Top-Bottom: Cultural activists form a human chain at the Central Shaheed Minar in the port city on Monday protesting the removal of sculptures of Baul singers from the roundabout in front of Zia International Airport in Dhaka.
Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty and other guests admire the paintings of artist Mansurul Karim at an exhibition organised by the Indian Assistant High Commission at its office at Khulshi on Sunday.
Seminar on definition of engineering
The Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong centre organised a seminar titled 'In search of a rational definition of engineering' at its auditorium on Thursday to recognise the contribution of engineers to society.
Dr M Anwarul Azim, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology and former president of IEB, presented the keynote paper at the seminar. Chittagong IEB President Ali Ashraf presided over it.
Terming the engineers as the driving force of human civilisation, Dr Azim said all the activities of engineers are directed towards the welfare of the people.
He called upon the engineers to engage themselves in innovative thoughts and works for the betterment of society.
Prof Dr AKM Sadrul Islam, Sultan Mahmud and ASM Bakhtiar, M Khorshed Alam, Md Nurul Karim and Md Abul Kashem also spoke at the seminar.
Call for speedy implementation of dev package
Chittagong Development Action Committee has called upon the government to quickly implement the development package of Tk 3500 crore meant for Chittagong.
The committee leaders submitted a memorandum to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed on Wednesday with a call for immediate formation separate gas distribution centre -- Karnaphuli Gas Transmission Company Limited-- and allocation of additional 20 million cft gas for Chittagong, construction of Trans-Asian rail lines and a four-line road, digging up canals and setting up sluice gates as mentioned in the package.
The memorandum was submitted through Deputy Commissioner Ashraf Shamim of Chittagong.
Standing Committee President Architect Taslimuddin Chowdhury, Secretary Dr Sheikh Shafiul Azam, Executive Committee Chairman SM Jamal Uddin and Secretary General Prof Muhammad Mamtazuddin Chowdhury were present at this time.
The leaders in the memorandum said the government declared the development package for building Chittagong as a "world-class port and world-class city" at the first-ever cabinet meeting in Chittagong.
The cabinet meeting held on August 13 decided to provide additional gas and implement some projects like formation of separate gas distribution centre, excavation of canals and setting up sluice gate on a priority basis.
But no effective measures could be noticed in this regard so far, the committee leaders said.
They called upon the government to implement the projects within the tenure of the caretaker government.
'Nominate minority candidates in nat'l elections'
Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikya Parishad coordination committee in Chittagong called upon the political parties and partners of grand alliance to nominate candidates from the minority community for at least four seats, out of 16 in Chittagong, in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
At a press conference at the Chittagong Press Club on Saturday, the Parishad leaders called on the political parties to nominate minority candidates for Kotwali-Panchlaish (Chittagong-8), Raozan (Chittagong-5), Patiya (Chittagong-11) and Boalkhali (Chittagong-7) constituencies.
Minority people account for around one-third of the population in these constituencies, they added.
They also claimed that around 40 percent of the population at Kotoali-Panchalaish are minority people.
Advocate Rana Dasgupta read out a written statement at the press conference on behalf of veteran anti-British movement leader Binod Bihari Chowdhury.
Meeting on railway activities
The government inspector of Bangladesh Railway held a view exchange meeting with Railway (east) zone officials at Central Railway Building (CRB) here on Thursday to discuss measures to raise the standards of railway service.
To promote railway service, the meeting discussed various issues such as conservancy, catering and toilet facilities in trains, power supply and seating arrangements at railway stations.
It also discussed measures to ensure smooth and timely operation of trains and focused on issues like troubleshooting of locomotives (train engines) and relief trains, maintenance of railway tracks, level crossing gate and signal system.
Government Inspector of Bangladesh Railway Md Abu Taher at the meeting gave instructions and guidelines to bring dynamism to railway activities, including regular repair of passenger coaches and locomotives and routine inspection by railway officials.
Bangladesh Railway (East) Additional General Manager Md Ibrahim Khalilullah, Chief Operational Superintendent (COPS) Shah Zahirul Islam, CSTE Khondoker Md Shahidul Islam, CEO Mohammad Siddique and CPO Md Tafazzal Hossain also spoke at the meeting.
'Rickshaw must carry lighted lantern'
Chittagong City Development Parishad has called on the authorities to make it mandatory for every rickshaw to carry lighted lantern after nightfall.
In a press statement on Saturday, leaders of the organisation said hundreds of rickshaws plying the city streets here do not carry lighted lantern at night in violation of traffic rules.
Not using lantern also lead to minor accidents often, particularly during load-shedding, they said.
Besides, criminals take advantage of darkness to rob rickshaw passengers and commit other crimes.
The Parishad leaders urged the traffic department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police and other authorities concerned to ensure that no rickshaw can ply the city streets without lighted lantern at night time.
Reception to Prof Nurul Islam
Speakers at a reception ceremony here on Thursday called upon the private physicians to offer health service with more sincerity and care.
Private Physician Welfare Association accorded the reception to National Professor Dr Nurul Islam, also the founding chairman of University of Science and Technology, Chittagong (USTC), and to mark the 11th foundation anniversary of the organisation.
Civil Surgeon Dr Md Jalal Ahmed of Chittagong district was present as the chief guest at the ceremony held at a community centre at Bandartila with Association President KM Tajul Islam in the chair.
Dr Jalal in his speech called upon the private physicians to attach topmost priority to the efforts of providing healthcare with sincerity and devotion.
Dr Nurul Islam said that USTC would take initiative to introduce diploma in family physician course to offer training to private physicians.
He also said that a branch of Adhunik (Amra Dhumpan Nibaran Kori), an anti-smoking organisation, would open at Bandartila soon.
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