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The foreign minister, M Morshed Khan, on Friday urged the Thai government to invest more in agro-processing and horticulture in Bangladesh.
   He sought Thai cooperation to hold Bangladesh exhibitions in Thailand to introduce local products to Thai people
   Morshed addressed opening of the three-day Thailand Exhibition 2005 in the Institution of Engineers auditorium in Chittagong as chief guest.
   The Department of Export Promotion and the ministry of commerce of Thailand organised the fair.
   Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and honorary trade adviser to the Thai commerce ministry in Chittagong Jasim U Ahmed were special guests.
   Thai ambassador Suphat Chitranukroh and the minister counsellor (commercial) of the Thai embassy, Kanyarat Vongskul, were present.
   ‘Bangladesh imported goods worth about $238.18 million from Thailand in the financial year 2004; and Bangladesh exports to Thailand amounted to $22.79 million,’ Morshed said, describing the trade gap between the two countries.
   He said Bangladesh had made a decision on outsourcing management, operation and maintenance of Shah Amanat International Airport to the Thai International Airways.
   The countries also agreed on cooperation and collaboration in hospital management, capacity building in nurse training, tourism, hotel management and agro-based industries.
   ‘The direct air link between Chiang Mai and Chittagong brought the people of the cities closer and the Thai citizens may visit Bangladesh on business purpose as tourism,’ he said.
   Morshed appreciated the Thai decision of giving duty concession on 229 Bangladeshi products on their entrance into Thai market.
   Chitranukroh said trade between the two countries was increasing day by day. Bangladesh might increase the market of its products in Thailand by holding exhibitions there, he said.
   Thirty-nine Thai manufacturers have set up 46 stalls in the exhibition to display their products.
   The products include automobile parts and accessories, chemical products, games and toys, construction materials, machines, electronic appliances, food products and beverage, furniture, garments, textile and fashion accessories, leather products, hospital and medical equipment, computer accessories and service trade such as treatment and education.
   The organisers expected that 15,000 people would visit the exhibition. About 12,000 people visited that Thai fair in 2004.
   The exhibition will remain open to businessmen on the first two days between 11:00am and 7:00pm; the fair will remain open to the public on the last day.

The AIESEC Bangladesh chapter began the seven-day Asia-Pacific Exchange Leadership Development Seminar 2005 in Dhaka on Friday.
   The theme of this year’s event is ‘Unveiling passion with tradition’.
   The seminar aims to enhance learning, cultural understanding, information and society responsiveness, entrepreneurship, and promote corporate social responsibility.
   The Privatisation Commission chairman, Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, opened the programme as chief guest at
   the International School, Dhaka at Bashundhara.
   AIESEC is the world’s largest student organisation, a global network of 50,000 members in more than 89 countries and territories at more than 800 universities worldwide.
   The association was established in 1948 and the Bangladesh chapter was formed in 1997 by the students of the North South University.
   Enam said this is the spirit of youth which should dominate the world. He urged the young people to work together to make the world a better place.
   The North South University vice-chancellor, Hafiz GA Siddiqi, said the seminar would help to develop leadership among the participants.
   AIESEC Asia Pacific director Liv Flores and its Bangladesh chapter president Shamnoon Muheb Chowdhury also spoke.
   The seminar has 160 delegates from 17 countries of the Asia-Pacific and Europe.
   The organisers said the conference is the largest youth conference Bangladesh has ever organised.
   A fair, Global Village, was also opened on the occasion to promote culture, tourism and cuisine of the different countries joining the conference.
   A cultural function was held where delegates performed traditional songs and dances in traditional dresses.

Several hundred young people, from across the country and the UK, gathered at the Connecting Futures Festival to develop and expand mutual understanding and respect. The British Council Bangladesh organised the 5-day festival as part of the UK’s global initiative.
   State minister for education, Ehsanul Haque Milan, inaugurated the event on Friday morning.
   A colourful rally was brought out by the participants who paraded different parts of Dhaka University campus.
   Through forum theatre, literature, photography, creative arts, quizzes and folk shows, young people will interact and explore the issues of diversity, tolerance and mutual respect.
   Milan urged the young people to build a new global village based on equity, prosperity and mutual respect for each other.
   June Rollinson, director of the British Council, described the objectives of the festival, which is the first of its kind in Bangladesh.
   The festival is intended to showcase components of the project like promoting adda for creating mutual respect and understanding, parliamentary debates for cultural appreciation, youth forum for democracy, developing life skills and leadership though dialogue and training, and theatre in education for HIV/AIDS awareness among young people.

Bunches of tiny green mangoes called chaitra karali are in abundance in mango trees of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj indicating a good harvest this year.
   The Mango Research Centre in Chapainawabganj and fruit traders said this year is an ‘on year’ and they are expecting a bumper yield of mango, if the climate favours. In every alternative year mango grows in plenty.
   Varieties like Gopalbhog, Mohanbhog, Khirshapati, Lengra, Amrapali, Lakshmanbhog grow in plenty in the region. However, production of Fazli may decrease this season.
   ‘Most of the mango orchards have been sold in advance by mid-February,’ said a mango trader. ‘The price was comparatively high this year.’
   The Department of Agricultural Extension officials said 1.2 lakh tonnes of mangoes were produced in Chapainawabganj in 2004, although that was an ‘off year.’ A total of 19,400 hectares of land in five upazilas of the district were brought under mango cultivation.
   Besides, nine upazilas including Rajshahi sadar, produced about 50,000 metric tonnes of mangoes on 10,000 hectares of land. There are some large mango plantations at Bagha, Charghat, Godagari and Paba upazilas.
   The production of mango has been reduced in Rajshahi over the past decade because of urbanisation in adjacent areas of the city.
   The agricultural extension department said green mangoes are still in good condition in 1.2 million trees on over 19,000 hectares of land in Chapainawab-ganj. A total of 300,000 tonnes of mangoes are expected to be produced this year.

The award ceremony for the winners of the East West University-Prothom Alo-Mutual Trust Bank students' quiz competition was held in university auditorium on Wednesday.
   The minister for health and family welfare, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, was chief guest and the American Centre director, Jonathan Cebra,
   was special guest, said a release.
   Mosharraf appreciated the initiatives of the East West University, Prothom Alo and the Mutual Trust Bank in holding the competition. He said such activities will prepare the students as the leaders of tomorrow.
   The minister also visited the pharmacy laboratory of the university.
   About 37,000 students from across the country joined the competition, held between November 22 and December 5, 2004.
   Thirty-three prizes were distributed among the winners. A set of the Encyclopedia Britannica was given as the first prize, a personal computer as the second and a set of Banglapedia as the third prize.
   Md Shakhawat Hossain, a student of Class IX of Par Ranir Para High School, Gabtali, Bogra, won the first prize.
   Tamanna-E-Kawneign of Azizul Huq College, Bogra, won the second prize; Nazia Akhter of MC College, Sylhet, won the third prize.
   The founder vice-chancellor and the university board president, Mohammed Farashuddin, Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman, and Mutual Trust Bank chairman Syed Manzur Elahi were also present.

The Presidency University celebrated the 35th Independence Day in the capital on Thursday along with poet and educationist Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, said a release.
   Professor Sayeed received the 2004 Ramon Magsaysay Award for journalism, literature and creative communication arts.
   The university English department chair, Arifa Rahman, also chairman of the university’s Student Activity Club, opened the ceremony.
   The acting vice-chancellor, MA. Baqui Khalily, concluded the ceremony followed by a cultural.

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh held a discussion, followed by a cultural programme, to mark Independence Day on its Mohakhali campus Thursday morning, said a news release.
   The university board chairman, Begum Ameenah Ahmed, presided at the discussion. The vice-chancellor, Kazi Shahid Ahmed, pro-vice-chancellor Rafiqul Islam, humanities dean Razia Khan Amin and business dean Salahuddin Ahmed joined in.
   The academic affairs director, Kazi Anis Ahmed, acting science and technology dean HM Zohirut Islam, teachers and officials were also present.

Matir Mayna
show begins
A three-day screening of Matir Mayna, a film based on the war of impendence, began at Shawkat Osman Memorial Auditorium of the Central Public Library in Dhaka on Friday. Cultural organisation Tapur Tupur Entertainment organised the show. Tapur Tupur executive director Wahidul Islam and Matir Mayna director Tareque Masud spoke.
— UNB

Award ceremony at Rajshahi school
The Rajshahi mayor, Mizanur Rahman Minu, at an award ceremony of the Mission Girls’ High School in the Rajshahi city on Thursday, said the government is committed to ensure education for girls. With the school governing body vice-president, Swapan, in the chair, the function was addressed by Rajshahi University syndicate member Saleh Uddin Baby, Secondary and Higher Education Department deputy director Sirajum Munira, district education officer Sadhan Kumar Bishwas and the headmistress, Mina Hembrom.
— BSS

Fake bomb at
Khulna clinic
A fake bomb was hurled at a clinic on Ahsan Ahmed Road in the Khulna city at about 8:30pm on Friday. The assistant commissioner of the Khulna Metropolitan Police, Zahurul Haque, said it was no explosive and was hurled only to create panic. The police and the Rapid Action Battalion recovered the object. No one was injured. The police said no case had been filed.
— New Age

Khulna freedom fighters’ demands
Jatir Shrestha Santan, a newly formed organisation of freedom fighters in Khulna, at a briefing at the Khulna Press Club Friday noon, put forth a 10-point charter of demand. Unit commander Md Omar Farukh read out a speech. Rahmatullah Dadu Bir Pratik, Khijir Ali Bir Bikram, Hasan Rumi, Sheikh Abu Hasan Bakul, Quazi Ali Mostofa and Mujibar Rahman Shikder were present. The demands included reserved seats for freedom fighters in Jatiya Sangsad, pension allowance, free transport and treatment, identification of fake freedom fighters and punishment for them, freedom fighter members on all election boards and free education for their children.
— New Age

Rajshahi University alumni reunion
The Rajshahi University Old Students’ Association held a reunion of the university alumni in the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday. Professor Zillur Rahman Siddique, former state minister for information Professor Abu Said, former minister Sardar Amjad Hossain, the association president, Md Hafizur Rahman Chandan, and secretary general Subrata Chow-dhury spoke.
— BDNews