Voicebox

“Mashallah! Marhaba!”
SHAIKH ABDUR RAHMAN
leader of militant outfit Jama'atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh
while Public Prosecutor Haidar Hossain was explaining the meaning of Tagut (transgressing) in the court.
Haidar is the former Emir of local Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Shaikh made fun of Haidar by asking if cutting tendon of ordinary people was allowed in Islam. The JI is believed to have cut tendons of innocent people who do not subscribe to the JI's ideology.

“(Bangladesh's) Anti-corruption Commission has become a joke .”
PRAFUL PATEL
The World Bank's vice-president for South Asia.

“We paid $2,200 for 18 cups of tea and when I brought it to the attention of the authorities, the bank did nothing. ”
STEVE BERKMAN
a former manager of the World Bank's African projects
about corruption in the World Bank.
Berkman got hold of the invoice while reviewing the expenses of one of the Bank's education projects in Nigeria.

“The front of the truck is compressed. We have not been able to reach that party yet.”
ZUBEYIR KEMELEK
governor of Turkish city of Osmaniye about a lorry that crashed in the city.
The vehicle was carrying 42 unauthorised immigrants, including Bangladeshis and Afghans.

“You are the leaders of our community and live in close proximity to the common people.”
KHALEDA ZIA
prime minister
to Imams urging to play their "pivotal role in brightening Bangladesh's image as a liberal, non-communal and democratic state".

“That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing about him is that I read three -- three or four books about him last year. Isn't that interesting?”
GEORGE W. BUSH
president of the United States
while showing German newspaper reporter Kai Diekmann the Oval Office.

QUOTATIONS ARE TAKEN FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPERS. .
Compiled by: AHMEDE HUSSAIN. Quotes can be sent to <[email protected]>
Cartoon : MUSTAFA ZAMAN

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2006