The week that was

Students of Bodhon Abriti School perform at a recitation programme organised by Bodhon Abriti Parishad on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Saturday.Photo: STAR

Corruption-free CCC demanded
Speakers at a view exchange meeting here on Saturday underscored the need for transparency, integrity and accountability of the would-be mayor and ward councillors for proper development of the port city.
They demanded a corruption-free Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) that would be centre of public service alongside making efforts to help develop Chittagong as a commercial capital in true sense.
They also stressed developing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in CCC.
Sushashaner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Chittagong district unit and Sachetan Nagorik Committee (Sanak), Chittagong chapter jointly organised the meeting titled “Expectation of citizens in Chittagong City Corporation Election” at JM Sen Hall.
Sujan Central Committee General Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Chittagong District Unit President Prof Muhammad Sikandar Khan, Sanak Chittagong Chapter President Advocate Akhter Kabir Chowdhury and a number of people from different organisations and classes exchanged their views in the meeting.
The speakers said the elected candidates forget their pledges after the election and work at their will ignoring the welfare of the people who elected them.
They also called upon the would-be mayor to ensure participation of people in CCC development process, build up Chittagong as a city free from traffic congestion and waterlogging and show non-partisan behaviour to all councillors.

BSAA gets new board of directors
Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association elected an 18-member board of directors with KM Mahmudur Rahman, Mohammad Mostafa Kamal and Parvez Ahmed as its chairman, senior vice-chairman and vice-chairman respectively.
The board of directors was elected unopposed for two years starting from July 1 on Saturday.
Election Commissioner Commodore (Retd) AZ Nizam conducted the election in cooperation with two other members MA Chowdhury (Shelly) and Abdul Gaffar.
Other directors are: Khandokar Chiraj Uddin Ahmed, Shahed Sarwar, Rahat Bin Asad, Md Abdul Momen, Shafiqul Alam Jewel, M.A Bakar, Jasim U Ahmed, A T M Rafiq Ahmed, Captain Sayed Sohel Hasnat, Sahajada Mahamud Chowdhury, Mohammad Muntasir Rubayet, Md Ajfar Ali, Oashiur Rahman Chowdhury, A K M Atikur Rahman and Jahurul Islam Chowdhury.

Call to make CCC smoking-free
Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) observed the World No Tobacco Day with a call for making Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) smoking-free, an electoral pledge.
Members of Smoke-free Alliance of YPSA made this call upon the mayoral candidates of upcoming CCC election at a meeting at YPSA Head Office at Chandgaon on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day on Sunday.
Speakers at the meeting demanded of the government for making all the public places and transports as smoking-free places following the Tobacco Use (Control) Act.
Dr AQM Sirajul Islam, Dr Bhagyadhan Basrua and YPSA Director Md Mahbubur Rahman spoke at the meeting with UPSA Chief Executive Md Arifur Rahman in the chair.
YPSA, a social development organisation, in collaboration with the government also organised various programmes in eleven districts under Chittagong division and distributed stickers, boards and posters creating awareness against smoking and use of tobacco to observe the day.

Tagore, Nazrul source of inspiration
Chittagong University (CU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Abu Yusuf underscored the need for studying literature of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam as their writings are source of inspiration for national life.
“Writings of both the great litterateurs encourage us whenever we fall into trouble and crises,” he said.
He was addressing as the chief guest a discussion on the occasion of Rabindra and Nazrul joyanti celebration organised by Suhrawardy hall on Thursday.
Hall Provost Dr Mohammad Anwarul Islam presided over the discussion.
Prof Yusuf called upon all to follow the main essence of the writings of these two exponents for making a happy and non-communal society.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Alauddin, Arts Faculty Dean Prof Dr Golam Kibria Bhuiyan, Social Science Faculty Dean Prof Dr Joyti Prakash Dutta were the special guests.
Joyeenty Lala, Prodip Dutta and Risu Talukder rendered Tagore and Nazrul songs at the programme.

SB to increase loan in productive sector
A conference of Sonali Bank (SB) branch managers in greater Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts was held here on Saturday with a call for increasing loan in productive sectors, particularly in agriculture and Small and Medium Entrepreneurships (SME), availing scope for increasing investment in the region.
Sonali Bank Board governing body directors AKM Jaman Romel and Saimum Sarwar Kamol attended as the guests and Deputy Managing Director Mostaque Ahmad as the main speaker at the conference at the General Manager's Office at Agrabad in the city.
Assistant General Manager Md Nurul Islam made address of welcome at the conference with the bank's Chittagong Divisional General Manager Didar Md Abdur Rab in the chair.
Deputy General Manager Belayet Hossain, Assistant General Managers Sunil Kanti Ghosh, Nizam Uddin Ahmad Chowdhury and Munir Ahmed also spoke.
A total of 106 branch managers from Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts, assistant general managers working in the port city and chiefs of principal and regional offices participated at the conference moderated by Assistant General Manager Md Osman Gani and Senior Executive Officer Nurul Haq.