Author: Abida Moula

Call for concerted efforts to curb Eve-teasing

   Staff Correspondent : Speakers at a seminar on Friday stressed the need for united effort to curb Eve-teasing.

   They said alongside strict law enforcement and building social awareness, teachers, guardians and the civil society have to come out to remove this rampant (Aeva) social evil.

   Bangladesh Govt. Secondary Assistant Teachers’ Association organised a seminar titled “Teachers’ role to protest Eve-teasing” at the National Press Club in the capital.

   It is not enough to just implement laws against Eve-teasing; a combined social movement is required to fight it, the participants said.

   Terming eve-teasing a socio-psychological disease, The Daily Sun editor Prof Dr Syed Anwar Husain said, “Eve-teasing occurs due to biological, psychological, social and administrative reasons. To remove this prevalent social menace, teachers at all levels, administrative bodies and above all the society itself have to play a strong role.”

   BGSATA President Mofazzal Hossain presided over the seminar which was addressed by NCTB member Dr Momtaz Uddin Patwari, Director of Bangladesh Mohila Ainjibi Parishad Kohinur Begum and Prof Dipok Kumar Nag.

Midnight tremor jolts capital

14 injured, no damage reported

   Staff Correspondent : A moderate earthquake shook the capital in the early hours yesterday, causing panic among the people.

   The official sources said the tremor measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale that struck at 12:25 am. Its epicentre was 238 kilometres north-east off the Dhaka seismic centre.

   At least 14 students at Jagannath, Mohsin and Ziaur Rahman halls of Dhaka University were injured as they jumped off the balconies in fright.

   Abul Kalam Azad of Bangla department who jumped from the window of his second-floor room at Ziaur Rahman Hall broke his leg, reports our DU correspondent.

   People from different parts of the city including Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Kataban, Shantinagar, Rajabazar, Eskaton, Jatrabari, Uttara and Lalmatia also came out of their houses in fear.

   Abul Kalam, who works at a private organisation, said he suddenly woke up with the feeling that he was sleeping on a cradle. “In seconds I realised that it was earthquake. I screamed in fear and immediately took everyone of my family out of home.”

   Ten minor or moderate earthquakes have so far hit the capital this year.

An interview of the drug addicts in Cox’s Bazar

Cox’s Bazar Correspondent

   Cox’s Bazar, 13 March, 2017 : Alam, a twenty-seven year-old Bangladeshi, smuggled Yaba tablets across Bangladesh from the Burmese border without the knowledge of Bangladeshi authorities for over six months. The only reason he decided to stop his involvement with the drug trade was that he was cheated by a partner.

   Alam said in a recent interview that he smuggled Yaba tablets from Teknaf to the capital of Dhaka because of the high profitability, and that he bought Yaba tablets from a dealer who lives in Teknaf.

   Alam has now stopped smuggling Yaba tablets since the fall-out with his main partner. He also said that Bangladeshi authorities are becoming more alert about Yaba smuggling across Bangladesh.

   Like Alam, many Bangladeshi and Burmese nationals have engaged themselves in Yaba smuggling from the Bangladesh-Burma border. They are doing it as they realize the tremendous possibility for profits compared to working in normal, legal jobs.

   According to different sources , several Bangladeshi and Burmese nationals were recently arrested with thousands of Yaba tablets by different departments of Bangladeshi authorities in multiple places along the border, in Chittagong, and in Dhaka.

SCC celebrates Pahela Baishakh amidst fun in Sylhet

Sylhet Correspondent

   Sylhet, 15 April, 2017 : The students of Sylhet Cadet College celebrated Pahela Baishakh by holding a cultural function at the college auditorium yesterday.

   The Principal of the college inaugurated and presided over the programme that started at 10:00 am. The General Officer Commanding was present as the chief guest.

   The auditorium was specially decorated on the occasion. The college authorities formed different committees comprising teachers and students to stage the programme. All the committee members worked hard to make the show a success.

   The programme began with a chorus in which every student, both from stage and audience , took part.

   Other items that followed included songs, dance, recitation, band music and so on. The programme ended through staging a short drama that criticized the unruly youths and their manner to celebrate the New Year.

   All the teachers and students were present and enjoyed the programme very much.

   Earlier in their speeches, both the principal and the chief guest conveyed their New Year greetings to the students and faculty members. They also thanked everyone for holding such a wonderful show.

Hartal disrupts daily life

   Staff Correspondent : A seminar on “The culture of hartal should be ended” was held at Dhaka National Press Club yesterday. The organization called ‘Shushil Samaj’ arranged it. Almost all participators harshly criticized hartal remarking that it is harmful for the economic progress of the country.

   They said that frequent hartals generally disrupt the normal life. Moreover, the poor suffer more during the hartal as they lose their income. It is generally believed that frequent hartals not only disrupt normal life, they also have a negative effect on the poor income earners of the city like the rickshaw pullers, day laborers, slum dwellers etc. During the hartal, they can’t go to their work. So they don’t earn money. Both major political parties have the financial resources and the country wide organizations need to employ outside workers. Both can afford to hire tokais, armed cadres or poor slum dwellers to ensure a good turnout at their programmes. On hartal day laborers are worked for economic interest and sometimes they are victim of this politics.

   While the negative economic consequences of hartal draw a great deal of attention, its social consequences should not be overlooked, said the civil society.

Tree fair held in Rajshahi

Rajshahi Correspondent

   Rajshahi, 3 April, 2017 : Recently, a tree fair was organised in Rajshahi. From the opening of the fair on 25 June, 2013 and till its closure on 10th July, the Rajshahi Madrasa field was full of enthusiastic visitors. Many were seen taking interest in the wide variety of plants and a lot of people were also buying them.

   As a part of the tree plantation movement, this initiative taken by the Forest Department, District Administration and Agriculture Extension Department was a tremendous success. Cultural functions in the evening were also organised to entertain the locals. There were numerous stalls showcasing medicinal herbs, little fruit trees, flower plants and even a nursery was training people on how to cultivate mushrooms.

   To maintain a solid ecological structure, every country should have at least 20% of natural vegetation. But unfortunately only about 4% of forest land has been left in our country. As a result, we are facing the adverse effects of the changing global climate changes. To combat the natural disasters, tree plantation has to be increased further for a better Bangladesh. Such fairs should be organised on a regular basis.

3 killed, 60 wounded as villagers clash in Rajshahi

Rajshahi Correspondent

   Rajshahi, 14 March, 2017 : Three people were killed and at least 60 injured, 10 of them critically, as rival villagers locked in a clash over a trifling matter at Harupur village under Paba Upazila yesterday morning.

   Police picked up 16 people of both groups during the clash.

   The clash ensued around 10:00 am following previous enmity between two rival groups — one led by Shahjahan Laskar and another by Asir Mondol.

   Supporters of both the groups swooped on their rivals with sticks and sharp weapons that left at least three killed and 60 injured from both sides.

   They also vandalized several houses of rivals and looted valuables.

   On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

   Additional police forces have been deployed in and around the area to avert any untoward situation.

   Of the injured, Edbar Mondol, Turab Mondol, Jarina Khatun, Edu Biswas, Alam Hossain, Abdul Kuddus, Ariful Laskar, Tota Miah, Rownak, Aminur Rashid Patal were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with severe injuries.

Freshers’ reception held

   Staff Correspondent :

   Rajdhani Ideal College organized a “Freshers’ Orientation Programme” for the new students of HSC level in the auditorium yesterday.

   The programme was divided into two segments. The first segment included the speeches, rules and regulations and introductions of different teachers and organizations. The second segment was a cultural programme to entertain all the freshers, teachers and guests.

   In the opening of the function Jahangir Alam spoke about the growth and development of the college. Prof. Syed Anwarul Huq in his speech welcomed the freshers and asked them to be serious in studies for better grades. Then the teachers were introduced and the freshers were asked to take their help in case of academic problems.

   Next all the different organizations were introduced, such as, English Language Club, Computer Club and one by one all the coordinators of these forums spoke to the freshers about these forums, their aims, background and involvements.

   At last they staged the drama “Raktakarobi” written by Rabindranath Tagore. The new students enjoyed the programme and vowed to study properly to uphold the image of the college.

RK College celebrates Independence Day

   Staff Correspondent : The students and teachers of R.K College in the capital celebrated the 34th Independence Day gorgeously and in a befitting manner yesterday.

   The day-long programme started with raising the national flag during sunrise on the campus. After that the students and teachers attended a discussion on the Independence Day at the school auditorium at 8:00 am. The Principal of the college chaired the programme. Speakers highlighted different aspects of the Liberation War and the duties of the citizens of an independent country.

   An amusing cultural programme organised and performed by the students followed the discussion. The audience enjoyed the patriotic songs and folklore dance very much.

   The second part of the programme included sports and film show. The students of class XI Section A versus Section B played a friendly football match. The match ended with a draw, each team scoring two goals.

   In the afternoon, the film “Ora Egarojon” was showed at the auditorium. It was a movie on the Liberation War. The teachers, students, guardians and invited guests watched the movie.

   The Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka attended the programme as the chief guest.

Inter college debate competition in Dinajpur

Dinajpur Correspondent

   Dinajpur, 03 January, 2017 : The concluding ceremony of the 1st Inter College Debate Competition organized jointly by BRAC and Dinajpur Lekhak Forum was held recently at Dinajpur Nattya Samity auditorium. The theme of the debate competition was “Finding ways of empowering women in the society”.

   Dinajpur Commerce College emerged as the champions of the tournament defeating Parbatipur Rajabashar Degree College in the final round.

   Professor Md Ruhul Amin, former Vice Chancellor of Hajee Danesh Science and Technology University, was present as chief guest at the prize giving ceremony while Chitta Ghosh, President of Dinajpur Press Club, presided over the event. Hosney Ara Haidar, Principal of Dinajpur Government College, and Md. Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, Chairman of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila, and other BRAC high officials were present as special guests of the programme.

   At least 17 colleges from different upazilas of the district participated in the weeklong debate competition.