Vol. 5 Num 1005 Thu. March 29, 2007       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Point-counterpoint Editorial Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Life reeking of toxic stink Casting a grim look at the black and stinky liquid waste flow in the narrow Devdholai river, Afazuddin Mia, a resident of Nasirabad village by the river in Trimohini area on the outskirts of the capital,   Move to get more power to fight graft The government has taken a move to amend the Emergency Power Ordinance-2007 to have powers to formulate special provisions to strengthen the ongoing crackdown on the corrupt.   WB sees no respite in next few yrs The World Bank sees no respite from the country's power crisis in the next few years, though lenders are showing interest in financing various power projects in the country -- upto 700 MW in private sector   Admin working for acceptable polls Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said the administration is working towards its objective of holding an acceptable national election.   Bird flu continues to spread In two poultry farms at Morelganj in Bagherhat yesterday 592 chickens died, which had been bought from Biman Poultry Hatchery in Savar, where the first case of Bird Flu had been detected, sources said.   ACC readies Tk 127cr graft case against Abbas The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday finalised preparation for filing a Tk 127-crore corruption case against former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas and 11 engineers and officials   Tarique, Mamun to face more cases Tarique Rahman, BNP's senior joint secretary general, and his close friend Giasuddin Al Mamun, already accused in two and four cases respectively, will face several other cases on different charges including   WB, UN bodies Assure govt of support The World Bank (WB) and different United Nations (UN) bodies yesterday assured the government of providing financial and technical assistances to combat the spread of Avian Influenza virus in the country.   Adviser says Mohiuddin to be deported soon Although Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said Major (retd) Mohiuddin, the condemned killer of Bangabandhu, will be deported "soon", a US Congressman requested the Homeland Security   EC for ban on use of national leaders' portraits The Election Commission (EC) has made a move to impose a ban on the use of portraits or names of national leaders in election campaigns by contesting political parties and candidates.   Saarc preliminary meetings start tomorrow The 27th session of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Programming Committee begins in New Delhi tomorrow to review progress of commitments made during the previous summit held   Political parties hail Gen Moeen's call for nat'l reawakening Awami League (AL), Workers Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) have welcomed Army Chief Lt General Moeen U Ahmed's remarks he made at an assembly of the freedom fighters at the national parade ground   Daily Star suspends reporter for 'demanding' money from service holder The Daily Star yesterday suspended one of its junior reporters for his alleged involvement in demanding money from a private service holder.   Poor women suffer as VGD programme yet to start Some 750,000 ultra-poor women across the country are suffering as the distribution of Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) cards under the renewed programme for the period from January 2007 to December2009   Australia surge ahead Australia got their Super Eight campaign off to a winning start with a 103-run defeat of World Cup hosts West Indies here Wednesday.   Govt mulling law to recognise national leaders The interim government is taking into consideration formulating a law recognising national leaders including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as father of the nation and late president Ziaur Rahman for   Court to hear extortion case against Tarique, Apu today The hearing on an extortion case filed against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman and his close aide Mian Nuruddin Apu will be held today.   In long queues...   Bush thanks CA for inviting him to join summit as observer US President George W Bush thanked Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, who is also the current chairperson of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), for inviting the United States to join   Sealdah-Joydevpur train service delayed for lack of infrastructure The proposed Sealdah-Joydevpur train service, scheduled to begin on April 14, has been put off for lack of infrastructure.   Sonar Bangla TV asked to stop broadcasting The information ministry yesterday directed Sonar Bangla Television Ltd authorities to stop broadcast in Bangladesh immediately.   CI sheets seized from orphanage named after ex-MP's mother The joint forces seized 36 corrugated iron (CI) sheets from four places including an orphanage named after mother of former BNP lawmaker Syed Moazzem Hussein Alal on Tuesday.   Sellers carrying milk...   Gunmen kill 45 Iraqis to avenge deadly bombings Forty-five Iraqi men were shot dead execution-style in the northern town of Tal Afar in reprisal attacks for two devastating bombings that killed 75 people, a medic said yesterday.   Suicide attack in Kabul kills four A suicide bomber targeted an intelligence director's vehicle in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday, killing four civilians and wounding another 12, the intelligence service said.   Sri Lanka troops on offensive after air attack Sri Lanka's military said yesterday it had captured a key Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold in the island's embattled east, two days after the guerrillas stunned the capital with their first ever air raid. Business Thais may relocate textile, RMG units to Bangladesh Considering abundant and cheap labour and low cost of infrastructures as well as a congenial investment climate in Bangladesh, Thailand has expressed interest to relocate its textile and ready made garments   Govt to bolster ICT for better living standard The government is committed to bolster the growth of ICT sector for improving the living standard of people by using information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool, Science and ICT Adviser Tapan   Thai business team happy to see return of stability here The foreign affairs adviser has said the visiting Thai investment delegation has expressed their happiness to see return of stability in Bangladesh and they are keen to invest here in a bigger way.   Banks urged to improve service quality to help migrant workers The banks and other institutions dealing with financial services should find out innovative ideas to improve their service quality so that the migrant workers are encouraged to remit through officialchannels,   EU wants WTO to move against India's import tax regime The European Union has sought the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel to rule on India's tax regime for imported spirits and wines which they alleged is "discriminatory" and "in clear breach   Oil prices touch six-month high on Iran tensions Oil prices rallied in Asian trade Wednesday, touching a six-month high in a market jittery over Iran's nuclear intentions and the country's detention of 15 British naval personnel, dealers said.   Shahjalal Bank starts share trading on DSE Shahjalal Islami Bank Limited, one of the leading private banks, yesterday made its sharing-trading debut on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).   Dhaka Bank approves 10pc cash, 20pc stock dividends Dhaka Bank Ltd has approved a 10 percent cash dividend and a 20 percent stock dividend for its shareholders.   G8 mulls microcredit help for Africa Officials from G8 nations undertook here on Tuesday to set up micro-credit facilities for African nations with the help of the World Bank.   Currency Sports Cricket: 2nd autopsy ordered on Woolmer's body A second autopsy will be performed on the body of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer to ward off any speculation that the initial examination may have been bungled, British media reported Wednesday.   Cricket: Not coming now boss! Never mind the form and confidence of his players going in to the Cricket World Cup second stage this week, the Irish manager's big concern was that all his men could get time off from their day jobsto   Cricket: Go to hell, say fans Angry fans told Pakistani cricketers to "go to hell" as they returned home Wed-nesday, still reeling from the murder of coach Bob Woolmer and their humiliating World Cup exit.   Cricket: Antigua charms Tigers It is a totally different kind of atmosp-here that the Bangladesh team are set to experience as they count the days to their first encounter of the World Cup Super Eight stage, against Australia, on Saturday.   Football: Arambagh's second win Second half goals by striking pair Nico Dimas and Mujibur Rahman Ritu inspired Arambagh to their second successive win in the B. League when they blanked Dhaka rivals Farashganj 2-0 yesterday.   Cricket: Sri Lanka A clinch Test series 2-0 Nadif Chowdhury returned among runs but his 75 was not good enough for Bangladesh A to avoid a series whitewash against their Sri Lankan counterparts as the visitors suffered a 101-run defeat in the second   Local Snippets Rajib smashed an unbeaten hundred as Agrani Bank secured a 31-run victory against BKSP in the Kai-Altech First Division Cricket League at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium yesterday.   Cricket: Gibbs's tips for Irish spinner Ireland have been given some timely advice on spin ahead of their World Cup Super Eights clash against England from West Indies legend Lance Gibbs.   Cricket: Bopara wary of Ireland Rookie all-rounder Ravi Bopara insists England need to be at their very best if they are to win their tricky World Cup Super Eights clash against neighbours Ireland.   Cricket: Chappell unhappy with WC length Former Austra-lian captain Ian Chappell has called for the World Cup to be shortened. The marathon 2007 tournament in the Caribbean lasts for almost seven weeks and features 16 teams.   Cricket: Fulton gets captain's backing New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes Peter Fulton is ideally placed to fill the gap left by the injured Lou Vincent when the Black Caps begin their World Cup Super Eight campaign against hosts   Cricket: Pakistan not cleared yet Detectives investigating the murder of cricket coach Bob Woolmer on Tuesday denied claims that Pakistan's squad had been ruled out of the inquiry as potential suspects.   Cricket: Guyana to prove them wrong Guyana will put on a World Cup to remember despite a catalogue of problems with the brand new Providence Stadium here, the local organising committee chief executive Karan Singh said Tuesday.   Cricket: 'A top innings' Australia coach John Buchanan said Matthew Hayden had played one of the "top innings" of his career after the opener's 158 left the reigning champions handily-placed in their opening World Cup Super Eight   Cricket: Cricket banking on Shields The man entrusted with unravelling the Bob Woolmer murder mystery is a British detective used to battling Eastern European gangsters and who once helped foil a plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham.   Cricket: Kumble has had enough of ODIs Veteran spinner Anil Kumble has retired from one-day cricket after India's early World Cup exit but will continue playing Test matches, media reports said Wednesday.   Cricket: Richards keen on India job West Indian batting great Sir Vivian Richards is not averse to the idea of coaching the Indian cricket team and make the players "mentally stronger".   Cricket: Rahul Dilip's leader India's chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has come to the defence of Rahul Dravid after the skipper came under fire for his team's first-round elimination at the World Cup.   Cricket: Don't blame coach: Azhar Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin today said coach Greg Chappell could not be blamed for the below par performace of the India in the World Cup as the team did not click as a unit.   Football: Olsen not happy Danish coach Morten Olsen on Tuesday accused his opposite number Joachim Loew of being "disrespectful" after learning the German boss plans to name a second-string side for Wednesday's friendly against   Football: Spurs fan banned A Tottenham fan who ran onto the pitch after their FA Cup quarterfinal defeat by Chelsea at White Hart Lane and tried to punch Frank Lampard was banned from football matches for three years Tuesday.   Cricket: BCCI cautious about report It is a classic case of being third time cautious. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ensured this time that manager Sanjay Jagdale's confidential report is not leaked.   Football: Brazil scrape past Ghana An early goal from Vagner Love lifted Brazil to an uninspiring 1-0 win against Ghana in an international football friendly here on Tuesday.   Tennis: Canas shocks Federer again Guillermo Canas stunned world number one Roger Federer for the second time in three weeks, earning a 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) win in the fourth round of the ATP/WTA Miami Masters Series event.   Swimming: Phelps fires as Hackett fizzles Michael Phelps, Laure Manaudou and Leila Vaziri obliterated world records here Wednesday on another sensational night of swimming but Grant Hackett's reign as king of the 800m freestyle ended.   Football: Loew admits using psychologist Germany coach Joachim Loew revealed on Wednesday some of the pressure faced by national football coaches when he admitted he sees a psychologist to help him cope with the job.   Football: Domenech demands ban on racists France football coach Raymond Domenech said he hoped whoever was responsible for the racist banner in Lithuania on Saturday would pay but not the country's football federation.   Football: C'Ron in doubt for Serbia tie Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is in doubt for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Serbia in Belgrade after suffering a sprain in training Tuesday.   Football: McClaren gets FA backing The Football Association's (FA) International Committee on Tuesday moved to dismiss reports they have summoned under-fire England boss Steve McClaren to explain the team's poor recent performances.   Football: Arsenal, Chelsea fined Arsenal and Chelsea have been slapped with a 100,000-pound fine each by the Football Association for the behaviour of players and backroom staff near the end of the League Cup final a month ago.   Raikkonen favours night racing Finland's Kimi Raikkonen has backed a controversial plan to stage Formula One grand prix races at night.   Football: FA Cup final at Wembley The new Wembley Stadium will host this year's FA Cup final on May 19, the Football Association (FA) confirmed on Tuesday. Metropolitan Ensure security, protect food sovereignty The Fifth Saarc Peoples' Forum began at Delduar in Tangail yesterday, calling on South Asian leaders to work together to ensure security of the region and protect food sovereignty.   Bangladesh fifth among 10 highest newborn death-prone countries Experts at a conference yesterday expressed concern over the huge number of child mortality in the county.   'Cancel 27th BCS exam' Fair BCS Movement, a platform of students and civil society members, yesterday demanded immediate cancellation of 27th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination for the sake of upholding justice, transparency   Bangabandhu did not pardon war criminals: AK Khandaker Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not pardon the war criminals but announced a general amnesty for those who opposed the Liberation War but did not commit any crimes, Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker,   'No bird flu in Ctg poultry farms' Speakers at a seminar in the port city yesterday said that there is no point getting into a panic about bir d flu.   President seeks Algerian investment in ICT, power President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday said Algeria could invest in ICT and power sectors of Bangladesh as both the countries need to explore all the avenues of cooperation for mutual benefits.   Seven joint secretaries transferred The caretaker government yesterday transferred and gave new postings to seven joint secretaries to various ministries and government bodies as part of its ongoing reshuffle in the interim administration.   Two zebras, 2 wildebeests released at Dulahazra Safari Park Two Zebras and two wildebeests were released at Dulahazra Safari Park in Cox's Bazar yesterday.   FFs exempted from N'ganj municipal taxes Narayanganj Pourashava in a unique move yesterday decided to exempt municipal taxes on the houses of all the freedom fighters of the district forever in a bid to show respect to them.   Firearms seized, one arrested Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) seized four foreign firearms and hundred rounds of bullets and arrested one in this connection in the city's Mirpur area yesterday.   Drug dealers arrested in city hotel Members of Rab 3 captured a group of drug dealers from Hasan International Hotel at Motijheel in the city yesterday.   Certificate award ceremony of BAF SEMS held The annual cultural function and certificate award ceremony-2007 of BAF Shaheen English Medium School (SEMS) was held at the Shaheen College auditorium in the city yesterday.   JU first yr classes begin today Classes for the students of first year honours courses under the academic session of 2006-07 of Jahangirnagar University (JU) begin today.   Five get life for murder in Sirajganj A court here yesterday sentenced five people to life term imprisonment in a murder case. The lifers are Majid Mollah, Makhan, Azhar, Sattar and Abdus Sobhan.   Turkish envoy meets foreign affairs adviser Turkish Ambassador Ferit Ergin met Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at his office in the city yesterday and appreciated the government for its steps.   Butenis meets Iftekhar US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis yesterday called on Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and discussed bilateral and regional issues like general election in Bangladesh and next month's Saarc   Reading materials donated The Book Group, a welfare organisation, recently donated reading materials to the Save the Children (Sweden-Denmark) for using at the non-formal education centres and child clubs conducted by the partner   Time of book fair extended Liberation War Museum authorities have extended the time of weeklong book fair till March 31, says a press release.   Principal Ibrahim Khan's 29th death anniversary today Today is the 29th death anniversary of Principal Ibrahim Khan, a renowned litterateur, educationist and a social reformer, says a press release. National Kishoreganj rice bowls to go empty Green Irri-Boro fields in at least 24,000 acres in four haor upazilas in Kishoreganj district will not yield any paddy in the current season as sheaves do not bear grains, Agriculture Extension Department   Campaign to grow Boro! About 700 acres of cultivable land in Moulvibazar Sadar and Rajnagar upazilas remain unutilized during Irri-Boro season every year despite good irrigation facilities due to lack of interest of landowners   Cry for safe water in southwestern dists Several thousand people poured on streets of Satkhira district town yesterday demanding 'access to safe drinking water'.   22 clinics, diagnostic centers closed in Jhenidah Twenty-two clinics and diagnostic centers have been closed in Jhenidah town and in five upazilas since March 5 for operating without valid papers, trained doctors and technicians and proper equipment.   Inqilab editor, reporter granted bail A court in Manikganj yesterday granted bail to daily Inquilab Editor and Publisher AMM Bahauddin and its Staff Reporter Omar Faruk Al-hadi in a defamation case filed against them by a Jamaat leader for   Relief CI sheets recovered in Barisal Joint forces recovered 110 pieces of relief CI sheet form different places of Banaripara and Babuganj upazila in Barisal.   UP chairman held with arms Joint forces Tuesday night arrested Rezaul Karim, Hujripara Union Chairman in Paba upazila in Rajshahi district and recovered a firearm from his possession, police said yesterday.   BSF abducts one A Bangladeshi farmer was abducted by Border Security Force (BSF) of India from Naodapara border in Raumari upazila of Kurigram district yesterday. Point-Counterpoint March 1971 and growth of Bengali militancy When General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, Pakistan's military ruler, announced on March 1, 1971, the postponement of the session of the newly elected National Assembly in Dhaka, Pakistan's eastern province   Yunus, politics and interest rates One would imagine that anyone with even a hint of objectivity, if left to simply choose between the politicians and Professor Yunus, would pick the latter.   Waheedul Haque: In heartfelt remembrance Dearest Kaku, I remember a night in 1987, when I saw you from afar.   Winter sallies In season's rhythmic cycle, winter is presently on sabbatical. Lighter woolies, however, are yet to be retired to the closets. Winter's balmy and caressing sunshine has whizzed by. Culture Baha Festival in Dinajpur The three-day long Baha Festival ended in Dinajpur recently.   National Theatre Festival ends National Theatre Festival '07, arranged by Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy ended on March 27. Forty-six plays were staged during the 23-day-long festival.   Arts and artifacts from Francophonie world To celebrate Francophonie, or the love of speaking French, Alliance Francaise had an exhibition of art pieces and artefacts recently.   Khulna Regional Poetry Recitation Festival ends in Magura Khulna Regional Poetry Recitation Festival ended recently, at Asaduzzaman auditorium in Magura amidst participation of hundreds of recitors and poetry-lovers.   World Theatre Day observed Theatre activists gathered at the National Theatre Stage on March 27. The occasion was to celebrate World Theatre Day.   BFFS introduces film awards Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) is set to introduce film awards to encourage creative filmmaking, starting this year, said Dr. General 'Formulate policy for security service firms' Commemorating the merger of Securicor and Group 4 Falck A/S, two transnational security services companies, authorities of the new company, Group 4 Securicor, yesterday once again pledged to provide international   College student drowns in CU pond A college student drowned in a pond at Chittagong University (CU) yesterday.   'Promote folk culture' Noted journalist and columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury yesterday urged the artists to promote the folk culture. International Britain freezes all contacts with Iran over sailor row Britain yesterday froze all contacts with Iran as a dispute over 15 detained sailors intensified with Prime Minister Tony Blair vowing to step up pressure on the Islamic Republic.   Over 70 burned to death in Nigeria tanker fire More than 70 people were burned to death in northern Nigeria when a tanker lorry caught fire as they were scooping fuel from it, police said yesterday The accident happened in Kaduna State on Monday   Israeli cops oust jews from occupied settlement Hundreds of Israeli police armed with batons yesterday cleared some 500 right-wing Jewish settlers from an abandoned West Bank settlement they had been occupying under army protection.   5 die as Taliban rebels, Pak troops clash Pakistani authorities slapped an indefinite curfew on a northwestern district yesterday after five people died in escalating clashes between Taliban rebels and troops, officials said.   Mitterrand's daughter slams Sarkozy The daughter of France's late Socialist president Francois Mitterrand describes presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy as a "mad dog" who is drawn by extremism, in an interview published yesterday   World's tallest man finds his other half A lovelorn Chinese herdsman who is the world's tallest man has finally found his other half in a sales clerk who comes up to his elbow, state media reported yesterday. Bao Xishun, who stands 2.   Four Muslims charged with terrorism in Denmark Four young Muslims were charged in Denmark yesterday with planning terrorist bombings in Denmark or abroad, the justice ministry said.   China, Russia plan Mars mission China announced yesterday it will launch a joint mission with Russia to Mars in 2009, marking "an important milestone" in space cooperation between the two countries.   Britain's appeal court clears 'The Da Vinci Code' author Britain's Court of Appeal ruled yesterday that American author Dan Brown did not steal key elements from an earlier book for his blockbuster novel "The Da Vinci Code".   Zimbabwe opposition chief held Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested yesterday in a raid at the headquarters of his Movement for Democratic Change in Harare, a party spokesman said.   Bullet-proof vests for British kids Concerned parents have been buying stab- and bullet-proof vests to protect their children in the wake of a string of fatal stabbings in Britain, the Daily Mail reported yesterday. Editorial Editorial: Business leaders' legitimate concerns The business community leaders have voiced their concern over empowering the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to arrest suspects and freeze their assets without any court order under a non-bailable section.   Editorial: Power management The shortfall in power generation has already forced the energy ministry to take some drastic measures to keep the situation under control.   The needful at Public Service Commission Recent newspaper reports including editorials on the sordid state of affairs at the Public Service Commission make distressing reading when seen against the background of a TIB survey report, also labeled   Following in Mahathir's footsteps We have written books and analyses on how to get the "real development of Bangladesh" started, but these haven't amounted to a set of "workable" action plans.   The Afghanistan challenge Recent South Waziristan fighting between tribesmen and foreign militants is a token of the clutch of grave issues that confront Pakistan.   © thedailystar.net, 2007. 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