Dhaka, Nov 14 (UNB) - The Liberation War Museum is holding an international conference on Bangladesh Genocide and Justice along with an exhibition titled ‘Quilt of Memory and Hope’ from 14-16 November at the museum venue in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the 6th edition of the international conference and exhibition as the guest of honor on Thursday at the Liberation War Museum. Emeritus Professor Anisuzzaman, Center for the Study of Genocide and Justice (CSGJ) director Mofidul Hoque and Liberation War Museum’s trustee Ziauddin Tariq Ali also spoke at the inauguration ceremony.

“This conference is being organized at the time when we are preparing to observe the 50th anniversary of the 1971 genocide. Such initiatives are important tools for creating social framework for atrocity prevention,” minister praised the initiative of this international conference.

A book on the exhibition with the same name was also unveiled at the inauguration ceremony.

The exhibition is organized by AJAR (Asia Justice and Rights) in collaboration with Liberation War Museum and was inaugurated by Foreign Affairs minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, shortly after the inauguration of the conference.

A cultural programme was also arranged after both the inaugurations, by the performers of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The three-day conference is scheduled to be attended and participated by notable genocide scholars, jurists and academics from home and abroad. 28 foreign delegates from different countries and disciplines are attending this year’s conference, which is themed around highlighting  Rohingya Persecution.

Officials in Cambodia have ordered that elephants that serve as tourist attractions at the country's famed Angkor temple complex be moved to a new home in a suitable jungle area.

The agency that oversees the Angkor site said in a statement Thursday it is important for the animals to be able to live in their natural habitat, and there are other ways to provide attractions and rides for tourists.

Some of the 14 elephants officially at the site are old and in ill health. They have been providing rides for tourists since 2001. A female elephant there died of heart failure in the heat after giving a tourist a ride.

The agency said tourists will be allowed to see the elephants at their new location but not ride them.

Renowned indigenous artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma’s 17th solo art exhibition, “The Traveller’s Song” is currently drawing visitors to the Edge Gallery in Gulshan.

The exhibition was inaugurated on Saturday by former Adviser to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Rokeya Afzal Rahman. Renowned art critic Professor Moinuddin Khaled and founder trustee  of The Edge Foundation, Iftekhar A Khan- were also present at the inauguration, among others.

“Portraying the lifestyles and rich culture of six prominent indigenous communities of Bangladesh- Chakma, Marma, Garo, Mrong, Tongchonga and Santal- this exclusive exhibition is an outcome of my three-year research,” Kanak Chanpa revealed at the inauguration.

“My source of inspiration is the daily life of our indigenous people and the natural beauty of our lands. The vivid colors of our indigenous attires, the hills, forests, ‘jhum’ cultivation, pristine blue waterfalls, dance and music; in other words, anything that defines life in the hilly areas of Bangladesh can mesmerize any journeyman. Such lyrics and melodies will remain long after the traveller has gone, if only we care to listen- and I wanted to portray these feelings in this exhibition,” she further explained.

Fifty artworks, in oil, acrylic and collage, are being showcased in this exclusive exhibition with the exclusive focus on shades such as vermillion reds, cerulean blues and saffron yellows.

Kanak’s paintings have been featured in over 100 exhibitions both at home and abroad, including Australia, India, the United States, Germany, France and England. Under her supervision, ‘Bangladesh Ethnic Artist Forum’ has been inaugurated with the participation of all the ethnic communities in Bangladesh focusing on conducting research, art camps, art exhibitions and workshops.

As the country’s most prominent indigenous artist, Kanak Chanpa Chakma has won several prestigious awards at home and abroad including Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Costume Design (2014), Olympic Fine Arts Medal at Beijing, China (2008), Grand Award by Latin American Art Museum in Miami, Florida of the United States (2003) and National Award for Best Painting by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (2002).

The exhibition is open for all till November 30, every day from 10 am to 8 pm at Edge Gallery, Bay’s Edgewater, on the edge of Gulshan Lake (thus the name) as one heads towards Baridhara from the Gulshan-2 circle.

The second international symposium on community health workers (CHWs) will be held in the city on November 22-24 with about 500 participants from more than 35 countries to share practical knowledge and experience about CHWs related policy and programmes.

The theme of the symposium is ‘Potentials of Community Health Workers in Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

icddr,b in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of Bangladesh; James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) and Save the Children, Bangladesh is organising the event.

Organisers made the announcement at a press conference at the DGHS on Tuesday.

The symposium is supported by the USAID, European Union, UKaid, MSH, Vital Strategies, BRAC, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO.

Additional Director General (Admin), DGHS Prof Dr Nasima Sultana shared the background of the symposium.

She said the community health workers are unsung heroes and have been a powerful workforce in promoting health services around the world.

“Informally originated in China in the 1920s, they were initially engaged in birth and death registration, vaccination, providing basic health education and first-aid services. Presently, the CHWs are considered as ‘alternative solutions’ and has received increased attention in many LMICs including Bangladesh.”

She also spoke about the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries including in Bangladesh.

Scientist and Project Director SHARE Project, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b Dr. Iqbal Anwar presented the historical aspects of community health workers and the past symposium.

The theme further expanded to four subthemes - CHWs programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), CHWs and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), CHWs in special situation such as urban health care, disaster and climate change and humanitarian context; and CHWs programmes and prevention and control of NCDs.

Some 141 abstracts of 232 were selected for oral and poster presentation while 20 young participants from LMICs were selected for scholarship based on the merit of their abstract.

The symposium brings academics, health experts, development partners and other relevant professionals to a common platform to discuss about the successes and challenges with the CHWs.

These will also enable formulation of better strategic pathways of how CHWs can help communities to win the new fight against NCDs further to attain UHC and Sustainable Development Goal- 3 targets.

Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Hashem Khan, Line Director, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), DGHS, MOHFW, Professor Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, Dean JPGSPH, and Dr Farzana Islam, Project Director, Save the Children, Bangladesh and Dr. Samir Kanti Sarker, Ex- Line Director, MIS, DGHS were also present at the press conference.

The 1st International Symposium on CHWs was held in 2017 in Kampala, Uganda and has showcased the contribution of the CHW programmes across different areas of health related to sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, the Senate's first Asian-American woman and only current immigrant, is working on a memoir.

Viking announced Tuesday that the book, currently untitled, will come out in 2021.

Hirono, 72, will write about emigrating at age 8 to the United States after her mother fled an abusive marriage in Japan. In a statement issued through Viking, Hirono said the book was a tribute to her mother's spirit and a chance "to bear witness on her behalf by telling the story of the daughter she inspired to live boldly."

Hirono, a Democrat, made news last year as a leading critic of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who faced allegations of sexual harassment and attempted assault. Kavanaugh, who was narrowly confirmed, denied the allegations.