Vol. 5 Num 569 Sun. January 01, 2006       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Sun also rises despite political heartbreaks Politicians may have failed again last year, but the private sector has not. With perseverance, innovation and resilience, it has written another inspiring chapter in the just-concluded year.   Militancy overshadows public security An alarming escalation of Islamist militancy and suicide bomb blasts was the biggest threat to public security as it overpowered all other kinds of criminal activities, political violence and killings   Listing starts today amidst controversy Amid countrywide demonstrations by the main opposition Awami League (AL) against the move to prepare a fresh electoral roll, over two lakh enumerators recruited controversially begin today the weeklong   City welcomes migratory birds Bird lovers in the city yesterday welcomed varieties of migratory waterfowl through a festival at the Ceramic Lake in Mirpur.   India goes for dams ignoring eco-disaster India strives to emerge as an electricity supplier to the power-hungry Southeast Asia by generating hydroelectricity from scores of dams it is building, including the highly controversial Tipaimukh dam,   WB wants 2pc cut in supplementary duty Government will have to cut the supplementary duties on imports by at least 2 percentage points, besides fulfilling 10 other conditions, to get the fourth tranche of the World Bank's Development Support   2 JMB men captured with gift bomb The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday arrested two suspected members of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the city and seized a powerful bomb from one of them.   SC Bar accuses CEC of violating constitution The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) yesterday accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice MA Aziz of violating the constitution by not taking into confidence the two other election commissioners   Advance raids on DU halls Police picked up 75 persons, mostly outsiders, during precautionary raids on different dormitories of Dhaka University early yesterday in a bid to prevent violence on the New Year Eve.   The Cow.......   Indonesia blast kills seven Seven people were killed and dozens injured when a bomb tore through a Christian market stall selling pork in Indonesia's religiously divided province of Central Sulawesi early Saturday, police said.   Lonely eyes get lonelier The eyes of 11-year-old Nahin wander restlessly over a stream of visitors to his room, but fail yet again to spot his parents among them.   Safta comes into effect today South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta), which paves the way for free trade in goods among the Saarc member states, comes into effect today.   Bangladeshi designed car unveiled The first ever automobile Leepu F-21 designed by a Bangladeshi was launched in Dhanmondi in the capital yesterday.   Shahjalal newsprint gets costlier from today Bashundhara Paper Trading, a local newsprint mill, increases the price of its Shahjalal newsprint by Tk 6,000 per tonne again from today.   Process on to grant amnesty to JMB men Leaders of the Awami League (AL) led 14-party opposition combine yesterday said the process is underway to grant amnesty to the militants in a bid to use them in favour of the BNP-Jamaat coalition inthe   JMB Khulna boss remanded Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) second-in-command of Khulna district was placed on a five-day remand yesterday.   Accused in journo Belal murder case gets bail Ekhlasur Rahman alias Ekhlas, one of the six charge-sheeted accused in journalist Belal murder case, was released on bail from the Khulna district jail on Thursday evening.   2 'cattle thieves' lynched An angry mob slaughtered two people at a village in Phulpur upazila Friday midnight suspecting them of cattle theft. Business 2005 ushers in challenges, opportunities: MCCI Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) yesterday said the year 2005 ushered in both challenges and opportunities for the country.   Capital market witnesses negative trend last year Although the country's capital market witnessed a negative trend in 2005, it finished the year with some signs of resilience and maturity overcoming many ups and downs in indices.   India’s trade with Saarc states may rise 300pc by 2015 With Safta (South Asian Free Trade Area) set to go into force from this year, India's trade with the Saarc countries may touch Rs 100,000 crore by 2015 from Rs 25,000 crore now, marking a 300 percentincrease,   CPD's reflections from Bangladesh perspective continued from Dec 31 Waiver on TRIPS According to the Marrakesh Agreement that established the WTO, LDCs were given 10 years to implement the TRIPS Agreement.   Malaysian Maxis to buy 65pc stake in Indian Aircel Malaysia's largest mobile phone operator Maxis Communications on Friday entered into partnership with the Reddy family to buy out Indian cellphone service provider Aircel for $1.   Jute Spinner okays 17.5pc dividend The 100 percent export-oriented jute yard manufacturing industry, Jute Spinners Ltd has declared 17 and half percent dividend for its shareholders for the year 2004-05.   Asian Textile launches 3 products Asian Textile Mills Ltd, an export-oriented factory, yesterday launched three textile products at its stall at Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF).   China makes good progress in foreign trade in 2005 China's import and export volume this year is expected to exceed 1.   US markets hope for rebound after gloomy end to '05 US stock market players hope for a rebound in the first week of 2006 after 2005 drew to a gloomy close for the blue-chip Dow average. Over the past week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.   India to release 3.65m tonnes of sugar in Q1 The Indian government announced yesterday the release to the market of 3.65 million tonnes of sugar during the January-March quarter to ensure adequate supply and keep prices in check. Sports Football: Mohammedan maul Army After a forgettable first round, a full strength Mohammedan Sporting Club showed their true colours in the Nitol-Tata Fifth National Football League when they routed Bangla-desh Army 6-0 at the Bangabandhu   Cricket: NZ rookies rout SL International cricket tyros Peter Fulton and Jamie How carried New Zealand to a convincing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka with 13 overs to spare in the opening one-day fixture of the revived series here   Cricket: A true friend lost Eddie Barlow's association with Bangladesh cricket might have lasted little more than a year only, but the South African will be remembered and respected as the best foreign coach by the cricketers and   Cricket: Fellows fondly remember him Former teammates acclaimed Eddie Barlow, who died on Friday, as the great motivator of South African cricket.   Nahiyan grabs the final gold The four-day 20th National Shooting Championship ended yesterday with Nahiyan Chandan clinching gold in the men's 50m rifle three position event at the National Shooting Complex in Gulshan.   Cricket: Lanka race into final Spinner Shsikala Siriwardene led Sri Lanka's women cricketers from the front with four wickets to take the Islanders into the Asia Cup final with a 30-run win over hosts Pakistan here on Saturday.   Football: Chelsea march on, Gunners falter again Jose Mourinho ended the year with plenty to celebrate as Chelsea swept aside Birmingham City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge here on Saturday and so remained at the top of the English Premiership entering 2006.   Cricket: Nel wants to copy Aussie appealing Paceman Andre Nel says South Africa may copy Australia's aggressive appealing to match umpires in Monday's final cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.   Football: Ferguson hits out at Vieira Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a withering attack on former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira after the Frenchman claimed Ruud van Nistelrooy was "a cheat and a coward".   Football: Maniche is perfect for Chelsea: Mourinho Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Dynamo Moscow's Portuguese midfielder Maniche, whom he coached at Benfica and FC Porto, would be perfect for the London-based club.   Cricket: Langer bowls for Warne Shane Warne may be pushing the line with his aggressive appealing for wickets, but teammate Justin Langer says his style provides some of cricket's great theatre.   Football: Zidane ponders retirement France playmaker Zinedine Zidane has hinted that he could retire after next year's World Cup in Germany.   Cricket: Eng cricketers get New Year Honours England's players and officials, who helped regain the Ashes in 2005, figured prominently in their country's New Year Honours list.   Football: Morocco fire Troussier Widely-travelled coach Philippe Troussier had his contract with the Moroccan national team terminated on Friday after only two months in charge, the country's football association said.   Cricket: Wins for Azad, Kathalbagan Delwar struck an unbeaten 66 as Azad Sporting Club registered their fourth victory in the First Division Cricket League with a three-wicket win over Rupali bank at the Dhaka University ground yesterday.   Football: Narayanganj get walkover Narayanganj got walkover against Brahmanbaria in the inaugural match of the zonal round of Chandpur in the JFA Cup Under-16 Football Tournament yesterday.   Cricket: Pawar to take over as ACC chief Jan 4 Chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sharad Pawar will take over as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) from January 4, 2006.   Handball: Div I h'ball Mansoor Sporting Club and Menzis Krira Chakra won their respective matches in the Bactrol First Division Handball League at the outer stadium handball ground yesterday.   Football: Hakimpur win Manik Sarkar Gold Cup Hakimpur Pourashava Eleven became champions in the Phulbari Manik Sarkar Challenge Gold Cup football tournament beating Dinajpur Khelowar Kalyan Shamity 4-2 at the Phulbari Degree College ground on Saturday.   Squash: Fed Squash Basundhara Group defeated Partex Group 6-3 in the Federation Squash League at the Gulshan Club yesterday. Metropolitan Frequent bails encourage crimes in society Frequent bails to miscreants and terrorists considering political and religious affiliations encourage crimes in the society, said the speakers at a workshop yesterday.   'Major parties try to cash in on militancy issue' Both the major political parties have been using the militancy issue as an election issue without taking the national interest into consideration, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.   4545 die in different incidents last year : HR reports Different human rights organisations in their annual reports yesterday said 4545 people were killed in different incidents and 538 people committed suicide across the country last year.   People were insecure in last 4 years : Dr Kamal People were quite helpless and insecure during the last four years of BNP-led alliance government, said Dr Kamal Hossain, president of Gono Forum, at a discussion yesterday.   Expat killed by brother in Saudi Arabia A Bangladeshi expatriate was stabbed to death by his younger brother at a town in Saudi Arabia on December 29. The deceased was identified as Naziur Rahman, who hails from Krishna Kathi area in Jhalakathi.   'Recognise urban women migrant workers as labourer' Women migrant workers in urban areas should be recognised as labourer and have to be facilitated for organising themselves in order to secure their rights, said the speakers at a workshop yesterday.   Bomb hurled at Ctg mess, 2 women hurt Two women were injured when some unidentified hoodlums hurled a bomb at a mess at South Middle Halishahar in the city yesterday morning.   60 shanties gutted in city Some unidentified miscreants set fire to a slum in the city in the small hours of Saturday. A fire brigade source said around 60 shanties were burnt to ashes.   One beaten to death in Fatikchhari A gang of miscreants beat a man to death at Fatikchhari upazila here on Friday night.   'Concerted effort needed to set up night shelter for street children' Speakers at a press conference yesterday underscored the need for integrated national effort to establish safe night shelter centres for the street children.   Hasina goes to S Arabia Jan 4 to perform Hajj Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on January 4 to perform holy Hajj.   Syeduzzaman, Irshadul new BRF chairman, vice-chairman Former finance minister M Syeduzzaman and former secretary Irshadul Haq have been re-elected as Chairman and Vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Rice Foundation (BRF) for a 3-year term.   CU Eid vacation begins today The sixteen days of Eid vacation for the students of Chittagong University (CU) begin today. Students of different dormitories started leaving the campus from yesterday to enjoy the vacation.   Sheltech Award announced Noted Dramatist Momtaz Uddin Ahmed and Film Director Shubhash Dutta were nominated for Shetech Award 2005, says a press release. Each award comprises prize money of Tk 50000 and a crest.   DCAB executives Anis Alimgir of the daily Ajker Kagoj and Masud Karim of the daily Jugantar have been elected president and general secretary of the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association Bangladesh (DCAB) for the year National JMB regrouping in Satkhira Activists of banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) are regrouping in Satkhira, using mosques and madrashas in the rural areas, as law enforcers are yet to arrest the chargesheeted   Two more Aug 17 JMB bombers held in Khulna Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two more Ehsars (leaders) of outlawed JMB Friday night from two areas in the city.   Tension in Panchagarh border Tension is mounting in Bhazanpur border area in Tentulia upazila in Panchagarh district as several hundred Indian farmers, backed by BSF are planting tea saplings in the no-man's land near border pillar   Enact new law to combat violence against women Speakers at a discussion held here on Saturday stressed on enactment of new law and its proper implementation to combat violence against women across the country.   Haji Danesh University teachers continue class boycott Teachers of Haji Danesh Science and Technology University continued to abstain from taking classes for the fourth day yesterday protesting assault of a teacher allegedly by some students belonging toa   BCC mayor seeks more funds for projects Mayor of Barisal City Corporation Majibor Rahaman Sarwar yesterday urged the government to allocate more funds for development of the city and improvement of civic amenities.   Acting principal charged for looting wheat from LSD! A case was filed with Saidpur thana yesterday against Acting Principal of Saidpur College Moslem Uddin Ahmed for 'looting' food grains from a government LSD (Local Supply Depot) godown on Friday.   Erosion: Agitation in Sirajganj for dam protection Several thousands people from Kazipur and Shahzadpur brought out a procession and held several rallies in Sirajganj town yesterday demanding construction of a dam to protect the areas erosion by Jamuna Point-Counterpoint Crisis of governance in Bangladesh Bangladesh scored the lowest marks among 209 low income countries in 2004 in the World Bank's governance situation survey.   Learning from the Asian trend in primary education The wealth of a nation lies in its people -- their commitment to the country and community, their willingness to strive and persevere, their ability to think, achieve and excel.   De-stress in 2006 All health information to keep you up to date It is not at all possible to get rid of stress from our life, but we need to know how can we (especially the negative stress) manage itand   The year in politics In his second inaugural address, George W. Bush four times summoned the image of fire -- "a day of fire," "we have lit a fire," "fire in the minds of men," and "untamed fire. Culture Signs of revival To what extent is the younger generation attracted to our traditional songs? The spate of new albums of re-mixes would seem to suggest that there is a slow but sure rejuvenation of interest in folk music   What's in store? Package TV plays have evolved into an industry in Bangladesh. Many directors, playwrights, actors and technical hands have taken it as their sole profession. General Blacker Shamsu shown arrested, sent to jail Shamsul Alam alias Blacker Shamsu, an alleged smuggler, was sent to Khulna district jail yesterday showing him arrested under arms act, says a Rab press release.   2 killed in road accidents Two people were killed and six others injured in two separate road accidents on Rangpur-Bogra highway yesterday.   BCL enforces strike at CU Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Chittagong University (CU) unit enforced a strike causing suspension of classes at the university yesterday. International 3 British hostages freed in Gaza A 25-year-old British human rights worker and her parents were freed in the Gaza Strip on Friday by the Palestinian gunmen who kidnapped them two days earlier.   Advani steps down The main opposition leader of India LK Advani on Saturday stepped down as the President of his party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).   Fireworks and fanfare to usher in 2006 Revellers around the world prepared to ring in 2006 on Saturday with fireworks and fanfare, saying goodbye to a year scarred by violence and natural disasters.   2006 year of big decisions: Blair British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said decisions will be made in 2006 which could shape the UK's fortunes for generations to come.   Sri Lanka detains 900 in rebel search Sri Lankan troops and police detained 900 people in a major house-to-house search in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo Saturday as part of a major hunt for Tamil Tiger rebels, a top police officer told AFP.   Gunmen occupy Gaza ministry to demand jobs About 50 masked gunmen occupied a Palestinian government office in the Gaza Strip for several hours on Saturday to demand jobs, witnesses and a spokesman for the gunmen said.   Bomb kills five outside Iraq Sunni party office Five people were killed when their car was hit by a roadside bomb outside the local offices of one of Iraq's main Sunni Arab political parties on Saturday, police said. Editorial Editorial: Plea for the New Year The year 2005 kicked off with some unfortunate incidents, both domestically and internationally.   Editorial: What a barbaric act! The death of a young garment worker in the city's Mirpur area has raised a flurry of questions, each of them having something to do with the way garment workers are treated, their fundamental rights violated.   Adverse selection and moral hazard in politics In a democracy, the role of electoral process is twofold: select the benign politicians (serving public interest) and discipline the malign politicians (rent seekers or wheelers and dealers) if they are   It was waiting to happen When I met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Security Adviser MK Nayarayan, barely 24 hours before the Bangalore shootout, they were worried over the terrorists' attack in the country because such Letters to Editor Remix music Remix, a trend in musical composition, has now been given a new look in the field of art.   Politics and trade In our class we have been taught that trade is good for the economy as a whole, though it does not treat everyone equally.   Killing the innocent To kill the innocent is forbidden in any religion.   A crisis Thirty four long years have passed since that very winter evening of December 16, 1971. To millions those moments symbolised hopes, freedom and independence.   Bangladesh economy During the past few months or so, Bangladesh has been visited by some very influential people. Ratan Tata was here to discuss investment plans involving two and a half billion US dollars.   Get united The nation is under attack. Attacked by people who do not know the values of Islam, attacked by a community who do not know the values of humanity. Star Health Be aware of water & food borne diseases The list of water and food borne diseases are tall.   The anti-oxidants that you need to include in your diet Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals that can damage important part of cells, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).   People should come forward to meet the demand of safe blood A voluntary blood donor organisation can be critical in ensuring that there is sufficient blood supply.   Being symptom free-is not being healthy The World Health Organisation defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity so that a person can lead a socially andeconomically   Early hope seen for green tea in fighting blood cancer Green tea may help treat a form of adulthood leukemia, if the cases of four patients are any indication, according to a new report.   Heart in the right side Dextrocardia (Hear in right side): Usually the major portion of human heart lies in their left side. In some rare cases, it may be found in right side. However, it is not unnatural.   Knee pain in old age: Causes and remedies Knee pain in old age is a common problem. A significant numbers of patients attend the out patient clinics in orthopaedic practice. Star City Admission battle on high pitch Five-year-old Faria had no problem in going inside the school premises but she was adamant not to move a single step without her father. "Papa I won't go without you. I don't know anyone there....   Difficulties in enforcing security at DU Dhaka University (DU) authorities are facing great difficulties in enforcing new security measures across the campus.   Botanical Garden demands attention, care The National Botanical Garden is now plagued with antisocial activities, litter and negligence of the authorities to preserve the green in the city's Mirpur area, alleged visitors.   Dhaka Book Fair 2006 begins today The 12th Dhaka Book Fair-2006 under the banner "Books for peace and development" is expected to be inaugurated at midday, today at the Shilpakala Academy by the Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia.   Local courier services still unreliable City dwellers are frustrated with the unreliable services that most local courier services provide.   © thedailystar.net, 2006. All Rights Reserved.