Vol. 5 Num 260 Fri. February 18, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections World Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page ACC to take in all Bac staff The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has once again taken a controversial decision to temporarily take in all regular staff of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (Bac) violating the ACC Act and   Donors rethink aid strategy for rise in militancy For the first time in Bangladesh's history, donors are sitting in Washington in a high profile meet to take some serious decisions on their aid strategy against the backdrop of their heightening concerns   Documents of another case against JMJB men missing Documents of yet another case involving Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) operatives have gone missing.   An RU teacher with a long militant track The controversial Rajshahi University teacher Dr Muhammad Asadullah Al Galib was associated with a number of radical Islamist organisations in Pakistan, India and the Middle East, and he also secretly   Chopper controversy Mystery shrouds as to why no helicopter was sent to bring Awami League (AL) lawmaker and former finance minister SAMS Kibria to Dhaka from Habiganj on the night of January 27 as his life might have been   WB concerned over attacks on NGOs The World Bank (WB) yesterday deplored and expressed deep concerns at the recent bomb attacks on Grameen Bank and Brac offices, which Grameen Bank's managing director considers a bad omen for the country.   Seven grenades found in Savar, Khulna Six live grenades and 16 rifle bullets were recovered from a paddy field in Botiaghata upazila in Khulna, while law-enforcers seized a hand grenade from the house of a drug-peddler in Savar yesterday.   Kibria family reiterates demand for FBI probe The family of late SAMS Kibria yesterday reiterated its demand that the government invite immediately the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure a transparent investigation into the Habiganj   Open rice sale starts To counteract the spiralling rice prices, the government yesterday launched a two-month Open Market Sale (OMS) programme of the staple food across the country at a subsidised rate.   A political party hatching conspiracy, says PM Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has said a political party is hatching conspiracy against the country with the support of its foreign allies, and urged people to identify and resist the conspirators.   Quorum crisis plagues JS Amidst an acute quorum crisis, the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) sitting yesterday began half an hour behind schedule at 5:00 pm with only 43 lawmakers present in the House.   National ID card for citizens on cards The government is planning to introduce for every citizen a multipurpose national identity card with photograph and fingerprint.   Premier Bank in loan controversy Premier Bank faces another financial scandal as it has been found that a huge amount of loans has been sanctioned to the relatives of its chairman HBM Iqbal, using fictitious names and addresses of non-existent   Frequent hartals disrupt academic calendars Frequent hartals would upset the academic calendars of all educational institutions, apprehend teachers, students and their guardians alike.   CRR reduced to stabilise taka The central bank yesterday raised the statutory Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) by 0.5 percent to 4.5 per cent in a bid to stablise taka against dollar and to ease import pressure.   Oli's gunman kills 'mugger' An alleged mugger was killed and another injured when the gunman of BNP leader Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, MP, opened fire on a gang that intercepted a taxicab he boarded on Tongi Diversion Road in Tejgaonlast   14 to get Ekushey Padak The government has decided to award "Ekushey Padak-2005" to 14 personalities in recognition of their contributions to respective fields.   11 to die for killing a couple A court here yesterday sentenced 11 people to death for killing a couple at Sonarchar village in Meghna upazila of the district three years ago.   Probe team gets 2 more weeks The government has extended by two weeks the tenure of the probe body on the January 27 grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally at Boidder Bazar in Habiganj.   ASP's bail prayer rejected A Dhaka court yesterday rejected the bail petition of former additional superintendent of police in Khulna Mofazzel Hossain, who was arrested on Wednesday at city's Moham-madpur area.   10 Workers Party men hurt in cop clubbing At least 10 activists of Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) were hurt in police baton-charges after their conference at Muktangan was thwarted by an unscheduled rally of ruling BNP's cultural wing.   PBCP threatens to blast grenade at Ekushey fair Panic seized the town of Kushtia yesterday evening after the Purba Bangla Communist Party (PBCP), in a fax sent to authorities, threatened to launch a grenade attack on Ekhushey fair in Kushtia University Business Tifa to lead to FTA between US, Bangladesh Signing Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa) between Bangladesh and the United States would lead to striking a deal on free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, the US Ambassador   Loan-classification rules tightened The central bank has tightened loan-classification regulations under which loan repayments overdue for three months will have to be shifted to 'special mentioned accounts' of the banks.   71pc turnout in BGMEA polls Election of the executive committee of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) was held yesterday in its Dhaka and Chittagong offices with 71 percent turnout of voters.   DSE gets new leaders Md Shahiq Khan was elected president of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday. Md Feroz Khan and Ahmad Rashid were elected senior vice-president and vice-president of DSE respectively.   DCCI plans to hold S Asian meet on SMEs Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) plans to organise a South Asian ministerial meeting on small and medium enterprises (SMEs).   Indian private sector sees trade opportunity Indian private sector sees major trade opportunity with the Kyoto Protocol going into force requiring industrialised countries to reduce their emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.   Myanmar gas woos investors Politically and economically isolated for more than a decade, Myanmar is being thrown a lifeline by its Asian neighbours, which are jostling to spend billions of dollars to tap the country's energy resources.   Tata seals NatSteel purchase Indian steel giant Tata Steel completed its 486.4 million Singapore dollar (297 million US) purchase of Singapore's NatSteel Asia on Thursday, paving the way for a major expansion throughout the AsiaPacific.   Bank holidays on Sunday, Monday Bangladesh Bank and all scheduled banks will remain closed on the occasion of Muharram (Ashura) on Sunday and Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day on Monday, said a release.   Huawei wins $187m contract in Thailand Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a Chinese company, has been awarded with a US$ 187 million contract to install Thailand's nationwide CDMA2000 3G expansion network.   Europe prepared to do business with Bush Europe will be all ears next week when George W Bush stages the first overseas trip of his second term to learn whether the US president means what he says about reaching out to old allies.   Hyundai Motor, Pohang Steel plan to set up plants in India In signs of South Korean multinationals' growing confidence in India market, carmaker Hyundai Motor Corporation and steel major Pohang Steel Company (POSCO) have proposed to set up plants here.   Saarc fails to make enough progress on economic front President of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICC-B) said when Asean, Apec and several other regional blocs have made significant changes in the lives of their peoples, the Saarc has notbeen   China's foreign trade jumps 33pc in January China's foreign trade remained on the fast track in the first month of 2005 after the country grew into the third largest trader worldwide last year.   CRAB holds first AGM The first annual general meeting (AGM) of Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Ltd (CRAB) was held in Dhaka on Tuesday.   IMF gives Zimbabwe one last chance The International Monetary Fund Wednesday gave Zimbabwe one last chance to meet its obligations before being expelled from the international lending organization.   G7 growth sharply lower than expected in Q4: OECD OECD chief economist Jean-Philippe Cotis said on Thursday that growth in G7 countries was running at an annual rate of 1.5 percent in the last quarter of last year.   New chairman of First Security Bank Md Saiful Alam, a leading industrialist, took over as chairman of First Security Bank Ltd yesterday.   Oil extends gains above $48 Oil prices added to strong gains yesterday, spurred by persistent Opec talk of a cut in supplies ahead of the second quarter that could drain healthy US stockpiles before summer. Sports Cricket: The Kolkata solution? India's cricket board on Thursday accepted a Pakistani request to change one Test venue but said its neighbour's first cricket tour across the border in six years may still be delayed by continuing disputes   Cricket: Nazimuddin’s day Nazimuddin smashed the first double hundred of the season as his unbeaten 204 put Chittagong in the driving seat against visiting Sylhet on Day Two of their National Cricket League match yesterday.   Cricket: Tasty starter Ricky Ponting and Michael Kasprowicz revelled in the spotlight as Australia out-slogged and out-thought New Zealand to win the first Twenty20 cricket international by 44 runs here Thursday.   Cricket: Mani rules out two-tier Tests Less than a week after the ICC seemed to suggest that it was prepared to consider reducing the number of matches involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Ehsan Mani, the ICC's president, has said that weaker   Cricket: Dalmiya puts record straight Jagmohan Dalmiya has declared that he has no interests in matters regarding sponsorships and TV rights.   Cricket: Ganguly for county return Sourav Ganguly clearly has more pressing matters on his mind at present, but according to an interview in the launch edition of Spin magazine, which is published on Thursday, once the India-Pakistan Test   Tennis: India's new idol Hundreds of cheering fans jostled past a bewildered guard into a stadium in India last Saturday for the final of a women's tennis tournament.   Tennis: Federer back on track World number one Roger Federer enjoyed a winning return following his Australian Open misery beating qualifier Bohdan Ulihrach 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Rotterdam Open on Wednesday.   Tennis: Roddick rolls into qtrs Top seed Andy Roddick eased into the quarterfinals of the ATP side of the men's and women's tennis tournaments playing here on Wednesday with a straight-set victory over France's Arnaud Clement.   Cricket: Wari's worries increase Wari Club's bid to escape relegation from the First Division Cricket League suffered a big blow when they suffered a one-wicket defeat against Lalmatia Club in a last-ball thriller at the BangabandhuNational   Cricket: First Ashes, then honeymoon Andrew Flintoff is so determined to lead England's attempt to regain the Ashes this summer he has agreed to postpone his honeymoon.   Hockey: Div I hockey Bangladesh Sporting Club blanked Mukta Bihanga 2-0 in the Green Delta First Division Hockey League in yesterday's lone match at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium.   Hockey: Qamar flies home Bangladesh's hockey coach Qamar Ibrahim left for Pakistan yesterday after a two-week stint in Dhaka.   Chess: Hasan loses solo lead Hasan Imam lost solo lead in the 31st National Chess Championship qualifiers when he drew with Aminul Islam in the sixth round at the federation hall-room yesterday.   Cricket: Shoaib fined Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been fined $500 for breach of contract during the recent tour of Australia.   Cricket: Gaibandha cricket Munshipara Krira Sangstha defeated Gaibandha Cricket Club by five wickets in the First Division Cricket League at the Gaibandha Stadium yesterday.   Cricket: Waugh to set up Cricket City Former Australian Test captain Steve Waugh will further strengthen his ties with the city of Kolkata by setting up a Cricket City in Rajarhat New Town, on the outskirts of the metropolis.   Football: United's wealth unparalleled Manchester United, battling a 790 million-pound takeover bid by US tycoon Malcolm Glazer, has retained its position as the world's wealthiest football club, a survey published Thursday showed.   Football: Ajax, Germans happier Dutch giants Ajax deservedly beat French side Auxerre 1-0 but their win was marred by a racist banner that greeted the visitors' Ivory Coast striker Bonaventure Kalou on Wednesday in their UEFA Cup third   Football: 'Divers' irk Keane Manchester United skipper Roy Keane has hit out at 'diving' in the Premiership and insists it's a problem which is getting worse.   Football: Hoyzer-gate spreads to Europe The Robert Hoyzer match-fixing scandal has now spread from Germany to Greece with football's governing body UEFA confirming Wednesday they are investigating a UEFA Cup match between Panionios and Dinamo   Football: Ronaldo injures toe at engagement bash! Real Madrid striker Ronaldo is doubtful for Saturday's league match against Athletic Bilbao after returning from his lavish Valentine's Day engagement party in Paris with an injury to his toe.   Football: Dortmund in the red Six-time German champions Borussia Dortmund, the only Bundesliga club floated on the stock market, are on the brink of financial ruin it was confirmed on Thursday.   Football: Diego says he's holidaying Diego Maradona insisted that his visit to the Caribbean city of Cartagena was for nothing more than a holiday and asked to be left in peace on Wednesday.   Football: Kluivert vows to bounce back Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert has vowed to repay the faith shown in him by Newcastle boss Graeme Souness by resurrecting his career with the English Premiership side.   Tennis: Clijsters-Venus showdown Former world number one Kim Clijsters continued her winning return from injury with a 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1 victory against Russian fifth-seed Nadia Petrova on Wednesday.   Cricket: Moody eyeing England job Australian Tom Moody wants to be in the running for the England coaching job when Duncan Fletcher steps down. Fletcher has a rolling contract but there is speculation the Ashes could be his last series.   Cricket: Croft involved in car crash Former England off-spinner Robert Croft spent the Tuesday night in hospital in Swansea, after the car he was driving was involved in a motorway collision with a lorry.   Cricket: Katich back to Rose Bowl English county cricket side Hampshire confirmed Wednesday they have signed Australian Test batsman Simon Katich for next season. Point-Counterpoint Chattak blow-out The recorded history of the Chattak (West) gas field shows that it had a gas reserve of 1.9 trillion cubic feet (tcf) with recoverable reserves of 1. Culture Beyond Books As Amar Ekushey draws closer, we have been reminded of the necessity to close ranks against divisive forces.   Hridoye Mati O Manush celebrates first anniversary Only a few of the country's TV programmes have a history of revival.   Chilekothar Sepai On the closing day of the drama festival arranged by Udichi, the troupe staged Chilekothar Sepai on February 17, at Mahila Samity Stage.   Sisimpur : A new attraction on TV for children Sisimpur, a new educational TV series for children, was unveiled on the production floor of Film Development Corporation (FDC) yesterday afternoon, according to a press release. General DU students continue protest against bomb attack Students of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday continued their protest against the Monday's bomb attack on a Valentine's Day crowd and demanded immediate arrest of and punishment to the culprits.   Parents demand judicial probe The parents of a student of Mymensingh Girls' Cadet College yesterday demanded judicial probe into the death of their daughter.   'Influential people occupy 88 percent khas land' While half of the country's total households are landless, only 6.2 percent own 40 percent of the total land, said the experts at a discussion yesterday.   'Anti-liberation forces out to destroy spirit of Language Movement' Anti-liberation forces are out to destroy the spirit of Language Movement in their bid to establish a state based on religion, said the speakers at a discussion yesterday.   JCD assaults 8 BCL men at JU Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activists assaulted eight Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) workers on the Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus yesterday as they requested the teachers not to take classes   Former envoys condemn Kibria killing The Association of Former Foreign Service Officers of Bangladesh expressed deep shock at the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and demanded an independent, credible and transparent investigation   People urged to contribute to tsunami fund by Feb 28 The response to an appeal made by leading representatives of the civil society on January 18 for raising funds for the tsunami victims has been extremely generous, says a press release.   3-yr-old girl dies in road accident A three-year-old girl was killed when a speeding minibus ran over her in the city's Badda area yesterday morning. Editorial Editorial: It's an attack on progress The bombs attacks on Brac and Grameen Bank offices were tell-tale attempts at destroying anything that stood for progress, modernity, empowerment of women and the like.   Editorial: Passage between Kashmirs The agreement to begin the long-awaited bus link across the line of control between India- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir is undoubtedly a significant development.   Message from New Delhi Make no mistake about it. The recent policy address given by Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on February 14 was a message aimed principally at Bangladesh.   Life sentence for death The night was long and restless until it faded at dawn, and he woke up with a start when the cry of a rooster seared the earth, like a shriek of pain speaking of a new day being born.   Inducting honest men in Parliament is a far cry Though not a foolproof system democracy is held as the best available form of governance. The incumbents are chosen by the people which is a democratic process. Letters to Editor Where is the glory ? February is the month of pride as well as mourning for the Bengalee nation, when our forefathers gave us something glorious. We needed an independent country, whose dream led them to fight in the battlefield.   Whom shall we trust ? Whom shall we trust ? the government version of the political and religious situation in Bangladesh or the one given by the local as well as the world media? We were told by the government high-ups in   River linking project Recently it has been widely reported in the media that India is going to implement the river linking project. It's a very grave issue for Bangladesh.   Oscar Night This is a response to the letter by Muftah Wali on 26 January. Yes, finally there is someone who thought about not being able to watch the Oscars live while the whole world can see it.   How about a Bangladeshi idol? Recently, a satellite TV show "Indian Idol" has been capturing the hearts of many Bangladeshi viewers. It is about getting India's best singer (who can prove to be a good performer as well).   ACC People with a negative mindset were very much skeptic about ACC's proper functioning.   Playing with fire? The government should look around and take lessons from civil war affected countries. Mr. Kibria's murder can take Bangladesh to a very explosive situation, unless the "real" culprits are caught andpunished.   Thai PM Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is clearly very excited about the re-election of Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr.   A peaceful programme After seeing their posters all over Dhaka, I decided to go to Baitul Mukarram and watch their activity as an outsider. I was simply amazed. I have never seen a demonstration like this.   To BAS authorities.. I am a young scientific officer of the largest research organisation in the country.   A tolerant country I'm very proud to be a Bangladeshi! As our country is known as a moderate one, time has come to show the world how moderate we are.   Brave heart Your special correspondent's front page news item (DS: Feb 09) is indeed a moving and praise worthy write-up on the uncommon bravery and fellow feeling shown by a very common man! It will be nice ifyour   Where is humanity? Are we human beings? Can we claim this with our heart being tormented by scenes of brutal news about the poor people, who work in our homes just to earn their livelihood.   Rab I'm not an expert on crime and the government response to it . But still I can realise the importance and necessity of Rab.   Curriculum of English medium schools Recently I have felt that the English medium schools (EMS) are putting a lot of pressure on the pupils of the junior section.   Strange things I've lived most of my life in Saudi Arabia. I'm sixteen and I've just come back here with my family. I've been noticing a lot of weird things on the news lately. World 'Syrian behavior harmful' US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld charged Wednesday that Syria's behavior is "harmful" to US efforts to stabilise Iraq and establish a democracy while Damascus and Tehran vowed "united front" against   Knesset gives final nod to Gaza pullout Israel's parliament agreed Wednesday to pay nearly $900 million in compensation to 9,000 Jewish settlers who will be uprooted when Israel pulls out of the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank.   Amnesty urges world powers to suspend military aid to Nepal Human rights group Amnesty International Thursday called on the United States, Britain and India to suspend military aid to Nepal after King Gyanendra's seizure of power and declaration of emergency rule.   Bill introduced in US Congress to restore ties with Taiwan A bipartisan resolution was introduced Wednesday in the House of Representatives demanding resumption of diplomatic ties with Taiwan in a move certain to upset China and embarrass the Bush administration.   Nepal's media 'suffocated': Media group Nepal's media has been "suffocated" through a climate of fear and self-censorship since King Gyanendra seized power, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said yesterday.   Islamic terrorism tops US security risks Islamic extremists, including the al-Qaeda network, remain a potent US security threat, the director of the CIA told US a Senate panel Wednesday, as he outlined potential dangers to US interests around   Security for Kashmir bus service looms as key problem Passenger security will be a major issue as Pakistan and India finalise arrangements for a historic bus service between their zones of volatile Kashmir, officials and analysts said yesterday.   Rebels haunt elected Kashmiri officials Terrified of rebel reprisals, some newly elected municipal councillors in Indian Kashmir are quitting and apologising to the Islamic militants for contesting the first civic elections in 27 years.   Iraqi politician kidnapped Armed men kidnapped an official of interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's party while two US soldiers, four Iraqi policemen and 8 Iraqis were killed in violence north of Baghdad, security sources said yesterday.   Taslima Nasreen seeks Indian citizenship After ten years in self-imposed exile from Bangladesh, controversial writer Taslima Nasreen yesterday sought Indian citizenship saying she "dreams of living in West Bengal where I feel at home.   © thedailystar.net, 2005. 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