L-R: Chittagong city Awami League President and former mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury speaks at an anti-hartal rally on a city road yesterday. Singer Shreyashi Roy renders a song at a cultural function organised by Chittagong Press Club CPC in its auditorium in the port city on July 2.Photo: STAR

'Journos bound to protect human rights'
Speakers in the port city on Friday at a roundtable said journalists by profession are bound to work for protecting human rights.
The roundtable titled “Role of newspapers in protecting human rights at grassroots level” was organised by Democracy Watch, Chittagong chapter in Chattagram Academy auditorium.
Journalists of different media and activists of different non-government organisations spoke at the discussion.
The roundtable placed some recommendations for protecting human rights including training for journalists working at grassroots level to enhance their knowledge and efficiency in working for the protection of human rights, more space in the newspapers for grassroots level, avoiding unscientific advertisement in the newspapers and developing the communication with local people's representatives.
Chairman of department of Communication and Journalism in Chittagong University Morshedul Islam, journalists Omar Kaisar and Mir Aslam and contact person of Democracy Watch, Chittagong Hamidul Islam were present at the roundtable.
Charity show in aid of autistic children
A charity show was held to raise fund for the autistic children in the port city on Thursday.
Angan, a cultural organisation of Chittagong University (CU), organised the event. Many autistic children along with their parents participated in the programme.
The programme featured Tagore song, Nazrul song, patriotic songs, Bangla modern songs and folk songs.
The programme started with the popular Bagla song 'Manush Manusher Jonno'. Later, artistes from Angan performed dance at the programme.
Singer Kalyani Ghosh, Hoimanti Rakshit, Abdul Mannan Rana, Animesh Chakraborty, Prem Sundar Baishnab, Allauddin Taher, Arin and Ajoy performed at the programme.
Project to cut poverty launched
Centre for Zakat Management (CZM) launched a poverty alleviation programme in the port city on Saturday.
The under-privileged people of the locality will be benefited directly from the project, said the speakers at the inaugural function.
AK Khan Foundation Trustee Secretary Salauddin Kashem Khan inaugurated the programme styled 'Jibika Karnaphuli Project' on the AL Khan High School premises at Mohra at Kalurghat in the city.
CZM Chairman Niaz Rahim, also director of Rahimafrooz Group, chaired the programme.
AK Khan Foundation trustee AM Ziauddin Khan, CEO of CZM Dr Mohammad Ayub Meah and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Councillor Mohammad Azam spoke on the occasion.
Call to make fine arts compulsory
Speakers at a rally in the port city urged the government to include fine arts as a compulsory subject at school and college levels in the new national education policy.
The rally was organised by Sachetan Shilipi Samaj on the Chittagong Press Club premises following a human chain on Tuesday.
Terming fine arts creative one, they said it helps students grow with sound health and sound mind. They called upon the authorities to make the subject compulsory in GSC, SSC and HSC syllabuses.
Prof Alaftagin Tusar of Fine Arts Institute of Chittagong University (CU), artiste Jahed Ali Chowdhury and artiste Shayla Sharmin also spoke at the programme.
Seminar on environment held
Speakers on Saturday at a seminar said stressed the need for creating awareness on environment among the new generation.
The seminar on environment was organised by Human Rights Federation (HRF) at Chittagong Polo Ground High School in the city.
BHF Chairman Azizul Haque Chowdhury spoke as the chief guest at the seminar with HRF Convener Advocate Md Shahidul Islam in the chair.
Saplings were also distributed at the function among the students on behalf of the organisation.
HRF member Kazi Saleh Ahmed, Member Secretary Jahan Mili, Bandar Committee President Mohammad Selim and Kotwali Committee President Sayad Shamsul Alam also spoke at the programme.
Cultural evening on monsoon held
Journalists from all media houses of the port city on Monday enjoyed a colourful cultural evening on monsoon.
Chittagong Press Club (CPC) organised the programme titled 'Aji jhoro jhoro mukharo badoro dine' at its auditorium.
CPC President Abu Sufian inaugurated the programme.
Shreyashi Roy, Alauddin Taher and Munmun Chowdhury rendered Tagore, Nazrul and modern Bangla songs related with rainy season at the programme.
Artiste Ayesha Huque recited poems at the programme.