L-R: Local people are forced to use the makeshift bamboo bridge to get aboard boats away from the ghat on the River Karnaphuli in Chittagong as the place has silted up. .A colourful procession was brought out in the port city to celebrate the Victory Day on December 16. Photo: STAR

Memorial meet on Bhasani held
Speakers said Maulana Bhasani organised many programmes in his political life against fascism and imperialism all over the country.
He was a leader of the oppressed and mass people, they said, adding that Bangladesh now needs a leader like Bhasani.
They were speaking at a memorial discussion on Maulana Bhasani organised by 'Anti-fascism and Imperialism Committee', Chittagong at Maulana Islamabadi Memorial Hall on Friday.
Advocate Bhulan Bhowmik prisided over the discussion while Principal Mohammad Hossain Khan, journalist Ali Haider, labour leader Siddikul Islam and Ahmed Jashim spoke on the occasion.
Udisi CU executives
The fourth conference of Bangladesh Udisi Artist Group, Chittagong University was held at the Chittagong Studio Theatre auditorium on Friday.
A committee for the next two years was formed at the conference as Ershad Kamal Khan as president and Borhan Mahmood as secretary.
Presided over by Dr Irshad Kamal Khan the conference was addressed among others by Prafulla Ranjan Sigha, son of martyr Natun Chandra Sinha, Sakhawat Hossain, grandson of Birshreshtha Rahul Amin, Prabir Sardar, vice-president of Udisi Central Council, Sunil Dhar, member of Udisi central council, Zahed Ali Yubraj, vice-president of Udisi Chittagong University unit and Ayaj Mabud, general secretary of Chittagong University unit.
The speakers said the artists of Udisi will have to play a vital role to resolve the continuous political and cultural unrest in the country. They also urged the government to play more active role for war crimes trial.
Anti-hartal meeting held
Sector Commanders Forum, Chittagong Divisional committee, on Sunday organised a meeting protesting against hartal to save war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on the premises of Chittagong City Corporation.
Aminul Islam Amin, member of the central committee of Banagladesh Awami League was present as the chief guest at the meeting. The meeting was addressed by Dr Hasan Mahmood, Kamal Uddin Chowdhury, Kamruddin Ahmed, Mafizur Rahman, Gias Uddin Hiru, Riaz Haider, M.A. Rahim, Nur-E-Alam Siddiqui, Diderul Alam Dider and Nurul Huda Chowdhury.
They greeted the people of Chittagong for rejecting hartal. They said those who are trying to save the alleged war criminals to be identified as the enemy of the nation.
They claimed that some 15 officials allegedly involved with Jamaait- Shibir will have to be withdrawn.
The meeting was presided over by Bedarul Alam Chowdhury, member secretary of Secor Commanders Forum, Chittagong Division.
Later a huge procession was brought out demanding death sentence to Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
CPC festival ends
A two-day long festival of Chittagong Press Club (CPC) concluded in the port city.
Mayor M Manjur Alam were present as the chief guest on the concluding day of the festival while the sponsors of the programme Western Marine Managing Director (MD) Md Shakhaoyat Hossain, Managing Director (MD) Md Ferdous of Genesis Holding Technologies Limited were the special guests with CPC President Abu Sufian in the chair.
Mayor said, “CPC is not bound by obligation to CCC. Now the press club members are the owners of the property worth Tk 1oo crore.”
CPC Secretary Rashed Rauf, Joint Secretary Mohsin Chowdhury and Vice-President Asif Siraj spoke on the occasion.