News in Brief

President visits Taj Mahal, Agra Fort
Our Correspondent, New Delhi

On a three-day visit to India, President Md Abdul Hamid yesterday did some sightseeing, visiting the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.
Accompanied by his wife Rashida, he spent about half-an-hour there, Hamid's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told The Daily Star over the phone from Agra.
Hamid is scheduled to fly to Jaipur today for visiting the Pink City and the Dargarh at Ajmer.
Later, he will go to Kolkata tomorrow.

'In-laws' torture pregnant woman
Staff Correspondent

A pregnant woman was assaulted allegedly by her in-laws for refusing to give them dowry, in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday.
Fatema Akhter, 21, took treatment from Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Her husband Gulzar Alam told The Daily Star, “My family members slammed a hot cooking pot in her abdomen and poured hot rice water on her feet.”
Earlier, Alam, a trader of motor parts at Bangla Motor, filed a general diary with Shahbagh Police Station after his family members put pressure on Fatema for dowry. Gulzar's family members were not available for comments.

10 Shibir men arrested in Ctg
Staff Correspondent, Ctg

Ten Jamaat-e-Islami backed Islami Chhatra Shibir activists were arrested at Fatickchhari Coronation High School in Chittagong while they were holding a secret meeting for plotting subversive activities on Friday night, said police.
The arrestees are Saiful Islam, Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, Hossain Md Faisal, Shakhawat Emon, Ariful Akbar, Asaduzzaman Sajib, Sifayatullah Tanim, Minhazul Islam, Abdullah Al Raihan and Rais Ahmed Tarek.

College students protest exam fee hike
Our Correspondent, Khulna

Students of Government BL College, Khulna blocked Khulna-Jessore highway at the city's Daulatpur for around an hour yesterday afternoon protesting a fee hike in the honour's programme's second year examination.
The fee was raised to Tk 4,700 from last year's Tk 3,000, they said.
Our Rangpur correspondent adds, students of Carmichael College yesterday brought out a procession in the city, saying the fee had been increased by Tk 1,000 on an average.

Jafru annual river cruise Jan 9
City Desk

The Journalism Alumni Forum of Rajshahi University (Jafru) will organise the annual river cruise on January 9 next year.
The decision was taken at a general meeting at The Daily Star Centre in the capital on December 19.
All the former students of the Mass Communication & Journalism department of Rajshahi University are requested to contact 01911317008 or 01716763099 for details.

Man found dead in Ashulia
Our Correspondent, Savar

A man was found dead in his studio at Kathgora Bazar in Ashulia outside the capital yesterday afternoon.
Ashulia police recovered Md Badsha Miah's body hanging from the ceiling fan.
The law enforcers could not ascertain whether the man committed suicide or was killed.

Reception accorded to Abdul Gaffar in Barisal
Our Correspondent, Barisal

A reception was accorded to Language Movement veteran and eminent columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury at the centenary festival of Ulania Coronation School in Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal yesterday.
Obaidul Quader, minister for communications and bridge construction, was the chief guest.
Gaffar, a former student of the school, urged the government to prevent erosion by the river Meghna at Ulania.
Addressing the event, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud assured that Tk 25 crore will be sanctioned in this regard.

Bartaman Sanglap honours eight
Staff correspondent     

    
Eight persons were felicitated by the Weekly Bartaman Sanglap on its 22nd anniversary in the capital's Bangladesh National Museum yesterday.
Sadya Afreen Mallick, a Nazrul Sangeet exponent and editor of Arts & Entertainment of The Daily Star, was honoured for her studies in music, Hasan Mahmud for studies in religion, Dr Abul Barkat in economics, Dr Shahid Parvez in medical science, Ferdousi Priobhashini for artworks, Md Ibrahim for religious songs, Father Marino Rigon for humanitarian work, and FR Al Siddik for science and research.

4 Southeast University students win scholarship to China
City Desk

Four students of Southeast University have been selected for full scholarship to study at Newhuadu Business School in China.
Malik Anik Nawaz (BBA), Muhammad Ihsan (Economics), Sahadat Hossen (Economics) and Rashed Khan Menon (EEE) will get an opportunity to study Master's in International Business there, says a press release.
After completing the degree the students will join New Hope Group, Bangladesh.