Dhaka, Sept 24 (UNB) – The country celebrated the Meena day on Monday aiming to achieve government’s goals of ensuring hundred percent school enrolment of children and preventing student’s drop out.

The day is being celebrated with the theme- ‘Mayer Deya Khabar Khai, Moner Anonde School a Jai’.

The directorate of primary education organised a programme at its auditorium in Mirpur where Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman was present as the chief guest. 

Md Akram-Al-Hossain, secretary of Primary Education Ministry, was present as special guest and Dr. Md. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal (NDC), director general of the directorate presided over the programme.

Popular magician Jewel Aich took part in the programme.

Besides, puppet show and muppet show were arranged along with cultural programme.

The day is celebrated every year in the country since 1998 after Meena became the most popular animated girl character that stands for child rights and gender equality.
 

Dhaka, Sept 24 (UNB) – Dhaka Clean-up Campaign, organised by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in the capital on April 13 last, has hit the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest clean-up campaign.

DSCC Public Relations Officer Zakir Hossain told UNB that authorities of the Guinness Book of World Records published it at their website on Monday.

The DSCC in collaboration with Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh arranged the programme to raise awareness among people to make the city a clean and a healthy one. 

The initiative was taken to create awareness among people that practising hygiene should not be limited to personal life only; rather it should be practised at a community level to build a clean city.

Over 20,000 people, including members of Rover Scouts, Bangladesh National Cadet Core (BNCC), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Fire Service, celebrities, actors, students from educational institutions and social activists, took to the streets with brooms spontaneously to set the record.

The previous record was set by India’s Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) last year as more than 5,000 people took part in a clean-up drive in the Indian city.
 

Dhaka, Sept 23 (UNB) - The government has imposed a 22-day ban on catching, selling and transporting hilsa in a 7,000-km breeding ground to ensure the safe spawning of this popular fish during its peak breeding period.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Taskforce formed to implement the ‘Mother hilsa protection campaign 2018’ held on Sunday with Fisheries and Livestock Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda in the chair, said PID handout.

The objective of the restriction from October 7 to October 28 is to save mother hilsa which lays eggs during the period.

There will be a ban on catching of all kinds of fish in the rivers of 37 districts during the period, the handout said.

At the meeting, the minister urged all, including fishermen and fishermen’s associations, to help make the countrywide programme a success.
 

Dhaka, Sep 23 (UNB) – Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Sunday urged the government to form a neutral poll-time government and reconstitute the Election Commission (EC) before the upcoming general election.

He also strongly slammed the Digital Security Act 2018 stating that it facilitates the law enforcers to arrest, seize and raid anyone without warrant, said a press release.

The Digital Security Bill 2018 was passed in parliament on September 20.

“A national unity has been formed with demands for a fair election, rule of law and democracy”, he said and urged all to spread this unity to districts, upazilas and villages across the country.

Earlier on September 23, Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya along with Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukto Front formally announced the journey of a “greater national unity” to ensure “functional democracy” in the country through holding a credible national election where later BNP also joined.
 

Dhaka, Sept 23 (UNB) - Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Panel Mayor Osman Gani, who died in a Singapore hospital on Saturday morning, was laid to eternal rest here on Sunday evening.

He was buried at Banani Graveyard in the evening following 2nd namaz-e-janaza at Alatunnesa School and College field in Badda after Asr prayers.

Osman Gani, who had been suffering from lungs cancer, breathed his last at Singapore General Hospital around 8:35am on Saturday at the age of 69.

The body of the late DNCC panel mayor arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a flight of Singapore Airlines around 11:45 am today where DNCC Panel Mayor-2 Md Jamal Mostafa, Panel Mayor-3 Aleya Sarwar Daisy and Chief Executive Officer Md Mezbahul Islam received it.

Later, his body was taken to Gulshan DNCC Nagar Bhaban around 2pm after 1st janaza at Azad Mosque of Gulshan after Zohr prayers. 

DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon, local MP AKM Rahmatullah, Secretary of PMO Sajjadul Hasan, Panel Mayor-2 Md Jamal Mostafa, officials and employees of the DNCC and people all walks of life attended the janaza.

After the janaza, they paid their last respects to the late panel mayor.

From the Nagar Bhaban, the body was taken to his Badda residence and then it was taken to Banani Graveyard after the 2nd Janaza.

A doa mahfil will be organised at the DNCC Nagar Bhaban on September 25.