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-farminggains-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
TRAVELS:

Hotel.com.bd
Bangladesh.

is

the

largest

hotel

directory

in

Hotel.com.bd is committed to offering an informative, user-friendly website with competitive rates of

various hotels, guest house and resorts of Bangladesh. Our goal is to provide business and leisure
travelers worldwide with a pleasant, efficient and cost-effective way to book hotel accommodation.
Hotel.com.bd is specialized in offering you the best hotel deal, which is always up-to-date to find out the
most charming independent hotels for individual person's choice. On this latest version of our web site,
we have created a user-friendly site which clearly presented most of the major hotels profiles with
detailed information about their location, services, and facilities along with room profiles where the
travelers can compare different hotels facilities and easily take the decision to choose which hotel will be
best according to their requirement. We know that today's travelers need useful information and
professional consultation, regardless of whether they stay is for business or for leisure. This is why both
our web site and our professional team are at your service. Do not hesitate to contact us.
Hotel.com.bd is largest hotel directory in Bangladesh. We are provide Online Hotel Booking, Hotel

Reservation in Bangladesh, Package Tours of Bangladesh, Holidays package tours in Bangladesh, Travel
Package in Bangladesh, Tours and Travel in Bangladesh, Discount Travel Packages, Car rental Services,
Railway Tickets, Train tickets booking, Online Travel Reservations, Air Tickets to Bangladesh, Tours
Agent, Travels in Bangladesh.
Owner of Hotel.com.bd (Winux Group) is a Medical Tour Operator and Travel Agency of Raffles Medical
Hospital Singapore, Being managed by a team of professionals in the field of hospitality in Bangladesh.
We are provided and supported for Visa Processing, Air Ticketing etc. We are bounded and committed for
best service and treatment.
GARMENTS: