| Front Page | 
BNP MPs for go-slow on constitution amendment
BNP lawmakers yesterday asked Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to go slow and hold large-scale discussions on amendments to the constitution for raising Jatiya Sangsad (JS) seats and widening the gap between
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Kids in fetters
At least 108 juvenile delinquents are being held in Dhaka Central Jail instead of correction centres, as the law dictates, according to a list prepared by the jail authorities in December 2003.
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UK minister worried at law, order slide
Visiting British Minister for International Development Gareth Thomas expressed concerns yesterday at the law and order situation in the country.
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Outlaws kill Khulna VDP member
Alleged outlaws yesterday shot dead a VDP (Village Defence Party) member at Paikgachha in Khulna.
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Dhaka, Delhi set up experts' body
India and Bangladesh yesterday set up an eight-member committee of senior technical experts to undertake a joint scientific study on the availability of Teesta water and help finalise a draft agreement.
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Muggers kill businessman in Tejgaon
A businessman was stabbed to death in an apparent mugging incident in Tejgaon on Tuesday night, police said.
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Bail to accused of Lalbagh 7-murder cancelled
The High Court (HC ) yesterday overruled its previous order that had granted ad interim bail to the prime accused in the sensational Lalbagh seven-murder case.
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Internal feud mars Jubo Dal council at Ctg
The council meeting of Chittagong city unit Jubo Dal ended amid pandemonium and freestyle scuffle between activists of the president and general secretary groups at a community centre yesterday.
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Watchdog mulled to curb cop corruption
Government is considering setting up an intelligence force to check crimes in the police force, Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury informed the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.
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Ctg schoolboy killed after abduction
Halishahar police yesterday recovered the body of a schoolboy from near Firoz Shah Rail Gate in the port city, 14 hours after the abduction allegedly by his relatives.
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Bush defends Iraq war, gives voters 'a choice'
US President George W. Bush swung his reelection bid into high gear, defiantly defending the invasion of Iraq and urging voters to keep the war on terrorism on track by giving him a second term.
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Vajpayee for close ties between Bangladesh, N-E states
India's northeastern states can serve as an 'economic bridgehead' with South East Asia by promoting trade with immediate neighbours Bangladesh, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand, Prime Minister Atal Bihari
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Anti-graft body to have prosecution power
The proposed independent anti-corruption commission will be empowered to prosecute on its own anybody found corrupt including serving top government officials and ministers, Law Minster Moudud Ahmed said
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WSF ends with flourish
The World Social Forum (WSF) came to a triumphant close Wednesday night with tens of thousands of marchers bringing South Mumbai to a standstill, chanting slogans and banging drums on their way to the
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4.5 lakh non-govt teachers, staff to get festival allowance
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday announced festival allowance for over 4.5 lakh teachers and employees of 17,000 non-governmental schools, colleges and madrassahs from this year.
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Doc runs cancer clinic without registration
A general medical practitioner without any specialisation has been attending to critical cancer patients and running a cancer clinic in the city without registration.
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Meet demand or face oust govt action
Awami League (AL) President and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina has said the 15-point demand will be turned into a "one-point oust-government movement", if the government fails to
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Non-govt primary teachers give ultimatum
Teachers of non-government primary schools, now on hunger strike, threatened to go for a greater movement if their one-point demand for nationalisation of their job is not met by today.
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25 important persons given gunman security
The government has appointed gunman security for 25 important persons, including 16 MPs and two diplomats in the country, parliament was told yesterday.
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Correction
On page 12 of our yesterday's edition, a photo caption on Shaheed Asad mistakenly introduced him as a Language Movement martyr. In fact, Asad embraced martyrdom during the mass upsurge in 1969.
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Launch of Lexus
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Journos end protest, concerned over outlaw poster
Journalists in Khulna yesterday ended their seven-day programme with a symbolic hunger strike against the killing of New Age newsman Manik Saha and expressed concern at the posting of posters on roadside
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Quick disposal of cases tried in higher courts pondered: PM
The government is contemplating ensuring quick disposal of the cases in higher court that have been tried in the speedy trial tribunal.
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CHT taskforce meets after 4 years, winds up without success
The task force on refugees in the Chittagong Hill Tracks (CHT) met yesterday after about four years but failed to take up the issues on the agenda as a representative of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati
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Azam Reza remanded again
Azam Reza, arrested on charge of killing his wife Jayanti Munshi, was placed on a fresh one-day remand, for the third time, yesterday.
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Bodies of man, woman found
The bruised bodies of an unidentified man and woman were found in the city yesterday. Police recovered the body of a middle-aged man at Uttar Khan and a woman at Asulia.
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IU teachers demand VC's removal
The agitating teachers' platform of Islamic University (IU) yesterday demanded removal of the vice-chancellor (VC).
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Tigers killed 36 in Sundarbans last year
At least 36 people were killed by man-eating tigers in the Sundarbans last year, official sources said.
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| Business |
S Asian business forum sets target to double trade in five years
The South Asia Business Forum (SABF) will prepare a set of recommendations by July this year on harmonisation of customs procedure and clearing with an ambitious target to double the intra-regional trade
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HC verdict prompts private bank to restore old board
A private bank yesterday reverted to its 26-member board of directors and held a special board meeting following Tuesday's High Court order that nullified last year's central bank directive on limiting
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Free market access to US high on Dhaka's agenda
Duty-free market access is high on agenda in Bangladesh's economic diplomacy with the US, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said yesterday.
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Ecnec okays seven projects involving Tk 1419cr
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved seven projects with an outlay of Tk 1419 crore, including Tk 770 crore in project aid.
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Perc for increased container ship operation of BSC
The Public Expenditure Review Commission (Perc) has recommended increasing container ship operation and rationalising manpower of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to make it profitable.
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MCCI lauds interest rate cut
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) has lauded the government initiatives for reducing bank interest rates.
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Call money rate steady
The call money rate remained steady at its lower level yesterday as pressure on banks' liquidity was very low, fund managers of different commercial banks said.
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Annual confce of Animal Health Division of Eskayef held
The Annual Conference 2003 of Animal Health & Nutrition Division of Eskayef Bangladesh Limited was held in Dhaka yesterday.
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GP to launch directory services for subscribers
GrameenPhone Limited (GP) has signed an agreement with CCTEL Norway to launch directory services for the GP subscribers.
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BOC declares 200pc dividend
BOC Bangladesh Limited has declared 200 percent dividend for the shareholders for the financial year ending September 30, 2003.
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Citigroup sees record income in 2003
The after-tax net income of Citigroup Inc, holding company of Citibank NA, stands at a record $17.85 billion in 2003, which is an increase of 17 per cent over 2002.
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IPDC, SEDF sign MoU
SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) will provide technical assistance and advisory services to the Industrial Promotion and Development Company of Bangladesh Limited (IPDC) for funding small
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Stalled trade talks to finish by deadline: WTO chief
World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Supachai Panitchpakdi believes a new will to re-engage in global free trade talks fuelled by the United States means an end-of-year deadline is still in sight, according
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| Sports |
Football:
Premier Div stopped
The fate of the ongoing Western Union Premier Division Football League has been thrown into fresh turmoil after the Dhaka Mahanagari Football League Committee (DMFLC), organisers of the capital's football,
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Tennis:
Mixed day for top guns
Both top seeds of the Sheltech Group-3 Bangladesh International Junior Tennis Championship had contrasting quarterfinal results at the Ramna National Tennis Complex yesterday.
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Cricket:
Wright defends Dravid
Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid's ball-tampering fine after a one-day match against Zimbabwe arose from a silly mistake caused by sticky fingers, not a deliberate attempt to cheat, Indian coach JohnWright
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Cricket:
Selectors believe Brett
Australian captain Ricky Ponting has thrown his weight behind the selection of out-of-form speedster Brett Lee for the sell-out triangular VB Series one-day international cricket match against India at
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Cricket:
Lara's denial
Brian Lara has denied reports that he overruled Viv Richards, West Indies' chief selector, by changing his team moments before the toss at the start of the fourth Test at Centurion.
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Cricket:
Fine Fahim
A four-wicket haul by off-spinner Fahim Muntasir held back Khan Research Laboratory (KRL) in their first innings on a rain interrupted third day of the four-day Patron's Trophy match at the UBL ground
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Chess:
Pallab leads
Shawkat Hossain Pallab took a solo lead in the preliminary round of the Singer 30th National Chess Championship after end of the sixth round at chess federation's hall room yesterday.
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Cricket:
Alamgir shines in schools cricket
Alamgir hit the day's highest score in the Dhaka Metropolis Zone Standard Chartered 22nd National Cricket Championship matches yesterday as Mipur Residential High School recorded a comfortable 71-runvictory
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Cricket:
B'baria cricket
Surjo Tarun Club and Udayan Club won their respective matches in the Sanjida Cup cricket tournament at the Shahjadapur Junior High School playground yesterday.
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Cricket:
Klusener back in SA fold
Lance Klusener has a chance to get "back on the bus", according to South African captain Graeme Smith, who earlier this year accused the all-rounder of being a "disruptive influence".
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Tennis:
American collision nears
Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi bounced two Czechs out of the Australia Open Wednesday as the Americans headed towards a semifinal clash of generations at the season's first Grand Slam.
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Cricket:
Strong SA batting, poor WI bowling
South Africa grabbed the initiative early in every Test, West Indian captain Brian Lara admitted after South Africa wrapped up a 3-0 series win with a ten-wicket victory on the fifth day of the fourth
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Cricket:
A hero after one over
David Hookes, who died on Monday after suffering head injuries in an assault, became an instant celebrity when he struck England captain Tony Greig for five successive boundaries in the 1977 Centenary
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Cricket:
Tour Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe have urged England to confirm their commitment to tour the African nation in October after a report in the British media stated that the trip was in jeopardy because of moral issues.
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Football:
Juninho rocks Gunners
Middlesbrough took a huge step towards the first major trophy in the club's history with a 1-0 first leg win over Arsenal in their League Cup semi-final first leg here at Highbury on Tuesday.
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Football:
Techno goalie!
Genk goalkeeper Jan Moons used an earpiece to receive tactical information for the first time in the history of football in Genk's 1-0 Belgian league victory over FC Bruges last week.
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Football:
Rijkaard feels near to Real!
Barcelona's embattled coach Frank Rijkaard said on Tuesday his club are not vastly inferior to league pace-setters Valencia and Real Madrid, even if they clearly must improve on their current seventhplace.
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Football:
Saha through medical
Louis Saha has passed his medical with Manchester United and should complete his move from Fulham by the end of this week, Sky Sports reported on Tuesday.
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Football:
They have another agenda
South Africa and Morocco are set to transform their African Nations Cup campaign into one last desperate battle to win the prize of hosting the 2010 World Cup finals.
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Football:
Figo fights for Becks
Portuguese international Luis Figo has defended his Real Madrid teammate David Beckham against charges the England captain moved to the Spanish champions mostly to help market the club abroad.
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Football:
Another battle won by Lazio
Debt-ridden Lazio held fellow financial strugglers Parma to a 1-1 draw to ease into the last four of the Italian Cup on Tuesday.
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| Metropolitan |
'Diesel engines responsible for 50pc of city's air pollution'
Diesel engines are the main source of floating micro pollutants in Dhaka's air about 50 percent of which is black carbon emitted from diesel-run vehicles, experts told a workshop in the city yesterday.
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290 Children's Councils to be set up in Ctg
Save the Children, Australia would set up 290 Children's Councils in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar under its Child Access to Rights through Development (CARD) Project by June, 2006.
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Khulna JP leader escapes gun attack
Abdus Samad Khan, senior vice-president of Khulna City unit of Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), narrowly escaped an attempt on his life when a group of unidentified men fired at him in front of Sonali Jute Mills
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Rotary president arrives today
Rotary International President Jonathan B Majiyagbe arrives in the city today on a four-day visit to Bangladesh.
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AKF to set up school in city
Paris-based Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has taken a decision to establish a residential school and college in Dhaka, first of its kind in Asia, as a 'centre of excellence'.
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Janaza of Sadri Ispahani today
Namaz-e-janaza of Mirza Mehdy Ispahani (Sadri Ispahani) will be held at Baitul Mukarram Mosque after Zohr prayers today, says a press release.
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Workshop on rehabilitation of sex workers
The Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS) and the Department of Social Welfare jointly organised a daylong workshop titled 'Forward looking strategy to sustain the development programmes for the children' at theNUS
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| National |
Abductions for ransom up in Nilphamari
There was no political killing in the district during last two years although it increased in the southern part of the country.The phenomenon indicates political harmony in this horizon.
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Arsenic threatens 48,8,650 in Brahmanbaria
Two hundred and sixteen persons were affected with arsenic-related diseases in Nabinagar upazila.This is because of consumption of arsenic contaminated water.
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Another sugar mill closed down in Gaibandha
The Rangpur Sugar Mill in Gaibandha was closed down from Tuesday due to short supply of inputs.Labour leaders of the mill announced an agitation programme against the lay off with immediate effect.
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Three get life for killing girl in Rajshahi
The Speedy Trial Tribunal, Rajshahi, on Monday sentenced three youths to life imprisonment for killing a girl at Panka village in Godagari upazila in 2002.
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Stone extraction Unabated in Bandarban
Unabated extraction of stones are going on by unscrupulous people from hillside of the district resulting in environmental degradation.
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Tongi fair to make slum dwellers aware about rights
A five-day Tongi Puro Mela will begin on the Kaderia Textile Mill premises from today, says a press release.
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Workshop on FP, gender issues in Netrakona
The IEM unit of the Family Planning (FP) Directorate in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) jointly organised a workshop here for working journalists to make them aware aboutFamily
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Rajshahi housewives want gas
Several hundred housewives agitated in the divisional city on Tuesday afternoon demanding gas supply to Rajshahi.The Rajshahi Protection Movement Council (RPMC) organised a big procession of housewives.
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Transport strike in Gaibandha withdrawn
Gaibandha Motor Owners' Association and Motor-Truck Labour Union called off their indefinite transport strike from Thursday.
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RU bus damaged by unidentified miscreants
Unidentified masked men damaged a Rajshahi University bus leaving its helper injured in front of the main gate of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology on Monday morning.
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More time for shrine blast probe body
The probe committee to investigate the bomb blast at the shrine of Hajrat Shahjalal was given an extension of 10 days on Monday to submit its report.
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Three snatchers jailed in Bogra
Three snatchers were awarded three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a court here on Sunday.
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| Point-Counterpoint |
Bowing to the mighty Ayatollah
With both its authority and its transition plans in jeopardy, the administration has decided the United Nations has some legitimacy after all. There really should be no contest.
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America-China war of words over Hong Kong's rights to self-rule
The recent episode of harsh diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Beijing over democracy movement in Hong Kong drew the attention of many people.
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'Greater Israel' through expulsion of Palestinians?
The so-called targeted assassinations of Palestinian militants and leaders and the daily repression that has claimed some 3,000 Palestinian lives in three years, are not blueprint primarily for security,
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Queries on Cleopatra
She is an avid reader of her hero Julius Caesar.
She casually threw the question in the air:
" When Caesar was killed where was Cleopatra?"
I thought she was Cleo of Petra.
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| Culture |
Film bonanza at Rotterdam begins
The annual filmfest at Rotterdam began yesterday amidst gorgeous festivity. This is the 33rd edition of the international film festival at Rotterdam. It will run till February 1, 2004.
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Ntv finalises its Eid schedule
Ntv has primarily selected its four-day special programme schedule for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The variety and new ideas of programmes will well entertain the audience, the authority hopes.
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Folk Drama Festival 2004 begins at the Shilpakala Academy
To promote the elementary folk drama widely known as Jatra Pala and to protect this folk culture from obliteration, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy arranges a weeklong folk festival every year.
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| General |
Falling masonry injures 3 workers
Falling masonry of an under-construction hospital building injured three workers of an auto-mechanic workshop on Green Road in Dhanmondi yesterday.
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Call for effective measures to ensure contraceptive security
Experts yesterday felt the need for proper financial and technical preparations to keep up the success of family planning and meet the future demand of contraceptives, which is expected to double in 2015.
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12 parliament seats for disabled demanded
Physically challenged people yesterday demanded reservation of 12 seats in parliament so that they can participate in the country's law-making process.
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Kanchan, Harun elected CRAB president, secy
Fakhrul Alam Kanchan of the daily Jugantor and Harun-ur-Rashid of the daily Sangbad have been elected president and general secretary of Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) for a two-year
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Housewife commits suicide
A housewife allegedly committed suicide at her residence in Mirpur on Tuesday evening after her father rebuked her for slapping her child. Police found the body of Ripa Akhtar hanging from the ceiling.
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Public Admin Assoc formed
A new organisation styled 'Bangladesh Public Administration Association (BPAA)' has been floated by the former students of public administration department of different universities.
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| International |
Democrats slam Bush speech
Democrats seeking to oust George W. Bush from the White House on Tuesday harshly criticised as empty promises for ordinary Americans the State of the Union speech by the president they hope to succeed.
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Bribery scandal threatens Sharon
An Israeli businessman has been charged with offering hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
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Tigers warn of war over Chandrika's alliance
Tamil Tiger rebels yesterday warned that Sri Lanka could return to war following President Chandrika Kumaratunga's latest political pact with a leftist party opposing autonomy for minority Tamils.
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Kashmiri doves descend for crucial peace talks
A moderate faction of Kashmir's main separatist alliance, All Party Hurriyat Conference, is to meet the Centre on Thursday for talks aimed at ending nearly 15 years of bloodshed in the state.
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| Editorial |
Editorial:
JS to be further marginalised?
The government is planning to extend the intervening period between two parliament sessions from 60 to 90 days.
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Editorial:
Bomb blast cases
During the last 27 months of the four-party alliance rule, there have been at least five bomb blasts in different parts of the country.
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Democratisation through decentralisation
On decentralisation, Bangladesh has an "on again, off again" history.
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A policy toward India, please
It is high time, after 56 years, that Pakistanis defined their permanent purposes and interests vis-à-vis India.
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| Letters to Editor |
Retirement age
Is it actually inevitable to enhance retirement age to 60 years where our country is burdened with joblessness? So far I understand the proposal has come up on the issue of extension of services of some
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Democracy at stake
Bangladesh is practising democracy since 1991.Our democracy is nascent and vulnerable.
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Scientists abroad
The science and ICT minister's call to expatriate Bangladeshi scientists to come back to the country is as unrealistic as the order of that ministry for submitting monthly progress report of research
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Politics and modern life
The single greatest factor standing in the way of the rapid development of Bangladesh is the mindset of our politicians, A negative political culture has been allowed to develop which is alienating the
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