Volume 5 Number 296 Sun. March 27, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page A river sacrificed to realtors The river Turag, the main tributary of the river Buriganga on the northern fringe of the city, is fast being sacrificed to development, with its shores stolen for building construction and its waterspolluted   Salutes to martyrs The nation yesterday celebrated the 35th Independence and National Day, paying tributes to the three million martyrs who sacrificed their lives to free the country from the yoke of Pakistani colonialrule.   20 more job seekers return from abroad Twenty more fortune seekers came back home yesterday from the Maldives and Mauritania after being cheated by unscrupulous manpower agents.   Babar warns Rab against harassment of the innocent State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar yesterday warned the elite crime-busting Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) against harassment on innocent people.   Savar turns safe haven for city criminals Savar has become a safe haven of crime as underground operatives, cadres of outlawed parties and top listed criminals of the capital often abscond to its remote areas after committing crimes.   Alliance govt hooks up with anti-liberation forces: AL The BNP-led coalition government has teamed up with anti-liberation forces to shatter the spirit of the Liberation War, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday said.   Cops inactive as gazette did not reach them The anti-smoking law could not be implemented starting yesterday--the day it came into effect--as the law enforcement agencies did not get the copy of the gazette notification.   5 robbers beaten to death An angry mob beat five alleged robbers to death at Bashgari Notun Bazar in Raipura upazila under the district yesterday afternoon.   Bangabandhu missing in state programmes Bangladesh's founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's name and contributions were completely ignored in the state programmes and in the state-owned media on the Independence Day yesterday.   6 die in road accidents Six people were killed in three road accidents in Narsingdi, Comilla and Manikganj districts yesterday.   Tornado toll goes up to 53 Three more tornado-hit people died at different hospitals yesterday, raising the death toll in the natural disaster to 53.   DCC renames road after Zia The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) yesterday renamed a city road after late president Ziaur Rahman for his outstanding contributions to the Liberation War as a sector commander.   Sehwag leads Indian reply Opener Virender Sehwag hit a swashbuckling 201 but Pakistan hung on to reduce India to 379 for six on the third day of the final Test on Saturday.   Bhutan unveils first constitution Bhutan has proposed a two-party political system to wield power in place of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck as it unveiled its first constitution yesterday in public ceremonies across the country.   Over 10,000 rally against Musharraf More than 10,000 protesters rallied in this southwestern city in Pakistan on Friday, demanding President Gen. Pervez Musharraf step down.   Seven killed in Kashmir Suspected Muslim rebels killed seven people, including three women of a Muslim family in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir, a police spokesman said yesterday.   Three US soldiers killed in Iraq A car bomb struck a US military patrol yesterday in the Iraqi capital, killing two US soldiers and injuring two others, and a Marine died in action in a restive central province, the military said.   US to help India grow as major world power The United States unveiled plans Friday to help India become a "major world power in the 21st century" as it offered to step up a strategic dialogue with India to boost missile defence and other security   Amini's new theory on independence proclamation Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) Chairman Mufti Fazlul Huq Amini MP yesterday claimed that "hakkani, ulema, masaekh" were the first proclaimers of independence of this country as Imam Abdul Aziz ® first issued   Colombian police find drugs sub Police in Colombia have uncovered a submarine, which they believe was built by drug smugglers to transport cocaine.   Tripura cops gun down Bangladeshi A Bangladeshi youth was shot dead and his brother wounded by Tripura police when they crossed the border and entered a rubber garden to cut wood on Friday.   13-yr-old girl raped at city garment factory A 13-year-old girl was raped at a garment factory in Pallabi in the city yesterday.   Graffiti irk PM Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday vented her annoyance with the graffiti of different organisations and political parties, including the ruling BNP, that defiles the fair face of the just-beautified   Shibir bars screening of films against fundamentalism Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) members at the Chittagong University (CU) barred a cultural group from screening the films, Lal Shalu and Matir Moina, two anti-funda-mentalism films at the CU Social Science Business Cement prices rise 20pc on high clinker costs, freight charges Cement prices have shot up by 20 percent in domestic market over the last three months as manufacturers feel the bite of high freight charges and clinker prices.   New variety of tea evolved Bangladesh Tea Research Institute has evolved a clone variety tea in the wake of growing competition in export market and high domestic demand.   ING Group to buy 20pc of Chinese bank ING Group NV announced Friday it had agreed to buy a 19.9 percent stake in Bank of Beijing, one of China's largest city banks. The European finance giant said the deal was worth 1.   Vietnam urged to fight money laundering The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged Hanoi Thursday to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, amid efforts to control flows of money into the country through unofficial channels.   IMF praises Brazil for economic turnaround The International Monetary Fund on Friday praised Brazil for an "impressive" economic transformation, while calling for additional measures to boost growth and curb poverty.   India, Japan to develop gas off Andamans Japan and India have reached a basic agreement on the joint development of natural gas off the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, a press report said Saturday.   Seoul unlikely to follow US interest rate hike South Korea's top economic minister said Friday that this week's latest US interest rate hike would not be followed here as the country's economy is still only on the path to recovery.   Dollar steady in quiet holiday trading The dollar held in a narrow range Friday in thin trading, with many forex traders on holiday and stock markets closed for the long Easter weekend. The euro was quoted at 1900 GMT at 1.   Foreign banks become big tax payers in Beijing The 23 foreign banks in Beijing paid 36 million yuan (US$4.3 million) in taxes in the first quarter of this year, up 75 percent over the same period last year, the city taxation bureau said Saturday.   Two-day Safe meet ends in Ctg The two-day meeting of the regional market committee of South Asian Federation of Stock Exchanges (Safe) ended yesterday here. On the final day, the meeting finalised a set of recommendations.   ACI becomes marketing partner of Godrej ACI Limited has become exclusive marketing partner of Godrej consumer products in Bangladesh.   Wal-Mart former vice chairman resigns Wal-Mart Stores Inc former Vice Chairman Thomas Coughlin resigned as a director on Friday over a company probe into unauthorized use of corporate gift cards and personal reimbursements that has also been Sports Cricket: Sehwag show on Day 3 Virender Seh-wag yet again proved to be Pa-kistan's nightmare as he ha-mmered a ro-bust 201 to help India avoid follow-on in the third and final Test here on Saturday.   Cricket: No complaints about wickets There may be a lot of things cricket authorities can do to turn the country's only first-class competition into a true professional one, but one thing has pleased the leading cricketers this year is the   Cricket: 'I know one way to play' A blistering 262-ball 201 would satisfy most batsmen but Virender Sehwag was left disappointed with the manner of his dismissal against Pakistan in the third and final Test on Saturday.   Football: MSC-BU battle today Mohammedan Sporting Club and Brothers Union lock horns today to decide who plays Muktijoddha in the final of the Independence Day Gold Cup Football tournament.   Cricket: NZ slip late in the day Australia shattered a valiant New Zealand start to the third Test Saturday seizing the initiative with three late wickets to have the Black Caps at 199 for five at the close of the first day's play.   Cricket: Titas Gas win big Rahat Khan led his side from the front with an unbeaten hundred as Titas Gas Adarsha High registered a six-wicket victory against University Laboratory in the Standard Chartered Young Tigers NationalSchool   Football: Dream start for Iran Iran made sure their World Cup dream was kept on track Friday with a convincing 2-1 home win against top Asian rivals Japan, largely thanks to their trio of Bundesliga-based stars.   Football: Giggs plans to play on Wales skipper Ryan Giggs has vowed to continue in international football despite seeing seven players call time on their careers with the country following the departure of Mark Hughes as the national   Football: Saudis sink S Koreans Saudi Arabia's convincing 2-0 victory over World Cup semifinalists South Korea here on Friday has put Gabriel Calderon's team well on course to qualify for the 2006 finals in Germany.   Football: Of delight and despair Iran's 2-1 win over Japan in the Asian Group B World Cup qualifiers has given the Middle East side a boost in confidence and left their top Asian rivals wrangling over tactics.   Cricket: Lanka arrive in New Zealand Sri Lanka arrived in New Zealand on Friday for their re-scheduled Two-Test series which was postponed in January following the tsunami in Asia.   Cricket: Proteas touch down in the Caribbean South Africa will use their first two days in the Caribbean to acclimatise and overcome the effects of the long journey after arriving in Antigua late on Thursday.   Tennis: Injury halts Roddick Andy Roddick's defence of his Key Biscayne ATP Masters Series title crashed to a halt Friday as the American retired from his opening match against Spain's Fernando Verdasco with a right wrist sprain.   Football: Beckham misses it England captain David Beckham, who is considering his future with Real Madrid for family reasons, says he misses the competitive spirit of English football in La Liga.   Football: Tragedy in Tehran Five people were trampled to death and 40 injured in a crush of spectators after Friday evening's World Cup qualifier between Iran and Japan, and another person died of an apparent heart attack brought   Football: N Koreans complain to FIFA North Korea will make an official complaint to FIFA over what their coach believed was unfair refereeing during a World Cup qualifier against Bahrain, a newspaper report said Saturday.   Football: Gerrard rejects Chelsea rumours Steven Gerrard has branded reports claiming he has already decided to leave Liverpool for Chelsea in the summer as "absolute rubbish".   Football: Aussies saved by sub Elrich Substitute Ahmad Elrich scored with his first touch to give Australia a flattering 2-1 win over Iraq in a football international at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Saturday. Metropolitan No DU move yet to write history Although 34 long years have already gone by, the authorities of Dhaka University (DU) hardly took any initiative to preserve the memories of the war.   'AL uses FFs as tools for achieving power' The Awami League has used the freedom fighters as a ladder to rise to power but has done nothing for them, said BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday.   AL wants to create anarchy: Bhuiyan BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said that the Awami League wanted to create anarchy across the country in the name of reforms in caretaker government system.   President hosts reception On the occasion of the Independence and National Day, President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prof. Dr Anwara Begum hosted a reception at Bangabhaban yesterday afternoon.   Nizami rules out armed Islamic revolution Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami yesterday dismissed the notion of armed revolution in the name of Islam in Bangladesh, saying that only Islamic ideology can guarantee national independenceand   Qulkhwani of Amena Serniabat today Qulkhwani of Amena Serniabat, wife of late Abdur Rab Serniabat, will be held today at Dhanmondi in the city after Asr prayers today.   BNP procession today As a part of its 10-day programmes on occasion of Independence and National Day, ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will bring out a procession from Paltal Maidan in the city at 4.00pm today. National Smoking discouraged, not tobacco cultivation The law prohibiting smoking in public places took effect yesterday, but the scene is otherwise in tobacco fields.   Extortionists stop bus terminal work in Patuakhali Extortionists stopped construction of the World Bank (WB) assisted Patuakhali central bus terminal as the construction firm did not pay them Tk 25 lakh toll.   Zahir can’t tell 8-yr-old kid his mother, sister are no more Eight-year-old Zahedul looked for his mother as he regained sense after four days, not knowing she was no more.   Local leaders reject new B'baria JP body Fifty local leaders and workers of Jatiya Party (JP) have rejected its newly-formed district committee. The rejection came from a press conference at Brahmanbaria Press Club.   How does the upazila run? Seven administrative posts of Nabinagar Upazila in the district are vacant for long.   Wife threatened for suing husband's killers A widow is being threatened by alleged killers of her husband to withdraw case against them or 'face the dire consequence.   Magura AL council now on April 4 The triennial council of Magura district Awami League (AL) will now he held on April 4 instead of March 31.   Schoolboy Rajab murder: 5 arrested in Satkhira Five persons including a housewife were arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of a schoolboy at village Bishnupur in Kaliganj upazila on Monday. Point-Counterpoint Easter: Feast of new life Alleluiah! Today is Easter Sunday! Today, Sunday, March 27, the Christian community joyfully celebrates the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.   Motivated journalism troubling Bangladesh Whereas our counterparts in neighbouring India display both professionalism and patriotism in the realms of press and politics alike, the situation appears to be just the reverse in Bangladesh.   Jihad against partisan political use of Islam Fatemolla is a familiar name, mainly among internet users/readers interested in the critique of political Islam, especially among Bangladeshi Muslim freethinkers. Culture The legacy of Liberation War in theatre The Liberation War has always played a vital role in our post-liberation stage plays, since the current "neo theatre trend" is a direct output of our independence.   Rocking to foster the less fortunate More or less, we all love music and who doesn't enjoy an evening with rockstars, getting euphoric with the jamming of guitars, drum beats and tunes played on the keyboard? If it is for an altruistic cause   An evening with poets Alliance Francaise arranged a recitation programme at its café recently. Prominent and promising poets recited their poems at the programme organised on the occasion of the spring festival for poets.   Bangladeshi paintings in Tokyo The experimental works of 16 young artists from Bangladesh were seen recently at Chuwa Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. This exhibition was organised by GS Kabir, who now resides in Tokyo. General Liberation war martyrs pride of world The New York City administration organised a discussion on Wednesday on the occasion of the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.   Schoolboy murdered in Kushtia Police yesterday recovered the slaughtered body of a missing school student from a maize field of Madia village under Daulatpur upazila in the district. International US F-16 sale unlikely to shoot down Indo-Pak peace move: Analysts India and Pakistan should be able to keep their fledgling peace process alive despite New Delhi's anger at the planned US sale of F-16 warplanes to nuclear rival Islamabad, analysts and officials said.   US building ties with both India, Pakistan US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended a US decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and elaborated on US efforts to build ties with both India and Pakistan at once, in a lengthy interview   India, Myanmar agree to keep border quiet Carrying forward the new momentum in bilateral ties, India and Myanmar yesterday emphasised that a stable security environment in the border area was a subject of mutual interest and a shared goal.   India, China may sign deal on border row India and China may sign an agreement during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Delhi in April outlining principles to resolve a border dispute over which they fought a brief war in 1962, a newspaper   4 US soldiers killed in Afghan mine blast Four US soldiers were killed in an explosion in the southeastern Afghan province of Logar last morning when their vehicle convoy ran over a mine as they were surveying the area with Afghan soldiers, the   Kyrgyz leaders seeks to restore order Kyrgyzstan's new leadership sought to tighten its hold yesterday on the ex-Soviet Central Asian state gripped by lawlessness after the toppling of President Askar Akayev.   Lebanon opposition steps up pressure after UN report Lebanese opposition figures urged quick action yesterday on a UN call for an international probe into the killing of former premier Rafiq Hariri and a shakeup in the country's security apparatus.   US asks Israel to end settlement expansion Israel's plans to expand a settlement in the West Bank is "at odds with American policy" and should come to a "full stop" because it could threaten progress toward peace with the Palestinians, Secretary   Taiwanese stage mass rally to protest China's new law Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets yesterday, waving banners and shouting slogans for peace and democracy to protest a new Chinese law threatening   US Army probe finds widespread Iraqi abuse Newly released government documents say the abuse of prisoners in Iraq by US forces was more widespread than previously reported.   Maoists held secret meet in Delhi: Nepal Defying India's ban on them, Nepal's Maoist guerrillas held a secret meeting in New Delhi on Sunday to discuss the expulsion of three top leaders, Nepal's army said Thursday.   Kyrgyz revolt inspires Mongolians to protest More than one thousand people marched in front of the Mongolian seat of government here demanding more democracy in a protest inspired by the revolt in Kyrgyzstan, witnesses said yesterday.   Aga Khan honoured The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims and the head of one of the world's largest private development agencies, has received the prestigious 2005 Vincent Scully Award for his contributions   Schiavo in her last hours, says father A federal appeals court panel refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube Friday, hours after the severely brain-damaged woman's father said she was weakening and down "to her last Editorial Editorial: March 26 without Bangabandhu Once again we cannot help but note with distress the lengths that certain segments of the media and the polity are apparently prepared to go in order to erase Sheikh Mujib from history.   Editorial: Rab into the second year Rab, the elite anti-crime force, has completed one year of its existence.   Balancing development with sovereignty Of late, a fresh element which was dormant so far has become very pronounced, causing acute discomfort to the authorities, and has added to the relentless confrontational politics in Bangladesh.   BJP gains from Congress missteps It appears that the BJP is beginning to retrieve the territory it had lost. After the defeat at the Lok Sabha polls nearly one year ago the party was in the dumps. The media paid it hardly any attention. Letters to Editor Smart people's English! I cannot help but respond to the letter with the heading "Esports or sports" published in the March 22nd edition of the DS.   UN ban on human cloning Finally the United Nations has called on countries to ban on all forms of human cloning, as cloning is incompatible with human dignity.   Millennium harmony As I grow older, entering the new millennium is no consolation. I feel like retiring more and more into my retirement. The failure of human endeavour baffles me. Modern life is no longer simple and unaffected.   Do we need student politics? Do we actually need student politics right now? Or is it really very impossible to keep the big public universities out of politics? Or is it very necessary to turn the young, innocent students into mere   Debate on caretaker government Recently Awami League(AL), the main opposition party of Bangladesh put up a proposal to reform the existing caretaker government system of our country. Star Health How to reduce childhood mortality Child mortality rates have decreased in recent years, however rates are still much too high.   Total hip replacement is available at home now-a-days It was indeed a milestone in the history of Total Hip Replacement (THR) surgery in our country when local surgeons successfully restored mobility of patients suffering from degenerative diseases of hip   Move for Health Available experience and scientific evidence show that the regular practice of appropriate physical activity and sports provides people, both male and female, of all ages and conditions - including disabilities   Essential facts about tuberculosis *Tuberculosis is a preventable disease *Tuberculosis is a airborne infection *Tuberculosis can be fully treated with antibiotic tablets *It is not difficult to diagnosis tuberculosis *The incidence   Mental illness under-treated globally Mental disorders from severe depression to uncontrolled anger are surprisingly common around the world, and most of the worst cases are not being treated, researchers reported.   Vitamin E risk We need Vitamin E for healthy skin and to boost immunity. But taking too much of the vitamin may be dangerous, say doctors at John Hopkins. Star City Women in deadly drug trap Leena, a 21-year student of a private university, was passing a difficult emotional phase of her life as she recently ended a 3-year relationship with her boyfriend.   Old Dhaka water supply faces purification crisis Supply of water by Dhaka Wasa (Water and Sewerage Authority) in the old part of the city may soon face a setback due to shortage of water purifying chemicals.   A hope to stand for justice “I am the resurrection and the life!" Words that were heard at service almost every day, during the Lenten season, the period in which Christians commemorate the agony, the passion and crucifixion and   Electronic traffic signalling: So far so good The recently installed electronic traffic signalling system in the city has apparently eased traffic congestion to a certain extent.   Karwan Bazar underpass turns dirty again The Karwan Bazar underpass recently underwent a facelift but pedestrians are worried that its conditions could deteriorate fast if not maintained properly.   No affect!!   © thedailystar.net, 2005. All Rights Reserved.