The Week That Was
Launch disasters kill 5000 in 18 years
Over 5000 people lost their lives in launch disaster in the rivers of Bangladesh during the last 18 years.
A large number of passengers would have been saved had it been made mandatory for the ship owners to provide with life jacket to every passenger according to the Inland Shipping Ordinance 1976.
Speakers told a seminar titled “Life jacket Saves Lives” organised by the Nautical Institute (UK) Bangladesh unit at its office recently.
“A person can survive for more than three days even at deep sea if he wears a life jacket,” they said.
They said, “Over the last 10 years at least two ship captains and four sailors died at the Chittagong anchorage due to marine accidents. During the period 54 tourists lost their lives in the sea beach at Cox's Bazar. These lives would have been saved had these people made use of life jackets, they added.
Capt MA Razzak presented the keynote paper. Officials of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), Marine Academy and representatives of shipping companies and shipping agents were present at the seminar.
Capt Razzak in his paper said as per IMO (International Maritime Organisation) regulations, it is mandatory for every crew and passenger of ships to be provided with a life jacket. Though Bangladesh strictly follow this provision for ocean going ships, coastal ships and fishing trawlers according to Merchant Shipping Ordinance'1983 but ignored Inland Shipping Ordinance 1976.
Access TEL Network in Ctg
Access Telecom (BD) Ltd or Access TEL, one of the leading Internet service providers in Bangladesh, extended its broadband network in the port city on Saturday.
Zain Omar, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Access TEL, declared the company's extension at a ceremony at Chittagong Club auditorium on Saturday.
He said established in 1997 the company launched its commercial Internet services in 2000 in Dhaka and started informally its operation in the port city on July 1.
“The objective of Access TEL is to spread the growth of Information Technology (IT) sector in Bangladesh, and today, the company is an Internet infrastructure and solutions provider, delivering end-to-end value-added solutions to businesses and consumers,” Zain said, adding that it currently supports more than 700 corporate connections in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Highlighting state-of-the-art Xstream services and Fibre Optic Network (FON) connectivity services in Chittagong, he said the Xstream service provides reliable, always on, broadband services using a small self-installable wireless modem that does not require users to download software or to configure their laptop or desktop computers.
Company Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Zari Omar, Chief Operation Officer (COO) Salahuddin Chowdhury, Assistant Manager (sales & marketing) and Assistant Manager (customer support) Zillur Rahman were present at the function.
Food for poor families
Around 200 poor families of city's Pathantuli area received different food items and essentials on the occasion of Eid-ul Fitr.
Chatgaon Sangstha, a voluntary humanitarian organisation, distributed the food and other items at a simple ceremony on Saturday at its office at Nazir Bhandar Lane in Pathantuli.
Each family received 10kg rice, 2kg lentil, 2kg potato, 2kg sugar, 2kg gram (chhola), 1kg salt, 1 litre soya bean oil, 1 packet vermicelli and puffed rice.
Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Md Habibur Rahman and Assistant Commissioner Md Iltutmish were present as the chief and special guests at the function chaired by Sangstha President SM Jamal Uddin. Organisation's advisers Nazir Ahmad, Md Amir Hossain, Mesbaul Hoque Tanim and Joint Secretary Nurul Absar Cyclone spoke at the function.
No qualitative change in local body polls
Expected qualitative change in recent elections to the city corporations and municipalities has not been noticed, speakers told a view exchange meeting here on Saturday.
They underscored the need for a long-term strategy to bring about qualitative change in the leadership and establish good governance.
Citizens for Good Governance (CGG) organised the meeting titled “Establishing Good Governance and our obligation in the next election” at the Engineer Abdul Khalek auditorium of Chittagong Press Club.
CGG Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said around 80 percent of the councillors elected in the polls are from business community.
Public representation in local body is going under the capture of businessmen that happened in the parliament election, he said.
It indicates that the voters elected those from whom they could get mere but instant benefits.
However, many things positive could be achieved in the election and sustaining these achievements would be the main task to help establish good governance in the society and country, he said.
Prof Muhammad Sikander Khan in his presidential speech said, “The election at least would help us realise pledges committed during the election by the elected representatives and it is time to see how much of the commitments they made in the election manifesto is implemented and how much of the public rights are protected.”
Abul Momen, resident editor of the Prothom Alo in Chittagong, said a long-term strategy has to be followed to achieve qualitative change in the leadership.
Engineer Ali Ashraf, chairman of Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, Chittagong, said the election put a dent on the people's faith and expectation when some accused in corruption cases also came out with flying colours and had floral reception.
Prof Hossain Kabir, Engineer Baset, former chairman of Sitakunda municipality Abul Kalam Azad, journalists Asif Siraj, Ali Haider, Abul Khayer and Aleya Chowdhury also spoke at the meeting.
Tribute to Zia Haider
Speakers at a condolence meeting here on Friday paid rich tribute to noted drama personality and poet Zia Haider and said his death is an irreparable loss to the drama arena.
Theatre Club, Chittagong organised the meeting with its Member Secretary Sucharit Chowdhury Tinku in the chair.
Presidium Member of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation M Saiful Alam Chowdhury, Convener of Path Natak Parishad Dipak Chowdhury and Dramatist Tapash Shekhar spoke at the meeting.
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