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A seven-day housing fair of Sheltech, a leading real estate company of the country, begins in the Dhaka city today.
   The Sheltech is going to arrange the fair when the country’s businesses started feeling the pinch of global recession, Toufiq M Seraj, managing director of the real estate firm, said at a press conference on Monday.
   The target is to sell around 1200 flats built in about 50 housing projects in the city at discount rate, he said.
   The fair to be held at Sheltech’s own building at Panthapath in the city, will remain open to buyers from 10:00am to 7:00pm everyday.
   Seraj said sale of flats and apartments has alarmingly slowed down during the last three to four months because of the impact of global recession.
   ‘We have invested a huge amount of money for building 1200 flats in 40 to 50 projects and the objective of the fair is to sell the flats immediately to recover the investment,’ he said.
   And towards the end, flats will be sold at a discount rate with bank loan facilities, Seraj, said.
   He also said the customers would be given concessions in down payments with the facilities of more than 70 per cent bank loans,’ he said, adding, ‘The first 10 buyers will get a lucrative discount and benefits.’
   ‘The price of the flats will range from Tk 3150 per sq ft to Tk 8000 per sq ft,’ he said.
   Seraj, also the former president of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, urged the government to take realistic measures to enable the real estate sector to cope with the global meltdown.
   ‘In 2006, around 7000 flats were sold, while the sector experienced a very sluggish sale in 2007 and 2008,’ Seraj said.
   He urged the government to take immediate steps to simplify the rules and regulations for real estate business, besides offering stimulus package.
   High bank interest rate is the main hindrance to the growth of the sector, he observed, saying, ‘Interests rate of bank loans should be reduced and at the same time, land registration fees and other fees should be lowered significantly.’

A group of youths went berserk on the campus of the Noakhali University of Science and Technology on Monday, demanding appointment of some local people in the university.
   Campus sources said some youths gathered at the administrative building of the university at about noon when a group of BCL and Jubo League leaders were holding a meeting with the vice-chancellor Dr Sanjoy Kumar Odhikari.
   At one stage, the agitating youths broke the windowpanes of the vice-chancellor’s office and some rooms of the administrative building by throwing brick bats.
   The BCL leaders led by led by their district unit president Emon Bhatta discussed with the VC on some appointments in the university made during the past BNP-led alliance government, the sources said.
   They called on the vice-chancellor to form a committee to probe ‘illegal’ appointments and withdraw expulsion order for six students in connection with March 9 clash on the campus, the sources said.
   On information by the universities, the police came to the spot and brought the situation under control.
   Additional police have been deployed on the campus to avoid further untoward incident.
   The vice-chancellor told New Age that the six students were not expelled, the university authorities issued show cause notice to them March 9 incident.
   Dr Sanjoy Kumar also said he had informed the lawmaker Ekramul Karim Chowdhury of the matter.

Campaign for Senate elections for the seats of registered graduate representatives of Dhaka University is getting momentum as probable candidates seeking supports of the voters to make the country’s largest seat of education a peaceful campus for the students.
   The elections will be held in 39 centres between May 23 and 31 outside Dhaka and in two centres in the city on June 7.
   A total of 26,077 registered graduates of the university would cast their votes to elect 25 representatives in the 104- member Senate for a three-year term. Awami League-backed Gonotantrik Oikya Parishad and BNP-Jamaat backed Jatiyatabadi Oikya Parishad are contesting theelection.
   The GOP is campaigning with a commitment that, if elected, it would restore the past image of Dhaka University as the Oxford of the East.
   During the campaign, they urged the DU registered graduates to extend their whole-hearted supports to the GOP panel candidates by casting their votes in favour of them during the DU senate election to be held in the last week of this month and first week of next month.
   The GOP candidates are Asit Baran Saha, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, AHM Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Prof AKM Shamsuzzaman Khan, ABM Badruddoza, SM Bahalul Majnun Chunnu, Nargis Jahan Banu, Principal Mahfuza Khanam, Prof Muhammad Samad, Mostafa Kamal, Prof Md Abdul Bari, Dr Wahiduzzaman Chan, Prof Anwar Hossain,
   Advocate Md Afzal Hossain, Advocate Md Abdullah Abu, Prof Aslam Bhuiyan, Md Nurul Amin, Md Liaqat Hossain Moral, Dr Md Shamsul Haque Bhuiyan, Md Sahjalal Majumder, Laila Nargis, Subhash Chandra Singha Roy, Dr Syed Giasuddin Ahmed and Syed Shahed Reza.
   The Jatiyatabadi Oikya Parishad is campaigning with a pledge to fulfill a set of proposals, including implementation of the the Dhaka University Ordinance, 1973 to maintain autonomy of the university and set up a number of new dormitories for the students.
   The 25 candidates of different professions of the JOP panel are: Dr Umme Kulsum Rowzatur Romman, Dr AKM Azizul Haque, AKM Rofiqunnabi, ABM Fazlul Karim, Kamrul Hasan Chowdhury, Gias Kamal Chowdhury, Dr Nur Alam Kamrul Ahsan, Dr Farhad Alam, Mahfuzullah, Dr Mahbubulla, Mir Newaz Ali Newaz, Dr M Abdul Mannan Mian, Dr M Abdul Halim Patwary, M Ashraful Haque, M Jashim Uddin Sarkar, Dr Md Nurul Islam, M Masud Ahmed Talukdar, M Mazharul Hannan, M Liakat Ali, M Shahzada, M Sanaullah Mian, M Harunur Rashid Pathan, M Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, Dr Rezwan Siddique and Hoshne Are Begum.

Most of the rickshaw-pullers do not use lamps on the Rajshahi city streets at night-time plying of the three wheelers, often causing road accidents.
   There are more than 50,000 rickshaws in the city and majority of them do not use lamps in violation of the directive, sources at the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police said.
   No use of lamps by the rickshaw pullers is often causing accidents as the Rajshahi city plunges into darkness because of severe power outages, some residents said.
   Although the RMP authorities have made use of lamps mandatory for the rickshaw-pullers but the directive is barely followed, the police commissioner, Mahbub Mahsin, said.
   ‘We have directed the rickshaw-pullers several times through mike to use lamps and also warned them of taking action against those to be found flouting the order’, he said..
   The RMP police have also directed motorcyclists not to carry additional passengers and also set a speed limit of 40km per hour for other vehicles plying the city roads, Mahsin said.
   Despite the restriction, human haulers, trucks, microbuses, university buses are found plying in the city area crossing the speed limit.
   The police commissioner said it would take time to completely enforce the directive.
   Although loading, unloading of trucks is totally restricted at day-time, truck drivers continue to do it by giving bribe to traffic constables, some locals alleged.
   Sources at the Rajshahi City Corporation said some 10,000 rickshaws have registration but about 50,000 ply in the city without having licence.
   Traffic police sources said 90 per cent of rickshaw-pullers in the city do not know traffic signals and rules.
   Kotban Ali, 32, a rickshaw-puller said, ‘I have heard an announcement for us to use lamps. But how can I buy kerosene to lit lamp. It is too expensive.’

A project review workshop on the impacts of major anthropogenic activities on natural resources as well as livelihood systems was held at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University in Gazipur on Monday.
   The agro-forestry and environment department of the university, with the financial support of the European Commission, USAID and in collaboration with the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme being jointly implemented by FAO and the ministry of food and disaster management, organised the daylong workshop on ‘Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities on Natural Resources and Food Security in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh’.
   The main objective of the workshop was to characterise major anthropogenic activities in the coastal region, to identify the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the health and productivity of natural resources in the region and determine the current status and future projections of production, availability and utilisation of food, fodder, biomass fuel and drinking water.
   It also aimed to evaluate the existing strategies of the local communities against the changes in resources and environment.
   The workshop recommended guidelines for the sustainable management of the coastal region in relation to resource conservation and food security.
   The university vice-chancellor, Professor Md Abdul Mannan Akanda, attended in the inaugural session of the workshop as chief guest.

Speakers at a scientific meeting on Monday stressed the need for publishing scientific journals and making them cost-effective and available to the common people so that they can reap the fruits of science.
   They came up with the suggestion while addressing the inauguration of the four-day meeting held at the BRAC Centre Inn in Dhaka city.
   Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and International Network for Availability of Scientific Publications, UK, have jointly organised the steering committee meeting.
   With National Professor AKM Aminul Haque in the chair, the BAS president Professor M Shamsher Ali spoke at the inaugural session as the chief guest.
   The director (programmes) of ISASP, Sara Gwynn, was present as special guest while editor of the Daily Star Mahfuz Anam as guest of honour.
   The country director of INASP, Dr MA Mazed, delivered the welcome speech at inaugural session. Twenty-three foreign delegates from member countries of the UK, Latin America and South Asian are participating in the meeting.
   Professor Shamsher Ali said the whole world has become closer while the people of all walks of life enjoy benefit of science and ICT attuned to the blessings of the science.
   He highlighted the colossal contribution of natural science to the food safety, power and energy, ecological balance and climate.
   Brushing aside any notion about South Asia being lagging behind in terms of scientific way of thinking, Dr Ali said people of South Africa and Africa now can great think about the science.
   Mahfuz Anam said once upon a time, science was a savior but now it has become exposed to the adverse impact of the climate change putting the human being at risk.
   He held misuse of the science and its over-application responsible for keeping the people at risk.
   The science must be act as rescuer of the humanity and that is why scientists must come forward towards that end.
   Professor Aminul Haque laid emphasis on increasing science-oriented research activities at educational institutions so that the students can understand scientific way of thinking.

Newly appointed vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur Professor Abdul Jalil Mia took over charges on Monday, officials said.
   Registrar of the university Professor Alauddin told the news agency that outgoing VC Professor Lutfar Rahman handed over the charges to second VC Professor Abdul Jalil Mia in a ceremony.
   Teachers, officials and employees of the university were present on the occasion at the temporary office of the university on the Rangpur Teachers’ Training College campus and welcomed the new VC.
   A brilliant son of Rangpur and renowned academic Professor Abdul Jalil Mia was the head of the chemistry department of Rajshahi University prior to his new assignment.

Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at a few places over Rajshahi, Khulna, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Barisal and Chittagong divisions till 6:00pm today.
   Weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, Met Office said.
   Day temperature may fall slightly over the country during the period.
   The sun sets in the capital today at 6:32pm and rises tomorrow at 5:17am.
   Country’s highest temperature 36.8 degrees Celsius was recorded on Monday in Jessore and lowest 20.6 degrees in Mymensingh.