Vol. 5 Num 272 Thu. March 03, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page Form action bodies to end govt misrule Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked people to form action committees with pro-liberation and progressive forces across the country and fight unitedly against the coalition government   'Gittu' Nasir, 2 others killed in 'crossfire' Notorious Shibir cadre Gittu Nasir and listed criminal Apu Kumar Nath were killed in Chittagong and outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML-Lal Potaka) operative Manjur Rahman Sardar died in Rajshahi   Investigators raid Galib's house, office, madrasa Investigators from the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) in Dhaka, allied with police from Rajshahi, Bogra and Gopalganj, seized a huge trove of evidence during a raid on the house and madrasa of militant   PM to explain govt stance at Sangsad Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will explain her government position on the Islamist militants in her winding up speech of the current session of parliament, she assured an opposition lawmaker in the House   Dhabi group offers $2b investment An Abu Dhabi-based group has come up with the second largest investment plan offered by any single investor in the country, surpassed only by Tata Group.   8 Bangladeshis rounded up Eight Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in the nationwide 'Ops Tegas' crackdown on illegal immigrants by the Malaysian government.   Opposition announces month long agitation plan The mainstream opposition parties yesterday announced a series of identical agitation programmes, including a dawn-to-dusk hartal on March 27, demanding resignation of the government and tackling theextremist   Cops, BNP attack AL activists Police and BNP activists yesterday attacked leaders and activists of the Awami League (AL) and its front organisations in the capital and elsewhere on their way to attend a party rally at Paltan Maidan,   Ex-Bac staff ignores govt order, signs as ACC director Flouting a government prohibition, the former director administration of the now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (Bac) yesterday issued an office order designating himself as director administration   NCBs fail to cut credit growth, operating cost The four Nationalised Commercial Banks (NCBs) have failed to reduce their operating expenses and to control credit growth as per a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the central bank signed two years   UN forces strike back in Congo UN peacekeepers killed at least 50 militiamen in a gunfight in northeastern Congo Tuesday, five days after nine Bangladeshi UN troops were killed there, the United Nations said yesterday.   Saddam tribunal judge shot dead Gunmen in Baghdad shot and killed a judge working for the Iraqi special tribunal set up to try Saddam Hussein and his top lieutenants, Interior Ministry officials said yesterday.   JU flouts rules to appoint 13 Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have appointed 13 teachers at archaeology and zoology departments against five posts allegedly in a show of nepotism and politicisation, prompting criticism from   Army scraps landmines The Bangladesh Army has destroyed its stockpile of anti-personnel mines within the 2005 deadline as a signatory to the Anti-personnel Mine (APM) Ban Convention.   Businessman shot for toll refusal Muggers shot a businessman in Shyampur for not giving them toll and robbers shot a CNG-run three-wheeler driver at Shahbagh last night.   Bhutan's new Saarc secy gen takes charge New Saarc Secretary General, Chenkyab Dorji of Bhutan, has assumed the office for the next three years, replacing QAMA Rahim of Bangladesh whose tenure has expired.   Kibria family begins unique protest today The family of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria formally launches a peaceful programme titled 'Shantir Pokkhe Nileema' (blue for peace) today demanding trial of perpetrators of all the grenade and   10 injured as bomb goes off at urs Ten persons including a woman named Halima Begum, 50, were injured in a bomb explosion early Wednesday at an urs mahfil in Parulia Narsinghapur village under Jinardi union of Palash upazila.   Hafiz, Anu fired at Ahsanullah Slain Awami League (AL) lawmaker Ahsanullah Master's son Zahid Ahsan Sohel, a prosecution witness in the murder case told a court yesterday that Kana Hafiz and Anu fired gunshots at the dais where his   Tiger kills fisherman A fisherman was killed on Tuesday as a tiger attacked him while he was fishing in the Sundarbans.   BCS (special) results Results of the 26th BCS (special) under general education cadre were published yesterday. About 5,463 candidates have initially qualified for viva voce for direct appointment in 1,034 posts.   BNP cadres rough up UNO Some cadres of the ruling BNP's youth front assaulted a Debhata Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) yesterday morning allegedly for saving another officer of the local upazila settlement court who was alsoassaulted   HC orders to reinstate word Muslim The High Court (HC) yesterday ordered the Dhaka University authorities to reinstate the word 'Muslim' with the name of its students' dormitory Fazlul Huq Hall as it was before 1972. Business Bangladesh one of top 10 markets for StanChart Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Osman Morad finds a huge scope for development of banking business in Bangladesh.   Tourism extravaganza kicks off tomorrow Dhaka travel mart, the country's biggest gathering of travel service-related companies, starts tomorrow at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.   Asia outbound travel industry to grow strongly in ’05: Survey The number of international travellers from the Asia Pacific will grow strongly in the first half of 2005 as the region's strong economic growth continues, a MasterCard survey released Wednesday said.   China spends $195b to maintain currency peg China's central bank spent 1.61 trillion yuan (195 billion dollars) buying foreign currency last year to maintain the yuan's peg with the dollar, a rise of 40 percent over 2003, state press reported Wednesday.   Thailand tightens import amid trade deficit Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Tuesday ordered an import-monitoring panel to keep a close watch on the Kingdom's deteriorating trade balance following the largest current account deficit in almosteight   UK minister to meet Saifur in Paris UK Minister for International Development Hilary Benn is expected to meet Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman in Paris on the sidelines of Development Assistance Committee High Level Forum (HLF) meetingof   Tea auction witnesses static market The international tea auction here witnessed a static market in terms of both price and demand.   Mintoo elected VP of Asia Pacific chamber President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo has been elected vice-president of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry   Prize giving ceremony of Rahimafrooz Batteries held The prize distribution ceremony of a promotion in the automotive battery industry -- Lucus-Kolome Kolome Kuala Lumpur -- organised by Rahimafrooz Batteries Ltd was held in Dhaka recently.   Siemens sees mobile phone activities in red at start of ’05 German electronics giant Siemens expects its loss-making mobile phone handset activities to remain in the red in the first three months of this year, which is the second quarter of the company's business   Developing states prepared for battle at WTO talks Developing nations on Tuesday vowed to push for a fair deal at World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Kenya this week in a bid to pump life into the Doha trade liberalization process.   Mitsubishi Motors aims to make profit in US next year Scandal-hit Mitsubishi Motors aims to return to the black in the key US market in 2006, while launching exports from its Illinois plant to Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East, its new president said Wednesday.   S’pore-based budget carriers announce new routes Singapore-based budget carriers announced new service routes Wednesday as the rivalry for the Asian low-fare market further intensified. Sports Cricket: Same old batting story Another defeat in the Duleep Trophy tournament stared Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) X1 in the face as they crashed to 117-6 in their first innings at stumps on the second day against Central Zone atthe   Cricket: Study first: Sachin India's cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar batted for harried parents across the country Wednesday by calling on students writing examinations not to allow the thrill of the upcoming series against Pakistan   Cricket: Don't call Pakistan weak Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq on Wednesday brushed aside criticism over his team, saying they were talented enough to raise their game against India in the upcoming Test series.   Tennis: Sania scalps Svetlana Sania Mirza again suggested herself a new star in the making by producing a remarkable comeback from a large deficit and from injury to beat US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round of   Cricket: India's top order fixed Captain Sourav Ganguly has re-vealed India will not be tempted into tinkering with their batting order for the first Test against Pakistan. "Our batting order for the Tests is fixed.   Cricket: India going F1 crazy Narain Karthikeyan's face smiles down from giant hoardings in Indian cities, car stickers in his hometown proclaim "Narain, we are proud of you" and fans scribble good-luck messages on a special graffiti   Football: Kameni stands in Barca's way There may not have been any goals but that was the only thing that was lacking as Spanish league leaders Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw by their local rivals Espanyol.   Football: Oldies turn it on A team of international veterans including 64-year-old former Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti beat a largely youthful Indonesian side 4-3 in a friendly match to raise funds for tsunami victims.   Football: Perez defends policy Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has once again publicly defended his recruitment policy at the Bernabeu.   Cricket: Rajshahi out to topple Dhaka Rajshahi will be looking to climb to the top of the Sixth Ispahani National Cricket League one-day table when they entertain leaders Dhaka in a fourth-round match at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra.   Cricket: BD A start one-day challenge Fresh from a Test series whitewash, the visiting Bangladesh A team will open their one-day campaign against their Zimbabwe counterparts today.   Cricket: Durham sold out for BD-Eng Test! Durham have announced that 1,000 extra seats will be added at the Riverside for England's Test against Bangladesh.   Cricket: Cricketers continue BNS protest As many as 123 cricketers yesterday put down their signatures in favour of a campaign to keep cricket at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).   Cricket: Streak makes instant impact Heath Streak struck 68 in his first game for a year to dig Zimbabwe out of a hole in the final one-day international against South Africa in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.   Cricket: Travel method irks Pakistan The Pakistan cricket team are concerned that their travel arrangements could hinder their preparation for next week's first Test against India.   Chess: Zia wrests lead from Rakib Grand Master Ziaur Rahman displaced International Master Abdullah Al Rakib from top slot when he won their sixth round board in the Mercantile Bank 31st National Chess Championship at the federation hall-room   Football: A'bagh, Wanderers enter group finals Arambagh Krira Sangha and Dhaka Wanderers Club moved into the group finals of the Tibet 20th Federation Cup Football Tourna-ment at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamala-pur yesterday.   Hockey: Div I hockey Krishna Kumar struck twice as Mukta Bihanga Tarun Sangha beat Shishu Kishore Sangha 2-1 in the Green Delta First Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium yesterday.   Cricket: Ashes winner Luckhurst no more Former England batsman Brian Luckhurst whose two centuries helped his country win the Ashes in 1970-71 has died aged 66 from cancer.   Cricket: Premiership teams in qtrs Premier League sides Arsenal, Southampton and Blackburn Rovers reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with victories over lower division opponents in fifth-round replays on Tuesday.   Football: Keane cleared Manchester United captain Roy Keane was cleared Tuesday of assault and criminal damage charges after an alleged confrontation with a 16-year-old boy. Metropolitan Crackdown on nets hits fishermen Radheshyam Chandra Burman, a fisherman, had his dream of a happy life shattered when the law enforcers burnt his fishing net 15 days ago, after they mistook it for the kind of net that is currently banned.   China urged to persuade India not to implement river-link project The growing relationship between China and India will not have any adverse impact on the ties between China and Bangladesh, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.   Promotions to post of joint secy likely today Promotions to the post of joint secretary are likely to take place today as authorities have finalised a list of eligible deputy secretaries after extensive scrutiny.   CNG driver strangled, two stabbed in city Unidentified criminals strangled a CNG auto-rickshaw driver and snatched his vehicle while muggers stabbed a transport worker and another kitchen market trader in the city yesterday.   Philosophical Assoc confce begins today The 10th general conference of the Bangladesh Philosophical Association (BPA) begins at the auditorium of Teacher Student Centre of Dhaka University (DU) today.   Bikalpa Dhara concerned over rise of fundamentalism Leaders of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh yesterday expressed their grave concerns over the continuous terrorism, corruption, anarchy, and rise of fundamentalism, including frequent bomb blasts and a famine-like National Shrimp fry a prospective forex earner The prospect of shrimp sector as a foreign exchange earner has brightened with the possibility of bulk exports of fries.   Tension mounts in Kulaura border Tension is amounting in Bangla-desh-India border at Sharifpur in Kulaura upazila as Indian Border Security Force (BSF) is erecting barbed wire fence in the no man's land between border pillars no 1861   'Criminals, drug addicts' in Magura Jubo League Jobo League (JL) leaders from four upazilas and one municipal unit in Magura at a press conference at Magura Press Club on Tuesday demanded scrapping of its newly formed six-member district conveningcommittee,   Political leaders demand Rajshahi SP's withdrawal Local leaders of different political parties and social organisations have reiterated their demand for immediate removal of Rajshahi Police Superintendent Masud Mia for allegedly helping Bangla Bhai in   Ruling party men sheltering zealots, says Inu Crimes increased in the country as the ruling parties are patronising criminals and Islamist militants, Jatiya Samajtantric Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu has alleged.   Peacekeeper laid to rest in Nilphamari A Bangladeshi peacekeeper, killed on Friday in a militia ambush in Congo, was laid to rest on Tuesday at his village home here with full military honour.   Zia Fertiliser resumes production Ashugonj Zia Fertiliser Factory resumed production on Tuesday after seven days' suspension following a fire incident.   Bid in Akhaura stopped after flag meeting Raising of barbed wire fence on the no man's land along Akhaura border by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has been stopped following a flag meeting with BDR, held at Agartala BSF camp on Monday.   BNP leader expelled A local BNP leader has been expelled from the party.   Tax evasion: Onion trucks seized at Bhomra Two trucks carrying Indian onions weighing 15,334-kilogram were seized by the BDR on Sunday. The onions were imported allegedly by evading tax.   Training on quake aftermath held in Rangpur A day-long training on Community Based Earthquake Management was held in Rangpur yesterday. Culture Documenting Bangladesh While "commercial movies" are reigning in the film arena, the documentary films still have a distinctive niche. As a visual medium, cinema itself has an inherent tendency of documenting the ambience.   Doing it her own way in Berlin "I think colours excite the soul. I'm also concerned about the form. I minimise my work in mixed media, " says talented artist Morsheda Arzu Alpana.   The country's cultural heritage in all its diversity The weeklong Bangladesh Tourism Festival 2005 in Dhaka, organised by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Jubok Tourism Limited ends today.   Sir Anthony Hopkins: A hard core professional For those with an inclination for gore, the film titled The Silence of the Lambs, is a definite choice. General Safeguard country's interest, borders with firmness Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday directed the members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to safeguard the country's interest, dignity, borders, resources and every inch of the sacred soil with resilienceand   BCS exams process to be changed Minister in charge of Public Service Commission secretariat in the Jatiya Sangsad Barrister Aminul Haque yesterday said the government has a plan to bring changes in the existing process of the Bangladesh   Two outlaws arrested Two outlaws were arrested in Mirpur and Bheramara upazilas of the district on Tuesday night.   Body to determine compensation The government has formed a four-member committee to determine the amount of compensation to be claimed from Niko, responsible for Tangratila gas field blowout.   Time extended Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has extended the deadline for submitting reports for the Investigative Journalism Award 2005. International Israel warns Abbas of stormy future Israel warned Mahmud Abbas yesterday of a bleak future ahead unless he crushes militants, as the Palestinian leader basked in global support for a raft of reforms set to create a viable Palestinian state.   Nepal cracks down on reporting on Maoists Nepal has cracked down on reporting of the long-running Maoist insurgency, ordering editors only to publish information provided by the security forces or face punishment, state-run radio announced yesterday.   France, US lead drive for Syrian pullout France and the United States spearheaded a major effort Tuesday to drive Syrian troops out of embattled Lebanon and pave the way for free elections under the watchful eyes of an international force.   Tigers warn of threat to fragile truce Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has ordered an investigation into increased attacks on Tamil Tiger rebels who yesterday warned that the violence will have "far-reaching consequences" for afragile   HK leader set to resign Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa yesterday looked set to resign, cutting short a turbulent eight-year tenure overshadowed by economic recession, policy gaffes and unease over China's interference.   HR groups file case against Rumsfeld Two US human rights groups sued Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday, saying he first authorized and then failed to stop torture of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan. Editorial Editorial: Parliamentary standing committees Once again the parliamentary standing committees have expressed their dissatisfaction with the cooperation they are receiving from ministers and ministry officials when it comes to the committees attempting   Editorial: Private school teachers The government decision to set up a regulatory body to register, train and certify the aspiring candidates for appointment as private school teachers needs to be examined in all its ramifications.   Death in a distant land The death of nine Bangladesh soldiers came as shocking and sad news to all of us.   Playing cricket? According to Anurag Thakur of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama, who made Dharmsala his home after fleeing China's Tibetan province, failed in an uprising against Letters to Editor Uncensored photographs These days I have become very reluctant to read a newspaper or watch any news on the television in the presence of my child.   Distribution of wealth We have stepped into the 21st century and our nation is already 33 years old! We had governments in the past and also at present pursuing ideologies like Nationalism, Socialism, Secularism, Democracyetc.   "Uncalled for" I want to say something about the letter "Uncalled for" by MU Ahmed from Banani, Dhaka. In the letter Mr. Ahmed expressed his concern about the interference of the foreign diplomats in our national affairs.   Women political activists I am very disgusted by the way our country's political activists express their anger (women to be exact).   Corrupt politicians It was a shocking piece of news when I found out that KEPZ was not getting permission because its organisers could not satisfy some influential politicians.   Islamic militants I fully endorse the views expressed by a citizen on the recent crackdown on the Islamic militants.   © thedailystar.net, 2005. All Rights Reserved.