Vol. 5 Num 909 Sun. December 17, 2006       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 V-Day celebrated Jubilation overshadowed political turmoil yesterday as the nation celebrated the 35th anniversary of victory in the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.   'Informal' move initiated to revive package proposal A few advisers to the caretaker government have re-initiated negotiations with the two major political alliances about recasting the Election Commission (EC) in line with the advisory council's package   Tax exemption facilities misused to make profit A number of welfare organisations in Bangladesh misuse tax-exemption facilities by operating profit-driven programmes that do not serve any socio-economic goal but encourage 'corruption-based activities',   Show of alliance strength BNP-led four-party alliance and Awami League (AL)-led 14-party coalition are set to show off their strengths as both the alliances will hold grand rallies in downtown Dhaka.   Thousands in Kamrangirchar left off voter roll "Please register my name on the voter list," Sekandar Ali (65), a resident of ward no 5 in Kamrangirchar in the capital requested The Daily Star correspondent mistaking him for a field level ElectionCommission   Latifur Rahman protests false campaign by Falu's media Latifur Rahman, chairman and managing director of Transcom Group sent the following rejoinder to Amar Desh, ntv, Rtv in response to the false and malicious reports involving him and his business.   JP calls hartal in 5 northern dists today Jatiya Party (JP) enforces a dawn-to-dusk hartal in five districts of greater Rangpur today protesting the High Court verdict on Thursday that sentenced JP Chairman HM Ershad to two years' imprisonment   Kofi Annan asks caretaker govt to ensure level playing field Outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged the Bangladesh caretaker government to ensure a level playing field, particularly through restoration of confidence in the Election Commission (EC).   Bangabandhu never granted amnesty to war criminals Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangabandhu had never granted general amnesty to the war criminals and collaborators.   80 hurt as parties clash on V-day At least 80 people were injured as BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir activists clashed with Awami League (AL) and its student front Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men in   Diplomats meet BNP top brass at Babar's house, talk polls Diplomats of three western countries had a meeting with BNP leaders at former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar's residence in Gulshan last night.   Barren landscape...   Military hardware show stampede kills one One person was killed and two others injured in an incident of stampede at the military hardware show at Tejgaon in the city yesterday.   CPJ concerned at attacks on journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sent a letter to President Iajuddin Ahmed on Friday asking him to do everything in his power to ensure that threats and assaults against journalists are investigated   Mushrooming brickfields threaten hill air, farming Mushrooming brickfields in Khagrachhari with the connivance of corrupt officials of different government departments concerned pose a serious threat to the environment and agriculture in the entire region.   Looming fund crisis may make RU staff salaries uncertain Some 3,300 staff of Rajshahi University might not get their pay cheques at the end of this fiscal year as the university is likely to suffer a severe fund crisis soon due to wastage of money through 'illegal   Call for unified movement to wipe out war criminals Muktijoddha Gono Parishad leaders yesterday urged to forge a unified movement once again to wipe out the traitors of the liberation war from Bangladesh.   2 buried alive in Ctg Two persons were buried alive and 10 others injured when a huge chunk of earth fell on them during illegal hill cutting in Chandanaish upazila yesterday.   Nepal parties, Maoists okay draft constitution Nepal's ruling alliance and Maoist rebels yesterday approved the draft of an interim constitution, a key step to implement their landmark peace deal ending a conflict which has killed thousands, negotiators   Abbas calls for early election in Palestine Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called for early presidential and parliamentary elections yesterday, prompting the ruling Hamas movement to accuse him of staging a coup d'etat.   Bhutan's king abdicates The king of the remote Himalayan country of Bhutan has abdicated in favour of his Oxford-educated son, a royal official said yesterday, stunning the tiny Buddhist nation.   Chavez denies Castro cancer claim Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has dismissed suggestions that Cuban leader and ally Fidel Castro has cancer, but said he was fighting a serious illness.   India missed chance to resolve Kashmir row in 1972 Senior BJP leader L K Advani yesterday maintained that India had lost an opportunity to resolve the Kashmir issue in the wake of the surrender of more than 90,000 Pakistani troops in the 1971 Bangladesh   Zambian U-turn on protests ban The Zambian government has withdrawn a ban on all political gatherings just hours after it was announced. It now says political parties are free to hold rallies according to the law.   US health advisers suggest restricting antibiotic Benefits of an antibiotic linked to rare reports of severe liver problems, including several deaths, outweigh its risks in treating pneumonia but not less serious bacterial infections like bronchitisand   V-Day celebrated at missions abroad Bangladesh missions abroad yesterday observed the Victory Day. Business Govt to provide 20pc subsidy for meat exporters The government has decided to provide 20 percent subsidy to the exporters of halal meat in order to encourage its export.   China hosts first energy summit, urges oil consumers to unite China, hosting its first major energy summit on Saturday, urged top oil consumers to join together in the face of resurgent producer power and sought to paper over differences on how best to achieve energy   Phone, cable companies to battle in 2007 Vonage tanked after its IPO. It's not entirely clear anymore why eBay paid $2.6 billion for Skype.   Dollar extends gains as market shakes off inflation report The dollar extended its modest rally Friday as investors shook off a tame inflation report, focusing instead on data showing strong capital inflows and improving industrial output.   India's growth prospects strong Globalisation could spur faster growth in average incomes over the next 25 years than during 1980-2005, with developing countries playing a central role, a World Bank report has said.   China regrets US assessment China's commerce ministry on Friday expressed regret over the United States' harsh assessment of its compliance with its WTO promises, saying the criticisms were not objective.   Dhaka Phone offers handset, connection at Tk2000 Dhaka Phone (DP), a PSTN (public switched telephone network) operator, has recently offered a package to its clients at competitive prices, says a press release.   Equity Partners, German firm sign co-op deal DEG, a German investment and development company, has recently entered into a cooperation agreement with one of the Bangladesh's leading merchant banks, Equity Partners Limited (EPL), according to a press   Siemens Water Tech plans $50m global water centre in S'pore Siemens Water Technologies, a leader in products, systems and services for water and used water treatment, formally announced Thursday that it is planning to set up a US $50 million global water research   Indian Bank IPO likely soon Indian Bank is likely to hit the capital market with its 85,950,000 shares by January-end after necessary approvals from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).   Kuwait revenues jump 17pc Kuwait's revenues in the first eight months of the current fiscal year topped 37 billion dollars, a 17-percent increase over the same period last year, on the back of high oil prices, a report said Saturday.   Hyundai may build plants in S America, SE Asia Hyundai Motor Co, which is currently developing low-priced vehicles targeting Southeast Asian and South American markets, may build production plants there, the automaker's vice chairman Kim Dong-jinsaid   Japan to continue ODA to India Japan on Friday said it will continue to provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) to India on a priority basis for strengthening their partnership and supporting New Delhi's efforts to accelerate   Nepal to unveil tourism master plan The Nepali government is going to introduce Nepal Tourism Master Plan, 2006, aimed at maintaining regional balance and alleviating poverty by developing Nepal a destination of natural beauty and quality   US okays probe into China subsidy to exporters The U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday approved the first U.S.   Citibank opens branch at Dhanmondi Citibank, NA, Bangladesh opened a new branch on Satmasjid Road at Dhanmondi in Dhaka yesterday, says a press release.   Walton launches energy saving power tiller RB Group of Companies Ltd, a local marketing firm of electrical, electronics and automobile products, recently introduced Walton energy saving power tiller in Bangladesh market, says a press release.   Office bearers of Crop Protection Assoc Kazi Ali Hossain of Padma Oil Company Ltd and Md Shoaib Choudhury of SAMP Ltd have been elected chairman and general secretary of Bangladesh Crop Protection Association (BCPA). Sports Cricket: Tigers eye winning end Fresh from a six-wicket rout of Scotland, Bangladesh go into the second and final one-day match today in a bid to finish this year in style at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.   Cricket: Javed back in business Forgotten man Javed Omar turned back the clock as he scored a hundred to put Bangladesh A on top on the second day of the four-day match against visiting Zimbabwe A at the Fatullah Stadium yesterday.   Cricket: Victory Day match held Mahmudullah Riyad of Shaheed Mushtaque XI played a captain's innings, propelling his side to a three-wicket win over Shaheed Jewel XI in the Victory Day exhibition match here at the Dhanmondi CricketStadium   Cricket: Pakistan win in style Openers Mohammad Hafeez and Kamran Akmal hit half-centuries to power Pakistan to a comfortable seven-wicket win in the fifth and final one-day international against the West Indies here on Saturday to   Cricket: Sreesanth fells Proteas Indian opening bowler Shantha-kumaran Sreesanth claimed his first Test five-wicket haul as South Africa crashed to 84 all out on the second day of the first Test at the Wanderers Stadium Saturday.   Cricket: Duncan hoping against hope! Coach Duncan Fletcher is still hoping that England can attain the mammoth 557 needed to win the third Ashes Test.   Cricket: Inzamam to stay skipper Inzamamul Haq was expected to be retained as captain when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ad-Hoc committee meets tomorrow to announce the captain, manager and a media manager for the tour as well asthe   Cricket: World Cup safe from malaria in Jamaica A senior officer in the Jamaican ministry of health said the Jamaican leg of the ICC World Cup Cricket would not be affected by the malaria outbreak in the Caribbean island.   Cricket: Lankans strangle hosts Sri Lanka took a firm grip on the second Test against New Zealand here Saturday as they built an overall 363-run lead with five wickets remaining in a confident second innings batting spree.   Football: Chelsea focusing on UCL Chelsea go into Sunday's match at Everton with striker Arjen Robben claiming that winning the Champions League has become more important to the London club than defending their Premiership title.   Football: Adams, Campbell in attendance Arsenal's home clash against Portsmouth on Saturday will have former players in attendance in the figures of Sol Campbell and Tony Adams.   Cricket: Hurricane Gilchrist Australia were on the verge of regaining the Ashes after their batsmen, led by a devastating Adam Gilchrist, smashed England all over the park on Day Three of the third Test at an oppressively hot WACA   Cricket: Because of mis-signal Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist revealed a bungled communication with the dressing room was the catalyst for his extraordinary batting blitzkrieg against England at the WACA ground here   Football: Greatness beckons Barcelona Frank Rijkaard's feared Barcelona can lay claim to greatness on Sunday by winning the team's first Club World Cup.   Football: Reds down Charlton Liverpool's recent resurgence gathered pace as they produced a ruthless display to defeat Charlton 3-0 at The Valley on Saturday.   Football: Batch 06 lift title New boys Batch 06 clinched the North South University intra-batch football competition with a 2-1 victory over defending champions Batch 04 in the final at the Banani WAPDA ground yesterday.   Cricket: Case closed: Pak board Pakistan cricket authorities Saturday seemed unfazed by the World Anti-Doping Agency decision to challenge the lifting of bans on pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.   Cricket: BCCI expels Dalmiya Former world cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya was on Saturday expelled from the Indian cricket board on charges of misappropriation of funds.   Football: Fearless Internacional Internacional coach Abel Braga on Saturday said he was not losing sleep over the Club World Cup final with Barcelona and taunted the favourites over their Champions League form.   Football: Small consolation for Henry Thiery Henry may have missed out on the World and European Footballer of the Year awards but the Arsenal striker can at least draw comfort from being named the best player in Europe by a Croatia newspaper.   Football: Fergie wise to Jose's mind games If Jose Mourinho thought he could destabilise Manchester United's renewed assault on the Premiership title by playing mind games with Sir Alex Ferguson he may have to think again.   Football: Makaay wants Real revenge Bayern Munich striker Roy Makaay said Friday they will be ready to avenge a double setback to Real Madrid when they meet the Spanish giants over two legs in the last 16 of the Champions League.   Football: Eternal City trip delights Lyon French champions Lyon were given a Champions League boost when they were drawn with Serie A side Roma for the knockout phase of the competition on Friday.   Football: Minute silence for Juve players A minute's silence will be observed on Italian soccer pitches at the weekend and all players will wear black armbands in memory of two teenagers from the Juventus youth team who drowned on Friday.   Football: Benitez relishing Barca clash Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admitted his side could scarcely have had a tougher Champions League draw after the Reds were paired with reigning champions Barcelona in the second round.   Football: Frings blasts 'boring' Bayern Werder Bremen's German international Torsten Frings has taken a swipe at title rivals Bayern Munich saying they are dull to watch and do not score enough goals to entertain their own fans.   Football: Sheva a 'lap dog': Berlusconi AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has been quoted by Gazzetta dello Sport internet site as making fun of Ukrainian striker Andrei Shevchenko concerning his relationship with his wife.   Football: Porto unfazed by Mourinho Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's return to former club FC Porto for the last 16 of the Champions League will be treated like any other match, the Portuguese side's current coach Jesualdo Ferreira said Friday.   Football: Dong cleared to play for United China international striker Dong Fangzhou will finally get the chance to line out with English Premiership leaders Manchester United after securing a work permit. Metropolitan Don't give up hope While most people perceive cancer as an incurable deadly disease, 43 cancer survivors have demonstrated that cancer can be cured if diagnosed and treated early and the patients fight courageously against   Nation Pays Homage to Liberation War Martyrs Different socio-political organisations and individuals place wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar yesterday to pay homage to the martyrs of the War of Liberation on the occasion of the Victory Day.   Victory Day celebration at Bangabandhu Stadium   Duta elections Dec 23 Teachers of both White and Blue panels have started campaigning ahead of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) election to be held on December 23.   AL celebrates Victory Day Awami League (AL) yesterday took out a colourful procession in the capital marking the Victory Day.   Bijoy TV starts test transmission Bijoy TV, the first private satellite TV channel of Chittagong, started its test transmission yesterday. National FFs boycott Victory Day functions Awami League and Muktijoddha Sangsad boycotted Victory Day programmes at Dumuria college ground in Khulna yesterday protesting presence of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists there.   71-strong Netrakona LDP body formed A 71-member convening committee of Nertrakona district Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was announced here yesterday with advocate Siddiqur Rahaman as its convener.   Jamaat's podium dismantled in Pabna People vandalised the podium erected by Jamaat-e-Islami in the town marking the Victory Day yesterday.   BNP factions hold separate programmes Two factions of Khulna BNP held separate programmes in the city yesteday in observance of the Victory Day.   Shibir throws away Shaheed Minar wreaths Islami Chhatra Sibir activists at Carmichael College threw away wreaths placed at the Shaheed Minar on the college campus as a mark of respect to martyrs of the Liberation war. Point-Counterpoint Is 90 days written in stone? ARTICLE 123(3) of the Constitution mandates: "A general election of members of Parliament shall be held within ninety days after Parliament is dissolved, whether by reason of the expiration of its term   'There are many more miles to go' Sheikh Sabiha Alam: We understand that you have been very close to Bangladesh and it feels good to have you back.   The battle of Baghdad It is a winter of despair for President Bush. The Democrats have taken control of Congress. Baghdad is bleeding. America's verdict is clear: find the way out of Iraq. Culture Victory Day celebrations around Dhaka Every year the Liberation War Museum organises a weeklong function to observe Victory Day.   An array of programmes by Sammilito Sangskritik Jote With the slogan Chhinna karo ondhakarer aai jaal, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote (SSJ) celebrated the 36th Victory Day with different programmes.   Rolex Awards '06: Runa Khan Marre does Bangladesh proud In a grand ceremony in Paris on December 5, one of the most prestigious awards in Europe was given to Runa Khan Marre.   Kendriyo Kochi Kachar Mela's cultural extravaganza Kendriyo Kochi Kachar Mela (KKKM), one of the oldest children's organisations in the country, held a two-day cultural programme to celebrate Victory Day.   Asian Film Mela begins today The third Asian Film Mela organised by Dhaka Film Society (DFS) will be inaugurated today at 5:00pm, says a press release. General Nation far behind in attaining goals The nation is still far behind in attaining the goals for which the freedom fighters took part in the liberation war. This was stated by the freedom fighters at a reunion in the city yesterday. International Iraqi PM asks Saddam-era soldiers to join new army Iraq's embattled prime minister offered an olive branch to former supporters of Saddam Hussein yesterday, calling for them to join the country's new leaders in a national peace process.   India's top scientists oppose US N-deal India's top nuclear scientists have repeated their fears that a landmark nuclear deal with the United States will place limitations on the country's weapons programme, the media reported Saturday.   Russia hopes for UN consensus on Iran by year's end Consensus in the UN Security Council on Iran's nuclear programme can be reached in the next two weeks if negotiators take "a realistic approach," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday, RIA Novosti   'Karzai's outbursts strengthen Taliban' Afghan President Hamid Karzai's incendiary claims that the Pakistani government is backing the Taliban have harmed ties between the key US allies and could boost the Islamist militia, analysts say.   US to hold bilateral talks with N Korea in Beijing US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said Saturday he will meet with his North Korean counterpart in Beijing ahead of the opening of next week's six-way nuclear disarmament talks.   US must not quit despite 'ugly' combat: Rumsfeld Outgoing Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a lightning rod for critics of the Iraq war, urged the United States on Friday not to retreat in the face of "the agonies and ugliness of combat.   US legislators in Cuba to jump start dialogue The largest delegation from the US Congress to visit Cuba since 1959 arrived in Havana on Friday seeking to open a dialogue with the communist government of acting President Raul Castro despite WhiteHouse   Chief judge on Saddam panel steps down The chief investigator on the 10-judge panel that sentenced Saddam Hussein to death said Saturday that he has relinquished that role, allowing another judge to take over the post for the Iraqi High Tribunal.   Iran hails elections as message to West Iran hailed nationwide elections to local councils and a powerful clerical body as a success on Saturday and said healthy voter turnout would help the Islamic Republic confront its Western foes.   British prostitute killer hunt focused on 5 suspects Police in Britain hunting a killer dubbed the "Suffolk Strangler" after the deaths of five prostitutes are focusing on five key suspects, media reports said yesterday.   Windstorm leaves 1m Americans in the dark The worst windstorm in more than a decade tore through the Pacific Northwest, leaving more than a million people without power Friday and killing at least six. Editorial Editorial: Inertia in finding a solution Suddenly all actions related to the resolution of the political impasse by carrying through the package deal to overcome the impediments to the holding of the parliamentary election seem to have ground   Editorial: Hajj uncertain for some Though Hajj is a regular yearly phenomenon, yet the authorities every year put up a pathetic show of incompetence in performing their responsibilities right from the outset.   Where do we stand? Would it be a credible proposition to proffer that President Bush's Iraq invasion was in fact a part of the continuing attempt by a section of orthodox Christians to continue the Crusades and the millennial   Nagorik Committee's recommendations Nagorik Committee, a civil society initiative for responsible development, presented a set of recommendations on polls and political reforms at a crowded function held on December 9 at the Bangladesh-China   Many histories of Bangladesh I had an occasion to attend a seminar in Singapore with people from the Bombay film industry. Star Health How to prevent cold and flu The winter months present plenty of opportunities for viruses to spread. Chilly weather keeps more of us indoors at the same time and brings together family members of all ages.   Heart diseases: Risk at old age Age is the strongest predictor of heart disease. Coronary heart disease increases with age in both men and women. The older we get, the greater our risk of disease.   Dangers of eating raw or undercooked foods Eating unwashed produce, such as spinach, lettuce or green onions, or undercooked beef, can increase the risk of infection with Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.   Talk therapy may be best for depressed people Talk therapy may beat medication for older adults' depression, particularly when therapists work along with the patient's primary care doctor, a research review suggests.   Breast cancer screening under 50 questioned Screening women under 50 years old for breast cancer does not significantly reduce deaths from the disease, British researchers said.   Pakistani boy leads to pain discovery A young Pakistani street performer and members of three related families have enabled scientists to make a genetic breakthrough that could lead to more effective painkillers.   Your Doctor Dear Doctor, I am 70 years old and my eyes are constantly tearing. What may cause this? How can I get rid of this problem? Kindly advise me. Regards Saiful Islam Hajigonj, Chandpur.   Your Doctor Dear Doctor, My 19-month-old son has had several episodes of wheezing and coughing over the last few days. I have consulted with a doctor. Star City Once again spirit of victory comes alive The city woke up at dawn with the echo of the gun salute to celebrate the glorious Victory Day. Once again the sprit of the victory came alive.   "We fought for a common dream" Like thousands of other freedom fighters Sadeque Hossain Khoka too joined the Liberation War without telling his parents about his mission.   University authority still defiant The authorities of Jagannath University (JNU) are still defiant to carry out demolition and construction of buildings without approval of Rajuk ignoring the notice issued and General Diary (GD) filedby   Rajakar (collaborator) free Bangladesh   © thedailystar.net, 2006. All Rights Reserved.