Vol. 5 Num 1120 Wed. July 25, 2007       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture Views Point-counterpoint Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Star Chittagong Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Hasina formally charged with extortion Police yesterday pressed charges against detained Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in a Tk 3 crore extortion case.   PDB to cancel deal with Obaidul Karim's group The bid for Meghnaghat phase two 450 MW power project that was awarded to scamster Obaidul Karim's shell company BON Consortium is finally heading towards cancellation, Power Development Board (PDB) sources   Charges pressed against Huda The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against detained former communications minister Nazmul Huda for allocating a piece of railway land illegally to a human rights organisation   Over 1 lakh marooned as floods engulf 10 dists Heavy rain triggered by an active monsoon inundated low lying areas in 10 districts and the situation might get aggravated further submerging more areas as major rivers continued to rise in differentparts   Army collecting voters' data Bangladesh Army is collecting area-wise number of voters from the last year's nullified voter list to lay the groundwork for simultaneous preparation of a voter list with photographs and national identity   Biman mulls hiring large aircraft Biman Bangladesh Airlines, a public limited company since Monday, is thinking about leasing a number of large aircraft in a bid to bring Biman out of the woods.   Charge false, ill-motivated Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina, yesterday said the charge brought against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Selim and herself is 'completely false, fabricated and ill-motivated' and it is aimed at annihilating   Ivorians want ties with Bangladesh The Bangladeshi peacekeepers have struck up such a bridge of friendship between Ivory Coast and Bangladesh that it has opened a window of opportunity for full diplomatic and commercial relations.   Waterlogging in DND area never rang a bell Taslima Khatun, along with her four skinny children, stand on a culvert on Matuail Medical Road watching people fishing in the pool formed by heavy rain in the last few days.   Textbooks printed on poor quality papers Printing press owners continue to print the primary and secondary level textbooks using low quality paper instead of 'security paper' and Karnaphuli white print paper provided by the National Curriculum   Nowshin's father applies for second autopsy Father of Sadia Nowshin Priyanka, a college student found dead at her home at Moghbazar in the capital, yesterday submitted an application with Ramna Police Station demanding a second autopsy of his daughter.   No executive power used in Hasina case Law Adviser barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday said the government did not use its executive power to take the extortion case against Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina under the Emergency Power Rules 2007.   Tigers' last chance All-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad will make his international debut when Bangladesh play for pride in the third and final one-day international against formidable Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium here   BNP reformists hope for an end to dispute Pro-reform BNP leaders have expressed hope that all sorts of misunderstanding between the party chief and them will be over once normal political activities resume.   Foreign chapters of AL demand Hasina's release US, UK, Australia and Canada chapters of the Awami League (AL) yesterday staged separate demonstrations demanding immediate release of detained party chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.   Rab starts monitoring markets The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday started monitoring different wholesale and retail markets of fish and vegetables in the city to check price hike.   Govt to form body to build awareness on mass hysteria In the wake of the mass seizure that had afflicted over a hundred schoolchildren across the country, the government decided to raise awareness about the pandemic temporary illness by forming a platform   Hearing on Rangs Bhaban dispute begins in SC The hearing of a government appeal against the High Court judgment on the dispute over demolition of the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban began at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday.   BCL men burn effigy of Mainul Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League, yesterday morning burnt an effigy of Law Adviser Mainul Hosein on the Dhaka University (DU) campus demanding his resignation for his'biased   Why keeping children in jail not illegal The High Court issued a rule nisi upon the authorities concerned to show cause why imprisonment of children in jails should not be declared illegal.   Poisonous Delight   12 to die for murdering businessman A court here yesterday sentenced 12 people to death and eight others to life imprisonment in a murder case.   3 suspects held for killing BB official Three people have been arrested in connection with the killing of Bangladesh Bank Deputy General Manager Hedayetullah.   US at loggerheads with Iran in Iraq talks The United States yesterday accused Iran of stepping up its alleged support of militia groups fighting in Iraq, after the arch foes' second round of rare face-to-face talks in Baghdad.   Pak clashes kill 35 militants, 4 troops Heavy fighting has killed at least 35 Islamic militants and four government troops in a Pakistani tribal area dubbed an al-Qaeda safe haven by Washington, the military said Monday.   Suicide bomb kills 26 at Iraq children's hospital A suicide car bomb exploded across the street from a children's hospital in the Iraqi city of Hilla yesterday, killing at least 26 people and wounding 69, police and medical officials said. Business Govt won't raise lending rate for productive sector A high-powered meeting has decided to keep aside the productive sector from possible shock of the current monetary policy on the interest rates on bank loans.   DSE seeks offloading of more company shares for stability Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) wants more shares of different companies to be offloaded so as to meet the huge demand for those in the capital market, which has been witnessing a bullish trend in recent times.   Strong euro not yet hurting exports: ECB chief Eurozone exporters have not yet felt any significant negative impact from the rise of the euro, the European Central Bank's chief economist Juergen Stark said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.   WTO farm trade proposals evoke mixed US reaction A senior US negotiator said on Tuesday that the United States had mixed feelings about new proposals to drive ahead stuttering World Trade Organisation talks on reducing barriers to agricultural trade.   China's new standards on food fillings soon China will soon introduce its first quality standards on widely used food fillings, state press said Tuesday, just days after a "hoax" report that cardboard was being used in pork buns.   Cell to promote medicine export launched The Pharma World, a monthly pharmaceutical journal, has recently launched a special cell styled 'Pharmaceutical Export Promotion (PEP)' to promote exports of pharmaceutical products across the globe,says   World Islamic Economic Forum chief due tomorrow Tun Musa Hitam, chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation (WIEF) and former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow, says a press release.   Telenor Q2 net profit rises 42pc Norwegian telecommunications operator Telenor ASA on Tuesday reported a 42 percent rise in second-quarter net profit, mainly thanks to higher sales.   Myanmar moves to prevent tax evasion Myanmar has introduced a new measure to prevent private companies' tax evasion by denying the biennial renewal of their business licenses on failure to fully settle their outstanding tax payment annually,   Warid launches awareness campaign Warid Telecom has launched a countrywide awareness campaign to implement Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's (BTRC) directives on subscriber registration, says a press release.   US still interested in Thai FTA The United States is still interested in a free trade deal with Thailand, the US embassy here said Tuesday, adding that a top trade official had been misquoted as saying the deal was off.   Beijing puts new curb on trade processing China has announced a new policy that seeks to curb the development of process trade in labour-intensive industries, in a bid to reduce its soaring trade surplus and growing trade friction with majortrading   China's mobile phone users exceed 500m The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) announced Monday that the number of China's mobile phone users had reached 501.64 million by the end of June, which means every 100 Chinese people had 38.3 handsets.   G24 calls for respect of open IMF search for next chief The Group of 24 developing countries called Monday for advanced nations to respect the International Monetary Fund's decision to seek its next managing director without bias in favor of a European candidate.   Singapore sees record tourist arrivals Singapore received more visitors than ever before in the first six months of the year, the tourism board said Tuesday. From January to June, the city-state received 4.9 million visitors, up 5.   Currency Sports Cricket: More scary than bomb The Sri Lankan capital may have been gripped by panic after yesterday's police announcement that LTTE has send two bomb-laden vehicles to Colombo, but Mohammad Ashraful's men have their own anxiety for   Cricket: Mahbub resigns Months of speculations over, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary Mahbub Anam yesterday tendered his resignation to board president M Abdul Aziz.   Football: Ctg Abahani edge F'ganj again Farashganj ended their inaugural professional football league campaign yesterday with a solitary goal defeat to visiting Chittagong Abahani at the rain-soaked Bangabandhu National Stadium.   Cricket: Cricket adds to gloom A pall of gloom grips everything. Look outside and it's raining. So, the thought of venturing out is quite impossible, as water has swelled every city street and boulevard.   Football: Dhaka clubs seek help from Tapan A delegation of six Dhaka-based clubs yesterday met Sports Adviser Tapan Chowdhury with a plea to help them recover from the current stagnant situation in sports.   Cricket: Dhoni, rain deny England The weather came to India's rescue as they drew the first Test at Lord's here on Monday with England just a wicket away from going 1-0 up in the three-match series.   Cricket: Harry comes to Lord's Even Harry Potter couldn't conjure up an England Test match victory as the rain fell at Lord's -- but I'm sure he tried.   Cricket: Hoggard out of 2nd Test Matthew Hoggard was ruled out of the second Test against India on Monday with the back injury that saw him miss the drawn series opener here at Lord's.   Football: Japan braced for Saudis Japan coach Ivica Osim has warned that the defending champions will face an unknown quantity when they clash with long-time rivals Saudi Arabia in their Asian Cup semifinal here on Wednesday.   Football: Home vision drives Iraq Iraq have the burden of national expectations riding on them as they pursue their first-ever Asian Cup final appearance against South Korea here on Wednesday.   Football: Fergie confident on Ronaldo Alex Ferguson has rubbished suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo could be tempted away from Manchester United by insisting that the club is big enough to keep the Portuguese superstar.   Football: Jose wants to be loved Jose Mourinho insists he will keep out of trouble this season as he tries to charm his way back into the affections of the English public.   Football: Fantasy lineup for Barca It looks like a fantasy team formation. Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry. All in the same lineup.   Football: Ribery eyeing Schweinsteiger partnership Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery said on Tuesday he is looking forward to taking on Bundesliga champions VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday and forging a midfield partnership with Bastian Schweinsteiger.   Football: Catania cancel Japan tour Italian Serie A club Catania on Tuesday cancelled their tour of Japan, blaming a powerful earthquake that caused a small nuclear radiation leak.   Football: Gomez extends Stuttgart contract German international striker Mario Gomez declined a possible move to Italian giants Juventus on Mondya and extended his contract with German champions VfB Stuttgart till 2012.   Cricket: Of conflicting loyalties Sitting in the stands at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, Jaiminie Purohit was enjoying a Test match between the country of her birth and what she calls the nation of her "roots.   Cricket: Warne set to join Lara Cricket stars Brian Lara and Shane Warne are set to play in a multi-million dollar rebel series in India later this year, it was revealed on Tuesday.   Cricket: Bracewell stays at helm John Bracewell has been reappointed as coach of the New Zealand cricket team until April 2009, vowing to improve the country's mediocre performance in Tests.   Cricket: Dhoni shows other side Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have a reputation as a hard-hitting run-scorer but the India wicket-keeper showed there was more to his batting than clouting boundaries with a patient innings that helped India   Handball: BJMC retain h'ball crown BJMC eves defended the national title when they defeated Bangladesh Ansar and VDP 14-11 in an exciting final of the BASIC Bank 18th National Women's Handball Championship at the Dhaka handball court yesterday.   Cricket: Chennai to get new stadia Chennai is set to get a new state-of-the-art cricket stadium before the 2011 World Cup, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) announced.   Cricket: Aus to tour Pakistan Australia's cricket authorities said Tuesday they would honour a commitment to tour Pakistan despite Hockey Australia's decision to pull out of the Champions Trophy for security reasons.   Cricket: Flood damages players' kit Worcestershire's season continues to go from bad worse.   Football: Osim's battle of wits Japan coach Ivica Osim's on-going battle of wits with media at the Asian Cup continued apace Tuesday as he declared, with tongue in cheek, he was in a no-win situation against them.   Football: Bosses deny Asian cash dash Premier League coaches have shrugged off claims they only visit Asia for the money as wildly popular pre-season regional tours get into full swing.   Football: Reading sign Korean trio English Premiership club Reading have agreed a deal with the Korean Football Association to sign three of the country's best young players.   Football: Bremen sign Sanogo Ivory Coast international Boubacar Sanogo has waved goodbye to Hamburg's boo boys and signed a four-year contract at Werder Bremen, the club announced on Tuesday.   Football: City going Thai? Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra expects Sven Goran Eriksson to sign at least two Thailand stars as he continues rebuilding the Premiership team. Metropolitan Help enroll genuine voters Two visiting election commissioners (EC) yesterday attended two meetings at the conference room of the deputy commissioner over the enumeration of voter list with photograph in Rajshahi City Corporation   Road accidents kill five At least five people were killed and nine injured in separate road accidents in Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, B,baria and Satkhira yesterday Our correspondent from Mymensingh adds: Two people, includinga   Faizul on five-day remand Faizul Islam, the alleged murderer of Supreme Court Advocate Sayma Khanam, was placed on a five-day remand yesterday for interrogation by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).   Concern over issuing of fatwa against couple Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has expressed deep concern over the issuing of fatwa (religious edict) against a couple at Galachipa in Patuakhali recently.   Pay attention to neglected south-western region Adviser for LGRD and Cooperatives Mohammad Anwarul Iqbal yesterday asked the officials of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to pay special attention to the neglected south-western regionof   Accused dies in police custody in Bogra An accused in a murder case died in police custody at Kalai Police Station in Joypurhat on Monday night.   Take step to build skilled human resources President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday urged all concerned to take appropriate measures for building skilled human resources so that the country can efficiently face the challenges of the 21st century.   Stop sand lifting from Meghna Speakers at a press conference yesterday urged the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to stop sand lifting from two river-islands of Meghna.   Mutual Trust Bank-Daily Star Debate begins The 'Mutual Trust Bank-The Daily Star Debate Contest 2007' began in the port city yesterday with a call for students to develop their logic and reasoning skills to grow as thoughtful and sensible citizens.   Arrest of Hasina condemned Teachers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University yesterday condemned the arrest of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, says a press release.   Holding tax of martyred, injured FF families to be waived The government has decided to waive holding tax of the injured and martyred freedom fighters' families living at their own houses under different municipalities of the country.   Govt forms 15-member ad hoc Bar Council The caretaker government constituted a 15-member ad hoc Bar Council, a statutory body regulating country's lawyers, pending its election.   Couple seeks security of life A couple at a press conference yesterday urged the police to ensure their security as they claimed a local with his accomplices had been threatening them with death for the last few months over the ownership   BCL protests arrest of Hasina Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday staged demonstrations across the country demanding immediate release of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.   Drug peddlers snatch their fellow, pistol from Rab men A gang of drug peddlers snatched an arrested drug peddler and a pistol from plainclothes members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Baya Bazar on the outskirts of Rajshahi city yesterday evening.   Prof Karim passes away Dr Abdul Karim, Professor Emeritus of Chittagong University (CU) and an eminent historian of the sub-continent, passed away due to a cardiac arrest at his residence in the port city yesterday at the age   Int'l confece on gender, sexuality begins Saturday An international conference on gender, sexuality and rights will begin here on Saturday, bringing together over 100 participants and 40 academicians from different parts of the world in Dhaka.   Journo, his accomplice get 17 years’ RI A Noakhali court yesterday sentenced two persons, including a journalist, to17 years' rigorous imprisonment in an arms case.   Pirates loot trawler, abduct 4 fishermen Pirates attacked two fishing trawlers, looted hilsa and kidnapped four fishermen from Kotkar Kader canal near the Sundarbans yesterday morning.   Rajuk taskforce arrests developer The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) taskforce arrested an owner of a real estate company from Paltan area in the city yesterday on charges of using fake documents and changing Rajuk-approved design National 19 women take life, 65 attempt suicide last month Alleged suicide by women due to domestic violence is increasing in Kushtia.   A reformer policeman It was a simple incident but could be an eye opener for many in eliminating drug trade and use. Thirteen drug traders surrendered to police yesterday, saying 'no' to the illegal and heinous work.   Four lawyers among seven chargesheeted in Satkhira Seven people including four lawyers were chargesheeted yesterday for their involvement in allegedly abducting a minor Hindu girl, forcing her to change her religion and marry a man.   Release of Hasina demanded Satkhira District Awami League (AL) and Satkhira District Bar Association, in two separate statements issued yesterday, have demanded immediate and unconditional release of former prime minister and Awami   Community policing begins in Pabna Community policing has been launched here aiming at curbing criminal activities and improving law and order situation in the district.   Khulna JP leader jailed for extortion Khulna city Jatiya Party leader Anwar Hossain Shona was given two and a half years' rigorous imprisonment in an extortion case Metropolitan Magistrate Atiqul Haque of Speedy Trial Tribunal also fined   Tk 13 lakh for repair of Kuakata dam Water Development Board, as an emergency step, has decided to allot Tk 13 lakh for repair of damaged portions of Kuakata flood control embankment.   'Enact law to ensure rights of Harijans' Speakers at a rally held at Bishnupur Christian Mission School in Kaliganj upazila yesterday urged the government to enact law to ensure basic rights of the Harijan community. Point-Counterpoint Procession of portraits It appears that the nation's politics will enter a new phase soon. The CEC has just released the roadmap for conducting the general election at the end of 2008.   New diplomacy: Challenges for foreign policy This is an exciting and important time in British politics. Culture Making piano notes popular For Mira Mongoush piano notes are her life and living.   'Raarang' to be staged on the last evening The 11-day theatre festival titled Citycell-Mahakal Theatre Festival '07 ends today at the Experimental Theatre Stage.   Exhibition by Bangladeshi artist in Beijing A solo painting exhibition by New York-based Bangladeshi artist Khurshid Alam Saleem was held recently at the Capital Library Gallery in Beijing, according to a press release.   'Prithibir Pothey Pothey' on Rtv Travel show Prithibir Pothey Pothey will be aired tonight on Rtv at 11pm. Tonight's episode titled Shanghai-er Raat will feature colourful nights of the Chinese city of Shanghai. International S Korean talks with Taliban raise hostage hopes South Korean officials held their first direct talks with the Taliban yesterday as the clock ticked towards a sundown deadline for the lives of 23 Korean hostages held in Afghanistan.   Jailed medics released by Libya, flown to Sofia Six foreign medics jailed for life in Libya for infecting children with the AIDS virus flew to Bulgaria on Monday after being released by Tripoli under a deal brokered with the European Union.   More cities under threat in Britain's worst floods in memory The fate of more English cities, towns and villages hung in the balance yesterday as emergency crews built up defences against rising waters during Britain's worst floods in living memory.   Nepali Maoists threaten to pull out of govt Nepal's former rebels threatened Monday to pull out of a coalition government after a row over a security detail given to their leaders.   Tigers kill 11 soldiers, 4 village guards Separatist Tamil militants launched a pair of attacks against government troops in northern Sri Lanka yesterday, killing 11 soldiers in a roadside bombing and four village guards in a raid on their bunker,   IAEA to inspect Iranian nuclear site next week The UN's nuclear watchdog agency will next week visit the site of a heavy-water nuclear reactor in Arak, Iran, the agency said yesterday after talks with Iranian officials.   Ex-Guantanamo inmate blows himself up to avert arrest in Pakistan A former Guantanamo Bay inmate who led pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan after his release died Tuesday when police said he blew himself up with a grenade to avoid arrest. Editorial Editorial: CA's concern for crime Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has taken note of the spate of murders in the city, a clear indication of criminality taking an alarming course, and has ordered the law enforcement agencies to intensify   Editorial: The developing flood situation The flood situation in the country is beginning to assume worrying proportions.   Dignity, defiance and Pakistan's Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Pakistan has done everyone of us proud, here in South Asia and elsewhere.   Unified command, or unified nation? For more than five decades Pakistan's military rulers have depended on the country's judiciary to provide a fig leaf of legitimacy for their arbitrary decisions.   Politics of fortune When you have no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff," as stated by the Roman orator Cicero some nineteen hundred years ago. Letters to Editor Mass hysteria Mass hysteria is spreading in an alarming way, putting people in danger, especially the school-going children.   Eviction The caretaker government has taken a lot of steps to bring back discipline in some key areas. But there are some failures too; eviction of people is one of them.   Moscow supports Musharraf Perhaps, by way of comparing the Islamabad mosque events with those in Russia where hundreds of innocent civilians, including children, were killed at Moscow Theatre(2002) and Beslan School (2004) in   Roadmap for polls The roadmap for polls announced by the Election Commission (EC) has confused me. They need time from June to August for "Software development".   Fight against social decay The caretaker government has taken some significant steps to check social decay and that prompted me to show some sort of support for its actions.   Two women If we follow the nature or religion metaphorically we will observe that both emphasize counter-action, whether it is in the form of typhoons, calamities, draughts, floods, earthquakes or as the scriptures   Sheikh Hasina's arrest I always try to convey my thanks and gratitude, whenever I see a piece of timely and useful commentary or editorial in The Daily Star.   Our struggle I strongly believe, although our country is going through a very difficult political process, there is light at the end of the tunnel.   Bridge over Gulshan-Banani Lake It has been published in different newspapers that the local government ministry is going to construct a 4-lane bridge connecting Banani Road # 11 with Gulshan Road # 41 over Gulshan-Banani Lake toease   Bus service I am a regular passenger from Science Laboratory to Uttara.   College standards Each year, when A- level students join the race with their HSC counterparts to get into the prestigious universities, they receive a huge shock.   Political reform The intention and efforts of the caretaker government to bring in a qualitative change in the country's politics and governance are praiseworthy, though the means being adopted may not be to everyone's   BNP-Jamaat rule 1. BNS Bangabandhu has been re-named and re-commissioned as BNS Khalid-bin-Walid. Why are we scared of our national heroes and trying to hide them wherever possible which is a known BNP policy?   In response... This is a reply to the letter on "Lord Buddha's Hair" published on July 23.   DU teachers Have you ever seen/heard Dhaka University teachers wearing a black badge to protest corruption? These self-serving teachers are again abusing the nation's highest institution to score cheap political Star Chittagong Pahartali drain woe of Rly colonies Several thousand people of different railway colonies at Pahartali area in the port city fear inundation whenever it rains.   CCC original building at risk of collapse The century-old original building of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) lies in a most dilapidated condition and may collapse during any natural calamity. Star City Inadequate drainage system clogged by rubbish Water logging problem in the city is set to deteriorate with the existing drainage system getting clogged by rubbish dumped by a section of careless city dwellers, WASA and DCC sources said.   Foot over-bridge or dark tunnel? Dhaka City Corporation's decision to build overhead sheds and put up advertisement boards on the city's foot over-bridges has raised questions about safety of pedestrians as these are virtually beingturned   DCC acted illegally to hand over Motijheel Park Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) had no legal authority to hand over the Motijheel Park to Dhaka Bank, which recently chopped down all the trees in the park as an excuse for 'beautification and development'.   A street theatre with a difference In the bright sunlight of an open schoolyard, a motley theatre crew performs before a mesmerised audience.   Rajuk empowered to try offenders under its own roof Government has finally delegated magistracy to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) with the power of a metropolitan magistrate to try and punish violators of building construction laws and rules.   Pitiful sight of a traffic policeman in the rain   © thedailystar.net, 2007. All Rights Reserved.