This week that was
A colourful procession was brought out on the DC Hill premises, marking the Basanta Utsab organised by Bodhon on Monday.Photo: STAR
Jamuna Oil AGM held
The 36th annual general meeting (AGM) of Jamuna Oil Company Limited was held at Hotel Agrabad in the port city on Saturday.
The company's Chairman Mohammad Abu Taher chaired the programme while Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman Md Abubakkar Siddique, Revenue Board member Md Alauddin, Energy and Mineral Resources Department Deputy Chief Md Abu Yusuf Miyan, and the company directors Dewan Nurul Islam and Mizanur Rahman were present.
The meeting highlighted the financial performance of the company in 2011. The meeting informed that the company earned net profit of Tk 101.45 crore in 2010-11, which was Tk 56.40 crore in 2009-10.
The meeting also highlighted that 2010 was very successful for the company. It approved 30% stock dividend.
Basanta Utsab celebrated
Pahela Falgun, first day of the spring, as elsewhere in the country was celebrated in the port city on Monday.
Bodhon Abritti Parishad, a cultural organisation, organised a festival titled 'Basanta Utsab' (spring festival) on the DC Hill premises.
The festival started with choral songs of seasons. It featured orchestra of different musical instruments, solo, duet, group rendition of songs and recitation. The artistes rendered Tagore, Nazrul, folk, local and indigenous songs and many events depicting the colour of seasons and nature and heritage of the country were also presented at the festival.
On the occasion, a colourful procession paraded through the important thoroughfares in the port city where men in Panjabis and women in yellow sarees and other traditional dresses participated. People from all walks of life took part in the procession with festoons, masks and banners.
Annual prize giving ceremony held
The annual sports, prize giving ceremony and cultural function of Ispahani Public School and College was held on the institute premises on Saturday.
Ali Ispahani was present at the programme as the chief guest while the institute Principal Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury chaired the programme.
Former lawmaker Mazharul Haque Chowdhury, Ispahani Group's Finance Controller Ershad Sirajee were present as special guests of the programme.
Ekushey book fair begins
A 10-day Ekushey book fair began in the port city on Sunday.
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) organised the fair, marking Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day on the Muslim Hall premises.
Mayor Mohammad Manjur Alam inaugurated the fair as the chief guest.
In a speech, he said there was no alternative to achieving knowledge for a nation.
He urged the students as well as the young generation to read more books for enriching their wisdom. He thanked the publishers who took part in the fair with their stalls, extending their helping hands to make the fair a success.
Panel Mayor Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Hasani, CCC Education Standing Committee Chairman Advocate Rehena Begum Ranu, Chief Executive Officer Anwara Begum and Secretary Mohammad Samsuddoha were present at the programme.
'Stop commercialisation of education'
Speakers at a rally on Tuesday in the port city urged the government to build more schools and colleges to remove discriminations in the education sector.
They said the commercialisation of education hampers the right to education.
They were addressing a rally organised by Samajtantrik Chhatra Front on the Shaheed Minar premises. The Front organised the rally marking The Fall of Autocracy Day. The speakers said the students of the country built up movements against the Pakistani rules and the 'Majid Commission' during the Ershad period for removing discrimination in education.
They said steps taken by the incumbent government were closing the door of higher education to the poor and low income people.
Chhatra Front President Satyajit Biswas, General Secretary Al Kaderi Joy, Vice- President Taj Nahar Ripan and Organising Secretary Biplab Bijay Das spoke at the rally.