The Mathematical Miracle of # 19 in the Quran! any truth to this?

The Mathematical Miracle of # 19 in the Quran! any truth to this?
"Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe" (Galileo)

Chapter 74 of the Quran, God's Final Testament, is dedicated to the number
19. The name of that chapter is "Al-Muddassir" (The Hidden Secret). The
number 19 is specifically mentioned in that Chapter as a punishment for
those who state that the scripture is human-made (74:25), and proclaims
that the 19 is "One of the greatest" (74:35). In 74:31, the purpose of the
number 19 is spelled out: to remove all doubt regarding the authenticity of
the Quran, increase the faith of the believers, and to be a scientific
punishment for hypocrites and disbelievers. However, the implication of
this number as a proof for the authenticity of the Quran remained unknown
for centuries. For fourteen centuries, the commentators tried in vain to
understand the function and fulfilment of the number 19.

In 1974, the Lord of the universe unveiled the secret of number 19 to Dr.
Rashad Khalifa, an Egyptian-American biochemist. His four-year long
computerized study on the Quran did not have any expected target.
Surprisingly, he discovered the mathematically intertwined structure by
"chance." This multifold interlocked mathematical design is a message in
universal language. This message, providing a built-in physical evidence of
its divine source, leaves no doubt in our heart that the Quran is The Final
Testament.

Before the secret is decoded

Before the discovery of 19-based system, we knew a symmetrical mathematical
system in the Quran. For example:

© The word "month" (shahr) occurs 12 times.

© The word "day" (yawm) occurs 365 times.

© The word "days" (ayyam,yewmeyn) occurs 30 times.

© The words "satan" (shaytan) and "angel" (malak), both occur 88 times.

© The words "this world" (dunya) and "hereafter" (ahirah), both occur 115 times.

Simple to understand, impossible to imitate

The mathematical structure of the Final Testament is simple to understand
and impossible to imitate. You do not need to know Arabic, the original
language of the Quran to examine it for yourself. Basically what you need
is to be able to count upto19. Dr. Khalifa introduces this supernatural
message as follows:

The Quran is characterized by a unique phenomenon never found in any human
authored book. Every element of the Quran is mathematically composed-the
chapters, the verses, the words, the number of certain letters, the number
of words from the same root, the number and variety of divine names, the
unique spelling of certain words, and many other elements of the Quran
besides its content. There are two major facets of the Quran's mathematical
system: (1) The mathematical literary composition, and (2) The mathematical
structure involving the numbers of chapters and verses. Because of this
comprehensive mathematical coding, the slightest distortion of the Quran's
text or physical arrangement is immediately exposed (Quran The Final
Testament, Translated by Rashad Khalifa, Islamic Productions, Tucson, 1989,
p 609).

Nineteen, as the mathematical code of the Quran, is a challenge for
atheists, an invitation for agnostics and a guidance for believers. It is a
perpetual miracle for the computer generation. It is the light of the
morning promised by God Almighty (74:33).

Physical, examinable divine proof

Here is the summary of this historical discovery:

© The first verse, i.e., the opening statement "Bismillahirrahmanirrahim",
shortly "Basmalah," consists of 19 Arabic letters.

© The first word of Basmalah, Ism (name) occurs in the Quran 19 times.

© The second word of Basmalah, Allah (God) occurs 2698 times, or 19x142.

© The third word of Basmalah, Rahman (Gracious) occurs 57 times, or 19x3.

© The fourth word of Basmalah, Rahim (Merciful) occurs 114 times, or 19x6.

Although this phenomenon (the opening statement consists of 19 letters, and
each word occurs in multiple of 19) represents a minute portion of the
code, it was described by Martin Gardner in the Scientific American as
"ingenious" (September, 1981, p. 22-24)

© The multiplication factors of the words of the Basmalah (1+142+3+6) add
up to 152 or 19x8.

© The Quran consists of 114 chapters, which is 19x6.

© The total number of verses in the Quran including all Basmalahs is 6346,
or 19x334. If you add the digits of that number, 6+3+4+6 equals 19.

© The Basmalah occurs 114 times, (despite its conspicuous absence from
chapter 9, it occurs twice in chapter 27) and 114 is 19x6.

© From the missing Basmalah of chapter 9 to the extra Basmalah of chapter
27, there are precisely 19 chapters.

© It follows that the sum of the chapter numbers from 9 to 27
(9+10+11+12.......+26+27) is 342. This total (342) also equals the number
of words between the two Basmalahs of chapter 27, and 342 equals 19x18.

© The occurrence of the extra Basmalah is in 27:30. The number of the
chapter and the verse add up to 57, or 19x3.

© Each letter of the Arabic alphabet corresponds to a number according to
their original sequence in the alphabet. The Arabs were using this system
for calculations. When the Quran was revealed 14 centuries ago, the numbers
known today did not exist. A universal system was used where the letters of
the Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek alphabets were used as numerals. The
number assigned to each letter is its "Gematrical Value." The numerical
values of the Arabic alphabet are shown below:

A study on the gematrical values of about 200 attributes of God which are
mentioned in the Quran, shows that only four names have gematrical values
which are multiples of 19. These are "Wahid" (One), "Zul Fadl al Azim"
(Possessor of Infinite Grace), "Majid" (Glorous), "Jaami" (Summoner). Their
gematrical value are 19 , 2698, 57, and 114 respectively, which are all
divisible by 19 and correspond exactly to the frequencies of occurrence of
the Basmalah's four words.

© The total numbers of verses where the word Allah (God) occurs add up to
118123, and is 19x6217.

© The total occurrences of the word Allah (God) in all the verses whose
numbers are multiples of 19 is 133, or 19x7.

© The first revelation (96:1-5) consists of 19 words.

© This 19-worded first revelation consists of 76 letters, 19x4.

© Chapter 96, first in the chronological sequence, consists of 19 verses.

© This first chronological chapter is placed ahead of the last 19 chapters.

© Chapter 96 consists of 304 Arabic letters, 19x16.

© The last revelation, chapter 110, consists of 19 verses.

© The first verse of the last revelation consists of 19 letters.

© The word "the Quran" occurs 57 times, or 19x3. (The word in 10:15 is a
different Quran, so it is not counted)

© The key commandment: "You shall devote your worship to God alone" (in
Arabic "Wahdahu") occurs in 7:70; 39:45; 40:12,84; and 60:4. The total of
these numbers adds up to 361, or 19x19.

© The Quran is characterized by a unique phenomenon that is not found in
any other book: 29 chapters are prefixed with "Quranic Initials" which
remained mysterious for 1406 years. With the discovery of the code 19 , we
realized their major role in the Quran's mathematical structure. The
initials occur in their respective chapters in multiples of 19. For
example, Chapter 19 has five letters in its beginning, K.H.Y.A'.SS., and
the total occurrence of these letters in this chapter is 798, or 19x42.

© To witness the details of the miracle of these initials, a short chapter
which begins with one initial, letter "Q" will be a good example. The
frequency of "Q" in chapter 50 is 57, or 19x3. The letter "Q" occurs in the
other Q-initialed chapter, i.e., chapter 42, exactly the same number of
times, 57. The total occurrence of the letter "Q" in the two Q-initialed
chapters is 114, which equals the number of chapters in the Quran. "The
Quran" is mentioned in the Quran 57 times. The description of the Quran as
"Majid" (Glorious) is correlated with the frequency of occurrence of the
letter "Q" in each of the Q-initialed chapters. The word "Majid" has a
gematrical value of 57. Chapter 42 consists of 53 verses, and 42+53 is 95,
or 19x5. Chapter 50 consists of 45 verses, and 50+45 is 95, or 19x5. The
number of Q's in all ver-ses numbered "19" throughout the Quran is 76, or
19x4.

© The Quran mentions 30 different numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 19, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 99, 100, 200, 300, 1000, 2000,
3000, 5000, 50000, & 100000. The sum of these numbers is 162146, which
equals 19x8534.

© If we write down the number of each verse in the Quran, one next to the
other, preceded by the number of verses in each chapter, the resulting long
number consists of 12692 digits (19x668). Additionally, the huge number
itself is also a multiple of 19.

The details of this study is endless. Keeping up with the new discoveries
is a challenging task.

In the original of The Old Testament

Is this mathematical structure unique to the Quran? For a while we thougt
so. But, we were wrong. The same 19-based mathematical composition was
discovered by Rabbi Judah in the 12th century AD in a preserved part of the
Old Testament. Evidently, the prime number 19 is the signiture of God, the
Greatest Matematician.

Below is the copy from Studies In Jewish Mysticism:

"The people (Jews) in France made it a custom to add (in the morn ing
prayer) the words: Ashrei temimei derekh (blessed are those who walk the
righteous way), and our Rabbi, the Pious, of blessed memory, wrote that
they were completely and utterly wrong. It is all gross falsehood, be cause
there are only nineteen times that the Holy Name is mentioned (in that
portion of the morning prayer), . . . and similarly you find the word
Elohim nineteen times in the peri cope of Ve- elleh shemot . . . .

Similarly, you find that Israel were called sons nineteen times, and
there are many other examples. All these sets of nineteen are intricately
inter twined, and they contain many secrets and esoteric meanings, which
are contained in more than eight volumes. Therefore, anyone who has the
fear of God in him will not listen to the words of the Frenchmen who add
the verse Ashrei temimei derekh (blessed are those who walk in the paths
of God s Torah, for according to their additions the Holy Name is mentioned
twenty times . . . and this is a great mistake. Furthermore, in this
section there are 152 words, but if you add Ashrei temimei derekh there
are 158 words. This is nonsense, for it is a great and hidden secret why
there should be 152 words . . ." (Dan, Joseph. Studies In Jewish Mysticism,
Association for Jewish Studies. Cambridge, Massachusetts: 1978, p 88.)

How can we explain this phenomenon?

There are primarily four possible explanations:

1) Manipulation: You may be skeptical about our data regarding the
mathematical structure of Quran. However, you can eliminate this option in
several hours by random checking of our detailed computer print out. We
have published them in several books and they can be obtained from the
Monotheist Production International.

2) Coincidence: This possibility is eliminated by the statistical
probability laws. The consistency and frequency of the 19-based pattern is
much too overwhelming to occur coincidentally.

3) Human fabrication: While fabricating a literary work that meets the
criteria of the document summarized here is a stunning challenge for our
computer generation, it is certainly improbable for the time of initiation
of the document, namely, 610 AD. One more fact augments the improbability
of human fabrication. If a certain person or persons had fabricated this
literary work, they would want to reap the fruits of their efforts; they
would have bragged about it.

In view of the originality, complexity, and mathematical sophistication of
this work, we have to admit that it is ingenious. However, no one has ever
claimed credit for this unique literary code; the code was never known
prior to the computer decoding accomplished by Dr. Khalifa. Therefore it is
reasonable to exclude the possibility of human fabrication.

The timing of the discovery may be considered another evidence for the
existence and full control of Supreme Being: The mystery of the number 19
which is mentioned as "one of the greatest events" in the chapter 74 (The
Hidden Secret) was unveiled exactly 1406 (19x74) lunar years after the
revelation of the Quran. Dr. Khalifa discovered the code 19 in 1974. The
connection between 19 and 74 (the number of the chapter which this code is
mentioned) is significant in the timing of the discovery.

4. Super Intelligent Source: The only remaining possibility is that a super
intelligent source is responsible for this document; one who designed the
work in this extraordinary manner, then managed to keep it a well guarded
secret for 14 centuries, for a predetermined time.

The mathematical code ensures that the source is super intelligent and also
that the document is perfectly intact.

It is not a dream anymore

The following excerpts are from the famous astronomer and science-fiction
writer Carl Sagan's book:

"No, don't you see? This would be different. This isn't just starting the
universe out with some precise mathematical laws that determine physics and
chemistry. This is a message. Whoever makes the universe hides messages in
transcendental numbers so they'll be read fifteen billion years later when
intelligent life finally evolves. I criticized you and Rankin the time we
first met for not understanding this. 'If God wanted us to know that he
existed, why didn't he send us an unambiguous message?' I asked. Remember?"

"I remember very well. You think God is a mathematician."

"Something like that. If what we're told is true. If this isn't a
wild-goose chase. If there's a message hiding in pi and not one of the
infinity of other transcendental numbers. That's a lot of ifs."

"You're looking for Revelation in arithmetic. I know a better way."

"Palmer, this is the only way. This is the only thing that would convince a
skeptic. Imagine we find something. It doesn't have to be tremendously
complicated. Just something more orderly than could accumulate by chance
that many digits into pi. That's all we need. Then mathematicians all over
the world can find exactly the same pattern or message or whatever it
proves to be. Then there are no sectarian divisions. Everybody begins
reading the same Scripture. No one could then argue that the key miracle in
the religion was some conjurer's trick, or that later historians had
falsified the record, or that it's just hysteria or delusion or a
substitute parent for when we grow up. Everyone could be a believer." (Carl
Sagan, Contact, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1985, p 418-419)

Eerily, almost everything exactly has been happening according to Carl
Sagan's prediction with an exception that the code of the divine message is
not pi, it is a peculiar prime number. Also the last statement seems to be
too optimistic, at least for the time being. Already millions of Muslims
have rejected the mathematical code based on the presupposition that the
Creator of the universe won't employ mathematics in his book. And
born-again Christians are ready to coin it as Anti Christ.

However, this mathematically coded message promises a new era in the world
of religions. It does not only provide an examinable evidence for the
existence of God, it also expose the widespread corruption plagued all the
organized religions. This mathematical code suggests (as it is published in
our numerous books) a "Copernican revolution" in theology of religions.
Instead of Krishna-centered, or Jesus-centered, or Muhammad-centered
religions we must turn to the original center, to the God-centered model.

They cannot see the miracle

The "learned Muslim scholars" cannot understand or accept this clear
mathematical composition. Indeed, the verse 74:31 prophecies that
hypocrites will not be able to understand this miracle. Also the verse
7:146 describes those people who are deprived of seeing the miracle:

I will divert from My revelations those who are arrogant on earth, without
justification. Consequently, when they see every kind of miracle they will
not believe. And when they see the path of guidance they will not adopt it
as their path, but when they see the path of straying they will adopt it as
their path. This is the consequence of their rejecting our revelations, and
of being totally heedless thereof. (7:146)

a) Are all of those mathematical facts coincidences?

b) How many letters are there in the opening statement of the Quran i.e.,
Basmalah? Why do your ancient scholars (Fahreddin er Razi, Qurtubi etc.)
who counted the letters of Basmalah agree on 19 letters? Why after the
discovery of the miracle do you refute your respected ancient scholars?

c) 786 is the gematrical value of Basmalah used by Muslims to represent the
Basmalah. How many letters does this famous number represent?

d) Why do you fail in counting the 19 letters of Basmalah which is a very
simple and very obvious physical fact?

e) Almighty God in 74:31 gives us a list of functions of the number "19".
This is what "19" will do: 1) Disturb the disbelievers. 2) Establish
certainty in the hearts of the believers, the Jews, and the Christians,
concerning the divine origin of the Quran. 3) Strengthen the faith of the
faithful. 4) Remove all doubt from the hearts of the believers, and the
Jews, and the Christians. 5) Expose the hypocrites and the disbelievers who
claim with their lip service to be believers; they will not accept the
19-based miracle. The mathematical miracle of the Quran fulfills all these
functions one by one. The question to the Muslim scholars who reject God's
miracle is: How will the number 19 establish certainty in the hearts of
people? How will the number 19 remove all doubt from the people's heart?
How will the hypocrites be exposed? What are the functions of your 19?

f) The reason for your rejection of this great miracle has been explained
in 74:31; 7:146 and 6:25. Why do you not kill your ego, and purify your
heart?

g) How was the prophecy of 10:20; 27:93 & 41:53 fulfilled?

h) Is it not significant that the same 19-based mathematical composition
was discovered by Rabbi Judah in the 12th century AD in a preserved part of
the Old Testament? (See Studies In Jewish Mysticism, Association for Jewish
Studies, Cambridge, Mass., Joseph Dan, page 88, 1982).

i) What do you think about the Quranic prophecy on this discovery which
confirms the mathematical miracle of the scriptures?: "Proclaim: 'What if
it is from God, and you disbelieved in it? A witness from the Children of
Israel has borne witness to a similar phenomenon, and he has believed,
while you have turned too arrogant to believe. God does not guide the
wicked.' " (46:10).

j) What do A.L.M., HH.M., Y.S., Q. mean? Why is the Quranic expression
"These are the miracles --ayaat-- of this book" found ONLY in conjunction
with Quranic initials? (10:1; 12:1; 13:1; 15:1; 26:1-2; 27:1; 28:1-2;
32:1-2).




"A RELIGION NEVER AUTHORIZED BY GOD" (42:21)


The extent to which Islam has been corrupted is illustrated in the following:

In the paranthesis are some of the Chapter:Verse numbers that contradict
the traditional orthodox teaching.

Hadith and Sunna (6:19,38,114; 7:3; 12:111; 17:46; 31:6; 45:6; 69:38-47 .....)

Killing whomever they consider an apostate (2:256; 4:90; 10:99;18:29; 88:21,22.)

Cutting off the hand of the thief (5:38, 12:31)

Stoning the adulterers to death (24:2; 4:25.

Killing muslims who do not observe prayer (2:256; 18:29; 20:14)

Killing one who drinks alcohol for the 4th time ( 2:256; 18:29)

Forbidding menstruating women from worshiping (2:222)

Forbidding women from the Friday prayer (62:9)

Oppressing women and forcing them to wear head-covers and unreasonable
clothes; and depriving them of all rights in marriage, divorce,
inheritance, etc. (3:195; 4:19,32; 9:71; 2:228.)Y

Insulting women by instituting that "if a monkey, or a black dog, or a
woman passes in front of a praying person, his prayer is nullified"
(9:71; 33:35 ...)

Idolizing Muhammad against his will:

Calling him "the most honorable messenger" 2:285

Claiming that he was infallible (4:79; 9:117; 33:37; 40:66; 42:52; 66:1;
80:1-10; 93:7)

Setting up his tomb as a "Sacred Mosque" (2:149-150)

Claiming that he possesses power of intercession (2:48,123,254; 6:70,94;
7:53; 10:3; 39:44; 43:86; 74:48.)

Adding his name in the five daily prayers and Azan (20:14; 72:18)

Adding his name to the First Pillar of Islam, Shahadah (3:18; 37:35; 39:45)

Inventing a funny story about his ascension to the heavens on a horse, and
talking God out of 50 prayers a day, after consulting Moses. (17:1;
53:1-18)

Insulting Muhammad:

Claiming that he advised people to drink urine (7:157)

Claiming that he gouged out people's eyes (3:159; 68:4)

Claiming that he possessed sexual drive of 30 men (33:21)

Claiming that he was illiterate, un-intelligent (96:1-5 and many more)

Claiming that he had been bewitched by a Jew (17:47; 25:8)

Claiming that he cursed a child passing in front of him during prayer and
the child became crippled (3:159)

Nullifying the fact that Muhammad was the last prophet by teaching that
Jesus will come back to this world. This makes Jesus the last prophet
(33:40; 19:30)

A bizarre dietary system with multitudes of prohibition and contradictions
(6:145-150; 16:115,116)

Claiming that hell will not touch them, except for a limited number of
days. (2:80-82; 3:23-25)

Altering the four consecutive Sacred Months. (9:37)

Limiting the pilgrimage to three days (2:197)

Neglecting the Zakat charity through distortion (6:141)

Giving a punishment of 60 straight days of fasting for one nullified day
of fasting. (2:184)

Inventing numerous rules from ablution, to prayer, to sleeping, to cutting
one's nails. (5:101; 42:21; 2:67-71)

Prohibiting gold and silk for men. (5:48,49; 7:31-32; 18:31; 22:23; 35:33)

Prohibiting music, painting, and the arts. (7:32; 42:21; 34:13)

Rejecting writing a will for parents and relatives. (2:180; 4:11-12)

Claiming that the age of responsibility for males starts at 15, for females
starts at 12. Anybody who dies after these ages as a non-muslim, will go
to hell (46:15)

Claiming that some verses contradict some verses and therefore they
abrogate each other. For example they do not believe in 2:180; 2:219.
(4:82; 15:90-92; 2:85)

Claiming that Muhammad added an extra prohibition and abrogated the last
part of 4:24. (17:73-75; 69:40-47)

Changing the meaning of the Quranic words. (Such as nabi -prophet- & rasoul
-messenger-, ayat -miracle,sign- & ayaat -miracles, verses-). (5:41)

Claiming that Muhammad was the last messenger. (33:40; 3:81; 33:7)

Omitting Basmalah and adding a non Quranic word "ameen" to the end of
al-Faatiha in the prayers. (1:1-7)

Reciting al-Faatiha silently in the noon and afternoon prayers. (17:110)

Accepting the division into sects as God's mercy. (6:159; 30:32; 23:52-56)

Changing the number of the letters of the Basmalah to reject the great
mathematical miracle. (1:1; 74:30-37)

Childhood of Mr. Atiur Rahman, Governor-Bangladesh Bank

Organic tea grower enters Japan

Star Business Report

The country's lone organic tea grower has recently bagged export orders from the quality-conscious Japanese market, opening a new avenue for the local tea sector.

Kazi and Kazi Tea Estate Ltd, which for the first time in Bangladesh ventured into the organic tea business by taking up a project in Panchagarh in 2000, grabbed an order for exporting 4,000 kilograms of tea through a food exposition in Japan in March.

"Demand for organic foods is being created in different areas of the world, which is sure to rise in the coming days," said Kazi Anis Ahmed, director and chief executive officer of Kazi and Kazi, at a press conference, organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Dhaka yesterday.

"The order volume is not so big, but the important thing is, we entered the highly sensitive Japanese market with our own brand," he said.

"It has created a new window of opportunity."

The organic tea estate is located over 600 acres of land in Tetulia and capable of producing around 2.4 lakh of tea a year. Each kilogram of organic tea sells at $4-$9 on the global market, depending on quality.

The company sells its products on the international market with the brand name "Tetulia". It is known as "Kazi & Kazi Tea" on the local market.

Before going into international market, Kazi & Kazi was recognised under JETRO's one village one product programme as part of its effort to familiarise the concept among policymakers.

The press conference was organised to make the activities public.

Organic tea is produced through organic method in which chemicals and toxic elements are not used in manufacturing states.

The production of organic tea is around one million kilograms worldwide.

Export earnings from tea stood at $14.89 million in fiscal 2007-08, up 114.55 percent from $6.94 million in 2006-07, according to the Export Promotion Bureau.

Speaking as special guest at the function, Shahab Ullah, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau, said Bangladesh has also undertaken a one-district-one-product plan and identified few districts to develop certain products in line with Japan's OVOP.

Tomohiro Kinomoto, country representative of JETRO, also spoke.

Strawberry cultivation to make farmers solvent

BSS: Experts at a daylong workshop here today said that strawberry cultivation could make the grassroots farmers financially solvent.

They also said that the growers level extension of strawberry cultivation as well as its higher value could bring a new dimension in the country's agriculture sector.

Referring to the bright prospects of strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh except the coastal districts, the experts called for increased motivation of farmers towards commercial cultivation of this soft red-juicy fruit.

Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA) and Plant Breeding and Genetic Engineering Laboratory under the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU) jointly arranged the workshop on "Strawberry Cultivation in Bangladesh" at the RU Senate building.

RU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mamnunul Keramat addressed the opening ceremony as the chief guest with BSA President Sardar Salahuddin in the chair.

The main objectives of the workshop were 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 crop.

BSA General Secretary and Professor of the RU Botany department Dr Monzur Hossain, the pioneer of strawberry research and variety innovation in Bangladesh, gave an outline about this fruit and its economic significance.

Professor Dr Rafiul Islam of Botany and Professor Dr Aminul Haque of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension of RU, Professor Sugawera of Yamagata University of Japan and BADC Joint Director Sardar Salahuddin also discussed issues related to strawberry production and its market value.

They said the Gene Engineering Laboratory of the RU Botany department innovated three varieties of strawberry through applying tissue culture method. In the demonstration field's cultivation, they were found suitable for the country's soil and environment.

According to the experts, 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, they said.

Strawberry eyes Tk 10cr a year

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi

A woman works at a strawberry field in Rajshahi. Growers and traders of the fruit are expecting a Tk10 crore annual turnover, as they launch its commercial cultivation this year. Photo: STAR

Strawberry growers and traders in Bangladesh are expecting Tk 10 crore in annual turnover, as they go into its first-ever commercial cultivation this year.
Rajshahi University teacher Dr Manzur Hossain, who developed the fruit nearly a decade ago, expects nearly 25 tonnes of output from about 8.5 acres of land in 45 districts until April.
Growers claim the cultivation of this money-spinning, nutritious, delicious foreign fruit will spin nearly Tk 10 crore worth of trade a year.
“The initial commercial production will meet 50 percent of the gross annual demand for the fruit. At present, the demand for the fruit stands at 50 tonnes,” said Hossain, also the general secretary of Bangladesh Strawberry Farmers Association, which monitors the fruit’s cultivation in the country.
Production will continue to increase significantly from next year, as the growers taste success, he said.
Meanwhile, horticulturist Quamruzzaman in Natore has successfully grown two American varieties of strawberry this year, a major breakthrough in its cultivation. The variety is of optimal weight, better taste and colour.
Each strawberry nearly weighs 75 grams, three times higher than the usual 25 grams. The new varieties are becoming popular, especially among buyers, said Quamruzzaman.
“I have been experimenting on the export quality camarosa and festival varieties for the last few years. This year, it proved to be a success,” he said, adding that each plant bears some 15 fruits with an average weight of 750 grams.
Many young businessmen have taken the fruit to urban markets in Dhaka, cashing in on lofty sales.
Although growers get between Tk 500 and Tk 750 per kilogram, the fruit is sold for Tk 850 to Tk 1300 per kilogram, said people familiar with the matter.
As the fruit gains popularity and cultivation increases, the price will come down, said traders.
“The strawberry trade is quite lucrative as it provides employment opportunities for many,” said ASM Mizanur Rahman, who intends to take a tonne of the fruit to Dhaka from Rajshahi.
“So far, I sold 250 kilograms of the fruit. I also employed several youths to give me a hand at marketing the strawberries. The fruit is receiving good responses in markets,” said Rahman, a private jobholder in Dhaka.
Many are currently involved in collecting strawberries at Tk 650 from the farmers and selling at an average Tk 850 per kilogram.
Dr Hossain of Rajshahi University, who recently travelled to many districts to study the cultivation of the fruit, said it is gaining popularity at a good pace. It is growing best in Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Mymensingh, Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Dhaka and Chittagong.
He said each strawberry plant bears around 250 to 300 grams of fruit and some 6,000 plants can be grown on one bigha of land. A farmer can easily do business worth Tk 6 lakh, by a yield of 2,000 kilograms of fruit on a bigha of land at an expense of Tk 20,000.
“Even if strawberries sell at Tk 100 per kilogram, a farmer can earn Tk 2,00,000,” said Hossain.
M Shamim Ali cultivated strawberry on a small piece of land at Yousufpur, Charghat. He hopes to sell nearly 150 kilograms this season.
“I spent only Tk 9,000 on cultivation and I fetched profits of Tk 1,00,000. I sell 3 kilograms of strawberry per day. I will cultivate it on a bigha next year,” he said.
Sector people said the country meets its current demand of 50 tonnes of strawberries via imports from different countries, including the USA, Thailand and Australia.
Strawberries are eaten as it is and used in preparing ice-cream, jam, jelly, pickles, chocolates, biscuits, cake and milk shakes.
Growers urged the government to take immediate steps to support the export of the fruit. With a great export potential, the sweet and attractive fruit will open a new horizon for farmers, if it gets government patronisation, they said.

Bangladesh: Strawberry farming proved to be potential for growers in Barisal region

Success in Strawberry cultivation in Barisal has created enthusiasm among the local farmers to go for massive cultivation of this sweet and nutritious fruit and the prospect of strawberry cultivation has been proved as bright in the district.

Al Amin Talukdar Tutul, owner of Barisal Nursery at Baroitala under Charkawa union of Barisal Sadar upazila, successfully cultivated strawberry on 5 decimal land of his one acre nursery premises on the eastern bank of Kirtonkhola River.

Professor of the Department of Botany at Rajshahi University Manjur Hossain first launched the strawberry farming using tissue culture method, Tutul informed .

The Bangladesh Strawberry Society has undertaken a series of programmes to expand strawberry farming in the country through launching of Strawberry Nursery Research Project (SNRP).

The experts dwelt on the steps taken for expanding strawberry farming in the country and the successes achieved so far at different areas in Bangladesh.

As part of the programmes, I experimentally cultivated strawberry in my Barisal Nursery and became successful, Tutul said.

Now the experiment and research works conducted on strawberry farming found the climatic and topographic conditions and soil composition of Barisal suitable and favourable for the farming.

The people of Barisal could get strawberry saplings very easily after successful research works at the SNRPs under the leadership of Dr Manjur Hossain and I will also try to popularizing strawberry cultivation among the farmers by supplying quality seeds and saplings , the Barisal Nursery owner added.

Strawberry saplings are generally planted in comparatively high land having sunshine and dewatering facilities and can be sown in rows in November and December.

Strawberry plants start flowering within one month of plantation and fruits can be collected till March.

The research team has so far evolved three varieties of strawberry including RB-1, RB-2 and RB-3 and all of these three varieties are suitable for farming in Bangladesh. However of them, cultivation of RB-3 is more suitable, quoting Professor M Manjur Hossain, Tutul further said.

Strawberry looks like litchis in Bangladesh and it contains huge vitamins and minerals, experts said.

They said, 'Strawberry usually grows in the countries where winter prevails most of the time and our climate is not suitable for the plants.

'That's why we have developed these varieties that can be grown here.'

Tutul observed that strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh would be profitable for growers and its cultivation could help remove poverty.

He said now it is proved that the soil and climate of Barisal are suitable for large-scale strawberry cultivation and added efforts are being made in Barisal to give a new dimension to our agro-economy.

Imported strawberry is selling in the local market at prices ranging from Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 per kilogram.

A farmer can yield 2000 kg of strawberry by cultivating on one bigha of land, he said.

'If we can sell strawberry even at Tk 100 per kilogramme, it will help earn Tk 2 lakh from one bigha of land,' said Tutul.

Tutul said the country could easily achieve self-reliance in strawberry production to save foreign exchange being spent every year in importing this costly fruits.


Source: nation.ittefaq.com

Publication date: 3/4/2009

Commercial production and marketing of strawberry begins in Panchagarh & Rangpur....By Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Bangladesh, Feb 6 (BSS) - Production and marketing of strawberry have been started on commercial basis after its successful farming in Panchagarh district paving the way of tremendous economic prospect for the farmers. Jessore Golden Seed Farm (JGSF), a subsidiary organisation of Jessore Ulshi Himagar, achieved the success after eight months of undertaking a strawberry farming programme on 2.7 acres of land in Panchagarh. Earlier, Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA) launched a coordinated strawberry research activity involving the JGSF at Haldharjyote village in Sadar upazila of Panchagarh on July 10 last. The JGSF then launched a Strawberry Nursery Research Project (SNRP) with the assistances of pioneer of strawberry farming in the country Prof Dr Manjur Hossain of the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU). Strawberry farming will soon gain huge popularity everywhere in the country's northern region, as its farming was also successful in the Barind area for the last couple of years and the fruit has tremendous economic prospects, experts said. Launching of the SNRP and its huge success in shorter period, have created enthusiasm among the farmers to go for massive cultivation of the nutritious fruit in Panchagarh and adjoining districts. Professor Dr Manjur Hossain first launched the strawberry farming using tissue culture method and the BSA undertook a series of programmes to expand its farming in the country. On Tuesday, a commercial harvesting and marketing ceremony of strawberry was organised at the JGSF farm with Additional Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh Manjur Hassan Bhuiyan in the chair and Prof Dr Manjur Hossain attended as the chief guest. Pathologist of the Department of Botany of the RU Prof Shah Alam, RU Prof Dr Rafiul Islam, Editor of the Daily Kallyan Ekram Ud Doula and Directors of JGSF Hafizur Rahman Pintu and Mofizul Islam Mohan were present as special guests. They expressed satisfaction on the yield rates of strawberry and said that 1.5 tonnes strawberry have been produced per bigha (every 33 decimals) during this season, market price of which stands at around Taka 8-10 lakh on an average. They asked the farmers for its large-scale farming and said that the JGSF has signed agreement with Agora and Nondon in Dhaka to supply strawberry at Tk 650 per Kg and the later will sell at Tk.850 per Kg. They said that the field level farmers could easily sell the produced fruits at Taka 500 per kg after harvesting about 2000 kg fruits from one bigha of land after cultivating at the cost of Taka 25, 000 to earn up to Taka eight to 10 lakh every season. Some 6,000 strawberry plants can be planted in one bigha and each plant can produce 250 to 300 grams fruits to provide the farmers maximum profits than any other crop when the country imports 50 tonnes of it annually from Thailand, Australia and USA. They said that the soil, climate and topographic conditions of the sub-Himalayan districts are suitable for strawberry cultivation that led to the successful farming of the fruits in Panchagarh making the people more hopeful for a better economic future. With great export potential, the attractive fruit could open a new horizon for the farmers of the northern region to earn more profits from less land area including the homesteads when the country's cultivable land area has been decreasing gradually, they said. While talking to BSS on the occasion, Dr. Manjur Hossain told that the SNRP was set up for expanded cultivation of strawberry and popularise the same among the farmers of Panchagarh and adjoining sub-Himalayan districts where the climate is favourable for it. He said that strawberry usually grows better in the countries where winter prevails most of the time and keeping all these factors in view, we developed the species that could be grown here and suitable for Bangladesh climate. He narrated as how three verities of strawberry RU-1, RU-2 and RU-3 (Rabi-1,2,3) were evolved through tissue culture method using Semiclonal Variation Technology at the Plant Breeding and Gene Engineering Laboratory at his Botany Department in RU. "Of the three verities, the RU-3 is suitable for our local climate and it produces saplings faster than the other two species and found very impressive in colour, size and taste," he added. He also said strawberry cultivation is as easy as growing potato and brinjal and it is better to plant the saplings into prepared lands in matted, ribbon and hill plasticulture rows during the months of November and December. The plant starts flowering within one month of plantation and fruits can be collected after four months and onwards and an 8- hour long sunshine a day and irrigation and drainage facilities are prerequisites for better strawberry cultivation. He said that use of organic and compost fertilizer use would be preferred for preparing land and the plantation area should be covered with plastic nets or other devices to save the fruits from the birds.. Dr Manjur told BSS that there are bright prospects of exporting our locally produced high quality strawberry abroad including Europe as the same does not grow there during the winter. Strawberry contains proteins as well as vitamins like A, C, and E, minerals, folic acid, selenium, calcium, polyphenol, alaric, frolic and cumaric acids and quertcitin, xanthomycin and phytostable and some of them can prevent cancer and AIDS. 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.

Community Radio

December 2008

To
Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmad
Honourable Chief Advisor
Non-party Caretaker Government
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215

Subject: Regarding final approval of Community Radio within the term of the non-party Caretaker Government to ensure development and good governance.

Dear Sir,
Greetings from Bangladesh NGOs’ Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC).

For your sincere consideration, Ministry of Information formulated Community Radio Installation, Broadcasting and Operation Policy 2008. Having prepared a complete pro-people policy for the first time in Bangladesh, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has already been widely appreciated by local, national and international bodies.

In order to commemorate the day of the community radio policy announcement, we have taken initiative of observing 12 March every year as Community Radio Day in a befitting manner.

Soon after the policy announcement, from 18 March 2008, Ministry of Information has published and broadcast advertisement asking application for community radio set-up. Moreover, National Regulatory Committee, Technical Sub-Committee and Central Monitoring Committee have been formed in accordance with the community radio policy.

At the same time, in order to facilitate the whole process BNNRC set up a national help desk on community radio in Dhaka. A total of 200 applications were submitted to the Ministry by the community radio initiators from the whole country.

Later in a meeting of the National Regulatory Committee on Community Radio Installation, Broadcasting and Operation held on 15 July 2008, 116 out of 200 applications have been primarily selected and sent to the Home Ministry and Bangladesh Tele-communication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) respectively for the security certificate and frequency allocation approval.

We have come to know that the approval for frequency allocation from BTRC has already reached Ministry of Information.

In the meantime, Community Radio Academy has been established with the view to building up capacity on community radio operation of the initiators. Under the initiatives of the academy, training workshops, round table, seminar etc are being organized incessantly. We believe that if the approval is given just now, at least 50/60 community radio stations can run smoothly with their adequate skills, readiness and human resources in the rural level across the country.

Therefore, we humbly request you to pay a kind consideration in issuing final approval for community radio broadcasting within the tenure of the non-party caretaker government to ease the access of the rural communities to information and to ensure good governance and development.

List of company name etymologies

Z
• Zend Technologies – a contraction derived from the names of Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans, the two founders.
• Zuse – pioneering German computer company named after its founder, Konrad Zuse (1910–1995). He built his first computer in his parents' living room at the end of the 1930s. Zuse was taken over by Siemens AG. The name is now echoed by SuSE (Software und System-Entwicklung: "Software and system development")..

Inportant Link

important link:

http://mib.nic.in/CRS/CRSmainpg.htm
http://www.pmo.gov.bd/pmolib/Policy.html
http://www.bangladesh-ccp.org/
http://mass-line.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
http://www.bgpress.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=160&Itemid=182
http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/images/pdf/index2.pdf
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Salem-Communications-Announces-Third-Quarter/story.aspx?guid=%7B25200F42-9FAA-4BFF-B782-74370E5807FE%7D Revenue
www.mbbsdoctor.com
www.alhera.com

Right To Information (RTI) Ordinance in Bangladesh: Speakers tell seminar on Right to Know Day, 2008

Speakers at a seminar on 28 September, 2008 called on all to extend cooperation in implementing the Right to Information (RTI) Ordinance 2008 for the greater benefit of the countrymen.

Welcoming the council of advisers' approval to the much-awaited ordinance, they said there are several loopholes in the proposed ordinance, which need to be closed in order to ensure maximum disclosure of information.Newly floated Right to Information Forum organised the seminar titled 'Right to Information: Why at this moment?' at Brac Centre Inn in the city to mark the International Right to Know Day, which will be observed worldwide on September 28.

The right to information is a constitutional right backed by the UN and the approval of RTI Ordinance is a step towards realising this right, said Mahbubul Alam, a former information adviser who attended the programme as the chief guest.Pointing out that there are many loopholes in the proposed ordinance, he said the ordinance covers up to upazila level, not up to union parishad level.

"We will bring these points to the attention of the elected government," he said, urging all to continue the movement for the right to information.Terming the right to know the mother of all rights, the speakers demanded that a provision protecting the whistleblowers be included in the RTI law.

AK Mohammad Hossain, joint secretary of the law ministry, said the RTI legislation should have nine guiding principles including maximum disclosure of information, obligation to publish information, open governance, restricting the exemption instances, facilitating access to information and protecting the whistleblowers.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, moderated the seminar presided over by Shaheen Anam, convenor of RTI Forum and executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation which has been working for the enactment of the RTI act."All of our efforts should now be aimed at proper implementation of the RTI ordinance so that general people benefit from it," Shaheen Anam said and hoped that the next elected government will endorse the legislation in parliament.

After the ordinance is implemented, corruption will decline gradually and the transparency and accountability will help brighten the country's image, she said.In his keynote paper, Barrister Tanjib-ul Alam said there are provisions in most existing laws, which support the right to information, but these provisions are not being used.Prof Asif Nazrul, Prof Nazrul Islam, chairman of University Grants Commission, and Badiul Alam Majumder of Shushashoner Jonney Nagorik also spoke at the seminar. Ref: The Daily Star