The Week That Was
Call to make Chittagong a modern city
Speakers at a seminar urged the government for taking initiatives and formulating policy to develop Chittagong as a planned modern city.
Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) in association with monthly Child and adolescent magazine Kishorekal organised the seminar titled “Environmental responsibility: Sustainable Urbanisation of Chittagong” at Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong on Thursday.
Dr Adnan Morshed of School of Architecture and Planning at the Catholic University of America, in his keynote paper cited the example of Bogotá of Latin America for developing Chittagong.
Chaktai canal can be turned into a water route as exists in Venice of Italy, suggested Dr Adnan while emphasising developing highways according to the geographical patterns to bring the whole city under traffic network.
He also suggested special facilities to inspire shifting of small industrial units from the city centres and developing small satellite towns.
He also emphasised forming environmental police with special power to check hill cutting and illegal felling of trees.
BIP, Chttagong Chairman M Ali Ashraf presided over the seminar.
Envoy assures German help
German Ambassador to Bangladesh Holger Michael assured Bangladesh of continuous assistance and cooperation to alleviate poverty.
Holger Michael was addressing a view exchange meeting with the leaders of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) here on Sunday.
He hailed the CCCI leaders for introducing automation systems in Chittagong Port and Chittagong Customs House in the interest of business sector.
The envoy said business people should play role for the overall development of the country as part of their social responsibility.
CCCI President MA Latif MP presided over the meeting where CCCI Vice President SM Shafiul Hoque, Directors Sahabuddin Ahmed, Moinuddin Ahmed, AKM Aktar Hossain, Md Emdadul Hoque Chowdhury, Wasiur Rahman Chowdhury and German Consul General Shakir Ispahani were present.
Latif urged the ambassador to take steps for investment and technical help in prospective sectors in Bangladesh like ship building, leather, light engineering, private port and tank terminal.
Compulsory blood test before marriage underscored
Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus stressed the need for formulating law for compulsory blood test before marriage to check Thalassemia.
While visiting Thalassemia Service Centre at Jamal Khan on Saturday he called for creating awareness about Thalassemia.
Effort is on to set up a Thalassemia centre equipped with modern technology of international standard in Dhaka by this year. The centre would have three beds including one free bed and have arrangement for bone marrow transfer at reasonable cost, he said.
However, since the treatment facility was very limited in the country awareness should be created among mass, said Prof Yunus said, adding that religious institutions can play vital role in creating awareness about the disease.
Thalassemia Service Centre President Journalist Helaluddin Chowdhury said they set up six scanning centres to detect Thalassemia.
Chittagong Press Club President Abu Sufian, Chittagong Development Authority former chairman Shah Muhammad Akhteruddin, Rokonuddin Ahmed, Rashid Ahmed, former lawmaker Rozi Kabir were present.
IT fair held
A three-day long Information Technology (IT) fair was held on Sunday with a view to displaying latest computer products of different popular brands under one roof.
Chittagong Press Club (CPC) President Abu Sufian inaugurated the fair as the chief guest at a ceremony at the IEB auditorium.
Chittagong Union of Journalist (CUJ) General Secretary Nazimuddin Shyamal, journalist Showkat Bangali and Computer Bichitra Editor Bhuiyan Enam Lenin were the special guests.
Speakers at the ceremony emphasised enhancing scopes for IT education and computer literacy to create efficient IT professionals.
Different popular international brands like BenQ, HP, Compaq, Fujitsu, Sony, Apple, Acer, Del, Philips, Toshiba and Samsung participated in the fair.
Different local computer and accessories shops displayed their products at over 30 stalls at the fair
Computers for students
Awami League lawmaker Nurul Islam said proper development of a nation would be impossible without keeping major portion of the country illiterate.
He was addressing a function on Sunday at his residence at Khulshi on the occasion of distributing computers to seven non-government academic institutions.
He donated seven computers to Enayet Bazar Women College, Bangladesh Women Association (BAWA) Girls High School and College, Sanoara High School, Dilwara Jahan Memorial School, Kazem Ali High School and Kadam Mobarak MY High School.
He said the government has successfully distributed textbooks among the students of primary and secondary levels at the very beginning of the academic year.
AL leaders Jamshedul Alam Chowdhury, MA Hannan, Shahidullah Chowdhury Bablu, Farid Newaz and headmasters and principals of institutions were present at the programme.
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