Int’l War Crimes Mass Trial Movement
A press conference organised jointly by International War Crimes Mass Trial Movement (IWCMTM) and Sramik-Karmachari-Peshajibi-Muktijoddha Samannaya Parishad was held at Swadhinata Hall in the city’s Segunbagicha on Sunday. Shipping Minister and also Convener of the Parishad Shajahan Khan was present as the chief guest. While speaking Shajahan called for observing “National Genocide Day” on March 25 to denounce the atrocities perpetrated by Pakistani forces on unarmed Bangladeshis on the black night of March 25 in 1971. “March 25 is an unforgettable day in the history of world genocide as the Pakistani military junta had unleashed a genocide breaking the silence of the night and killed hundreds of innocent sleeping people in the country in 1971,” he told. Shajahan also Convener of the IWCMTM said under the directive of military ruler Yahiya Khan the Pakistani occupation forces led by General Tikka Khan had carried out the military crackdown on Bangalees under the codename “Operation Search Light” on the black night. He said at least one lakh people were killed on the night. The programme was attended, among others, by Freedom Fighter Ismat Qadir, labour leaders Md Alauddin and Abdul Jalil.
Skills & Training Enhancement Project
The inauguration of National Skills Competition organised by Skills and Training Enhancement Project (STEP) was held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) in the city’s Kakrail on Saturday. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was present as the chief guest. While speaking Nahid said the government has increased students enrolment to 14 percent from one aiming to create skilled workforce. “As part of its effort to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income status, the government has set a target to reach 20 percent technical and vocational education by 2020,” he said. Nahid said in 2009, there was only one percent student enrolment in the technical and vocational education while current enrolment is 14 percent. “We are promoting skilled-based education to develop competent human resources to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country. Education without skills will create a burden for family as well as nation,” he said. The function was addressed, among others, by Secretary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Department Md Sohrab Hossain, Secretary of Technical and Madrasa Education Md Alamgir, Project Director of STEP ABM Azad and Chairman of Bangladesh Technical Education Board Dr M Mostafizur Rahman. Director General of Directorate of Technical Education Ashok Kumar Biswas presided over the event.
