| Front Page | 
PM orders rooting out Islamist militants
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday instructed the home ministry and the intelligence agencies to root out the Islamist militants, their hideouts and subversive activities.
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11 more militants held with bomb parts
Eleven alleged activists of the banned Islamist militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been arrested from different places in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts.
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JMJB mentor Rahman evades probing eyes
Although the government has at last launched a crackdown on Islamist militants, it has yet to make any move to arrest Moulana Abdur Rahman, the brains behind the banned Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh
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Target to catch 20 militant leaders
The law-enforcers are hunting at least 20 Islamist militant leaders including Bangla Bhai in the northern region as part of the ongoing crackdown.
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EU takes hard line on aid
The meeting of the donors in Washington got underway Wednesday with the European Union (EU) taking a tough stance, pressing donors to go for a hard line regarding aid because of Bangladesh government's
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No plan to press sedition charges against them
The government does not plan to press any sedition charge right now against the Islamist militant leaders arrested in Rajshahi Wednesday, although it has accused them of creating social unrest by misleading
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No proceedings yet against Galib, others
The Rajshahi police surprisingly ran out of gas yesterday, a day after their highly-publicised arrest of Dr Asadullah Al Galib and his top three associates on charges of spearheading an Islamist militancy
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BNP MPs hail govt move, doubt home secy's role
A number of ruling BNP lawmakers from the northern region have said the government crackdown on Islamist militants is 'too late' and expressed doubts about the success of the operation as well as keeping
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Opposition parties think it is eyewash
Mainstream opposition parties believe the government ban on two Islamist militant outfits is nothing but eyewash and it will not bring any change in the situation as the problem of extremism lies within
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Grenade found in Khulna, bombs in Jhenidah
A live grenade was recovered from Khulna thana staff quarters yesterday and 12 hand-bombs were recovered from a pond in Jhenidah town on Wednesday, prompting a security alert.
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Unmet conditions make $70m tranche uncertain
Disbursement of about $70 million in the fourth instalment of the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) loan of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hangs in the balance as Bangladesh failed to fulfil
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CNG stations don't pay bills to Titas
As many as 79 CNG (compressed natural gas) stations in and around the city are not paying their outstanding bills of about Tk 6 crore to Titas Gas Limited.
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Hemayetuddin new foreign secretary
Hemayetuddin, currently Bangladesh high commissioner to India, has been appointed foreign secretary.
He replaces Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, who has been made Bangladesh ambassador to Washington.
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BCS question 'leaked out'
The question paper of Elementary Mathematics and Everyday Science of the 25th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination was reportedly licked out Wednesday night, about 10 hours ahead of the exam held
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Bilateral issues with India first, then MoU
In the first meeting of techno-economic working committee on Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline in Yangon yesterday, Dhaka made it clear that signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) dependson
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Dhaka asks Yangon to take back Rohingyas
Bangladesh at an official meeting with Myanmar yesterday once again stressed immediate repatriation of the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh.
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US embassy denies report on FBI opening Dhaka office
The US embassy in Dhaka yesterday denied a PTI report that the governments of the United States and Bangladesh have reached an agreement to open an office of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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Jamaat, IOJ watchful
Two partners of the four-party alliance government, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), are keeping their eyes on the government crackdown on Islamist militants, sources said.
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Business leaders call for nat'l referendum on hartal
Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday called for a national referendum on hartal.
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SC vacates HC stay on BB probe
The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday vacated Wednesday's High Court (HC) order staying the process of investigation by Bangladesh Bank into the fake bank accounts opened with Premier Bank Ltd.
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Monstrous traffic jam...
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Currencies worth Tk 2 crore seized at ZIA
Customs officials at Zia International Airport (ZIA) on Wednesday seized foreign currencies worth about Tk 2 crore.
A team of customs officials carried out a thorough search of the flight No.
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Anup Chetia's jail term ends today
The founding general secretary and commander in chief of arms wing of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) Anup Chetia is scheduled to be freed today on expiry of his seven years and three months
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IOJ leader Amini eyes a bank
Fazlul Haque Amini, MP, chairman of a faction of the Islami Oikya Jote and a partner of the coalition government, is going to be awarded with a licence of a bank.
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BSF kills one
A Bangladeshi national was shot dead by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the frontier village, Dhupkhali, in Jibanagar upazila on Wednesday night.
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| Business |
US ready to be partner in infrastructure development
The US is ready to be a partner of Bangladeshi business leaders to promote rule of law, transparency and infrastructure development, the US envoy said yesterday in Chittagong.
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Biman seeks green channel store at ZIA to stop cargo theft
Cargo authorities of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have asked airport customs to clear up undelivered goods piled up at storehouse beside green channel as Biman plans to use the secured place to store valuable
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Russian Kamaz vehicles now available in Bangladesh
Kamaz Incorporation, Russia's biggest vehicle manufacturing company, has started marketing different types of its vehicles in Bangladesh.
Some dumper trucks have already arrived here.
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Cannon PIXMA photo printers, scanners launched
JAN Associates Ltd, the distributor of Cannon products in Bangladesh, has introduced Cannon PIXMA photo printers and scanners in local market.
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Supreme Agro Feeds starts production
Supreme Agro Feeds Ltd, an agro-based joint venture project has formally started production on Wednesday at Kashimpur in Gazipur.
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Biman becomes co-sponsor of Travel Mart '05
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has become the official carrier and co-sponsor of Dhaka Travel Mart (DTM)-2005, the three-day international travel fair beginning at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on March 4.
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New national president of JCI Bangladesh
Safina Rahman has been elected new national president of Junior Chamber International-Bangladesh, a worldwide federation of young entrepreneurs, for the year 2005.
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Annual dealers' confce of Rangs Industries held
The annual dealers' conference of Rangs Industries Limited was held at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday.
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India's poor not hopeful of sops in new govt’s budget
A Savitri Devi, a housemaid working in the Indian capital New Delhi, is not too optimistic her life will change for the better after India's left leaning and pro-poor government unveils its annual budget
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Europe must meet challenge of China, says UK minister
Britain and the rest of Europe are at grave risk of falling behind China and other fast-developing nations unless they reform their economies and become more ambitious, British finance minister Gordon
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US current account deficit not sustainable: IMF
A current account deficit the size of the United States' "cannot be sustained indefinitely," IMF managing director Rodrigo Rato said Wednesday.
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Oil prices climb above $51
Oil prices rose further above 51 dollars a barrel in Asian trade Thursday as speculative trading offset the impact of comments from OPEC's president that the cartel may increase production, dealers said.
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India not to take Pak route on sugar
India probably made the right moves augmenting its dwindling sugar supplies to avoid being cornered like Pakistan and forced into the expensive refined white sugar market.
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IMF head urges developing states to cut protectionism
Developing countries would benefit substantially if they cut their own trade barriers and farm subsidies, IMF director general Rodrigo Rato said Wednesday.
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EU trade chief calls China to reform yuan
EU trade chief Peter Mandelson urged Beijing Thursday to delink the Chinese yuan from the US dollar and establish an exchange regime based on a basket of international currencies.
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Japan, Thailand begin new round of free trade talks
Japan and Thailand on Thursday began week-long talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) amid reports that negotiations were in the final stage towards a basic accord next month.
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| Sports |
Cricket:
Shahin lone fighter
In-form Barisal batsman Shahin Hossain enhanced his growing reputation with a maiden hundred while the effervescent Rajshahi skipper Khaled Mashud missed a ton by a whisker on a first day otherwise dominated
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Cricket:
Big defeat for BCB XI
It took barely 45 minutes yesterday to complete the final rites as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Eleven crashed to an innings and 149-run defeat against East Zone in their first-ever appearance in India's
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Football:
Federation Cup from today
The Dhaka domestic football season kicks off today with the Tibet 20th Federation Cup opener between Dipali Juba Sangha and Wari Club at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur.
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Cricket:
TV dispute over
An Indian court ordered public broadcaster Doordarshan to telecast the upcoming cricket matches against Pakistan, ending speculation the high-profile tour could be cancelled due to a TV rights row.
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Football:
Chelsea backtracking
Chelsea insisted Thursday there had been no confrontation between manager Jose Mourinho and a member of the Barcelona coaching staff during their controversial 2-1 Champions League defeat at the Nou Camp.
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Chess:
Zia faces Mahfuz in first round
The Mercantile Bank 31st National Chess Championship begins today with GM Ziaur Rahman starting the defence of his title against qualifier Mahfuzur Rahman .
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Hockey:
Full points for Shishu Kishore
Shishu Kirshore Sangha defeated Victoria Sporting Club 3-1 in the First Division Hockey league at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday.
The first half was locked 1-1.
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Cricket:
Magura cricket
Patriot Sporting Club defeated Sreepur Rising Star Cricket Club by seven runs in the Econo First Division Cricket League at the Magura Stadium yesterday.
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Cricket:
2007 WC seedings in April
Seedings for the 2007 World Cup will be based on one-day international team standings on April 1 this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Wednesday.
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Tennis:
Federer, Agassi move on
US veteran Andre Agassi coasted into the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open as world number one Roger Federer survived an opening round scare against Czech qualifier Ivo Minar.
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Football:
Crespo makes Carroll pay
Manchester United's hopes of reclaiming the Champions League trophy were dealt a crushing blow after a blunder by goalkeeper Roy Carroll gifted AC Milan a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
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Football:
Barca sail after drama
Barcelona scored twice in seven second half minutes on Wednesday to come from behind and beat English Premiership leaders Chelsea 2-1 in their Champions League first knockout round first leg clash - but
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Football:
Maxi-mum impact
For all the trickery of Ronaldinho, the pace of Samuel Eto'o and the art of Deco it took the intervention of an unheralded Argentine to win this match for Barcelona.
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Football:
Inter get away goal
Reigning champions Porto, who went so close to falling at the group stage, kept their Champions League title defence on course with a lively 1-1 draw in the first leg of their knockout round tie against
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Football:
Press pounce on Blues
The Spanish and Catalan media was revelling in Barcelona's 2-1 defeat of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in a Champions League fixture sullied by Didier Drogba's sending off and a no-show by Chelsea at post-match
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Football:
Lyon as good as through
French champions Lyon made virtually sure of their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after crushing German counterparts Werder Bremen 3-0 here on Wednesday.
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Football:
United fans unite
Thousands of Manchester United supporters vented their fury at Malcolm Glazer's attempts to take over the club on Wednesday just before kick-off of the Champions League clash against AC Milan.
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Football:
Diego's unpaid tax
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona has been ordered to pay an Italian tax bill worth around 30 million euro (39.6million dollar) by a court here on Wednesday.
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| Point-Counterpoint |
'Is there an Islamic problem?'
Dr. M. Shahid Alam has already distinguished himself as an economist of some accomplishment and standing.
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Fire at WASA Bhaban
The fire in WASA Bhaban in Karwan Bazar on February 9 and the helplessness of the trapped WASA officials on the top floors of the eight-story building give us a grim reminder of the situation evolving
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Terms of reference for FBI and team
A democratically elected government of a country is voted to office not to enjoy power only.
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Is 'health tourism' the new phase of 'outsourcing'?
Outsourcing, as we all know, is already quite a common practice in global business ventures, a highly useful tool that benefits both the initiator and the end-user by making hard-to-get or prohibitively
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Erratum
The article "New democratic system that may suit Bangladesh" by Muslehuddin Ahmad was inadvertently printed under the author's "Spotlight on Middle East" rubric in the "Point-Counterpoint" page yesterday.
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| Culture |
Once upon a time, in a land far away
Who hasn't heard of Hans Christian Anderson? This famous name is associated with a host of well-loved fairy tales which are a staple for children all over the world.
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Nilufar Yasmeen: Tribute by peers
"Gifted artiste Nilufar Yasmeen is a well remembered name in the cultural field.
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Dimple: In the spotlight once again
Time and tide wait for none. So they haven't for Dimple Kapadia, the screen diva of the 1970s who turned into a heartthrob of Bollywood after her pairing with Rishi Kapoor in the super-hit movie Bobby.
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Bonus for privileged members at STAR Cineplex
STAR Cineplex, the international standard multiplex cinema theatre at the Bashundhara City, is dead set against the unethical practice of black marketing tickets, a common feature in theatre halls.
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Bono gets Nobel Peace Prize nod.
U2's Bono, whose trophy case is packed with Grammys and even a Golden Globe, is up for another award that may render all the rest quaint: the Nobel Peace Prize.
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| General |
Bangladesh performs impressively in attaining MD goals: WB study
Bangladesh's performance on all the millennium development indicators has been impressive and it has achieved the goals relating to elimination of gender disparity in schooling opportunities.
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Changes in admin
The government yesterday brought some changes to the administration by giving new assignment to two OSD secretaries and transferring some mid-level officials.
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'Eliminate crimes, corruption to fulfil FFs' dream'
Speakers at a meeting yesterday called for materialising the dreams of freedom fighters by establishing a country free from poverty and hunger.
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India goes ahead with linking rivers
India is pressing ahead with its river-linking project though Indian High Commission in Dhaka had said that the project was still at a conceptual level, environment activists yesterday said.
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Uphold country's Image: PM
As madrasa teachers extended their support to the government action against extremists, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday called for upholding Bangladesh's image as a moderate Muslim country and working
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'Raise awareness about wildlife'
A three-day international workshop on 'Teachers for Tigers' ended in the city on Tuesday with a call to raise awareness about the preservation of wildlife.
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Students lay siege to DU VC office
Six opposition-backed student organisations laid siege to the office of the vice chancellor (VC) of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday demanding immediate to press home their seven- point demands including
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4 more graveyards to be set up in city
Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) will set up four new graveyards in the capital on 148.28 acres of land under the 'Mahanagar graveyard project' at an estimated cost of Tk 224.39 crore.
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'No place for terrorism in Islam'
There is no place for terrorism in Islam, said the speakers at a seminar in Rajshahi yesterday.
They said Islam is a religion of peace and harmony.
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| Editorial |
Editorial:
Welcome move against extremists
Finally, after months of procrastination, the government in a welcome move has banned the two militant Islamic organisations JMJB and JMB and arrested some of their leaders accusing them of a series of
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Editorial:
Identifying rich tax evaders
The National Board of Revenue (NBR)'s initiation of a process to identify tax dodgers among rich businessmen and professionals couldn't have come a day later.
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Tribal loyalties
Sometimes I wonder if I am being a little too alarmist when I think that Bangladesh is poised on the edge of a precipice.
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The range of change
I don't remember who said it, but the only thing constant in life is change. There was a time when we hated to see a drop of slime in a bucketful of milk. It is now the other way around.
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Koizumi to avoid Bangladesh during his South Asia tour
Although the government of Japan has not yet officially announced it, the press in Tokyo has disclosed on Tuesday (22 February) the details of the planned visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tofour
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| Letters to Editor |
Uphold the spirit of Ekushey
The nation has celebrated the Amor Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day in a very spontaneous and solemn way.
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Launch disasters: shipping ministry's failure
Let me start from where you ended your editorial: "Clearly, it is not enough to condole the deaths of passengers, constitute a probe committee and hold out assurances afresh that steps would be takento
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No balance of power
The US attacked and occupied Iraq on the excuse that Iraq had WMD. But nothing has been unearthed so far. Similarly, Mr.
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Sinking BTV
BTV standard is slipping, and it is apparently not aware of it, faced with political nepotism. Most likely it is helpless, as professional ethics cannot fight with misuse of political power and influence.
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VIP roads
I have read the letter written by Sonia Ahmed captioned 'Road for VIPs', and I fully agree with the views she has expressed. The response from Mohammed Fahim Hara is also well expressed.
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Time for overbridges
At the rate Satmasjid Road is becoming as busy as Motijheel or Elephant Road once was, the worst sufferers are the poor pedestrians.
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Ms. French's call
I saw the message of a frustrated visitor called Anne French from London. Yes, Ms. French you are right about hartal and other obstructions on the way to our economic development.
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Saran's sermon
India is a big country. It is the largest functioning democracy in the world. It has inherent potential to play an effective role in international affairs.
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The bottom line
I sympathise with the grievance and disappointment felt by the Hon.
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Traffic tangle in Dhanmondi
The traffic scene of week day mornings and afternoons is a much painful sight and experience for each and every resident of this once quiet residential area.
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How far away from safety!
Former finance minister SAMS Kibria died along with four other Awami League leaders in a grenade attack in Habiganj. Now it is a common thing in our country.
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SAMS Kibria
Former Finance Minister SAMS Kibria's killing is unfortunate and very much shocking. I strongly condemn this cowardly act.
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Hartal and anarchy
Are not we living in an accident prone, terrorist infested world? Is there any country on earth free of crime and criminals? Assassination of great men are a common universal phenomenon.
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Never-ending search
"Searching"-- that is the only thing my mobile phone set can tell ever since I have come to this place (only three hours journey from Dhaka).
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Helicopter controversy
I read your report "Helicopter Controversy" on 18 February. We understand that the government had failed to take a quick decision to send a helicopter to bring SAMS Kibria to Dhaka.
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| Environment |
Kyoto Protocol: An environmental victory?
Environmentalist around the globe rejoiced the historic treaty coming into force on 16 February, but argue that the real impact of the treaty is not tangible.
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| World |
South Asia:
Three killed, 250 rescued in Kashmir suicide attack
Two policeman and a civilian were killed Thursday when heavily-armed Islamic militants raided the administrative headquarters of Indian Kashmir, trapping some 250 civilians who were later freed by security
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South Asia:
India renews pledge to rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan
India on Thursday renewed its pledge to help rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan and signed two accords to help Kabul strengthen its civil aviation sector and television transmission technology, an official
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South Asia:
Nepalese editors grilled again
Four Nepalese editors were to be grilled by officials for a second day Thursday after they left blank spaces in their newspapers following King Gyanendra's ban on comment against his power grab, one of
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South Asia:
Musharraf says al-Qaeda bomb factories destroyed
Pakistani forces have destroyed a network of Al-Qaeda factories churning out powerful bombs and propaganda compact discs and videos, key US ally President Musharraf said Thursday.
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South Asia:
Tamil Tigers kill soldier
Tamil Tiger rebels opened fire at soldiers near a boundary for their territory in northern Sri Lanka, killing one and seriously wounding another in violence that imperiled the country's fragile cease-fire,
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South Asia:
'Baby 81' goes to America
Sri Lanka's "Baby 81" is going to America.
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Bush, Putin meet amid strains
US and Russian Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin were to hold a tightly guarded summit here Thursday amid strains over Moscow's brand of democracy and its nuclear cooperation with Iran.
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Poll shows Tories closing in on Labour
For the second time this week, an opinion poll shows the gap narrowing between Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party and the main opposition Conservatives in the run-up to an expected May election.
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South Asia:
UN warns of floods in Afghanistan
Afghanistan faces catastrophic floods after snow melts from the worst winter in decades, the UN's World Food Programme has warned.
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South Asia:
India, EU begin talks on trade, security
India and the European Union began two-days of talks here Thursday to draw up a strategic partnership in trade and security ties between the world's richest economic block and one of its fastest growing
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Iran rejects US role in nuke talks
Iran said Thursday it opposed a US role in nuclear talks alongside the European Union, just two days after a government-linked think-tank floated the idea of talking to an administration that still refuses
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Almost half of Sept 11 dead unidentified
New York authorities have ended efforts to identify victims of the Sept.
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Schroeder, Bush bury Iraq hatchet
President Bush and Iraq-war opponent German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder vowed Wednesday to rebuild their partnership, crowning three days of US-European fence-mending.
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