Vol. 5 Num 330 Tue. May 03, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page CMP chief removed as EC finds him guilty The government yesterday removed the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) commissioner after the Election Commission (EC) the same day ordered for his removal on the failure to discharge his duties impartially   Three immigration cops, Caab man, brokers held Police in a massive hunt in the last two days arrested three immigration cops, a security officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) and three brokers on charges of sending four people   AL fires Hazari Awami League (AL) yesterday in a major cleansing step within the party expelled former AL lawmaker Joynal Hazari, who had drawn news headlines frequently for "criminal activities" in Feni during the 1996-2001   Morshed refutes US claim of terror link Foreign Minister Morshed Khan has sharply reacted to US State Department report that an Islamist outfit having links with al-Qaeda is operating in the country, saying that it is part of a "conspiracyand   2 bank staff die in failed Savar heist Robbers killed two employees of Sonali Bank Savar Cantonment branch in their abortive attempt to loot the bank on Saturday night.   Announcement of new pay scale by May 20 Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman yesterday said the new pay scale will be announced by May 20 and the increased salaries of government employees will be disbursed from the month of June.   Move finally to bring back 15 from Algeria In a rare move, the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry has decided to use the Wage Earners' Welfare Fund to repatriate the 15 Bangladeshis arrested by Algerian police and languishing   24 families receive Tk 1 lakh each today The Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will provide compensation today to a total of 24 relatives of workers killed in the Spectrum Sweater Industries Ltd.   'Declare nat'l minimum wage, reopen mills and factories' Hundreds of thousands of workers came out on the city streets on Sunday to mark the historic May Day, demanding declaration of a national minimum wage and reopening of the closed mills and factories.   11 die, 60 hurt in road crashes At least 11 people were killed and 60 others injured in two road accidents on Sunday in Tangail and Barisal.   Legal Chess   SCBA stages sit-in today The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) stages a sit-in demonstration today at the chief justice's (CJ) entrance to the Supreme Court to protest his allowing Additional High Court Judge Faisal Mahmud   3 more return after 6-month Sudan ordeal Three more young fortune-seekers, cheated by a manpower broker in the name of migrating to Italy, have returned home after six harrowing months in the African country of Sudan, observing that many Bangladeshi   2 killed in 'crossfire' An alleged criminal was killed in a 'shootout' with Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) in Sutrapur yesterday, while a union parishad chairman, also a member of JSD Gono Bahini, was killed in a 'crossfire' with   Robbery spree in city Robbers looted cash and gold estimated at over Tk 1 lakh from the house of a dance director at Uttara and muggers took away Tk 47,000 after shooting a contractor at Azimpur in the capital yesterday.   3 killed, 20 injured in boiler blast Three people were killed and 20 others injured in a boiler explosion at Nandanpur Chikabari bazaar in Bagmara upazila yesterday.   Tripura governor visits Akhaura check post Dinesh Nandan, governor of the Indian state of Tripura, yesterday visited the Akhaura border check post where commanders of the BDR and the BSF were present.   Bigots hit back with case against Ahmadiyyas A local of Shyamnagar upazila filed a case with a Satkhira magistrate court on April 30 accusing 48 Ahmadiyya community members for alleged April 17 attack on a procession of International Khatme Nabuwat   Man killed for protesting adulterated oil sale A young man, struck hard on the head by a grocer after a scuffle over sale of adulterated soyabean oil, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday.   US team visits Sirajganj, keen to set up plants The top brass of a US company, now in Bangladesh with a billion dollar investment plan, showed interest in establishing a fertiliser factory and a power plant near Jamuna Bridge if necessary facilities   Car bombs, attacks kill 42 in Iraq A car bomb exploded in an upscale shopping district of Baghdad yesterday, killing at least six Iraqis and setting fire to an apartment building, police said, continuing a string of attacks that's left   Nepal communist leaders freed Nepal's royalist government freed the chief of the country's biggest communist group from house arrest, an official said yesterday, two days after King Gyanendra ended a state of emergency in the country.   SC overturns HC order The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday overturned the High Court (HC) verdict that had acquitted the three accused earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by the lower court in the Chapa murder case in Barisal   Two singers of Nilphamari May Day function raped Two singers from Dinajpur who were to perform at a May Day function in Dimla upazila were raped, prompting cancellation of the day's programmes here and strong protest by all sections of people.   5 journalists killed, 176 hurt in 2 yrs Five journalists were killed and 176 were injured while performing their professional duties from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004, revealed a report of human rights group Odhikar on the World Press Business Share prices plummet Share prices on both bourses yesterday slumped heavily, over 100 points on average, prompting small investors to stage demonstrations in Dhaka.   Banking sector reforms to continue: New BB governor The newly appointed Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday praised the banking sector reforms introduced by his predecessor and said he will carry on the reform programmes.   Remove non-tariff barriers to curb informal trade An Indian economist has urged the governments of Bangladesh and India to take initiatives to remove existing non-tariff barriers to curb informal trade between the two countries.   Dhaka to get duty-free access to US this year Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury yesterday expressed hope that Bangladesh will get duty-free access to US market by the end of this year as a bill seeking the facility was moved in the US Congress.   Vanik Bangladesh now LankaBangla Finance Vanik Bangladesh Limited, a multi-product joint venture merchant banker, has changed its name to LankaBangla Finance Limited.   BGIC declares 20pc bonus share Bangladesh General Insurance Company (BGIC) Ltd has declared a 20 percent bonus share as dividend for its shareholders.   Ministers to meet in Paris to avert crisis in free trade talks Trade ministers from rich and developing countries meet in Paris this week under pressure to avert a crisis in world free trade talks.   Holcim posts 67.3pc net profit rise in Q1 Switzerland's Holcim, one of the world's largest cement groups, on Monday announced a 67.3 percent increase in its first quarter net profit despite a sluggish winter in the European construction sector. Sports Football: Reds defend crown today Three-time champions Muktijoddha Sangsad will renew their now established rivalry against Brothers Union today as they try to defend their Federation Cup crown.   Cricket: Gayle, Sarwan go on Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan survived dropped catches and went on to make unbeaten centuries as West Indies reached 299 for one wicket on the third day of the fourth Test against South Africa on Sunday.   Cricket: Kallis on top of SA Jacques Kallis admitted on Sunday that becoming South Africa's highest ever Test run-getter was an achievement he thought might be beyond him when he was a youngster.   Cricket: Malik banned, fined Pakistan cricket chiefs banned all-rounder Shoaib Malik for one Test and fined him 75 per cent of his next two international match fees for throwing a domestic game, an official said Monday.   Rafique's Year...   Football: Champagne Chelsea Chelsea celebrated their first championship for 50 years on Saturday, spraying their travelling fans with champagne after beating Bolton 2-0.   Cricket: U-19 cricketers return home happy The Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team returned home last night after a successful tour of Australia where they remained unbeaten in ten matches.   Cricket: StanChart cricket East Zone B (115-5) defeated South Zone 4 (112) by five wickets in the Standard Chartered Young Tigers National School Cricket Tournament (Under-13) at the Jagannath hall ground yesterday.   Bangladesh jolt Jordan Pakistan were leading the men's table with 162 points after the second round of the 13th BFAME Bridge Championships at Hotel Sonargaon yesterday.   Cricket: Mixed bag for Dhaka Teams from Dhaka had contrasting fortunes in yesterday's age-group (under-17) development cricket tournament in the city.   Cricket: Bangladesh play Sri Lanka today Bangladesh will take on hosts Sri Lanka today in the opening match of the Under-15 tri-nation limited-overs cricket series in Colombo. Malaysia are the other team in the single-league tournament.   Cricket: Windies 405/3 The West Indies saved the follow on and were 405 for three at lunch on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at St. John's in Antigua on Monday.   Cricket: No Shoaib, no Moin Pakistani selectors Monday left out unfit fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for their tour of the West Indies this month but recalled fit-again pacer Shabbir Ahmed.   Football: Barca stay focused Barcelona responded to the pressure placed on them by Real Madrid and Ronaldo by beating Albacete 2-0.   Football: Feel the Blues' buzz? Frank Lampard has insisted Chelsea will head into Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg away to English rivals Liverpool with the "confidence of champions".   Football: Big two going neck to neck Juventus beat Bologna 2-1 on Sunday to draw level with AC Milan at the top of Serie A, seven days before the two title-chasers meet in a crunch Scudetto showdown at the San Siro.   Mashud player of the year Bangladesh cricket team's vice-captain and wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud was named Grameen-Phone-Prothom Alo player of the year yesterday.   Tennis: BD promoted to Group-3 Bangladesh moved into the Davis Cup Group-3 when they emerged unbeaten champions in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group-4 qualifiers in Yangoon.   Football: Bayern wrap up Bundesliga Bayern Munich captured a record 18th Bundesliga championship Saturday, with Roy Makaay scoring three goals in a 4-0 victory over FC Kaiserslautern.   Cricket: Warne doesn't know about it Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has played down suggestions by his brother that he may retire from Test cricket after the Ashes in 2006-07.   Football: Independence Day soccer from May 5 Independence Day football tournament, first of its kind in this North Bengal headquarters, kicks off on May 5 at the Rajshahi Stadium with top clubs of the country taking part.   Football: Liverpool given hope UEFA president Lennart Johansson has given Liverpool hope of competing in next season's Champions League even if they finish outside the top four of the Premiership, saying "the door is open" if the Anfield   Rooney not a good role model! Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has been axed from a children's soccer tournament because organisers felt he was not a suitable role model.   Football: Weekend's results & standings English Premiership results on Sunday: Charlton 0 Manchester United 4 (Scholes 34, Fletcher 44, Smith 62, Rooney 67) Tottenham 5 (Kanoute 6, 27, King 19, Reid 67, Kelly 90) Aston Villa 1 (Barry Metropolitan Oust-govt movement from Ctg if polls rigged Leader of the Opposition and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina has urged people of the port city to give a befitting reply to the 'misrule' of the present government through ballots in the May   'Restrictive and repressive laws curtail press freedom' Restrictive and repressive laws have curtailed press freedom and created a fearful atmosphere for journalists in the country, said speakers at a roundtable in the city yesterday.   Abductor gets 30 yrs A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced a youth to 30 years' rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping a six-year-old boy Raju for trafficking in October 1999.   76th anniversary of birth of Jahanara Imam today Today is the 76th birth anniversary of Jahanara Imam.   Veneman made Unicef executive director Ann M Veneman, former US Secretary of Agriculture, was appointed the 5th Executive Director of Unicef to lead the UN children's agency.   Gold worth Tk 35 lakh looted in N'ganj Robbers looted 334 tolas of gold worth about Tk 35 lakh from a jewellery shop at Kalimabazar in the town in the early hours of Sunday.   Hearing on acceptance of charge sheet May 9 A Sylhet court yesterday fixed May 9 for hearing on acceptance of the charge sheet in the bomb blast case in connection with the January 27 carnage of Habiganj that killed five people, including former   420 cellphone sets, batteries seized at ZIA Zia International Airport Customs yesterday seized 420 cellphone sets and batteries worth Tk 30 lakh at the airport.   Kibria's birth anniversary observed The 74th birth anniversary of the slain Awami League leader and former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, who was killed in a grenade attack in Habiganj on January 27, was observed on May 1.   Committee submits report today The fact-finding committee, formed to investigate the irregularities against a teacher of Economics department in admitting student to the department under 2004-05 academic session, will submit its report   'Awareness can help reduce impact of climate change' Awareness about climate change and implementation of strategies for adaptation can reduce the impact of climate change on people's livelihoods, speakers said yesterday at a workshop.   Boy loses 3 fingers as stray bomb goes off Three fingers of a 12-year-old boy were blown off as he touched an abandoned homemade bomb unknowingly while collecting papers from a dustbin at Banani in the city yesterday. National A breath of fresh air It was a different day for 374 teenagers who once were engaged in hazardous jobs at tobacco factories. Brought out of factories, they were given equipment for self-employment after training.   Parwar’s claim concocted, says outlaw leader Shailen Biswas, chief of outlawed New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP), has refuted the claim made earlier by Khulna city Jamaat-e-Islami Amear Mian Golam Parwar MP that NBCP had given him a death threat   AL, BNP want polls alliance with JP, claims Ershad Jatiya Party Chairman Hussien Mohammed Ershad Ershad yesterday said both Awami League and BNP want to form alliance with Jatiya Party for the next parliamentary election as none of them can hope to form   3 'outlaws' held near Khulna Press Club Policeon Sunday night arrested four alleged activists of outlawed Purba Bangalar Communist Party (PBCP M-L) from in front of Khulna Press Club.   One to die, 3 get life for double murder in Sylhet A murderer was condemned to death and three others were sentenced to life term imprisonment by a court here on Saturday in a sensational double murder case.   Showcause on Patuakhali poura chairman A court here on Thursday issued a show cause notice on Patuakhali Pourasabha chairman Mostaq Ahmed and nine others for alleged irregularity in appointment of 10 third and fourth class employees of the   School student's murder protested Several hundred students of Challisha Muktul Hossen High School, joined by their teachers and townspeople, brought out a procession at Netrakona on Saturday demanding arrest of the killers of school student   Create AIDS awareness Speakers at a roundtable meeting here yesterday stressed on concerted efforts of all to make people aware about the deadly disease of AIDS.   Bank employee killed in Dinajpur A employee of Bangladesh Krishi Bank was killed in land dispute with neighbors at Ramnagar village in the Sadar upazila on Saturday. Culture Parapar comes to town After taking Kolkata by storm, London-based music group Parapar is here in Dhaka. Between yesterday and today, the group is performing at the British Council auditorium.   Karmojibi Nari celebrates May Day "Song of May Day Sailing in the blue sky, Triumphant song of labourers Listen to it -- (You will hear) rhythm of Henry's hammer. Ho ho ho ho Rhythm of Henry's hammer.   A cultural presentation by Autism Welfare Foundation "Dhano dhanney pushpey bhora," sang 55 children at a recent two-hour cultural function held by the Autism Welfare Foundation (AWF) at Shilpakala Academy. This was not just any ordinary programme.   Unilever launches the biggest talent hunt in Bangladesh To bring forth the gifted singers in the country, Unilever has launched a grand talent hunt in Bangladesh: Close Up 1 Tomakeyee Khujchey Bangladesh at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on May 2.   Nrityanchal's dance performance The annual dance evening of Nrityanchal Performing Arts Academy was held at the Shishu Academy auditorium on Saturday last. International Afghan arms dump explosion kills 28 A hidden weapons cache exploded in northern Afghanistan yesterday, killing 28 people and injuring more than 70, officials said.   US targets Iran, N Korea at nuke arms talks US officials want a global disarmament conference, which started yesterday, to condemn Iran and North Korea's nuclear programmes, but most nations complain Washington is doing too little to scrap itsarsenal.   Troops intensify drive against Kashmir rebels The Indian army said yesterday a campaign to hunt down suspected Kashmiri militants in Kashmir had left 90 rebels dead since the launch of a bus service last month meant to signal peace in the divided   US, Asian allies downplay N Korean missile test The United States, Japan and South Korea yesterday played down North Korea's test-firing of a short-range missile off its east coast, saying it was not related to Pyongyang's drive for nuclear weapons.   Laura cracks lurid jokes on Bush US First Lady Laura Bush cracked risque jokes and ribbed her husband and his family at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner late Saturday. President George W. Editorial Editorial: Government caves in IT seems as though the parliament is finally prepared to pass the much discussed bill granting immunity to the World Bank some time this month, after the bill was approved by the parliamentary panel reviewing   Editorial: State Dept lauds B'desh THE US State Department has lauded the role of Bangladesh in the war against terror.   Rethinking agricultural strategies and policies The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Bangladesh Rice Foundation (BRF) and Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) jointly organised an international seminar in the city   Ensuring credibility of caretaker government The recent resolution of the European Parliament on Bangladesh has more or less echoed the demands of the major opposition parties for 'systematic reforms' for ensuring independence of the Election Commission Letters to Editor Economic development The finance minister is on record saying that, " The IMF and the World Bank are telling us to slow down the development and economic growth a little as they fear that there will be over-investment in   "Be smart" I can't fully agree with Mr. Dev as his letter did not focus on the whole situation.   Self- seeking politicians It is true that politics can do well for a democratic country if it is well. But if it is ill, it may be most harmful for a country. At present politics of Bangladesh is not well as it should be.   White collar crime Newspaper readers in Dhaka are being exposed to reports on more and more white collar crimes in the country.   Budget 2005-06 Expected decline in external fund flows recently propelled different bodies to recommend disintegrated fiscal and monetary policies for the forthcoming budget.   © thedailystar.net, 2005. All Rights Reserved.