The New Nation - Internet Edition

Emphasis on book reading

Staff Reporter

No one can enlighten himself or herself without reading books, speakers at a function in the city said.

They were speaking at the inaugural function of a weeklong book festival that began yesterday at the Central Public Library. The Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT) organised the festival.

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Abdur Rauf inaugurated the festival as chief guest while Mostafa Kamal Majumder, the Editor of the New Nation was present at the inaugural function as special guest. Md Md Lutfur Rahman, Executive Director of BIIT presided over the function.

Justice Abdur Rauf called upon to encourage all to read the Islamic books. Islamic books can change the life style of the citizen for good, he said.

Mostafa Kamal Majumder said that none could make himself a real man without reading books. "Man can acquire knowledge by reading books," he said, adding, "A good book can be a good friend too."

Later, Justice Abdur Rauf unveiled the covers of different books published by BIIT. The festival will open to the visitors from 10:00am to 8:00pm from November 1 to November 7.

Distribution of JU admission forms begins today

JU Correspondent

The Jahangirnagar University Admission test forms for the academic session 2008-09 will be distributed from today (Sunday), University sources said.

The forms will be available at the branches of Agrani Bank JU, Savar, Gabtoly, Farmgate and National Museum at a cost of TK 300 for each unit.

A applicants have been asked to submit their application forms to the respective dean offices by November 20.The written admission test under 26 departments will begin from January 3 and continue till January 20.

Pan Pacific Sonargaon welcomes UN Secretary General

Staff Reporter

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon and Madam Ban Soon-Taek yesterday arrived at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel with an eighteen-member entourage, says a press release.

General Manager of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hidetaka Ishiyama warmly received the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Madam Ban Soon-Taek.

Catastrophe if polls not held, says Mahbub

Staff Reporter

Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a member of BNP standing committee, yesterday said the upcoming national election was very important as the fate of the nation depended on it.

"If the election is not held the country will fall in deep crisis," he said

He was addressing as chief guest a seminar on "Present Political Situation: Responsibility" at the Engineers Institution Auditorium in the city organised by Samriddha Bangladesh Andolan (SBA).

Md Zakir Hossain, Chairman of SBA, presided over the programme, while executive vice chairman of the party Shamsul Alam, vice chairmen of the party, Dr Jamirul Akter, Principal Azizul Haque, Major (Retd.) Wahidul Islam and Alamgir Hossain, joint secretary of SBA Mashiul Islam, Mahbub Hossain Khan, Mafizur Rahman, among others, attended.

The programme was conducted jointly by Advocate Kazi Arefin Jahan and Latifa Ahmed Luna. Md Ajmal Hossain, a tax lawyer, presented keynote paper.

He mentioned that the President has to be elected by the people changing the present system of Presidential election.

Speakers said that the state of emergency over a long time does not augur well for any country.

After the seminar a cultural function was held.

No further extension of deadline for tax return submission

UNB, Chittagong

Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Muhammad Abdul Mazid said yesterday there is no possibility for further extension of the deadline for submission of income tax return.

"The deadline for submission of income tax return won't be extended after November 6," he told a meeting at Engineers Institute here.

Divisional Deputy Tax Commissioner Shah Alam Khan chaired the meeting arranged to encourage people having taxable incomes to pay taxes voluntarily.

Mazid also said the taxpayers would have to submit their income tax returns next year by October 31 and there would be no extension of deadline like this year.

"Those who will submit their tax returns voluntarily by the stipulated time won't be questioned about their sources of incomes and wealth for the next three years," the NBR boss told the taxpayers.

He, however, warned if anyone tries to hide his or her income during submission of his or her tax return s/he is unlikely to be able to escape the long arm of the law. "The law will take its own course," he warned.

"The country can refrain from taking loans from various international agencies if people pay their taxes regularly," the NBR chief said urging all the eligible taxpayers to come forward in this regard.

Some 805 new taxpayers handed over their income tax returns to the NBR chairman at the meeting.

CLNB places Charter of demand before UN Chief

DU Correspondent

Demanding assistance of the natural disasters in the country including sidr, writing off foreign loan and duty free access of Bangladeshi commodities to the developed countries, a discussion meeting was held at the National Press Club yesterday.

Coalition of Local NGOs, Bangladesh (CLNB) organised the meeting marking the arrival of UN Secretary general Ban-Ki Moon in the country.

The meeting also placed a charter of demand especially to the UN secretary general, those which are the acute problems of the country through the media.

Speakers at the meeting said, natural disasters were hitting the country one after another due to the environment pollution caused by the developed countries, which are impeding the country's progress.

But the country got a little bit of assistance on the face of irreparable loss from the world community, they said and alleged that India wanted to make the country as a desert building banks on 54 international rivers illegally.

Former Army Chief Lieutenant Gen (Retd) Mahabubur Rahman, Major Gen (Retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, Former Member of the Parliament Prof Humayun Kabir Hiru, Journalist Taslim Ahmed, Executive Chairman of CLNB Syed Sydur Rahman, among others, participated in the discussion meeting with President of the CLNB Harun-or-Rashid in the chair.