The New Nation - Internet Edition

Women’s equal rights in political organisations underscored

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Participants of a day long workshop on 'Women's Political Empowerment' demanded equal rights in running political organizations, local and central government and balanced sharing in nomination for national election according to the ratio of female voters in respective constituencies.

The workshop was jointly organised by Free Election Movement Association (FEMA) and Bangladesh National Women Lawyer's Association (BNWLA) at Barisal LGED auditorium.

Fifty eight including 45 women including leaders of different political parties, present and former councilors of BCC, former upazila chairman, women and human rights activists, journalists, teachers, advocates, social workers, representatives of TIB and different professional, socio-cultural organisations attended and participated in open discussion of the program. Advocate S M Iqbal, district FEMA president, presided over and Shamsul Alam, FEMA national committee member, gave welcome address while Advocate Kohinoor Begum, BNWLA deputy director presented keynote paper , Advocate Mitali Jahan, BNWLA program officer , Enayet Hossain Chowdhury and Mir Maniruzaman, district FEMA secretary and joint secretary conducted the programme.

The participants opined although the country ran by two female prime ministers for last 15 years, but political empowerment of women yet not developed in standard and satisfactory condition even inside the two major political parties running under women chairperson.

They called for women's political empowerment in all level the political parties and giving nominations of women candidates in at least 33-50% seats considering the majority number of female voters of the constituencies. 'We want to see the constitutions of the political parties as 'women empowerment friendly' and execution of that in all aspects, they added.

Some of the female participants to avoid competition with the male candidates also called for fixing certain constituencies only for females considering number of majorities of female voters instead of increasing few numbers of 'reserved seats for women' and direct election instead of selection by political parties. They also emphasized on gaining self respect and self empowerment by struggling to eliminate all kinds of discriminations against women in all aspects of life including inside the family, society, political party and different types of organizations.

Financial self sufficiency by gaining equal inheritance of properties, domestic and professional works could help women empowerment in all aspects including political arena and rightful implementation of the existing women friendly laws and rights also demanded, by them.

Call to declare Nov 7 as public holiday

RU Correspondent

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) of Rajshahi University unit on Tuesday staged a demonstration on the campus demanding the National Revolution and Solidarity Day on November 7 a public holiday.

Earlier, RU JCD brought out a protest procession and paraded different streets on the campus.

Later, they held a rally in front of central library premises, called upon the government and demanded to declare November 7 as the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

JCD leaders said that On November 7, 1975, soldiers and civilians revolted jointly and freed the then army chief Major General Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka Cantonment and establish a democracy in the country.

They also said that Ziaur Rahman is a successful president in Bangladesh and he established political democracy in the country.

President Ziaur Rahman also founder of modern Bangladesh, they also said.

RU JCD also called upon the government and demanded observe November 7 as a public holiday at state level.

BGMEA Sramik Kalyan Kendra inaugurated

in Gazipur

Our Correspondent, Gazipur

BGMEA Sramik Kalyan Kendra was inaugurated at E-Shila Tower at Gazipur Chowrasta of the district on 1 November.

A discussion and Doa Mahfil were held with Anwarul Alam Chowdhury in the chair.

It was addressed by Harun-or-Rashid, Asstt. president, BGMEA, mahmud Hasan Khan (Babu) former, Asstt. president Shamsuddin Ahmed. Director, BGMEA, Rahshid Ahmed Hossainy. S.M. Hannan (Kachi), Sawkat Ali Bhuiyan, Sayed Faizul Ahsan and ABM Bhuiyan, Sayed Faizul Ahsan and ABM. Enayet Ullah.

Speakers said in their speech they are working with Government following the rules and regulations of Crisis Management-Cell (CMC) to solve all kinds of disadvantages of Garments Sector. They also added in their speech that Garment workers will get different kinds of facilities in near future. It is noted, BGMEA chairman inaugurated the new office Sramik Kalyan Kendra. Later on a Doa Mahfil also was held in this connection.

Trial of Jail Killing Case under int’l court demanded

RU Correspondent

Around two hundred teachers of Rajshahi University (RU) under the banner of Progressive Teachers Society (PTS) on Monday formed a human chain in front of central Shaheed Minar on the campus and rejected the High Court (HC) verdict in the Jail Killing Case, saying justice has not been reflected.

They also demanded proper trial of the Jail killing case and exemplary punishment to the real killers. After the human chain, the teachers held a rally and rejected the verdict as it has utterly frustrated the country people.

The teachers said that on this day in 1975, four national leaders, Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Capt (Retd) M Mansur Ali and AQM Quamruzzaman were killed in a barbaric way in Dhaka Central Jail. 'Our four national were victimized by international conspiracy and their killing in jail is a part of the conspiracy', they said. We were very frustrated by the HC verdict and we demanded reinvestigation of the case and trial under international court as HC did not punish real killers, said Professor Mozaffar Hossain also convener of PTS.

"We had earlier rejected the verdict of the lower court and expected justice from the High Court. But the HC verdict disappointed us, acquitting the main killers of the four national leaders", the teachers also said. The teachers urged the government and demanded immediate mark the national leaders killers as a war criminals and immediate start their trial under speedy trial tribunals. They also called on the government and demanded reinvestigation of the Jail killing case and immediate ensures punishment of the real killers as HC acquitting the main killers. They urged all progressive organization to come forward and launch a fresh movement against the anti-liberation forces.

Former RU vice chancellor Prof Saidur Rahman Khan, syndicate member Prof Abdus Sobhan, Prof Muklesur Rahman, Prof Mizan Uddin, Prof Anando Kumar Saha, Prof Mahabubur Rahman, Prof Fayekuzzaman, Prof Jalal Uddin, Prof SM Abu Bakkar, Prof Muhammad Nurullah, Prof Shamsuddin Ilas, Prof Dulal Chandra Ray, Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu, Zanatul Ferdous, Mobaroba Siddika, Hasibul Alam, Anisur Rahman, SA Haidar, Rabiur Islam were present during the human chain and addressed the meting. After the human chain, the teachers placed wreath at central Shaheed Minar to the memory of the four national leaders. They also observed one minute silence in honour and memory of the slain four leaders.

Fresher's reception at Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women Degree College in Natore held

Our Correspondent, Natore

Freshers' reception at Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib women Degree College was held at Bonpara under Baraigram Upazila in Natore on 3 November. The function was started by giving a floral wreaths to an Intermediate first year students by a senior.

Afterwards Md. Abdur Razzak Molla, Principal of the institute delivered inaugurating speech while Pronab Kumar Roy Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Chairman of governing body of the College was present as the chief guest. Among others, Gouropado Mondol a noted educationist, founder member of governing body Social activist K.M. Zakir Hossain and Assistant Prof of the College Md. Ainul Haque spoke on the occasion. After reception a cultural function was held that enthrallep thousands of audience, member of College governing body, teachers, students and employees.

Obituary

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

Baraigram Upazila Awami League (AL) leader and Nagar UP Chairman Md Naosad Ali's mother Atar Jan Bibi (115) died of a disease at her residence Koyen Bazar of Baraigram upazila on October 30.

A Namaj-e-Janaza was held at the madrasa ground of Koyen bazar. Different political leaders, local elite, took part in her Namaj-e-Janaza. He left behind two sons and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death.

Increased use of compost fertiliser to boost crop production emphasised

BSS, Lalmonirhat

Speakers at separate meetings here on Monday have underscored the need for increased use of compost fertilisers for increasing crop productions as well as improving soil health.

They said preparation costs of compost fertilisers are much lower than those of the high cost chemical fertilisers, which have huge negative and harmful impacts on soil health, environment, bio- diversity and ecological balance.

They also said that said that the country's food security could be attained through ensuring maximum utilizations of the cultivable lands using compost fertilisers to produce more crops including high valued crops and vegetables.

They said this while addressing two separate orientation meetings titled 'Encouraging Farmers in Preparing Compost Fertilisers' at Patgram and Hatibandha upazila parishad auditoriums for the farmers of the localities on Monday.

The upazila administrations and the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) organised the orientation meetings to encourage the farmers in producing more and more compost fertilisers though making the ongoing compost heaps programme a social revolution.

Patgram UNO Kazi Abu Taher and UNO of Hatibandha upazila Lutfar Rahman chaired the meetings respectively those were attended by Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat M Ala Uddin Fakir as the chief guest.

Deputy Director of the DAE, Lalmonirhat Aftab Uddin Khan and the concerned Upazila Agriculture Officers were present as the special guests. They said that food security has become the most important issue now in every country with no other alternative to increasing production of all varieties of crops to meet the local food demand for ensuring both national and global peace, stability and social harmony.

They also stressed the need for acquainting the farmers with the latest agro-technologies and knowledge of modern agriculture, providing them with the facilities for easily getting quality seeds and inputs for increasing agri-productions using compost fertilisers.

They specially emphasized the need for vegetables-based cropping patterns to meet the deficit in agro-productions side by side with meeting nutritional demands and enabling the farmers getting maximum profits of their produced crops.

They expressed their confidence that the greater Rangpur area also could play the most vital role in producing and utilizing the maximum quantity of compost fertilisers to increase food productions and reviving the changing ecology and improving the soil health.

News briefs

One killed, 10 hurt in Magura clashes

MAGURA, Nov 4: A man was killed and 10 others were injred in a clash between two rivalg roups following a land dispute at Chalshe village in Muhammadpur upazila on Tuesday morning. Police said the clash ensued when peopleof Matiar Member went to build a house on a disputed land and were resisted by teh supporters of Akter Ali this morning. Peopleof Akter Ali allegedly beat up Abdur Razzak, 45, of the rival group indiscriminately, leavint him dead onthe spot. At least 10 people of both the groups were also injured during the clash. They were admitted to the different local hospitals. On information, police rushed in and arrested six people from the spot. A case was filed, reports UNB.

Terrorist killed in shootout with police in Gazipur

GAZIPUR, Nov 4: A terrorist was killed in a shootout between police and terrorists at East Bonomala in Tongi early on Tuesday. The dead was identified as Kabir Hossain Likhon, 28, police said Likhon was a listed terrorist. Police said a team of police went to the area to arrest the terrorists at dead of night. Sensing presenceof the law enforcers, 8/10 terrorists opened fire onthem, forcing police to fire back that led a gunfight. “Likhon was caught in crossfire and killed on the spot,” said a spot account of the shootout. A pistol and two bullets were recovered from the scene afte the gunfight, reports UNB.