The New Nation - Internet Edition

Zillur for integrated efforts for quality edn

BSS, Dhaka

Education and Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Tuesday emphasized that integrated efforts should be taken involving teachers, students, guardians, education administration and policy makers to ensure qualitative progress in education sector.

He was addressing as the chief guest a function organised to distribute awards among the poor but meritorious students and best educational institutions in the Board Room of the Dhaka Education Board here today, an official handout said.

Additional Secretary of Education Ministry Md Mozammel Haque Khan also spoke at the function, while Chairman of Dhaka Education Board Professor Md Monirul Islam presided.

The education adviser said the present caretaker government has undertaken various reform measures in the education sector. Besides these initiatives, positive programmes should be taken at different levels, he said.

Welcoming the move of the Dhaka Education Board to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency, he said all the education boards in the country should undertake such programmes.

The adviser sought the cooperation of all in raising the standard of education.

A total 21 poor but meritorious students who achieved GPA-5 in the HSC examinations under the Dhaka Board got the awards. Every student received Taka 5,000 and a crest. Beside, heads of seven well established colleges were given the awards.

Heads of 50 colleges under the Dhaka Board that could not do well in the examinations were also invited to the function.

The colleges which got the awards are RAJUK Uttara Model College, Notre Dame College, Dhaka Residential Model High School and College, Bir Shrestha Noor Mohammad Public College, Mymensingh Cantonment Public College, Motijheel Ideal School and College and Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

Concerted effort to attain sanitation target stressed

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a workshop here on Tuesday underscored the need for a collective effort to attain the target of hundred-percent sanitation by 2010.

In this context, they called for transforming the sanitation campaign into social movement with participation of all quarters particularly the community people side by side with the government efforts to attain the goal for building a healthy society.

Divisional Commissioner Office and Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) jointly arranged the workshop titled "Sanitation for all and ensuring overall sanitation by 2010" at Nanking Darbar Hall as part of the "National Sanitation Campaign- 2008" as well as to mark the National Sanitation Month October.

Four NGOs- WSP, DASCOH, NGO Forum and VERC extended support to arrange the program.

Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi division Syed Ali Nasim Khaliluzzaman addressed the workshop as the chief guest with DPHE Superintending Engineer Shafiur Rahman in the chair. Chief Executive Director of DASCOH Akramul Haque presented the strategic paper on the occasion.

Associate Professor Iqbal Matin of Civil Engineering Department of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, DPHE Executive Engineer Saifur Rahman and Editor of Daily Sonaly Sangbad Liakat Ali were the panel discussants.

Speakers called upon the field level administrative and DPHE officials and public representatives to engage community leaders, religious teachers at the grassroots in the campaign so that it can be turned into a social movement. Around 150 persons including government and non-government officials, public representatives, teachers, religious leaders, development activists and members of the civil society from 16 districts under the division attended the meeting and exchanged their views.

Training workshop on HIV/AIDS held in Khulna

A national network constituted with the participation of media people, persons with HIV positives, and NGO activities after completing the two days long training programme organised on reducing social stigma on HIV and AIDS by Nari Unnayan Shakti supported by SARDM, World Bank at Khulna on Caritas Auditorium on 1-2 November. Participation of the training was Media Persons of Khulna Division and persons with HIV National Convener of the network is Ms. Afroja Parvin, Executive Director, Nari Unnayan Shakti among others were present on the occasion, says a press release.

Special Guest and speaker were Civil Surgeon of Khulna Lutfor Rahman Khan, Secretary General of Khulna Press Club SM Zahid Hossain, former Chairperson of Press Club Mokbul Hossain Mintu were present.

Appeal for help

An eight years boy Akib, son of Md Nazrul Islam of Uttar Purbadhala (Noman Villa) under Netrakona district has been suffering from kidney ailment for long. His both kidneys have been damaged. For his proper treatment a huge amount of money will be needed but his poor parents cannot afford to bear this expenditure. This is why they have requested the affluent section of the society to extend their helping hands to save the life of Akib. Akib now under treatment of Dr KM Saha, Consultant of Nefrology Department of Apollo Hospital, Dhaka.

Contact: Nazrul Islam, Mobile- 01712-480718, says a press release.

Broadband Policy to be announced soon

BSS, Dhaka

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Post and Telecommunications Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek said here yesterday the government will soon announce the "National Broadband Policy-08."

With the announcement of the policy, he said, the Internet service facilities will increase in the country and cost of using Internet will also be reduced.

He said this while inaugurating a website to provide online services to Bangladesh National Social Welfare Parishad at Bangladesh secretariat here.

Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare Zakir Hossain was present on the occasion.

"Ensuring the rights to information, Malek said, adding "the website will also play an important role to fulfil the time befitting demand and provide necessary help."

Let you know all information about the activities of the National Social Welfare Parishad through this website, he said.

The special assistant also appreciated the role of media for carrying out positive activities of the Social Welfare Parishad.

Zakir Hossain said the website will bring transparency and accountability in the activities of the parishad.

High officials of the Social Welfare Ministry were present on the occasion.

The address of the web site is www.bnswc.gov.bd.

PDP demands rescheduling of election

BSS, Dhaka

Chairman of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Ferdous Ahmed Qureishi on Tuesday demanded rescheduling of the election schedule for making the polls acceptable to all.

Addressing a press conference at the PDP central office at Topkhana Road here, he also called for creating a congenial atmosphere for holding the elections by taking the whole nation into confidence without giving priority to any certain party.

Mentioning that 'level-playing field' was not created for staging fair and acceptable elections, the PDP chief said, "It is not logical to announce the election schedule by giving registration to some parties and keeping incomplete the registration work of others."

He said scrutiny and giving nomination of candidates would be very difficult at such a short time for the new parties which did not get registration.

Qureishi urged the EC to announce new schedule after completing the registration process of political parties so they get a reasonable time for giving nomination.

He said the election schedule should be rescheduled through discussions so that the elections could be held with the participation of all and on the basis of consensus.

The PDP chairman also demanded re-fixing of the voting dates subject to discussions.

Avoiding a direct reply to a question on the participation in the December 18 polls, he said the decision would be taken at a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party on November 8.

He did not rule out the possibility of participation in the elections in alliance with any big party.

Qureishi said party's EC meeting would take decision, which will be better for the party and the nation. But, he said, "We have to be observant whether the country is moving towards one-sided elections or confrontation."

Constitution Day observed

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) and 'Change Makers' jointly organised a discussion to mark the 36th anniversary of the Constitution of Bangladesh.

Politicians, bureaucrats, legal experts, civil society members and prominent citizens attended the discussion, according to a press release.

The participants said the Proclamation of Independence is the genesis of our Constitution and should be put immediately after the preamble as in the American Constitution.

They stressed the need to make the Constitution more available to the public. It was proposed that the Proclamation of Independence and part 2 and part 3 of the Constitution should be incorporated in the curriculum of schools, colleges and universities.

In his opening remarks, BILIA director Ambassador Wali-ur Rahman said the Constitution is the most remarkable intellectual achievement in the history of our democracy.

Awami League Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said it is the Constitution that gives ultimate power to the people and that is why people must understand the Constitution. Former Law Minister Abdul Matin Khasru mentioned that during his tenure he took a successful large-scale initiative to print and distribute the Constitution among the citizens.

'Change Makers' president advocate Tanbir ul Islam Siddiqui, underscored the need for embracing, upholding and understanding the Constitution to move ahead in the democratic process and establishing good governance and rule of law.

The speakers also expressed their concern for the lack of awareness among the people regarding their fundamental rights that is guaranteed by the Constitution.