| Front Page | 
Killing spree in Khulna
A leader of the ruling BNP and another of its arch-rival Awami League were killed and yet another AL leader was critically injured in bomb and knife attacks yesterday in Khulna and Bagerhat region dubbed
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Big arms recovery in CHT forests
Army recovered huge arms and explosives from deep forests of Dhighinala of Khagrachhari and Baghaihat of Rangamati district in last four days.
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Cattle market on bull run
Buying of sacrificial animals considerably increased yesterday at the capital's cattle markets but their prices seemed higher ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha this year compared to the prices last year.
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Bomb scare at diplomatic zone
Police, army and intelligence agencies yesterday seized three 'improvised explosive devices', wrapped in as many household thermal flasks and left on the roadside at Park Road of Baridhara diplomaticenclave,
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Probe progress dismal, deadline extended
A parliamentary sub-committee formed to probe alleged scam in import and sale of CNG autorickshaws has lived out 22 days of the 30-day deadline in inaction, prompting its parent committee to extend the
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Inflation increases to 5.1pc in Nov
Inflation continues to edge up, touching 5.1 percent in November from 4.4 percent in June 2003, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday.
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Awkward handling
How prepared are the security personnel to deal with a bomb scare? Many were upset about the way police, army and the National Security Intelligence (NSI) handled the bomb scare yesterday at Baridhara
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Hunt down criminals in S-W
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has ordered the home ministry to go for all-out action in the trouble-torn Khulna region to track down the criminals involved in killings and other crimes as well as their godfathers.
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Suicide attack kills 10 near Sharon's house
At least ten people were killed yesterday in a suicide bomb attack on board a bus close to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's official residence in Jerusalem, military radio said.
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Capital kept off-limits for WorlTel suit
The telecoms watchdog is keeping Dhaka city off-limits to landline telephony of private operators due to a legal battle with the UK-based WorldTel that seeks a monopoly in the capital.
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Farmers blame it on bad vaccines
Around 20,000 chickens, mainly layers, died in more than two dozen poultry farms in Gazipur since January 20 after they were vaccinated.
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Body to recruit judges finally okayed
After four years of foot-dragging on the proposed judicial service commission (JSC), the body to be mandated to recruit judges for lower courts, the president yesterday promulgated the rules to set up
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Import of broiler & layer parent stock banned
The government has banned import of broiler and layer parent stock from any affected countries to keep Bangladesh free from bird flu virus, creating havoc in different parts of Asia.
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New Mooring Container Terminal deal inked
The agreement for construction of the much-expected New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) was signed between the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and the China Harbour Engineering Company (Group) yesterday.
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Action against culprits soon
Petrobangla and Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company are going to take departmental action against their officials involved in the pilferage of at least Tk 30 crore by doubling the projected
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Court for action against cop for framing innocent
A Barisal court yesterday set free a framed accused and ordered the home secretary to take action against the investigation officer for neglecting duty and harassing innocent people.
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Financial Express office robbed
Robbers ransacked The Financial Express and Themograph offices and looted allegedly Tk 2.3 lakh at Toyenbee Circular Road in Motijheel early yesterday.
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Seven get death sentence
A tribunal in Dhaka yesterday sentenced seven people to death and four, including a former Jatiya Party (JP) lawmaker, to life imprisonment over the killing of a leading entrepreneur in 2001.
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Khaleda invited to D8 Summit in Tehran
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has formally invited Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to attend the D8 Summit to be held in Tehran February 18-19.
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Prime accused of SL woman murder held in Motijheel
Police yesterday arrested Mofizul, prime accused of rape and murder of a Sri Lankan woman on Tuesday night.
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30 injured in police-trader clash at Paltan
At least 10 cops, including two sergeants, and 20 businessmen were injured in a clash over a trifling matter at Polwel Market near Jonaki Cinema Hall in Paltan Wednesday.
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Blasts, stampede at fair leave 20 hurt in N'ganj
At least 20 people were injured in bomb explosions and stampede at a fair at Golakandail in Rupganj upazila Wednesday night.
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Rush-hour traffic...
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Under-fire BBC holds crisis talks
The BBC, lambasted in the Hutton report over its Iraq reporting, faced the worst crisis in its 82-year history yesterday, with its governor gone and more senior heads on the execution block.
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ADB to aid combat bird flu
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) mulls necessary aid for the livestock sector to fight any deadly virus including bird flu."Small farmers would be seriously affected if bird flu outbreaks here.
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Schoolgirl gangraped, killed in Jessore
A schoolgirl was gangraped and killed at Hayatpur in Monirampur upazila of Jessore on Tuesday night.
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12-year-old raped in Shaympur
A 12-year-old child was raped at Dholaipar in Shyampur Wednesday night. The victim, a domestic help in the locality, went to the house of one Meena at Kholaipar, Shyampur to do the household chores.
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| Business |
Banks face withdrawal pressure on Eid rush
With only one more day left for transactions before Eid, commercial banks yesterday were teeming with people seeking cash withdrawal. And the transactions were double the normal volume, bankers said.
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'Low-risk' importers to get quick customs clearance
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is going to introduce "express lane facility' (ELF) for big and 'low-risk' traders to accelerate clearance of goods imported by them.
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ADB okays $5.5 lakh grant to promote financial market
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $550,000 (5.5 lakh) technical assistance (TA) grant to promote good governance in Bangladesh's financial market.
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Lula urges trade pact linking Brazil, India, South Africa
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called Wednesday for Brazil, India and South Africa to agree on a trilateral trade pact as part of a new bloc to take on developed economies.
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Asia-Latin American officials discuss closer economic ties
Senior officials of 32 Latin American and East Asian countries began meetings in the Philippine capital on Thursday to discuss forging closer economic, cultural and possibly political ties.
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Development aid set to rise by 50pc in 5 years: OECD
Development aid flows are set to rise by 50 percent in the five years to 2006 but much depends on the United States and leading European countries that are behind in meeting targets, the OECD reported
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Major foreign banks sign agreement with CDBL
Major foreign banks in Bangladesh have signed an agreement with the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) for investing in the equity shares of CDBL.
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IDLC branch opens at Dhanmondi
The Industrial Development Leasing Company of Bangladesh Limited (IDLC) has opened its 3rd branch at SEL Centre, West Panthapath, Dhanmondi in Dhaka.
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HSBC Bangladesh in Dubai festival
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Bangladesh is taking part in the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival to promote 'Bangladesh International', a product for non-resident Bangladeshis(NRBs)
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US mission team meets BCI chief
A two-member delegation of US mission in Dhaka met AK Azad, managing director of Ha-Meem Group and president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), in Dhaka on Wednesday.
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CPD workshop on trade policy appreciation concludes
A three-day workshop on trade policy appreciation jointly organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and the Centre for Trade Policy and Law (CTPL), Canada concluded in Dhaka yesterday.
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New chairman of Union Capital
M Faizur Rahman has been elected chairman of Union Capital Limited, a non-banking financial institution.The election was held at the board meeting of the company recently in Dhaka, says a pressrelease.
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Robust growth expected for Asia in 2004
Asia will grow robustly in 2004 as the region's export engine benefits from improving global conditions, signaling a possible end to deflation in some economies, the latest Reuters poll of regional analysts
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| Sports |
Football:
Biggies' goal glut
Ugandan strikers were the toast of their clubs when the return leg of the Western Union Premier Division Football League got underway at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
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Football:
Cash starved DMFLC
The once affluent Dhaka Mahana-gari Football League Committee (DMFLC) is presently facing acute shortage of funds.
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Cricket:
Wasim hits back at Javed
Pakistan's former fast bowling great Wasim Akram took a swipe at teammate Javed Miandad on Thursday for suggesting he had passed on "secrets" to Indian pacemen.
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Cricket:
Rain wins at Melbourne
Zimbabwe's hopes of breaking through for their first win in the triangular VB Series one-day cricket tournament were dashed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday when heavy rain forced play to be
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Cricket:
Pollock propels Proteas
Exemplary seam bowling by Shaun Pollock helped South Africa to victory over the West Indies in their second one-day international on Wednesday.
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Cricket:
South Africa stay same
South Africa have kept their victorious squad intact for the remaining three one-day internationals against West Indies.
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Cricket:
Back-to-back comebacks
Australia's crown jewels, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, will make their long-awaited comebacks within 24 hours of each other, after their lengthy absences through injury and suspension.
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Cricket:
Eng to debate tour plan
The key decision-makers in English cricket could take the first step towards abandoning their tour of Zimbabwe when they meet on Thursday.
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Tennis:
All-Belgian final
Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters slotted into their allotted places in the Australian Open final on Thursday, the top two seeds ensuring a third all-Belgian final in the last four grand slams.
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Tennis:
Safin sends Agassi packing
Russian giant Marat Safin shattered Andre Agassi's dream of a fifth Australian Open title on Thursday, wearing down the American 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 1-6, 6-3 to reach his second final at Melbourne Park.
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Cricket:
Sohel shines for Ashraf Master
A brilliant century from Sohel guided Jurain Ashraf Master High to an em-phatic 116-run win over Adhunik Shishu High in one of the two Dhaka Metropolis zone qualifying matches of the Standard Chartered
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Chess:
Zia draws 9th game
Grand Master Ziaur Rahman drew his 9th round game of the First International Chess Tournament in Chennai, India yesterday.
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Chess:
Rakib clinches Active crown
IM Abdullah Al Rakib won the Active chess tournament collecting highest six points at the Bangladesh Chess Federation Auditorium yesterday.Khandakar Aminul Islam finished runner-up with 5.
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Cricket:
Victoria beat City Club
An unbeaten hundred by opener Mohammad Tuhin steered Victoria Sporting Club to a six-wicket win over City Club in one of the three Dhaka Metropolis Under-13 cricket tournament matches at the Dhanmondi
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Hockey:
Office Hockey title Library's
Friends Library clinch the Office Hockey League title when they came from behind to beat Bangladesh Army 2-1 in the final at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
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Table Tennis:
Ctg TT
Quality Sports and Young Star Club won their respective matches in the Sinmin Mineral Water Table Tennis League at the Chittagong Jila Krira Sangstha (CJKS) gymnasium yesterday.
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Phulpur M'singh soccer champs
Phulpur clinched the inter-upazila football title of Mymensingh district with a 1-0 victory over Sadar in the final at the local stadium yesterday.
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Handball:
Ctg handball
The finals of the Dynasty Mahanagari Handball League will be held at the Dampara Police Lines ground in Chittagong today.
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Football:
Tunisia in quarters
Hosts Tunisia became the first team to reach the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup on Wednesday but their celebrations were overshadowed by accusations of cheating levelled at them by beaten opponents
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Football:
Scrappy Milan go top
European champions AC Milan replaced AS Roma at the top of Italy's Serie A despite playing way below their best, edging Siena 2-1 in a rearranged league match here on Wednesday.
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Football:
Time to get back to work
The Bundesliga returns to the footballing calendar after a six-week winter break this weekend with a tight title race in prospect for the second half of the campaign.
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Football:
Goodbye Feher
Nearly a thousand fans, family and teammates paid their final respects Wednesday to Hungarian international Miklos Feher, who collapsed and died when playing for his club Benfica in Portugal on Sunday.
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Real, Alaves in semis
Real Madrid swept into the last four of the Spanish Cup on Wednesday when goals from Raul and Zinedine Zidane gave them a 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium and a convincing 5-1 win over
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| Point-Counterpoint |
Why FDI is not flowing into Bangladesh?
Bangladesh has adopted a number of policies and provided generous incentives to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country and the country seems to offer perhaps the most liberal FDI regime
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Electoral reform or additional number of MPs?
While the proceedings of country's parliament in the last few years do not give much of a reason to believe that an additional number of MPs will bring about any substantial change in our present political
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A man of integrity and honesty
Sadri Ispahani was a man of high stature. The only son of Mirza Ahmed Ispahani he was an illustrious businessman. He was known as "sadri" to all his friends.
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An unforgettable personality
The demise of industrial magnate of global eminence, with unflinching commitment to people's welfare, Mirza Mehdy Ispahani (popularly known as Sadri Saheb) is ir-reparable.
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| Culture |
Jazzmatazz: Kate Pittard with the Renaissance quartet
British American Tobacco and Rothmans presented a wonderful mix of Latin and R&B jazz concert on January 28 at the Osmani Memorial Hall with a great line-up.
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ATN Bangla's programmes on Eid
ATN Bangla will bring some special programmes this Eid with new ideas and entertainment. Besides drama, tele-film and cinema, the variety of musical programmes and magazine shows will amuse the audience.
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Renowned cultural activists talk about their achievements and expectations
Another year has passed by and time has come to look at the success and failure of the previous years and at the same time to look forward for a better future.
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Who's going to stay on the balloon?
Around a year ago, the major debating societies and debating clubs around Dhaka City, came up with yet another new pattern of debate, entitled the Balloon Debate.
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Poetry for peace and humanity
Kanthokalom, a new literary organization, which publishes a magazine named Kanthokalom, arranged a programme on poetry recently, at the Public Library Auditorium, says a press release.
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| General |
DCs asked to improve law and order
Home Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury yesterday asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) to take effective measure to improve law and order through better coordination between police and other departments.
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ADB to launch Water Study Project in S Asia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will launch a 'Water Quality Study Project' in the South Asian region soon.
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Help develop human resources
President Iajuddin Ahmed has praised the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh for its various scholarly works and said it can deliver intellectual inputs for future development of the country.
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'Stop displacement of indigenous people'
Stop displacement of indigenous people from their lands in the name of development, said the speakers at a meeting yesterday.They said the indigenous people have been forced to live inhuman lives.
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Shaila elected chairman of Taherpur Pourasava
Awami League-supported Shaila Parveen was elected chairman of Taherpur Pourasava in a fresh election held yesterday.The post had fallen vacant after the killing of her father.
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WHO fears bird flu began in April
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the current outbreak of bird flu may have first surfaced last April, much earlier than previously thought.
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Life once existed on Mars: Scientists
Australian scientists said yesterday that a dog with a nose for sewage had found evidence that life once, and may still, exist on Mars.
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Steps taken to formulate common codes for jute
The International Jute Study Group (IJSG) has taken an initiative to prepare common codes to facilitate the traders and consumers for easy marketability of jute and jute products.
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Talk on defining Women's identity
Women identity in any society assumes newer forms with the changes in various social constructs over the passages of time, speakers said at a literary talk yesterday.
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Bepza launches new website
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) has introduced database dynamic interactive website, rearranging the web portal on the country's six EPZs.
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SASC reunion Feb 21
Students Anti-smoking Committee (SASC) will organise a reunion of its former and present members and well-wishers in the city on February 21, marking its 18th founding anniversary.
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US embassy holiday
The American Embassy, including the American Centre, Information Resource Centre, and the Student Counselling Service will remain closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.
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Three killed in road accident
Three people were killed in separate road accidents at Porabari on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and Itahata on Dhaka-Tangail highway yesterday.
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Congratulations
Shahadat Hossain Riad has secured first class first position in the BA (honours) examination of the communication & journalism department of Chittagong University (CU) held in 2003.
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Build up skilled administration: Khaleda
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has sought cooperation of the civil servants in building up a talented, skilled and impartial administration capable of leading the country towards progress and prosperity.
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CU urged to cancel fees for verification of certificates
Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) of Chittagong University (CU) unit yesterday submitted a memorandum to the syndicate demanding immediate cancellation of fees charged for verification of certificates
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| Editorial |
Editorial:
Bird flu threat
The latest reports indicate that bird flu, a potentially life-threatening affliction, may assume epidemic proportions in Southeast and South Asian regions. It can jump species.
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Editorial:
Businessmen living in fear
Extortion-related violence is frightfully on the rise at the old Dhaka business hub.
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Ethics of political leadership: What the leaders need to do
Political life in contemporary Bangladesh suffers from a deep and inescapable element of tragedy. Political leaders act mostly for personal and party interests.
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Truth is caught in a vise
Truth is caught in a vise when everything is right and everything is wrong. Talk to anyone you like, and that is the impression you are going to get. Nobody is wrong in this country, yet nothing is right.
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Let pharmaceutical industry be a thrust sector
Managing the economy is to keep the macro economic indicators stable. With tight fiscal discipline i.e.
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| Letters to Editor |
Babies on bridges
You can see small babies lying on the busy overbridges of Farmgate every day.
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The Star 'robbed' my morning walk
In love heart grows more in absence. This is, however, no less valid in case of living continuously far away from home on duty with only a brief interlude. This may be a kind of 'homesickness'.
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Killing of journalists
A wave of torture and killing of journalists has been witnessed recently.
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Geisha--What does it mean?
It was fascinating to read 'Kyoto is like a Kimono' written by Mr. Kazi Khaled Ashraf published in The Daily Star of January 21, 2004. At one place he wrote: " The area is also known for the geishas.
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South Asian writers
I take this opportunity to thank Yasmeen Murshed for her excellent column on books. Her column ('Post colonial fiction,' Saturday, 24/01/04), was a very good reading.
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Saddam standing for Democrats!
Forgive me for asking, but if Saddam was to contest the forthcoming election (no, not the Iraqi election, but the US presidential election!), who do you think will win: Bush or Saddam?If you ask
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Lack of sportsmanship
A Bangladesh Test squad has been named for the forthcoming Zimbabwe cricket series with batsman Habibul Bashar as the new skipper and Rajin Saleh as his deputy.
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English medium in cadet colleges
Recently, the government took the decision that English will be the medium of instruction for the cadet colleges.
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National University
I fully endorse the views expressed by Mr Shafiquee (DS, 24th January, 2004). There seems to be a great inertia at the NU.
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Hapless pedestrians
I live in a model suburb in the northern part of Dhaka. I usually go out in my area for an evening walk or mild exercise. I find a few more people joining me from the neighbourhood and we enjoy our walk.
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Lankan gesture
I read the news about the friendly behaviour of the Sri Lankan navy towards 14 Bangladeshi fishermen who lost their way due to a natural calamity in the Bay of Bengal.
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Media flayed
We are really disappointed reading the above news item published in the DS on January 23,2004.
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"My architects, Kahn and Khan"
Sorry, but I do not get the point of the writer's view published in the DS (23/01/04, "My Architect, Kahn and Khan").
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Pedestrian corridor
On Road 103 in Gulshan-2, near where I live, DCC/DUTP-appointed contractors have been working for nearly a year to construct a pedestrian footpath along one side of the road.
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Parking lot
A couple of days back on the TV and recently in the newspaper, I saw an exciting (!?!?) news.
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| Environment |
Local communities and ecotourism
The community is a group of population which interact with each other and live within a definable area.
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| World |
Israel, Hezbollah begin prisoner swap
Two aircraft involved in a complex and secretive exchange of prisoners between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah arrived in the German city of Cologne early yesterday, a photographer said.
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Blair basks in victory after Hutton verdict
A relieved Tony Blair basked in victory yesterday and was set to make a major domestic policy speech after his surprising, near-total vindication in a British judge's inquiry into an Iraq weapons scientist's
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Press cries 'whitewash' as Hutton slams BBC
The judge who probed the suicide of arms expert David Kelly was accused of a "whitewash" by much of Britain's daily press yesterday for clearing Prime Minister Tony Blair's government of wrongdoing while
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US Senate warned of 'dirty bomb' threat to India, Pakistan
India and Pakistan are "very vulnerable" to the "dirty bomb" threat and any such attack has the danger of scuttling South Asian peace moves, a political analyst has told the US Senate Committee.
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Indian parliament goes into final session ahead of polls
The final session of Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament, began yesterday ahead of fresh parliamentary polls, setting the national political scene on the fast-lane in the coming weeks.
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Indian govt rules out truce against Kashmiri rebels
Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said yesterday the government had no plans to declare a ceasefire against militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir despite peace talks with moderate separatists.
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Suicide bombing response to 'walls and massacres'
The suicide bombing that killed at least ten people yesterday in Jerusalem is a message that "walls and massacres" cannot guarantee Israeli security, the Palestinian ambassador to the Arab League said.
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'US troops to remain in Iraq for another 3-year'
The US Army's top general told Congress he is planning for the possibility of being required to rotate a large force in and out of Iraq for another three years. Gen. Peter J.
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Bush changes gears in reelection bid
Facing a new Democratic front-runner in John Kerry, President Bush's reelection campaign is quietly shifting gears, preparing for the possibility it will confront a war hero and current senator.
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BBC scandal not a first in media world
The BBC, Britain's venerable broadcaster, has become the latest media institution to come under the spotlight for its reporting practices, joining other respected organisations such as the New York Times
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Everyone wrong on WMD, says Kay
Former chief US weapons hunter David Kay said on Wednesday "we were almost all wrong" about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that his search there found no evidence of biological or chemical arms.
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Pakistan rules out US al-Qaeda offensive on its territory
Pakistan yesterday ruled out any US military offensive on its territory against al-Qaeda fighters, after an American newspaper claimed Washington was planning to deploy its troops to Pakistan.
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US plans offensive in Afghanistan
The US military is planning for a spring offensive against Taliban and al-Qaeda guerrillas in Afghanistan, US officials said Wednesday.
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