The New Nation - Internet Edition

Food and cultural festival in city hotel

Staff Reporter

A week-long Bangladesh Food and Cultural Festival begins at the Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka today.

The management of the Radisson Water Garden Hotel has organised in festival as part of its initiative to introduce Bangladeshi culinary delicacies, culture and heritage to foreigners.

Aundre Alex Gomez, General Manager of the Radisson Water Garden Hotel, gave details of the festival at a press conference held at the hotel yesterday.

He said the chefs of the hotel will present the local delicacies of the specialised cuisine of different regions of the country.

"The guests at the festival would be able to taste authentic Bangladeshi cuisine and sample culinary delicacies like different kinds of Bhorta (Shutkir Bhorta, Taki Macher Bhorta), Fish items (Koi Macher Jhol, Pabda Macher Bhuna, Shorshe Elish), Korma, Polao, Biriani, Khichuri, tantalising local desserts such as Khejur Rosher Kheer, Gajorer Halwa, Rosh Golla, Rosh Malai and various pithas like Patishapta, Bhapapitha from the live cooking stations," he said.

Sayed Ahmed, Director Slate and Marketing of the hotel, said the festival would only offer buffet dinner starting from 1830 hours to 2230 hours every day.

He informed the festival would remain open for all from November 24 to 30. There will be many food stalls representing different divisions and regions of Bangladesh along with many local delicacies.

Apart from introducing local food, a cultural team will also perform to uphold and showcase various Bangladeshi cultures. Every evening the cultural team will perform songs such as Tagore songs, Vatiali, Lalon Giti and other famous songs.

Besides famous songs, there will be a display of folk dances representing the traditional and diverse culture of different regions of Bangladesh to the modern trends, organisers said.

BNP high ups condole death of party leader

Staff Reporter

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain yesterday expressed their deep condolences over the death of Afsar Ahmed Chowdhury, senior vice- president, Chittagong north unit of the party.

In her message Begum Zia said late Afsar Chowdhury had played a key role in establishing the ideology of BNP and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. BNP has lost a dedicated leader.

She conveyed her sympathies to the bereaved family members and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul.

In his message, Khandker Delwar also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

Participation all to make polls fruitful

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion in the city yesterday had emphasised the necessity of the participations of major political parties in the upcoming national polls to make it fair and fruitful.

The discussion organised by Center for Democracy and Peace Studies was held at the National Press Club. Dr Zakariya Linkon, VC of IBAIS University presented keynote speech at the programme.

Demanding free and fair elections he said the electoral process is very essential for the establishment of democracy. Though fair elections do not guarantee establishment of good governance, it is its basis.

Speakers said our future would depend on the nature and the criteria of the forthcoming polls. Free and fair elections is the demand of the public and nobody could avoid public opinion.

Prof Mahbubul Alam, Writer and Columnist blamed political insincerity for advent of the interim government. After two years of delay public continue to speculate about the fairness of the polls.

Roisuddin Arif, columnist, Gyweshwar Chandra Roy, Joint Secretary General of BNP, Sadek Khan, Journalist, Mostafizur Rahman, Secretary General of Labour Party, among others, spoke in the meeting.

Melamine-tainted milk: HC to hear petition against ads

UNB, Dhaka

A petition, praying for immediately stop publication of "false" advertisements on melamine-tainted powdered milk, was filed in the High Court on Sunday.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a rights body, whose writ petition is pending for hearing, filed the petition and sought legal action against those responsible for it.

A division bench, comprising Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui, fixed November 25 for hearing the petition.

The petitioner pointed out that section 19(1) of the Pure Food Ordinance 1959 prohibited any false advertisement of food products and it is a punishable offence. Despite continuation of the Ordinance, publication of such false advertisement is going on behalf of the suspected melamine-tainted Alnene, Red Cow, and Diploma, the petitioner said, adding as a result, the people are being confused by such media advertisements.

HRPB president advocate Manzill Murshid moved the petition.

Grenade attack case hearing adjourned till Nov 30

UNB, Dhaka

A court here Sunday fixed November 30 for cross-examination of the complainant by the defense counsel in the 2004 August 21 grenade attack case.

Judge of Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Mohammad Masdar Hossain passed the order after close of the deposition by the complainant Sharif Faruk Ahmed, Sub-inspector of Mothijheel thana.

On August 21, 2004, a series of grenades were exploded at an anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue organized by Awami League leaving at least a score people killed, including AL leader Ivy Rahman, and several hundreds more injured, including AL chief Sheikh Hasina.

Twenty-two accused, including former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu and HuJi chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, were earlier indicted in the case.

Of the accused, 14 are in custody while the others remained fugitive.