The week that was
Engineers pose for photograph with the guests at a workshop titled “Build corrosive and hazard-free structure” organised by Berger Paints in the port city on Saturday. Photo: STAR
Felling of trees protested
A human chain was formed here on Sunday demanding an end to felling trees at Sitakunda coastal belt in Chittagong.
Non-government organisation Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) organised the human chain in cooperation with developing organisations Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association (BELA), Nawjowan, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), Sangshaptak, UTSA and Ship Breaking Trade Union Forum in front of Chittagong Press Club.
Speakers at a rally during the programme said the coastal green belts are now being damaged to build ship-breaking yards through felling trees in the coastal forests for long.
They expressed strong resentment and protested felling of around 18,000 trees in a most unethical way in the coastal areas over last few days.
They demanded shifting of the ship-breaking yards from the coastal area and emphasised on afforestation in the area.
YPSA Programme Coordinator Mohammad Ali Shahin, the Ship Breaking Trade Union Forum President Tapan Dutta, Jana Udyog Coordinator Sharif Chauhan, social worker Shahidul Islam and cultural personality Akbar Reza spoke at the rally.
Tree plantation programme held
A tree plantation programme was held on the Global Scholar School and College campus at Khulshi on Thursday.
Chittagong Education Board Inspector Prof Ali Hossain inaugurated the tree plantation programme and distributed saplings of different fruits, medicinal and timber-yielding trees among the students as the chief guest.
The School Trustee Board Member Secretary Abul Basher and Member (Academy) Dilshad Ahmed were the special guests at the ceremony with Acting Principal Nahid Ishrat in the chair.
Later, a fruit festival was held where different species of fruits were put on display.
Meanwhile, Ghashful, a non-government organisation, also organised a tree plantation ceremony in Patiya on Wednesday.
Some 2000 saplings were distributed among 450 Ghashful students at the programme organised in association with British American Tobacco Bangladesh.
Local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abul Hossain was the chief guest at the programme with Ghashful Vice President Dr Manjur-Ul Amin Chowdhury in the chair.
Call to train up seamen
Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President MA Latif MP underscored the need for training up seamen for working in foreign vessels and creating employment opportunities abroad to earn foreign currency.
Addressing a view exchange meeting with leaders of Seamen Association at CCCI auditorium in the port city on Monday, Latif said there is a great employment opportunity for the trained seamen in Middle East and European countries.
But, the sector has remained neglected and many seamen are unemployed for lack of attention of the authorities concerned, he said.
He called on the authorities concerned to arrange training workshops on seamanship and remove problems of the seamen to help them find job in foreign vessels and earn foreign currency.
Seamen Association President SM Shafiqur Rahman, vice presidents Md Wahidul Alam and Golam Mohammad also spoke at the meeting.
Discussion on eve teasing
Speakers at a discussion on Thursday emphasised the need for waging a social movement against eve teasing as it became a social menace now.
“Being bold and confident, the girls should protest the eve-teasing on their own,” they said.
The discussion on eve teasing organised by Sirajul Islam Patwary Foundation in cooperation with Chittagong Social Development Forum (CSDF) was held at Housing and Settlement Public School in the city.
Woman Ward Councillor Rehena Kabir Ranu was the chief guest at the discussion with Headmistress Jahan Ara Begum in the chair.
The speakers urged the girls to inform the guardians about any incident of eve teasing and later to people's representatives and administration to help address the problem.
They called upon all of the society to come forward to protest the ill practice since it is not possible to overcome overnight.
CSDF Coordinator Shampa Kamrunnahar was the main speaker at the discussion while the foundation Executive Director Moinul Islam Maruf Patwary was the special guest.
The girl students also spoke at the discussion. A documentary on eve teasing titled “Pather Badha” was screened.
Five held for pilfering crude edible oil
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) recovered 191 litres of crude oil while being pilfered on the way to refinery and arrested five people in this connection here on Thursday.
Other members of the gang managed to flee jumping in the river.
Members of the elite force made the seizure during a drive at TSP jetty adjoining area under Patenga police station.
The criminals were stealing the crude palm oil on the way to refinery depot from the vessel MT Sulu Wind, sources said.
The arrestees were identified as Jane Alam, 50, Noor Alam, 45, Md Nezam, 45, Md Iqbal, 30, and Md Jasim, 22.
Rab sources said a syndicate of some 50 criminals are engaged in pilfering crude edible oil on the way to refinery or depots from the vessels with the help of some dishonest crew.
Workshop for engineers
A workshop on “Build corrosive and hazard-free structure” was held in the port city on Saturday.
Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited organised the workshop for the engineers of the leading developer Mishmak Development Limited at its sales office.
Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Chittagong Factory and Jenson Nicholson (Bd) Limited General Manager Nazimuddin Helali, Quality Control Manager Jasim Uddin, Area Sales Manager Syed Mohammad Nasim, Mishmak Executive Director Mozammel Haque and other officials of the companies participated in the workshop.
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