submitted chargesheets against eight people, including Shaikh Rahman, his wife and daughter.

Shaikh Rahman and five other JMB kingpins were hanged on March 31, 2007 for killing two judges in Jhalakathi district in a bomb attack in November, 2005.

Clash in FH Hall: probe body formed

DU Correspondent

Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall authority of Dhaka University formed a five members committee to investigate the incident occurred between Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Chhatra League on Monday.

Meanwhile, the authority expelled a student- Zalak Miah temporarily from dormitory in connection with the incident.

Prof Mozzamel Haque, provost of the Hall, said they formed a committee led by Prof Imran Qaiyum to find out the culprits.

The committee was asked to submit report by three days, he added. The other members of the committee are Prof Sarwar Uddin, Dr Obaidul Islam, Dr Anwarul Azim and Dr Jasim Uddin.

The students who were injured in a clash on Monday are under going treatment at the Dhaka Medical Hospital College (DMCH).

Holy Ramzan: Speak to parents kindly

All virtuous deeds aim at the pleasure of Allah, the Creator. A pious person seeks divine mercy by way of approaching through his virtuous activities.

Fasting is also a medium to attract Mercy and Blessings of Allah. But, Allah may not accept the prayer of a rozadar who is not loyal to his/her parents, not submissive and humble and does not disacharge his/her duty to them.

The holy Quran says: "Your Lord has ordered that you worship none but Him and (show) kindness to your parents, whether either of them or both of them attain old age in your life, never say to them 'ough', nor be harsh to them, but speak to them kindly."

"And serve them with tenderness and humility and say: My Lord, have mercy on them, just as they cared for me as a little child."

Islamic injunctions are related and connected with one another. Acceptance of worship is subject to some other virtue or virtues. Loyalty and obligation to parents should not be considered separately from the holy fasting. Fasting teaches us self-restraint. But, one who fails to treat his parents humbly and without 'harsh' words and cannot speak to them kindly, goes out of the teachings of fasting. Allah wants us to be gentle, humble and kind to our parents. So a rozadar must obey the order of Allah always..

So, the parents should always be treated very humbly and with respect. Otherwise Mercy of Allah cannot be obtained.

- Abdul Muqit Chowdhury