The New Nation - Internet Edition

Concerted efforts to rehabilitate street children underscored

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a function here on Wednesday said concerted efforts of all government and non-government organisations along with other stakeholders could rehabilitate street children to build them as worthy citizens.

Similarly, community participation along with requisite financial help is very effective to rescue the street children from their vulnerable conditions, as they are the integral part of society, they added.

They said importance should also be given to bring them to the mainstream of society so that they could make themselves skilled for taking part in the nation-building process, they added.

The speakers were addressing a ceremony arranged on the occasion of distributing birth-registration certificates among some rehabilitated street children at Safawang Community Centre hosted by Protection of Children at Risk (PCAR), a project under the Ministry of Social Welfare, in collaboration with its local partner organisation - Assistance for Slum Dwellers (ASD).

Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Shefaul Karim and silk industrialist Alhaj Sadar Ali addressed the meeting as the chief and the special guest respectively with Divisional Coordinator of PCAR Project Abdus Sobhan in the chair.

They distributed birth registration certificates among 150 rehabilitated street children.

ASD Project Manager Abdul Bari illustrated the objectives and activities of the programme in his address of welcome and said some 70 street children are being rehabilitated and imparted with training on 16 vocational trades.

They observed that various social crimes, including terrorism, bomb blasting, drug-addiction and stealing, could be reduced to a greater extent if the rootless children could be made worthy for beneficial purposes.

Solo art exhibition of Amin begins in Beijing

BSS, Dhaka

A nine-day solo art exhibition of modern abstract arts of Bangladeshi Artist Rashid Amin began at the prestigious 798 Art Zone at Chaoyang district of Beijing on Saturday.

The exhibition of Rashid Amin, a doctoral fellow at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, was supported by Bangladesh Embassy in China, a press release said here on Wednesday.

A total of 51 art works are being displayed in the first solo exhibition by a Bangladeshi artist.

Artist Rashid Amin received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing in 1992 and received masters of fine arts degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University in 1994. Then he joined as an assistant professor in the University of Development Alternative (UODA).

Ambassador of Bangladesh to China Munshi Faiz Ahmad inaugurated the exhibition. Among others, Professor of Central Academy of Fine Arts Guang Jun, Country Director of UNDP Mr. Subinay Nandy and Foreign Expert of China Radio International ABM Salahuddin were also present.

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of government officials, diplomats, and members of Bangladesh community, cultural activists, teachers and students of different universities in Beijing.

The exhibition features 51 works of art in print making (etching and dry-point) and water colour. Although most of the works are in abstract form, the artist draws his inspiration from the nature.

The exhibition titled "IN VIEW OF INFINITY" reflects the artist's search for the infinite truth and beauty that is intertwined with the day today finite world.

Recently Artist Rashid Amin also participated in an important group exhibition "One World One Home" organized by the Cultural Ministry of China in April 2008.

Foreign office DG Hamidur Rashid gets UNDP job

BSS, Dhaka

Director general (European Desk) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hamidur Rashid leaves here for New York this evening to join the UNDP as a planning adviser.

A foreign office source said Dr Rashid joined Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1989. M Zulfiqur Rahman has been given the charge of the European Desk.

C'wealth Assessment Team due on Nov 8

BSS, Dhaka

A two-member Commonwealth Assessment Team will arrive here on a six-day visit on November 8, official sources said here on Wednesday.

The team members will hold discussions with leaders of major political parties, meet Chief Election Commissioner Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda and exchange views with representatives of the civil society.

The team members are Pavan Kapoor, Head of Asia and Europe and Mark Stevens, Head of Democracy.

The team members will leave Dhaka on November 14.

Chinese Envoy calls on Iftekhar

BSS, Dhaka

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zheng Qingdian on Wednesday made a courtesy call on Adviser for Foreign Affairs Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the Foreign Ministry and discussed matters of mutual interest.

The ambassador handed over a donation certificate to Dr Iftekhar thanking Bangladesh for the support accorded following the disastrous earthquake in China.

Speaking to the media later, the foreign adviser stated that they had also discussed follow-up measures following the very successful recent visit to China by the Chief Adviser.

In response to a question, he added that they had also spoken about the current situation between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the Bay of Bengal.

Dr Iftekhar said: "I have explained our peaceful intentions to our Chinese friend, and expressed our hope that Myanmar dismantles the installations on the disputed waters."

Death anniversary of Dr Rashid today

BSS, Dhaka

The 27th death anniversary of Dr M A Rashid, the founder vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), will be observed today.

An international figure in this field, Dr Rashid had his D.Sc in civil engineering from the United States as early as in 1947 and performed many responsibilities including chairman of the erstwhile East Pakistan Public Service Commission, member of the pay commission in independent Bangladesh and member, advisory council of the president.