Call for writing

On the occasion of 25^th anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council (PCP), is going to publish the 'Silver Memoriam' on up coming 20 May. We are calling for the memoriam publication to writing of the following topics: 

Shahid Sudirgha, Sukhen, Gunendu and Jiban Chakma's first death anniversary celebrated

On 12 March 2014 the 1^st remembrance meeting of Shahid Sudirgha, Sukhen, Gunendu and Jiban Chakma's death anniversary took places at Dighinala in Khagrachari. Total 450 participants attended this meeting and amongst them 100 members of the Chittaggong Hill Tracts Hill Students' council (PCP) and 350 students from the Dighinala school and college. This programme was organised by PCP.

The inaugural session of the remembrance meeting chaired by the president of PCP Sri Aung San thwee Marma Khilu and the general secretary of PCJSS (MN Larma) Sri Tatindra Lal Chakma alias Mejor Pele attended as chief guest. Besides, general secretary of PCP Mr. Amar Sing Chakma, assistant-secretary Mr. Knowledge Chakma Gyano, finance secretary Mr. Purna Kishur Chakma and Khagrachari district unit president Mr. Rupan Chakma also delivered speech of this meeting as special guest. Dighinala upazila unit president of PCP Mr. Sunamoni Chakma delivered welcome speech and this meeting conducted by Mr. Santa Chakma, the organizing secretary of PCP.

Note that on March 12, 2014 Shahid Sudirgha, Sukhen, Gunendu and Jiban Chakma were gone in order to build up public opinion against the "fratricidal conflict" an organizational activity, was brutally murdered by armed terrorists of Mr. Santu Larma at Dajarpara of Langadu in Rangamati. 

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On 13 March 2013 the New Age, a daily newspaper published a report on this accident. To continue reading this news here: http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-03-13&nid=42789#.UhJtQKxlW1s

CHT interim parishad expanded

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune | Monday, March 10, 2014 Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/mar/10/cht-interim-parishad-expanded

The expansion favours majority of ethnic minorities

Seven representatives of the ethnic minority will be members of the expanded interim organogram of the Parbatya Chhattagram Zila Parishad.

The cabinet has approved the expansion of the interim Zila Parishads of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban in a regular meeting on Monday.

The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the Parbatya Chhattagram Zila Parishad (amended) Act, 2014.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed the media afterwards.

The expanded body of the Zila Parishad will constitute of 11 members, including a chairman, in contrary to the preceding five-member structure.

Representatives of the ethnic minority will take seven seats in this interim body. The three remaining seats will be allowed for non-ethnic origin.

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See more at : http://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/article755466.bdnews

President visits Buddhist temples in Ramu

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune | Monday, March 10, 2014

The Bangladesh Army has rebuilt, renovated these Buddhist temples and Bihars

President Abdul Hamid has visited several rebuilt Buddhist temples and centers at Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar district.

During the visit on Monday , the president enquired about the wellbeing of local Buddhist community and distributed cheques to the affected members of the community, president's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said, reports BSS .

At first, the president visited U-maungrhee Bihar where four temples have been rebuilt. After that, the President went to Ramu Kendriyo Sima Bihar and distributed cheques to the affected families. Finally, the president visited Ramu Bimukti Bidarshan Bhavana Kendra.

President Abdul Hamid expressed his satisfaction after seeing the rebuilt Buddhist temples and rehabilitation of the affected Buddhists community.

After visiting the Buddhist temples, President Abdul Hamid returned to Dhaka by a helicopter Monday afternoon ending his two-day visit to Cox's Bazar district.

A large number of people from all walks of life, gathered beside the roads in Ramu to have a glimpse of the President.

On September 29 and 30 in 2012, fanatics vandalized and torched Buddhist temples and houses in Ramu and Ukhia upazials of Cox's Bazar following a fake Facebook post that demeaned the Holy Quran.

Some 12 temples and Bihars in Ramu and seven in Ukhia were damaged on that day following the instigation of some fanatics and miscreants.

After the disgraceful incidents, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed Bangladesh Army to rebuilt these temples and Bihars under a project, titled 'Rebuilding and Renovation of damaged Buddhist Bihars and Temples,' spending Tk 20 crore.

The Bangladesh Army rebuilt and renovated these Buddhist temples and Bihars in 19 separate places incorporating the traditional designs of the renowned architects from the Buddhist community.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 12 Buddhist temples and Bihars, including Ramu Bimukti Bidarshan Bhavana Kendra, Ramu Kendriyo Sima Bihar and Ramu Moitree Bihar on September 3 in

2013.

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Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/mar/10/president-visits-buddhist-temples-ramu

Nat’l minority girl raped in Khagrachari

Courtesy: New Age, Dhaka | Saturday, March 8, 2014 | Link: http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2014-03-08&nid=85896#.UxuyJj_xoiJ

A national minority girl was raped in Manikchari upazila of Khagrachari on Friday.
Police arrested three people in this connection.

They are Shahidul Islam, 25, son of Samsul Haque, Mahbub Alam, 27, son of Sohrab Howlader, and Billal Hossain, 24, son of Fazlur Farazi.

Police and locals said the girl, aged 19, was gang raped at a jungle in Pichlatala area in the afternoon.

The girl was going home in Manikchari form Khagrachari town. She got down from a bus at Gabmara. After that, she hired the motorcycle of Shahidul to reach home but Shahidul stopped the vehicle at Pichlatala saying the motorcycle was out of order, said Manikchari union chairman Abul Kalam.

Meanwhile, Shahidul called the two others — Mahbub and Billal — over mobile phone and took the girl to a nearby jungle and raped her, he said.

After the girl managed to flee, she related the incident to the people at a shop in the area, the chairman added.
Locals, led by the UP chairman, conducted a search in the area, caught the trio and handed them over to police, Manikchari police officer-in-charge Keshab Chakrabartee said.

National minorities in the district held protests against the rape and in an instant reaction blocked the Khagrachari-Chittagong highway for an hour in the afternoon.

The OC said a case was filed against the three in this connection. Khagrachari police assistant superintendent Mohammad Shahjahan said the girl was now in police custody. She has identified the three and given a statement.

Int’l Women’s Day today

Courtesy: New Age, Dhaka | Saturday, March 8, 2014 

Link : http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2014-03-08&nid=85888#.UxtIiz_xoiI

International Women’s Day will be observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere today with a fresh vow to ensure equality of the sexes.
This year’s theme for Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8 every year, is: ‘Equality for women means progress for all.’

In a statement, the president, Mohammad Abdul Hamid, said that women’s overall equality would be ensured in Bangladesh by effective implementation of the National Women Development Policy 2011, work plan and the relevant laws and rules.

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said that the people should work together for building a country free from poverty, illiteracy, violence and exploitation which would ensure women’s empowerment, equality and full participation in development.  

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in his message, said ‘This International Women’s Day, we are highlighting the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.’

Different institutions and organisations have taken elaborate programmes marking the day.
Communist Party of Bangladesh’s women cell on Friday organised a rally marking the day while the discussants urged the country people to prevent all exploitation, discrimination and repression against women. 

United National Awami Party held a discussion marking the day. 
Amrai Pari Paribarik Nirjatan Pratirodh Jote and Dhaka University held a candlelight vigil with the theme ‘Stop using religion in state politics; ensure equal rights and development for women’ at the Central Shaheed Minar after midnight past Friday. The same programme was scheduled to be observed in 47 districts. 

Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees’ League will form a rally in front of the National Press Club at 10:30am today pressing for ensuring maternal facilities and safe workplace for women workers in apparel sector. 
Bikkhubdha Nari Samaj will organise day-long programmes including procession, rally and painting exhibition. 

Naripakkha will stage a drama with the theme ‘Sexual harassment and violence in marital affairs’ at Chhayanaut Bhaban at 6:30pm.
Biplabi Nari Sanghati will hold a rally in front of the National Museum at 5:00pm.
Jatiya Mukti Council, Nayaganatantrik Ganamorcha, Jatiya Ganatantrik Ganamancha and Jatiya Ganafront will jointly organise a rally in front of the National Press Club at 3:30pm. 
Sramajibi Nari Oikkaya will organise a rally in front of the National Press Club at 10:30am. 
Muktir Mancha will organise a cultural programme in front of the National Press Club at 3:00pm.

The idea of an international women’s day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century. In 1910 the first international women’s conference was held in Copenhagen by the Second International and an international women’s day was established by German Socialist Clara Zetkin. 

In 1911, International Women’s Day was marked by more than a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19. 
In 1913, International Women’s Day was transferred to March 8 and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since.
In 1975, the United Nations started celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day.

- See more at: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_Women-still-facing-discrimination_787_1_1_1_10.html#sthash.UoP3563B.dpuf

Save indigenous women in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh