L-R: Environment and Forests Secretary Mesbahul Alam distributes saplings at a programme in the port city on June 25 organised by Bangladesh American Tobacco Company (BATC). Narcotics Control Department forms a human chain in city's New Market area marking the "Anti-Drug Day" on June 26.Photo: STAR

'Ctg neglected in budget'
Lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal on Saturday said there is everything in the budget except the allocation for Chittagong as the planners and decision-makers are confused about Chittagong.
He said this while he was speaking as the chief guest at a meeting on budget organised jointly by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) Chittagong chapter at Chittagong Club with BEA Chittagong chapter president Prof Joety Prokash Dutta in the Chair.
CPD Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman, former Chittagong University vice chancellor Alamgir Mohammad Sirajuddin, East Delta University Vice Chancellor Prof Sikander Khan, Prof Moinul Islam, former Chittagong Chamber and Commerce Industries president (CCCI) Farid Ahmed Chowdhury and BGMEA First Vice President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury also spoke at the meeting.
Reffering to the power sector, Badal said government is very much active to buy electricity at Tk 15 per unit but there is no interest in improving the condition of Kaptai Hydro Electric Power Plant where the rate for electricity is Tk1 per unit.
Prof Moinul said Bangladesh economy is ready to take off but some government activities like weakening the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are obstacle to the progress.

Call to develop Ctg as commercial capital
Minster for Primary and Mass Education Afsarul Amin on Saturday urged the experts to give specific suggestions to the government to develop Chittagong as the commercial capital.
He was addressing a conference as the chief guest organised by 'Broader Chittagong Development Struggle Committee' (BCDSC) at Muslim Hall in the port city with a slogan 'We want development of Chittagong for the greater development of the nation'.
Former adviser to the caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman inaugurated the conference.
Minister Afsarul Amin said for the structural development of the city government already allocated Tk 2000 crore for Chittagong Development Authority (CDA).
Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Abdus Salam, Advocate Rana Dasgupta, Chittagong Press Club (CPC) President Abu Sufian and BDCDSC Secretary Prof Md Momtaz Uddin Chowdhury also spoke as the special guests with BDCDSC Chairman Architect Taslim Uddin Chowdhury in the chair.

Call to cancel PSC with US co
Speakers on Saturday at a rally here urged the government to cancel the agreement with US-based oil company ConocoPhillips for oil exploration in deep sea for the sack of the country.
They demanded of the government to use the state run Petro Bangla to explore the resources, saying that Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the company will not bring any good result for the country.
They were speaking at the rally following a human chain programme organised by Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (SSF) on the Shaheed Minar premises in the city.
SSF Secretary Al Kaderi Joy, Vice-President Tajnahar Ripon, Organising Secretary Biplob Bijoy Das and Chittagong University SSF Secretary Tawhidul Islam also spoke at the programme. SSF President Satyajit Biswas presided over the meeting.

Death anniversary of Jahanara Imam observed
Speakers here at a commemorative programme said Jahanara Imam is the leader of the freedom fighters of new generation and who want a non-communal secular Bangladesh.
They said issues of war crimes should be solved through political process.
In observance of the 17th death anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam, Proma Abritti Sangathan organised the meeting at District Shilpakala Academy on Sunday.
The programme also featured poetry recitation, recitation from the 'Ekatturer Dinguli' and solo and chorus performances.
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, Prof Hossain Kabir, Journalist Riaz Haider, Councillor Rehena Begum Ranu, Group Theatre Federation Presidium member Sucharit Das and artiste Shaharier Khaled spoke on the occasion.
Proma President Rashed Hasan presided over the meeting.

Mohiuddin wants unity for development
Former Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury called for unity for the development of Chittagong.
He said difference of opinion may be there about the way of development but it should not create division.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the Tree Fair-2011 organised by CCC on Friday at MA Aziz Outer Stadium.
Chairman of CCC Standing Committee for Environment Development Md Jahir Ahmed Shah presided over the meeting. Councillor Jobaida Nargis Khan, director of Department of Environment of Chittagong Jafar Alam, divisional forest officer Uttam Kumar Shaha and Prof Mossaref Hossain also spoke at the meeting.

Debate workshop held
A debate workshop held at Theatre Institute in the port city on Sunday organised by
Drishty Chhatragram and Lions Club of Chittagong Bengal City.
First Vice-Governor of Lions Club International District 315B-4 Lion Prof M D M Kamal Uddin Chowdhury inaugurated the programme with Masud Bakul, president of Drishty Chhatragram, in the chair.
Prof Kamal said there are many ways of acquiring knowledge, but the best way is debate. He said debate also creates argumentative man and the argumentative are honoured in the society.
A total of 170 students from 21 schools of the port city participated in the workshop.
The 19the Inter-school Debate Competition of Drishty will start from July 1.

Olympic Day Run-2011
Olympic Day Run-2011 was held on Friday in the port city with the slogan “Let us build pollution-free society.”
Organised by Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), a colourful procession was brought out from the office of Chittagong Divisional Sports Council in the morning.
BOA Vice-President and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Bangladesh Army, Chittagong Cantonment, Major General Ahsabuddin inaugurated the programme at MA Aziz Stadium.
He urged the students from different schools and colleges to participate in games and sports more as games and sports refresh mind and body.
Chittagong Divisional Sports Council organised the programme while council's Vice-President Alef Uddin delivered the address of welcome.
Council's General Secretary Sirajuddin Md Alamgir, Hafizur Rahman, Aminur Rahman and AZM Nasir Uddin Chowdhury were present at the inaugural programme.

Withdrawal of tax on tyre, tube demanded
Tyre-tube importers and dealers here on Thursday urged the government to withdraw the proposal of increasing tax on tyres of bus and other vehicles in the budget.
They said tax has been increased from 12 percent to 25 percent in the proposed budget that is excessive and it will leave great impact on general people as directly and indirectly transport sector attaches with the people's day to day life.
At a rally following a human chain in front of Chittagong Press Club (CPC) the owners and the dealers demanded cut in taxes on tyres and tubes.
Organized by Chittagong Tyre-Tube Importers and Dealers Group the rally was addressed by its General Secretary Rashid Ahmed and Adviser Dr Zia M Jahangir.