The New Nation - Internet Edition

Week-long colourful Rag festival in JU

7-day-long Rag Day festival of the students of 32nd
batch of Jahangirnagar University was concluded yesterday on
the campus by taking oath to make corruption-free country.
NN photo

From A Correspondent

Students of Jahangirnagar University, 32nd Batch observed seven-day-long Rag festival (Education Ending ceremony) with fanfare, festivity and great enthusiasm. The festival had started with a colorful rally on 16th November and ended on 22nd November by taking oath of building a prosperous nation.

Thousands of students from all departments joined the festival in order to make the day memorable forever. The festival was sponsored by Pran Fruito. The splendour festival not only enthralled the students of 32nd Batch but also made the whole campus alive. Students of 32nd Batch were oriented on 14th August, 2003 and just after five years they left the campus in 2008 leaving a lot of sweet memories.

Preparation for the Rag festival was started 3 months ago with the formation of an organising committee. Even an election commission was also formed in order to arrange a free and fair election for electing a king and queen for the festival. Through a long process Moon and Joany were finally elected as the king and queen for the rag festival. Few days ago organising committee arranged three-day-long film festival in order to patronise the rag festival. After having all preparation, they took the decision to start the festival from 16th November and registered the students who liked to join the festival. In order to celebrate the festival whole campus was decorated nicely.

The Rag rally is one of the most attractive programmes of the festival. The seven-day long festival had begun with a colourful rally on 16th November at 12 p.m. JU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman along with Proctor Mafruhi Sattar, Prof. A.T.M. Atikur Rahman inaugurated the Rag rally at the foot of Omor Ekushey. The rally paraded the whole campus following the elected king and queen who got on a Tomtom (traditional horse carriage).

Thousands of students from different faculties joined the rally with colorful banner, festoons in hands and masks on their face. A band team was also hired in order to support them by beating drums, playing pipes and other musical instruments. Later, a campfire was held on the Cafeteria premises in that evening. The participants lost themselves to the tunes of songs and music. They enjoyed the campfire dancing till midnight.

A Mehendi carnival was celebrated on the 2nd day of the festival, sponsored by Momotaz Mehendi. This was open for all, as a result, students of all batches especially female students gathered to colour their hands into red. Later, a Cultural Evening was held at the University Open Stage where the students of 32nd batch staged their cultural performance.

On the 3rd day students of 32nd batch donated blood. The same evening a musical soiree was held performed by Shironamhin, a cultural organsation.

On the 4th day a friendship football match was held between 32nd Batch eleven and the rest batches students eleven team. Later, a rag adda was held with the presentation of Pinki where all friends of 32nd batch shared their feelings about campus life, campus affair different movements and cultural activities, etc.

The participants of Rag festival visited the Nondon Park on Thursday, 5th day of seven days’ long program. They enjoyed many rides there all day long and returned to the campus in the evening.

The outgoing students planted many trees on the campus as memento on the 6th day of the fiesta. Later a special dinner was arranged at Cafeteria where all the registered students of 32nd batch, invited teachers and guests were present. After the dinner, a heart rending situation came into sight. The outgoing students embraced one another and bade farewell.

On the last day the 32nd batch students took oath at the foot of University Shaheed Minar to make the nation prosperous so that it may stand upright among the nations of the world. JU VC Prof. Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman conducted the oath. Later, a musical concert was organised at the University Open Stage where famous band team Miles performed.

Hectic BNP move for polls

BNP activists' rush at party's central office at
Naya Paltan in the city on Saturday ahead of the
parliamentary elections. Banglar Chokh

Talha Bin Habib

The grass roots level leaders of BNP started lobbying for getting nomination to contest the forthcoming parliamentary elections soon after the announcement of party's Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for participation in the polls.

The announcement of BNP Chairperson on Thursday has created enthusiasm among the leaders and activists of the party for contesting the parliamentary elections.

BNP Chairperson held meetings with her top policymaking forum and primarily selected candidates for contesting the polls, party sources said.

Most of the grass roots level leaders of BNP are now in the city and they are trying to persuade senior leaders of the party for getting nomination.

Some grass roots level leaders, who are interested in contesting the polls with the party ticket, told the New Nation that they were persuading some standing committee members for securing nomination.

Party sources said some candidates, who had succeeded in the parliamentary elections in the past have already received green signals from the party chairperson. They already started mass campaign for the forthcoming polls.

A standing committee member of BNP on condition of anonymity said BNP and other components of the four-party alliance have started working for selecting right candidates for contesting the polls.

A senior leader of BNP involved in the process of selecting candidates for the upcoming elections said, the party has already made a list combining the lists of candidates for the stalled election of January 22 of the last year and field level survey reports of the organising committees of the party.

He said the party high ups have made a list where about 2 to 4 persons names are included in the list for every constituency.

He also said the party would give priority on the suggestions of the grass roots level activists while giving nominations to the candidates for the polls.

He mentioned that those who have proved as 'dedicated' to the party and earned good image would get priority in getting the party nominations.

On the nomination to reformist BNP leaders, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar told journalists yesterday that nominations would be given considering all aspects including candidates' strong prospect for victory.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jammat-e- Islami has started selecting candidates for contesting the polls.

A senior leader of Jammat said they have already finalised the names of the candidates for the polls.

Earlier on Thursday, BNP Chairperson announced that BNP led four-party alliance would join the polls if it is held on December 28 and its demands are realised.

They included total withdrawal of the state of emergency and re-announcement of the election schedule, repeal of section 91(E) of the Representation of the People Ordinance that gives the Election Commission power to cancel candidacy and deferment of Upazila polls.

7.5m people to suffer from diabetes by 2025

BSS, Dhaka

Health Experts at a seminar on Saturday said the number of diabetic patients aged over 20 will stood at 7.5 million people in the country by 2025.

They said, the prevalence of diabetic patients aged over 20 in the country in 2007 was four million.

The health experts disclosed this while addressing at the seminar titled 'Diabetes and Responsibilities' at the Jatiya Press Club here.

Eminence, a non-government development organisation in association with Square Pharmaceuticals Limited organised the seminar.

President of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Prof AK Azad Khan addressed the seminar as the chief guest while Dr MA Sabur presided over it.

Additional Director General of Directorate General of Health Service Dr Hosne Ara Tahmin, Prof Fatima Parveen Chowdhury, Director of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Prof AR Khan, Prof Hasina Banu and Prof of Medicine of Shaheed Suhrawardi Hospital Prof Ridwanur Rahman, among others, addressed the seminar.

Assistant Director of Eminence Dr Sultana Monira presented the keynote paper.

Diabetic patients are increasing globally at an alarming rate, Prof AK Azad said adding life style, food habit and other environmental factors are responsible for diseases like diabetes.

Prof Azad said, "We may not be able to eliminate diabetes as it transmitted genetically, so we need to pay attention to check the danger of the disease."

Describing diabetes as a fatal disease, Dr Hosne Area Tahmin urged both the government and non- government sector to work together for prevention of the disease.

Prof AR Khan said the number of diabetic patients including the infants are increasing due to urbanisation in the country.

He said "We have to pay more attention to healthcare of the children in order to keep them free from diseases including diabetes". Many children suffer from diabetes due to food habits, lifestyle and lack of facilities for physical exercise, he added.

Other speakers stressed the need for creating awareness among the people by disseminating messages about diabetes.

Describing health education as part of treatment, they said heath education should be incorporated in the curriculum for raising awareness about the disease.

In her keynote presentation, Dr Sultana Monira said the number of deaths attributable to complications of diabetes in the world is around 3.2 million every year.

She said Bangladesh is one of the top 10 countries having people suffering from diabetes.

Khaleda, Hasina talk has created new hope: Hossain Zillur

BSS, Mymensingh

Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman on Saturday said the exchange of pleasantries between the country's two top political leaders overnight created a new hope in political arena.

"The Friday evening's event as witnessed by the nation has created a new hope for the country," he told a school function at Haluaghat here in an apparent reference to the greetings exchanged between Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the armed forces division reception at Dhaka Cantonment.

He said the two former premiers-Sheikh Hasina and her archrival Khaleda Zia- in a rare gesture exchanged pleasantries Friday night after over a decade sending apparently a good signal to the volatile politics in emergency- ruled Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia enquired about each other's welfare standing on the lawn amid claps of those who joined the military reception to mark Armed Forces Day.

Several attempts to have the two leaders to sit across the table to resolve major issues of the nation appeared futile in recent years, but they last week expressed their eagerness to sit together to hold a dialogue on national issues.

The two most prominent leaders of the country rarely met in the past two decades while they even refused to talk to each other despite appeals by civil society and business leaders to resolve outstanding national issues ending the politics of confrontation.

The commerce adviser told the function at Haluaghat Adarsha Uchya Bidyalaya that a balanced development could be ensured through a political consensus as well as removal of regional imbalances.

Zillur later visited Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh and exchanged opinions with its new vice chancellor Professor Dr MA Sattar Mandol and senior teachers including faculty deans.

Information Ministry refutes press report

BSS, Dhaka

The ministry of information yesterday refuted the report published in a national daily in the yesterday's issue and said the ministry has made many epoch- making achievements during the tenure of the present government.

A spokesman of the information ministry brushed aside the report and said there is no scope for feeling shy to move files by the joint secretaries to the secretary of the ministry as all the files are disposed of as per the secretariat istructions- 2008.

There is no backlog of the files in the ministry, he said adding the report of frustration among information cadres on the activities of the ministry is completely false and fabricated. About 70 officials, who are working at different offices under the ministry, have got promotion in the last one year. About the vacancies in the ministry, the spokesman said the ministry of information already has requested the ministry of establishment to fill up the vacant posts. Officers in these posts are expected to be recruited very soon, he added.

The spokesman said there is no existence of any syndicate in the ministry and there is no scope for running it by the decision of any particular person. The ministry functions as a team work as per government rules.

Listing the progress of the activities of the ministry during the period of the incumbent secretary, the spokesman said the promulgation of the Right to Information Ordinance, implementation of the Seventh Wage Board Award and formulation of the advertisement policy and its execution are significant achievements of the government, which were possible due to relentless efforts by officials and employees of all levels.

He said the government during the short period of time also formulated the community radio policy, took steps to give the national film award of the last six years to the recipients, stopped exhibition of the obscene films, increasing revenue incomes of the BTV and brought diversity to the news presentation and programmes of the state-run television.

Besides, the ministry has undertaken steps to strengthen the activities of PID, DFP, Film Archive, PIB, FDC and National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC).

The issue of providing autonomy for Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television (BTV) are now under active consideration of the government, he said.

He said an additional secretary is being given additional charge as the Director General of the BTV. Due to sensitiveness and importance of the post, the government has a plan to appoint a full-time DG in the BTV very soon.

According to the government rules and regulations, a secretary can never show any vengeance or favour to any cadre, he said adding, all postings and transfers in the ministry are done by the ministry of establishment.

The spokesman blasted the press report that the information secretary and his personal secretary have political affiliation saying the allegations are unfounded and motivated.

Clarifying the duties of the information secretary in the film censor board, the spokesman said as the chairman of board, the presence of the secretary in the board meeting is obligatory by the law. The board under the leadership of the incumbent secretary has made immense success in curving obscenity and piracy in the films.

"The secretary attends the meeting of the censor board after office hours as the board meetings are held two days in a week after 5 pm to 9 pm. So, it's very unfortunate to bring the allegation of 'negligence of duties' against the secretary," he said adding the honourarium that the members of the board receive for their work is very insignificant comparing to their duties they discharge.

The spokesman denied that the ministry has issued any official order asking the officials not to leave the office until the secretary's departure. He said the remarks made in the report against the additional secretary of the ministry are also completely false and motivated, he said, adding there is no departmental case against the additional secretary.

The spokesman said it's also untrue that the ministry has barred to two secretaries preventing them from taking part in any BTV programme. The ministry of information is completely unaware about it.

The spokesman further said the information ministry did not issued any order compelling the officers and the staff to stay beyond the office hours. Regarding the submission of a report on the BTV's autonomy by the additional secretary, he clarified that the report is in the final stage and to be submitted to the ministry any time.

The spokesman further denied any dispute between the ministry of information and the BIWTA.

Experts caution against feeding babies power milk

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday said no brand of powder milk could be safe for the health of a child. Breast-milk would be enough for the proper development of babies.

Bangladesh Paribesh Andalon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Consumer Rights Protection Group jointly organised the programme titled 'Is Powder-milk needed for a Child' at BAPA office in the city. Specialists emphasised on breast-feeding to a neonatal baby within an hour. Initiatives should be taken to inspire the mother for breast-feeding.

Speakers said breast-feeding could build a strong bond of love and affection between the child and mother. Many severe diseases including cancer could affect child as a result of taking powder milk, they added.

They said many questions had arisen recently about powder milk after the tragedy of melamine toxic-milk in China. They suggested not to take any risk with the health of our future generation.

Prof Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Convener of the Scheme of Safe Food and Water of BAPA presided over the meeting, while Jahadur Rahim, member secretary of the Scheme presented keynote in the programme.

Political parties should pick honest candidates: CEC

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda has stressed that it is the responsibility of political parties to endorse honest and qualified candidates, not the Election Commission.

"The duty of a referee does not include selecting a team's players, in the same way it is not the responsibility of the Election Commission to endorse honest and qualified candidates," the CEC told a views exchange programme at the National Economic Council auditorium yesterday

"Political parties must take that responsibility," Huda said at the discussion on 'Code of Conduct for the media during the elections'.

"The commission cannot be responsible for the outcome of all election activities," he said.

The function of the EC was specified in the constitution, added the CEC.

Huda said that during electoral dialogues, political parties had recommended forming a code of conduct for the media and observers.

The commission had regulations for observers but had not finalised one for the media, he said.

UNESCO, however, provided the commission technical assistance in drafting regulations for the media, Huda said.

The policy does not mean any control over the media, but mutual cooperation, he stressed.

ATN Bangla's Saiful Bari pointed out that there were some contradictory clauses in the draft regulations.

At one place it states that nothing can be said against a candidate while at another place it says that the media should disclose information about the candidate, he said.

Khaleda, Hasina talks to bring positive result, says Delwar

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain yesterday said exchange of greetings and pleasantries between the two former Prime Ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would bring a 'positive' result in the country's future politics.

"I term it 'positive' and hope it will auger well for our politics and for democracy," he said while taking journalists at the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city. He said the two leaders should reach consensus on national issues in the interest of the people and democracy. When asked about the four-point demand of BNP led four-party alliance, the BNP Secretary General urged the Election Commission to quickly take decision regarding the demands including holding of parliamentary elections on December 28.

Responding that BNP is a election oriented party, Delwar said " BNP went to power thrice in the past by the mandate of the people".

He urged the government to ensure the atmosphere favourable for polls.

"We are to contest in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and it is the government's responsibility to ensure an atmosphere that would enable the voters to exercise their franchise without any intimidation and fear," Delwar said.

On the nomination to reformist of BNP leaders, he said nominations would be given considering all aspects including candidates' strong prospects for victory.

Lifting the state of emergency immediately, holding of upazila elections after 30 days of general elections, amendments to Representation of People's Order (RPO) including the removal of its clause 91 (E) are among the demands of the alliance.

Police Women Network launched

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Home Affairs Major General (retd) MA Matin on Saturday inaugurated the Bangladesh Police Women Network (BPWN) expressing the hope that the organization would play an important role in checking crimes against women and children.

Adviser for Primary Education and Women and Children Affairs Rasheda K Chowdhury attended the function at a city hotel as the special guest Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Abdul Karim, IGP Nur Mohammad, Resident Representative of the UNDP Renata Lok Dessallien, vice president of International Police Association Gen Tonsley, Additional IGP NBK Tripura and president of BPWN Fatema Begum spoke, among others, on the occasion.

Obama to revive Kashmir peace move: Clinton to be special envoy

New Delhi and Islamabad

As part of his push to find new solutions to the war in Afghanistan, President-elect Barack Obama is considering a new diplomatic push on Kashmir, reversing eight years of American silence on the issue.

Obama has argued that Pakistan will not fully commit to fighting the insurgency it shares with Afghanistan until it sheds historic insecurities toward India. Talks about Kashmir, the central point of contention between the two nuclear rivals, are among the "critical tasks for the next administration," Obama said in an interview last month with Time magazine.

It is a strategy that worries Indians, who suggest the Pakistani Army is blackmailing Obama to support its claims. Yet security analysts say the Afghan insurgency has roots in the power struggle between India and Pakistan and cannot be solved without a regional approach.

"It will be very hard to put Afghanistan on a long-term positive path without alleviating some of the Indo-Pakistan tensions," says Xenia Dormandy of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

Such ideas would appear to fit well with the doctrines of Gen. David Petraeus, who oversaw a significant improvement in law and order in Iraq. He is now the commander of American forces in the entire region, which includes Afghanistan.

General Petraeus has been an open advocate of regional diplomacy as a key counterinsurgency tactic. On Oct. 15, he told a round table of Washington Post reporters that in seeking solutions to Afghanistan, "there may be opportunities with respect to India."

The goal would be to build a level of trust between India and Pakistan, freeing Pakistan from its historic fear of India, with which it has fought three wars. The surest way to do this, Obama has said, is to find a solution to Kashmir - the state split between each but claimed in full by both.

"We should try to resolve the Kashmir crisis so that [Pakistan] can stay focused - not on India, but on the situation with those militants," he told MSNBC on Oct. 31.

Obama went further in the Time interview, mentioning he has spoken with former President Bill Clinton about becoming a special envoy to the region - a comment that has been front-page news in India and Pakistan.

Nothing could be more damaging to American interests in the region, says Raja Mohan, a member of India's National Security Advisory Board.

Release of Moudud demanded

DU correspondent

Dhaka Based Companigongj (Noakhali) Students Forum yesterday demanded immediate release of former Minister and BNP standing committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed from jail.

Addressing a meeting at Bottala on DU campus Arif Hossain, Convener of the forum said that government is not releasing Moudud for a mysterious although the High Court has granted his bail in the last two cases.

He called upon the government to set Moudud so that he can get opportunity to participate in the coming national election.

Musa Kalimulla, join convener of the forum, Omar Faruq, Tania, Imadaul Haq Razu and approximately two hundred students of Dhaka University, Jagannath University, and Dhaka college participated in the programme.

DCCI workshop of entrepreneurs begins

DU Correspondent

A three-day workshop of entrepreneurs' group and consultants jointly organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and SEQUA project under Asia Investment II Programme of EU began on Friday at DCCI auditorium.

The main purpose of the workshop is to create awareness and to enable the members of the entrepreneurs' group and consultants to acquire knowledge on Bangladesh and EU Trade relations.

The workshop focused on establishment of Bangladeshi-products entering into European market, policy support in Bangladesh for SMEs willing to do business with EU, analysis of product range, search for product-related co-operation partner, duties on the products, and competitiveness of the products.