Minister for Primary and Mass Education Dr Afsarul Ameen inaugurates a month-long International Women's SME Exposition Bangladesh organised by Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CWCCI) at Polo ground on Tuesday. Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Abdus Salam and leaders of CWCCI were present on the occasion.Photo: STAR

Call to stop hill cutting
A human chain was formed in the port city on Wednesday demanding immediate stop to hill cutting and punishment to those involved in the evil practice.
Environmental organisations of Citizen Alliance for Promoting Transparency and Accountability (CAPTA), Srishty, Jono Udyog and People's Voice jointly organised the programme in front of Chittagong Press Club.
The speakers at the programme said hill cutting went on unabated at Khulshi, Nasirabad and different areas of the city at night.
They alleged that unscrupulous elements in connivance with a section of dishonest police and district officials carried out the illegal hill cutting, posing a threat to environment.
The speakers demanded formation of a committee with members from Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), district and police administration and the authorities concerned to check hill cutting and bring the culprits to justice.
Former lawmaker Mazharul Haq Shah Chowdhury, Chittagong Union of Journalists President Mostaq Ahmed and General Secretary Nazim Uddin Shyamol, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Councillor Advocate Rehana Begum Ranu, Prof Mohammad Idris Ali and Sharif Chouhan spoke at the programme with Citizen Alliance Convener Prof AQM Sirajul Islam in the chair.

Shippers' Council executives
The new executive committee of Shippers' Council of Bangladesh was formed in the port city on Tuesday with Mahabub Ali, managing director of Valiant Garments Ltd, Chittagong as the chairman.
Kamran Uddin, managing director of Global Jute Trading Ltd, Dhaka and Nanda Kishore Agarwala, managing partner of Progoti Traders, Khulna were elected senior vice-chairman and vice-chairman respectively.
Jasim U Ahmed, Md Humayun Kabir, Barkat-e-Khoda, Syed Golam Mowla, Sanjit Kumar Das, Syed Md Anisuzzaman, Md Firoz Alam and Zahid Hossain have been elected directors.

Preparation for victory fair discussed
Muktijuddher Bijoy Mela Parishad held a meeting on Wednesday for smooth holding of 21-day victory fair in the city.
Speakers at the meeting at Parishad Office at MA Stadium discussed different aspects of organising the fair at its traditional venue of Chittagong Stadium.
Parishad Secretary General Abul Hashem presided over the meeting where Cultural Sub-Committee leader Sucharit Das Khokon put up plans and preparation for the fair.
Bijoy Mela Cultural Secretary Tapan Barua, Saifuddin Mahmud Khan, Alauddin Taher, Md Ali Titu and Shah ana Begum spoke at the meeting.

Ensure rights of speech, hearing-impaired people
Speakers at a seminar in the port city on Wednesday called for ensuring rights of the speech and hearing-impaired people.
Chittagong Society for the Disabled (CSD) in association with ActionAid Bangladesh organised the seminar at Chittagong Shilpakala Academy Seminal Hall.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (LA) Anisur Rahman Mia was the chief guest at the seminar where Bandana Das, deputy superviser of Chhotomoni Nibash, and UCEP Chittagong divisional coordinator Noor Jahan Shamim were special guests with CSD executive member Advocate Khademul Islam Chowdhury in the chair.
CSD General Secretary Mostafa Kamal Jatra moderated the seminar where CSD Coordinator Muhammad Shah Alam presented the concept paper.

Training workshop held
A daylong training workshop marking the 18th National Immunisation Day and Measles Campaign was held in the port city on Thursday.
World Health Organisation (WHO) and Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Headquarters organised the workshop at Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) auditorium.
CCC Panel Mayor Monwara Begum Moni was the chief guest at the workshop with Health Officer Dr Mohammad Ali in the chair.
CCC Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Imtiaz Hossain Chowdhury and Chief Education Officer Prof Iftekhar Ahmed Khan were present as the special guests at the workshop.
Speakers vowed to continue observing the immunisation day.
CCC zonal medical officers, medical officers, health assistants and EPI workers participated in the workshop.

375th branch of Pubali Bank opens
The 375th branch of Pubali Bank Limited opened at Keranihat under Satkania upazila in the district on Thursday.
On the occasion, a customers' conference and milad mahfil were also held.
The bank management committee member Ahmed Shafi Chowdhury inaugurated the branch with Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury in the chair.
The Bank Director Fahim Ahmed Faruk Chowdhury, Chittagong Region General Manager Mohammad Fazlul Haque, General Service and Development Division General Manager Shafiul Alam Khan Chowdhury, Imam Group of Industries Chairman Mohammad Ali, South and Hill Tracts Region Deputy General Manager Rawshan Akter, local lawmaker ANM Shamsul Islam and upazila chairman Abdul Monaf were present as the special guests at the inaugural ceremony.