Vol. 5 Num 434 Mon. August 15, 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 Bangabandhu And The New Generation Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page Even ministers, their kin vie for BNP ticket Aspirant BNP candidates in the September 6 elections to the women's reserved seats in parliament thronged the ruling party headquarters in the city yesterday to collect application forms for party nomination.   Nation mourns Bangabandhu today The nation today pays tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation, amid a lingering uncertainty over the trial of his killers.   The long shadow of the August 1975 coup Was the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members on August 15, 1975 merely the result of personal malice and an act out of sudden fury of some army officers? Long   Jamaluddin killed one month after abduction Shahid Chairman, prime suspect in abduction of Chittagong business magnate Jamaluddin Ahmed Chowdhury, was arrested on Saturday night, over two years after the incident.   Govt stalls process to bring killers back The government has stalled the process of bringing back the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who are now absconding abroad.   Criminals demand Tk 10 lakh from another Mirpur trader Two days into the killing of businessman Kazi Shahidullah, criminals demanded Tk 10 lakh from another businessman of Mirpur.   Masum's parents for judicial probe Parents of Jagannath University student Iqbal Hossain Masum, who was killed on August 8 in "crossfire" with crime-busting force Cheetah, have appealed to the prime minister and the home minister to form   Use of time bombs suspected Investigators reckon time bombs were used in the attack on the Kharampur shrine in Akhaura on Friday night.   People to try alliance govt for sitting on verdict Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the people would execute the verdict of the Bangabandhu murder case as the BNP-led alliance government has sided with the killers.   Govt should explain judges' embarrassment The state is responsible for prosecuting the killers of Bangabandhu and the government has failed to carry out this constitutional duty, Dr Kamal Hossain said in an interview with The Daily Star yesterday,   AL calls half-day hartal for today Main opposition Awami League (AL) enforces a six-hour countrywide hartal today from 6:00am to 12:00noon, demanding immediate execution of the verdict in the Bangabandhu Murder Case.   Blasts that robbed him of livelihood Sixty-six-year old Afaz Uddin not only lost his daughter, Rizia Begum, in the August 21 mayhem. He also lost the only means of his livelihood with her death.   121 killed in Cypriot plane crash A Cypriot airliner with 121 people on board crashed north of Athens yesterday, and rescuers said they had found no survivors.   3 outlaws die in 'crossfire' Three outlaws of Biplabi Communist Party (BCP) have been killed in 'crossfire' between their accomplices and law enforcers in Jessore and Kushtia.   Italy begins early Iraq withdrawal More than 100 Italian troops whose tours in southern Iraq have ended are not being replaced, apparently marking the beginning of the country's withdrawal from Iraq ahead of schedule, a newspaper reported   Coastguards foil smuggling of 3.1 lakh litre diesel Coastguards yesterday arrested nine people and seized a Bangladeshi tanker with 3.1 lakh litres of diesel for their attempt to smuggle the fuel to a Panama flag carrier ship.   1 out of 12 on voter list erroneous One out of every 12 names in the voter list is erroneous in Bangladesh, said a study conducted by Washington-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).   Weaker Tk raises revenue While revenue collection at import level marks a sharp 17.10 percent rise in the first month of 2005-06, the government is going to lower the import duties by 0.   Rotten eggs, bananas for DMCH patients Rotten eggs and bananas, expired bread, fly infested rice, and adulterated milk are the meals served to patients at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).   Scores rounded up as Lanka hunts killers Sri Lanka yesterday rounded up scores of potential suspects during a massive hunt for Tamil Tiger rebels suspected of gunning down the foreign minister in an attack that has strained an already shakyceasefire.   12 injured in DU hall clash At least 12 students were injured, three of them critically, in a clash between Bangalee and indigenous students of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University (DU) in the early hours yesterday.   Attempted murder charges pressed against chief whip's son The Detective Branch (DB) of police yesterday pressed charges against Akhter Hamid alias Paban, son of Chief Whip Khondokar Delwar Hossain, in an attempted murder case.   30 injured as JCD factions clash at IU At least 30 students were injured in factional clashes of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on the Islamic University (IU) campus yesterday noon.   Kazi Siraj, 3 others pull out of race Four candidates, including Kazi Sirajul Islam, yesterday pulled out of the race for Fairpur-1 by-polls on August 30.   2 bankers held for fraud Police last night arrested two senior officials of Al Arafa Islamic Bank Ltd for embezzling Tk 7.1 lakh from a client's account. Business Rule of law key to achieving MDGs Bangladesh needs to establish rule of law if it wants to achieve Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, a development prescription by United Nations, said economist Wahiduddin Mahmud yesterday.   GP announces special offers GrameenPhone Ltd yesterday announced the launch of a new promotion with an offer of free airtime and other special features including first minute free incoming from BTTB call for Easy Gold subscribers.   New Delhi makes revised offer India has made revised aggressive market offer for a series of services at the World Trade Organisation as a bargain for securing freer movement of its professionals for working in the Western countries.   Fair and Lovely Foundation's vocational training Sumi, an undergraduate student in Dhaka, is receiving vocational training on flower decoration to start a business in future. "I'm not going to embark on the business right now.   NBR launches hunt for tax dodgers National Board of Revenue squads have launched a drive against tax-dodgers, starting with the search for some owners of readymade garment factories.   Tata keen to invest in tourism Indian industrial giant Tata has shown interest to invest in Bangladesh's tourism sector. Sports Football: League resumes Aug 17 The Premier Division Football League will resume on August 17 after the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) high-ups promised the aggrieved clubs of sincerely looking into match fixing allegations.   Cricket: Strauss stands up Andrew Strauss' Test best-score against Australia of 57 not out helped England consolidate their advantage in the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford here Sunday.   Cricket: New Zealand unchanged New Zealand have retained the side which beat Zimbabwe by an innings and 294 in the first Test at Harare for the second and final Test which starts at the Queens Sports Club here on Monday.   Cricket: Aussies getting older Impatient batting, sloppy fielding and Ricky Ponting's inferior captaincy have Australia on the brink of coming home from England without cricket's Ashes, Australian media said Sunday.   Athletics: A night of firsts Extraordinary Ethiopian teenager Tirunesh Dibaba on Saturday became the first woman athlete in history to complete the 5,000m/ 10,000m double at the same World Athletics Championships.   Cricket: Clarke could be back-ed down Michael Clarke is set to have to cope with a debilitating back injury for the rest of his career as the Australia camp continue to search for clues to the cause of his condition.   Cricket: Ashraful, Mashrafee SA-bound Bangladesh star cricketers Moha-mmad Ashraful and Mashrafee-bin Mortuza left Dhaka yesterday to represent an Asian XI team in the three-match one-day series of the Afro-Asian Cup to be held in South Africa.   Cricket: No surprises for BCB polls After all the hype surrounding the candidature of some key posts in the ensuing Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) polls, it seems the script is going according to plan.   Cricket: BD A restrict Antigua to 180 Bangladesh A restricted Antigua to 180 in their limited-overs game at the Whitgift School, Croydon yesterday.   Football: Helal confident of hosting Asian U-17 finals in 2008 Iran will be the only country to contest Bangladesh's bid to host the AFC Youth Football Championship (Under-17) in 2008.   Football: Super Barca League champions Barcelona made a sparkling start to the new season with a classy 3-0 win away to King's Cup winners Real Betis in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Saturday.   Cricket: 'It's a bit strange' Disturbed about his exclusion from the one-day side after playing two games in the just-concluded Indian Oil Cup in Sri Lanka, Anil Kumble has asked if different standards are used to measure different   Same old start for Liverpool It was straight back to domestic disappointment for Champions League winners Liverpool who were held 0-0 at Middlesbrough as the English Premiership kicked off on Saturday.   Handball: Rifles thrash Rajshahi Bangladesh Rifles recorded a comfortable 33-17 win over Rajshahi City Corporation in the opening match of the Orient Bread Cup handball tournament at the Outer Stadium handball court.   Football: Gunners leave it late Thierry Henry and Robin Van Persie broke Newcastle hearts, and their incredible resistance, with a brace of goals in the last nine minutes as Arsenal won 2-0 at Highbury on Sunday.   Latest England were 241 for four, an overall lead of 383, in their second innings with 23 overs' play for the fourth day remaining in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford on Sunday. Metropolitan Govt violating constitution by not completing trial: Dr Kamal The government is violating the constitution by not completing the trial of the Bangabandhu murder case after several judges expressed embarrassment to hear the case, said Gono Forum President Dr Kamal   Post-9/11 terrorist attack on US costs $40b globally The post-9/11 terrorist attack on the US cost some $US 40 billion globally.   Chile keen to expand trade with Bangladesh Newly appointed Ambassador of Chile Jorge Heine said his country wants to strengthen bilateral ties and expand trade with Bangladesh as it would play a significant role in the world, particularly in Asia,   Police resort to mass arrest Incidents of mass arrest of the activists and leaders of Awami League and its front organisations by police and attacks by BNP cadres are reported from various parts of the country on the eve of the death   New Nat'l Drug Policy handed over to PM Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said the comprehensive new National Drug Policy will infuse dynamism into the health sector.   Under-trial prisoner 'tortured' to death An under-trial prisoner at Dhaka Central Jail died yesterday after allegedly being tortured by the police of Ramna Police Station.   HC stays SUST decision The High Court yesterday stayed the operation of a decision of the Shahjalal University of Science & Technology (SUST) regarding the promotion of an associate professor to professor.   Biharis demand repatriation, submit memo to Pak HC The stranded Pakistanis, popularly known as Biharis, languishing in camps for over three decades, submitted a memorandum to the Pakistani mission here demanding "immediate" repatriation as Pakistan celebrated   Condolence book opens at Lankan HC The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Dhaka has opened a condolence book on the tragic death of Lankan Foreign Minister Laksham Kadirgamar.   Expert injured while trying to retrieve bombs on DU campus A bomb expert was injured while trying to retrieve one of three hand bombs left on the Mohsin Hall football ground of Dhaka University yesterday.   Prof Hamida passes away Prof Hamida Rahman, former principal of Jagannath College and wife of late Siddiqur Rahman, passed away due to old-age complications at her residence in the city yesterday at the age of 82, says a press   Dr Halida new DG of FPAB Dr Halida Hanum Akhter has joined as the director general of the Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB). National Students demonstrate for power Students, joined by unemployed Bidi factory workers, staged a demonstration in Haragachh and laid a siege to the municipal office for smooth power supply.   Erosion: 3000 made homeless in a week in Netrakona Erosion by Mogra and Kongsa rivers has taken a serious turn in Netrakona Sadar, Barhatta, Atpara and Modan upazilas.   Create awareness against AIDS Speakers at a workshop held here on Friday underscored the need for creating awareness among people to combat HIV/ AIDS.   Rly ferry on Brahmaputra yet to be restored The railway ferry service between Balashi and Bahadurabad terminals is yet to be restored after a fortnight of its suspension.   Hartal observed in B'baria A half-day hartal was observed in the district tow yesterday demanding arrest and punishment of the persons responsible for the sensational triple murder. Culture An evening of Tagore and Nazrul songs The High Commission of India, Dhaka paid rich tributes to Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam at a flower bedecked musical soiree arranged at the Shaheed Zia Auditorium, National Museum on August13.   From ramps to small screen Popular Bangladeshi model Monalisa has firm views about success. In her words, "Success is achieving what you set out to do. But I haven't got to that stage yet. Success is very important to me.   Glorifying the buffalo S Rafi's recent exhibition at the Divine Gallery took the form of miniatures, keeping in mind the Moghul miniatures of the past, although the contents were overtly modern.   Singer Ibrahim Ferrer passes away at 78 Septuagenarian singer Ibrahim Ferrer, a leading voice with the hugely popular Buena Vista Social Club of vintage Cuban performers, died Saturday last. He was 78. General Non-govt teachers demand house rent allowance hike Non-government teachers yesterday demanded increased house rent allowance and residential facilities for them.   Implement river-linking project with a 'sense of urgency' With the devastation caused by the recent floods in Maharashtra and other states fresh in memory, Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam yesterday said the ambitious project of inter-linking of rivers should   5 killed in Naogaon road accident At least five people were killed and five others injured when a truck skidded off the road and fell into a ditch at Moha-devpur under Naogaon early yesterday. International 9 die in fresh Kashmir fighting ahead of I-Day Nine people have died in fresh fighting in Indian Kashmir, police said yesterday, as troops intensified search operations on the eve of India's Independence Day which separatists observe as a "black day".   Israel, Palestinians on alert for Gaza pullout Israeli and Palestinian forces prepared to move into position yesterday to secure the evacuation of Jewish settlements in occupied Gaza with tension rising over the threat of disruption.   Musharraf vows to fight extremists President Pervez Musharraf yesterday urged people to reject extremists who want "to drag Pakistan into darkness" as the nation celebrated its 58th independence day amid high security.   Iran warns Bush against attack Iran warned US President George W. Bush yesterday that he would be making a mistake to use force against the Islamic republic over its nuclear programme.   Iraq races to meet charter deadline Iraq was racing against time to wrap up its new constitution but the ousted Sunni Arab elite played hard over federalism, raising concerns the new charter may not be ready ahead of today's deadline.   New anti-hijack policy allows India to gun down planes India has finalised a policy to deal with the hijacking of airliners that rules out negotiations with hijackers and allows the shooting down of aircraft deemed to have been turned into "missiles", media Editorial Editorial: National mourning day August is a black day in our history; a shameful episode that will never be blotted out from our memory.   Editorial: It's Akhaura now The Akhaura shrine blast on Friday night only adds to the whole lot of bombing cases that have remained mysteriously unsolved to-date as something of a national shame.   The tragic hero of a distorted history Assessing post-revolutionary political heroes is a challenging exercise.   One morning thirty years ago Three decades ago today the newly independent Bangladesh faced the greatest tragedy of her short existence.   Recalling the colossus What was he? A superman? An angel from heaven? He was perhaps someone beyond one's capabilities to describe. In my personal estimation it will be an exercise in futility to describe a colossus. Letters to Editor Travels in Bangladesh I refer to the article "Travels in Pakistan: Sorry, I do not speak Urdu" published in your newspaper.   Strengthening Saarc Mr. Ariful Islam's letter regarding strengthening Saarc -- well, may I have the liberty to disagree with his suggestion.   London bombing There are many writing in your daily about the recent bombings in London. Essentially, these writers are justifying the bombings on the plea of US led invasion of Iraq and the Palestinian issue.   Don't beat students Many school teachers use sticks to punish their students. I don't support it at all. I think it is a cruel way of punishment. On the other hand, it creates immense frustration among the students.   EC's laudable move We must appreciate the move of the Election Commission to meet and discuss with the political parties the issue of general election, 2007.   "Stop studying, start solving" Your editorial captioned "Stop studying, start solving" speaks volumes for the problems that we are facing. The government has failed miserably to address the important issues concerning publicwelfare.   Encourage exporters While the country is reeling under severe dollar shortage during the last few months, we were amazed to see that, none of the cabinet members had anything to say to encourage the exporters.   Education system It's regrettable that the public education system in Bangladesh is not characterised by moderate and pragmatic concerns. It's rather conventional.   Allotment of plots in Mohammadpur It has been more than eight years and a half since we responded to a call by the Directorate of Housing and Settlement for application for plot allotment in Mohammadpur F block from middle class and lower   Crime and crossfire Recently, the DS has been receiving letters from some of its readers who have been congratulating the government's new force-- the Rapid Action Battalion for the so-called good work 'crossfire'.   Student politics Among many of the problems that plague Bangladesh at this moment, one is the effect of student politics. Under the given circumstances in the country, do we need students politics...? I think not.   Jamaat politics I do not like the Jamaat, I consider myself a patriot and I belong to the pro-liberation forces. That is why I want to see any party or alliance minus Jamaat in power after the next general election.   Smokers It's a common misconception that cigarette makes a man look smarter and bold. The days of "rong chota jeans" and "jolonto cigarette" passed a long time ago.   City bus service I believe it is time for the government to take steps to eradicate the old buses from our capital and introduce new ones.   Gay marriage issue It's a reply to Mr. Zabidur Rahman's( Toronto, Canada) letter. Thanks a lot for your kind attention. Bangabandhu And The New Generation Connecting with the founder A few days ago, in order to catch a live glimpse of Bangladesh vs Australia cricket match on the Internet, I logged on to a Bangladesh based website called bangladeshlive.net.   Waiting for Mujib Although born in 1969, I am technically part of the "post-71 generation." The struggles, debates and emotions that animated and divided our parents are an abstraction and learned memory for us.   Bangabandhu's legacy today 1971. In a mukti camp, some freedom fighters were asked: "Why are you fighting?" Someone answers: "We are fighting for the freedom of the motherland.   Mullahism, military and Mujib Since its birth, Pakistan has been said to be ruled by mullahism, the military, and the might of the US. Star City Rajuk goes tough on outdoor ad menace Rajuk has moved to knock down rooftop billboards, signboards and transmitting towers to cut vision pollution and restore beauty to the city.   BEMP's plan to save the city To protect the environment of the city, Bangladesh Environmental Management Project (BEMP), which is made up of experts on the field, has formulated a draft that recommends 45 solutions to some 62 environment   WRC at JU: Giving wildlife its life back It will make you feel as if you are walking along a forest where animals are too shy to cross your way and are peeping from their hideouts.   Bus bays fail to ease traffic jam on Airport Road Commuters still face traffic jam on the Airport Road as bus drivers do not stop their vehicles at the newly constructed bus bays. They take passengers from the roadside and even middle of the road.   DU lacks fund for buying new books The students of Dhaka University are deprived of latest edition of books as the university authorities are unable to buy new books for the DU libraries and departments due to lack of funds.   © thedailystar.net, 2005. All Rights Reserved.