AGRICULTURE:

Strawberry farming: gains popularity in north region in Bangladesh.In BANGLADESH Strawberry farming has started gaining popularity everywhere in northern region for

the last couple of years as the fruit has tremendous economic prospect for the grassroots farmers. Many

farmers, including the amateur ones, have been showing interest to cultivate strawberry and searching for

its saplings during the current plantation season that will continue till middle of this month. Referring to

the bright prospects of strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh except the coastal districts, the experts called

for an effective motivational campaign for commercial farming of the soft red-juicy fruit. Professor Dr.

Monzur Hossain of Botany Department of Rajshahi University, the pioneer of strawberry research and

variety innovation in Bangladesh, said huge enthusiastic growers are coming here from different parts of

the country to collect strawberry saplings every day. "We have already sold 45,000 saplings to 105

farmers out of around 75,000 to 80,000 saplings produced at my farm against the estimated demand for

about two lakh," Dr Hossain said adding, "We were astonished by witnessing the farmers' interest in this

field. Whereas, he said some 3,500 saplings were sold to 35 farmers during the last season. The

cultivation process of the cash crop is similar to potato, tomato and brinjal, but its market value is much

higher. He said Genetic Engineering Laboratory under Botany Department of RU innovated three

varieties of strawberry through applying tissue culture method for the first time in Bangladesh. In the

demonstration plot, they were found suitable for the country's soil and environment. Joint Director of

BADC Sarder Salahuddin, who is the president of Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA), said one kg

of locally produced strawberry is being sold at Taka 1,000 to Taka 1,200 in different markets in the

capital city at present. Strawberry is rich in varieties of lifesaving proteins as well as vitamin A, C and E,

folic acid, selenium, calcium, polyfenol, alagic, feralic and kumaric acid and cuertcitin, janthomycin and

phytostebol. Some of these nutrients can prevent cancer and AIDS, he added. He said emphasis should be

given to dissemination of technological ideas about strawberry farming and its marketing process side by

side with innovation of ways and means for further expansion of cultivation of this cash crop. "We have

no alternative to bring diversification in the agricultural activities and to detect the potential fields in the

greater interest of bolstering the agricultural economy," Sarder Salahuddin viewed and suggested more

need-based supports for the farmers to make the strawberry farming more popular in the country. Due

attention should be given to proper utilization of the existing natural resources in the agriculture sector for

socio-economic development of the countryside, he said.

Source: The New Nation 2008 (http://sufolabangladesh.blogspot.com/2009/09/strawberry-farming-

gains-popularity-in.html).

MEDICINE/HEALTH:

Arsenic Removal: SONO Household Water Filter Wins US$ 1 Million Award.The US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has announced the winners of the 2007 Grainger

Challenge Prize for Sustainability. The contest sought innovative solutions for removing arsenic from

drinking water in developing countries. Abul Hussam (Born in Bangladesh) an associate professor at

George Mason University, USA, will receive the Grainger Challenge Gold Award of US$ 1 million (EUR

761,000) for his SONO filter, a household water treatment system. This three bucket system was

developed in 2001 with composite iron matrix (CIM) as the active arsenic removal component. The

SONO filter is now manufactured and used in Bangladesh.

Simple, inexpensive and made with easily available materials, the filter involves a top bucket, which is

filled with locally available coarse river sand and a composite iron matrix (CIM). The sand filters coarse

particles and imparts mechanical stability, while the CIM removes inorganic arsenic. The water then

flows into a second bucket where it again filters through coarse river sand, then wood charcoal to remove

organics, and finally through fine river sand and wet brick chips to remove fine particles and stabilize

water flow.

Source: http://www.source.irc.nl/page/32973

http://arsenicproject.wikispaces.com/SONO+Filte http://bracproject.pbworks.com/w/page/5200257/diagramr

IT & COMMUNICATION:

IT Bangla Limited is the largest education Networks in Bangladesh.

IT Bangla is working under three different but integrated areas of Information Technology: 

ICT Education and Training.

Software Development.

Total IT Solution.

IT Education is directly linked to our business areas of Software Development and ICT Services. In

addition to preparing IT experts with the vendor certified training, ITB is engaged in developing IT work

force to match the demand of today's requirement. On the other hand, our ICT Services help our clients to

implement the Application Products developed by ITB and give them post implementation services to

ensure reliable and smooth operation of their businesses.

Source: http://www.itbangla.net/index.php

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