Vol. 5 Num 1000 Sat. March 24, 2007       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture Views Point-counterpoint Editorial Write to Editor Sections StarTech Literature Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Storm kills 10 in 2 Bhola upazilas At least 10 people were killed and around 200 were injured as the year's first violent storm swept through Lalmohon and Char Borhanuddin upazilas in Bhola on Thursday leaving a trail of destruction in   Over 21,000 chickens culled in 6 Savar, Gazipur farms Over 21,000 chickens of six poultry farms in Savar and Gazipur have been culled since the detection of bird flu virus at state-run Biman Poultry Complex.   CG won't stay in power a day longer than necessary Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has said his caretaker government does not intend to stay in power "a day longer than necessary".   Documents seized in Hawa Bhaban raid The army-led joint forces raided BNP chairperson's Hawa Bhaban office in the capital's Banani area in the wee hours of yesterday morning and seized many letters, files of documents, computer hard disks,   Tharanga, Silva prop up crumbling Sri Lanka Upul Tharanga and Chamara Silva hit solid half-centuries to help Sri Lanka post a competitive 254 for 6 in a World Cup Group B match against India here on Friday.   Car sales drop by half for fear of hassles Auto sales dropped by half thanks to the ongoing anti-corruption drive, reconditioned and new car sellers have said.   Police confirm Woolmer murder A police revelation that one of the most famous figures in cricket was murdered has knocked the wind out of the World Cup ahead of its 11th day of competition on Friday.   Dangerous prank The armed forces arrested a college student on Thursday for falsely identifying himself as an army officer and taking a vehicle and forces from Jatrabari Police Station with the fake identity.   Jubo Dal man dies in Rab custody A Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader, who was in Rapid Action Battalion's (Rab) custody, allegedly died of a cardiac arrest minutes after Rab-11 personnel rushed him to Savar Health Complex Thursday night.   Walkathon   Neighbours should look at Delhi as well-wisher Ahead of next month's Saarc summit, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday said his country desires to see its neighbours feel secure and confident that in New Delhi "they have a wellwisher".   Two killed in 'shootouts' with Rab Two alleged criminals were killed during "shootouts" with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Dhaka and Shariatpur yesterday.   Badruddoza, Ershad refute retirement rumour Former presidents HM Ershad and Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury have dismissed as 'baseless' the speculation that they are going to retire from active politics.   Robbers loot four flats in capital A band of armed robbers looted four flats of a building at Kawla Beparipara of Dakkhin Khan in the capital and looted Tk 4.25 lakh in cash and kind early yesterday.   Arrested Star reporter hospitalised The Daily Star's Nilphamari correspondent Asaduzzaman Tipu was rushed to jail hospital yesterday as he fell ill in captivity. He has long been suffering from chronic asthma, family sources said.   BDR to oversee 4 wholesale kitchen markets near capital Four wholesale kitchen markets will be set up on the outskirts of the capital under the supervision of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).   US teams to search 3 spots for WWII ruins Two US organisations named US Pacific Command and World War Two Families for the Return of the Missing (WWRM) are reported to have identified three spots in the southwestern region of the country to carry   Under pressure...   Rab seizes 10kg gold statue Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members recovered a gold statue weighing 10 kg from a house in the town on Thursday night and arrested two smugglers.   US not pushing for specific time for election in Bangladesh The Bush administration has said there ought to be a timeline for election in Bangladesh to satisfy its people although it (US) is not pushing for a specific time for election.   BSF kills two Bangladeshis Indian Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead two Bangladeshi farmers near the frontier in Chapainawabganj and Kushtia districts on Thursday night.   India gas plans will help Tehran's nuke aims: US India's plans to purchase gas and oil from Iran will help fund Tehran's development of nuclear weapons, US Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said on Thursday." "There have been conversations ...   Mozambique arms depot explosion kills 80 An explosion at an arms depot near the international airport in Mozambique's capital has left around 80 people dead and more than 100 injured, many of them children, government and emergency servicessaid   Malaysia proposes to invest $1.2b for construction of 198-km highway Malaysia has proposed the biggest-ever chunk of their investment worth $ 1.   Iraqi dy PM injured in suicide attack Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobaie was wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a hall where Zobaie was attending prayers on Friday, police and an aide to Zobaie said.   Fire damages documents at Bank Asia Fire burnt valuable documents of a corporate office of Bank Asia in Tejgaon industrial area in the city at about 5:00am yesterday.   Iranian navy detains 15 British sailors Some 15 British Royal Navy sailors were detained by Iranian naval vessels in the Gulf yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said, demanding their immediate release and seeking urgent clarification from Tehran. Business Corporate houses urged to practise CSR Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam has urged corporate houses to practise corporate social responsibility (CSR), as it does not contradict profit maximisation.   Nat'l furniture fair kicks off With an emphasis on promoting locally made furniture, the five-day fourth National Furniture Fair 2007 began at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital yesterday.   High-end property boom in HK Luxury homes in Hong Kong are getting more expensive, with the sale of a penthouse earlier this week setting a record apartment price of HK$32,000 (US$4,000) per square foot (psf).   Local medical furniture attract visitors Locally made medical furniture are wooing visitors at the three-day MedExpo-2006, an international exhibition of medical equipment and healthcare services being held at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.   India-Japan FTA by 2009 India and Japan yesterday agreed to work for a bilateral free trade agreement by early 2009, enhance cooperation between their navies to strengthen maritime security and hold their first ever policy dialogue   Oil prices rise above $62 Oil prices rose above $62 a barrel Friday after Britain said Iranian naval vessels seized 15 British sailors and marines in Iraqi waters and gunmen kidnapped three foreigners in southern Nigeria.   ADB approves infrastructure support loan for India The Asian Development Bank said Thursday it has approved a 50 million dollar loan to India's Infrastructure Development Finance Company Ltd. to support the country's huge development needs.   Korea, China begin study on FTA Korea and China began their first joint feasibility study for a free trade agreement in Beijing on Thursday, Seoul's Trade Ministry said.   Dollar steady The dollar held steady in Asian trade Friday after regaining ground as players reduced their expectations of a near term cut in US interest rates, dealers said.   Indian PM says special economic zones to stay Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday that his government would not reverse plans to create 'Special Economic Zones' for industrialisation despite deadly rioting by furious villagers.   Nike to change shopping experience Nike Inc. won't say where, how or when but it wants to change the way consumers shop.   HSBC opens new branch in Ctg The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd in Bangladesh has opened a new branch in GEC circle in Chittagong recently.   Japan gives $320m loan to Sri Lanka Japan gave Sri Lanka a 320-million-dollar loan Friday to build roads and improve drinking water supply in key cities, the Japanese embassy here said.   Mandelson to step down in '09 European Union trade chief Peter Mandelson said Thursday that he would step down in 2009.   Bangkok set to reopen century-old airport Bangkok's nearly century-old airport, once due to shut its doors forever, is now set to reopen to domestic flights Sunday amid concerns that running two hubs in the capital will be a strain on tourism. Sports Cricket: It was someone Woolmer knew Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled in his hotel room and pro-bably knew his killer, Jamai-can police said Friday, in a crime that rocked the sport's World Cup showpiece and sent shockwaves   Cricket: Cup to go on Shock waves from the mur-der of Pakis-tan coach Bob Woolmer reverberated through inter-national cri-cket Friday but organisers insisted that the World Cup must go on.   Cricket: Aus wait on Symonds Defending champions Australia hope explosive all-rounder And-rew Symonds recovers fully from arm sur-gery to give them the edge in their World Cup Group A match against South Africa.   Football: Giants out to heal wounds Abahani will be under pressure to produce their first win in the B. League when the biggest money spenders of the season face their perennial foes Mohammedan Sporting Club today.   Cricket: Tigers given tight security The news of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer's death has continued to haunt people everywhere and the Bangladesh players have been no exception.   Football: Khulna Abahani shock Brothers Khulna Abahani pulled off the biggest upset of the B. League so far when they crushed Brothers Union 4-2 yesterday in their first visit to the capital.   Football: Nakib to hang his boots today Former national striker Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib will bring end to an illustrious 18-year career when he will make his final appearance in a competitive football match during today's Abahani-Mohammedan match   Cricket: Cricketers on AIDS mission Cricketers have always been ambassadors for human causes.   Cricket: Big chase in Gibbs's mind Herschelle Gibbs Thursday hoped for an action replay of his monumental knock which helped South Africa chase a world-record target in their last match against Australia in 2006.   Cricket: Colly urges Freddie on Paul Colling-wood believes Andrew Flintoff will put his off-field problems behind him when England play Kenya in their winner-takes-all clash here on Saturday.   Historic walkathon begins The eagerly anticipated 100-kilometre long walkathon from Teknaf to Cox's Bazar along the world's longest unbroken sea-beach began from the Teknaf Beach Point yesterday.   Cricket: NZ coast past Canada Lou Vincent found his form after two noughts with a hundred as New Zealand made it three World Cup wins out of three in Group C with a 114-run success against Canada at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here   Cricket: Troost given fitting bye The Nether-lands bid farewell to captain Luuk van Troost with a thumping eight-wicket win over Scotland in the battle of the World Cup Group A minnows on Thursday.   Cricket: Pick in awe Canada coach Andy Pick said he was in "awe" of the commitment shown by his mainly amateur side after they bowed out of the World Cup with a 114-run defeat by New Zealand.   Local Snippets Abahani organised a commemorative meeting and a milad mahfil following daylong Qurankhwani at their club tent yesterday to pay tribute to cricketers Manzarul Islam Rana and Sajjadul Hasan Shetu.   Cricket: BCB 'shattered' by Woolmer murder Bangladesh's cricket board said Friday it was shocked and distressed after it was announced that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had been murdered. "The news that Bob Woolmer was murdered has shatteredus.   Cricket: 'Players are not suspects' Pakistan's outgoing cricket chief on Friday said the national team are not suspects in the murder of coach Bob Woolmer and suggested the players may themselves be under threat.   Cricket: A good week: Fleming New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was happy to reflect on a highly successful opening campaign to the World Cup after his side wrapped up a 114-run win over Canada in their third and final Group C game.   Cricket: Wife turned Lou around Lou Vincent said his wife had made the difference after he ended a run of noughts at the World Cup with 101 in New Zealand's comfortable win over Canada.   Cricket: Sonargaon in final Sonargaon Cricketers romped to the final of the Independence Cup when they registered a 22-run victory against Victoria Sporting Club at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.   Football: No room for errors The European Championship finals are more than a year away, but the outcome of several key qualifiers over the next week could have a significant bearing on who gets there.   Football: Germans look for Czech weakness German mid-fielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Thursday his side aim to ruthlessly exploit any weakness in the Czech Republic's defence to stay top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group.   Football: Kahn banned for Milan tie Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn will miss the Cham-pions League quarter-final first leg clash with AC Milan in Italy next month after being handed a one-match ban and a fine by UEFA on Thursday.   Football: Gerrard backing Rooney England may be woefully short of strikers at the moment, but Steven Gerrard believes supporters have nothing to worry about -- as long as Wayne Rooney stays fit.   Football: Riquelme scores in Boca win Midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme scored his first goal since re-joining Boca Juniors on Thursday, helping his side to a 3-0 win over Toluca in the Libertadores Cup.   Football: Platini for zero tolerance UEFA's new president Michel Platini has told police and government officials that he supports a policy of "zero tolerance" towards violence in and around football stadiums in Europe.   Football: UEFA fine Lille, MU European football's governing body (UEFA) have fined French side Lille and English club Manchester United following the incidents that marred their Champions League last 16 encounter in February.   Football: Klasnic's op successful Croatia's international striker Ivan Klasnic has undergone a successful kidney transplant after the first attempt failed in January and his doctors said he could start training in a couple of months.   Football: Schuster for Real? German coach of Spanish club Getafe, Bernd Schuster, will replace troubled Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello this summer, according to Spanish sports daily AS on Thursday.   Football: Eng-Germany in Wembley opener German team manager Oliver Bierhoff confirmed on Thursday that Germany will play England in the first full international at the new Wembley Stadium on August 22. Metropolitan 'Declare Bhabodaho disaster area' Different short and long-term initiatives should be taken immediately to reduce the plights of the people of waterlogged Bhabodaho area in southern region of the country, said the speakers at a seminar   Seminar on architecture for low-income group begins at Buet Department of Architecture of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) for the first time organised an international seminar to discuss how the services of an architect can help thedeprived   Prices of essentials ease in city market Prices of essentials eased in the city markets this week with fall in prices of rice, onion, green chilies and other essentials including most vegetable and fish remained steady.   Take steps to protect rivers from industrial wastes Environmentalists at a workshop yesterday called for protecting the sources of surface water including rivers and other water bodies from pollution and encroachment to overcome the growing scarcity of   RU admission process ends with 80 seats vacant The admission process of first year honours of Rajshahi University (RU) ended with 80 seats in different departments still vacant, as the authorities did not announce next waiting list for new intake.   Int'l Education Exhibition '07 begins International Education Exhibition-2007 organised by SSBCL group began at the Ball Room of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.   Saarc peoples' summit begins in Nepal Thousands of people gathered at the launching of a three-day Saarc peoples' summit titled 'Imagine a New South Asia!' that got underway in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu yesterday.   World TB Day today World Tuberculosis (TB) Day will be observed in the country today as elsewhere across the globe. The theme of the Day this year is 'TB is anywhere is TB everywhere'.   Book fair begins in Ctg A four-day-long book fair titled 'Swadhinatar Boi Mela' began in the port city yesterday.   Some city roads made off-limits to traffic Certain city roads have been made off-limits to traffic on the occasion of Independence Day on March 26.   BBC Sanglap today Senior politicians from two major parties-Awami League and BNP- and civil society leaders will answer questions on current issues raised by the audience at the BBC Bangladesh Sanglap today.   Mathematical model can save Tk 288cr yearly as reduced irrigation cost At least Tk 288 crore can be saved per year as reduced irrigation cost by using appropriate mathematical water management model in the country.   Inter-school debate begins A two-day "HSBC-Multifabs-Gregorian Association Inter-School Debate Competition-2007" began at the St Gregory's High School in the city yesterday.   NU teacher killed in road accident Dr Sunith Barua, assistant professor at the Department of Pali of National University (NU), was killed in a road accident at Sitakunda on Dhaka-Chittagong highway on Thursday night at the age of 53.   50 prisoners freed from Ctg jail The government yesterday released 50 prisoners convicted of minor charges from Chittagong Central Jail on the occasion of the Independence and National Day.   No restriction on NGO meetings, rallies The Ministry of Law in a letter to the chair of the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB) has said there is no legal restriction on non-political meetings and rallies organised by the NGOs in conducting National Tk 63 lakh bribe on land purchase, deeds in a year in Srimongal Land purchasers in Srimongal gave over Tk 62.87 lakh as bribe to land settlement and revenue officials while buying lands in a year from July 2005 to June last year.   ACC notice on five corrupt suspects in Chandpur The district Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has served notices on five persons in Chandpur to submit statements on their assets.   Access to safe water slides in SW dists Speakers at a symposium here have deplored the alleged indifference of successive governments to the declining people's access to safe drinking water in the south western region of the country.   Unite to uphold spirit of Liberation War Language movement veteran Abdul Motin criticised the past BNP-Jamaat and Awami League governments for massive corruption by leaders during their tenure.   Spurious liquor kills 5 in Kushtia, Satkhira Four persons died after taking rectified sprit in Daulatpur upazila in Kushtua district and another person died after taking spurious phensidyl in Satkhira Wednesday night.   BSF kills one in Daulatpur Indian Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down a Bangladeshi farmer at Daulatpur frontier on Thursday. The dead was identified as Fazlur Rahman, 36, son of Kiamat Ali of Zamalpur village. Point-Counterpoint Reversing the infernal politics The recent anti-corruption campaign has clearly demonstrated that the life style of too many politicians and businessmen bears eloquent testimony to the truth of the dictum that single-minded pursuitof   Education also needs a shake-up How the vision of the newly independent Bangladesh could be reflected in its education system was first considered by Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission in 1974.   Of pervasive corruption Just imagine a minister with a foreign degree in law, popularly known as Barrister-at-Law, and having many years of experience as a full-fledged legal practitioner in the highest seat of the judiciary, Culture Independence Day celebration begins at Liberation War Museum A weeklong celebration of Independence Day started from last Thursday at the Liberation War Museum. Incidentally, the museum has turned 11.   National Theatre Festival '07 Most Bangladeshis are acquainted with Palli-kabi Jasimuddin's popular narrative poem Nakshi Kanthar Math.   Nupur Dance Festival '07 to be organised by Shadhona Shadhona -- a centre for advancement of South Asian music and dance -- in association with UNESCO, Dhaka is organising a three-day dance festival at National Theatre Stage, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.   'Manotong Kathon' staged On the same evening Kheyali Group Theatre, Barisal, staged Manotong Kathon at the Experimental Theatre Stage.   $250 Warhol Marilyn to fetch $15 million Gentlemen really do prefer blondes. As investments go, forget bricks and mortar or hedge funds. Marilyn Monroe is a much better banker. International Lanka war spreads to northwest At least 33 Tamil Tiger rebels and four soldiers were killed in a battle in northwestern Sri Lanka on Friday, the military said, as analysts sounded a warning that renewed civil war is spreading.   Fragile truce after 160 killed in Pak clashes Warring tribesmen and foreign al-Qaeda militants have agreed to a ceasefire after four days of bloodshed in a Pakistani border region that left up to 160 people dead, officials said yesterday.   Maoists threaten revenge after south Nepali bloodbath Nepal's Maoists placed 25 bloodied corpses on display in the capital yesterday and warned of possible retaliation for the killings of their comrades by an ethnic group earlier this week.   69 Taliban killed in Afghan operation Afghan-led forces killed 69 Taliban in a major operation against rebel strongholds in southern Afghanistan, while seven police also died, the defence ministry said yesterday.   Iran sanctions vote likely today Security Council members yesterday was set to review a revised draft of a UN resolution to impose new sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, with a view to voting over the   Pakistan to be 'fortress of democracy': Musharraf President Pervez Musharraf pledged yesterday to make Pakistan an "impregnable fortress of democracy" amid a crisis over his removal of the country's most senior judge.   India mulls reducing army presence in Kashmir The Indian government is considering some steps towards reducing the army's presence in Kashmir, after a fall in violence and as a gesture towards the region's people and politicians, officials said on   Drug resistance threatens India's battle against TB Drug resistance is emerging as one of the biggest challenges in India's battle against tuberculosis, the major killer of adults in the South Asian nation, experts warn.   Antarctic melting may be speeding up Rising sea levels and melting polar ice-sheets are at upper limits of projections, leaving some human population centers already unable to cope, top world scientists say as they analyze latest satellite   Israel releases son of jailed Intifada leader Israel yesterday released the oldest son of jailed Intifada leader Marwan Barghuti from prison after he had served 39 months for participating in the uprising and belonging to a banned group, his lawyers   N Korea still willing to disarm: US The chief US envoy to North Korean nuclear talks insisted yesterday the Stalinist regime was committed to ending its atomic programme, despite a dramatic breakdown in negotiations on disarmament.   9 killed in Thai navy chopper crash Nine navy officers were killed yesterday when their helicopter crashed into a rice field and burst into flames in northeast Thailand, officials said.   'Truce deal reached in Mogadishu’ The Ethiopian army has reached a truce agreement with Somalia's powerful Hawiye clan to end deadly clashes in the capital Mogadishu, clan elders said yesterday.   Nato troops shoot dead Afghan child Nato troops shot and killed a 12-year-old Afghan boy who was in a car with his family in Kabul, the government said Friday, in the latest in a series of civilian deaths involving foreign forces.   UN chief in Egypt in push for ME peace UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was in Egypt Friday on the second leg of a Middle East tour amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region aimed at re-energising the peace process.   Global warming may be bad for asthma sufferers Global warming may be bad for asthma sufferers because of longer plant growing seasons and signs that weeds scattering vast amounts of pollen are conquering new territory, experts say.   US missile plan 'real threat' to Russia A US plan to deploy an anti-missile defence system in eastern Europe against potential attacks from Iran threatens Russia and undermines cooperation in the United Nations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Editorial Editorial: Dismal state of the PSC What had been a matter of public fear, concern and mistrust about the Public Service Commission (PSC) has been proven correct by a report on the commission by the TIB.   Editorial: Probe Chalesh's death The other day Chalesh Risil, a leader of the indigenous community of Madhupur district allegedly died in the custody of the joint forces.   Seeking the lost grail of good governance February and March are two eventful months in our calendar. They are symbols of sacrifice, of courage and fulfilment. They will remain sources of inspiration for all Bangalees, for all time.   How dare you? I picked up the thread on the suspension of Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry at Lahore from the day when lawyers from all over the country had assembled to take a procession from thehigh   National identity cards in six months The people of Bangladesh aspire for a true democracy and that can be reached through a fool-proof genuine electoral process. StarTech Call centres booming with promises The year 2006 laid the foundation for firm prospect in growth and development in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) in India.   Acer to enhance your desktop experience Any technological breakthrough can bring drastic changes in our lifestyle and at the same time create opportunity for successful endeavours.   ASUS introduces R2H Ultra-Mobile PC Global Brand Pvt. Ltd. (GBPL), recently unveiled the latest R2H Ultra-Mobile PC in the local market, says a press release.   New portable entertainment machine unveiled Computer Source Ltd. (CSL), premium partner of Hewlett Packard (HP), has introduced portable entertainment pavilion HP dv2000 Notebook in the local market, says a press release.   Fusion Man Literature The Body 1. Maaloti did not notice the shadow of the man standing in the dark. She did not know how long he had been standing beneath the Kulboroi tree to protect himself from the untimely rain.   Books on 1971 The Year That Was by Ishrat Ferdousi; Dhaka: Bastu Prakashan; 1996.   Books on 1971 Mukti Juddho Rachanasangraha by Hasan Azizul Huq, edited with a preface by Abul Hasnat; Dhaka: Charulipi Prokashan; February 2007; pp.   Voices From The Book "After completion of our (Mukti Bahini) training they took us to Shaalban for rest. Over two thousand fighters were camped there.   © thedailystar.net, 2007. All Rights Reserved.