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.