Madrassa abuse case prompts calls for reform

A young madrassa student neglected to pray five times daily. As a punishment, her teacher burned her legs with a heated spatula.

By Sheikh Adnan Fahad for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka

May 18, 2012 (http://www.khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/05/18/feature-02)
 

Abdul Jalil never imagined his eight-year-old child would be subjected to such a cruel punishment for a minor transgression.

Jannatul Ferdous, his daughter, was admitted to a madrassa in Dhaka in the hope of getting a good education in religious studies. Early this month, that hope turned to a nightmare.

On May 1st, Jannatul was among 14 minor girls whose legs were allegedly seared with a hot spatula by their madrassa teacher "to give them the experience of hell-fire" for failing to observe the ritual of offering prayers five times a day.

"Now when I see my daughter I feel great pain in my heart. She could not sleep for several days and she had fever," Jalil told Khabar South Asia.

"Her injuries are yet to be healed," he added.

Jesmin Akhter, 38, a teacher at Talimul Qur'an Mahila Madrassa in the capital's Kadamtali area, is now in jail pending her trial. During preliminary interrogation Akhter admitted to the abuse, police said.

Talking to Khabar, Biplab Barua, a lawyer, said if police can investigate the case properly and produce strong evidence before the court, Akhter may get life imprisonment.

"Under the Women and Child Repression Control Act, there is no doubt that the madrassa teacher committed a serious offence," Barua said. "She should be given an exemplary punishment. The success of this case will largely depend on the efficiency and capacity of the lawyer who will stand for the complainant."

The incident, analysts say, underscores flaws in the system of religious education in Bangladesh, where many Islamic madrassas operate outside of government control, and with widely differing standards.

In Qaumi [community] madrassas, the focus is almost entirely religious and bans on corporal punishment are often ignored.

"You will find hundreds of madrassas in Bangladesh established here and there over which the government has almost no control," said Lutfar Rahman, Chairman of Journalism and Media Studies Department at Jahangirnagar University.

Sheikh Shahbaz Riad of the Dhaka Teachers' Training College says students at such madrassas are not receiving the same level of education as their peers at other schools in Bangladesh.

"The sole focus on religious studies in Qaumi madrassas makes its students religiously blind,"

Riad told Khabar. The government, he said, must step up its monitoring of such institutions and a modern curriculum should be introduced into its system.

In the Alia [government-regulated] madrassas, apart from Islamic studies, English, math and science are also taught, and that makes all the difference, Riad said.

According to Rahman, the solution lies in enforcing standards across the board and bringing all schools under government purview.

"The government either must bring all students under one system or appoint qualified teachers in the madrassas," he told Khabar.

Women make inroads in Bangladesh, but hurdles remain

By Adnan Fahad for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka – 02/02/12

February 01, 2012 (http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/02/01/feature-02)






Women have achieved remarkable political power in Bangladesh in recent years, but experts say the country still needs to offer women more opportunities and ensure their proper place in what has traditionally been a highly patriarchal society.

Although Bangladesh's constitution affirms gender equality, much work remains to free women from the clutches of illiteracy, hunger, poverty and unemployment, said Professor Nazma Shaheen of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences at Dhaka University.
"If we cannot apply the laws properly, if we cannot recognise woman's capacity in every sector, our goal of women's empowerment will not be achieved," Shaheen told Khabar South Asia.
When women are given the proper opportunities and authority, they can perform equally well, and sometimes even better than their male counterparts, she said. Shaheen cited the example of Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, who is widely respected as an "honest, hardworking and effective minister" in the present cabinet.
"Not only her, but our prime minister and the opposition leader are female. Besides, in the ministries of Home, Foreign Affairs, Women and Child Welfare, Labour and Employment, female ministers are working successfully," Shaheen said.
Despite their remarkable success at the highest echelons of government, women are underrepresented at other levels, she said, adding that women's qualifications and capabilities must be properly recognised by the state.
"If we cannot increase the number of qualified women in the bureaucracy, the ultimate goal of empowering them will remain unfulfilled," she cautioned.
She added, however, that the number of women in academia, government offices, banks and security forces is gradually increasing."This is truly encouraging," she said.
Other experts believe women's empowerment must begin with girls, at the school level.
"Unless we can ensure gender-sensitive textbooks at primary and high schools, women's emancipation from discrimination and oppression will remain a far cry," Helal Hossain Dhali, a professor in the Women and Gender Studies Department of Dhaka University, told Khabar South Asia.
In this regard, he hailed the government's decision to incorporate gender courses in school curricula.
"The newly introduced National Education Policy has made it mandatory to include gender courses in the text curriculum. It is undoubtedly a great step forward," Dhali said.
"But at the same time, it also has to be ensured that other books of English, Bangla, religion or sociology do not contain any words or pictures that may influence the students' mind-set to become discriminatory toward women."
He said many textbook pictures depict a girl working with her mother in the house while her brother studies.
Fazilatunnesa Bappi, a lawyer and activist, said women's representation in parliament, the judiciary, army, academia, and public and private institutions is increasing at a remarkable pace, thus strengthening Bangladesh's democracy.
"I would request every political party, institution and person to unite and work effectively to further strengthen the foundation of democracy in Bangladesh," Fazilatunnesa told Khabar South Asia.

Bangladesh enjoys South Asian "brain gain"

By Adnan Fahad for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka – 04/04/12

April 03, 2012 (http://www.khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/04/03/feature-02#comments)
Mohammad Sayim Wani grew up in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-occupied Kashmir. Now 25, he saw firsthand how the violent insurgency wracked his motherland when he attended primary and high school in the 1990s.

The bloodshed had a strong impact on the young man, who came to realise that his dreams of becoming a medical doctor would be hard to fulfil if he stayed there. When the opportunity arose six years ago, under a programme being offered to students from SAARC member countries, he left for Bangladesh.

"My parents also were interested to send me out of Kashmir because of the socio-political instability prevailing in our region," Wani told Khabar South Asia.

He is not alone in making that choice. In recent years, Bangladesh has become a sought-after destination for young people intent on a career in medicine or other skilled professional fields. \

Although the country faces economic challenges, its relatively high level of intercommunal harmony has made it attractive to foreign students.

"Like all parents, our parents too want us to stay in peace and security," said Wani, who has spent the past five and a half years studying at Sir Salimullah Medical College in Dhaka. "Though Bangladesh is not a developed nation, we have found social peace and communal harmony here."
Institutions such as the SSMC have attracted a growing number of students from other South Asian nations, including Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Shah Waliullah, a Pakistani student of SSMC, told Khabar there are more than 80 Pakistani students currently studying at different government medical and dental colleges in Bangladesh under SAARC quota.

"We are being selected by the Ministry of Education for medical studies in Bangladesh through a test conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS), Islamabad," he said.

Shah said the standard of medical education in Bangladesh is similar to that of Pakistan, and the public medical and dental colleges have full-fledged faculties with well-equipped labs and well-developed hospitals.

As in previous years, Bangladesh offered 14 self-financed seats to Pakistani students for the 2012 academic session in Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Doctor of Dental Sciences (DDS) courses. The selected students will pay tuition and other charges at rates on par with Bangladeshi students.

"It was a great decision to study in Bangladesh as the environment in public educational institutions here is much better than the private institutions in Pakistan," said Hasnain Basid, a native of Lahore who is studying dental science at Dhaka Dental College.

"Peace is the best thing in Bangladesh," he added.

Banned Islamist outfit under strict surveillance in Bangladesh

Surveillance of Hizb-ut-Tahrir's activities on university campuses helped foil a coup plot against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in December.




By Adnan Fahad and Shahriar Sharif for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka – 14/03/2012



Authorities in Dhaka are trying to neutralise efforts by extremist organisation Hizb-ut-Tahrir to recruit members at Bangladesh's universities, as well as efforts by the group, linked to an attempted coup, to stage demonstrations at Friday prayers.


Bangladeshi authorities have focused on the outlawed group Hizb ut-Tahrir's attempts to recruit and gain favour among university students. Over the past three years, several professors and students have been arrested after attempting to spread the extremist group's message within the university community. [Andrew Biraj/Reuters]

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Police have deployed near mosques around the city since a March 9th attempt by members of the group to start a procession outside the Kataban Masjid near Dhaka University. Three people, including two students, were arrested.

Mohibullah, one of the detained students, said they were held after they gathered in front of the mosque to "conduct a programme".

Hizb-ut-Tahrir, established in Bangladesh in 2001, favours establishment of a khilafah (Islamic state) in Bangladesh instead of the current democratic system.

Banned by the government on October 22nd of last year, Hizb-ut-Tahrir has raised alarm because of its efforts to recruit college students and their instructors.

"This trend is very unusual. According to many researches and investigations, poverty and illiteracy are among the causes that take a group of people to the path of militancy," said Mofizur Rahman, associate professor at Dhaka University’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department.

"But in the cases of Tahrir, we see that those people who are not poor by any means have joined this extremist organisation," he said.

Police say the group's activities are centred in Dhaka. Surveillance has led to key arrests and disrupted rogue army officials' December 2011 coup attempt against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At a January 19th press conference on the coup, Army spokesman Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzak said emails linked the plotters to Hizb-ut-Tahrir and the university community.

Razzak said the army had specific evidence that "up to 16 current and former Bangladeshi military officers with 'extreme religious views' were involved in a 'heinous conspiracy' instigated by Bangladeshi conspirators living abroad."

Quoting army statements from that press conference, Dhaka University sociology professor Mashiur Rahman said Hizb-ut-Tahrir apparently had links to mid-level Bangladesh army officers involved in the failed coup. Police estimate that the outlawed outfit has about 10,000 members throughout Bangladesh.

According to court records, about 270 leaders and activists of Tahrir were arrested in the past two years.

The recent arrest of a son of the press secretary of former prime minister Khaleda Zia on charges of involvement with Hizb-ut-Tahrir shows the reach of the extremist group.

Rishad Kamal Khan, 20, was arrested together with engineering student Faisal Ahmed, 20, on December 5th, 2011. They possessed 16 Hizb-ut-Tahrir posters blaming India for the 2009 Pilkhana massacre, a mutiny by Bangladeshi border guards in which 79 people, mostly senior army officials, were killed.

"We must know why educated people like these university teachers and students are getting involved with Hizb-ut-Tahrir," Mofiz, the mass communications professor, said. "Accurate reasons behind their involvement must be unearthed and proper steps should be taken to completely eradicate this menace from Bangladesh."

In July 2010, detectives arrested Dhaka University Management Department Professor Gulam Mawla for alleged involvement with the group. Two months earlier, thirteen suspected members -- including a teacher and four students -- were arrested at the same university.

On April 20th, 2010, police arrested Professor AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, said to be the chief co-ordinator of the banned outfit. He is a teacher of the Institute of Business Administration of Dhaka University.

Rahman, the sociology professor, says Bangladesh and India should develop a joint programme to address the unique threat the organisation poses. A January 24th Times of India story reported Hizb-ut-Tahrir has been active in India for at least two years.

"The challenge that would come from Tahrir would be huge," Rahman said. "Tahrir men are not mere madrassa students. They are from high class of the society. So a comprehensive and long-term action plan will be needed to erase the fanatic group."

Bangladeshi dramatists fight terror with art

Theatre productions depict the evils of religious extremism filtering into society.



By Adnan Fahad for Khabar South Asia in Dhaka – 10/2/12
February 09, 2012

Young lovers Nishimon and Tarataj dream of building a house together on the banks of the Gomati River, but Tarataj is distracted by a religious leader who fills his head with different dreams – dreams of a magical and colourful life in heaven.


Soon Tarataj is assigned to kill people with a suicide bomb.

He dies in his attack on an inter-city train loaded with relief materials bound for Bangladesh's northern region, blowing up a compartment filled with intellectuals, poets and litterateurs.

Nishimon is on the train too, but even her love and their once-shared dreams cannot stop Trataj from setting off the bomb.

The tragedy is an updated version of Rabindranath Tagore's famous drama "Bisharjon," in which the Nobel laureate protested the killing of innocent people in the name of religion.

The new version, "Nishimon-Bisharjon," is an example of how theatre has become part of a movement in Bangladesh aiming to combat the rise of radical Islam since the late 1990s.

"I have just manifested the context of the recent times in 'Nishimon-Bisharjon,' keeping intact the poetic essence of the original play," playwright Anan Zaman told Khabar South Asia.

Anan, an assistant professor in Jahangirnagar University's theatre department, said his protagonist Nishimon symbolises peace and protest against fundamentalism.

In the last scene, Nishimon in death seeks out King Govinda Manikya, a character of Tagore's drama who in real life banned killing in the name of religion in the Indian state of Tripura in the late 17th century.

"'Nishimon-Bisharjon' has highlighted the reality in Bangladesh. Though militancy here is now latent, militant activities still exist in various forms," says Ashiq Rahman Leeon, the play's director.

The play has been staged more than a dozen times, including once in Tripura, he said.

Saidur Rahman Lipon, a theatre enthusiast, is also using drama to spread an anti-militancy message.

Lipon is now working with Puthi, an ancient form of Bengali literature that consists of poetic fairy tales and religious stories of rural ancient Bengal.

"Traditionally, Bengali people are not fundamentalist by nature. Islam here in the sub-continent also was accepted as the religion of peace and equality. I want to fight the rise of militancy in Bangladesh through my works," he said.

"Lal Jamin" (Red Land), another drama against the evils of terrorism, violence and religious fundamentalism, will be staged in Tripura on February 22nd and 23rd.

"Lal Jamin" is the story of one woman's struggle during Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war when a group of religious fanatics collaborated with Pakistani soldiers to kill and rape thousands of women, its director, Sudip Chakravarty, said.

The woman fights throughout her life against all forms of terrorism and the use of religion to repress people, he said.

"Our fight against militancy and terrorism will continue until the fanatics are rooted out from the land of Bangladesh," Sudip said.

Young and Future..a publication of the Daily Star on its 21st anniversary...February 27, 2012

Sheikh Adnan Fahad


Lecturer


Sheikh Adnan Fahad, son of Sheikh Abu Hamed and Nurjahan Begum, was born in 25 August, 1981.

Working as a Lecturer at the Department of Journalism and Media Studies in Jahangirnagar University, Fahad says, “From the womb of Kalikaccha (his village under Sarail Upazila of Brahmanbaria district), to the fine-looking campus of Jahangirnagar University, I have, so far, spent 30 years of my life, the destination of which is still unknown, achievement of which is still, I think, very trifling. Being a young man of 30, I have always asked myself, am I doing the right things? Am I properly utilising my time? What have I done for others?”
Fahad is inspired by his father who was a freedom fighter and a social worker. He stood 18th in his SSC examinations under the Comilla Board in the group of Humanities. After passing his HSC examinations from Dhaka College, he got in to Dhaka University. He followed the suggestion of Dr Arefin Siddique, the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, and joined the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, which he thinks has been the best decision of his life.
Apart from his studies, he continued with his job as a University reporter of UNB. He passed his Masters Exams acquiring a first class, achieving the 4th position, after which the UNB promoted him to the post of staff correspondent before attaching him to the Prime Minister's Office. He had the opportunity to accompany the Prime Minister during many overseas visits that took him to some 25 countries around the world.
On December 17, 2011, he joined the Department of Journalism and Media Studies of Jahangirnagar University as a Lecturer. He is not only successful for boosting up his career and profession but he is also working for the welfare of the mass people.
“It is obvious that, a person, in the present neo-liberal society, would work for her/ his own success. But I believe success in personal life cannot be the criteria of a real human being. We should dedicate substantial time into people's welfare despite the pressure of a busy life,” says Fahad.
Fahad is involved with a social organisation called “North Sarail Young Graduates Association,” a platform for graduates of his locality. Since 1995, the organisation has been working to spread education in the northern villages of Sarail upazila. Fahad and the members of the organisation are working to keep the socio-political environment of their locality congenial for the students. Every year they arrange general knowledge competition among the students, distribute various types of books among poor students, including other social activities. They have been trying to maintain friendly relations among the local elites and the political leaders by bringing them together in cultural programmes over the years. Besides, the association also operates tree plantation programmes on various occasions in the locality.
Personally, he wishes to take care of the youngsters of his village whose families are not able to bear their educational expenses. He has seen many families in his village who are so poor that they cannot even think about the future of their own children. Fahad plans to help these families by collecting funds from willing institutions and also from his own account.
Fahad envisions a society free from illiteracy. It is worth saying that charity begins at home. That is why he began his mission from his own village. When educated people like Sheikh Adnan Fahad engage themselves in sparking the light of education in every village, then, one day, Bangladesh will truly and inevitably, be enlightened.
By Nusrat Jahan Mou

নদীকৃত্য দিবস

প্রথম আলো

বাঁধমুক্ত নদী আমাদের অধিকার
তুহিন ওয়াদুদ, মো. মনজুরুল কিবরীয়া, মো. মাসুদ পারভেজ, শাহমান মৈশান, শেখ আদনান ফাহাদ, এম সাজ্জাদ হোসেন সিদ্দিকী, হেলাল হোসেন ঢালী | তারিখ: ১৪-০৩-২০১২
এবার ১৪ মার্চ আন্তর্জাতিক নদীকৃত্য দিবস (ইন্টারন্যাশনাল ডে অব অ্যাকশন ফর রিভার্স) আমরা এমন সময় পালন করছি, যখন গোটা বিশ্ব, বিশেষত দক্ষিণ এশিয়ার নদ-নদী বাঁধের ফাঁসে হাঁসফাঁস করছে। নদীর এই দুঃসময় বাংলাদেশ থেকে অনুধাবন করা সবচেয়ে সহজ। আমরা দেখছি, এই বদ্বীপে জালের মতো ছড়িয়ে থাকা প্রাণোচ্ছল নদীগুলো ক্রমেই সংকীর্ণ ও প্রাণহীন হয়ে পড়ছে। নাব্যতা, মৎস্য সম্পদ, প্রতিবেশে জল সিঞ্চনের ক্ষমতা ও সৌন্দর্য হারিয়ে প্রাণপ্রবাহগুলো পরিণত হচ্ছে অশ্রুরেখায়। অস্বীকার করা যাবে না যে আমাদের অপরিকল্পিত উন্নয়ন কর্মকাণ্ড এবং নদী বৈরী তৎপরতাও এর জন্য দায়ী। কিন্তু মূল কারণ উজান থেকে পানি প্রত্যাহার। গঙ্গা নদীতে ফারাক্কা এবং তিস্তায় গজলডোবা ব্যারাজ বসিয়ে পানি প্রত্যাহার শুরু হয়েছিল দুই-তিন দশক আগেই। পরে মহানন্দার মতো আরও কয়েকটি নদীতে ব্যারাজ স্থাপিত হয়েছে। গত এক দশক ধরে উজানের নদীগুলোতে চলছে জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনের নামে আড়িবাঁধ স্থাপনের যজ্ঞ। আমরা জানি, পদ্মা-মেঘনা-যমুনা অববাহিকার প্রত্যেকটি নদী কোনো না কোনোভাবে হিমালয়ের সঙ্গে যুক্ত। সেখানকার হিমবাহ ও বৃষ্টিপাতই এ দেশের শত শত নদীর চূড়ান্ত উৎস। সুউচ্চ ওই জলজ রাজ্যে শুরু হওয়া বাঁধের উৎপাত কী মাত্রায় পৌঁছেছে, কয়েক বছর আগে ইন্টারন্যাশনাল রিভার্স পরিচালিত একটি সমীক্ষায় তা দেখা গেছে। সমীক্ষা প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়েছে, হিমালয় অঞ্চলে ৫৫২টি জলবিদ্যুৎ প্রকল্প নেওয়া হয়েছে। সেগুলো বাস্তবায়িত হলে আমাদের নদ-নদীর চূড়ান্ত সর্বনাশই হবে। সম্প্রতি ফের সামনে চলে এসেছে ভারতের আন্তনদী সংযোগ প্রকল্প বাস্তবায়নের প্রশ্নটি।
নদীবিনাশী যে তিন ধরনের বাঁধ এই অঞ্চলে দেখা যায়, তার মধ্যে সংখ্যাগুরু হচ্ছে আমাদের ক্ষেত্রে বহুল আলোচিত টিপাইমুখ প্রকল্পের মতো জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনকারী স্থাপনাগুলো। সড়ক ও রেল যোগাযোগের নামে কিংবা পানি প্রত্যাহার করে সেচ কাজের দোহাই দিয়ে যেসব বাঁধ ও ব্যারাজ নদীতে আড়াআড়িভাবে বসানো হয়, সেগুলো ব্যাপক সমালোচিত হলেও জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনকারী বাঁধ নিয়ে এর সমর্থকেরা সাফাই গেয়ে থাকেন। মোটা দাগে বলে থাকেন, এতে পানি প্রত্যাহার হয় না বলে নদীর ক্ষতি নেই এবং জলবিদ্যুৎ হচ্ছে পরিবেশবান্ধব ও সাশ্রয়ী। বাস্তবে জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনও নদীসহ পরিবেশ-প্রতিবেশ, সমাজ ও অর্থনীতির জন্য বিপর্যয়কর। নদীকৃত্য দিবস পালনের পথিকৃৎ ইন্টারন্যাশনাল রিভার্স এ বছর এই বিষয়ের প্রতিই জোর দিয়েছে। কেবল জলবিদ্যুৎ উৎপাদনকারী বাঁধের পক্ষে সাফাই নয়, বিপুল এই বাণিজ্যের সঙ্গে যুক্ত গোষ্ঠীগুলো জাতিসংঘ ওয়ার্ল্ড কমিশন অন ড্যামসের (ডব্লিউসিডি) সুপারিশ অগ্রাহ্য করার জন্য নিজেরা কয়েক বছর আগে দ্য হাইড্রোপাওয়ার সাসটেইনিবিলিটি অ্যাসেসমেন্ট প্রটোকল (এইএসএপি) নামে একটি প্রশ্নবিদ্ধ দলিল তৈরি করেছে। ইন্টারন্যাশনাল রিভার্স এক ফ্যাক্টশিটে দলিলটির পক্ষপাত, দুর্বল তাত্ত্বিক ভিত্তি ও অকার্যকারিতা তুলে ধরা হয়েছে। রিভারাইন পিপল (Riveৎine People) থেকে আমরা গত কয়েক বছর ধরে বাংলাদেশে আন্তর্জাতিক নদীকৃত্য দিবস পালন করে আসছি। ইন্টারন্যাশনাল রিভার্সের উদ্বেগের সঙ্গে সংহতি প্রকাশ করে এবার আমরা বাঁধমুক্ত নদীর দাবি তুলে ধরছি। তাই আমরা বলছি, ‘বাঁধ হঠাও, বিপর্যয় ঠেকাও’।
আমরা মনে করি, আজ নদীর কাছে জবাবদিহি করার দিন। আমরা জানি, বছরভর নদী তার পানি ও প্রতিবেশে আমাদের জীবন সচ্ছল রাখে। এর প্রতিদান আমরা কীভাবে দিই, আজ তার হিসাব-নিকাশের দিন। ১৯৯৭ সালে ব্রাজিলে কুরিতিবা শহরে এক সমাবেশ থেকে নদীর প্রতি দায়বদ্ধতা মনে করিয়ে দেওয়া এ দিবস পালনের সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছিল। সেখানে একত্র হয়েছিলেন বিভিন্ন দেশে বাঁধের বিরূপ প্রতিক্রিয়ার শিকার জনগোষ্ঠীর প্রতিনিধিরা। তাইওয়ান, ব্রাজিল, চিলি, লেসোথো, আর্জেন্টিনা, থাইল্যান্ড, রাশিয়া, ফ্রান্স, সুইজারল্যান্ড ও যুক্তরাষ্ট্র থেকে ওই সম্মেলনে অংশগ্রহণকারীরাই ১৪ মার্চকে আন্তর্জাতিক নদীকৃত্য দিবস হিসেবে পালনের ঘোষণা দেন।
বাংলাদেশে আমরা নদীকৃত্য দিবস পালন করছি মূলত নাগরিক দায়িত্বশীলতা বাড়ানোর জন্য। আমরা মনে করি, নদীর প্রতি আমাদের সব সময়ই দায়িত্বশীল থাকা জরুরি। নদীবান্ধব নাগরিকই সর্বোত্তম প্রহরী। নদীকৃত্য দিবসের মাধ্যমে আমরা স্মরণ করিয়ে দিতে চাই, নদী যেমন নিরন্তর তার সিঞ্চনে ও সম্পদে আমাদের উপকার করে যাচ্ছে, তেমনি আমাদেরও উচিত মাস কিংবা মৌসুমভেদে নদীর ব্যাপারে সচেতন থাকা। বহুমাত্রিক ব্যস্ততার এই যুগে নদীর প্রতি অঙ্গীকার পুনর্ব্যক্ত করতে আলাদা দিবস পালনের প্রয়োজনীয়তাও রয়েছে। বাংলাদেশে নদীকৃত্য দিবস পালনের মধ্য দিয়ে নদী সুরক্ষা আন্দোলন আরও বিস্তৃত হবে বলে আমরা বিশ্বাস করি।
মনে রাখা জরুরি, উজানের দেশ থেকে নদীতে বসানো বাঁধের পাশাপাশি আমরা নিজেরা যেসব বাঁধ অপরিকল্পিতভাবে নির্মাণ করছি তার ব্যাপারেও নাগরিকদের সোচ্চার হতে হবে। নদীকেন্দ্রিক মানুষের আর্থসামাজিক, সুখ-সমৃদ্ধি বহুলাংশে নির্ভর করে নদীর সহজাত নাব্যতার ওপর। আর এই সমস্ত নদীতে অপরিকল্পিত যেকোনো বাঁধই হোক না কেন তা ওই অঞ্চলের মানুষের জন্য নিয়ে এসেছে ভয়াবহ পরিস্থিতি। এ প্রসঙ্গে আমরা বড়াল নদীর কথা বলতে চাই। বৃহত্তর রাজশাহী ও পাবনা অঞ্চলের মধ্য দিয়ে প্রবাহিত এবং চলনবিলের প্রাণপ্রবাহ বলে পরিচিত এ নদীতে আমরা নিজেরাই একের পর এক বাঁধ ও স্লুইসগেট নির্মাণ করেছি। ফলে নদীটি পতিত হয়েছে মৃত্যুমুখে। অপরিকল্পিত স্থাপনার কারণে দেশের দক্ষিণ-পশ্চিমাঞ্চলে কী করুণ পরিস্থিতি উদ্ভব হয়েছে, তাও কারও অজানা নয়। এশিয়ার বৃহত্তম প্রাকৃতিক মৎস্যপ্রজনন কেন্দ্র হালদা নদী নিয়ে কর্তৃপক্ষেরও নানা কারসাজি চলছে।
নদী সুরক্ষার যে বিশাল চ্যালেঞ্জ আমাদের সামনে হাজির হয়েছে এবং সামনের দিনগুলোতে দুর্ভাগ্যজনকভাবে আরও বাড়তেই থাকবে, তা মোকাবিলা করতে হলে নাগরিক ঐক্য ও বুদ্ধিবৃত্তিক প্রস্তুতি জরুরি। এবারের নদীকৃত্য দিবস সেই তাগিদ জোরদার করুক।
লেখকেরা বিভিন্ন বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষক এবং নদীবিষয়ক স্বেচ্ছাসেবী উদ্যোগ রিভারাইন পিপলের সঙ্গে যুক্ত।

Saima Wazed for equitable society

Renowned school psychologist and daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Saima Hossain Wazed has said that though at present she does not have any future plan about joining politics, she wants to work to the best of her ability for establishing an "equitable" society in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
"Politics is in our blood. People of our country are politically conscious. I've no future plan regarding politics. But I'm quite sure that I'll work for building an equitable society where both able and disabled, every person will have equity in every aspect," she said.
Saima Hossain Wazed, also the chairperson of National Advisory Council on Autism and the Bangladesh Representative of USA-based Autism Speaks made the remarks in an interview with UNB.
Saima Wazed, who is acclaimed worldwide for her relentless efforts for ensuring better lives for the mentally challenged people particularly children with autism, said people of Bangladesh believe strongly on their family.
"People believe us very strongly… it is the people's belief which is our inspiration to work for their welbing," said the grand daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On autism, she said sympathy or affection towards the autistic children are not enough for ensuring their easy and smooth lives. "Parents, guardians, teachers and every person in the society will have to accept the autistic children with full love and feelings."
Describing autism as a very complex matter, Saima Wazed stressed the need for providing training to doctors, teachers and even parents on how to detect autism in children early in their lives.
"Training on autism symptoms and the solution to parents are highly important. If the parents are conscious about the symptom and child's autism can be detected within first two years of birth, autism can be addressed effectively," she said.
Replying to a question on making the rural society aware of autism, she said now-a-days internet facilities have reached even to the union level. "We can easily disseminate information using the information technology. Even ICT facilities can be used to provide training to the teachers and parents."
The autistic children would have to be facilitated to get admission in the mainstream educational institutions, Saima Wazed said.
Regarding the recently held regional conference on autism in Dhaka, she thanked Indian Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi and other eminent persons for participating and making the conference a success.
"Governments, national and international development organizations all will have to work unitedly for ensuring a better world for the children with special needs," she said.

কালীকচ্ছ সম্মিলনী : ইতিহাসের নিয়তি ও মানুষের দায় : মৃধা আহমাদুল কামাল, মোঃ নূরে আলম, শেখ আদনান ফাহাদ ও শাহমান মৈশান

১৯৪৭ সালের ঐতিহাসিক দেশভাগের পটভূমিতে পূর্ব বাংলার হিন্দু এবং পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মুসলমান উভয় সম্প্রদায়ের মধ্যেই চিরাচরিত জীবনযাপনে অভ্যস্ত সংস্কৃতি হারিয়ে ফেলার ঔপনিবেশিক ডিভাইড অ্যান্ড রোল নীতিজনিত এক রাষ্ট্রনৈতিক ভয় জন্ম নেয়। এ ভয় উভয় বঙ্গের দুই সম্প্রদায়কে স্বভূমে মনোজাগতিকভাবে করে তোলে পরবাসী। এই মনোজাগতিক পরবাসের বাস্তব প্রকাশ হলো দেশত্যাগ, দাঙ্গা ও অবশেষে সামাজিক ডেমোগ্রাফির বিপর্যয়কর পালাবদল। এই পালাবদলের ধারাবাহিকতায় ১৯৬৫ সালের পাক-ভারত যুদ্ধের সময় এবং এমনকি ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধোত্তর কাল থেকে নব্বইয়ের দশকের বাবরি মসজিদ ভাঙার ঘটনাজনিত কারণের পাশাপাশি মনস্তাত্তি্বক নিরাপত্তার লক্ষ্যেও বাংলাদেশের ব্যাপকসংখ্যক হিন্দু ভারতের পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ত্রিপুরা ও আসামে অভিবাস গ্রহণ করে। ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া জেলার সরাইল উপজেলার উত্তরাঞ্চলের এমনই অভিবাসী-দেশত্যাগী হিন্দুদের এক মিলনমেলা ২৫ ফেব্রুয়ারি শুরু হয়েছে। আগামীকাল রোববার এই মেলা শেষ হবে। আশাবাদের বিষয় হলো, স্থানীয় সংসদ সদস্য অ্যাডভোকেট জিয়াউল হক মৃধাসহ কালীকচ্ছ-নোয়াগাঁও জনপদের সুধীজনই কালীকচ্ছ সম্মিলনীর আয়োজন ও আতিথ্যের ভার গ্রহণ করেছে। ভারতীয় লোকসভার সাবেক সদস্য অমিতাভ নন্দী, ত্রিপুরা রাজ্যের সাবেক শিল্প ও বাণিজ্যমন্ত্রী পবিত্র কর, শ্রীমতী রমা দাস ও ইলা নন্দীসহ শতাধিক অভিবাসী এই কালীকচ্ছ সম্মিলনীতে যোগ দিচ্ছে। সাম্প্রদায়িক সৌহার্দ্যের আবহমান স্রোতধারা একটি সমাজে বহু কারণে বাধাগ্রস্ত হয়। স্থানীয় অভিভাবকত্বের ক্ষেত্রে সাম্প্রতিককালে সমাজসেবক আবুল কালাম মৈশান ও অ্যাডভোকেট আবু বকরের আকস্মিক প্রয়াণ কালীকচ্ছ-নোয়াগাঁও জনপদের সমাজ-সংস্কৃতিতে সৃষ্টি করেছে বিরাট শূন্যতা। আবার ভাষাসংগ্রামী-মুক্তিযোদ্ধা ও সরাইল ডিগ্রি মহাবিদ্যালয়ের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা অধ্যক্ষ শেখ মোঃ আবু হামেদও আজ জীবন সায়াহ্নে উপনীত। এই বাস্তবতায় দুই বাংলার মিলনমেলা শান্তি-সৌহার্দ্যের নববার্তা নিয়ে আসবে_ এমনই কায়মনো প্রত্যাশা আমাদের।
ব্রিটিশ-ভারতের একদা সমৃদ্ধ কালীকচ্ছ গ্রাম ছিল রাজনীতি, শিক্ষা, সাহিত্য ও সংস্কৃতির তীর্থকেন্দ্র। স্বদেশি আন্দোলনের বিখ্যাত সশস্ত্র বিপ্লবী উল্লাস কর দত্ত, সর্বধর্ম যোগমণ্ডলীর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা ধর্মসাধক মহারাজ আনন্দ স্বামী, প্রখ্যাত সাহিত্যিক জ্যোতিরিন্দ্র নন্দীর কালীকচ্ছে এই সম্মিলনীর মধ্য দিয়ে হিন্দু-মুসলমানের এক মহামিলনের বার্তা তৈরি হয়। রাষ্ট্রের সীমানির্ধারক রাজনীতি বিভেদাত্মক সংস্কৃতির সূচক হলেও ভারতবর্ষীয় সংস্কৃতির প্রত্নতাত্তি্বক বৈশিষ্ট্যই হলো এর মিলনধর্মী আত্মীয়তামূলক বহুত্ববোধকতা।
রাষ্ট্রভিত্তিক বিভেদাত্মক সংস্কৃতির বিপরীতে মহামতী রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর 'স্বদেশী সমাজ' রচনায় ভারতবর্ষীয় সংস্কৃতির চিহ্নায়নে যেমন বলেন, "মানুষের সঙ্গে মানুষের আত্মীয়সম্বন্ধ স্থাপনই চিরকাল ভারতবর্ষের সর্বপ্রধান চেষ্টা ছিল" (আত্মশক্তি, পৃ. ৫৩৫)। এই চেষ্টার নৈতিকতার সূত্র সন্ধান করে রবীন্দ্রনাথ আরও বলেন, "দূর আত্মীয়ের সঙ্গেও সম্বন্ধ রাখিতে হইবে, সন্তানেরা বয়স্ক হইলেও সম্বন্ধ শিথিল হইবে না, গ্রামস্থ ব্যক্তিদের সঙ্গেও বর্ণ ও অবস্থা নির্বিচারে যথাযোগ্য আত্মীয়সম্বন্ধ রক্ষা করিতে হইবে; গুরু-পুরোহিত, অতিথি-ভিক্ষুক, ভূস্বামী-প্রজাভৃত্য সকলের সঙ্গেই যথোচিত সম্বন্ধ বাঁধা রহিয়াছে। এগুলি কেবলমাত্র শাস্ত্রবিহিত নৈতিক সম্বন্ধ নহে_ এগুলি হৃদয়ের সম্বন্ধ। [...] আমরা যে কোন মানুষের যথার্থ সংস্রবে আসি, তাহার সঙ্গে একটা সম্বন্ধ নির্ণয় করিয়া বসি" (পূর্বোক্ত, পৃ. ৫৩৫)। রবীন্দ্রনাথের সম্বন্ধ নির্ণয়ের দর্শন যা অবধারিতভাবেই রাষ্ট্র থেকে উদ্ভূত সংকীর্ণতাকে নাকচ করে দিয়ে গঠিত। রাষ্ট্রের মানচিত্র সীমিত কিন্তু মানুষের মনের মানচিত্র প্রসারিত, আকাশের মতো দিগ্গ্বলয়-অতিক্রমী, দূরগামী। ফলে চিরকাল যেমন যুদ্ধ, দাঙ্গা ও দেশভাগ হয়েছে, তেমনি অমৃত প্রেরণায় শান্তি ও মিলনের পক্ষে সবার ওপরে মানুষ নিজের মনুষ্যত্বকেই ঠাঁই দিয়েছে। উপনিবেশবাদের দোজখ-তুল্য ফলাফলে ভারতের অখণ্ড মন খণ্ড-বিখণ্ড একাধিক রাষ্ট্রে পরিণত হয়েছে আজ। এ আমাদের ইতিহাসের নিয়তি, রাজনৈতিক বাস্তবতা। এই রাষ্ট্রনৈতিক বাস্তবতায় এ অঞ্চলের মানুষের মনোজাগতিক প্রচুর ক্ষয়ক্ষতি হয়েছে, ভাংচুর ঘটেছে, রাতের পর রাত দুঃস্বপ্ন তাড়া করে ফিরেছে। সর্বোপরি, কয়েক প্রজন্মের সামষ্টিক স্মৃতির জগতে বিপর্যয় ঘনিয়ে এনেছে। ব্রিটিশ ঔপনিবেশিক শোষণ থেকে মুক্তির পূর্ববর্তী দিনগুলোয় জনগণের রাজনৈতিক বিভ্রান্তি ও নেতাদের অপরিণামদর্শিতার এ হলো প্রায়শ্চিত্ত।
তথাপি রাষ্ট্রের চাণক্যনীতি দিয়ে মানুষ তার সত্তাগত বৈশিষ্ট্যকে চিরদিন বেড়ি পরিয়ে বেঁধে রাখে না। সামষ্টিক স্মৃতিকে পুনর্গঠনের ব্রত নিয়ে, ইতিহাসের বিভ্রান্তিজনিত কুফলে অবদমিত আবেগকে মুক্তধারায় প্রবাহিত করার ফুর্তিতে ঘুরে দাঁড়ায়, ফিরে তাকায়। তবেই তো আমরা শুনতে পাব রবীন্দ্রনাথের আত্মসন্ধানী সেই কণ্ঠস্বর :
বহুর মধ্যে ঐক্য-উপলব্ধি, বিচিত্রের মধ্যে ঐক্য স্থাপন_ইহাই ভারতবর্ষের অন্তর্নিহিত ধর্ম। ভারতবর্ষ পার্থক্যকে বিরোধ বলিয়া জানে না, সে পরকে শত্রু বলিয়া কল্পনা করে না। এইজন্যই ত্যাগ না করিয়া, বিনাশ না করিয়া, একটি বৃহৎ ব্যবস্থার মধ্যে সকলকেই সে স্থান দিতে চায়। এইজন্য সকল পন্থাকেই সে স্বীকার করে_স্বস্থানে সকলেরই মাহাত্ম্য সে দেখিতে পায় (পূর্বোক্ত,আত্মশক্তি ৫৫০)।
কালীকচ্ছ সম্মিলনী_ দেশত্যাগী হিন্দুদের কালীকচ্ছের মাটির বুকে, পূর্ব বাংলার এই সোঁদা ভূমিতে ফিরে এসে মিলিত হওয়ার এই উৎসব_ আমাদের অস্তিত্বের মাহাত্ম্যকেই পুনরায় মূর্ত করে, ঋজু করে। রাষ্ট্রের বিভেদ ঘুচিয়ে, কাঁটাতারের শঙ্কা নাশ করে, দীর্ঘ বিচ্ছেদের সংকোচ সরিয়ে আমরা যেন আজ মহামানবের সাগরতীরে দাঁড়িয়েছি। ঢেউয়ের শব্দে রবীন্দ্রনাথের ভাষায় হৃদয় মাঝে যেন অভয় বাজে :
সময় আসিয়াছে যখন প্রত্যেকে জানিবে আমি একক নহি_আমি ক্ষুদ্র হইলেও আমাকে কেহ ত্যাগ করিতে পারিবে না এবং ক্ষুদ্রতমকেও আমি ত্যাগ করিতে পারিব না (পূর্বোক্ত, পৃ. ৫৩৯)।
কালীকচ্ছের সন্তানদের কালীকচ্ছের মাটিতে স্বাগত জানাই, অভিবাদন জানাই, আবাহন করি। তৃতীয় কালীকচ্ছ সম্মিলনীর মধ্য দিয়ে হিন্দু-মুসলমানের ঐক্য ও মিলনের বোধ আরও দৃঢ় হোক, শিকড় বিস্তার করুক।

Despite Despair Dreams Don't Die

All of us have dreams. Various type of dreams. Our dreams have no limit...We like to dream. But how many of these come to true? All of these? Not at all. Some of our dreams come to true, many not. But we dream...we dream for beauty,we dream for good health..we dream for wealth.. we dream for peace.. we dream for endless happiness. But what do we get at the end? At the same time we get happiness, miseries, peace, violence in a single life. and at the end we wait for the day, the Dooms Day.

Special Convocation for DU 60S-90s students!!!

Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNB) - A special convocation is on the cards to bring together all the Dhaka University graduates who passed during the three decades - 1960’s to early 90s - when the DU alumnus got almost no convocation.

Arrangement to hold the special convocation has come under active consideration of the Dhaka University authorities following a proposal made recently by the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) to the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

On the basis of the DUAA’s proposal, the Dhaka University Senate has adopted a resolution recommending to the authorities concerned to arrange the special convocation.

The Dhaka University Deans Committee has also given consent to the proposal and forwarded the necessary documents to the DU Academic Council.

“Now we are waiting for a decision from the Academic Council which has the jurisdiction to decide on the special convocation,” Raquibuddin Ahmed, the DUAA secretary general, told UNB.

Meanwhile, sources in the DU administration said the next meeting of the Academic Council would be held on August 25.

Raquibuddin said that during the long period from 60s to 90s no convocation could be held for various historic reasons including the 60s’ educational movements, 1971 liberation war and political instability after the independence.

He said those DU students who did not get any convocation to attend had made ever memorable sacrifices for the homeland.

Raquibuddin said among the several lakhs of Dhaka University graduates who did not get convocation, many already have passed away. Of the rest, many reached the last stage of life while many others are in their middle age.

“It is the moral duty for all of us to arrange a special convocation for such Dhaka University alumnus,” he said.

The DUAA secretary general said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Health Adviser to the Prime Minister Prof. Dr Syed Mudasser Ali, Awami League leaders Tofail Ahmed and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, present Cabinet secretary M Abdul Aziz, Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, PSC chairman Sadat Hossain and all the present PSC members, and noted litterateur Humayun Ahmed are among the students who did not get any convocation to attend.

Raquibuddin said all the living Vice-Chancellors of Dhaka University, including present VC Prof. Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, also did not have the opportunity to receive their certificates of graduation from the university through convocation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also been informed about the special convocation of the University of Dhaka.

The DUAA secretary general said the Prime Minister came to know about the thinking over the special convocation when a 33-member delegation of DUAA met her at the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) on August 12.

“We also sought special patronization from the Prime Minister to arrange the convocation. The Prime Minister was pleased to know of our proposal on the special convocation,” he said.

“If everything goes smoothly, the special convocation is very much possible to be arranged by next January or February,” he added.

Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) President Khandaker Bazlul Haque said he would do his best to arrange the special convocation.

“Convocation is not a privilege it is a right of the students. For the university, arranging convocation is an obligation,” he said.

The DUTA president said the special convocation will enhance the image of the Dhaka University to a large extent.

When contacted, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Arefin Siddique, who is also the chairman of the academic council, said he has been given a proposal from the DUAA on the special convocation.

“We’ll follow the rules and regulations of the University to consider the proposal on the special convocation,” he said.

The VC said that arranging such a big event like special convocation will need huge fund and lot of time. “So, special convocation depends on many things…funding and timing will be the two main challenges.”

Asked about his expectation as one of the former DU students, Prof. Arefin Siddique said it would be great if the special convocation can be arranged.

He said that between the years of 1964 to 1998, convocation was held only once in 1970. But it was too small to accommodate all the students then.

Ganobhaban setting a model with various projects including renewable energy, pearl farming

Dhaka, Jul 21 (2010) (UNB)- A major part of the premises of Ganobhaban, the official residence of the Bangladesh Prime Minister, has taken on the look and feel of a farm having been allocated for operating various agricultural farms on model basis.

With the small-scale projects of Fiber Glass Biogas Digester, farming of fish, pearl, mushrooms, vegetables and honey, the Prime Minister’s residence has established itself as a role model for the government’s planned “One House, One Farm” project.

“My dream is to make every family of the country economically and socially self-reliant,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said while visiting the projects strewn across various corners of her residence.

Upon returning from the inaugural function of the National Fisheries Week’ 2010 held at the Osmani Auditorium on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Hasina released over 5,000 fries of various fish species in the Ganobhaban pond.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister visited the model projects accompanied by her grandchildren.

Staying there for over an hour, the Prime Minister wanted to know about the pros and cons of every project and expressed her happiness over the launching of the projects.

“Not a single inch of farmable land will be allowed to be wasted. Bangabandhu’s Golden Bangladesh is possible if we can utilize our resources and brains appropriately,” the Prime Minister said.

While briefing the Prime Minister, biogas expert ATM Mahbubul Alam said this type of plant is the ever first bio-gas plant in Bangladesh, with fiberglass technology used extensively.

Alam said two biogas plants have been set up using wastages of four foreign big cows and two cubs.

A two kilowatt generator, one double burner biogas hitter, two bio- hajjak (lantern) lights are being operated everyday respectively for three, six and four hours by the electricity generated from the biogas plants.

Moreover, an irrigation pump is also being run by the electricity generated by the biogas plant, Alam said.

About the effectiveness of the fiber glass technology, Alam said biogas plants have not gained much popularity in the country so far due to concrete-made digesters of the plants, as such digesters do not work for long time.

But the fiber glass-made digester is so light that it can be carried to any remote place and its maintenance cost is also very cheap, he said.

Moreover, 40 percent portion of the fiber glass digester can be manufactured using the country’s local jute which can also pave a new era for the jute industry, the expert said.

Another innovative project inside the Ganobhaban area is pearl farming, which is being run by the Fisheries Department.

Apart from farming various local fish in the Ganobhaban pond, pink pearls are also being farmed in the water body, although in small scale.

“We have started to cultivate pearls in the Ganobhaban lake following directions from the Prime Minister. She wants to experience the results of pearl farming on her own,” said a Ganobhban spokesperson.

The official said pearl farming began in the pond on a model basis as the Prime Minister has a plan to spread the practice of pearl farming in every village and family of the country.

“The Prime Minister believes that pearl farming can be very effective in eradicating unemployment of people, particularly of the women,” he said.

Mahbuba Moonmoon, a female agriculturalist was telling the Prime Minister about the prospects of mushroom cultivation in Bangladesh.

Standing in front of a small tin-shed house set up at the eastern corner of the Ganobhaban for mushroom farming, Moonmoon said mushroom cultivation does not require any land, rather a small house is enough for farming the globally popular food item.

“Mushroom cultivation can remove lack of nutrition for a family as well as poverty,” Moonmoon said.

Later talking to UNB, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said these projects show how a family can meet their needs of electricity, food and employment.

“Our Prime Minister wants to see a Bangladesh where every family has its own capacity for generating electricity, managing necessary food and nutrition, and earning its livelihood,” Azad said.

Everest now under our foot

A Bangladeshi mountaineer and a journalist by profession, Musa Ibrahim, has conquered Everest on May 23rd, 2010. He is the first Bangladeshi to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Arranger of the expedition Iswari Paudel and Musa Ibrahim's wife, Umme Soraban Tahura (Asst. District Judge of Mymensing), confirmed the news at first hand.

Just steal some times to get refreshed you

It was just one-hour ride on a CNG-run taxi from my home village Kalikatcha of Sarail Upazila of Brahmanbaria. I was lucky that I could think about such a plan to get out of my daily life.

I and my two friends--Shahman Moishan and Sumel Mia went to see the wonders of natures in Satchhari National Park under Habiganj district on June 16, 2010.

It was amazing, it was wonderful, our minds were filled up with joys and happiness after we discovered ourselves amidst the trees, birds, monkeys, elephants and sweet sounds of Jhhi-Jhhi insects.

We were there for not more than one hour.But it will continue to fueling my urban life for next long time.

Jute genome decoded Golden fibre to become healthy, high yielding, weather-tolerant;

Reaz Ahmed, senior writer of The Daily Star (June 17, 2010)

Bangladeshi researchers have successfully decoded the jute plant genome opening up a new vista in the development of variety of the world's most adorned biodegradable natural fibre.

Experts said this gene sequencing would help improve the fibre length and quality, including colours and strength; and develop high yielding, saline soil- and pest-tolerant jute varieties through genetic engineering.

With the successful sequencing of jute genome, Bangladesh becomes only the second country after Malaysia, among the developing nations, to achieve such a feat.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the announcement of Bangladesh's scientific achievement in the parliament yesterday amid cheers and desk thumping by lawmakers.

Researchers from Dhaka University, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute and Software Company DataSoft in collaboration with Centre for Chemical Biology, University of Science, Malaysia and University of Hawaii, USA have decoded the genome.

Bangladeshi scientist Maqsudul Alam, a professor of the University of Hawaii, who earlier decoded the genome of papaya in the US and rubber plant in Malaysia, led from the forefront in sequencing the jute genome.

Maqsudul told The Daily Star over telephone yesterday evening, "This is a great accomplishment not only for Bangladesh but for the whole world." He refused to comment any further saying there would be a formal address to the press today (Thursday).

Dubbing it a historic scientific advancement, Sheikh Hasina told the parliament this would redeem the lost glory of the "golden fibre" as gene mapping of jute would now help breeders develop jute varieties resistant to pests and climatic adversities.

She said genome sequencing would help redeem the lost glory of our jute and jute products, immensely contribute to our economy and help transform jute fibre into the golden fibre and bring smiles to millions of jute farmers.

Jute genome sequencing initiative began in February, 2008 when Maqsudul started exploring the possibilities with several Bangladeshi scientists and academics. The whole process was kicked off with many long conference calls between Maqsudul and plant molecular biologists, Prof Haseena Khan and Prof Zeba Seraj of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Dhaka University. Then the lead researcher had several meetings with Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury.

Genome sequence represents a valuable shortcut, helping scientists find genes much more easily and quickly. A genome sequence allows scientists identify and understand how genes work together for the plant's different features like growth, development and maintenance as an entire organism. This allows them to manipulate the genes and enhance, reduce or add certain features of the plant.

Contacted, Zeba Seraj of DU told The Daily Star, "As against three billion genetic letters in human genome, jute has one billion. And sequencing of jute genome will open up a new vista of possibilities."

Jute is the second largest fibre crop in terms of cultivation next to cotton. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest producer of jute, after India, and the world's largest exporter of the fibre.

Sheikh Hasina when mother of ill-fated girls (June 09, 2010

Ratna, Runa and Asma, the three tragic characters of the cruel Nimtoli blaze, tied their nuptial knots Wednesday evening giving credence again to American poet Robert Frost’s famous quote about life, “It goes on.”

Famous musician Bismillah Khan’s music combined with the tunes of both melancholy and happiness was played on “Sanai” suiting the traditional wedding ceremony at the Banquet Hall of Ganobhaban.

A wedding podium was decorated with fresh roses, jasmine and `rajanigandha’ exuding sweet fragrance. The podium was wrapped up on the outside with colourful “silk’ cloths.

The background of the stage carried the three signs of love inscribing the names of three couples —Ratna and Suman, Runa and Jamil, and Asma and Alamgir.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who took upon her all responsibilities of their marriages as a ‘mother’ bought eight tolas of gold for each girl.

She also bought all necessary furniture and household items needed for a newly married couple starting from sofa set to refrigerator and television, dinner table and dinner sets to cooking utensils.

The Prime Minister also managed jobs for the three bridegrooms.

Since Runa’s husband Jamil belongs to the Shia community, marriage ceremony was conducted according to their culture.

Three brides wearing traditional red Benarasi katan saree entered Ganobhaban at 8:30pm while the three bridegrooms and their relatives came to Ganobhaban in 80 cars at 9:30pm.

The bridegrooms paid Tk 25,000 each as gate money.

The Prime Minister decorated the brides with gold ornament with motherly affection at 9:20pm. Raja Hossain Hosseni and Hujjatul Islam Maulan Naki Imam moderated the wedding of Runa and Ratna while Quazi Mohammad Yunus moderated the marriage ceremony of Asma.

Awami League leaders MA Aziz was the ‘Ukil bap” for Ratna, Haji Selim for Runa and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin MP for Asma.

‘Den Mohar’ was fixed at Tk 1.13 lakh for each bridegroom. Ganobhaban officials said food was cooked for 2,500 to 3,000 guests, mostly relatives and friends of the bride and bridegrooms as well as local elite of Nimtoli.

All the three brides – two sisters Sakina Akhter Ratna and Umme Faria Akhter Runa, and Asma Akhtar - lost their mothers and other family members in the blaze on June 3.

Asma’s father is struggling for his life at Dhaka CMH. Close relatives of the brides’ and grooms’ families, elite from Nimtoli area, local MP, local political leaders and senor Awami League leaders attended the marriage ceremony.

A RARE GESTURE (June 03,2010-UNB)

"I have no more expectations in life." That was the only sentence uttered by Ramiza Khatun, an octogenarian beggar, after she met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.
Ramiza Khatun, who scrapes a living by begging on the city streets, came to meet the prime minister at the prime minister's office (PMO) following a news story carried by Bangla daily Kaler Kantho.
The new Bangla daily on June 2 published a front-page story that Ramiza Khatun's late husband, Hasmat Ali, who used to be a van driver, bought a piece of land in 2003 and registered the land in the name of Sheikh Hasina.
Prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad disclosed the ownership of the land will now be transferred to Ramiza Khatun.
On Ramiza's arrival at the prime minister's room in the PMO, the Hasina hugged Ramiza with rare emotion.
"From now onwards, I myself will take care of you," Hasina told Ramiza. As per the prime minister's directive, the government will soon set up a home for Ramiza on the land her husband bought.
"A farm full of pet animals like cows, ducks and hens will also be set up for Ramiza Khatun," said Abul Kalam Azad.
Besides, the prime minister further said that from now on, the government will bear all the expenses for medical treatment of Ramiza Khatun.
The prime minister also donated an amount of cash to Ramiza on the occasion.
According to the Kaler Kantho report, Hasmat Ali through his hard-earned money bought 6.45 decimals land on February 22, 2003 at Kharua Barail village of Rawna Union under Gafurgaon Upazila in Mymensingh district.
Hasmat, who died at the age of 80 in 2004, bought the land for Sheikh Hasina as he used to think of Hasina as an "orphan" after the tragic killings of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mother Fazilatunnesa Mujib, along with most of her other family members, on August 15, 1975.
After Bangabandhu's death, Hasmat Ali and Ramiza Khatun came to the capital and started to live in Agargaon slum.
According to the report, Hasmat Ali used to say the Razakars had killed Bangabandhu, leaving Sheikh Hasina as an "orphan". "He (Hasmat Ali) would always say he must do something for Sheikh Hasina," Ramiza was quoted as saying by the daily.
After Hasmat Ali died in 2004, Ramiza was compelled to live through begging, as her only son did not take his struggling mother with his family.
Unfortunately, the person from whom Hasmat Ali bought the land for Sheikh Hasina later grabbed the land. Prime minister Hasina, during the meet with Ramiza, ordered the authorities concerned to rescue the land and register it in the name of Ramiza.
The news story of the Bangla daily also had written that Ramiza is now suffering from various complicated diseases and old age complications.

Soon after reading the news report, the prime minister directed her officials to ensure modern
treatment for Ramiza. From then onwards, Ramiza has been undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.

Writer of the news story Haider Ali and BSMMU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta were also present.

Cabinet approves national education policy(UNB-31-05-10)

The National Education Policy-2010, approved by the Cabinet on Monday, extended the level of primary education from class V to class VIII and free education from class V-VIII. The new education policy also raised the level of secondary education from class IX up to class XII.

At the end of class X, a terminal examination will be held at upazila, municipality and thana level on a common question paper. According to the new education policy, a system will be in place so all students would be able to study their respective religions as well as moral education.

The education policy envisages the aim of madrasah education as building good faith on almighty Allah and his prophet (SM) and to enable the students to perceive the essence of Islam, the religion of peace.

Aligning with other modes of education, religion will be studied at the ebtedayee level in madrasah along with compulsory subjects like Bangla, English, moral education, Bangladesh studies, mathematics, social studies, environment and climate change, and science.

"Under the new policy, country''s education system will be inclusive," PM''s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said at press briefing at the PID conference room after the cabinet meeting.

He said all will be included in the education system "irrespective of religion, sex, socio-economic and geographical position, ethnic identities and disabilities."

About the primary education, Azad said the primary education will be gradually made full-free up to class VIII.

In this regard, he told the reporters that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed in the cabinet meeting the need for making the whole education system full free as she believes investment in education as most important.

"Education is the strongest tool for poverty eradication," Hasina was quoted as saying by her press secretary.
Replying to a question, Azad said the new education policy is expected to be implemented from the next academic year and a high level committee will be given the charge to guide the Education Ministry and concerned departments to implement the education policy properly.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was congratulated by her cabinet colleagues for her visionary leadership in the formulation of the much-expected new education policy.

The Press Secretary said Prime Minister after getting the draft copy of the new education policy had directed the Education Ministry for posting the policy on its website so that people of all professions and classes could give their opinions and views about the policy.

"Educationalists, researchers, students, teachers, various professionals, religious leaders and mass people all have given their valuable opinions on the website.
Besides, the government also has collected suggestions from various seminars, meetings and symposiums before finalizing the education policy," he said.

Azad said Prime Minister Hasina at the cabinet meeting reiterated her strong commitment to build Bangladesh as a country of well-educated people.

"The new education policy will enlighten the people with the light of modern science and technology, moral and religious education, and with the spirit of the liberation war of 1971."

Describing the background of the new education policy, he said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the independence formed Kudrat-e-Khuda Commission, but after his tragic killing in 1975, the commission was not continued.

In 1997, the then Awam League government formed Shamsul Haque Education Commission, but it also could not be implemented later.

"After assuming the office this time, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the (Education) Ministry to formulate a time-befitting, modern education policy in the light of the recommendations of the two previous commissions and the present necessities and situation," Azad said.

The government formed National Education Policy Formulation Committee on April 8, 2009 with National Professor Kabir Chowdhury as its head and the committee submitted the draft policy to Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on September 2 last year.

Then the Education Ministry posted the draft on its website for soliciting public opinion on the draft education policy.

The main characteristics of the new education policy are as follows:

Pre-Primary and Primary Education:
- One year-long pre-primary education will be introduced for 5+ children;
- Adivasi (indigenous) teachers and text books on Adivasi languages will be arranged so that Adivasi children can learn their respective mother tongues;
- Education up to class VIII will be primary and it will be free, universal and compulsory;
- Students will get stipends on the basis of class V exam results;
- All students will have scope to learn their respective religions.

Secondary Education:
- Level of secondary education will be from class IX up to XII;
- At secondary level of general, madrasah and vocational medium, common curriculam and texts will be followed for Bengali, English, Mathematics, Information Technology and Bangladesh Studies;
- At the end of class X a terminal examination will be held at upazila, municipality and thana level on a common question paper and students will be given stipends on the basis of their results.

Higher Study:
- Three-year degree course will gradually be turned into four-year Honors course at all educational institutions;
- Non-government Teachers Commission will be formed for teachers'' selection in non-government educational institutions and to provide them with trainings;
- To decentralize the National University, its centers will be set up at all divisional headquarters and later these centers will be turned into approving universities for respective areas.
Vocational and Technical Education:
- At the end of class VIII, students passing the primary certificate examination can opt for vocational education, if they so want;
- To expand vocational and technical education, technical education institutes will be set up in each upazila while numbers of polytechnic institutes, textile institutes and leather institutes will also be increased;

Facilities for teachers:
- To encourage meritorious students take up teaching profession, the issues of dignity and status of teachers will deeply be considered to restructure the system;
- Steps will be taken to enact an Integrated Education Act and form a Permanent Education Commission.

PM smells sabotage in city’s power supply; She warns of stern action against those guilty

Dhaka, Apr 20 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said certain people responsible for the city’s power system deliberately stop electricity supply in many areas to tarnish the image of the government.

“Many times load shedding is done unnecessarily. For example, electricity supply is stopped just before prayer time when there is no need for load shedding,” she said.

The Prime Minister hinted at the sinister design while addressing the opening function of the extended Bijoy-Sarani-Tejgaon industrial area road and railway bypass this (Tuesday) morning.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan, local lawmaker Asaduzzaman Khan and RAJUK chairman engineer Md. Nurul Huda also spoke at the function, chaired by Housing and Public Works Secretary MA Hannan.

Expressing her sympathy with the fellow-countrymen including the city dwellers for their sufferings from the power shortage, Sheikh Hasina said the government has already come to know about some incidents where power supply was stopped unnecessarily in the name of load shedding.

She directed the Power Division and other departments concerned to go for whirlwind visits to the power stations and sub-stations in the city to identify the saboteurs and take stern action.

“Anyone caught red handed will be arrested and sacked permanently from the job,” the Prime Minister said.

Some harmful activities are also going on in city water supply system, she said, and cautioned that the government will not tolerate any such activities.

She said the Awami League government has the misfortune that when coming to power it has to face severe electricity crisis mainly created by the previous governments.

“When we came to power in 1996 the total power generation was only 1600 MW, which in the next few years had been extended to 4300 MW. But then in the last seven years not a single MW of power was added to the national grid.”

The Prime Minister said now the present government has to meet the production gap of the last seven years and at the same time, has to meet the increasing daily demand of electricity.

“But through hectic efforts, Insha-Allah, we hope to remove the power crisis again like our previous term.”

She requested the people to be more economic in using electricity and water.

“I myself switch off the AC and electric bulbs whenever I come out of the room. But I know that many government officials hesitate to switch off the bulbs and ACs by themselves as they think it to be an act beneath their prestige. Such mentality has to be changed,” Hasina said.

Referring to the 1783-meter (including 669 meter railway overpass) extended Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon industrial area link road, she said this new road will help significantly to reduce the huge traffic congestion in the capital city.

Specially, she said, movement of vehicular traffic from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Kalabagan, Lalmatia, Dhanmondi and Shyamoli areas to Gulshan, Uttara, Baridhara and Tejgaon areas will be much more easier and comfortable through the Tejgaon-Bijoy Sarani link road.

The Prime Minister noted that the present traffic congestion in the capital is nothing but the result of lack of vision of the past governments.

“Since the liberation, in the last 39 years, Awami League was in power for only 9/10 years. If the other governments which were in power for long periods would take effective and planned initiatives, the present situation in the traffic management would not prevail,” she said.

Hasina in her speech reiterated the government’s plan to permanently remove traffic congestion from Dhaka city and turn the capital into a city of smooth, fast-moving traffic.

She said the government would introduce commuter train service between capital Dhaka and the adjoining districts.

“During our last tenure we introduced commuter train service between Dhaka and Brahmanbaria. This time also we have a plan to start the service from all other district cities adjacent to the capital.

“Once the commuter train service is introduced, people from the districts like Tangail, Mymensingh and Gazipur won’t have to live in the capital for their livelihoods. They will come in the morning and return to their village homes by evening.

The Prime Minister further said the government will also take measures to improve the waterways surrounding the capital city.

“If we can establish a water transport system using the four rivers surrounding the capital, it will create another way of easy and comfortable transport for the people from their respective towns to the capital.”

The other ambitious projects she spelt out included construction of elevated expressway, subway, flyovers and overpasses.

She said at least six overpasses need to be established on urgent basis over the city’s rail crossings for the sake of smooth traffic system.

The Prime Minister strongly directed the RAJUK not to permit any construction project in the city which will be submitted without keeping spaces for children’s park, playground and parking places.

She also ordered for taking immediate steps to preserve the ponds, canals and other water bodies in the city.

“Our Dhaka has almost turned into an inhabitable city. As if the capital has become a slum of concrete. If we all do not try with heart and soul, we cannot save our capital,” Hasina said.

She said the government is soon going to start construction of 50,000 flats in the capital city while construction works of flyovers in Kuril and Gulistan areas of the city will also start soon.

The Prime Minister also directed the WASA and RAJUK to work on how to introduce separate water supply lines - one for drinking and another for domestic uses including car wash.

PM unveils ambitious scheme to bring all UPs under fibre optic cable network

Dhaka, Mar 2 (UNB)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday unveiled an ambitious digitization plan for building Bangladesh as a country fully furnished with modern telecommunications systems for faster delivery of services to the people ensuring good governance from grassroots to central levels.

Under the mega-scheme ‘Digital Bangladesh: Plan of Connecting People’, all Union Parishads will be linked with fibre-optic network, upazilas will get Community e-Centre, and hospitals and schools get computer, web-cam and internet.

Already, 100 Union Parishads have been selected for giving fibre-optic cable connections while another 1,000 unions will be bound with the cross-country cable network within the next one year.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Concept Paper on ‘Digital Bangladesh: Plan of Connecting People’ at a city hotel, the Prime Minister urged the country’s scientists, technological experts and engineers to turn Bangladesh self-sufficient in using technologies rather than depending on foreign countries and agencies.

Pushing a button of a computer, the Prime Minister opened the technical part of the agenda, aimed at breaking the digital divide between the advanced world and a developing country like Bangladesh.

To introduce modern and faster communications network in the sleepy rural Bangladesh, she said, the government will bring offices of all Union Parishads under fibre-optic network as part of the recipe for boarding the entire country on the information superhighway.

The Prime Minister further disclosed that Community e-Center will be set up in all upazilas of the country. Already, five upazilas have got Community e-Center and 128 upazilas computer labs.

She said in line with government’s commitment to provide quality health services to the mass people, the government will give computers, web-cam and internet facilities to all hospitals of the country.

Besides, e-center for Rural Community will be set up at 8,500 post offices of the country to ensure proper management of the postal services.

Moreover, the government is making arrangement to provide videoconferencing facility between Prime Minister’s office and the cabinet division, deputy commissioners of 64 districts and 7 divisional headquarters.

The government is also constructing necessary infrastructures to set up Hi-tech Park in Gazipur and install country’s own satellite to strengthen local telecommunications system, she informed her audience.

The Prime Minister said it is not possible to implement all the development programmes by the government alone and urged all concerned to help the government turn Bangladesh into a digital, modern country by 2021.

“I strongly hope joint ventures under public-private partnerships will fulfill our dream of building a digital Bangladesh,” she said.

Hasina mentioned that the ICT Policy 2009 has already been approved and the ICT ACT 2009 formulated, which will expedite the country’s ICT industry’s growth and joint efforts of public and private sectors.

The Prime Minister said some 1,500 laptops have been distributed to various educational institutions while computer labs equipped with internet facilities will be set up gradually at every educational institution.

“Our children are working successfully in various international institutions. If they are given necessary facilities, they will make tremendous contribution to the effort for turning Bangladesh into a technology-based modern country,” she told the function.

Hasina further said the government is going to implement national service programme in line with its election pledge to give job to one educated member of every family in the country.

She said digital Bangladesh means mobilizing everyone of the country in the national development process and for this local government has to be strengthened.

Hasina said upazila elections have already been held and elections in city corporations, pourasobhas and union parishads will be held soon.

Posts and Telecommunications Ministry arranged the function with its Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju in the chair. International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Toure addressed the function as special guest.

Prime Minister’s son, eminent computer scientist Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, presented the theme paper of the function presenting and suggesting the priority tasks to turn Bangladesh into a true digital country.

Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Sunil Kanti Bose and BTRC Chairman Maj. Gen. (rtd) Zia Ahmed also addressed the function. A video documentary was also presented at the function sowing the dream Bangladesh of 2021-the year when the golden jubilee of national independence will be celebrated.