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Head lines STAFF CORRESPONDENT, The Daily Star The journalists of the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) demanded immediate reinstatement of their colleagues who were sacked recently. In a meeting, the BSS unit of DUJ (Dhaka Union of Journalist) expressed deep anguish over the sacking of nine journalists and termed the act of the present management of BSS politically motivated. The meeting was held at the newsroom of the agency yesterday. The newsmen also expressed concern that the BSS management has made a list of 45 more journalists to put them under the axe. Presided over by Ajit Kumar Sarker, BSS unit chief, the meeting was addressed by M Shajahan Mian, Kazi Maksudul Hasan, Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, Delwar Hossain, Harun Habib, Sayed Afzal Hossain, Masud Chowdhury, Amirul Momenin and Akhter Ahmad Khan, Kazi Rafique and Mollah Jalal. The Daily Star Palli Shishu Foundation of Bangladesh (PSF) organised a day-long workshop with the staff of head office and regional offices at its office in the city on Friday to mark the International Women's Day, says a press release. The workshop was presided over by PSF secretary general Razaul Karim. The Director of the Foundation presented the key-note paper. In the workshop, the female staff of legal aid project emphasised the facts that the most effective way to ensure women's empowerment is to allow them to participate in the shalish (mediation) process. Palli Shishu Foundation of Bangladesh formed 1,480 village shalish committees and mediated 12,094 disputes mostly women related with the assistance of these committees in its working areas, which are participated by women in large number. Quazi Amanullah, Khulna, The Daily Star At least 50 rape incidents took place in different districts of the southwestern zone in last one month. Of them, three incidents led to post-rape killings and ten were gangrapes. Also raped were eight minor girls. Most of the parents of rape victims came under attacks by the rapists when they came to their daughters' rescue. Moreover, they were threatened with murder when they wanted to lodge cases against them. On February 11, Moina Begum, 42, mother of nine, was gangraped and killed at Marniar Beel under Rupsha thana, sources said. On February 16, China Begum, 30, of Machakhola village of Satkhira Sadar upazila, was gangraped and murdered. Also gangraped and killed was Kulsum, 18, of Lokpur village under Fakirhat thana in Bagerhat. The body was recovered from Mollahat upazila on February 22. Of 50 cases, 31 were registered with police stations. With eight incidents, Satkhira district tops the list. Seven cases were recorded in Jessore, six in Khulna, three in Bagerhat, two in Jhenidah, two in Magura and one in Chuadanga, Narail and Meherpur each during the period. Failing to get justice and security, some victims tried to commit suicide out of desperation. On February 24, Shoiabur Rahman, a student of Islamic University, allegedly raped a minor girl. A resident of Khajura village under Jhenidah Sadar upazila, the girl threatened to kill herself by pouring petrol on her body, when police refused to arrest the rapist. A Hindu housewife was raped in front of her school-going son and daughter at her house in Beel Khalia village under Ashashuni upazila on the night of February 4. Threatened by the rapists, allegedly cadres of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the housewife made two attempts to commit suicide. The woman told Satkhira reporters that police refused to record her case, which encouraged the rapists to issue further rape threats on her. Karim, who allegedly raped a minor girl at a house at Ashashuni Sadar upazila, has been arrested. But his associates are intimidating her parents into withdrawing the case. The alleged BNP cadre, Gokul Das, 28, who raped a dumb girl on the night of February 15 in Dhulgram village under Abhoynagar thana, is yet to be arrested. Deprived of necessary healthcare facilities, the victim is battling for her life. Police drove the persons, who wanted to file a case, out of the police station. On February 17, an advocate raped a mentally retarded woman thrice at Ghosepara under Satkhira Sadar thana. The advocate is still at large, while the victim has been missing since the incident. Police did not arrest the advocate despite demand for his arrest by the local people and leaders of the Satkhira Human Rights Commission, the sources said. Demonstrate highest level of competence, PM urges BDR The Independent Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday expressed her belief that the members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) would demonstrate their highest level of professional competence in facing any challenge of protecting the country’s frontiers as well as the national independence, reports BSS. "You (BDR) will have to maintain your professional standard at any cost in protecting the country’s frontiers," Begum Zia asked the members of BDR while speaking at a function organised on the occasion of BDR Week at its headquarters. Lauding the courageous role played by BDR members, the Prime Minister said the nation felt proud of the courage and heroism demonstrated by the members of BDR in Padua and Baraibari frontiers recently. Begum Zia said her government was aware of the development, expansion and modernisation of BDR and added steps have already been taken to create six more BDR battalions and time befitting organisational structure. Earlier on her arrival at the BDR headquarters, Begum Zia was received by Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar and Director General of BDR Major General Rezakul Haider. The Prime Minister reviewed the parade and took salute from the smartly turned out contingent of BDR. Begum Zia also distributed BDR Padak to three of its members and President Rifles Padak to five members as recognition of their courageous role. Those who got BDR Padak were: M Abdul Kader (Posthumously), M Wahid Mia (Posthumously) and M Mahfuzur Rahman (Posthumously). All three died during their fight against the enemy forces in Padua and Baraibari frontiers recently. The recipients of the President Rifles Padak were: M Abdul Gani, M Nurul Islam, M Abu Bakar Siddique, M Habibur Rahman and S M Zahidunnabi. During the parade, the BDR members also displayed evolutionary changes of the force, the oldest paramilitary organisation in the country. The British government organised this force with natives and in 1958 the force was vested with additional task of anti-smuggling campaign. After the independence of the country, this force was renamed as "Bangladesh Rifles" in 1972. Underlining the need for stopping smuggling at any cost for the sake of national economy, the prime minister urged the members of BDR to discharge their duties in curbing smuggling and maintaining law and order in the border. Describing the smugglers as enemies of the country, its people and economy also, Begum Zia said that there was no scope of compromise or slackness in curbing smuggling. She asked the BDR members to use their might for strengthening the base of national economy through checking smuggling effectively. Begum Zia assured them of extending any kind of support from the government to stop smuggling. The Prime Minister said the members of BDR had already demonstrated their professional skill and sincerity in the maintenance of law and order, tackling emergency situation and disaster management. She said the role of BDR in maintaining law and order during the last parliamentary elections had helped consolidate democratic process and hence brightened the image of BDR as an institution to the people. Begum Zia expressed the hope that the BDR members would earn confidence and love of people through their skill, dedication and professional excellence. She said that despite resource constraints her government would make efforts for the development of this force. Recalling the turmoil in the days of liberation war, Begum Zia said the history of independence was closely linked with Pilkhana, the place where BDR headquarters is located and the then EPR. She said on the night of March 25, 1971, the members of then EPR came under the attack by the occupation forces first and added Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had declared independence of the country at that critical juncture of the nation. The Prime Minister paid rich tributes to the memories of 819 members of this force including Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheikh and Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rauf who had laid down their lives during the nine-month long War of Liberation. Later, addressing BDR officers at the "Darbar" Begum Zia termed the members of BDR as ever vigilant guard of the border and reminded them of their duties of safeguarding the national independence, sovereignty and integrity. The Prime Minister said the responsibilities of BDR are not limited to only protecting the frontiers and curbing smuggling, rather those have been expanded and diversified. She said heroism and courage shown by the BDR members during "Operation Naf" and also in the borders of Padua and Roumari had glorified the nation. Begum Zia said that the government would take necessary steps to involve the members of BDR into other constructive and development activities side by side with stopping smuggling and protecting the border. Begum Zia said the members of BDR would have to be involved with the government’s social initiative to curb terrorism for which people had voted the BNP to power. The Prime Minister expressed her determination to check terrorism and create peaceful atmosphere for helping people live in peace, flourish trade and business, ensure development and encourage both local and foreign investment. In his speech, Director General of BDR Major General Rezakul Haider gave a brief resume of successes and problems of BDR. BEES launches project to eliminate child labour from leather factories by Staff Reporter, The Independent Bangladesh Extension Education Services (BEES), a non-government organisation, yesterday launched a project to stop recruitment and eliminate child labour from the leather factories at Hajaribag in Dhaka city. A total of 447 children who are working in 30 leather factories of the area will be provided with non-formal education and vocational training under the project for their rehabilitation after withdrawing them from the hazardous job, BEES officials said. Sujeewa Fonseka, Chief Technical Adviser, USDOL Project of ILO Dhaka office, inaugurated the launching ceremony of the project at a function at Hazaribag Tannery Workers Union office yesterday. Presided over by BEES Executive Director Saiful Islam Robin, the function was addressed by SAMM Nuruddin, senior vice-chairman, Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footware Exporters Association, Haji Mohammad Abdul Hai, Secretary General, Bangladesh Tanners Association, Abul Kalam Azad, president, Hazaribag Tannery Workers Union, Abul Khayer Manik, President, Bangladesh Leather Manufacturers Association and Abul Khayer Sajjad, General Secretary, Bangladesh Chamra O Chamrajat Shilpa Sramik Karmachary Federation. Sujeewa Fonseka stressed the need for cooperation among factory owners, workers unions, NGOs, community leaders and parents to eliminate child labour. He said that export of leather and leather goods from Bangladesh will increase if child labour was eliminated from the sector. About rehabilitation of child labour, SAMM Nuruddin proposed that each factory take the responsibility at least two child labourers to bear their cost of education and support their families.
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