30-12-2020

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020
3
Bangabandhu Parishad of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), held a human chain and protest
rally simultaneously in 35 places across Bangladesh on Tuesday in protest against the vandalism and devaluation of
the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Photo: Courtesy
Human chain protesting against vandalism
of Bangabandhu's sculpture held at BADC
In protest against the vandalism and
devaluation of the sculpture of Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, a human chain and
protest rally were held simultaneously in
35 places across Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Organized by Bangabandhu Parishad of
Bangladesh Agriculture Development
Corporation (BADC), the human chain
was attended by all levels of BADC officials,
employees, leaders of all professional
organizations including CBS, a
press release said.
The speakers at the occasion said that
"we immediately demand appropriate
punishment for the perpetrators of these
heinous and barbaric acts. At the same
time, there is a strong call for the eradication
of those who openly oppose cultural
freedom. They have chosen a time
when we are going to celebrate the birth
centenary of Bangabandhu and the golden
jubilee of independence. I wish the
107 landless
families to get
houses in
Sariakandi
BOGURA : A total of 107
landless and distressed families
of Sariakandi upazila of
the district are going to get
semi-pucca houses as a gift
from Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina on the occasion of
the 'Mujib Borsho' by next
January, reports BSS.
On behalf of Asrayan
Project-2 of the Prime
Minister's Office, the
Department of Disaster
Management (DDM) has
been constructing the houses
and each of the houses
will be built at a cost of Taka
1.71 lakh, said Sarwar Alam,
upazila project implementation
officer.
Shakil gets
thrilled getting
computer as
gift from PM
CUMILLA : Shahadat Hossain
Shakil, a resident of
Mughaltuli in Cumilla, was
thrilled when he got a computer
from Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina as a gift.
"I'm very happy to receive the
gift from the Prime Minister. I
pray to the Almighty for her
good health and long life," said
Shakil as Cumilla Deputy
Commissioner Abul Fazal Mir
on behalf of the premier handed
over the computer to him on
Monday. On December 7,
Shakil, son of Abdul Halim,
sent a SMS to the Prime
Minister's mobile phone,
which he collected from website,
with an appeal for a computer.
Later, Shakil received
a call from the Prime
Minister's Office on Dec 8.
Later, Cumilla Deputy
Commissioner's Office contacted
with him on Monday
and handed over the computer
worth Tk 45,000 as a
gift from the Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.
government to take a firm stand against
their heinous conspiracy as well as the
conscious role of the citizens of
Bangladesh.
Md. Sayedul Islam, Chairman
(Additional Secretary) of BADC said at
the human chain and protest rally that
Bangabandhu means Bangladesh. If
Bangabandhu had not been born,
Bangladesh would not have been independent.
He is the symbol of our freedom
and sovereignty, the undisputed
leader of the freedom struggle, he is our
pride. Hitting on the sculpture of
Bangabandhu means hitting on
Bangladesh. The defeated forces and
fanatics of 1971 carried out this heinous
attack.
Ripon Kumar Mandal, president of
Bangabandhu Parishad, BADC, said at a
human chain and protest rally that the
defeated forces of 1971 must be defeated
by uniting. We have to think about why
Bangladesh was hit in that December by
hitting the sculpture of Bangabandhu. If
Bangabandhu is attacked, Bangabandhu
Parishad will prevent it.
At the occasion, Ripon Kumar
Mandal, Acting President of
Bangabandhu Parishad, BADC,
Dhirendra Chandra Debnath, Vice
President,Palash Hossain, Vice
President, Md. Monirul Islam Sohel,
President of BADC CBA and convener of
the organizing committee Md. Zainul
Abedin were among others present at
the occasion.
It is to be noted that on the night of
December 4, 2020, miscreants vandalized
the under construction sculpture of
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the intersection
of five roads in Kushtia city. In the
wake of the storm of protests that erupted
across the country, Bangabandhu
Parishad, BADC held a protest program.
On the occasion of the 106th birth anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, a day-long
Zainul Utsav-2020 has been celebrated at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University on
Tuesday. On this occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Md.
Akhtaruzzaman laid a wreath at the tomb of Shilpacharya.
Photo : Courtesy
Integrated development must
for effective local govt bodies
RAJSHAHI : Speakers at a participatory meeting
yesterday unequivocally called for ensuring
transparency, accountability and citizens' participation
in different development works is vital to
establish good governance in the local government
institutions.
Integrated development planning can be a
vital means of making the existing local government
institutions and the Upazila Parishad
and Union Parishad (UP) in particular effective
and accountable.
The discussants came up with the observations
while addressing the annual coordination meeting
of the 'Integrated Development under
Efficient and Accountable Local Governance
(EALG) Project' held at the conference hall of
Deputy Commissioner (DC) office.
District administration arranged the meeting
in association with the United Nation
Development Programme (UNDP) and Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation-SDC.
The speakers observed effective and meaningful
UZPs and UPs is the precondition to reasonable
improvement of living and livelihood conditions
of the grassroots population. So, there is no
alternative to make those up to the mark.
Deputy Commissioner Abdul Jalil addressed
the meeting as the chief guest with deputy director
of Local Government Division Shahana
Akhter Jahan in the chair.
More than 80 persons comprising UZP
Chairmen and Vice-chairmen, Upazila Nirbahi
Officers, UP Chairmen, upazila officials from all
eight line departments and members of the civil
society joined the meeting.
Deputy Director of the Department of
Agriculture Extension Shamsul Haque, Deputy
Director of the Department of Family Planning
Dr Abdul Mannan, Executive Director of Local
Government Engineering Division Saniul
Haque, Deputy Director of the Department of
Women Affairs Shobnom Shirin and Upazila
Chairman Anil Kumar Sarker also spoke.
District Facilitator of EALG Project Abu Hena
Mostafa Kamal illustrated the aims and objectives
of the project and its implementation strategy
during his multimedia presentation.
DC Abdul Jalil stressed the need for strengthening
local government institutions for strong
democracy and its institutionalisation at the
grassroots level which is important for achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also said strengthening local governance
has been a key focus of the government of
Bangladesh and called for greater youth participation
in local governance for attainment
of the SDGs."Youth participation is very
important for local governance in attaining
SDGs, and leaving no one behind, you have to
work for it," he added.
Kamal Mojumder
for strengthening
technology-based
industrialization
DHAKA : State Minister for
Industries Kamal Ahmed
Mojumder yesterday directed
the new Bangladesh Small
and Cottage Industries
Corporation (BSCIC) officials
to intensify the technologybased
industrialization in line
with the fourth industrial revolution.
New BSCIC officers need to
acquire the ability to provide
appropriate services to entrepreneurs
in the workplace, he
said.
The state minister came up
with the instruction at the
inaugural function of the
basic training course for the
first class new officers of
BSCIC and training course
for women entrepreneurs as
the chief guest.
He also urged the BSCIC to
consolidate its activities in
setting up new industrial
cities in potential areas.
Mojumder said that after
completion of land development
in the industrial cities,
plots will be allotted to the
entrepreneurs and all services
required for the operation
of industrial factories must be
ensured there.
According to the SME
Policy-2019, the contribution
of the SME sector to GDP has
been targeted to increase to 32
percent by 2024, he added.
He called upon the BSCIC
officials to perform duties
with sincerity and dedication
in achieving the goal.
BSCIC chairman Md.
Mostaq Hasan NDC attended
the program as special guest
with its director Md. Khalilur
Rahman in the chair.
Mild to moderate
cold wave may
continue
DHAKA : Mild to moderate
cold wave is sweeping over
Khulna division and the regions
of Madaripur, Gopalgonj,
Srimangal, Rajshahi, Ishurdi,
Badalgachi, Dinajpur,
Teaulia, Rajarhat, Barishal
and Khepupara and it may
continue at some places.
Minimum temperature of
the country was recorded yesterday
7.3 degrees celsius at
Srimangal and Chuadanga
and maximum temperature
29.0 degrees Celsius at Teknaf
on Monday, according to the
Bangladesh Meteorological
Department (BMD).
Weather may remain dry over
the country. Moderate to thick
fog may occur at places over the
river basins of the country and
light to moderate fog may occur
elsewhere over the country.
Night and day temperature
may remain nearly unchanged
over the country. Ridge of subcontinental
high extends up to
West Bengal and adjoining
area. Seasonal low lies over
South Bay.
JU bans 31st
night celebration
at campus area
SAVAR : The authorities of
Jahangirnagar University
have imposed restrictions on
31st night celebration on the
eve of New Year 2021 this
year on the campus amid
COVID-19 outbreak.
An office order signed by
the university's acting registrar
Rahima Kaniz on
Monday said that no camp firing,
cultural program would
be allowed on the campus and
all campus surrounded shops
must close their doors before
the evening on the day.
The authorities also have
taken proper security measures
ahead of New Year celebrations
such as imposing
restriction on mass gathering,
showdown and the outsider's
entry during the day,
the notice reads.
The university administration
also urged Ashulia police
station to deploy additional
police force with the proctorial
body in order to avoid any
unexpected occurrence during
the security patrolling, the
statement added.
Corona puts children at
serious risk of malnutrition
DHAKA : The coronavirus has put the entire
world at serious risk. The virus which was first
detected in Wuhan, China, has become a pandemic
for the whole world. In the socio-economic
crisis caused by the Corona surge, 3.9
million children under the age of five in South
Asia could suffer from malnutrition this year.
These can worsen mental and physical wellbeing
of children, reports BSS.
Referring to the study report, the United
Nations International Children's Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) has warned that children will
be more vulnerable to the pandemic than any
other disease.
According to the study published in Lancet,
children around the world are more likely to be
at risk of serious illness from the lethal virus.
Stuck Qatar Bangladeshi Expatriates formed a human chain in front of
National Press Club yesterday to meet their various demands. Photo : TBT
To establish "Khondaker Ahmed Muktadir and Mosammat Khodeza Begum
Scholarship" a cheque for Tk. ten lac was handed over by Gaohar Ahmed, the Donor
of the "Khondaker Ahmed Muktadir and Mosammat Khodeza Begum Scholarship",
for the students of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology at AUST Campus
on Tuesday. The fund will arrange scholarships annually for the meritorious students
of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) of AUST. Prof. Dr.
Muhammad Fazli Ilahi, Vice-Chancellor, AUST, Prof. Dr. Mustafizur Rahman,
Treasurer, AUST, Dr. Md. Mosharof Hossain, Registrar, AUST, Dr. Mohammad
Shariful Alam, Head of CSE were present at the ceremony. Photo : Courtesy
HC dismisses bail plea
of JKG's Sabrina
DHAKA : The High Court (HC) yesterday
dismissed a bail plea of JKG
Healthcare Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif
Chowdhury in a case lodged over issuing
fake coronavirus (Covid-19) test reports.
"Not pressed," said the order passed by
the High Court division bench comprising
Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain and
Justice KM Zahid Sarwar.
Confirming the matter to the newsmen,
Deputy Attorney General Md
Monirul Islam said now the accused
would not be able to come out on bail.
The proceedings of the case is now
going on at the trial court and 13 out of
the total 43 witnesses have so far testified
in the case against eight people including
Dr Sabrina and her husband and JKG
CEO Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
The court on August 20 framed
charges against the eight accused in
the case.
More than half of this - about 58 percent (3.9
million) - will be in south Asian countries.
UNICEF described the illness as very risky as
children become more vulnerable to Corona
due to extreme malnutrition. As a result, they
become very thin and weak. This put the child's
life at risk and hinders their sound physical
growth and mental development.The study
says children under the age of five more likely
to be malnourished this year in low and middle-income
countries due to the Covid surge.
This problem will become much more evident
in South Asia as health services was stopped
for long in the region due to outbreak of the
virus. Officially vaccination for children and
feeding of vitamin were discontinued for several
months.
Mujib Barsha : Webinar lauds Bangabandhu's
leadership, Hasina's dev focus
DHAKA : Speakers on Tuesday lauded
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman's leadership quality and
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's politics of
development highlighting how Bangladesh is
marching towards Sonar Bangla as dreamt by
Bangabandhu.
They were addressing a webinar titled,
'Liberation of Bangladesh and the Dream of
Sonar Bangla' organised by the Bangladesh
Embassy in Amman, Jordan as part of the
'Mujib Barsha Webinar Series'.
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen
MP was the chief guest while Palestinian
Foreign Minister Dr Riad Maliki attended as
the special guest. Dr. Momen gave a
historical overview of the struggle of
Bangalees for their independence led by
Bangabandhu with the necessary contexts.
He also noted how the unfinished work of
Bangabandhu are now being adopted and
put into action by Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina.
He also spoke on the urgency of the
repatriation of the Rohingyas to their
homeland in Myanmar.
The Palestinian Foreign Minister Dr. Maliki
expressed his high respect for Bangabandhu
while lauding the model of inclusive
development championed by Bangabandhu
and now being succesfuly implemented by
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He wholeheartedly appreciated the
unflinching support Bangabandhu always
afforded to the Palestinians and their
aspirations for statehood, a policy which has
been strongly maintained by his daughter
Sheikh Hasina.
The other six accused are- Abu
Sayeed Chowdhury, Humayun Kabir
Himu, Tanjila Patwari, Biplob Das,
Shafikul Islam Romeo and Jebunnesa.
Investigation agency detective branch
(DB) of police on August 5 filed
charge-sheet in the case.
The investigation officer (IO) and DB
inspector Liakat Ali in the chargesheet
accused Sabrina and JKG CEO
Ariful of being the masterminds
behind the scam and the others as
their cohorts.
One Kamal Hossain filed the case
with Tejgaon Police Station on June 15
for issuing fake Covid-19 test reports.
JKG Healthcare run by Ariful and his
wife Dr Sabrina, was realising money
from the suspected patients for coronavirus
test, whereas the company had
inked a deal with the government to
conduct the test free of cost.