| Front Page | 
AL to join parliament, place reform proposals
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina at a grand rally in the capital yesterday announced that her party will return to parliament to place the proposals for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral
|
| |
High Court halts mass arrest again
The High Court yesterday issued injunction restraining the government from any further arrest without warrant under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Ordinance.
|
| |
BNP bigwigs see no need for reforms
The BNP-led four-party government is not going to reform the caretaker government system as demanded by the mainstream opposition political parties.
|
| |
Urea output hiccups on tripping plants
With the suspension of urea production in one factory or the other almost on regular intervals, fertiliser production in the country is now facing a setback during the peak boro season.
|
| |
US, UK, EU hail AL decision to join JS
The USA, the UK and the European Union (EU) yesterday welcomed the decision of the Awami League to join parliament.
|
| |
Opposition calls hartal for Feb 15
The Awami League (AL) led 14-party opposition alliance will observe countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal on February 15 demanding uninterrupted power supply and reduction of the prices of fertiliser and fuel.
|
| |
100 hurt as cops beat up marchers
Defying countrywide mass-arrest, obstacles, harassment and attacks by police and ruling alliance cadres, the leaders, workers and supporters of the 14-party opposition line-up yesterday joined the grand
|
| |
Taher killed at diktat of pro-BNP teacher
The three Jamaat-aligned arrestees in the Rajshahi University teacher Prof Taher Ahmed murder case yesterday admitted that they committed the crime at the diktat of a pro-BNP teacher.
|
| |
Ferry with 9 trucks sinks in Karnaphuli
A woman drowned and at least 15 persons are missing as an overloaded ferry with nine trucks on it capsized in the River Karnaphuli here in the early hours of yesterday.
|
| |
PM opens 3rd 5-star hotel
Prime Minister (PM) Khaleda Zia yesterday asked private entrepreneurs from home and abroad to come forward and reap the advantage of an ever-expanding market potential of hotel business in Bangladeshby
|
| |
Top Bangla Bhai cadre caught
Mirzapur police arrested two militant leaders from a madrasa in Dhamrai upazila under Dhaka district on Saturday night.
|
| |
Final round negotiations resume today
The final round of negotiations between the Tata Group and the government of Bangladesh resume today to sort out the remaining unresolved issues of Tata's investment proposal.
|
| |
Bill seeking 2-yr extension of speedy trial law placed in JS
A bill was placed in parliament yesterday seeking another two-year extension of the much-talked-about Speedy Trial law, while the government will soon place another bill for enacting the anti-terrorism
|
| |
SC orders full bench hearing of EC petition on Feb 19
The Supreme Court yesterday re-fixed February 19 for a full-bench hearing of the Election Commission (EC) petition for leave-to-appeal against the January 4 High Court (HC) observations on the preparation
|
| |
Farmers hem in MP's home, DC office
More than a thousand farmers of the Barind region besieged the residence of ruling party lawmaker Harunur Rashid and the Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office yesterday demanding uninterrupted power supply
|
| |
Not a single kid...
|
| |
Three Rab men held on charge of robbery
Three members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were arrested at Savar on charges of robbery early yesterday.
|
| |
Meherpur PBCP man shot dead by rivals
Activists of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) Janajuddha faction killed a rival PBCP Red-flag activist in Khoksa of Gangni upazila in Meherpur early yesterday.
|
| |
Murder case filed against 18 cops
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Companiganj Police Station in Noakhali district filed a murder case against 18 former policemen of the station including the then OC and a sub-inspector (SI) on charge of killing
|
| |
Dhaka asks Danish govt for apology
Bangladesh has requested the Danish government to seek apology for publishing cartoons on Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) in a Danish daily recently that triggered anger and intense criticism in the Muslim
|
| |
Bail of Pintu's brother not sought again
The defence lawyers of Motiur Rahman Pintu, younger brother of BNP leader Barkatullah Bulu, prayed for adjournment of the bail hearing of a case filed for a shooting incident for the third time yesterday.
|
| |
Cops release BNP man's brother held on tree loot charge
Shibganj police yesterday released the brother of a BNP leader who was arrested for cutting down trees on public land and trying to loot those.
|
| |
Candyfloss vendor...
|
| |
Defiant Iran retaliates against nuke resolution
A defiant Iran moved yesterday to block snap UN nuclear inspections and kick-start sensitive fuel work after being reported to the Security Council, deepening a crisis over its disputed atomic ambitions.
|
| |
20 killed in Pak bus blast, rocket attacks
At least 12 people were killed and 13 injured when a powerful bomb exploded on a passenger bus while eight others were killed in rocket attacks yesterday in Pakistan's insurgency-plagued southwesternBaluchistan
|
| |
USS Cole attack planner escapes, says Interpol
A man considered a mastermind of the USS Cole bombing that killed 17 sailors in a Yemeni port in 2000 was among 23 people who escaped from a Yemen prison last week, Interpol said yesterday.
|
| Business |
5-month BoP shows deficit
The overall balance of payment (BoP) showed a deficit in July-November period of the current financial year due to widening trade gap and declining net FDI and foreign aid.
|
| |
DSE sees 2nd lowest thin trade in 2 years
Following bearish trends in the last few weeks, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday saw the 2nd lowest thin trade in two years.
|
| |
Private sector urged to up institutional capacity
Bangladesh mission chief in Geneva Dr Toufiq Ali yesterday advised the private sector people to increase institutional capacity so that Bangladesh can conduct a skilful negotiation with the World Trade
|
| |
Pak textile millers seek privilege for utility bills
The visiting Pakistani textile millers yesterday sought utility services at fixed prices for a certain period in investing in textile sector of Bangladesh.
|
| |
High costs forcing Pak textile makers abroad
Pakistani textile exporters say they are looking to move their operations to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka due to high manufacturing costs, despite gains from last year's abolition of import quotas.
|
| |
PM for legal framework for microcredit activities
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday underlined the urgency of bringing microcredit activities under timely legal framework for infusing further dynamism in the emerging financial sub-sector.
|
| |
Ramos urges Dhaka, Manila to take initiative to cut trade gap
Former president of Philippines and chairman of Ramos Peace and Development Foundation Fidel V Ramos, now in Dhaka, has said Bangladesh and Philippines should take initiative to reduce gap in bilateral
|
| |
Saifur leaves for Hanoi to attend JEC meet
Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman yesterday left Dhaka for Hanoi to attend Bangladesh-Vietnam Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting. The three-day JEC meeting begins in Hanoi today.
|
| |
Indian companies hunt acquisitions abroad
After decades of being stifled by strict foreign exchange controls, corporate India has gone on a shopping spree -- snapping up companies everywhere from Britain to Korea.
|
| |
Ericsson's top executive due tomorrow
Karl-Henrik Sundstrom, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Ericsson, will be visiting Bangladesh from February 7 to 9.
|
| |
Workshop on economic zones on Feb 7
The Board of Investment, with the support of the SouthAsia Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) and FIAS, is organising a two-day workshop on economic zones strategy and administrative barriers to investment
|
| Sports |
Cricket:
Whatmore to exploit home advantage
The national cricketers started their preparation on Sunday with a hope to put on a better performance than last year against Sri Lanka during the coming home series.
|
| |
Cricket:
Bangladesh tame Kiwis
Favourites Bangladesh brightened their chances to reach the Super League phase of the ICC Under-19 World Cup for the first time when they pulled off a three-wicket victory against New Zealand in one of
|
| |
Cricket:
Frustrating for nat'l cricketers
While top cricketers of the country get ready for international action after a four-month gap, the fact that bothered many was that most of them failed to impress during the domestic season.
|
| |
Cricket:
Inzy boost for Pakistan
Buoyant Pakistan will be at full strength when captain Inzamamul Haq returns for Monday's opening one-day international against India after his recovery from a back injury.
|
| |
Tennis:
Hingis fails in final
Elena Dementieva dashed any hopes of a comeback victory for Martina Hingis by beating the four-time champion to win the singles title at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament on Sunday.
|
| |
Cricket:
'Sachin will bounce back'
Indian captain Rahul Dravid on Sunday backed Sachin Tendulkar to bounce back from his form slump and also expressed confidence in his side to rise to the challenge of facing Pakistan in the one-day series
|
| |
Football:
Little Eto'o, super Tito
Nigeria and Ivory Coast reached the African Nations Cup semifinals after marathon penalty shootouts against Tunisia and Cameroon respectively on Saturday.
|
| |
Football:
Milestones for Henry, Shearer
Thierry Henry's 200th goal for Arsenal helped the Gunners end a difficult week on a high with a 2-0 win at Birmingham on Saturday.
|
| |
Football:
It's more like Real
Real Madrid crushed Espanyol 4-0 on Saturday as Brazilian World Cup star Ronaldo marked his return from injury with a goal but it was Valencia striker David Villa who grabbed the headlines with a remarkable
|
| |
Football:
Record Roma thrash Parma
Amantino Mancini scored twice as Roma matched their club record seven straight Serie A wins with a 3-0 win at Parma on Saturday.
|
| |
Cricket:
Aussies out run Proteas
South Africa failed to overhaul Australia with what would have been a world-record score, falling 57 runs short of their giant target in the triangular series match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
|
| |
Tennis:
Junior tennis final rounds from today
The final phase of the Dhaka Bank 20th International Junior Tennis Championship will begin today at the National Tennis Complex in Ramna.
|
| |
Cricket:
'Tendulkar will make Moin eat his words'
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Farooq Engineer and retired England captain Nasser Hussain have ridiculed suggestion that Sachin Tendulkar was on the decline.
|
| |
Cricket:
Ganguly gets on well with Dravid
Sourav Ganguly Sunday said he shared an "outstanding" relationship with Rahul Dravid and respected his judgements and ploys as the captain of the side.
|
| |
Football:
Scolari reaffirms English interest
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who guided Brazil to their fifth World Cup success in 2002, put his name firmly in the frame to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager.
|
| |
Football:
Campbell back for Gunners
Sol Campbell will draw a line under one of the most bizarre episodes in English football's recent history by returning to training with Arsenal this week.
|
| |
Cricket:
Pegasus on top despite loss
Young Pegasus stayed on top of the First Division Cricket League table despite suffering their second defeat yesterday when they crashed to Gazi Tank by 63 runs at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.
|
| |
Football:
Kadamtala's first win
Kadamtala Sangsad earned their maiden win in the Rahman Foundation Second Division Football League defeating Uttar Baridhara Club 1-0 at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur on
|
| |
Chess:
Shirin champ in qualifier
Sharmin Sultana Shirin emerged champion in the 27th National Women's Chess Championship qualifiers which concluded at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room yesterday.
|
| |
Cricket:
SET accolade for Inzamam
Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq pipped top Indian stars Sania Mirza and Viswanathan Anand to win the International Sports Personality of the Year 2005 award, instituted by Sony Entertainment Television
|
| Metropolitan |
Regional cooperation can resolve dispute
The dispute between the two neighbouring countries -- Bangladesh and India -- over the issue of Tipaimukh dam project can be resolved through regional cooperation, said veteran Indian journalist and columnist
|
| |
Health service delivery system still backdated
Today the health sector of the country is better than 30 years back but it is still non-functional, said global personality Prof Muhammad Yunus at an international congress on diarrhoea and malnutrition
|
| |
Finalise overseas employment policy for safe migration
Experts at a seminar yesterday demanded immediate finalisation of overseas employment policy for safe migration.
|
| |
Offer scholarships, fee waivers to poor meritorious students
President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday urged the private universities to offer a large number of scholarships and generous fee waiver for the poor but meritorious students.
|
| |
Trial starts in Rajshahi
The trial of the August 17 serial bomb blast case of Joypurhat started at Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal yesterday.
|
| |
'Ruling party activists influence enumeration'
Ruling party activists influenced the voter registration process in different constituencies and lots of people were left out of the enumeration till January 31, observed an independent election monitoring
|
| |
One to die for killing business partner
A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced a man to death for killing his business partner Tarun Kumar Saha at Dohar 13 years ago.
|
| |
Teenage worker stabbed to death
A teenage boy was stabbed to death allegedly by his employer's brother-in-law while another employee was injured trying to resist the attacker at Khilgaon in the city early yesterday.
|
| |
Salman Rahman gets ad-interim bail in criminal case
The High Court (HC) yesterday granted ad-interim bail to Salman F Rahman, a reputed industrialist and vice-chairman of Beximco Group in a criminal case filed with Dohar Police Station on August 15 last
|
| |
Long march draws participation of many with no political links
Many people who claimed to have no political affiliation came from all over the country to join yesterday's long march of the 14-party opposition combine at Paltan Maidan aiming at ousting the four-party
|
| |
Poet Tarik Sujat wins Krittibas award
Poet Tarik Sujat has won an award, Krittibas, one of the most prestigious literary awards of West Bengal, India.
|
| |
Duta protest today
Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) will observe a two-hour work abstention, stage a one-hour sit in and bring out a silent procession on the campus today protesting the killing of RajshahiUniversity
|
| |
2 bills passed, 4 more placed in JS
The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) yesterday passed two bills, including the Fertiliser (Management) Bill 2006, while two more bills were placed in the House.
|
| |
'597 militants held so far'
The government has so far arrested 597 people against 214 cases to dismantle the network of terrorists and bombers across the country.
|
| |
Two electrocuted in Khagrachhari
Two people were killed when a torn electric wire fell on a passenger jeep at Birashi Tila of Khagrachhari yesterday.
|
| |
Japan Festival begins tomorrow
Japan Festival organised jointly by the Embassy of Japan and the Bangladesh National Museum will be held at the Museum from February 7 to 18.
|
| |
Memorial meet on Kibria today
Bangabandhu Smriticharcha Kendra will hold a memorial meeting to mark the death anniversary of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria today, says a press relase.
|
| National |
JMB, HuJi regrouping in four districts
Militants of banned Islamist outfits JMB (Jama'atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh) and HuJi (Harkatul Jihad) are regrouping in border areas of Kushtia, Meherpur, Jhenidah and Chuadanga.
|
| |
Dredging of Patuakhali river to prove useless
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has started dredging of Patuakhali river channel but launch operators say this will not improve navigability of the river.
|
| |
Salt output may cross target
Salt production may exceed the target this year and bring more benefit to farmers, thanks to the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) initiative and its newly introduced 'polythene
|
| |
Food must come first
Schoolgirls in some remote areas in Mymensingh are now aware of nutrition needs, thanks to the authorities of the institutions and the government's Horticulture and Nutrition Development.
|
| |
It's all how you look at it
Waste waters released from factories and urban areas, particularly cities and towns, can be turned into resources by treatment, which will benefit the eco-system and could be used for producing sustainable
|
| |
Killing of RU teacher protested in Khulna
Teachers of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) yesterday held a rally on the campus and brought out a procession in protest against the killing of Prof Sayeed Taher Ahmed of Geology
|
| |
Six bombs recovered in Kushtia
Six bombs were recovered from a rice mill at Shomespur bazaar in Khoksa upazila Sunday night.
|
| |
One crushed under wheels of police van
Movement of vehicles was interrupted for over three hours on the Satkhira-Kaliganj road from about 2 pm yesterday as angry people barricaded it after a rickshaw van driver was killed when his three-wheeler
|
| |
Firewood traders enforce hartal in Rangamati today
Firewood traders called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Rangamati district for today demanding re-issuance of transit pass (TP), an official approval for transporting firewood from the district to other areas.
|
| Point-Counterpoint |
How divine are Shariah laws?
On September 11, 2005, the Premier of Ontario, Canada's largest province, emphatically declared: "Ontario will reject the use of Shariah law and will move to prohibit all religious-based tribunals tosettle
|
| |
Painting a miniature on two inches of ivory
Writing is such a difficult pursuit -- thoughts which sound scintillating and brilliant while gazing into the mirror as I brush my teeth, dwindle to the prosaic, even ludicrous, and words that appearsonorous
|
| |
The design seems clear
The Jamaat-BNP govern-ment has inducted into the Election Commission (EC) two new Election Commissioners of proven allegiance to the BNP in the name of injecting workability to the EC, sharply divided
|
| Culture |
Amidst razzle dazzle...
To celebrate The Daily Star's 15th anniversary, a glitzy evening that included who's who in the country as well as foreign emissaries and distinguished journalists from overseas, was held at the
|
| |
A medley of colours at children's art exhibition
The ongoing 1st annual art exhibition of the Cubic School of Fine Arts in Gulshan is a definite eye opener.
|
| |
Showcasing quality films at Goethe Institut
Another feast for film lovers. Ten selected movies from the tri-continental film festival, held in December 2005, are being screened at Goethe Institut.
|
| |
Second season of the ATN Taroka
ATN Taroka Tarokader Taroka is a prime-time show on ATN Bangla. Auditions for the second season of the talent hunt show have begun.
|
| International |
Nepal grinds to a halt as Maoist strike bites
A general strike called by Maoist rebels to disrupt controversial elections this week brought towns across Nepal to a standstill yesterday, witnesses said.
|
| |
Manmohan mulls crisis talks with left allies
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was mulling yesterday whether to hold crisis talks with leftwing allies angry at his government's vote against Iran over its nuclear programme and its airport privatisation
|
| |
Danish embassies torched as Muslim protests grow
Denmark evacuated nationals, including diplomatic staff, from Lebanon and Syria at the weekend after angry Muslim mobs torched its embassies in both countries in worsening protests over Western caricatures
|
| |
Series of tragic errors doomed Egypt ferry
The series of tragic errors that apparently claimed more than 1,000 lives on an Egyptian ferry escalated when the crew decided to push across the Red Sea despite the fire burning in the aging vessel's
|
| |
Hamas asserts 'right to self-defence'
Hamas, under mounting international pressure to renounce violence, asserted the Palestinians' "right to self-defence" yesterday after the first Israeli air raids since its shock election victory lastmonth.
|
| |
British Muslims angered by cartoons
British Muslims have been staging angry protests outside the Danish embassy in London for the last two days over the publication of cartoons on Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM).
|
| Editorial |
Editorial:
Say 'no' to corrupt candidates
Speaking at the 15th anniversary celebrations of The Daily Star on Saturday Dr.
|
| |
Editorial:
Concern over Tipaimukh
It is with disquiet that we learn the news of India having floated international tenders towards its planned construction of Tipaimukh multipurpose project on the confluence of Barak and Tuivai rivers
|
| |
Brinkmanship of those on the brink
The alliance government's brinkmanship over the demands for an electoral reforms has cast a fresh gloom over our politics, and we are presented with a national terrain of uncertainly, fear, and anxiety.
|
| |
Freedom of speech or hate speech?
In the West after 9/11, every slur against Islam, its prophet and its holy book has been justified in the name of "freedom of speech.
|
| |
A Goliath called David
Relax. The days when the world turned to America to solve its problems are waning.
|
| Letters to Editor |
Slum blaze
Alas! Another slum was burnt in Rayerbazaar on 2 February. It ruined the lives of the inmates. In this winter season hundreds of people have to sleep under the open sky.
|
| |
New hope for Dhaliwood
It's good news for us that the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Bill 2006 was passed in the parliament recently.
|
| |
Green Dhaka
Dhaka is losing its beauty gradually. Great pressure of urbanisation is responsible for Dhaka's losing its beauty. Green patches have disappeared from many localities in the city.
|
| |
Beggars' lives...
The number of beggars is increasing day by day. They are migrating from village to urban areas. In Bangladeshi culture, there is a tradition of giving alms to the beggars by the well-offs.
|
| |
Far from Bangladesh
I have been living in Toronto for the past five years as an immigrant investor.
|
| |
University education
Is this called a public university? After completing the same session, some departments get convocation, some don't. Who is responsible for this? Students? I don't think so.
|
| |
Ideological direction
Nowadays our youths have no ideological direction to lead our country to the platform that we have dreamed of for 30 years. But they are the backbone of the nation.
|
| |
New channels
I can see new TV channels like Rtv, Bangla Vision coming up. It is good to see more television cameras will be there around our honourable ministers and VIPs in future.
|
| |
Child labour
Child labour remains a serious problem in many parts of the world. Many of these children live in underdeveloped countries in America, Africa and Asia.
|
| |
Freedom of expression
We have seen the recent outburst of anger in the Muslim world over the cartoons demeaning our holy Prophet (pbuh).
|
| |
Recalling mother
I was unmanageable, restless and obstinate as a schoolboy in the mid-seventies. My mother always forbade me not to play with boys for avoiding unwanted incidents due to my bed-tempered habit.
|
| |
Happiest corrupt nation
A recent letter to the editor said "I feel proud to be a citizen of the happiest nation. And think it is an arm to support us when people abroad ridicule us for corruption.
|
| |
Two faces of society
According to a hypothesis, today there exists virtually (?) two different Bangladesh: the visible evil society and the real Bangladesh in the background.
|
| |
Undo the lies
I read the article published in The Daily Star on 30 January titled, "Why do politicians lie ?" The Daily Star and Daily Prothom Alo can publish a regular front-page column to disclose the lies and misinformation
|
| |
Cartoon controversy
The row over Prophet Muham-mad's (pbuh) cartoon is really sad and unwarranted. Basically, it stems from utter ignorance and lack of knowledge of history on the part of Danish and other European papers.
|
| Star City |
Acid violence marks decline in last 3 years
The number of acid violence in Dhaka City as well as other urban areas has decreased noticeably over the last three years due to awareness progr-ammes of different organisations and the media.
|
| |
Glimpses of Celebrations
|
| |
Subscribers worried as flaws go unnoticed
Naushad, who had just topped-up his account with Tk 50 tried to transfer credit worth Tk 20 to his friend's mobile phone.
|
| |
Patients content with care provided by centres
Laila Akhtar, a housewife with her newborn, expressed her satisfaction with the services at the post-operative unit of a City Maternity Centre (CMC) of Urban Primary Health Care Project (UPHCP) at Bashbari
|
| |
A new chapter in solving criminal cases
The recently commissioned DNA testing laboratory in Dhaka has opened up a new chapter in solving criminal cases by generating DNA fingerprints, also called DNA profile, of persons from any trace of biological
|
