BANGLADESH

The online process to submit application forms of the 33rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) test will save time and money, Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman A T Ahmedul Haque said on Saturday.

"The result will be published within one year of issuing circular. Previously it took more than two years to publish results," Haque told a media briefing at his office.

"It took four to five months and Tk 1.2-1.5 million for only examining the application forms," he added.

As there is no need of printed forms, syllabus and other necessary papers, Tk 1.5-2 million will be saved, Haque said.

The online process will totally save around Tk 5 million, he added.

Applicants for the 33rd BCS can fill out online application forms and submit fees from Mar 8 to April 7, the PSC chairman said adding that they will be able to collect necessary information through mobile phones.

Apart from names and registration numbers, photos of the applicants will be there in the attendance sheet, he said.

Applicants will be able to recover admit cards, passwords or IDs, if they are lost, through PSC's website (www.bpsc.gov.bd), he said.

Application forms are also available at associate organisation Teletalk's website (http://bpsc.teletalk.com.bd).

The directions to fill out the forms and submit fees are available in the websites and the circular, issued on Wednesday.

The preliminary test of the 33rd BCS may be held in the last week of May.
The 33rd BCS aims at filling up 4,206 vacant posts. This time, under the general category, 300 will be recruited for BCS (administration), 89 for police, 69 for tax, 16 for foreign affairs and 566 as general cadres.

The government will also recruit 2,905 cadres under professional/technical categories that include 2,572 doctors.

Apart from these, 607 people will be appointed as teachers under BCS (education) and 112 for the teachers' training colleges.

The World Marketing Summit (WMS) on Saturday adopted Dhaka Declaration with a call to play a vital role in guiding the future of marketing to embrace human mind, heart and soul in the concepts and practices of the specialised discourse.

It was declared by WMS chairman Prof Syed Ferhat Anwar on the concluding day of the three-day summit at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"Bangladesh has established a track record in inclusive development and set models that other countries are adopting," the declaration said.

It said problems in the world might not be solved through the existing concepts and practices, and marketing could be used to resolve the crisis.

"The focus of marketing should shift from products and services to customers to human spirit."

Marketing guru Philip Kotler said every country has its own opportunities and problems and solution to all the crises is in the hand of the people of that particular country.

"The solution is in your hand," he said.

Terming Bangladesh a very peaceful country, he said it can move towards prosperity.

He said there is Chinese or Indian way of economic development but now it is time to define Bangladesh way of economic development.

About Prof Muhammad Yunus, he said many people abroad know Bangladesh because of him, and his microfinance has given opportunities to the poor.

Energy adviser to the prime minister Toufik-e-Elahi Chowdhury said public sector and private resources could be put together to solve problems.

"When we deal with people, we must not forget they have heart, head and soul," he said.

WMS chairman Anwar said many who participated in the programme did not have knowledge about Bangladesh.

"Now all of them are leaving Dhaka with positive minds and this is one of the achievements of the summit to portray Bangladesh in a positive manner," he said.

Over 60 academics, corporate, world body and NGO officials attended the programme.

The next summit will be held in March next year

Following clashes between students of two private universities in the capital, authorities on Saturday declared their institutions closed for varying periods.

The Prime Asia University has been shut indefinitely, while the South East University authorities decided to suspend their academic activities for two days.

"The university has been shut indefinitely in view of the current situation," Prime Asia University vice chancellor professor Giasuddin Ahmed told .

Similarly, South East University VC lieutenant colonel (retd) Ali Ambial Haq Khan said educational activities in his institution will remain suspended on March 4 and 5.

Earlier in the day, at least 30 people received injuries as students of the two private universities clashed at Kemal Ataturk Avenue in the city's Banani area following an altercation over eating in canteen.

The clashes brought the traffic to a grinding halt in the area for full one hour.

"Students of the Prime Asia University and that of South East University clashed as a group of Prime Asia University students entered into a verbal duel with some students from the adjacent South East University," additional deputy police commissioner (Ghulshan zone) Nizamul Haque told .

"The situation finally calmed around 5:30pm after police fired teargas and used baton to disperse the clashing students," he added.

Recounting the sequence of events, Mizanur Rahman, a student of Prime Asia University, told that a group of South East University students started demonstrating in front of the Prime Asia University's Textile unit.

"At one stage, they started vandalising our campus," he said adding, "the tension is prevailing even on the three other nearby campuses," he added.

A South East University security official admitted a group of student of this university first attacked the other group.

However, a South East University student Sadnan Tanvhi said the clash took place over alleged stalking of a female student.

"I have heard that a student from Prime Asia University used to stalk one of the female of our university. Some students protested as the girl informed them about the harassment."

Tanvhi, however, failed to name the victim.

"Boys from South East University suddenly came and broke the window panes before we could make out anything," Prime Asia University deputy controller Ashraful Haque told .

At one stage, they clashed and vandalised both the universities. They also vandalised some shops at the avenue.

When police took position at the avenue and tried to calm the situation, the clash shifted in adjacent lanes.

A booking clerk and two security guards of Chittagong Railway Station have been suspended for their involvement in black marketing of tickets.

Station master of Chittagong Railway Station Nazimuddin was also withdrawn following detection of the malpractice.

Hasan Ferdous, Chittagong bureau chief of a private television channel, caught the two security guards red-handed selling tickets at exaggerated prices at the station on Saturday morning and handed them over to railway officials.

Those put under suspension are booking clerk of the station's counter No. 7 Kamrul Monir, habilder of the railway's security department Mezbah and security guard Laltu.

Hasan Ferdous told that he stood in the queue of counter No. 7 for a ticket of Dhaka-bound 'Turna Nishitha' or 'Gadhuli' on Friday night.

He alleged that booking clerk Kamruzzaman informed him that ticket was not available, while habilder Mezbah who stood behind him, got five tickets from the same counter.

He said that later he caught Mezbah and security guard Laltu red-handed.

General manager of Bangladesh Railway (east zone) Yusuf Ali Mridha confirmed the suspensions and withdrawal of the station master.

"Further steps will be taken against them after investigation," he added.

Over a hundred acclaimed personalities of the country, including poets, writers, intellectuals and cinema and TV artistes, showed up at an informal gathering organised by the prime minister at her official residence in the capital on Saturday.

In response to the invitation extended by Sheikh Hasina, the guests started arriving at the venue – Ganabhaban – around 4pm and then stayed for the next several hours.

The prime minister was all over the place – talking, chatting, eating and, unusually though, even singing along with the guests.

Traditional cakes and other snacks were being cooked in the huts around made of straws, apart from 'Fuchka-Chatpati' stalls that drew most of the guests there. Even the prime minister herself was seen enjoying the tongue-tickling 'Fuchka-Chatpatis' in clay plates.

Famous singers of the country Kangalini Sufia, Kiron Chandra Roy and Bari Siddiqui performed and presented some of their popular numbers at the party.

But then one question crossing everyone's mind seemed: "Why this party? Any specific reason?" And the response came from none other than the host herself, "It was my long-time wish to exchange greetings with the famous personalities of the country.

"Ganabhaban means the people's building. Whoever comes here should think of it as his or her own home."

She also sought best wishes of and suggestions from everyone present at the party to fulfil the demands of the people of the country.

Hasina sang a patriotic song, along with renowned singers Mustafa Jaman Abbasi, his sister Ferdousi Rahman, Mita Haque and agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury sitting at the same table.

'SUCH PROGRAMMES GOOD'

Renowned actor A T M Shamsuzzaman Khan said getting an invitation from the prime minister was a 'great honour' for him.

Famous magician Jewel Aich said, "Seeing so many renowned people of the country at one place is making me feel good. I don't have anything else to say."

The guests were served with dried rice, traditional and local homemade cakes. Tables-chairs and 'Shital Patis' were spread out in the field for seating the guests.

Renowned poet Mahadeb Saha gifted two books to Sheikh Hasina on the occasion.

Asked, "How was the party", he told : "Whenever I meet the prime minister, I feel like coming further closer to Bangabandhu and the Liberation War [of 1971]."

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said it would be great to have this kind of programme happening every now and then. "It's very good to see meet these people after a long time."

Like Muhtih, Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman also said this kind of programmes should be arranged once in a while. "If the prime minister sits with these different groups, meaningful exchange of thoughts can happen."

Of the cultural personalities, Murtoza Bashir, Kaiyum Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Dr Korunamoy Goswami, Syed Anowara Haque, Dr Rafiqul Islam, Ferdousi Priyobhashini, Monayem Sarker, Syed Hasan Imam, Nasir Uddin Yusuf, Hasan Arif, Laki Imam, Mustafa Nur-ul Islam, Golam Kuddus, poet Rabiul Hussain, Dr Baren Chakrabarty and Anisul Haque, movie stars Faruque, Tarana Halim, Enayetur Rahman Bappi, poet Kazi Rozi, Shakila Jafar, Kumar Biswajit, Kiron Chandra Roy, Bari Siddiqui, Abu Jafar Siddiqui, Pijush Bandopaddhay, Catherine Masud, Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Rafiqul Alam, Abida Sultana and Shuvra Deb, and many others from various walks of life including the cabinet members attended the party.

Of the media personalities, Mahbubul Alam, Golam Sarowar, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Abed Khan, Beby Moudud, Riaz Uddin Ahmed, Shah Alamgir, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Nurul Kabir, Syed Anwar Hossain, Faridur Reza Sagar, Shaikh Siraj, Imdadul Haque Milon, Shyamal Dutta, Habibur Rahman Milon and many showed up for the get-together.

Besides, educationalist Zillur Rahman Siqqiqui, Dr Shamsuzzaman Khan, Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Rafiqul Islam, Dr Enamul Haque, Dhaka University vice-chancellor A A M S Arefin Siddiqui and pro-vice-chancellor Harur-ur-Rashid were also among the guests.