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JICA to extend supports for quality pry education
Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) would give more importance on quality primary education in
Bangladesh through extending its technical supports to improve teaching and learning in the educational
institutes, reports BSS.
"The quality primary education can only be achieved by improving the teaching and learning situation. And
hence JICA attaches more importance to increase attendance at schools and discourage drop outs as well," Takasi
Sakamoto, resident representative of Jica Bangladesh, told this at a seminar Thursday in the city.
Sakamoto said with a view to providing technical cooperation to primary and non-formal educational institutes
and to study the best cooperation area in the sector, JICA has so far dispatched three Long Term Experts under
the Department of Primary Education and Department of Non-formal Education in the country.
Sakamoto was speaking at a seminar 'the Outcome of the Formative Study on Intensive District Approach to
Education for All (IDEAL)' held at the BIAM auditorium.
The IDEAL is a Jica/Unicef supported project aimed at improving the quality of education.
Recently the Japanese govern-ment gave 2.1 million US dollars to the IDEAL project for conduc-ting study on
it.
A study on IDEAL shows that teachers play an important role in improving the quality of education and that
there is a need for streamlining, consolidation, monitoring and internalisation under IDEAL project.
As of 2002, IDEAL is being implemented in 35 districts.
The project was formulated in 1996 with assistance of Unicef and has currently taken the shape of a multi-
donor cooperation project.
Secretary, PMED, Prof Tehmina Hussain, attended the seminar as the chief guest while Jica Senior Advisor Dr
Mizanur Rahman Shelly, officials of Primary and Mass Education Department and representatives from the
develop-ment partners in primary education sub-sector were present on the occasion.
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Change in nature of crimesincreases child abduction, say experts
Unusual downswing in the nature of crimes in society has prompted rampant criminal activities, as heinous as
killing of children after abduction, reports BSS.
Social uncertainty, drug addiction, all pervasive effect of action movies projected through dish-antenna and
change in life-style were underlying causes of the down swing that resulted in uncontrolled new phenomena of
criminal activities.
Sociologists, psychologists and crime experts commented this while analysing some sensational child
abduction and killing cases committed during last few days all over the country creating severe sensation among
the people.
An extensive research on the criminal activities which took place in recent time is necessary, said noted
sociologist and Professor of Dhaka University M Afseruddin while commenting to the news agency on the trend
of crime in the recent past.
"Every day new types of crimes were taking place in society and those crimes are totally different in nature
and manifestations from those committed one year back" he observed adding a perfect research may reveal the
causes of the crimes and find out ways to control those effectively".
"I think our society is in vulnerable condition and frustration has gripped the young generation in particular",
he said adding poverty of parents and unemployment of youths were persisting in the poor families, on the other
hand careless life-style of upper-class people was also a cause of the problem in society".
Prof Afseruddin said the unabated use of drugs like phensedyle and effects of action-movies by dish- antenna
were prompting the youths to commit criminal activities in new form and techniques.
However, he said new types of crimes were taking place not only in Bangladesh. Such crimes were also being
committed in other countries, he said terming it a negative influence of globalisation.
In the United States, he said, new techniques are being applied against killing, rape and kidnap-ping.
He said the crime against the children is very sensitive and for this reason children are being targeted for
political and family rivalry.
The criminals are abducting and killing children to overpower his rival and in some cases, such incidents are
being committed to spread political excitement, he noted.
Director General of Drug Control Department Mohammed Salam, quoting from a study of UNDP said 44 per
cent drug addicted people are criminals, most of them are under 30.
He said 16 per cent people who take drugs are under 15 and 82 per cent drug addicts are of the age between 15
and 30.
Most of the drug addicts are youths and involved in different criminal activities, he said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Modabber Hossain while commenting on recent child abduction and killing
cases said after reviewing the over-all law and order situation, they have found that the abduction cases were not
committed by any particular section and each incident was separate in nature.
He said it is very easy to kidnap a child and realise ransom. So it prompted the criminals to commit such
incidents, he said adding police has already arrested the kidnappers and their speedy trial were ensured , he said.
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No scope to politicise decision on ban of three-wheelers: Huda
Communications Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda warned of taking stern
action Thursday against those who would oppose the government
rehabilitation programme on banning the two-stroke three-wheelers in the
city, reports UNB.
"Law will take its own course if the rehabilitation offer is not utilised," he
said in a statement Thursday adding there is no scope to politicise the
decision of banning the two-stroke three-wheelers in the city.
He invited the Auto-tempo, Auto-rickshaw, Auto-truck Malik-Sramik
Oikya Parisad leaders and members to accept the offer made ahead of the
ban coming into force from September 1.
Although, movement of the two-stroke three-wheelers will be banned in
the city from September 1, scope is still there outside the city, and many
people have already started plying their two-stroke three-wheelers in the
districts, the minister observed.
Besides, the communications ministry has taken massive programme to
rehabilitate the owners and workers of the two-stroke three-wheelers, he
said.
He mention offers to lease out 100 BRTC buses among the cooperatives
of the affected owners and workers, open LCs for 5,000 BRTC taxicabs,
distribute 5,000 CNG-operated vehicles and four-stroke auto-rickshaws and
provide training to the drivers of the two-stroke three-wheelers and arrange
bank loans for them.
He also mentioned the immediate issuance of cost-free route-permit for
plying of two-stroke three-wheelers on the national and regional highways
and A-type feeder roads.
"Despite all these, some leaders of Dhaka Auto-tempo, Auto-rickshaw,
Auto-truck Malik Oikya Parisad are trying to confuse the general members
of the parisad in the name of opinion-exchange meeting with the
participation of some opposition leaders, and politicise the government
move against environment pollution," Huda said.
The Minister, however, asked the owners and workers of the two-stroke
three-wheelers to enlist their names in writing to the BRTC chairman within
August 28.
"Those who fail to enlist their names through applications to BRTC
chairman will not be rehabilitated," he said in the statement.
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Hartal passes off peacefully in dists
NARAYANGANJ, Aug 15 (BSS): Narayanganj district unit of Awami League and its front organisations
observed the half-day hartal today peacefully.
All kinds of transport, including private cars, buses, Trucks and railways plied on schedule.
Commercial shops, government and semi-government offices functioned normally.
There was no picketing on the road in favour of hartal. Quran Khwani, milad mahfil and feeding of the
destitute were the progra-mmes to mark the day.
Nazma Rahman, president of Narayanganj district Awami League, former secretary Mofizul Islam, district
Jubo League president Abdul Qader and district BCL leader GM Arafat partic-ipated in the programmes.
There was no report of any untoward incident during the hartal.
A six-hour hartal called by Awami League protesting cancell-ation of national mourning day passed off
peacefully in the port city today.
Police said they did not receive the report of any untoward incident and no arrest was made during the hartal
hours.
Government, semi-government and autonomous offices as well courts functioned as usual, but banks and
educational institutions were closed.
Production in industrial units was normal.
Some motor vehicles were seen plying the city streets during the hartal while the movement of rickshaws and
auto-rickshaws was normal.
Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Authority of Chittagong said 96 industrial units, out of 102, operated normally
during the hartal.
UNB adds: 36 people, including six policemen, were injured in a clash between BNP and Awami League
workers in the Sirajganj town during hartal hours Thursday.
Witnesses said police said the clash took place at about 11:15 am an BNP activists attacked Awami League
leaders and workers in their office at Chourasta crossing.
The injured were admitted to different hospital and clinics.
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Namaz-e-Janaza for photojournalist Mizan held
The Namaj-e-Janaza for young photo-journalist Mizanur Rahman was held on Jatiya Press Club premises
Thursday, reports BSS.
Information Minister Tariqul Islam, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Alamgir Kabir, members of
the journalist community and the bereaved family as well as a host of friends and well-wishers of the deceased
attended the janaza.
Mizan, who came into limelight particularly by taking the historic photograph of Shahid Noor Hossain during
the anti-autocracy movement.
Mizan was killed in an armed attack by Spanish hooligans on Bangladeshi expatriates in New York Sunday
last.
His body was flown in from the United States Wednesday night.
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Qulkhwani of Rezia Begum, a noted social worker and wife of late Aiyub Ali, retired deputy magistrate of
Feni, will be held at the apartment of her youngest son, The Financial Express Editor Moazzem Hossain, at A7
Ramna Tower, 125 Boro Maghbazar in the city today (Friday) after Maghreb prayers.
Friends, relatives and well-wishers have been requested to attend.
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Miscreants attack BFL officialExpress Report
Vasantha Ruwan Gunaratne, a Sri Lankan national and senior manager of Beximco Fashions Ltd (BFL),
Friday filed a general diary (GD) with the Savar police station suspecting assassination bid on him.
In the GD, the BFL official stated that a gang of people numbering seven or eight attacked his car near the
Fantasy Kingdom at Ashulia Thursday night, while he was on his way home.
The gang, armed with bamboos, tried to open the car doors forcibly but failed as those were locked from
inside, he added.
Understanding the situation, his driver cleverly drove the car and crossed the bamboo obstacle. But the gang
chased the car and threw stones and bricks to stop it, he alleged.
After reaching home, Gunaratne heard that an unknown person had rung her wife saying that her husband
was hit by his men on the way and she would receive her husband’s dead body only, the GD statement
said.
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Two get life term in rape case
NARAYANGANJ, Aug 15: A court here today (Thursday) convicted two people and sentenced them to life
term imprisonment in a rape case. The convicts were identified as Ismail, son of Khaliullah and Masir Hossain,
son of late Ali Hossain of Lakkhar Char village in Bandar thana of the district. According to prosecution, the
convicts abducted a young girl of the same village and took her to a newly emerged char by a boat and violated
her on July 18, 1997. After examining the witnesses and records Special Tribunal Judge Sayedur Rahman
pronounced the verdict.- UNB
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Gunshots fired at BNP leader's house
NETRAKONA, Aug 15: Unidentified miscreants fired several gunshots at the residence of Abdul Mannan, a
local BNP leader, in the early hours Wednesday. Family sources said the bullets hit the wall of a room in the
second floor piercing through window glasses. However, none was injured. Police recovered empty cartridges
from near the house at Muktarpara of the town. A case was filed with Sadar thana in this connection.- UNB
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Two unidentified bodies recovered
RANGPUR, Aug 15: Police recovered two unidentified bodies of a man and a woman from separate places of
the town Wednesday. Police said the body of the woman aged about 30 was found floating in the Kookrul beel in
New Jummapara area. Another body of a young man was found beside the Rangpur-Kurigram road in Mahiganj
area. The body bore several injury marks. The bodies were sent to morgue for autopsy. Separate UD cases were
filed.- UNB
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JHALAKATHI, Aug 15: District Bar Association has suspended two of its members for their "anti-
organisational" and "unethical" activities. The association at an emergency meeting recently took the decision
against advocate Harun-or-Rashid and advocate Sohel Mohammad Fazle Rabbi. Both are assistant public
prosecutors. Harun-or-Rashid was suspended for three months while Fazle Rabbi for one week, association
sources said.- UNB
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Relief goods given among flood-hit people
KISHOREGONJ, Aug 15: A meeting of District Disaster Management, Development and Coordination
Committee was held at the collectorate conference room here Wednesday. Housing and Public Works Minister
Mirza Abbas chaired the meeting which was told that 8 out of 13 upazilas of the district were affected by the
recent flood. A total of 89 tonnes of rice, Tk 0.25 million cash money and sufficient saris and lungies were
distributed among the flood-hit people, officials present in the meeting said. - UNB
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CI sheets among fire victims distributed
BANDARBAN, Aug 15: The Chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council, Mrs Mamaychin distributed CI
sheet among the fire-affected families of Sadar Upazila here today. The Hill District Council has taken up a
programme of distributing 1,000 bundles of CI. sheets worth Taka about 1.6 million among the fire-affected
families in the district. A total of 500 fire-affected families will get 2 bundles of CI sheets each under the
programme. Besides, in Thanchi Upazila, 123 fire-affected families got 256 bundles of sheets and cash relief
Taka 56 thousand recently under the programme, member of the Council Lusai Mong told the news agency.-
BSS
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10,000 passports for Khulna
KHULNA, Aug 15: A consig-nment of 10 thousand international passports is expected to reach here by the
end of the current month, passport officials said here today. Khulna Regional Passport office submitted an indent
of twenty thousand international passports to the Ministry of Home Affairs recently to meet up the growing
demand. An average of one hundred special (India) and twenty five international passports are required per day
in the Khulna region. - BSS
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Housewife commits suicide in Joypurhat
JOYPURHAT, Aug 15: A housewife of allegedly committed suicide by hanging at Bistapur village under
Kalai Upazila of the district recently. According to local people and police said, Payara Begum (35), 3rd wife of
Mokhle-sur Rahman hunged herself over a family feud. Police sent the body to Joypurhat Zila Adhunik Hospital
for autopsy. The victim's daughter filed a case with Kalai thana police in this connection. - BSS
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Ex ward commissioner nabbed in Feni
FENI, Aug 15: Police arrested two persons including former ward commissioner Shamim Ahmad from
Masterpara in the town for assaulting a police official here Monday. Police said Shamim assaulted sub-inspector
Anwar when he along with his force raided Masterpara, known as a den of infamous 'Hazari Bahini', to arrest
some terrorists. The criminals, however, managed to escape. When police arrested Shamim, his agitated
supporters started pelting stones at the police van. Then police arrested another person identified as Swapan.-
UNB
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