The week that was

Tirjok Naityodal stages 'Bishorjon' of Rabindranath Tagore at Theatre Institute, Chittagong (TIC) on December 31.Photo: STAR

Youths' role in establishing peace stressed
Speakers at a seminar on Monday stressed the need for encouraging the role of youths and responsibilities for establishing peace and harmony in South Asia.
They were speaking at a seminar titled “Building Social Peace and Harmony in South Asia: Initiatives by the Youth” at the Chittagong University (CU) library auditorium.
South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society (SAYPPS) organised the seminar.
The speakers said the first and foremost task of the youth is to raise their voice against all kinds of conflicts in South Asia.
Urging the youths to fight state hegemony and corruption, they said youth of South Asia should work as a watchdog with the civil society for establishing a stable democratic atmosphere.
“Youth should take oath for saying 'no' to terrorism and drug and involve themselves in socio-cultural activities”, they said, adding that the government should pay attention to the youth as they are the future of the nation.
Nazimuddin Shyamol, General Secretary of Chittagong Union of Journalists, Sarwaruddin Ahmed, bureau chief of The Daily New Nation, spoke at the seminar as special guests.
Md Faridul Alam, chairman of Department of International Relations, Md Morshedul Islam, chairman of Department of Communication and Journalism, Dr Mohammad Zahidur Rahman, associate professor of Department of History, and journalist Omar Faruque also spoke at the seminar.
Prof Dr Abdullah Al Faruque presided over the seminar.
'Construct deep sea port soon'
Speakers here on Sunday urged the government to construct deep sea port as early as possible for development of the country's economy as well as the region.
They stressed the need for modernising the port city as a city of international standard to make it a regional commercial hub.
They were speaking at a seminar titled, “Development of Chittagong: Past, present and future” organised by 'Kriti Parishad, Chittagong, at the auditorium of Theatre Institute, Chittagong (TIC).
East Delta University Vice-Chancellor Prof Sikandar Khan spoke at the programme as chief guest with Sachetan Nagorik Committee (Sanak) of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Convener Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury in the chair.
Prof Sikandar in his speech said Chittagong has a great potentiality to contribute to the country's economy so government should take projects related to the development of the city as well as the port.
SM Jamaluddin, M Kafil Uddin, Monwar Hossain and artiste Sharier Khaled were honoured for their significant role in movements for development of Chittagong.
Engineer Tareque Moinul Islam, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice-President Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, Prof Gazi Saleh Uddin and journalist Mostaque Ahmed spoke at the programme.
Workshop on drum playing held
“The drum popularly known as “dhol” in Bangladesh is a musical instrument that has a power to attract the young generation as well as entertain the people from all walks of life”, said the speakers.
They said the “dhol” has potentiality to compete any international instrument in the world.
They were speaking at a workshop on “Dhol playing” organised by Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) on its Cultural and Communication Trust premises at Patiya in Chittagong on Thursday.
Noted drum players Ashok Kumar of India, Babul Jaladas of Bangladesh and Jitendra Vishvabandhu of Sri Lanka conducted the workshop.
Plea to stop use of formalin in food items
The right activists in the port city on Sunday at a rally demanded an end to the use of formalin in food items.
Citizen Right Movement organised the rally on the city's Chittagong Press Club premises where leaders and activists of progressive socio-cultural organisations were present.
Speakers at the rally said use of formalin in food items ultimately causes the death of human being.
“Formalin-treated foods and fruits affect kidney and other human organs”, they said, adding that the government should take steps against the persons involved in the crime.
Organisation President Dr AQM Sirajul Isalm presided over the programme.
Journalists Arun Dasgupta, M Nasirul Haque and Omar Kaisar, Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury, Prof Hossain Kabir, cultural activist Kamrul Hasan Badal, Khelaghar Organising Secretary Dilip Das, Progressive Doctors' Forum organiser Dr Susanta Barua, Panel Mayor Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Hasni and councillor Helena Begum Ranu spoke at the rally.
Digital transport sector emphasised
Mahbubul Alam, senior vice-president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), on Monday emphasised the digitalisation of the transport sector to solve the problems and bring discipline in the sector.
Mahbubul said this while he was addressing the inaugural ceremony of A R Computer Scale, IT, (CCTV Live Telecasting), a sister concern of M R Group. The programme was held at the office of Antozila Malamal Paribahan Sangstha Truck and Covered Van Malik Samity, Chittagong.
Terming Chittagong as the gateway of trade and commerce of the country, Mahbubul said the transport owners in the sector are playing a vital role in the economic development by carrying the imported goods properly all over the country.
PHP Group Chairman Sufi Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, M R Group Managing Director Mohammed Farid, Ghat-Gudam Malik Samity Vice-President Niazur Rahman, Antozila Malamal Paribahan Sangstha Truck and Covered Van Malik Samity Chairman Sirajul Islam, President Munir Ahmed and General Secretary Din Mohammed were present on the occasion.