‘Women from the Chittagong Hill Tracts region are playing an important role’



News Desk, Barta24.com
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Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing MP said the country is moving ahead today due to the courageous steps of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, equal development is taking in the hills and plains area. The mountains are no longer backward towns. Minister Bir Bahadur said the active participation of women in the hill region has strengthened the fear of the country's economy. He said the women are playing a major role in protecting the environment and social and economic development in the hilly areas. Women are the protectors of mountain resources.

CHT Minister Bir Bahadur said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of International Mountain Day at the meeting room of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs at the Secretariat.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Iqbal Abdullah Harun spoke as the main discussant. The Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mosammat Hamida Begum was in the chair in the programme.

Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Chairman Nikhil Kumar Chakma, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Satyendra Kumar Sarker, Joint Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Aleya Akhter, Chief Executive Officer of The Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Rangamati Titon Khisa, Executive Chief Officer of the Task Force on Refugees Krishna Chandra Chakma, Executive Director of Helen Keller International Ms Han Han, among others, spoke on the occasion. Female entrepreneur Bibli Chakma was present. Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Sajal Kanti Banik moderated the programme.

Minister Bir Bahadur said women are the protectors of mountain resources and local medical servants. The role of women in the cultivation of jhum in the hills is very much.

Hill women collect water from the hill springs and meet the water needs of other members of the family. Mountain women are becoming farmers, mountain women as businessmen, mountain women as craftsmen, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Hill women will become the driving force against hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

The present Awami League government led by Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined for the overall development of the greater hill region. Every disaster that has taken place in the hilly areas in the past has been dealt with by the government in a coordinated manner with utmost determination. Every public and private organization has worked tirelessly for the safety of life and property in the hill areas.

I think it's a coordinated initiative. You must be aware that it was possible to conclude the historic peace agreement on December 2, 1997, due to the determination and timely initiative of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. With the signing of this historic peace agreement, the two-decade-long conflict situation came to an end. Since then, lasting peace has been established in the mountainous region. As a result, new horizons of sustainable development have been opened in the hill areas. Opportunities have been created for public-private, national and international institutions to carry out development work in the hilly areas. As a result, the overall development of the hill region has accelerated.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mosammat Hamida Begum said, "The pregnant women carry the burden on their backs and climb the steep hills with their children on their shoulders, while the women are climbing the hills with water on their heads, and in different pictures, we see them cultivating jhum. There is a presence of women in every field. The mountain cannot be thought of as its existence without women. Women exist everywhere.

Three doctors are absent for a long time causing sufferings to the patients



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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The government has taken various initiatives to ensure the presence of doctors and officials in government hospitals. However, a different picture is seen in Barishal's 50- bed Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex. Three doctors of the hospital have been absent for a long time. As a result, patients have to suffer due to lack of proper healthcare.

Allegedly, medical services at the hospital have come to a standstill due to lack of strict supervision. Therefore, many patients are forced to seek treatment in private hospitals.

According to hospital sources, Dr. Abu Bakar Siddique joined Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex as Medical Officer on July 1, 2011. He has been absent since January 4, 2012 after staying at the hospital for just five months. Similarly, Dr. Soma Halder joined the health complex on October 8, 2014. She has also been absent since November 5, 2015, after serving for one year.

Sources also said that Dr. Shahana Rahman joined the hospital on November 25, 2023. She has not been coming to the hospital for the past 8 months.

Although the three mentioned doctors are absent for a long time, no appointments are being made in their place. As a result, patient services are constantly disrupted. Besides, the hospital authorities are also in trouble.

A responsible source of the hospital, on condition of anonymity, said that this alarming situation has arisen due to the non-punishment of those who are negligent in fulfilling their duties. Also there is a lack of strong supervision.

Upazila Health Officer Dr. Bakhtiar Al Mamun said that Dr. Abu Bakr Siddiq and Dr. Soma Halder have been given letters to join the workplace several times. But they are still not back to work. A departmental case is ongoing against them. In addition, Dr. Shahana Rahman has been given several letters to join the work. The Civil Surgeon's office has also been informed about the matter.

He also said that the information of doctors is sent to higher authorities and ministries every month. As such, the ministry is aware of the matter. According to the latest information, one doctor may be out of a job. Of the remaining two, one is abroad, the other I don't know where. Regarding the appointment of doctors, he said, appointment is not possible until the posts are vacant. As a result, it will take time to find a new doctor.

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Three coordinators in DB for interrogation



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has taken three people, including Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, into custody from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital. The other two coordinators are Asif Mahmud and Abu Baker Majumdar.

A DB source confirmed this information on Friday (July 26) night.

DB said three coordinators have been brought to the DB office for security and interrogation purposes.

All three of them are students of Dhaka University.

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What the Home Minister said about lifting of the curfew



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, everyone has to wait a little with the curfew till public life becomes normal. We are looking at whether the curfew can be relaxed.

He said these things while talking to reporters about the ongoing situation on Friday (July 26) night.

The Home Minister said, we are seeing if the curfew can be relaxed. Police BGB, Army are working. We have to wait a little until public life becomes normal. People should be patient. He also said that a decision may be made subject to discussion on Saturday (July 27).

At that time, he mentioned that there were brutal killings in the name of the movement, and he said, who will take responsibility for this loss of the country? BNP said they are not involved in violence. So who did it? It is a question of the people.

Regarding the arrest of the quota activists, the Home Minister said that the quota agitator leaders themselves are suffering from insecurity. For their safety, law enforcement has been called. Further action will be taken after the inquiry.

Incidentally, the government clamped a curfew from 12 midnight on July 19 to keep the situation normal around the quota reform movement. The army was also deployed.

The curfew was later relaxed for a specified period but has not yet been lifted completely.

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Government to provide treatment & income to all injured: Prime Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Photo: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government will provide treatment and income to all those injured in the recent violence, regardless of party affiliation.

She said this while visiting the injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Friday (July 26). Meanwhile, she inquired about the physical condition of the injured.

Sheikh Hasina said that the government will do whatever is necessary for the treatment of those injured in the violence. The government will take responsibility for the treatment of the injured, whichever party they belong to.

She also said, even after accepting all the demands on the quota, why is the movement not ending? Everyone at home and abroad should be vocal against the violence and brutality of BNP-Jamaat.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister visited several wards of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and inquired about the injured. She talked to doctors and nurses. She ordered to give all kinds of treatment to the injured.

Earlier in the morning, the head of government visited the Bangladesh Television (BTV) building damaged by vandals' attack and fire at Rampura in the capital.

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