Vol. 5 Num 903 Mon. December 11, 2006       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Point-counterpoint Editorial Write to Editor Sections Special Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Yunus unveils vision to end global poverty Micro-credit pioneer Prof Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, founder of Grameen Bank, unveiled a bold vision for ending global poverty as he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday.   Iajuddin's 'doing alone' policy enrages advisers Seething with frustration over President/Chief Adviser (CA) Iajuddin Ahmed's unilateral moves including the latest order for army deployment, some advisers might soon take radical decisions unless the   Troops take to streets The army joined ranks with other law enforcement agencies in securing the presidential residence, Bangabhaban, as the armed forces moved out of garrisons and took positions at key locations across the   Holding head high in Oslo chill In the freezing Oslo morning, Anisur Rahman and his wife Meherunnessa were standing in a long queue in front of the City Hall.   CA justifies army deployment in his address to nation President and Chief Adviser Prof Iajuddin Ahmed last night assured the nation that the democratic and constitutional process would continue in the country despite the deployment of army.   Army in early for longest polls job The sudden deployment of the armed forces 'to maintain law and order situation' ahead of the election came 44 days before the polling date of January 23, which is unprecedented regarding the timing.   Hasina lashes out at CA Sharply reacting to the sudden deployment of army, Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said no such situation has been created in the country that requires deployment of armed forces.   Unstable situation led to troops deployment BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said army has been deployed to assist civil administration in the prevailing unstable situation stemming from "anarchic" activities of the Awami League-led 14-party   CA criticised for calling in army Several political parties and organisations have criticised President and Chief Adviser (CA) Iajuddin Ahmed for his decision to deploy the army, saying that the move will further deepen the politicalcrisis.   No such situation arose for army deployment Four advisers to the caretaker government yesterday said the current situation in the country does not warrant troops deployment and the advisory council was not consulted about the decision to call in   14-party accuses Iajuddin of lying The Awami League (AL) led 14-party combine accused President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed of lying in his address to the nation last night.   List righting limps along Thousands of voters -- either from the minority communities or considered as supporters of the Awami League (AL) -- were excluded and fake names included in the updated voter list in the BNP-dominated   Polling day may be changed again As Hindu religious festival Swaraswati Puja coincided with the earlier announced polling day January 23, the Election Commission (EC) may bring the date forward by one or two days.   AL goes to EC, talks about poll issues A three-member Awami League (AL) delegation yesterday met the EC secretary and discussed different allegations regarding the ongoing correction process in the updated voter roll.   No new voter listing upsets Ctg BNP The BNP-led four-party alliance leaders in Chittagong city yesterday submitted a memorandum to the District Election Commission (DEC) officials alleging that the enumerators were not adding new voters   Lawyers granted bail as SC resumes work A High Court (HC) bench yesterday granted ad interim anticipatory bail for six months to seven Supreme Court (SC) lawyers including barrister Amir-Ul Islam and barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud in two separate   Pinochet dies General Augusto Pinochet, who overthrew Chile's democratically elected Marxist president in a bloody coup and ruled this Andean nation for 17 years, died last night, dashing hopes of victims of his regime's   Stalled EC talks saddens US, UK, Canada The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada yesterday hoped the army will act in a nonpartisan manner so the troop deployment doesn't undermine the efforts towards creating a positive election environment.   US, UK envoys meet Hasina, Khaleda US Ambassador Patricia Butenis and UK High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury held talks with Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday on issues concerning the coming general elections.   Judicial inquiry ordered against Moudud A Dhaka court yesterday ordered a judicial inquiry after a lawyer filed a criminal case against former law minister barrister Moudud Ahmed for distorting history about the proclamation of independence   Major UN powers to debate on sanctions The debate over how to punish Iran for its refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear fuel work resumes in New York today with Western diplomats confident that the UN Security Council will approve targetedsanctions   UN calls for global decision to fight corruption The head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) called on yesterday for a global political will to fight against corruption, and urged world governments to set up anti-graft task forces.   22 civilians killed as violence flares anew in Darfur Twenty-two civilians were killed in a weekend attack in western Sudan which the government blamed on Darfur rebels and which threatened to deepen the crisis in the war-torn region. Business Asean's market dreams face tough reality Needing to forge a regional single market to fight off competition from China, Asean nations were supposed to sign a deal this week moving up the target date five years to 2015.   Govt borrowing from domestic sources up 173pc in Jul-Sept Government's borrowing from domestic sources, which include banks and savings instruments, marked a 173 percent rise in the first three months of the current fiscal year (2006-07) as it reached Tk 3,523   Cabinet body okays purchase of 11 lakh tonnes of petroleum The Cabinet Committee on Purchase (CCP) yesterday approved a proposal to purchase 11 lakh tonnes of petroleum products worth Tk 4,521 crore from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Abu Dhabi.   Infosys enters Nasdaq-100 club Software giant, Infosys Technologies, is all set to become the first Indian company to be included in the much coveted Nasdaq-100 index from 18 December.   India to overtake China in 5 years: Experts Some economists, industrialists and management experts today believe that India will eventually overtake China within the next five years in terms of foreign direct investment and have very practicalexplanations   Executives of US firms in India for $100b deals Even before the US Congress passed the historic legislation allowing civil nuclear trade with India, senior executives of American companies engaged in nuclear energy business landed in the country where   China automakers see tough road to global market China has created a vibrant auto industry over the past two decades, but executives said on Sunday that a significant gap still separated local manufacturers from the world's top brands.   China Eastern Airlines opens new routes for Bangladesh passengers China Eastern Airlines has introduced new routes for passengers from Bangladesh to travel to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Sydney and Melbourne, says a press release.   Strong currency shrinks ROK's export-driven economy South Korean companies are being seriously squeezed by the won's rise as the appreciation of the local currency is greater than they had expected earlier this year, businessmen and analysts say.   S'pore's Parkway Group Healthcare opens info centre in Ctg Singapore's Parkway Group Healthcare Limited yesterday formally announced the launch of an information centre here in the port city.   Hanoi to regulate prices Viet Nam will increasingly regulate prices in tune with market principles, said Nguyen Tien Thoa, deputy director of the Price Management Department under the Ministry of Finance.   8 foreign banks apply for registration in China China's banking regulator said it had received eight applications from foreign banks for local registration, which it would begin processing on Monday, a first step in granting national treatment.   Saudi Electricity awards $973m contracts to GE Saudi Electricity Co said on Sunday it had awarded U.S. firm General Electric contracts worth 3.65 billion riyals ($973 million) to help expand three power plants in key regions of the country. Sports Cricket: Abahani take charge After several years in the wilderness of local cricket, Abahani has finally put together a team that will please their large number of supporters as the Dhanmondi giants signed some big names on the opening   Cricket: More rest for Mashud Khaled Mashud has been dropped from Bangladesh's two one-day internationals against Scotland.   Bangladesh tame violent Oman Bangladesh hockey team finally won a match in the 15th Asian Games when they staged a come-from-behind 5-3 win over Oman in their final Pool B encounter in Doha yesterday.   Cricket: Now A teams lock horns Having been whitewashed by the Bangladesh national team in the 5-match one-day series, Zimbabwe cricketers regroup in the form of an A team in a bid to have practice in the longer version of the gamefrom   Basketball: AIS lift 2nd b'ball title American International School (AIS) of Dhaka lifted the South Asia Inter-Scholastic Association (SAISA) basketball championship for the second time in a row in Kathmandu on December 3.   Cricket: Easy win for Pakistan Opener Imran Farhat hit an aggressive half-century and paceman Navedul Hasan took 3-37 to help Pakistan beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the third one-day match here on Sunday.   Indian hockey in dire straits India crashed out of the 15th Asian Games men's field hockey on Sunday, leaving the former champions facing an uncertain future in a sport they once ruled the world.   Cricket: ESPN-Star ICC's global partner ESPN-Star Sports have successfully bid to become the International Cricket Council's (ICC) global media and production partner from late 2007 to 2015.   Cricket: Pawar will not contest again BCCI president Sharad Pawar has said he would not contest the cricket board elections after his current term ends as he wanted to help the game in a different way.   Cricket: Batting remains the worry It's not often that a team wins a four-day game by 96 runs, with a day to spare, and finds itself with more questions than answers.   Cricket: England find positives England ticked all the right boxes with a much-improved performance in the drawn tour match against Western Australia at the WACA Ground.   Cricket: No Vaughan in Ashes Michael Vaughan has conceded he has no chance of making an unlikely Ashes comeback down under.   Cricket: Graveney confident of England fightback England's chairman of selectors David Graveney insisted Sunday he was confident his side have enough fighting spirit to turn the Ashes Test series around.   Cricket: PCB boss under scrutiny The role of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf in the inquiry in to the doping scandal that rocked Pakistan cricket has come under scrutiny with the publication of a letter written byhim   Cricket: Singh puts pressure on Pathan Batting may have been a perennial source of concern on this tour for India, but on the bowling front it has been a problem of plenty.   Tennis: Sania, Li move into qtrs Chinese top seed Li Na and Indian favourite Sania Mirza cruised into the Asian Games quarterfinals of the women's singles on Sunday and declared themselves fighting fit.   Cricket: Kapil writes off India? Considering India's prolonged patch of below-par performances, former captain Kapil Dev Sunday said the Indian team was not a strong contender for the world cup 2007.   Football: Barca consolidate lead Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of the table on Saturday after notching a 1-0 win at home to Real Sociedad while title challengers Sevilla beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a highly charged encounter   Football: Al Ahli blank Auckland African champions Al Ahli beat New Zealand's Auckland City 2-0 on Sunday to earn a crack at Brazil's Internacional at the Club World Cup.   Football: Frankfurt hit for six Werder Bremen claimed the outright lead in the Bundesliga with a 6-2 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.   Football: Goals galore in EPL Manchester United's drive to reclaim the Premiership title accelerated on Saturday as Sir Alex Ferguson's side pulled nine points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premiership with a 3-1 drubbing ofbitter   Football: Lens stretch unbeaten run Lens consolidated second place behind runaway leaders Lyon and Djibril Cisse made his long awaited debut for Marseille in the French first division on Saturday.   Football: Old Trafford beckons Becks David Beckham is to line up against a Manchester United side at Old Trafford for the first time since he left the club for Real Madrid in 2003.   Football: Sheva aims to deliver Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has ruled out an early exit from the Premier League and is determined to put right his faltering start to English football.   Football: Arsene gets even with Jose Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned English champions Chelsea that their plans to become the biggest club in the world are doomed to failure.   Football: Brazilians lift Palermo Palermo got their Serie A title bid back on track with a 3-0 win over Livorno on Saturday.   Football: Camo sends Juve top Mauro Camoranesi's goal gave Juventus a 1-0 win over Verona and sent them top of Italy's Serie B on Saturday.   Football: Barcelona set to sue Le Monde Barcelona announced on Saturday that they will be taking legal action against French daily Le Monde for alleging that the club had links to the doctor at the centre of a Spanish doping investigation. Metropolitan State terrorism, bad political culture responsible for HR violation State terrorism and bad political culture are mainly responsible for human rights violation hampering normal public life and depriving people of their basic needs, said the politicians and civil society   'Strengthen family values to ensure peace in society' Speakers at a roundtable underscored the need for unity and solidarity in the family to eliminate domestic violence, injustice and discrimination from the society.   Work together to stop repression on women Speakers at a dialogue yesterday urged all, including politicians, lawmakers, local leaders, lawyers, religious leaders and members of law enforcement agencies, to work together to stop repression onwomen.   'Commitment from political parties ahead of polls a must' Speakers at a discussion yesterday said a precise political commitment is essential to end the violation of workers' human rights, says a press release.   Call to nominate honest people Speakers at a discussion yesterday laid emphasis on nominating honest and dedicated people in the upcoming general election to establish human rights and eradicate poverty from the country.   BNP, Jamaat hail army deployment BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday welcomed the president's decision to deploy army across the country and said the chief of the caretaker government has taken the decision a bit early   Hotel boy shot dead, 7 hurt by extortionists A hotel boy was shot dead and seven others were bullet-hit by extortionists at two separate city hotels yesterday.   Int'l Mountain Day today International Mountain Day will be observed in the country today as elsewhere in the world. This year the theme of the day is 'Sustainable Management of Mountains'.   Ershad to go by party's desire, join 14-party Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad announced here yesterday that his party is going to join the 14-party combine in the upcoming election as desired by the party supporters, activists and leaders.   HC stays order to make 353 officials OSD The High Court yesterday stayed for two months the operation of gazette notifications making OSD some 353 officers, who are awaiting next postings during the general election.   Outlaw killed in 'shootout' A top activist of outlawed New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP) was killed in a 'shootout' with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Ratulpara village in sadar upazila yesterday.   SC lawyer faces suo moto rule A High Court (HC) bench yesterday issued a suo moto contempt rule on a Supreme Court (SC) lawyer asking him to explain within a week why he should not be prosecuted for contempt of court and be punished   AL-backed UP chairman murdered in Bagmara A union council chairman belonging to Awami League was murdered by unidentified assailants at Jalpaitala in Bagmara upazila last night, said the police and witnesses.   Admission test of NIMC today Admission test of Northern International Medical College (NIMC) for first year MBBS course under 2006-2007 sessions will be held today on the college campus, says a press release. National Project to protect Tanguar Haor gives it a new life At last, Tanguar Haor, the second Ramser site in the country, is being put under an intensive joint management programme to protect its diversified ecosystem and resources.   PCJSS to field candidates in Rangamati, Bandarban Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), a political platform of indigenous people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), has announced that two PCJSS leaders will contest from Rangamati and Bandarban   8 party aspirants stand against former BNP MP Eight BNP aspirants are opposing alliance ticket for the party's immediate past lawmaker from Brahmanbaria-4 constituency (Akahura and Kasba upazilas), ignoring the party chief's earlier public announcement   Jhenidah BNP leaders agitate for protection from outlaws Despite several anti-crime drives and death of at least 20 Janajuddho cadres in 'crossfire' in Jhenidah this year, there is no sign of let up in killings and attacks by the outlawed party in six upazilas   Potato target may be missed in 10 southwestern dists Scarcity of seeds is seriously affecting cultivation of potato, one of the cash crops in ten southwestern districts.   4-party enforces hartal in 3 Sylhet upazilas A half-day hartal was observed yesterday in three thanas under Sylhet-2 constituency protesting attack on former BNP lawmaker M Ilyas Ali and demanding arrest of the attackers.   Drilling of Bibiyana gas field completed Successful drilling work on the north pad of Bibiyana Gas Field in Nabiganj upazila under Habiganj district has been completed, Nasir Ahmed, a high official of Chevron gas field exploring company said.   BDR, BSF trade fire on Dinajpur, Thakurgaon borders Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) traded shots on Bhaigarh border in Birampur upazila in Dinajpur and on Betna, and Dabi borders in Haripur upazila in Thakurgaon Saturdaynight Point-Counterpoint The serio-comic at Election Commission The cynics cannot be faulted for saying that the biggest "Tamasha" is being staged at the Election Commission upon which rests the supremely onerous duty of conducting a free, fair and impartial election.   Nato and Afghanistan President Bush came to the Nato summit held on November 28th-29th in Riga, Latvia, with only one objective in mind, i.e. to ask Nato to step-up military operations in Afghanistan. Culture Mingling passion with pain Hasibur Rahman Kiron fascinates his viewers with his intensely agonised vision in his sculpture work in wood, papier-mache and cement.   Today's underground, tomorrow's mainstream There was the obvious 'concert smoke', frolicking laser lights, the headbangers, punks, goths, the 'wanna-bes', yuppies and the usual college/university students who perhaps do not belong to certain non-conformist   Children of river islands The lives of river island children come out in ruthless clarity through the eyes of photographer Mahmud in his latest book of photographs -- 20 Villages: Kurigram-The Children of the River Islandsof   Patriotic songs at Rabindra Sarobar Getting a head start on the victory day celebrations, Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad arranged a musical soiree titled Somudre uttal jonotar torongo ke rodhe at Rabindra Sarobar on December9. General Create atmosphere to hold free, fair polls Leaders of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad yesterday called upon the caretaker government to help create a congenial atmosphere to hold a free and fair election and establish a democratic and non-communalBangladesh   'Ensure right to voye of people with disability' Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the caretaker government to make special arrangements in the polling centres so that people with disability can exercise their franchise without any difficulty.   JU students continue agitation Some unruly students of Bangla department, loyal to the accused teacher who allegedly sexually harassed a female student of the department, yesterday threatened their department's chairman for not taking   Grameenphone HSE Week begins The sixth annual Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Week of Grameenphone Ltd began yesterday, says a press release.   Create atmosphere to hold free, fair polls Leaders of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad yesterday called upon the caretaker government to help create a congenial atmosphere to hold a free and fair election and establish a democratic and non-communalBangladesh   '42 pc people live in city slums' Onneyshan, a local NGO, in association with Manusher Jonno foundation, organised a discussion in the city yesterday to mark the International Human Rights Day, says a press release.   IBA wins Battle of Minds 2006 Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University has won Battle of Minds 2006, a business case solving competition organised by British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), held at Brac Centre International Civilians flee as scores killed in Lanka fighting Thousands of civilians were on the run yesterday in Sri Lanka's restive northeast as heavy artillery exchanges left scores dead, according to the Tamil Tigers and government forces.   BJP brands US nuclear bill 'humiliating' A bill that will allow the United States to sell nuclear technology to India compromises India's independence, its main opposition party said yesterday, adding that the "humiliating" law should be rejected.   Showdown looms over new Palestinian polls Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas steamed ahead Sunday with plans to call early parliamentary and presidential elections in a move the ruling Hamas movement branded a coup against democracy.   Syria preparing for war Israel believes Syria is preparing for war by stepping up missile production and deploying anti-tank rockets along the border, a senior intelligence official was quoted as saying yesterday.   Talabani blasts US report on Iraq President Jalal Talabani, a long-time US ally, made a stinging attack on the controversial Iraq Study Group report yesterday, calling it "dangerous" and insulting to Iraqi sovereignty.   Democrats vow change as Cong ends session The 109th session of Congress, frustrated by partisanship and criticised for its meagre record of accomplishment, ended with flurry of bill-passing and promises of change when Democrats take over theHouse   Delhi hosts 36,000 weddings in a day With the planets perfectly aligned for a happy marriage, more than 36,000 weddings will take place in the Indian capital yesterday, threatening gridlock in the already congested city as guests race to   'Diana's death was accident, not murder plot' A long-awaited report into Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash will confirm a French probe that it was an accident and refute theories of a plot by British intelligence, news leaks said yesterday. Editorial Editorial: Calling the army out We, as much as the rest of the nation, have been taken by surprise at the sudden decision of the president to order the army out, to aid the civil authority in the maintenance of law and order.   Editorial: Nobel Prize comes home As the nation watched Professor Muhammad Yunus accepting the Nobel Peace Prize from the Nobel Committee at Oslo on Sunday evening, the thought dawned on us that what was a national pride has now become   The rule of the unruly The latest report of Transparency International (TI) says that political parties are dens of corruption all over the world, racing ahead of other institutions.   Rumsfeld's nemesis and beyond Last month when, after the Republicans' election reverses, George Bush reluctantly fired his pugilist defence secretary there had been few tears even within the cabal he belonged to.   From Khairlanji to Kanpur and beyond Militant Dalit protests have broken out in various Indian cities, most significantly in Maharashtra, the cradle of modern Dalit politics. Feature 'We can put poverty into museums' Nobel lecture presented by Prof Muhammad Yunus at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on Dec 10, 2006 in Oslo Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Honorable Members of the Norwegian Star City Investigators puzzled over unanswered questions Investigators are puzzled over the robbery at Mascot Plaza at Uttara on December 06 where robbers broke into four gold shops and safely got away with the heist worth Tk 20 crore.   New inmates arrive from Kuwait Dhaka Zoo received eleven new inmates from Kuwait Zoo on Sunday under an exchange programme.   Ambience marred by conflict The ambience of National Book Fair is marred by a conflict between publishers and organisers. With the theme to build a harmonious society, this year 13th Dhaka Book Fair started from December 1.   Knocked out and Robbed   © thedailystar.net, 2006. All Rights Reserved.