Tk 906 cr earned from UN Peacekeeping Missions in 08-09

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni told the House Monday that Bangladesh earned Taka 906,83,86,877.94 by taking part in the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in 2008-09 fiscal year, reports BSS.
Replying to a question raised by treasury bench member Golam Dastagir Gazi, she said Bangladesh had joined 45 UN Peacekeeping Missions so far.
“Bangladesh is now working in 12 UN peacekeeping missions in 11 countries, which are Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sudan, DR Congo, West Sahara, East Timor, Georgia, Chad, Burundi, Afghanistan and West Africa,” Dipu Moni said.
Responding to another question raised by ruling party lawmaker Md Jashimuddin, the foreign minister said Bangladesh for the first time joined the UN Peacekeeping Mission in 1988.
“As many as 82,678 members of Bangladesh Armed Forces and Bangladesh Police returned home till August this year after completing their jobs in these missions,” she said.
Of them, she added, 77,799 personnel were members of the Armed Forces and the rest 4,893 were members of police.
The foreign minister said presently 9,410 persons-7,232 members of the Armed Forces and 1,386 members of police-are working in 12 missions of 11 countries.

E-policing of DMP nears completion: Tuku

The e-policing project of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is near completion to modernize the activities of the law-enforcement agency to deal with challenging criminal activities, reports BSS.
He said the second phase of the Police Reform Project (PRP) was launched this month and the five-year project involving US $ 290.15 million will have a programme for regulatory reform of police and establishing a victim support center in each division.
State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Huq Tuku on behalf of Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun said this while replying to questions raised by lawmakers in the House Monday.
He said the first PRP was implemented from January 2005 to June 2009 at a cost of US $ 17.66 million with the financial and technical supports from the UNDP, DFID and European Commission. Under the PRP, five Strategic Plans each one for three years, has been undertaken for police.
The State Minister also told the House that new crime prevention strategy is being prepared for Bangladesh Police and the authorities are now scrutinizing the draft of the strategic paper. Simultaneously, he said, the government has undertaken measures to give the community policing system an institutional shape. With this in view, he added, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) has been formed at village level across the country. Shamsul Huq Tuku said as part of the PRP (phase-one), 3,278 police personnel were trained up on modern tactics at home and abroad and more police personnel will be given training under the second phase in addition to 3000 new female recruitments.
He said a total of 11 police stations in the country were turned into ‘model thana’ equipping them with modern infrastructure, training, arms and ammunition as well as other logistics.
In the second phase, six police stations would be turned into ‘Model thana’, he said adding that the government has undertaken plan to observe ‘Open House Day’ in every thana to strengthen the police-community communication.

Anniversary of Obaidul Huq’s death today

The 2nd death anniversary of eminent journalist, litterateur Obaidul Huq will be held today (Tuesday), reports BSS.
Obaidul Huq was the editor of the Bangladesh Observer, Chairman of Press Institute of Bangladesh, Nazrul Institute, said a press release.
Quran Khwani and doa mahfil will be held at the Rahmat-e-Alam Islam Mission Orphanage at Tejgaon in the city today.
A milad and doa mahfil will also be held after Asr prayers at Banani Bazar Jame Mosque on October 16.
Family members of Obaidul Huq requested all relatives, friends, well-wishers to attend the programme and pray for peace of the departed soul.

Death anniversary

The 43rd death anniversary of late Justice Muhammed Ibrahim will be held today (Tuesday), says a press release.
On this occasion Asiatic Society of Bangladesh has arranged a memorial lecture on late Justice Ibrahim.
Floral wreaths will be placed at his grave. Milad mahfil, doa will also be held. Besides, food will be distributed among the destitute.

Confce on war crimes in USA Oct 18

A daylong international conference on ‘Bangladesh 1971: Addressing Claims or War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes against Humanity’ will be held at Wilkins Theater for Performing Arts of KEAN University at New Jersey of USA, reports BSS.
President of the university Dr Daud Farahe will inaugurate the conference, according to message received in the city Monday.
Bangladesh Study Group and Human Rights Institute of the university have jointly organized conference. A large number of professors and experts from USA, Canada and Bangladesh will participate in the function.
Dr MA Hasan, Shariar Kabir and Trusty of Liberation War Museum Mofedul Haque will participate in the conference from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Washington Akramul Kader and Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Abdul Momen will also participate in the conference.

International Standard Day tomorrow

The 40th ‘International Standard Day’ will be observed in the country as elsewhere across the world on October 14, reports BSS.
The day is going to be observed with a call to maintain quality of products in line with the international standard.
This year, the issue of climate change has been focused as this year’s theme of the day is “ Tackling Climate Change through Standards”.
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), a state-run watchdog agency for monitoring food items and manufacturing products, has taken elaborate programmes in observance of the day.
The BSTI will arrange a discussion in its auditorium at 10.15 in the city. Industries Minister Dilip Barua will attend the discussion as the special guest.
Noted scientists, technologists, BSTI specialists, industrialists and the high officials of different ministries are expected to take part in it.
Industries Secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain and American Chamber of Commerce of Bangladesh Aftab Ul Islam will be present as special guests.
A special article titled on “Tackling Climate change through Standards” written by director general of the BSTI AK Fazlul Ahad will be published in different national dailies on the day.
National newspapers will bring out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private radio and TV channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Similar programmes have also been arranged in divisional cities—-Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal—-to mark the day.

Uphold spirit of liberation war: President

President Zillur Rahman on Monday called for ensuring welfare of the freedom fighters and family members of the martyrs upholding the spirit of liberation war, reports UNB.
The President made the remark when a nine-member delegation of wounded freedom fighters and Mirpur Shaheed Paribar Basasthan Complex Samabay Samity Limited, led by its president M Amir Hossain Mollah, paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, President Zillur said the government has already taken various measures to ensure the welfare of the freedom fighters, wounded freedom fighters and family members of martyrs alongside presenting the true history of the liberation war.
“Freedom fighters are the greatest sons of the nation. They are our pride,” he said.
The delegation apprised the President of the demands of their society and sought his cooperation in fulfilling those.
The President gave them a patient hearing and assured his all-out support towards resolving their problems.

Maizbhandar Darbar to celebrate Khoshroz

Maizabhandar Darbar Sharif of Chittagong is to celebrate the Khoshroz of leading Islamic saint of the then Indian subcontinent Gausul Azam Shahsufi Syed Golamur Rahman marking his 140th birth anniversary on October 14, reports BSS.
Anjuman-e-Rahmania Moinia Maizbhandaria will celebrate the khoshroz at the Maizbhandar darbar at Fatikchhari of Chittagong. Leading spiritual leader Shahsufi Syed Moinuddin Ahmed Maizbhandari will lead the prayers.

DU to offer post-graduate diploma course on Disaster Management

Social Welfare and Research Institute of Dhaka University has taken a decision to introduce post-graduate diploma course on Disaster Management, reports UNB.
The 14-week long course, first of its kind in DU, will be introduced with the assistance of Food and Disaster Management Ministry and UNDP.
Those having post graduate degrees in Social Welfare, Social Work or relevant subjects and others currently working in the field of disaster management in government or non-government organizations and eager to perform duties in the future are eligible for admission into the course.
Interested persons have been requested to be present at the office of Director of Social Welfare and Research Institute at 4pm on October 16 along with application, two copies of passport sized photographs, bio-data and copies of all certificates.

BSF kills 53 Bangladeshis in 9 months

Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun told the House Monday that 53 Bangladeshi nationals were killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) from January 1 to September 30 this year, reports BSS.
Replying to a scripted question raised by BNP member Mohammad Harunur Rashid, she said strong protest has been lodged during border conferences between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian BSF to stop killing of Bangalees by the Indian border guards.

Chaurasia to perform at Dhaka Club Friday

News Report
Internationally acclaimed flutist maestro of India Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia will render a live performance at the Dhaka Club in the city on Friday (October 16).
A great pioneer of woodwind music, Chaurasia along with his three members entourage, will reach in the city on Thursday.
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is one of India’s most reputed classical musicians. He took the recital of flute to a new height with his innovative style and blowing technique. Chaurasia is a recipient of Padmabhushan and Sangeet Natok Academy Award, he has also won unstinted acclaim in major musical events in India and abroad.
A classicist by temperament and training, he is also modern in outlook and susceptible to new ideas.
Chaurasia has performed throughout the world winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean Pierre Rampal.

Weather

Light to moderate rain likely

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over all the six divisions in next 24 hours till 6pm today (Tuesday), reports UNB.
South-west monsoon has withdrawn from north-western part of Bangladesh and may withdraw from the rest of the country during next 48 hours.
Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said. The sun sets in the capital today at 6:34pm and rises on Wednesday at 6:56am. Country’s highest temperature 35.0 degrees Celsius were recorded Monday at Jessore and lowest 22.4 degrees also at Jessore.

DHAKA NOTES