Visit Dhaka

Let's plant trees

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:58:00 +0000

Bangladesh is fast acquiring desert conditions due to destruction of our trees. When we travel on the highways of Chittagong-Cox's Bazar the heaps of logs piled near timber depots remind us of how fast we are destroying the work of nature by cutting down trees. No one bothers to plant trees in replacement.

Trees play a vital role in controlling the climate. The disastrous effects of felling trees indiscriminately are well known. Trees, whether they are grown for timber in forests or shade and ornamental trees in highways and gardens, are our national asset.

Imagine a forest without trees. What would happen to the flora and fauna that live under the cover of the trees? We must remember that more than half of the population of the plants in Bangladesh will disappear forever from the face of the earth once their host trees are destroyed. In addition, we must also take every action to preserve the existing trees.

Bangladesh has undergone a drastic climatic change during the last few years. We have cleared the forests. Due to the indiscriminate felling of trees periodic drought conditions are becoming more and more severe.

The elderly people of Bangladesh knew the value of trees and planted them by roadways and in forest reserves. This added to the natural beauty and the coolness of the environment. In those days it was considered a great sin to cut down any living tree and those who did so were severely criticized.

When trees are cut down, springs dry up, the soil is eroded and the air becomes less humid. Thus the entire balance of nature is upset. When we destroy forests, droughts, unfavourable climatic changes, soil erosion, lack of water resources and even disastrous floods are the results.

The younger generation must be made to realise the value and usefulness of trees. Drawing schoolchildren and teachers into the awareness programme is important, as schools are the most suitable institutions that could bring a change in the nation's attitude in conserving trees.

Stop pre-Eid extortion

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:40:00 +0000

Home Minister Sahara Khatun has asked police and other law enforcing agencies to maintain extortion free environment at city's markets and shopping malls.

The minister gave the directive while visiting several markets and shopping malls in the city yesterday.

She also called for checking other criminal activities in and around those places.

Talking to journalists, the minister said that there is no report of extortion at city's markets and shopping malls ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Law and order situation also did not deteriorate. Stern directives have been given to law enforcing agencies so that law and order situation does not deteriorate, she said.

The minister visited Gausia, New Market, Eastern Mollika, Rapa Plaza and Bashundhara City Complex in the morning.

The minister also talked to businessmen and buyers during the visit.

Lawmaker Fazle Nur Taposh, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Shikder, IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, Director General of Rab Moklesur Rahman and President of Shop Owners' Association Helal Uddin, among others, accompanied the minister during the visit.

Most ISD call rates down from Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:44:00 +0000

From Sunday, the costs of telephone calls to most overseas destinations will be reduced, according to the website of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited.

These lower prices are part of the decision by the BTRC to bring all calls under a single platform - with callers from now on having to dial 00 to make international calls. Callers will no longer be able to make calls using 012 prefix.

The BTRC website shows the revised tariff for calls to India using both land lines and mobile phones will be Tk 12 per minute, reduced from Tk 15-18 per minute.

There will be a tariff of Tk 6 per minute for calling the following countries: Canada, the US, Argentina, the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China and Hong Kong.

Calls made to land lines telephones of the following destinations would be charged at Tk 8 per minute: Australia, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Austria , Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey ,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Tariffs for making calls to the Middle Eastern states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar and Syria will range from Tk 12 to Tk 18.

An official of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told bdnews24.com on Saturday that even though the rates of calls by dialling 012 were low, the quality of service was not good.

"At the same time BTRC subscribers had to spend more money on their regular ISD calls. This is why the 012 system is being discontinued," an official of BTRC told bdnews24.com, preferring anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the press.

source: bdnews24.com

'Clean Dhaka' campaign begins

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:43:00 +0000

Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) launches the fourth 'Clean Dhaka' campaign to raise awareness and involve the people in the solid waste management.

DCC officials announced the weeklong programmes at a press conference at Nagar Bhaban yesterday.

The Clean Dhaka Week-2010 from January 10 to 16 is arranged with the cooperation of Japan International Cooperation Agency, WaterAid, Safe, Earth Club and Grameenphone.

The programmes include rallies, loudspeaker publicity, distribution of leaflets and posters and cultural functions to demonstrate community-based waste management and create public awareness in 90 DCC wards, said DCC Chief Executive officer Md Abul Kalam Azad.

The DCC mayor will award the most active ward in waste management on January 22.

The DCC will receive 100 modern and efficient compactor waste disposal trucks from Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) by April, which will help stench-free collection and disposal of solid wastes in the capital, said Azad.

Most of the existing 297 trucks are outdated and at least 30 of them remain out of order.

With the new ones, the total number of functional trucks will stand at 358 by April.

A total of 1.5 crore people, including 1.20 crore permanent city dwellers, generate a total of 4200 tons of solid wastes everyday, said DCC Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Bipan Kumar Saha.

The DCC has a total of around 8030 waste cleaners to cover a 144 square miles area of 90 wards, he said.

"The DCC team can remove at best 2200 tons of waste," said Saha, "And a total of 1.70 lakhs rag-pickers take away 800 to 1000 tons for recycling."

The rest 1000 tons of waste go into the drainage system, water bodies, canals and rivers, said Captain Saha.

Absence of segregation of domestic wastes, lack of proper collection mechanism, construction materials dumped in drains and inadequate road coverage constitute one-third of the problems the DCC faces in waste management, he said.

In 2005, DCC with Jica technical assistance prepared a ten-year master plan for a well-coordinated waste management.

The DCC collects Tk 33 crore from the city dwellers for waste cleaning every year, but it pays Tk 110 crores for the job. Jica contributes Tk 50 to 60 crores to the waste management expenditure.

Clean Dhaka project director Dr Tareq Bin Yusuf was present at the press conference.

Dhaka streets to have 3 lanes for different vehicles

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:33:00 +0000

As part of a campaign to introduce specific lanes for vehicular movement Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has marked roads and important intersections with cones in a bid to make drivers accustomed to the system. The fast lane will be for private cars, microbuses, jeeps and similar automobiles while the middle lane for minibuses, buses, covered vans, trucks and such vehicles, and the slow lane for CNG-run auto rickshaws, pickup vans, motorbikes and other vehicles.

On the second day of the campaign week, DMP took cable TV operators' help and are using loudspeakers across the city. They failed to distribute leaflets and posters due to the Eid vacation.

However, DMP sources said printed leaflets and posters would be ready for distribution today.

As for the initial step, DMP authorities are going to introduce the system on three major thoroughfares and in phases other roads in the capital will be marked with lanes.

The DMP sources said though the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) assured the DMP of marking the lanes during the Eid vacation the task will start from tonight.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Traffic) Awlad Hossain said, "We will demarcate lanes on VIP road, Mirpur road (from Science Lab to Technical), and Mohakhali Diversion to Tongi Bridge. If the system brings positive results on traffic movement, the DMP will mark lanes on other important roads across the capital."

The DMP authorities asked the drivers not to overtake the vehicles taking turn on left to alter lane before reaching the intersection and not to block lanes at intersections keeping vehicles on wrong lanes.

The sources said 12 check posts will be set up at Hotel Sheraton, Hotel Sonargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Kakoli, Progati Sarani, Airport square, House Building, Science Lab, Russel Square, Asad Gate and Technical intersections to enforce the rule.

The DMP has swung to traffic light signals phasing out manual controlling system from November 23 to ease traffic congestion in the capital.

On December 8, the DMP will start a drive against traffic rule violation. Drivers would be penalised with Tk 1,000 each and suspension of driving licence for violating traffic rules.source: The Daily Star

The victims of Aug 15, 1975

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:12:00 +0000

Following is the list of those who were brutally killed on the fateful night of August 15, 1975 are:
1) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
(2) Begum Fazilatunnesa - wife of Bangabandhu
(3) Sheikh Kamal - Bangabandhu's eldest son
(4) Sultana Kamal Khuki - wife of Sheikh Kamal
(5) Sheikh Jamal - Bangabandhu's second son
(6) Parveen Jamal Rosy - Sheikh Jamal's wife
(7) Sheikh Russel - Bangabandhu's youngest son
(8) Sheikh Abu Nasser - Bangabandhu's younger brother
Read more..

Over 50 foreign extremists active in Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:39:00 +0000

More than 50 religious extremists of Pakistan and India are active in militant activities in Bangladesh with blessing from the banned Islamist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (HuJi), police intelligence sources said.
All the foreign religious extremists so far arrested are leaders or activists of the Kashmir-based militant outfits Asif Reza Commando Force (ARCF), or Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which are working together with similar organisations in Bangladesh.
'Arrested militants have confessed to us that more than 50 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) or Asif Reza Commando Force are active in Bangladesh,' deputy commissioner of Detective Branch police, Monirul Islam told New Age.
Law enforcers arrested six Indian nationals and three Pakistanis on suspicion of religious extremism and subversive acts inside Bangladesh since May 27 this year. All the arrested are members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is blamed for the Mumbai attack.
DB police arrested Pakistani nationals Saiyed Abdul Kaiyum Azhari alias Sufian, 22, Mohammad Ashraf alias Zahid, 24, and Mohammad Monowar Ali alias Monowar, 30 early Friday in connection with plotting attacks on US Embassy and Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
Police arrested them getting clues from three local members of LeT Mufti Harun Izahar, Shahidul Islam Suzon and Al Amin alias Saiful who were arrested in Chittagong on November 3.
Police earlier held Indian nationals Abdul Rauf alias Daud Merchant and his accomplice Zahid Hasan in Brahmanbaria on May 27 and their associate Arif on June 6 in Mohammadpur area of Dhaka. Daud Merchant is a relative of mafia don Daud Ibrahim and a key accused in the killing of Mumbai-based music baron Gulshan Kumar.
Though law enforcers detained several LeT operatives in the past, they admitted the outfit's existence in Bangladesh only after the DB arrested Sheikh Obaidullah alias Mahbub on July 16.
Based on the confessional statements of Obaidullah, lawmen arrested Maulana Mansur Ali alias Habibullah from Dakkhin Khan Area in the capital on July 20.
Obaidullah and Mansur disclosed that their organisation had been active in Bangladesh for the last 14 years.
They also said local LeT operatives have links with the network of absconding Indian underworld don Daud Ibrahim and leaders of HuJI in Bangladesh.
They claimed that they had been teaching at local madrassahs since their illegal entrance to Bangladesh in 1995.
They confessed that their associates and four other most-wanted Indians are also hiding in Bangladesh since long.
The DB arrested Emdadullah alias Mahbub, branded as Bangladesh chapter chief of LeT and Harkatul Zihadia Islamia Azadia of Pakistan and Asif Reza Commando Force of India, on October 1.
Police intelligence hoped that they would be able to make headway towards unearthing the outfit's political patrons in Bangladesh once they capture some other LeT men in the country.
A high official of the investigation team told New Age, 'Arrested Pakistani national Sufian admitted that the outfit permanently rented a residence in Uttara, Sector-9, where he had been staying since long and which is used as hideout for all the foreign militants sent to Bangladesh on special assignments.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque earlier said, 'We have no figure of how many of them are here but we know a good number of LeT operatives are on a campaign to carry out subversive activities in Bangladesh.' source: the Daily New Age

Noor Hossain Day being observed

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:16:00 +0000

Different political and student organisations are observing Shaheed Noor Hossain Day on Tuesday commemorating the supreme sacrifice of an activist of pro-democracy movement.

To mark the day, Shaheed Noor Hossain Sangsad placed wreaths at Noor Hossain Square and offered fateha at his grave at Jurain graveyard in the morning.

President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia gave separate messages on the occasion.

Noor Hossain, a worker of Awami Jubo League, was killed in police firing at Zero Point in the city during a procession against the then autocratic regime of General Ershad on November 10, 1987.

The killing of Noor, whose bare body was inscribed with slogan 'Down with autocracy, let democracy be freed', fuelled the ongoing movement leading to fall of Ershad and paving the way for restoration of democracy.

Zero Point was later renamed as Noor Hossain Square.

Serial killer Rasu attempts suicide in police custody

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Detained serial killer Rasu Khan on Thursday night attempted to kill himself in police custody at Chandpur Model Police Station.

Sub-Inspector Abdul Karim of the model police station said Rasu tried to commit suicide by hanging himself with his shirt in a bathroom at about 8:00pm.

Hearing his scream from inside the bathroom, police rescued Rasu and sent to the Chandpur Sadar Hospital.

Later he was released and brought back to the model police station.

Police strengthened Rasu's security in the custody following the incident, reports our Chandpur correspondent.

Rasu Khan of Chandpur district killed at least 11 women since a girl rejected his marriage proposal 15 years ago when he used to live in Tongi. He vowed to kill 101 women when hired goons of the family members of that girl tortured him.

Rasu was first arrested on September 3 in connection with stealing 10-12 fans from a mosque in Gazipur.

He was placed on police remand on October 8, 2009 in a case filed in connection with the killing of a teen-age girl.

Consumers now victims of syndicated market system, Says Prof Muzaffer Ahmad

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Consumers have become the victims of syndicated market system, as the government could not develop an alternative market, said noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad at a dialogue yesterday.

“We got stuck in production for export and market-oriented economy ignoring the needs of consumers and farmers,” he added.

The citizens' dialogue on 'Genetic engineering and golden rice: Threats and prospects for Bangladesh' was organised jointly by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Shikkha Swastha Unnayan Karjakram (Shishuk) at the National Press Club in the city.

It was organised under the 'Save Our Rice Campaign' in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific and Year of Rice Action.

Stating that commercial agriculture production today controls the market and price, Prof Ahmad, who is also Bapa president, said, “As a consumer, I have no alternative to consuming the rice variety that I actually do not like.”

Big agro companies have already come to play in the wake of a situation when the country requires more production to feed its growing population, but its consequences are rarely analysed, he said.

“Production has increased, but many indigenous crop varieties have been lost. There is also no documentation of changes in the agro-ecology and there is no agriculture planning in the country,” said Prof Ahmed.

It is now important to prepare a balance sheet of what the country gained and lost in terms of agriculture, he said.

“If our gross national happiness is not satisfactory, then what is the benefit of high yielding rice,” he put a question, adding that the authorities should initiate restoration of indigenous crop varieties and ensure sovereignty of the farmers, consumers and ecology-friendly farming.

Bangladesh has both the problems of vitamin deficiency and food shortage that requires more food production, said Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir.

But it does not mean that genetically modified food should be taken simply for granted, she added.

Khushi Kabir said there are many high yielding vegetables, but nobody knows the consequences they may cause.

“We need to understand the food technologies before we accept them,” she added.

Dr Michael K Hansen, senior staff scientist of US-based Consumers Union, in a presentation said golden rice, a genetically engineered rice of high yielding variety, has serious vitamin A deficiency which could be life-threatening.

A country may accept such crops, but it must have appropriate bio-safety law in line with Codex Alimentarius (guideline on food safety) Commission of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Shishuk Executive Director Sakiul Millat Morshed said he has learned that Bangladesh is preparing a draft policy on genetically engineered food, but it has not been made public.

“Such a policy must be very comprehensive and flawless,” he added.

Govt to go after jam of Dhaka City in a big way

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament the government is working out plans for an extensive and coordinated communications network to ease traffic congestions in the capital. “We are now drawing routes for the elevated expressway in the capital. We also have plans to construct underground railway and monorail to cut tailbacks,” she said during the question-answer hour.

Sonargoan, Panam Nagar deserve special attention

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Country's significant archeological sites like Sonargoan and Panam Nagar need to be protected for the benefit of posterity and to attract tourists.
"These historical sites are in danger of being lost for lack of coordinated programmes to protect those," Abdullah Al Mamun, a former student of Islamic History and Culture department of Dhaka University, told the news agency recently.

Mamun said Sonargoan as a historical place that bears many symbols of archeological development of ancient Bengal and theses should be protected by the authorities concerned for the next generation. "It's a place which can attract tourists from abroad too."
Khadiza Akhter, a tourist from Dhaka, said the government should take immediate steps to provide transport facility, especially bus services up to the spot, so that people from capital Dhaka can visit the place comfortably.read more..

Lottery for Purbachal, Uttara plots likely Sept 16

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:12:00 +0000

After a huge criticism at home and abroad over uncertainty in lottery arrangements for Purbachal and Uttara, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) is likely to hold it in three categories for the Purbachal New Town Project on September 16.

The lottery will be held on wage earner, freedom fighter and artist or sportsman categories around 11:00am at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city where State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan is expected to be present as the chief guest, a Rajuk source said.

Nevertheless, uncertainty still looms over lottery on some other categories for both Purbachal and Uttara in the third phase.

Rajuk will distribute 6,383 plots under Purbachal New Town Project under different categories and 800 plots under Uttara third phase. A total of 1.67 lakh applications were dropped for the two projects.

It will also distribute 2,177 plots to people affected under Purbachal project.

Plots of government service holder and autonomous bodies category will be awarded based on their age and salary while plots of ministers, state or deputy ministers or persons at their status and justice who submitted valid application will be given directly, said an official of Rajuk.

All listed for Armed forces division will be given plots.

According to the guideline, the government job holder will get 40 percent, employees and officials of autonomous bodies 15, freedom fighters 2, journalists 1.5, art or literature or sports 1, businessmen and industrialists 10.5, private job holders 12, wage earners 10 and other category for employees and officials of Rajuk, including the ministry concerned, will get 2.5 percent, sources said.

Rajuk sought applications for its two projects, Uttara Model Town Third Phase and Purbachal New Town Project in November 2008.

The new government, just after assuming power, extended the time for submission of applications till April 30 and was supposed to announce the names of the winners by two months.

Healthcare portal for doctors, medical service providers, health articles, news in Bangladesh.

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Healthcare portal for doctors, medical service providers, health articles, news in Bangladesh. Health organization in Bangladesh as well as maternal, public, healthcare or service providers, nutrition, education, immunization, rural, WHO, medical, US Aid, hospitals, survey, HIV for man, women and children, Bangladeshi doctors in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Jessore, Chittagong, Sylhet, Barishal and other cities.
Social NGO helping people of Bangladesh, solving their health problems. Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Companies are engaging for providing free or cheap medicine or treatment in the city and rural area. Government and Private Medical college and other medical institution making doctor, nurse, technologist such as radiologist, ultra sonogram, Imaging, X-ray, pathology in Bangladesh, or BD. Health care system identifying comprehensive disease like AIDS, HINI. HIV, Cancer, Ulcer, Brain tumor, safe child deliver. Specialized hospitals are square hospital, Lab Aid, United hospital, PG, Dhaka medical college Hospital, Popular diagnostic centre.
Bangladeshi specialized Doctors available in Acupuncture, Allergy, Anesthesiology, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology, Cardio Vascular, Chest Diseases, Colorectal Surgery, Community Medicine, Cosmetic Surgery, Dentistry, Dermatology, Endocrinology and Dialectology, ENT, Gastroenterology, Gynecology and Obs, Gynecology and Infertility, Hematology, Hepatology, Histopathology and Pathology, Homeopathy, Internal Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology, Neuro-Medicine, Neuro-Surgery, Nutritionist, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Radiology, Rheumatology, Sonology, Surgery-General, Urology. Healthcare providers are Air Ambulance, Ambulance, Blood Bank, Cleaning Service, Clinics & Diagnostics, Hospitals, Medical College (Government), Medical IT Support, Medical NGO, Paramedical Institute, Pharmaceutical Company, Pharmacy, Telemedicine and more List of Doctors in Bangladesh

PM for setting up separate drinking water line

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed on August 18, 2009 the Wasa authorities to set up two separate water-supply lines --one for drinking and another for general use-- for the city-dwellers to stop wastage and thereby resolve the nagging water crisis.

She issued the order to the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) authorities during a discussion meeting when a 19-member delegation of Bangabandhu Prakaushali Parishad and Institution of Engineers' Bangladesh (IEB) met her at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) this afternoon.

Sheikh Hasina also emphasised preserving rainwater to use for the domestic purposes.

She said these would help fulfilling the demand for pure drinking water as well as reduce waste of water and additional supply cost that goes for purifying the total Wasa water.

Regarding the growing demand for electricity, the premier said, introducing solar panels in the cities’ educational institutions could play a vital role in reducing pressure on the national grid.

Tipaimukh Dam: An alarming venture

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:33:00 +0000

TIPAIMUKH dam located in Monipur state of India, by all definitions falls into the category of a large high head [162m] dam. Though learnt to be a hydel power project for generation of 1500 MW electricity, it will definitely work as a flood control dam for Monipur and the neighbouring Mizoram state and irrigation may be practiced in suitable land areas along the 1 km stretch of the Barak river up to the Bangladesh border and by the periphery of the reservoir perimeter.

How to read faces

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:32:00 +0000

people have tried to understand aspects of a person’s character just by looking at their face. The ancient Chinese believed that your face was a reflection of your inner spirit. In Medieval Europe, beauty was considered to be synonymous with virtue, and ugliness was sometimes considered a sign of evil...

Nine out of top 10 colleges from Dhaka city

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Nine colleges in the capital are among the top 10 GPA-5 achieving institutions in the country in the HSC examinations this year. Notre Dame College topped the list of GPA-5 achievers with 1,207 students securing the feat followed by Dhaka City College with 934 and Viqarunnisa Noon College with 531. read more..

Move to free Gulshan Lake of pollution

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:32:00 +0000

A team of experts will be formed to analyse the kind and extent of pollution in Gulshan Lake and devise means of purifying its water.

The decision came at a joint meeting of Gulshan Society (GS) and Paribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) at the park on road No-63 in Gulshan yesterday.

They also decided that Gulshan Lake Park would come under biological management to make its water congenial to aquatic life.

In March 2008, the GS got a periodic lease for maintenance of the park and the lake from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

Just a week ago, a GS sub-committee on the lake management led by Rahmatullah convinced the Dhaka City Corporation to find a bypass sewer as three huge drainage outlets had long been dumping untreated liquid waste in the lake.

Rahmatullah said, “We will drain out water from the lake, dig out layers of toxic wastes from the lake bed and fill it with fresh water next winter.”

The experts involved will examine chemical and aquatic components in the water to determine the kind of treatment required for the purification. It will make the lake biologically symbiotic and productive, he said.

GS president CM Shafi Sami said they would work with Poba for the purification and biological management of the lake.

This stretch of lake is likely to have toxic contamination and metallic wastes, as untreated liquid wastes used to flow into it, said Poba chairman Abu Naser Khan.

A multi-disciplinary team of experts comprising chemists and biologists is required to bring this stagnant water body under biological management, he said, adding that the initiative may be a pioneering example for purification of water bodies.

He said vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) would coordinate the experts' work.

Prof Mahmudur Rahman of Dhaka University Psychology department, botanist Md Jashim Uddin and aquatic plant expert SMA Rashid spoke, among others, at the discussion chaired by Shafi Sami.

Hundreds of unregistered motorbikes on road

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:48:00 +0000

Lax monitoring by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and the traffic police helps hundreds of unregistered motorcycles ply the city roads and most of them are used in committing crimes, sources in BRTA and Dhaka Metropolitan Police said.
Law enforcers and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority could not give the number of unregistered motorbikes in the city or across the country as both the departments let most of the vehicles ply unchecked...read more..

Dhaka city elevated expressway gets govt nod

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:30:00 +0000

The cabinet committee on economic affairs on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for constructing the proposed Dhaka City Elevated Expressway under Private Public Partnership initiative to ease traffic congestions in the capital.
‘We have asked the communications ministry to construct the elevated expressway after studying its feasibility study and inviting tenders for the project,’ finance minister AMA Muhith, who heads the committee, told reporters after a meeting.

Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Bangladesh related updated information from www.mediabangladesh.net : TV , Radio, Newspaper, English News, Bangla News, People, Islam, Fun, Entertainment, Bangla Music, Film TV Actress Actor, Model, Singer, Natok, Articles, Business Directory, Public Relations, District, Website, Picture, Television, travel Tourism, Art Culture, Education, people, Business, Media, Literature, IT, Health, Sports, world, Government, Entertainment, Religion, celebrities, bangla and more about Bangladesh

FBCCI fears less private investment on high revenue target

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:17:00 +0000

The apex trade body has feared a less domestic private investment because of the high revenue target in the upcoming budget.

"We came to know unofficially that the government would fix an 11 per cent revenue earning growth next fiscal year. If it is correct, it would hurt private investment since people would no more feel encouraged to invest money," MA Rouf Chowdhury, a director of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), told a meeting with the National Defence College (NDC) at the Federation Bhaban in Dhaka yesterday.

A 51-member NDC delegation led by Lieutenant General Sina Ibn Jamali, commandant of NDC, attended the meeting. The delegation also included defence officers from 11 other countries of the world, including Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Indonesia, and India.

According to media reports the government has targeted Tk 61,000 crore revenue earnings for the next fiscal, a 15 per cent higher than the Tk 53,000 crore revised revenue target of the previous fiscal.

On foreign direct investment (FDI), Rouf Chowdhury, also president of Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners Association, said, "We have also heard of a possible withdrawal of tax holiday facilities from some sectors. It will also hamper FDI inflow."

The FBCCI leaders also emphasised enhancing regional trade to create a prosperous South Asia.

Though 25-26 years have passed since the inception of Saarc, the volume of regional trade among the member countries is still bellow five per cent, said Aftab-ul-Islam, another director of FBCCI.

The business leaders also urged the Saarc members to put emphasis more on multilateral trade instead of bilateral trade.

During the meeting, different issues ranging from transit, bilateral and regional trade, women empowerment and ongoing global financial crisis came up for discussion.

Jamali said the visit to FBCCI is a part of their curriculum. He also gave a briefing on NDC.

Abu Alam Chowdhury, acting president of FBCCI, also spoke.
(source: The Daily Star)

River-gobblers must be defeated

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:08:00 +0000

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday pledged to protect the country's rivers from pollution and encroachment.

“Whatever techniques the river grabbers or polluters resort to, we shall defeat them and save the rivers,” he said, expressing solidarity with The Daily Star-Channel i initiative “To the Prime Minister: Save rivers, Save Dhaka”.

The industries minister was addressing a gathering at Shatayu Angan at Ramna Park in the capital at the concluding ceremony of a two-day exhibition organised as part of the initiative to save the rivers of the city.

Barua said, “Rivers flow like our life. Survival of rivers is related to the balance of the total environment. If rivers don't flow, man cannot survive.”

“People are deprived of fresh air and safe water due to pollution by tanneries and other industries,” Barua said. He warned that industries must use effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to treat industrial wastes.

Otherwise, industries will not be allowed to operate, he said.

Referring to the successful ban on use of polythene and black smoke emitting three-wheelers, the minister said, “We are sure we can save our environment, and the campaign will be a success.”

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's air and noise control programme committee member Secretary Sirajul Islam Mollah also expressed solidarity with the campaign.

“The campaign must continue until the objectives are met. We must be careful so that the government does not retreat from its position to reclaim all rivers,” he said.

Visitors from different walks of life who visited the exhibition at the park admired the displayed photos depicting river pollution and encroachment. They also expressed their opinions on the problem.

“I found something rare in these photos. I would not have believed that the conditions of our rivers are so bad had I not seen the photos,” a visitor wrote in the comment book.

Khokan Jasim, a freedom fighter, said the rivers should be saved in the same spirit as safeguarding the independence of the country.

“Those who pollute and grab rivers are enemies of the country, they should be dealt with an iron fist,” he said.

Shahjahan Ali Shaju, a dramatist and director, wrote in the comment book no one in the country is safe.

“We must continue the united movement to save the rivers, for our own survival,” he wrote.

Kazi Habibullah, an official of Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), wrote that the way Turag has been encroached, it will not be able to accommodate the rainwater from Dhaka city during the monsoons, ultimately putting the city under water.

Lutfunnahar Mili, another visitor, wrote: “Let not the slogans remain as mere slogans. We want to see the rivers flowing again.”

Industries Minister Dilip Barua visited the photos on display at the exhibition. The Daily Star Managing Editor Syed Fahim Munaim and Deputy Editor (News) Inam Ahmed accompanied him.

Baul singers also presented folk songs on rivers during the ceremony.
(source: The Daily Star

A walk to remember: Timeless Mughal magic

noreply@blogger.com (MMR) — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:15:00 +0000

In 1608, Dhaka was made the capital of the vast eastern provinces of the mighty Mughal Empire, then at the zenith of its power. From then on, the term “Puran (Old) Dhaka” frequently appeared in the journals of Mughal generals. Within 100 years, it was transformed from a garrison town, into a flourishing, cosmopolitan city with a population of approximately 700,000, and an impressive 11-mile long waterfront.

Continuing its efforts to inject passion into heritage awareness, the Urban Study Group (USG), led by passionate architects Homaira Zaman and Taimur Islam, has 90 percent of Old Dhaka monuments and buildings surveyed and listed. For yet another flavour of the old town, one doesn't regret taking their Mughal Walk early on a Friday morning.

Across the long-reclaimed Dholaikhal, at the edge of Tanti Bazaar, the narrow streets lead to the Bongshal Talaab. Making an appearance in the 1908 version of the Cadastral Survey map, the roughly 100-year-old water tank is one of the few remaining in Dhaka and maintained by the community. It costs Tk 2 for an unlimited stay in the water, but a local panchayat member laments that sewage is leaking into the pond, killing the fish. The USG dreams of beautifying the area by relocating the surrounding timber merchants (kathpatti), transforming the area with a pedestrian zone and cafes.

Totally modified buildings seem to be the norm in Kasaituli (butcher's market), the next maholla (neighbourhood), but within the concrete jungle, the Kasaituli Jaam-e mosque stands out like a dull jewel. The 125-year-old edifice is known for its intricate chini tikri mosaics and boasts unique enamel work. While the façade is well preserved, some older portions were compromised when the interior was recently renovated, the main chamber too perfectly remodelled.

Homaira explained, “Tiles are now used for the mosaic, obliterating the 3D effect of the original chini tikri. The old imperfections are gone; the new surfaces appear flattened.” Although built much later, the mosque displays typical Mughal period features, including a fluted dome sitting on an octagonal drum, flanked by two smaller side domes. Characteristic cusp arches divide the inner chamber into three. Several octagonal turrets are topped off with carved finials. Residents throw buckets of water against the outer walls to remove the dust, revealing amazing floral patterns in cobalt blue, emerald green, red and gold, glinting in the sunlight.

Turn back as you walk on to Mahut-tuli to see the enormity of challenges the USG faces in the form of haphazard new construction. On the border of what used to be the elephant keepers' neighbourhood and the old Armenian quarter Armanitola, lies the Star Mosque, its large central and two lateral domes, as the name implies, covered in blue stars. Said to have been built in the early 19th century, a substantial veranda was added about 80 years ago. Pretty Japanese floral tiles, some of them identical to those seen in Tanti Bazaar houses, were added at that time. The use of architectural ceramics became popular in Dhaka in the 1870s; today the insides of thermos flasks are used to create a modern version of chini tikri. In the 1980s, two further domes, one large and one small, were built as part of a northern extension, destroying the centrality of the Mughal-style mosque. The original main dome rests on the drum of a so-called half dome, typical of a genre of Mughal mosque architecture in Bengal.

Next door is the red-bricked Armanitola Boys' School, in 1904 Raj-style architecture. It was in the late 17th century that Armenian traders arrived and settled in Dhaka, gradually getting involved in politics, urban and social development. Affluent Armenian families built their own houses on marshy, reclaimed land, the jute industry flourishing under their beneficence in the mid 1800s.

On Noor Baksh Lane, clusters of houses with common courtyards can be seen, a regular feature of Dhaka's Muslim neighbourhoods. Among these lies landowner Abul Hasnat's 120-year-old mansion, with stained glass rose windows and wooden beamed ceilings, where two branches of his descendants still reside. From the swords displayed on the walls to the ornate, carved furniture, the once-upon-a-time grace of the house can be imagined.

Of the few remaining Mughal period structures is the 250-year-old Taqui House, once belonging to Syed Taqui Mohammed of Mughal elite lineage. The multi-cusp arched building serves as Mohammadi Begum's Imambara (Shia shrine), where the local Ashura (Muharram mourning) procession begins. Unlike other parts of Old Dhaka, Taimur and Homaira don't need to persuade the owners to preserve the houses here; happily, the awareness to save some part of the past lies ingrained in these old-world families.

Then quickly pass through Maulvi Bazaar, built on the untraceable ruins of Mukim Katra caravanserai, constructed in the 1600s, into further caravanserai territory. Built in 1644 during the Mughal glory days, for Shah Jahan's son Shah Shuja, Subedar (Governor) of Bengal, the highlight of the trip is the Bara Katra. Ensconced in a jumble of buildings, it could easily be missed. The South Gate is quietly imposing and only two of the four turrets remain. “It's comparable to many of the structures that were built in Delhi or Agra during Shah Jahan's time,” Taimur is pleased to add. Local merchants have set up shop in the cavernous side rooms that were once used for goods storage.

Through the gatehouse, walkers are able to pass under the dome, a steep, jagged climb to the very top for a view of the Buriganga in the distance. Seeing that heritage conservation was a sensitive issue, the USG organised an art exhibition at a local school, which helped building bridges all around. Leaving via the Jail Gate, back out to colourful Chawk Bazaar, the largest fresh produce market in town, the walk is over after four hours. Endless permutations of the route are possible; email usg.dhaka@gmail.com for more information.

The writer is a freelance contributor

Picture: http://www.thedailystar.net/photo/2009/05/30/2009-05-30__a02.jpg

(source link: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=90498)