| Front Page | 
Khaleda proposes body to discuss electoral reform
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday in parliament proposed forming a committee with representation of the ruling and opposition parties to reach a consensus on the main opposition's reform agenda onthe
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Hasina demands implementation of proposals
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament wanted to know whether the prime minister would carry out the opposition-proposed reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems
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Govt to go for $211m dubious telecom deal
Under the influence of a top political lobby, the government is going for a $211 million digital telecom exchange project with a so-called 'buyer's credit' from China.
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Survived, yet agonised
Rinku finds no joy in his miraculous survival, not even that of his father, from death in the dreadful debris of the collapsed multi-storey Phoenix building.
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22 JMB cadres to walk gallows
A court in Jhenidah yesterday sentenced 21 members of JMB to death for taking part in the August 17 serial bomb blasts last year while a Sylhet court sentenced another member of the banned outfit to death
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Another JMB Shura man captured
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members yesterday arrested one more member of the Majlish-e-Shura, the top policymaking body of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from nearBaitul
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10 questions to Khaleda
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday in parliament asked Prime Minister Khaleda Zia the following 10 specific questions:
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'PM's proposal not clear'
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday brushed aside Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's proposal for forming a committee to discuss the opposition's reform proposals.
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Hasina missing on BTV
The state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) yesterday did not broadcast the speech of Sheikh Hasina in parliament but aired Khaleda Zia's.
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Ashraful sends lions on cherry chase
Mohammad Ashraful stood tall in Muttiah Muralidaran's hundredth Test match with a magnificent hundred as Bangladesh amassed record runs on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Chittagong
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PM's India trip eyes warm ties
Seeking good neighbourly relations with India, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is going to New Delhi next month on a three-day visit to find a common ground for resolving the outstanding bilateral issues,some
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Another body found
With time ticking away, hope of finding any more survivors trapped in the rubble of the collapsed Phoenix building since Saturday is fading as rescuers could not trace anyone alive over the last two days.
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Private sector credit dips
The IMF-prescribed contractionary monetary policy has decelerated the private sector credit in the current fiscal year (FY), but it helped reduce the balance of payment deficit.
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14-party blocks roads, demands solution
Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition coalition yesterday took to the streets in the capital and elsewhere in the country to observe its two-hour sit-in programmes protesting the ongoing power, fuel,
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Probe finds flaws in construction
The probe committee headed by Additional Secretary Sirajul Islam found a lot of flaws in the construction and the safety measures at KTS Composite Textile Mill at Kalurghat where the February 23 inferno
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AK47 rifles, guns seized in CHT
Security forces yesterday seized a large cache of arms and ammunition, including five AK47 rifles, from the remote forest area in Alikadam upazila of the district.
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DEATH TRAP...
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Petrobangla asks Niko to restore supply from Feni gas field
Petrobangla is annoyed by Niko's suspension of gas supply from its Feni gas field. Petrobangla officials considered the action on the part of Niko as "a serious attempt to blackmail" the government.
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Warehouse fire panics RMG workers
Panic spread among hundreds of traders and garment workers at Karwan Bazar in the capital when a warehouse caught fire yesterday.
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Jubo Dal leader killed in Rab 'crossfire'
A Juba Dal leader having criminal records was killed during a shootout between his accomplices and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Narayanganj town early yesterday.
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Hearing on contempt rule today
Hearing on the contempt rule against nine bureaucrats on charges of distorting the judgement of judiciary separation case will be held in the Supreme Court (SC) today.
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Once a mighty river...
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55 die as Maoists blow off a truck in India
Maoists rebels set off a landmine under a truck yesterday in Chhattisgarh, killing 55 people who belonged to a government-sponsored anti-Maoist group, police said.
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41 killed as blasts rock Baghdad
Five explosions including three car bombs, a suicide attacker wearing an explosives belt and a blast near the National Theatre rocked Baghdad Tuesday, killing 41 people and wounding scores, police said.
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Focus on nuke pact as Bush flies in India today
With India and the United States struggling to work out a nuclear pact before President Bush arrives today, India's prime minister pledged Monday not to compromise the country's security to seal the deal.
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Iran won't give up nuke plan
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday that Tehran will not give up its nuclear program, but that ongoing talks with Russia to jointly enrich uranium would ease international concerns
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China to share hydrological data on river Brahmaputra
China will share hydrological data and information on the river Brahmaputra to enhance flood forecasting and warning capacity of Bangladesh.
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| Business |
Govt bodies on WTO issues fail to file reports as deadline ends
All the three government committees on WTO issues failed to submit their reports to commerce ministry as the February 28 deadline ended yesterday.
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Tele-density to hit 20pc by year-end
Tele-density of Bangladesh will reach around 20 percent by the end of this year, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman hoped yesterday.
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Provide hardcore poor with credit facilities
It is high time for micro credit institutions to provide the hardcore poor with credit facilities, economist Wahiduddin Mahmud said yesterday.
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Eskayef exports drugs to Sri Lanka this month
Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd, the country's leading pharmaceutical company, is going to export medicines to Sri Lanka this month.
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'GP Service Month' launched
GrameenPhone Ltd, the country's leading cellphone operator, yesterday launched 'GP Service Month' to widen its after-sales services to customers.
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DSE, CSE close higher
Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed higher yesterday with gainers outnumbering losers. The DSE General Index increased by 13.09 points to close at 1531.
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Bank Asia disburses micro credit among rural women
Bank Asia Limited has launched a small credit disbursement programme under 'Poverty Alleviation Scheme', says a press release.
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India unveils populist budget, aims for 10pc growth
India's government announced a populist budget Tuesday, targeting the nation's poverty-stricken masses at the same time pledging strong growth and "unrelenting" fiscal prudence.
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15-day furniture festival begins today at Mirpur
A 15-day furniture festival begins today at Mirpur in Dhaka to introduce local products to customers. In the festival, some 110 furniture shops on Rokeya Sarani will showcase all popular brands offurniture.
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Rehab housing fair begins in Dubai March 9
Developers is going to organise a three-day housing fair in Dubai, the UAE beginning March 9 to attract expatriate Bangladeshis in the country's real estate and housing market.
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Fareast Finance okays 20pc dividend
Fareast Finance and Investment Limited, a leasing and financing company, has declared a 20 percent dividend in the form of bonus share for the year 2005, says a press release.
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India's fiscal deficit seen at 4.1pc of GDP in 2005-06
India's fiscal deficit will fall to a better-than-expected 4.1 percent of GDP for the year to March 2006 and 3.8 percent next year, the finance minister said Tuesday as he presented the budget.
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| Sports |
Cricket:
Ashraful keeps his words
Before the Test match that started yesterday at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Mohammad Ashraful told that he loved to play against Sri Lanka and was looking forward to coming up with a big one in
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Cricket:
Akram Inswinger
Bangladesh had a very good first day of the first Test at a new ground that looked very nice. It was a good toss to win for the home side on a wicket where the bounce was perfect for strokeplay.
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Football:
Bangladesh take on Hong Kong today
Bangladesh look forward to become third time lucky when they host Hong Kong in the second round of the 2007 Asian Cup Group F qualifiers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.
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Cricket:
Trans-Tasman bid for WC
Australia and New Zealand Tuesday announced they will jointly bid to host the 2011 cricket World Cup but a top official admitted they were underdogs to host the event.
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Cricket:
First Test from today
England coach Duncan Fletcher said he was expecting his injury-hit side to show courage in adversity in the opening Test against India here on Wednesday.
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Football:
Perez parts with Real
Florentino Perez resigned as Real Madrid president on Monday, a day after his side lost 2-1 to struggling Real Mallorca and with his club facing the prospect of a third successive season without a major
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Football:
Italy, Germany's pre-test
European superpowers Italy and Germany square up here Wednesday in an eagerly-anticipated friendly that will help gauge their World Cup credentials.
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Football:
Spanish fed soft on racism
Racism again reared its ugly head in Spanish football as Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o suffered sustained abuse at Real Zaragoza.
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Football:
Advocaat feels good
South Korea's Dutch coach Dick Advocaat said Friday he had a "very good feeling" 100 days before the World Cup kicks off in Germany on June 9.
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Football:
Ballack denies Chelsea deal
Germany captain Michael Ballack refuted a British newspaper report on Tuesday that he has signed a four-year deal worth 25 million pounds (43 million dollars) to join Chelsea next season.
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Cricket:
Mahmud's debut as commentator
Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud said that Mohammad Ashraful's hundred made his debut as a commentator a happy one.
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Cricket:
Australian duo inspires Eng captain
England captain Michael Vaughan is confident of making a comeback from the knee injury which forced him out of the Test series against India and is looking to Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne for inspiration.
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Cricket:
Shoaib down under for op only
A senior official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday vehemently rubbished speculations that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had gone to Australia to undergo a biomechanic test on his bowling action
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Cricket:
Dalmiya served show cause
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to its former president Jagmohan Dalmiya, asking him to explain within 15 days why appropriate action should not be taken
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Football:
Ukraine sans Shevchenko
Ukraine are without their top player Andriy Shevchenko for the World Cup warm-up against Azerbaijan in Baku on Tuesday.
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Football:
Perez departure saddens Becks
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's surprise resignation was sad said England captain David Beckham on Tuesday.
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Football:
Ruud wants his place back
Ruud van Nistelrooy has demanded a recall to the Manchester United starting line-up but attempted to play down reports of a bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.
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| Metropolitan |
Take steps to bring about electoral reforms
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government must take an initiative to implement the opposition's proposals for reforms in the electoral system.
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Four Rajshahi city cops put under surveillance
More than four city police officials have been put under surveillance for distracting the investigation into Prof S Taher Ahmed murder case by helping Jamaat-Shibir leaders to create chaos through 'misleading
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Keep factory gates open during working hours
The apparel-industry leaders, taking a lesson from an infernal factory fire that burned 55 workers, followed by a building collapse burying many under rubble, asked the owners to keep all the gates of
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Govt blamed for failure to protect workers’ interest
Sramik Karmochari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) yesterday blamed the government for its failure to protect the interests of workers at garment factories and other industries.
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Trial of bldg owners, ministers, Rajuk officials demanded
Environmental organisations yesterday staged a sit-in programme in the city demanding proper implementation of the building code and trial of the building owners, concerned ministers and Rajuk officials
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14-party grand rally in Ctg today
Awami League chief Shiekh Hasina arrives here today to attend the Chittagong divisional grand rally of AL led 14-party alliance.
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FF cries for justice
Freedom fighter Sadequr Rahman Sadeq, president of Vagdi Adarsha Bahumukhi Samabaya Samity, yesterday alleged that some officials of Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samity-2 have been harassing him and his family
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Jhenidah ASP, CID inspector of Dhaka held
Two police officers were arrested when they surrendered to the court of District and Sessions Judge in a bribery case here yesterday.
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Three ministers, two advisers now visiting foreign countries
Three cabinet members and two advisers are now visiting foreign countries for various reasons.
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Three DIGs promoted
Three Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) of police were promoted to the rank of Additional Inspector General yesterday.
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Matin receives Amader Shomoy Award
Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin yesterday received The Dainik Amader Shomoy Sammanana-2006, an honorary award of a Bangla daily, for his significant role in the historic Language Movement in 1952.
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5 killed in road accidents
At least five people were killed and 34 others injured in separate road accidents in Sherpur, Jessore and Nilphamari yesterday.
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Cash, valuables worth Tk 18.50 lakh looted
Armed robbers looted cash, gold ornaments and other valuables worth Tk 18.50 lakh from the house of a car showroom owner at South Mugdapara in the city yesterday.
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NOC from Shipping Deptt a must
Commercial Banks have to obtain no objection certificate (NOC) from the Department of Shipping before opening any LC to purchase foreign ships, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) circular said yesterday.
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Body to probe DU result controversy
In the wake of recent controversies surrounding the masters' result of the political science department, the Dhaka University (DU) authorities yesterday formed a seven-member committee to investigatethe
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50 shops gutted at Dohar
A devastating fire gutted over 50 grocery shops at Meghlabazar in Dohar upazila in Dhaka on Monday night.
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Apollo Hospitals opens one-stop stroke centre
Apollo Hospitals Dhaka yesterday opened a stroke centre, first of its kind in the country, with a view to provide one-stop treatment to stroke patients round the clock.
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'Allow ETV to resume its transmission'
ETV Viewers' Forum yesterday staged a demonstration at Muktangan in the city yesterday demanding immediate steps to allow the Ekushey Television (ETV) to resume its transmission and an end to harassment
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VC-backed panel sweeps JUTA election
"Sammilata Panel (SP)" backed by the incumbent VC swept the election of Jahanigrnagar University Teachers' Association (JUTA) yesterday.
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Rajshahi plunges into darkness
Rajshahi city plunged into darkness as the metropolitan city suffered severe power cuts yesterday.
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Fire panics traders at Karwan Bazar
Panic gripped among hundreds of traders and garment workers at Karwan Bazar in the city yesterday when a warehouse caught fire.
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President assents to Bldg Construction (Amend) Bill
President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday assented to the Building Construction (Amendment) Bill, 2006 passed in the 20th session of the eight Parliament, said a handout.
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| National |
Intruders swoop on fishing trawlers near Sundarbans
One Bangladeshi fisherman was shot dead killed and at least 50 others were injured when armed intruders on foreign trawlers attacked their trawlers in Madarbaria area in the Sundar-bans coast in Bangladeshi
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Civic bodies condemn BNP men's attack on environmentalists
The attack allegedly by ruling BNP cadres on the environmentalists protesting filling up of a 200 year-old pond in Banaripara town on Monday evoked a sharp reaction from different organisations and civil
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Rape victim's bid for self-immolation
A 15 year-old girl is now fighting for life at Gaibandha Sadar Hospital due to severe burn injuries as she attempted to torch herself out of shame after being gangraped.
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Trawler salvaged, owner yet to be arrested
The trawler that capsized at Charmonai Ghat Monday morning was salvaged yesterday by BIWTA salvage vessel Hamza.
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Urea seized in St Martin's
Cost Guard personnel on Monday seized a fishing boat with 150 bags of urea fertiliser while being smuggled to Myanmar through the coast near St Martin's island in Cox's Bazar.
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BSD long march reaches Rangpur
The long march organised by Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) to protest India's river inter-linking project reached Rangpur yesterday on its way to Kurigram.
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| Point-Counterpoint |
The continuing importance of public education
I have for long focused on the importance of restoring excellence to public higher education.
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Garments factories are now death traps
In a country that stumbles upon calamity with unerring regularity and embraces mortality and destruction with stoicism, death's sting has long been blunted. True death never comes by appointment.
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| Culture |
Ekushey Book Fair '06 wraps up
Ekushey Book Fair, considered to be the largest book fair in the country, ended yesterday in Dhaka amidst enthusiasm.
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Tagore's musical Tasher Desh staged by Surer Dhara
Surer Dhara staged Rabindranath Tagore's musical Tasher Desh At the National Theatre Stage, Shilpakala Academy recently.
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Shubochan Natya Shogsad stages Khudhito Pashan
The final show of the ongoing ITI theatre festival Khudhito Pashan, a Shubochan Natya Shongsad production, will be staged today at the Mahila Samity Stage.
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Wedding items and accessories exhibited
Elite Marriage accessories exhibition of Dhaka, was held recently at the Novera Hall, National Museum.
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JRSP's council in Comilla
Jatio Rabindra Sangeet Parishad's (JRSP) 25th council will held in Comilla from March 3 to March 5, says a press release.
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| International |
What Bush wants in India
President Bush and his policymakers like to stress how much 9/11 has changed America's foreign-policy objectives, but one goal the terror attacks did not alter is to build a stronger partnership withthe
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13 killed in Myanmar attack on Naga rebels
At least 10 soldiers from Myanmar and three Indian separatists were killed and several others from both sides were injured yesterday in fighting inside Myanmar, an India-based rebel leader said.
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Chen leading Taiwan towards disaster
China warned Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday he was leading his island towards disaster and endangering regional peace, after he scrapped an advisory council on unification with the mainland.
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Pakistan doing all it can in terror war
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday his country was doing all it could in the US-led war against terrorism and offered to fence and mine its border with Afghanistan to stem Taliban infiltration.
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Donors ask warring parties to honour Lankan truce deal
Sri Lanka's main financial backers yesterday urged the island's warring parties to honour renewed commitments to uphold their truce made during talks in Switzerland.
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Global poll: Terror threat rose after Iraq war
Most people in 33 out of 35 countries worldwide believe that the US-led war in Iraq has increased the threat of terrorism, a survey for BBC World Service radio suggested yesterday.
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Thai PM ready to postpone snap polls
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that snap April elections could be postponed and indicated he was willing to meet his chief opposition rival in a bid to end spiralling politicaluncertainty.
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Saddam lawyers end boycott of trial
Saddam Hussein's defence lawyers ended their monthlong boycott of his trial, attending proceedings yesterday even though the judge rejected their demands that he step down.
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| Editorial |
Editorial:
JS as people's house
Notwithstanding what comes out of Khaleda-Hasina debate in parliament last night, let's set on record how the Jatiya Sangsad has fared to date.
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Editorial:
The inspection tamasa
There is strange, yet convincing an analogy that's just raring to be drawn between apparently irreconcilable words. They are a metaphor for an idiotic sub-culture, so to speak.
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Why is President Bush visiting India?
In 1978, it was US President Jimmy Carter who visited India.
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Change, what change?
Last week the country was awash with rumours that something is afoot. There were expectations of big change. Some of it spilled into print and other media. Rumours are a way of life here, to be sure.
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Setting bad precedent
It was indeed a strange but most significant coincidence that the US Assistant Foreign Secretary Christina Rocca, during her brief visit here in the last week of January made identical observations on
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| Letters to Editor |
Buyers' role
Our hearts go out to the bereaved family members of those who lost their lives in the tragic fire incident in a Kalurghat garments factory.
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Political professionalism and ethics
Bangladeshis heaved a sigh of relief when the Leader of the Opposition joined the Parliament after a long absence (from September 15, 2004) and the ruling party cordially welcomed her.
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Bird flu and counterfeit drugs
Tamiflu or 'Tamifake'? Bird flu and counterfeit drugs threaten everyone. Bird flu, counterfeit drugs, AIDS and malaria, all in one article: not bad. But it is, literally, deadly serious.
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Middle East situation
There is a serious problem brewing in the Middle East now, which can virtually ignite the world. Especially in a turbulent time in Iraq, this could be a triggering cause for a global conflagration.
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A letter to the Danish PM
In the spirit of 'Freedom of Expression' that you and we all value so much, I have taken the liberty to write this letter to you.
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Prof Yunus
First of all, I wish to congratulate you on The Daily Star's 15th Anniversary and wish it many more prosperous years for the future.
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Indo-Saudi tie
Bangladesh has to examine the implications of the visit of the Saudi monarch to New Delhi (skipping Pakistan); suspected to be at the wink of America.
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Wanted electricity
Those responsible to provide us with electricity are making us extremely irritated.
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O Bangali: Crisis in identity
This is in response to the article written by Ms. Shahana Siddiqui titled "O Bangali: Crisis in Identity" published in the Daily Star on February 21, 2006.
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| Star Chittagong |
Ferry suspension makes Kalurghat Bridge risky
The age-old Kalurghat Bridge, only after seven months of its renovation, has become risky as heavily loaded vehicles are crossing the bridge disregarding the weight limit.
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Nightmarish to forever haunt survivors
The few hours of the RMG factory inferno of February 23 night will forever haunt the survivors and the relatives of the victims.
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| Star City |
Air pollution deteriorating in the city
City's ambient air quality has sharply deteriorated with thousands of brick kilns and diesel-run vehicles spewing toxic fumes round the clock, said a Department of Environment (DoE) sources.
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Power cuts relaying to rise in crime
The persisting power outage that has been plunging the capital into darkness for hours give an opportunity for muggers to make use of it in conducting criminal activities, city dwellers allege.
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Lady with the Roses
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Renovation of archaeological site going on violating laws
The Department of Archaeology has been carrying out renovation and reconstruction work on archaeological sites without following the proper process, experts say.
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CNG drivers continue to exploit commuters
At a certain destination in the city, a man walks off a CNG. The CNG driver casually asks for an extra Tk 10 than the meter reading.
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Construction to end by June '06
Construction of the Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument) at the Suhrawardy Udyan is going to be completed within June 2006, said sources in the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
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