The New Nation - Internet Edition

Film Award to be given today

BSS, Dhaka

The National Film Award for six years from 2002 to 2007 will be distributed today at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre here.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will handover the trophies among the artistes, filmmakers and others.

The award-giving ceremony will be organised by the Information Ministry and a 27-member organising and managing committee headed by Information Secretary Jamil Osman has been working for smooth holding of the function, official sources said.

A total of 81 awards would be given to the best films, directors and artistes under different categories for the six years, sources said.

The decisions of awards for 2004-2007 were taken on the recommendations of an 11-member jury board led by an additional secretary of the information ministry. And the decisions for 2002 and 2003 had been taken earlier, sources said.

As per the decision, 15 awards will be given in the year 2004, 13 awards in 2005, 16 awards in 2006, and 14 awards in 2007.

A souvenir was published on the occasion and a grand cultural function will be staged during the award-giving ceremony.

Nominations for National Film Award 2004 are: producer- Toukir Ahmed, film- Joyjatra, director - Toukir Ahmed, film- Joyjatra; music director - Sujeyo Shyam, film Joyjatra; main character (male) - Humayun Faridi, film Matritto; side character - Fazlur Rahman Babu, film - Shankhanad; main character (female) Api Karim, film - Bachelor, side character (female) Mehbuba Mahnur Chandni, film - Joyjatra, playwright - Amzad Hossain, film - Joyjatra, script writer - Toukir Ahmed, film- Joyjatra; singer - Subir Nandi, film - Megher Pore Megh; cameraman (colour) Rafiqul Bari Chowdhury (posthumous), film - Joyjatra, editor - Junayed Halim, film - Shankhanad; art director - Uttam Guha, film - Lalon; child artiste - Amol, film - Duratta, make-up man - MM Jasim, and film - Ek Khando Jomi.

Nominations for 2005 are: Producer - Kohinoor Aktar Suchanda, film Hazar Bachhar Dhore; director - Kohinoor Aktar Suchanda, film- Hazar Bachhar Dhore; music director - Ahmed Imtiaj Bulbul, film - Hazar Bachhar Dhore; main character (male)

Mahfuz Ahmed, film - Lal Sabuj; side character - Ilias Kanchan; main character (female) - Shabnur, film - Dui Nayoner Alo; side character (female) - Gulshan Ara Champa, film - Shasti; playwright - Jahir Raihan (posthumous), film - Hazar Bachhor Dhore; singer - Manir Khan, film - Dui Nayoner Alo.

Nominations for 2006 are: producer - Kazi Morshed, film - Ghani; director - Kazi Morshed, film - Ghani; music director - Sheikh Shadi Khan, film - Ghani; main character (male) - Arman Murad, film - Ghani; side character (male) Masum Aziz and Raisul Islam Asad, film - Ghani; main character (female) - Naznin Hassan Chumki, film - Ghani; side character (female) - Dolly Zahur, film - Ghani; playwright - Kazi Morshed, film - Ghani; singer - Asif Akbar, film - Ranikuthir Baki Itihash; cameraman (colour) - Hassan Ahmed, film - Ghani; editor - Saiful Islam, film - Ghani; and child artiste - Dighee, film Kabuliwala.

Nominations for 2007 are: producer - Faridur Reza Sagar, film - Daruchini Dwip; director - Enamul Karim Nirjhar, film- Ahaa; music director - SI Tutul, film - Daruchini Dwip; dance director - Kabirul Islam Ratan, film - Daruchini Dwip; main character (male) Reaz Ahmed, film - Daru Chini Dwip; side character (male) Abul Hayat, film Daruchini Dwip; main character (female) Zakia Bari Mamo, film - Daruchini Dwip; side character (female) - Nipun, film - Sajghar; singer - Fahmida Nabi , film - Ahaa, music writer - Munshi Wadud, film Sajghar; cameraman (colour) Saiful Islam Badal, film - Ahaa; editor - Argha Kamol Mitra, and film - Ahaa.

Salt cos cheating consumers, children worst sufferers

BSS, Dhaka

Majority of salt producers is allegedly cheating consumers in the name of iodised salt, revealed a study yesterday, recommending for an urgent amendments to the relevant laws and ensuring stern actions against offenders to save hundreds from Goitre, brain damage and loss of cognitive power.

The survey conducted in 2004-'05 found that 94 percent of iodised factory salt samples were somewhat iodised, but only four (04) percent of them had contained a mandatory range of 45-50 ppm for adequate iodine.

Only 46 percent plants were confirmed of using 30 ppm of iodine in salts, well below the required level, while others use even lesser amount of potassium iodate, which costs only eight paisa (Tk. 0.08) per kg at production level.

This small production cost, he said, might eventually charge Taka 1 at best at the consuming level, but producers deliberately cheat people to avoid extra costs. And very few people are well aware of it, he observed.

He also suggested for launching a massive awareness campaign both at urban and rural areas so that people use quality iodized salt with bit higher prices.

"Rural areas, particularly the northern districts, have considerably poorer iodine status than urban areas," said principal investigator of the survey, Dr Harun KM Yusuf, a professor of Dhaka University, at an advocacy meeting at Sonargaon hotel.

Prof. Harun said the previous campaigns for iodine salts have made certain progress since 1993, but the successes were overshadowed by salt producers' forgery. He said iodized salt coverage rose to 84 percent in 2006 from only 19 percent in 1993, but inadequate quantity of iodine were found among salts from half of the companies.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant on Industries and Civil Aviation Mahbub Jamil attended the function as the chief guest, jointly organised by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and UNICEF.

Health Secretary AMM Nasir Uddin, Industries Secretary Sheikh Enayetullah, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Dr Iyorlumun Uhaa, USAID representative Lois Bradshaw, UNICEF nutrition manager Josephine Iziku Ippe and Director of IPHN Dr. Fatima Parveen Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion, chaired by chairman of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) M Mahbubur Rahman.

Five members of a family rescued from traffickers

BSS, Rajshahi

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) rescued five members of a family from being trafficked at Harishankarpur ghat under Godagari upazila of the district on Tuesday night.

On a tip-off, a BDR team raided the area and rescued Ambia Khatun, 35, wife of Sekander Ali Sheikh, and their sons and daughters-Osman Ali Sheikh, 10, Aduri Khatun, 5, Sohagi Khatun, 3, and Sobhan Ali, 1, while they were being trafficked to India through the frontier.

But, none of the traffickers could be arrested, the BDR sources said.

Ambia Khatun told Police that said she along with her children were brought to Ariala village in Narail district on the promise of giving her a good job in India. They were handed over to Godagari Police Station after recording a case in this connection.

Third Karnaphuli bridge by next July

BSS, Dhaka

The construction of the third bridge across the river Karnaphuli in Chittagong will be completed by next July if the current pace of work is maintained. According to the Karnaphuli Bridge Project sources, over 57 percent of the work has been completed since it was restarted on July 19, 2006. The project was originally initiated in 2002-03. When the bridge will be opened to traffic, the road communication between southern Chittagong and the port city of Chittagong would be easier and it will also help establish a better road link with Myanmar through Cox's Bazar. Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed visited the project site in last August.

The bridge is designed to be 950 metre long and 24.40-metre wide, while the length of link roads two kilometres, including culverts.

The length of completed part of the bridge is 152 meters or 30 segments. The foundation work of the bridge has been completed, said the sources.

The estimated cost of the Karnapuhli Bridge Project is Taka 590 crore of which the Kuwait government is providing Taka 372 crore and the Bangladesh government Taka 218 crore. The total estimated cost of rehabilitation of affected people is Taka 11.50 crore, the source said adding that the Communications Ministry has so far distributed Taka 1.60 crore among them.

A non-government organisation, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh, has been engaged in taking care of the affected people, the sources said.

DU white panel opposes stance on madrasah students

DU Correspondent

Dhaka University teachers belonging to the White Panel yesterday decided to boycott the admission tests for the newcomers if the authorities do not withdraw its stand to get admission into it.

The BNP-Jamaat backed White Panel also decided for starting movement if the decision is not withdrawn within next three days.

The meeting held the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University responsible for the present situation by creating bar in getting admission of madrasha students into the university.

Meeting sources said the White Panel led by its convenor Prof Sadrul Amin would submit a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor today demanding cancellation of its controversial decision.

Fire burns about 400 shanties in Mirpur

UNB, Dhaka

A devastating fire gutted some 400 shanties of a slum near Martyr Intellectuals graveyard in city's Mirpur yesterday afternoon.

The fire that originated in one of the shanties at about 4:55 pm soon engulfed the adjacent dwellings and also damaged a near by 6-storey building, Fire Brigade sources said.

After a frantic effort for over one hour, firefighters doused the flame at about 6:15 pm.

Nine units of fire fighters from Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Kurmitola and Fire Brigade headquarters joined to put out the flame.

No causality was reported.

The extent of damage could not be ascertained yet.