Guests inaugurate the Arindam Drama Festival by releasing pigeons at Shilpakala Academy in the port city on Friday. The festival was organised marking 40 years of independence. Star Photo

Healthy mothers a must for meritorius generation
Lamaker Moinuddin Khan Badal at a roundtable on Sunday said, “If we want scientists and economists for our new generation then we have to provide nutrition to our mothers as a good mother is needed for a good child.”
The roundtable titled “Review on the service of government and non-government organisations for safe maternity and child health” was organised by Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA) at the auditorium of Chittagong District Council.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Development) Khaled Mamun Chowdhury, Deputy Director of Department of Health Dr Kazi Shafiqul Alam, Dr Sheikh Rukunuddin, councillors of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Rekha Alam and Gias Ahmed also spoke with BITA Executive Director Shishir Dutta in the chair.

Tribute paid to Swapan Chowdhury
Industries Minister Dilip Barua at a memorial meeting as the chief guest on Saturday said the country was yet to be established free from all kinds of exploitation that was the demand of the War of Liberation.
“New generation must come forward with responsibility for completing the unfinished task of the War of Liberation for which the freedom fighters and patriotic man like Swapan Chowdhury sacrificed their lives”, Barua said.
Shaheed Muktijoddha Swapan Chowdhury Smaran Sabha Udjapan Committee organised the meeting at the auditorium of Chittagong Press Club, marking the 40th martyrdom of Swapan Chowdhury, the then Bangladesh Liberation Front (BLF) central commander and one of the members of the nucleus of building independent Bangladesh.
Lawmaker Mainuddin Khan Badal, former Chittagong City Corporation mayor also Chittagong City Awami League President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Muktijuddha Research Centre Chairman Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, CPC President Abu Sufian, JSD leader Indu Nandan Dutta, Muktijoddha Sangsad district Commander Md Shahabuddin, FF commanders Golam Rabbani and BLF Commander Anwarul Azim also spoke at the discussion with Committee's Convener Mazharul Haque Shah Chowdhury in the chair.

Discussion on river management held
A two-day long programme including exhibition, discussion and film screening on the river and coastal management was held at auditorium of Alliance Française de Chittagong in the port city recently.
Alliance Française de Chittagong in collaboration with the Institut Français and its Bio-diversity Club organised the programme titled “Aquatik”.
Dr Samuel Berthet, Director of Alliance Française de Chittagong, inaugurated the programme as the chief guest.
The first day of the programme highlighted exhibition and a discussion on “Rehabilitation of the Mont-Saint Michel's Maritime Character”.
The discussion focused on anti-salt and anti-silting dam which has been successfully built in the Mount Saint-Michel Bay, a world heritage site under Unesco for its exceptional natural and architectural quality.
Shajid Hossain, director of Bangladesh Marine Academy, Adil Husain, president of Alliance Française de Chittagong and Dr Ashok K Kesari of Asian University for Women spoke at the programme.
A roundtable titled “Dams and River Management in France and Bangladesh” on the second day.
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) Vice-Chancellor Dr Shyamal Kanti Biswas, Cuet Assistant Professors Reaz Akter Mullick and Dr Aysha Akter, Engineers Bidhan Barua, Q Rokan U Ahmed, coastal hydraulic engineer Md Mobassarul Hasan, The Daily Star Bureau Chief Raisul Huq Bahar, Prof Md Mozammel Haque and Denis Carlier spoke at the discussion.

Contribution of Bhupen Hazarika recalled
A memorial meeting was held in the port city on Saturday to pay homage to the famous singer of the sub-continent Bhupen Hazarika.
Speakers said the music genius, also revolutionary singer, told stories of the people deprived of humanity and rights through his singing.
Chittagong Cultural Academy organised the event on the DC Hill premises where Premier University Vice Chancellor Prof Anupam Sen addressed as the chief guest.
Dr Anupam said now young generation was deprived of hearing songs of Bhupen Hazarika.
Begum Mushtari Shafi and columnist Kamrul Hasan Badal spoke at the event with Mahbubul Alam Talukdar in the chair.
Rashed Hasn and Mili Chowdhury recited poems and Shahrier Khaled, Aklima Akhtar and Golam Sarowar rendered songs of Bhupen Hazarika.
The programme was ended with screening a documentary titled “Bhupen Hazarika”.

World Dignity Day observed
The “World Dignity Day -2011” was observed in the port city on Monday with a call to establish dignity for all.
Bangladesh Dignity Forum, Chittagong formed a human chain followed by a rally on the Chittagong Press Club premises marking the day.
The Forum Convener Dr Syed Didarul Munir Rubel presided over the meeting while East Delata Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Sikandar Khan spoke as the chief guest at the programme.
Speakers at the rally urged the government to establish dignity of the people from all walks of life like rich, poor, the persons with disabilities, different cast and races.
Forum Member Secretary Salauddin Kabir Suman, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Kalyan Sangstha President Lion Mahruful Haque Chowdhury, Barnali President Saroj Kanti Das, Jano Uddyag Coordinator Sharif Chauhan, Sanshaptak Chief Executive Shaurabh Baua, Park Chief Executive Nazrul Islam Manna, NGO Forum, Chittagong local Executive Md Rafiqul Islam spoke at the rally.

JUDO champion in PU debate
Jahangirnagar University Debate Organisation (JUDO) became the champions of the first National Debate Festival of Premier University Debating Society (PUDS), defeating PU Nalanda team held on the PU Wasa campus in the port city on Sunday.
Saifuddin Munna of Premier University (PU) and Matiur Munna of Chittagong University (CU) won the award of the best debater of the final and best debater of the competition respectively.
Premier University Vice Chancellor Dr Anupam Sen spoke as the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the festival. Journalist M Nasirul Haque and Dristi Chittagong President Masud Bokul were present as special guests with Dean of Faculties of PU Dr Iftekher Uddin in the chair. Convener of the festival Sanjoy Biswas and PUDS President Arman Habib also spoke at the meeting.
Dr Anupam said, “Logic is the base of knowledge and debating helps practise of logical knowledge. It also plays a significant role in growing confidence among the students which will help them do better in personal life.
Later, Dr Sen distributed awards among the teams.
A total of 24 teams from 18 private and public universities from across the country took part in the debate festival held on the PU campus from December 1-4.