The week that was

Huge vehicles and people use the ferry to go to other bank of river Karnaphuli from city's Firingee Bazar Ferry Ghat everyday risking life.Photo: STAR

Silver Bells school champion
A three-day inter-school debate competition concluded in the port city on Monday.
Old Placidian's Association (OPA) organsied the debate at the Saint Placid's High School auditorium.
Silver Bells Girls High School clinched the title of the inter-school debate competition while Dr Khastagir Government Girls High School became runner-up.
Editor of the local daily Purbokone Taslim Uddin Chowdhury inaugurated the competition as the chief guest on Saturday.
Saint Placid's High School Principal Brother Pradip Palcid Gomez was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony while the OPA former President Fazle Alim was present as the special guest.
OPA President Nawshad Kadri, competition committee Convener Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury, OPA members Ali Ahmed, Ali Hossain Akber Ali, Rafi Ahmed, Sheikh Jobaet Hossain, Mahbubur Rahman and Rezaur Rahman were present at the ceremony.
Moumita, leader of the Silver Bells School, was adjudged as the best debater of the competition held in association with 'Panthajan,' a debate organising association.

Discussion on mental health held
Speakers at a discussion in the port city on Sunday emphasised the need for enacting law to ensure mental development of people.
Chittagong Mental Disabled Development Organisation organsied the meeting to mark the 'World Mental Health Day' at its office in Akbar Shah Shrine area.
Speakers said around 2.50 crore of total population are mentally sick and there are only 130 mental physicians for the huge number of patients.
They urged the government to introduce a compulsory subject relating to mental disorder at all medical colleges.
United Theatre for Social Action (UTSA) Executive Manager Mostafa Jaman Jatra was present as the chief guest at the discussion with the Chittagong Mental Disabled Development Organisation President Helena Begum in the chair.
Chittagong Mental Disabled Development Organisation General Secretary Selina Akter Rawshan Chowdhury, Treasurer Hosne Ara Begum, Khulshi Disabled Development Organisation President Amzad Hossain and Chittagong Women Disabled Development Organisation Guria Akter were present at the discussion.

Purbokone to implement 7th Wage Board Award
The local daily Purbokone authorities signed an agreement on Tuesday with Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) for implementing the 7th Wage Board Award.
Purbokone Executive Editor and the Purbokone Limited Managing Director Dr M Ramijuddin Chowdhury and CUJ General Secretary Nazimuddin Shyamal signed in the agreement on behalf of their organisations.
The CUJ leaders at a meeting approved the agreement and congratulated the Purbokone Editor Taslim Uddin Chowdhury, Publisher Jasim Uddin Chowdhury and Unit Chief Nawsher Ali Khan for signing the agreement.
They urged the authorities of local dailies Bir Chattagram Mancha and People's View to implement the 7th Wage Board Award immediately and warned of tougher movement if their demand is not met immediately.
CUJ President Shahid Ul Alam, General Secretary Nazimuddin Shyamal, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Joint Secretary General Dibakar Ghosh, Executive Member Asif Siraj, CUJ Finance Secretary Ratan Kanti Debashish and Organising Secretary Faruk Taher spoke at the meeting.

Sewing machines distributed
Lions Club of Chittagong New City distributed wheel chairs and sewing machines among the distressed people in the port city on Friday.
Lion District Governor Md Aslam Chowdhury was the chief guest at the ceremony held at Taher Uddin Memorial Hall of Lions Club International District 315-B-4 Bangladesh.
The programme was organised in observance of 'World Lions Service Day.'
Former District Governor MA Malek, Vice Governor Nurul Islam and Cabinet Secretary AHM Kafil Uddin, District Chairperson Abul Kashem, Club President M Azahar Uddin and Secretary M Yakub Hossain Emu were present at the function.

Concern over impacts of climate change
Speakers at a rally expressed concerned over the impact of climate change and said 17 percent of coastal areas of Bangladesh will go under saline water and two crore people will become climate refugee by 2050.
Songshotaque, a non-government organisation, organised the rally in front of Chittagong Press Club on Sunday.
The speakers said the poor people are victim of the climate change.
They put up a 10-point demand including reduction of carbon emission, compensation for the affected people and introduction of environment-friendly technologies.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa), Chittagong Chapter President Prof Sikandar Khan presided over the meeting while Songshotaque Chief Executive Sourav Barua, Prof Idris Ali and Woman rights activists Nurjahan Khan also spoke at the function.
Chittagong University Environment Forum, Chittagong Government City College, Jubo Red Crescent Society, Chittagong College Environment Student Forum and non- government organisations UTSA, Mamata and Ghashful participated in the rally.
Earlier, a colourful procession was brought out that paraded main thoroughfares of the city.