Guests at a meeting in the port city of Chittagong on Sunday. Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee organised the programme on the occasion of his 85th birth anniversary at Theatre Institute, Chittagong.Photo: STAR

Call to expedite war crimes trial
Speakers at a meeting in the port city on Sunday urged the government to expedite the trial of the war criminals.
Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee organised the programme on the occasion of his 85th birth anniversary at Theatre Institute, Chittagong (TIC).
Premier University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Anupam Sen presided over the programme where journalist Reaz Haider delivered the welcome speech.
They said poet Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury inspired the countrymen to go ahead through his poetry.
They said Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, also a Language Movement veteran, is the writer of the first poem of 'Ekushey' (February 21, 1952), “Kandte ashini, phashir dabi niye eshechhi”.
The speakers said Mahbubul Alam had dreamt of a prosperous, non-communal and exploitation-free Bangladesh, which is yet to be materialised. They urged the young generation to fulfil his dream.
Awami League leader and former Chittagong City Corporation mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Chittagong Press Club President Abu Sufian, Women leader Begum Mushtari Shafi and poet Belal Mohammad, among others, also spoke at the programme.
Discussion on liberation war held
The freedom fighters at a meeting urged the young generations to prepare themselves imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation.
They made the call at the programme titled 'Days of 71” at the auditorium of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School. Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad, Chittagong district unit, organised the programme.
Mohammad Abdul Latif, Headmaster of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School presided over the meeting.
The speakers said the freedom fighters should let the future generations know the real history of the War of Liberation.
They said the freedom fighters established the country by shedding their bloods and the young generation should take responsibility to protect it.
Mohammad Elias Mia, member of Chittagong City unit command and freedom fighter Advocate Fakhruddin Chowdhury also spoke at the meeting.
AL asks Oli to beg pardon
Chandanaish upazila Awami League (AL) urged the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President and lawmaker Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed to beg pardon to the people for his derogatory remarks about the woman lawmaker Begum Cheman Ara Tayeb.
They made the call at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club on Saturday.
AL leaders said being an elderly parliamentarian such a derogatory remark on a female lawmaker by Oli is the manifestation of his past fascist character.
Engineer Afsar Uddin Ahmed, Chittagong district AL leader and also a former parliamentarian, read out the written statement at the press conference.
Member of National Committee of AL Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, AL leader Advocate Ashab Uddin, General Secretary of Chandanaish AL Oahiduzzaman Chowdhury and Chandanaish upazila AL member Mofizur Rahman were present at the press conference.
Tribute paid to Syed
A meeting in memory of Md Abu Syed, former joint secretary of Chittagong District Newspaper Hawkers League, was held in the port city.
Speakers at the meeting urged all concerned to provide residential facilities to the newspaper hawkers in Chittagong.
They also expressed profound shock at the premature death of Abu Syed and prayed for his departed soul.
General Secretary of Chittagong Journalists' Union Nazim Uddin Shyamal attended the meeting as chief guest with Chittagong District Newspaper Hawkers' League President Md Sarwar Alam in the chair.
Adviser to the hawkers' league Ruhul Amin Ramjan, General Secretary Tapan Chowdhury, newspaper agent Harunur Rashid, Nazrul Islam, Md Saifuddin Jabed, Md Abdul Khalek and Md Shahjahan also spoke at the programme.
Foundation of AK Khan law faculty to be laid
The foundation laying ceremony of “AK Khan law faculty” will be held at Chittagong University (CU) on December 3.
The building will be constructed on the northern side of the university medical centre.
The new building will be constructed at a cost of Tk 17 crore funded by AK Khan Foundation, said a press release.
Law Barrister Shafique Ahmed is expected to attend the programme as chief gust.
Chattagram Samity's celebration ends on Dec 3
The yearlong celebration of 100th founding anniversary of Chattagram Samity, Dhaka will end through two day concluding programmes on December 3 at Dhanmondi in the city.
The yearlong programmes that started on February 11 will conclude with a cultural evening styled “Chittagong Cultural Evening”, and 'Mezban' (a traditional feast in Chittagong) on December 2 and 3 at Sultana Kamal Women's Sports Complex.
At the 'Mezban' about 25,000 guests will be entertained with spicy delicious dishes, especially with beef that will entice all of them.
The samity has been holding various programmes representing rich cultural heritage and hospitality of the main commercial hub of the country through the year to celebrate the anniversary.