The New Nation - Internet Edition

Drik celebrates its 19th anniversary

Renowned photographer Shahidul Alam addressing the
discussion at Drik Gallery in the city yesterday. NN
photo

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

It was in 1989, a small group of people set up a picture agency in the unlikely location of Dhaka named Drik. The name 'Drik', the Sanskrit word for vision, the agency set out to represent a group of media professionals that other agencies did not cater for, practitioners living and working in the majority world. In the years that followed, many others from Asia, Africa and Latin America have joined the original group. All of them share a common vision - one that sees the majority world, not as fodder for disaster reporting, but as a vibrant source of human energy and a challenge to an unfair global economic system.

Drik completes its 19th year on September 4 this year. To celebrate the day it has organised a discussion meeting titled 'Looking Back,' at the Drik Gallery in the city yesterday.

Veteran photographers of the Liberation War Rashid Talukder, Naib Uddin Ahmed, Aftab Ahmed, Abdul Hamid Raihan and Jalaluddin Haider, among others, were present at the function and shared their experiences to inspire memories of 1971.

At the inauguration of the discussion meeting, country's renowned photographer and Managing Director of Drik Shahidul Alam briefed on 'what is Drik and why?' Then veteran photographers Rashid Talukder exchanged his experiences during the Liberation War. Then a presentation on street people seen through the eyes of the photographer was held. Later a documentary on the UK exhibition titled 'Bangladesh 1971' was presented at the function.

Drik itself is a rich storehouse of photography in the country. It has many activities like Drik picture library, photography, gallery, print production and event management, multimedia, digital printing, Internet and audio-visual system.

Drik picture library is at the heart of Drik. Established in response to the negative stereotyping of majority world peoples by western media, the agency was set up as a platform for media practitioners in the south. They also needed editorial support, help in printing, and sometimes cash advances, in order to take photographs.

The leading photo agency in the South Asia, Drik Picture Library has a unique collection of images from all over the world. Ranging from historical photographs, to large format architectural photographs and high-resolution digital images, the library is as much an archive as a source of stock images.

In the field of photography unlike most photo agencies, Drik has its own studio, providing not only high quality photography, but also setting standards of photographic excellence. Images produced by the studio adorn billboards and magazine covers as well as ice cream packs and industrial brochures. Award winning photographers taking on international assignments have worked on major news stories for mainstream publications.

Though the Drik Gallery was opened in August 1993 with the first showing of World Press Photo in Bangladesh, there is a story behind the scenes. In the middle of the massive democratic movement in the late 80's, on the streets, through curfews and through tear gas, photographers were documenting events in their entirety. Throughout this period, the major galleries, either state owned or belonging to foreign embassies, were not prepared to exhibit their work, since it was 'political.' They (photographers) knew that they had to build their own gallery. The first ever staging of World Press provided the perfect opportunity. They gathered their resources and built it. It is now, one of the finest galleries in South Asia and the largest private gallery in the country.

Besides, Drik provides other facilities like print production and event management, multimedia and digital printing facilities.

Bid to commit dacoity in N’ganj Sonali Bank

BSS, Narayanganj

An attempt to commit dacoity in Sonali Bank Corporate Branch at Chashara in the town was foiled and three alleged dacoits were arrested yesterday morning.

The dacoits were identified as Humayun, 25, of Jessore; Shahid, 28, of Jhalakthi and Rasel, 30, of Jessore. On a tip-off, Narayanganj district police super Sardar Nurul Amin, DB OC Atiqur Rahman Khan and a team of 10 plainclothes policemen took position inside the bank branch.

The policemen saw that three alleged dacoits were moving suspiciously near the cash counter on the ground floor of the 3- storey bank building in the guise of clients and arrested them.

Under five child mortality reduces by over 50 pc

BSS, Dhaka

The under five child mortality rate in Bangladesh has been reduced by over 50 per cent since 1990, according to new figures released by UNICEF on Thursday.

"A number of countries have made particularly good progress in reducing under-five mortality, including Lao PDR, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Nepal, each of which has reduced their under-five mortality rates by more than 50 per cent since 1990," a UNICEF press release said.

These countries are on the track to reach the MDG target to reduce by two-thirds the under-five mortality rate between 1990 and 2015, the release said.

There has also been significant progress in parts of Africa. Eritrea's under-five mortality rate declined by 52 per cent between 1990 and 2007. In Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, and Ethiopia child mortality rates have declined by more than 40 per cent across the same period.

However, the highest child mortality is still found in Africa. In Sierra Leone, the country with the worst under-five mortality rate in the world, 262 out of every 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday.

The new estimates show a 27 per cent decline in the under- five mortality rate, from 93 deaths per 1000 live births in 1990, to 68 deaths per 1000 live births in 2007. In industrialized countries there are, on average, just six deaths for every 1,000 live births. According to this data, 12.7 million children under five died around the world in 1990, and in 2007 child deaths declined to about 9.2 million.

"Since 1960, the global under-five mortality rate has declined more than 60 per cent, and the new data shows that downward trend continues," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M.Veneman. "While progress has been made, much remains to be done."

Under-nutrition is a contributing cause of more than one- third of the 9.2 million under-five deaths worldwide. While there has also been progress in reducing the percentage of under age five children who are underweight since 1990, an estimated 148 million children in the developing world remain undernourished, the release said.

"To ensure these children have the opportunity to survive, efforts to address the nutritional needs of women, infants, and children must be accelerated.".

"Recent data also indicate encouraging improvements in many of the basic health interventions, such as early and exclusive breastfeeding, measles immunisation, Vitamin A supplementation, the use of insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS," said Veneman.

"These interventions are expected to result in further declines in child mortality over the coming years."

7th anniversary of terror attacks observed

AP, Washington

The nation paused Thursday to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with a heartfelt ceremony at the World Trade Center site, the dedication of a memorial at the Pentagon and a planned visit to ground zero by the presidential candidates.

Relatives of victims killed at the World Trade Center gathered in lower Manhattan for readings from dignitaries and a recitation of the names of the dead. Later Thursday, Barack Obama and John McCain were due at ground zero to pay silent respects.

"Today marks the seventh anniversary of the day our world was broken," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the start of the ceremony, calling Sept. 11, 2001, a "day that began like any other and ended as none ever has."

The ritual at ground zero included moments of silence at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m. and 9:59 a.m. and 10:29 - the times when two hijacked jets slammed into the trade center buildings and the twin towers fell.

Services were also held in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, where a new memorial was dedicated.

Among the speakers at ground zero were three children who were very young when their father went to work at the World Trade Center seven years ago and never came home.

"I remember playing in the yard with him. I remember him pulling my wagon. He was strong. He always made me feel safe," said Alex Salamone, wearing the soccer jersey of his father, John. "I wish I could remember more, but we were so young when he died."

Edward Bracken, who lost his sister, Lucy A. Fishman, said she was "murdered by coward men using their religion to say they are right and we are wrong," then added, "Pray for the men and women who sleep on the ground every night in the Middle East to keep our world safe."

Relatives of victims began arriving at dawn at ground zero, now a huge construction site. American flags were draped over silent cranes, and some families held signs saying "We miss you," "We love you" or "You will never be forgotten."

The family of Sept. 11 victim Michael Diehl went to ground zero wearing white T-shirts bearing his photo and 9/11/01.

"It's still very hard for us to come here. It doesn't get any easier," said Diehl's sister-in-law, Norma Linguito. "I just wish they'd get the memorial up so we can have something, a marker, to remember everyone."

Family members and students representing more than 90 countries that lost victims on Sept. 11 read the names of 2,751 people killed in New York, one more than last year. The city restored Sneha Philip, a woman who mysteriously vanished on Sept. 10, 2001, to its official death toll this year after a court ruled that she was likely killed at the trade center.

McCain and Obama planned to visit the site after the ceremony concluded Thursday afternoon. The candidates agreed weeks ago to pull their campaign ads for the day and were appearing together Thursday night at a forum on volunteerism and service.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke at the ceremony - as he has every year in New York - drawing applause from some in the crowd. As the names were being read, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and New York Gov. David Paterson walked down a ramp to lay flowers in the pit where the towers stood.

Last year's reading by Giuliani, then a presidential candidate, drew protests from family members who said the city was ill-prepared for the terrorist attacks under his leadership and questioned whether he should be there while running for the White House.

Many families had no opposition to McCain and Obama's visit, but some questioned whether the visit was necessary. "It's probably going to be more commercial. This really should be a day for the people who lived and worked down here," said Jane Wixted, who lost her police officer son Glen Pettit on Sept. 11.

But Pettit's former colleague, Chris DeAngelo, was glad they were coming. "One of them is going to lead this nation," he said. "And for that reason, both should come here to see what happened."

At the Pentagon memorial dedication, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld mourned those who "one morning kissed their loved ones goodbye, went off to work and never came home" and the airline passengers "who in the last moments made phone calls to loved ones and prayed to the Almighty before their journey ended not far from where it began."

The Pentagon memorial is the first of three major Sept. 11 memorials to be completed. The 2-acre park, located at the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon's west wall, consists primarily of 184 cantilevered benches, each bearing a victim's name.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush marked the anniversary during a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House, then went to the Pentagon where the president spoke at a service there.

In Pennsylvania, several hundred people gathered to read the names of 40 victims killed in Shanksville where Flight 93 came down after passengers reportedly stormed the cockpit to thwart terrorists' plans to use that plane as a weapon like the others.

Memorials are years away from being built in Pennsylvania and New York. As in past years, two bright blue beams of light will shine at night on the New York City skyline, in memory of the fallen towers.

25 persons awarded Gandhi peace prize

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh is the only country where Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians are living in harmony said Justice Habibur Rahman Khan yesterday at a discussion meeting.

Gandhi Research Parishad organised the discussion meeting on"Communal Harmony is our heritage and significance of his silent prayer" on the occasion of Gandhi Peace Award 2008 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre. Among others, people of all religions including Muslim, Hindu, Buddha and Christian participated in the meeting.

Gandhi Research Parishad conferred 'Gandhi Peace Award-2008' to 25 persons.

Addressing the gatherings, Habibur Rahman, Chairman of Truth and Accountability Commission said, "The gathering makes Gandhiji's dream of communal harmony true."

Gandhi was the only person who brought non-violence into focus Justice Habibur Rahman said and added Gandhi proved that peoples' mind could be won through non-violence message. Only because of this great deed he became a great leader of all time.

Mentioning October second Birth anniversary as well as the world non-violence day, Mahfuzur Rahman, Cahirman of ATN Bangla, said if United Nations could prevent the destructive activities of USA, only than observation of the day would be meaningful.

Syed Tosharaf Ali, Executive Editor of the Daily Ittefaq highlighted some works of Gandhi.

Twenty-five persons including National Professor Kabir Chowdhury, former Secretary to the government. late Kamrul Islam, former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank Murshid Kuli Khan were among others given away Gandhi Peace Award.

Dhaka to set up commercial wing in Seoul

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh will set up a commercial wing in South Korea to expand trade relations with the rich Asian country.

Besides, the government also considers widening the scope of work of the Bangladesh Embassy in South Korea.

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman disclosed this when South Korean Ambassador Suk-Bum Park met him at his office here yesterday.

Thanking the Korean government for playing a vital role in Bangladesh' s economic development, the Adviser called upon South Korea to share their skills and experiences with Bangladesh in its emerging ship building industry.

Some Bangladeshi entrepreneurs from the ship building industry have already held a meeting with the Korean Ambassador in this regard.

During the meeting, Ambassador Suk-Bum Park said there is a high demand for ceramic products, frozen foods and leather goods in Korean market, and Bangladesh businesspersons can avail of the opportunity of exporting those products to the country.

Suk-Bum Park also said Korea will export products worth US$ 1 billion to Bangladesh during the current fiscal year and the export volumes of both the countries will be increased too.

Besides, Bangladeshi products are getting duty- and quota-free access to the Korean market under the WTO agreement, the South Korean envoy added.

Korean Embassy Councilor and Deputy Chief of Mission Il Park, President Trade Representative Han-Il Kim and Commerce Ministry joint secretary (export) Mostafa Mohiuddin were present.

Jalil demands JS polls first

Staff Reporter

Awami League leader Abdul Jalil yesterday formally resumed the post of party's General Secretary and urged the government to hold the national election ahead of any other election by December as per the roadmap and to ensure unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina.

He made this comments while addressing the leaders and activists after placing floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmandi in the cuty at 10:30am.

Jalil also showed eagerness to convene a party council to amend the party constitution before registering with the Election Commission and urged the Government to withdraw the state of emergency, as no council can be convened under the state of emergency.

He called on the leaders and the activists to maintain party unity to make Sheikh Hasian free and to participate in the national election under the leadership of her only.

Jalil said, " I am resuming the responsibilities as the AL general secretary through offering due respect to the pioneer of the Liberation War Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I have taken this as a challenge for restoring democracy in the country."

Jalil also asserted that he would put his best effort for winning the victory of the forthcoming national election and termed Sheikh Hasina as pioneer for making the country prosperous one.

Replying to a query, he expressed the party's decision not to participate in the upazila elections if it was held ahead of the national election.

Party's Organising Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan, Law Secretary advocate Sahara Khatun and over 100 party followers accompanied Jalil.

Cent per cent pass HSC of QEC

DU Correspondent

The first batch students of city's Quality Education College (QEC) have shown outstanding result in this year`s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination by securing hundred percent pass rate.

A total of 40 students of the college appeared in this examination from Science, Business Studies and Humanities groups.

The QEC, located at city's Khilgaon area, started its journey since 2006 and it was their first batch.

Prof Md Asgar Ali, principal of the college, said that any impossible task could be possible by strict discipline and perseverance. Quality Education College set the bright example of this by its success story.

It is learnt that the things worked behind the success of the college was specialised teaching method, sincere efforts of the experienced teachers, strict discipline, keen observation by guide teachers, tireless labour of the young initiators and guardians.

The college authority is also laying emphasis on moral lessons apart from the quality of education.

Currently, over four hundred students have been studying in three disciplines in the college. The ratio of the teachers and students are 12:1 in the college, said Prof Asgar.

He noted that the necessary educational equipment, enriched library, well-equipped science lab, computer lab and efficient administration are contributed QEC education.

The college is committed to ensure quality education along with the fulfillment of expectation of the nation, if it is gets all out support from the conscious guardians and self determined students, the principal said.

Aziz terms Climate Conference successful

UNB, London

Finance Advisor Dr Mirza Azizul Islam said the UK-Bangladesh Climate Conference was successful in sensitizing the international community about the danger facing Bangladesh due to perilous impact of the changes in the climate.

"Our intention was two folds -one was to sensitize the international community about the danger facing Bangladesh and the second about Bangladesh's determination to meet climate-change challenges despite resource constraints," he told a post-conference reception at the Royal Geographical Society last evening.

Aziz, who led a 39-member delegation to the high- level conference, proposed Multi-Donor Trust Fund to mobilize money from the world community to support the country's efforts to mitigate and adapt to the climate change.

Besides, he said, the Bangladesh government has set up a dedicated fund with initial capital of USD 45 million.

"We need external assistance but we are not sitting idle, we are trying to mobilize fund from our own resources," he said, expressing the hope that after the conference the international community will extend wholehearted support to implementation of Bangladesh Climate Change Action Plans.

At the conference, the UK has pledged a new funding of 75 million pounds sterling to support the adaptation programmes in Bangladesh.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his message praised Bangladesh' s adaptation programme, saying that the world community should look at Bangladesh as a "global leader" in adaptation.

However, Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed was worried that Bangladesh poverty-reduction process might face a setback if immediate and effective action is not taken by the world community.

Dr Aziz and UK International Development Minister Alexander Douglas signed a joint communiqué urging the rich world to help LDCs, including Bangladesh, to combat the adverse impact of the climate change seriously affecting the livelihood and food security in the country.

Upazila polls soon

Staff Reporter

Adviser Anwarul Iqbal yesterday said Upazila polls will be held soon under the new ordinance and for which the Election Commission (EC) has been working.

He was addressing a national workshop "Resource Mobilisation of Union Parishad" at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in the capital where findings of a study on "Local Revenue Sources for Union Parishad" conducted by Prof Nick Devas of University of Birmingham were revealed.

Among others, Secretary of Local Government Division Shaikh Khurshid Alam, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of European Commission HE Dr Stefan Frowein, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Renata Dessallien addressed it. Nojibur Rahman, Joint Secretary of Local Government Division, chaired it.

Anwarul Iqbal also said the government is in the final stage of formulating Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)-2, which outlines the strategic directions and approaches to address the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"The ordinances of all the tiers of local government bodies have been updated considering present perspective and as of date City Corporations, Paurashavas and Upazila Parishad Ordinance 2008 have been enacted and implemented," he added.

Stressing on decentralisation and strengthening of the local governments, he said that a proper designed decentralization scheme could also create a conductive environment for solving key development and governance problems at the local level.

The study recommended that reform in revenue instruments of the Union Parishad (UP) and its administration will help the Ups to play vital role for local development, poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs.

The study pointed out that participation of community people in the process of revenue mobilisation would help ensuring transparency, accountability as well as efficiency of improved service delivery by the UPs.

To ensure the efficient administration of revenue instruments, the study recommended reform in three specific areas-the design of the existing revenue system, improving the administration of existing revenue and additional revenue collection.

The study identified the earning from hat, bazaars and water bodies as potential sources of revenue and recommended administration of these sectors by the UP, together with the revenue from those sectors.

Other major recommendations of the study include- increase of tax and license fee in line with inflation, a simplified mass appraisal system using clear and consistent criteria for assessment of holding tax and business tax, introduction of modern record system to identify the tax payer and defaulters, computerisation of revenue collection and accounting system, building of public confidence in the local tax system leading to increased willingness to pay through greater transparency, accountability and community participation in utilisation of resources.

The LGD under Learning and Innovation Component (LIC) of the Local Governance Support Project (LGSP) conducted the study with financial and technical support from United Nation Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

Holy Ramzan: Take care of your neighbour

The first part of the holy Ramzan, the days of Rahmat (Mercy) is over. Today, the 11th Ramzan is the first day of the ten days of Maghfirat (forgiveness). The rozadars will seek forgiveness of Allah for their sins.

Fasting is part of our belief in the Commandments of Allah. It is a process of self-restraint from harmful, forbidden deeds. So, according to our belief and the injunction or ritual, we should refrain from all harmful activities and engage ourselves in virtuous welfare activities. From this viewpoint, our social relations, our neighbourliness should be evaluated.

Rasulullah (Sm) said, "He is not a believer who eats his fill, while his neighbour remains hungry by his side." (Baihaqi)

The messenger of Allah also said: "By Allah, he has no faith (he repeated it three times) whose neighbours are not safe from his wickedness." (Bukhari)

The holy Hadith mentioned above stresses on the humanitarian aspect of a believer. As a good neighbour he should extend helping hands to his neighbour when he (the neighbour) is hungry. He should also abstain from doing any harm to his neighbour. Otherwise, 'he is not a believer' and 'he has no faith'. Without this basic support the performance of rozadar loses its merit.

-Abdul Muqit Chowdhury