Vol. 5 Num 467 Sat. September 17, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections StarTech Literature Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page Bomb-making materials seized from Jamaat man's house Police yesterday arrested two top militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) with huge bomb-manufacturing materials and four firearms from a house belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami men in Tanore in   Ties with Dhaka very firm: Rice The United States has reiterated its stand to work together with Bangladesh in all areas of cooperation, terming the relations between the two countries very firm.   Common rivers, RLP to figure in JRC talks Sharing of the common rivers' waters, the Ganges water-sharing status, erosion by transboundary rivers and the multibillion dollar Indian river linking project (RLP) will figure prominently at the much   Transport fare hike to make essentials dearer Prices of essentials will see another round of hike ahead of Ramadan rather than decrease as the government has recently declared an 11 percent increase in transport fare, kitchen market traders fear.   Coalmine project to push Tata investment up to $ 3b India's corporate giant Tata Group's investment will reach $3 billion when the industrial heavyweight invests in coalmine project in Bangladesh. Earlier, Tata had committed to invest $2.   Hundreds go back as lone DMCH endoscopy machine out of order Hundreds of poor patients suffering from various ailments of the oral cavity, throat, stomach and intestine are forced to seek treatment elsewhere as the lone endoscopy machine at DMCH has remained out   World demands greater UN anti-terror role World leaders nearing the end of a three-day summit urged the United Nations to play a bigger role on the world stage in everything from the fight against terrorism to protecting immigrant rights toeasing   Rab man held for extortion A member of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) was arrested for collecting toll from a hotelier at Falpatti in the town yesterday.   Foil ill-campaigns abroad by vested group Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to foil "anti-Bangladesh activities and false propaganda" that are being carried out by a vested quarter and portray its true picture abroad.   Basundhara chief sued, his gunman arrested Police yesterday arrested a gunman of Basundhara Group chairman following a case filed for assaulting the wife of Indian deputy high commissioner in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon.   2 killed in Comilla 'crossfire' Two "criminals" were killed in a "crossfire" with police in Nischintapur under Chandina upazila in the district yesterday noon.   Transport strike in 16 dists from today The North Bengal Committee of Bangladesh Transport Workers Association has called for an indefinite transport strike in 16 districts of the country's northern region from today protesting filing of acase   PDB rejoinder & our reply The Power Development Board (PDB) in a rejoinder to a report headlined "Meghnaghat-2 Project: Cabinet body nods to disqualified bidder" published in The Daily Star on August 16 claimed the story is incorrect.   BNP men rue death of Ctg terrorist Some leaders and activists of the local unit of the ruling BNP spoke at a discussion meeting organised to mark the first death anniversary of Ahmadul Haq Chowdhury alias Ahmaddya on Satkania Aliya Madrasa   Python caught at DU A middle-size python was caught on the Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall premises of Dhaka University yesterday.   UNDP support to continue, PM assured United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged to continue support for Bangladesh's economic development.   CPB procession batoned in Bogra: 15 hurt Police charged baton at a procession of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) at Bogra yesterday leaving 15 people injured.   23 including 13 Indians held on border Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel on Thursday night arrested 23 people, including 13 Indians, while they were crossing the Tahigachha border under Sadar upazila without valid papers.   Seeking treatment...   'Verify tenants before renting out houses' Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner has requested the city house-owners to rent their houses or flats after properly verifying the tenants to avert any unwanted incidents afterwards.   Accused OC still free, family gets death threats The officer-in-charge (OC) of Motijheel Police Station was not arrested until last night, 36 hours after he was closed, while the family of slain Kamrul Islam Momin are receiving repeated threats to drop Business Ceramic industry seeks policy support In the face of stiff competition with imported ceramic tableware, local ceramic industry seeks policy support from the government.   Authorities fail to select sponsors as deadline ends All the three agencies concerned -- PDB, REB and Desco -- have failed to select sponsors for the proposed small power plants (SPPs) by the deadline, which ended on Thursday.   RMG units need effluent treatment plants Environment experts on Thursday stressed the need for establishing effluent treatment plants (ETPs) and ensuring ideal dyeing practice in Bangladeshi textile and readymade garment factories to reducefuture   PwC Bangladesh to be launched today A UK-Bangladesh joint venture styled PricewaterhouseCoopers Bangladesh Ltd is going to be launched in Dhaka today.   Separate power generation from distribution, transmission Speakers at a workshop here on Thursday proposed separation of power generation from transmission and distribution to get optimum performance from power sector.   Global financial system stronger: IMF The global financial system has strengthened over the past year, giving it a substantial cushion against potential financial shocks, the International Monetary Fund said Thursday.   US Senate rejects trade measure The US Senate overwhelmingly rejected an amendment Thursday that the Bush administration warned would have weakened its ability to negotiate a comprehensive world trade deal.   Winners of Ruchi chips raffle draw awarded Square Consumer Products Ltd (SCPL), which produces Ruchi brand chips, yesterday gave away prizes among the winners of the raffle draw it held for its consumer promotion contest.   Oil prices fall further Oil prices weakened further in Asian trade Friday after the world's leading producers lowered their estimate for global demand this year, dealers said.   New US-China textile talks planned as complaints grow The US government announced Thursday the latest in a hard-fought series of textiles talks with China, as US manufacturers stepped up a campaign to dam a torrential flow of clothes from Chinese rivals.   OECD urges freer yuan to support China growth China needs to let the yuan move more freely, complete the clean-up of its banks and pass a series of pro-business laws to sustain its impressive growth rate, the OECD said on Friday in its first full   Islami Bank okays 20pc stock dividend Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd has declared a 20 percent stock dividend for its shareholders for the year 2004.   G20 finance ministers to meet in October Finance ministers and central bank governors from G20 members will meet next month in a small town close to Beijing, the Chinese government said Thursday.   Weekly Currency Roundup Local FX Market Demand for US dollar remained steady in the market throughout the week. Money Market In the Treasury bill auction held on Sunday, bid for BDT 11,172. Sports Football: Hattricks rule the day Hattricks marked the second day of the preliminary round of the Nitol-Tata National Football League at different venues across the country yesterday.   Cricket: India end Zim resistance India thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 90 runs in Bulawayo on Friday despite some dogged lower-order resistance from the hosts on day four of the first Test.   Cricket: Murali rubbishes claim Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has denied having close links with a Mumbai bar dancer being investigated by Indian police as part of a match-fixing probe.   Cricket: Ganguly was asked to step down? Growing differences between captain Sourav Ganguly and coach Greg Chappell over team composition is creating a growing rift in the Indian camp.   Cricket: Far From The Maddening Cricket   Suriya, Sabrina fail to inspire Suriya Akhter and Sabrina Sultana endured a frustrating time at the Inaugural Asian Gun Shooting Championship in Bangkok on Friday.   Football: Inter-varsity soccer starts tomorrow The second edition of the Stamford Inter Private University Football tournament will kick off at the Bangladesh Army Stadium tomorrow.   Cycling: BDR cycling from today The Bangladesh Rifles Inter-sector Cycling Championships begin at the BDR Sector Headquarters here today.   Tennis: BKSP sweep Uttara tennis titles Henry Prithul Mondal clinched his first ever trophy when he won the men's single title of the Uttara Club Open National Tennis Tournament on Friday.   Cricket: Sheffield bestows honour on Vaughan England captain Michael Vaughan is to rewarded for regaining the Ashes from Australia by being given the freedom of his home city of Sheffield.   Cricket: 'England are emerging' Former Pakistan cricket great Imran Khan said Friday he doubted England would ever emulate Australia's success and become the world's top team because they lacked a quality spinner like Shane Warne.   Cricket: Changes will take time The repercussions of losing the Ashes are sure to be felt in Australia for many years to come.   Football: Unstoppable Maldini AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini will reach another milestone in a glittering career this Sunday when he equals Dino Zoff's record of 570 Serie A appearances when he leads his team out against Sampdoria.   Football: No looking back for Real The superstitious among Real Madrid fans will be keeping their fingers crossed before Sunday's league match at Espanyol (kickoff 1800 GMT).   Football: Chelsea get their match! Blanket defences and packed midfields are an unpalatable but unavoidable fact of life for Chelsea these days.   Football: Everton doomed Everton's European dreams were ruthlessly crushed by Dinamo Bucharest on Thursday as British clubs struggled in the first round of the UEFA Cup.   Football: Parreira's luxury problem! Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has announced that only Kaka and Ronaldinho can be sure of starting places in his preferred attack at Germany 2006.   Football: Benfica's symphony Portuguese champions Benfica have commissioned a leading Portuguese composer to write the world's first-ever symphony dedicated to a football club, national news agency Lusa reported Thursday. Metropolitan Breaking out of vicious cycle of stigma, discrimination Putul, a daughter of a sex worker, has set an example for others like her who want to break the vicious cycle of stigma, discrimination and denial.   Three killed in city incidents Three people were killed in separate incidents in the city yesterday. Truck labourer Shaiful Islam, 18, of Nandipara under Sabujbagh Police Station was run over by a truck early hours of yesterday.   Profit-hungry traders blamed for food adulteration Speakers at a dialogue yesterday blamed the widespread food adulteration on the businessmen seeking an excessive profit margin.   176 cellphone sets seized Customs officials seized 176 mobile phone sets worth about Tk 13 lakh from an incoming passenger at Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport yesterday.   Memos to VC demanding action against JCD cadres Journalists of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have submitted three separate memorandums to the vice-chancellor demanding immediate action against the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) cadres who assaulted   'Force India to cancel river-link project' Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), a movement to protect environment, yesterday demanded cancellation of the Indian inter- river-linking project and strengthening of the joint river commission (JRC).   Small is beautiful Miniature versions of trees in small pots put on display at an exhibition of bonsai exemplify the truth that small is beautiful.   Wall Street Journal boss Kann meets PM Peter Kann, who was in Bangladesh during the War of Liberation in 1971 and filed stories as a reporter, made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Thursday.   Abducted police informer stabbed to death in Ctg One youth, reportedly a police informant, was stabbed to death after abduction from Halishahar in the city on Thursday night.   Pepsodent-Dristy Debate Festival ends in Ctg The two-day Pepsodent-Dristy Debate Festival ended in Chittagong yesterday amid great festivity.   Govt has made life insecure: AL Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday criticised the BNP-Jamaat coalition government for its failure to improve law and order situation in the country.   Belta confce concludes The three-day international conference of Bangladesh English Language Teachers' Association (Belta) ended in the city yesterday with a lively forum discussion on possible direction that the Englishteaching   Man hurls acid on daughter, wife in Rangpur A man allegedly threw acid on the body of his wife and daughter inflicting burn injuries on them at Pirgachha in the district on Thursday night.   Mother Teresa Hospital gate dismantled A group of people led by Thakurgaon pourasava chairman dismantled the gate of Mother Teresa Charitable hospital in Thakurgaon yesterday afternoon without any prior notice, sources said.   Cancer Hospital lottery draw tomorrow The draw of Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital Lottery-2005 will be held at the National Press Club hall room at 11:00am tomorrow, says a press release.   Press Club founding anniversary programmes National Press Club has chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion of its 51st founding anniversary to be held on October 20, says a press release. National Eight years in jail in a false case Although 'dead' Jyotsna got bail after arrest, the convict in 'Jyotsna murder case'-- Manik Sheikh -- languishing in jail for about eight years in a life term.   Far away from Millennium Development Goals Speakers at a seminar yesterday said the targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDs) will not be achieved in Satkhira district by 2015 if the current pace of poverty alleviation, literacy, environmental   AL won't go to polls without reforms Awami League will not participate in the next general election without reforms to the caretaker system and the Election Commission, its general secretary Abdul Jalil has said.   80 trawlers looted, 100 fishermen injured Three pirate gangs on Thursday night looted over Tk 50 lakh in cash and fishing equipment from at least 80 fishing trawlers in the Meghna estuary in Tazumuddin upazila of Bhola district.   Take steps for balanced uplift of N dists Speakers at a workshop in Joyurhat on Thursday said all development efforts would go in vain if the desertification process in region districts can not be stopped.   2-day hartal begins in Bandarban today The Parbattya Bangalee Somo Adhikar Andolon (PBSAA), a forum of Bangalees in Chittagong Hill Tracts, is set to enforce a 48-hour hartal in Bandarban town tomorrow and the day after protesting CHT Regional   Rally in Dimla to protest 'extortion' by PDB men Businessmen brought out a procession and held a rally at Dimla upazila headquarter yesterday protesting filing of a case by a high official of Power Development Board (PDB) against some traders.   3 kg heroin seized in Rajshahi Police and the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) in separate drives seized 2.55 kilograms of heroin, 76 bottles of phensidyl and 525 liters of country-made liquor from the district.   Swandha Carnage....   Mother gets life for killing children A court here on Thursday convicted a mother to life term imprisonment for killing her son and daughter five years ago. Culture Hamiduzzaman's go at water-colours Hamiduzzman Khan's solo water-colour exhibition which opens today at Shilpangan, contains 100 portraits which appear carved out of granite or some other semi precious stone.   Peye Keno Nahi Pai Panchaswar, a cultural organisation, arranged a programme titled Peye Keno Nahi Pai at the Goethe-Institut Thursday last.   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder The brand name Lux, has been synonymous with glamour and stardom for decades.   BAFTA to honour Elizabeth Taylor Veteran British actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor will be honoured by the Los Angeles branch of British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in November.   Pop princess Britney becomes a mother Popstar Britney Spears is said to be getting her taste of motherhood after reportedly giving birth to a baby boy Wednesday last. International 'Pakistan ready to shift its Kashmir position' Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf yesterday said his country was ready to shift from its stated position of solving Kashmir issue on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions if India reciprocated.   Musharraf under fire for remark on rape Politicians and rights groups condemned President Pervez Musharraf for saying in a US newspaper that rape has become a "moneymaking concern" with some Pakistanis believing it was a ticket to settlingabroad.   Leaders join Clinton's alternative summit Former US president Bill Clinton on Thursday gathered world leaders for his alternative to the UN world summit, sharing the same vast aims of reducing poverty and conflict.   Asian women leaders take terror, debt woes to UN Hit by insurgencies and political problems at home, two of Asia's women leaders discussed fighting terrorism and ways to alleviate their country's foreign debts at the United Nations summit.   Campaign for Afghan election ends Suspected Taliban guerrillas assassinated a seventh candidate for Afghanistan's parliamentary elections as campaigning officially ended yesterday for the first polls of their kind in more than 30 years.   Lanka for extending state of emergency for a month Sri Lanka announced yesterday that a state of emergency enforced after the assassination of the foreign minister would be extended for another month, despite opposition from Tamil Tiger rebels.   Israel to expand security zone into northern Gaza Israel is preparing to extend a closed military zone into northern Gaza to bolster security after its historic pullout from the territory, in a move denounced by the Palestinians as continued occupation.   Nepalese cops arrest 87 journalists Police arrested 87 journalists in the Nepalese capital yesterday who were planning a rally to demand the lifting of restrictions on the press, a local media rights group said. Editorial Editorial: Corruption database This is a kind of analytical exposé of corruption and abuse of power that government needs to be responsive to and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) must keep handy as a guidebook to help avert our   Editorial: A slender change in Gaza The Gaza strip has now the Palestinian flag fluttering. Whilst it marks the end of 38-year-long Israeli occupation of the stretch of land, the change is more symbolic than substantive.   Is pullout from Gaza enough? A contentious pullout has been completed by Israeli authorities from the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza.   Two-day weekly holiday: A blow to the economy Recently the government decided to shift to two-day weekly holiday for government and semi-government offices. Letters to Editor Judicial service in peril I could not imagine that it will be like this, when I first heard the news on BBC.   Electricity -- vital need of life Power is the main thing that people need everyday all the time.   Abstract art: Beyond human reach It can be said that art is portraiture of the spontaneous expression of human minds, our surroundings and our co-existence with the nature. It can be expressed through writing painting engraving etc.   An appeal to Minister for Communication It is appreciable that our communication minister has become more active and has assured that he will arrange A.C. train in Dhaka-Chittagong line within one year.   Private radio channel Among all electronic media, still radio has a significant influence on mass people. That's why we find people regularly listening BBC, VOA or DW and such others to get the real scenario. StarTech Troyee: an offbeat accounting solution What if all the accounting and inventory modules including financial accounting, general ledger, inventory management, fixed assets management and many more were enclosed in one software unlike the conventional   A social concern today It's already an alarming situation, when there should be strict measures taken against internet pornography in the country, if not worldwide.   Office 12 to anticipate needs The next version of Microsoft Corp.   Showcase of latest computing technology The PC Carnival 2005 being held at the BCS Computer City is showcasing two latest technologies from Intel and has generated enormous enthusiasm among the visitors and customers, says a press release.   BCS computer show 2005 starts this week The largest ICT showcase of Bangladesh, the "BCS Computer Show 2005" is scheduled to start from September 22.   The 16GB chip Literature The Letter-Box It is my day off. It also happens to be a public holiday. I am standing outside The Regal, leaning against the iron railing. It is after many days that I am seeing the big red letter-box near the railing.   Clinton B. Seely: 'In Nature the most beautiful is usually the hybrid thing' Clinton B. Seely is Professor, South Asian Languages and Civilizations, at Chicago University.   Bengal's Modern Epic According to the American critic Harold Bloom the modern poet is condemned to suffer from a sense of belatedness, which produces what he calls 'the anxiety of influence.   © thedailystar.net, 2005. All Rights Reserved.