News Room

Selim-Al-Deen 61st birth anniversary observed at JU

Belal Hossain Biplob

The Drama and Dramatics Department of Jahangirnagar University (JU) observed the 61st birth anniversary of noted dramatist late Selim-Al-Deen on 18 August. The birth anniversary of the pioneer of Bengali folk drama and the founder of Drama and Dramatics Department of JU was celebrated with due respect and solemnity on the campus. The day-long programme began with the inauguration in 'Selim-Al-Deen room' in old Arts Faculty by Begumjadi Meherunnesa Selim, wife of late Selim-Al-Deen.

Later, a procession was brought out on the campus led by Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir, Vice-Chancellor of JU. A discussion session on the dramatist was organised in the auditorium of the university.

Prof Ajfar Hossein and Prof Afsar Ahmed were present as discussants while noted novelist and poet, Sayed Shamsul Haque presided over the function.

In the second part of the programme, an iftar party, drama exhibition, music evening composed by Selim-Al-Deen, and a drama 'All Quiet on the Western Front' by Eric Maria Remark (directed by Reza Arif) were organised in the theatre lab of the auditorium.

Students of Drama and Dramatics department took part in the play 'All Quiet on the Western Front'.

Daylong Debate Workshop at RU

Aurangazeb Sohel

A daylong workshop on debate was arranged at Rajshahi University (RU) by the debating society on August 19. Vice Chancellor of RU Professor, M Abdus Sobhan inaugurated the workshop as chief guest at Deans Complex of RU while the Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor M Nurullah was present as special guest. The Dean of Agricultural Faculty of RU Professor Sohrab Ali, the general secretary of Rajshai University Teachers Association (RUTA) Professor Ananda Kumar Saha, Professor Moloy Kumar Bhoumik, Dr Swarochish Sarkar and Dr Sadequl Arefin Matin spoke in the inaugural session of the programme.

In the concluding session of the workshop, the famous literati of the Indian subcontinent Professor Hasan Azizul Haque and the dean of RU Science faculty Professor Tofazzol Hossain Tarafdar distributed certificates and prizes among the participants. An informative exhibition on the Liberation War "Kan Pete Roi" was also displayed. Students of different departments and institutes took part in the workshop.

Training Course on Public Relations and Communication ends at BIJEM

Mirza Tarequl Qader

The certificate awarding ceremony of a two - week training course on 'Modern Technique of Public Relations and Communication' was organised by Bangladesh Institute of Journalism and Electronic Media (BIJEM) on 11 August at the conference room of the institute. Dulal Chandra Biswas, Director General, Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) was present as chief guest and distributed certificates among the participants. Md. Abul Kashem Shikder, Joint Director (Public Relations), Bangladesh Open University and Azam Khan, Head of Marketing, Development and Public Relations, First Security Islami Bank Limited were present as special guests. BIJEM Executive Director, Mirza Tarequl Qader presided over the function. A total of 20 Public Relations officers of Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Bank, BCSIR, BIBM, Muslim Aid Bangladesh, RAJUK, NBR, BADC, Tariff Commission, Daffodil Int'l University, Manarat University and Presidency University took part in the course.

(Executive Director, BIJEM)

Round table speakers welcome competition policy and law

Javed Ibne Hossain

Speakers at a round table discussion on Competition Policy welcomed the competition policy and law in Bangladesh. The event, organised by the Department of Media Studies and Journalism of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), took place at the university's auditorium in Dhanmondi on 21 August. The round table was attended by economists, lawyers, journalists, higher officials from the corporate sector, along with teachers and students of ULAB. The event started off with a presentation on competition law and policy by Advocate ABM Hamidul Mishbah who focused on the key features of the proposed Competition Act 2010 and stated that such a law would ensure country's economic development, prevent, control or eliminate anti-competitive agreements, and abuse of dominant positions or market power.

While speaking on the occasion, Dr. A.K. Enamul Haque, Professor of Economics, United International University, posed why in Bangladesh the prices of the commodities increase during Ramadan whereas seasonality hardly affects prices in other countries.

Tanim Ahmed, Assistant Editor, bdnews24.com, hoped that the competition policy and law would ensure a level playing field and fair competition in the market. Competition law is vital for Bangladesh, stated Alloisus Mohan Ramaiah, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Axiata (Bangladesh) Limited and added that the law would let the market evolve itself allowing new entrants to compete in the market. The speakers further added that due to the absence of appropriate legal instruments in Bangladesh, we routinely witness anti-competitive and unfair trade practices like cartels, hoarding, collusive pricing and reducing supply of basic commodities. Given this scenario, they welcomed the Bangladesh government's initiative to adopt Competition Policy and Law towards increasing competition in the market and ensuring delivery of quality goods and services at fair prices.

(Writer is Communications Assistant Manager)

1ST Intra UIU Corporate Debate Competition 2010

Aneesa Rahman

With a view to improving corporate skills and logical knowledge of students, UIU Debate Club (UIUDC) organised “Corporate Debate”. This event brought together four students, two each from the engineering school and business school of UIU. The topic for the debate was “ICT for Rural Development”. The top two teams will be chosen to participate in the “1st UIU National Corporate Debate”, where 16 universities will compete.

A total of eight teams participated in the event. It was a two-day event divided into 1) Concept Presentation & Experiment result and 2) National level implementation. On the first day, out of the eight teams the best four were selected to present their cases to a grand jury consisting of Mr. Sukorna Barua, Lecturer from BUET, Mr. Rishad Sharif from BAT, Mr. Dilshadul Islam from AB Bank, Mr, Suborna Barua, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, UIU and moderator UIUDC and Mr, Shahid Uddin Akbar, National President JCI, Bangladesh.

The champions emerged after a tough competition. The group titled “Supernova” consisted of Riyad Hossain Khan, Arif Nezami from EEE department and Adiba Naseer, Farah Mahbub from BBA department who took home the prize. Supernova presented on how ICT can help farmers in rural areas. They showed automated pump irrigation, subsidiary by using farmer card which is an extended version of National ID card. The runner up team was UIUCT.

Sacred Relics Photo Exhibition at DIU

Md. Anowar Habib Kazal

Highlighting the religious and cultural heritage of the Muslim world, a three day photo exhibition titled “Sacred Relics Photo Exhibition” was held in the auditorium of Daffodil International University with the joint collaboration of the Turkish Cultural Center, Dhaka and the Department of English of Daffodil International University. Fikret Cick, President of Turkey Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBCCI) was present as the chief guest and inaugurated the exhibition on 21 August. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Daffodil International University presided over the ceremony.

The inaugural function was also addressed by Professor Aminul Islam, Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University. Dr. Md. Fokhray Hossain, Registrar, Dr. Binoy Barman, Head, Department of English and Umme Kulsum, Senior Lecturer of the department were also present. A number of students of Daffodil university also attended the programme.

Workshop on Medical Physics

Star Campus Desk

For the first time in Bangladesh a workshop on Medical Physics titled “Advanced Training in Medical Physics: Dosimetry and treatment planning” was held recently at the Radiotherapy Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). It was organised by the Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Department, Gono Bishwabidyalay (GB). The workshop was conducted by Professor Dr. Golam Abu Zakaria, Chairman, Medical Physics department, Cologne University, Germany and visiting Professor, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, GB.

Final year undergraduate and Master Students, teachers of the department, clinical medical physicists from different public and private hospitals participated in the workshop. Clinical Medical physicists were from Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital, Delta Medical College and hospital, Square Hospital, Dhaka Medical College and hospital and National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital.

The purpose of the workshop was to emphasise the importance of dose measurement and planning in cancer treatment. All the procedures of dosimetry and planning were shown by Prof Zakaria followed by discussion with the participants. For accurate dose measurement of the linear accelerator, the solution to the problems faced by the clinical medical physicists of different hospitals was also discussed. Workshops of such kinds are very important for the development of medical physics in Bangladesh.

Seminar on 'Research Methodology' In Leading University, Sylhet

Iqbal Siddiquee

Speakers at a seminar organised by Leading University in Sylhet said facilities for research should be given the highest priority in all the universities in the country but Unfortunately almost none of our universities have the right atmosphere for research. To prepare our students for the changing world, the universities should give stress on research works, they commented.

Eminent educationist Professor Dr. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal presented the keynote paper in the seminar on 'Research methodology'.

He said that the existing system of memorising is not at all helpful for students. Rather they should be given sufficient scope for research. Our universities are yet to reach that stage due to lack of adequate research programmes and funds. We must have a change as soon as possible, he noted.

Professor Dr. Sushanta Kumar Das of the Physics Department of Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) and Professor Dr. Wasim Bari also spoke while Leading University VC Professor Dr. Kabir Hossain chaired the programme.