General News
Thursday, March
06, 2003
Compiled by SDNP
Head lines
Two bridges over
Karnaphuly may collapse anytime
Nurul Amin, Chittagong
The Independent
Mar 5: The two bridges over the river Karnaphuli, linking the southern
part of Chittagong district including the tourist city of Cox’s Bazaar and
the hilly town of Bandarban with the rest of the country, have now been
badly damaged. Any time movement of vehicular traffic over the two bridges
may be prohibited. The bridges have already been declared dangerous for
vehicular traffic.
The two bridges are Kalurghat Railway Bridge and Shah Amanat Bridge.
Communication with other regions of Chittagong district on the southern
bank of the river Karnaphuli including Cox’s Bazaar and Bandarban with a
large number of industrial establishments, could be snapped anytime.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the Bangladesh Railway, guardian of the
Kalurghat Railway Bridge have already restricted the movement of heavy
vehicles over this bridge.
On the other hand, the Roads and Highways authorities also banned the
movement of heavy vehicles including buses and trucks over the Shah Amanat
Bridge.
As a result, movement of all types of vehicles over these two bridges has
been virtually stopped causing untold sufferings to the commuters.
Besides, the concerned authorities apprehended that these two bridges
might collapse at any moment disrupting traffic.
It may be mentioned that Kalurghat Railway Bridge was constructed in 1931,
so its life time of 50 years expired in 1981. So the Kalurghat Bridge is
now in a dilapidated condition. The vehicles including trains are moving
over this bridge at great risk.
According to Railway sources, the trap plate, packing plate, side channel
and trolley refuse of the main structure of the bridge have been fully
damaged. Besides, cracks developed in bed block and brickwork of pillar
number one in the northern part of the bridge.
Top
of the page
Int'l Women's Day
3-day British Council programme from today
Staff Reporter,
The Independent
The British Council will launch a three-day programme in the city today
making International Women's Day and highlight the contribution of women
to Bangladeshi society. The programme will be held at its premises on
Dhaka University campus.
The Chairperson of the British Council, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, will
be visiting Bangladesh to participate in the events marking the
International Women's Day Festival and the 50th Anniversary of the
British Council in this country.
The 3-day programmes include a staging of a play called Last Chance
written Rukshana Ahmad, a playwright from the UK, who is currently in
Bangladesh.
UK and Bangladeshi films directed by women directors will also be
screened at the British Council auditorium. Meghla Akash a Bangla film
on the topic of the HIV Virus directed by Nargis Akter will be screened
at 4.30 pm on Saturday.
Barishal to Brick Lane, a film by a young British-Bangladeshi director,
Sanchita Islam, will be screened at 4 pm tomorrow.
To showcase the achievements of women artists in Bangladesh, the
renowned vocalist and Lalon Geeti pioneer, Farida Parveen will perform
for the festival at 3 pm today. Paintings by celebrated Bangladeshi
female artists will be exhibited, including the works of Rokeya Sultana,
Tayyeba Lipi, Gulshan Hossain, Fareha Zeba, Nahid Niazi Nipu, Atia Islam
Annie and Kanak Chapa Chakma. Award winning sculpture from Ferdousi
Priyabhasini's collection will be on display, as will the stunning
photographs of Masuma Pia, Munira Morshed Munni, Sayeeda Khanom, Snigdha
Zaman, Godhuli and Noorjahan Chaklader and Kirsten Claire from UK.
To complement the artistic elements of the festival the British Council
is also organising a Women Entrepreneurs Forum involving women from UK,
Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh. The aim of the Forum is to provide a
platform for entrepreneurs to discuss their successes, failures,
barriers to women in business, and the role of internet, family and
networks in assisting their achievements. The Forum also aims to improve
mutual understanding of the role of businesswomen in different cultures
with different social barriers. The forum begins 10.30 am tomorrow.
Accompanying this wide array of activities at the British Council at
Fuller Road, Dhaka University, there is a three-day Meena Bazar for
women entrepreneurs and their products and services. Visitors may browse
stalls of handicrafts, fashion clothing, and beauty products and
services. Leaders of the Women’s Chambers are invited and the
Chairperson of British Council, Baroness Helena Kennedy will present
prizes to the entrepreneurs for the best stall and product or service.
The officials of the British Council who attended the press included
Director of the BC, Carl Reuter, Assistant Director of the BC, Heather
Forbes and Education Promotion and Marketing Manager, Raiqah Ripa Walie.
Top
of the page
Ten women personalities get
Anannya awards
Staff Reporter
The New Nation
Ten renowned women personalities were awarded by fortnightly Anannya
yesterday for their outstanding contributions in various fields of the
society.
The recipients of awards were: Dr Zinnatun Nesa Tahmida Begum
(Education); Maleka Ashraf (Social Work); Hasina Dowla (Industry); Anisa
Hamed (Banking); Salma Ali (Human Rights); Nazma Anwar (Acting); Pragga
Labony (Recitation); Afsana Mimi (Show Business); Mehereen Mahmud
(Music); and Khadiza Begum Lovely (Disable Artist).
The awards were given away among the "Anannya Top Ten" recipients at a
function held at Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium of National Museum in the
city.
Noted artist Rafiqunnabi gave away the awards among the recipients as
the chief guest. Popular author Selina Hossain was present as special
guest.
Editor of fortnightly Anannya Tasmima Hossain presided over the
function.
Speaking on the occasion, artist Rafiqunnabi said emergence of women in
various fields of the society has already started. A growing number of
women are coming forward in the fields of education, literature,
business and trade etc.
He also praised the initiative of fortnightly Anannya for recognising
the contributions of women. Author Selina Hossain said the country's
political culture has now turned into a failure. "There will be no
terrorism or influence of black money if women come forward to politics
in a growing number," she said.
She also called upon the country's womenfolk to get involved in struggle
to realise their rights. It may be mentioned that fortnightly Anannya
has been awarding top ten women every year for their outstanding
contributions in various fields since 1993.
Top
of the page
Dhaka for Iraq solution
under UN initiative
UNB, Dhaka
The New Nation
Islami Oikya and Sangram Parishad brought out a procession in the city
yesterday protesting the possible US attack on Iraq.
 Bangladesh
has expressed its deep concern over the impending war in Iraq.
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan expressed the concern while addressing
the second Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, now
being held in Doha, capital of Qatar on Wednesday.
:New Nation photo
The Foreign Minister noted that war should not be the preferred option
to resolve problem, as war, he stated, causes untold sufferings. It
tends to threaten stability, cause dislocations and may lead to
unexpected and wholly undesirable consequences.
Morshed Khan called upon OIC members to act in uniform at this moment of
crisis and master all strength and ingenuity at their disposal to avoid
war.
He pointed out to the Bangladesh's principled support for a consensus
based resolution of the Iraq's problem under the principles and
standards of the UN Charter and stressed that any resolution of the Iraq
imbroglio should be based on agreed processes and steps as part of UN
initiatives.
The Bangladesh delegation leader called upon Iraq to comply with UN
Security Council Resolution 1441, judicious all of the authority of the
Security Council and time bound implementation of resolution 1441 so
that the sanctions against Iraq are lifted solving the miseries of Iraqi
people.
The Foreign Minister also stressed the central importance of the
resolving the Palestine problem, ending persecution of the Palestinian
people, Israeli occupation of their land and creation of an independent
Palestinian state as a sine qua non for the laying an enduring
foundation of peace in the Middle East.
The Foreign Minister further noted that disarmament, especially nuclear
disarmament and those of other weapons of mass destruction should be
attempted on a region-wide basis.
Top
of the page
Dhaka, Yangon plan trade
expansion
Khaleda visits Myanmar March 19
Shahriar Karim, The Daily star
Bangladesh and Myanmar will set up a joint trade commission during Prime
Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Yangon this month.
A foreign ministerial joint commission will also be set up to oversee
bilateral relations. The two neighbours will pen agreements to introduce
"accounts trade" and coastal shipping links to boost trade, according to
foreign ministry sources.
Thailand will later be included in the shipping deal, making it a
tripartite arrangement, they said. Khaleda is expected to leave Dhaka
for Yangon on March 19 on an invitation from Chairman of the State Peace
and Development Council of Myanmar Than Shew.
Details of the visit are being worked out, foreign office sources said.
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud
Chowdhury and other high government officials are expected to accompany
the PM. It was not known whether any agreement on repatriation of the
Rohingya refugees will be signed.
Foreign office sources said Myanmar has assured that the refugees would
be taken back after identity verification.
"Both sides are optimistic that the issue would be resolved soon," a
highly placed source at the foreign office said.
The two neighbours will also change the existing border trade agreement
signed in 1994 to prohibit trading of third-country products, commerce
ministry sources said. Manufactured goods will require at least 30 per
cent value addition to be traded.
The account trade arrangement would initiate two-way transactions of
goods without the need for cash payment.
Dhaka and Yangon decided to set up a taskforce to work out details of
the proposed road link between the two neighbours during Myanmar foreign
minister U Wing Aung's visit this week.
The proposed joint trade commission to be headed by the commerce
ministers of the two countries will regularly review trade and identify
products for exchange. The commission will also identify and resolve
trade problems.
Under the coastal shipping deal, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Teknaf will
be linked to the Myanmar ports of Yangon, Akyub and Maungdaw.
In 2000-2001, the volume of trade between the two countries was around
$26 million. Bangladesh's imports from Myanmar were worth $24.69 million
while its exports fetched only $1.09 million, leaving a trade gap of
$23.77 million against Bangladesh.
The trade volume in 2001-2002 came down to around $19 million with trade
imbalance still against Bangladesh at $14.5 million, official sources
said.
Bangladesh's main export items to Myanmar are jute carpet, jute yarn,
jute twine and pharmaceuticals while its imports are wood, articles of
wood and vegetable products.
Top
of the page
OIC countries reject
US-led war on Iraq
AFP, Doha,
The Daily star
Islamic nations voiced "total rejection" of any US attack on Iraq in a
statement issued at the close of a summit of the 57-member Organisation
of the Islamic Conference (OIC) here yesterday.
The leaders declared "Their total rejection of any strike on Iraq and
any threat to the security of any Islamic state."
The statement called on Islamic states to "refrain from taking part in
any military action targeting the security and territorial integrity of
Iraq or any Muslim nation."
The declaration had to satisfy Iraq, Kuwait and summit host and current
OIC chairman Qatar which is expected to serve as the command center of
the anticipated US military campaign.
Referring to US threats to topple Saddam and reshape the Middle East,
the Islamic leaders said they opposed "any attempts to impose change in
the region and interfere in its internal affairs."
The OIC walcomed Baghdad's cooperation with UN arms inspectors and
backed calls for the inspectors to be allowed to continue their work and
for diplomatic efforts to be given a chance to resolve the standoff over
Iraq.
The Iraqi crisis "should be resolved by peaceful means within the
context of the United Nations," the statement said.
It also called on the international community to "work on ridding the
Middle East, including Israel, of weapons of mass destruction,"
demanding an end to "the policy of double standards" over disarmament.
The statement said Islamic states renewed their "solidarity with Iraq"
and their demand for lifting UN sanctions in force for 13 years "within
the framework of international legitimacy."
It urged Iraq in turn to "reaffirm its respect for the independence and
sovereignty of Kuwait" within its internationally recognised borders and
called for an end to the trading of accusations between the two sides.
Earlier sparks flew at the summit, with Iraq's number two Ezzat Ibrahim
branding Kuwait's junior foreign minister a "monkey" and vowing to teach
the United States a lesson it would never forget.
Kuwait's Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Sabah rose to interrupt Ibrahim after
the vice president of Iraq's Revolution Command Council accused Kuwaiti
leaders of "plotting with Zionism against Iraq."
The Iraqi unleashed a volley of abuse. "You are small, a valet and a
monkey," he charged. "Shut up," Sheikh Mohammad lashed back, prompting
an appeal for calm and decorum from the emir of Qatar.
Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait in 1990 and was finally driven out of
the emirate by a US-led military coalition in 1991.
"We will give the invaders an unforgettable lesson," Ibrahim warned,
adding that Iraq was capable of raising an "army of seven million armed
and well-trained men."
He appealed to fellow Islamic states to refrain from "according
facilities to our common enemy" and insisted that rejecting aggression
against Iraq was a religious duty for Muslims.
BSS adds: Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan told the OIC Summit
that war should not be preferred as an option to resolve problems.
Morshed, in his speech, urged all members of OIC to act in unison at
this moment of crisis and master all strength and ingenuity at their
disposal to avoid war.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister stressed that any resolution of the Iraq
imbroglio should be based on agreed processes and steps as part of UN
initiatives.
He also called upon Iraq to comply with UN Security Council Resolution
1441.
Top
of the page
|
