The Daily Star: Internet Edition Wed. May 25, 2005

Volume 5 Number 352

Wed. May 25, 2005


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Front Page	Fuel price hike again Bowing to multilateral donors' insistence, the government yesterday increased the prices of diesel, kerosene and petrol only six months into the last price hike.
	HC asks EC to collect info on MP aspirants The High Court yesterday ordered the Election Commission (EC) to collect information on parliamentary election candidates' academic qualification, profession, source of income, criminal records, if any,
	New CEC also wants free secretariat New Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz yesterday said he favours an independent Election Commission (EC) secretariat but has not looked into his predecessor's proposals about reforms to the ECand
	HC asks why not probe by judge The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government why it should not be directed to form a commission headed by a sitting or a retired Supreme Court judge to inquire into the factory collapse
	Bloated ADP finalised with polls in view The government has finalised a Tk 25,290 crore outlay, 10.62 percent higher than the current one, for the next fiscal year's Annual Development Programme (ADP) and non-ADP.
	SCBA mulls ways to continue agitation The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) is mulling going ahead with its agitation by modifying some of its aspects to take it out of the purview of the Supreme Court ban on agitation by lawyers on its
	50,000 marooned in Moulvibazar flashfloods At least 50 thousand people of Kamalganj and Kulaura upazilas in the district have been marooned as 80 villages under 12 unions of the two upazilas have been inundated by flood water due to excessiverainfall
	Hasina says Aziz picked to rig national polls Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government has unilaterally appointed the new chief election commissioner (CEC) to clear the way for rigging the ballot in the coming generalelections.
	Cops nab 566 in crime busting drive To quash a sharp rise in robbery and mugging in recent months, the law enforcement agencies in special drives nabbed as many as 566 suspected criminals from different areas of the city in only 24 hours
	Private firm in talks for financing consortium A Dhaka-based private company began negotiations with public and private investors and financial institutions to set up an international consortium for financing the planned tri-nation Myanmar-Bangladesh-India
	Nazrul's birth anniversary today Today is the 106th birth anniversary of Rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. To mark the day, the government as well as socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes.
	Protest....
	Satkhira bigots hold rallies defying ban Religious bigots led by Khatme Nabuwat held two rallies in violation of the district administration's prohibition of assembly in Shyampur bazaar of Satkhira yesterday, causing panic among the local Ahmadiyyas.
	14 more cargo vessels seized Fourteen cargo vessels were seized and fined yesterday, the second day of a government clampdown on unregistered and unlicensed vessels.
	Car bombs kill 8 GIs, 6 Iraqis in Baghdad A car bomb exploded yesterday near a Baghdad junior high school for girls, killing six people, and seven American soldiers were killed in two days of bombings in and around Baghdad, a day after 62 Iraqis
	Indian home minister against hyping up illegal Bangladeshi issue Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil yesterday said the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country "should not be raised so much that it spoils relations with the neighbouring country".
	Why 4 accused can't retract their statement The High Court yesterday issued a rule on the government to explain in three weeks why four accused in the former minister Shah AMS Kibria killing case would not be allowed to retract their confessional
	16 fall sick of gas poisoning At least 16 people including a newly wed couple fell sick after an incident of suspected gas poisoning at city's South Kattali area in the early hours yesterday.
	Rab asked to track down phone extortionists State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar yesterday said 50 percent task of executive investigation has so far been completed to try the accused Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) members under theexisting
	AL, BNP men's politics abroad tainting image A parliamentary body yesterday observed that activists of the political parties, particularly the Awami League and the BNP, are tarnishing Bangladesh's image abroad by squabbling with each other on foreign
	3 killed in road crash Three people including a Union Parishad (UP) member and a school teacher were killed when a passenger bus collided head-on with a truck on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway yesterday morning.
	RU JCD men block highway for 2 hours Activists of Rajshahi University Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal unit barricaded the Rajshahi-Dhaka highway near Kajla for two hours yesterday to get a Rajshahi University teacher's motorbike released.
	Mob kills mugger, extortionist An extortionist and a mugger died yesterday after being critically injured in mob beatings in city's Khilgaon and Kafrul areas. Three muggers and an extortionist were also arrested during the incidents.
	Judge, Shoaib,PP apologise to High Court A Dhaka court judge, the public prosecutor (PP) and the sacked managing director (MD) of Inqilab TV appeared in person before the High Court to face contempt charges yesterday and tendered unqualified
	Ghalib remanded A court here yesterday placed four people, including Dr Asadullah Al Galib, leader of the outlawed Jamiatul Mujahideen, on a three-day remand in the Ullapara Grameen Bank blast case.
Business	Tk 1 lakh fine against Premier Bank recommended The Anti-money Laundering Department of the central bank has recommended a Tk 1 lakh fine against Premier Bank Limited for opening false accounts in its different branches.
	Bangladesh trade show kicks off in Italy In a bid to attract more foreign buyers and expand existing market, Bangladesh organised a three-day single-country trade show of its products that began at Milan in Italy on Monday.
	Dhaka-KL jt commission meet to discuss trade, manpower Investment, trade, manpower, visa, education and cultural cooperation will figure high in the long-overdue Bangladesh-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) to be held here on June 7.
	Cross border listing of bourses key to growth in South Asia The cross border listing of securities and investment opportunities should be given more attention to promote economic development in South Asia, observed Salman Shah, advisor to the prime minister of
	Citigroup named best co in Forbes 2000 ranking Citigroup, the owning company of Citibank NA, has been ranked the number one company in the world on Forbes Global 2000 list, which was published in Forbes special issue on April 18, 2005.
	BISIC to arrange training course for unemployed Bangladesh Institute of Small Industry and Cottage (BISIC) will organise a training programme for the unemployed educated people from June 4 to 16.
	EU backs launch of talks with China on textile exports The European Union went a step forward Monday towards imposing limits on some types of surging Chinese textiles after member states voted in favour of opening formal negotiations with Beijing.
	Hundred millionth Volkswagen rolled off The 100 millionth Volkswagen rolled off a German assembly line on Tuesday, taking the brand into an elite of four car companies whose output has stretched into nine digits, Europe's biggest carmaker said.
	ECB rate cut may harm euro zone European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet dismissed calls for lower interest rates on Monday, saying a cut would only make the euro zone's problems worse.
	China threatens to renege on tariff promise China Tuesday threatened to renege on a promise to impose tariffs on 74 categories of textile products if the same items were subject to limits from US and European governments.
	Japan to resume US beef import The Japanese government took a big step Tuesday towards reopening Japan to US beef by asking the national food safety agency to ease a ban imposed 17 months ago after the discovery of mad cow diseasein
Sports	Cricket: A pleasant surprise The Bangladesh cricket team has come to England to pull off one or two surprises in their first full series against Michael Vaughan's vaunted side.
	Cricket: Lord's waking up It was business as usual at Lord's two days before the first Test between Bangladesh and England.
	Cricket: Refreshing Rahim It was around eight in the morning and it was typical English weather with clouds hanging over the restaurant of the Marriott Hotel at Maida Vale.
	Football: BU hope to end on a high National and Premier League champions Brothers Union will end their maiden campaign in an Asian club football competition today when they host Lebanon's Nejmeh FC in the last Group C match of the AFCCup.
	Cricket: Harmison feels good England paceman Steve Harmison admits they will be in a "no-win situation" in the two-Test series against Bangladesh. "If we win in two or three days then we're expected to.
	Football: Odds favour Italians, heart English Liverpool will need to display the cunning and conviction that defined their European golden age if they are to upset predictions and beat a more accomplished AC Milan side in Wednesday's Champions League
	Chess: Rajib clinches Open Rating chess crown International Master Enamul Hossain Rajib won the Open FIDE Rating Chess title with an unbeaten note when he shared points in the ninth and last round game against fellow IM Reefat Bin Sattar at the federation
	Cricket: Alok's Reds win again The two different selections for the trial of Bangladesh A team were forced to play another limited-overs match on a hockey turf due to unplayable ground conditions at BKSP yesterday following rain for
	Football: Mohakhali beat Dhanmondi Mohakhali Ekadash recorded their first win in the First Division Football League defeating Dhanmondi Club by a solitary goal yesterday.
	Handball: Mariners lift title Dhaka Mariner Youngs Club clinched the Tibet Women's Handball League title with a 27-15 victory over Arambagh Krira Sangha in the last super-three match at the Outer stadium handball court yesterday.
	Football: The Spain factor! Liverpool's Champions League chances against AC Milan could turn on the tactical decisions of a manager from Madrid, the passing of a Basque midfielder and the inventive style of a Catalan forward.
	Football: Born winners want more With seven European Cup winners' medals between them, AC Milan's Paolo Maldini and Clarence Seedorf could be excused a degree of nonchalance ahead of Wednesday's Champions League final with Liverpool.
	Football: A multinational final Call it the United Nations final. Players from 19 different countries will be represented Wednesday when AC Milan and Liverpool play in the Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey.
	Football: Agassi's early exit Playing flat-footed and looking weary, Andre Agassi lost Tuesday in the opening round of the French Open for the second year in a row.
	Cricket: Ex-BCB boss Manzar passes away Former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary Neyamtullah Taher Manzar died on Monday at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The sports organiser, who served the Board in 1991, was 54.
	Football: Brutal murder of Brazilian booter A Brazilian footballer was shot repeatedly in the head and then dumped in the boot of his car in the north of Rio de Janeiro, police said here on Monday.
	Kabadi: Ansar women's kabaddi champs Ansar emerged champions in the Women's Kabaddi League when they beat Azad Sporting Club 54-26 in the last match at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex yesterday. The winners led the first half 26-15.
Metropolitan	Unity of progressive political parties a must for rule of law Dr Kamal Hossain, convenor of Jatiyo Oikya Mancha, yesterday said unity of progressive political parties is a must to establish the rule of law in the country.
	New CEC is not acceptable Leaders of different political parties yesterday said the appointment of Justice MA Aziz as the new chief election commissioner (CEC) is unacceptable.
	DU senate polls today The election of 35 teachers' representatives to the Dhaka University Senate, the highest policy-making body of DU, will be held today.
	Unite under BNP to build prosperous country Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon the people to unite under the banner of politics of development and production to build a prosperous country, forsaking politics of arson and destruction.
	Moudud criticises AL for its 'adverse' reaction Criticising Awami League for its 'adverse' reaction to the appointment of the new CEC, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed yesterday hoped that the opposition party would cooperate with the CEC in holding future
	Project to rehabilitate rickshawpullers The Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) has launched a pilot project in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to help rehabilitate rickshawpullers affected
	Bikalpa Dhara to nominate 200 candidates in next polls Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) yesterday announced that it would nominate candidates for 200 seats across the country in the next general elections.
	Photography exhibition to raise funds for Chhayanaut Bhaban A week-long charity photography exhibition titled 'Says Nothing' began at Zainul Gallery of the Institute of Fine Arts in the city yesterday.
	Wasa to install 8 water pump stations in N'ganj The Dhaka Water And Sewerage Authority (Wasa) will install eight more water pump stations in the district to reduce water shortage.
	BCS Agri Cadre members stage demonstration Speakers at a rally have expressed their resentment over the complication created by the establishment ministry for 534 posts of BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) Agriculture Cadre upgraded in 2001.
	Mother poisons 3-yr-old son to death, kills herself A poor mother killed her three-year-old son with poison and later she took the poison to kill herself at Radha-Krishanapur village under sadar upazila of the district.
	Nor'wester kills 2 in Mymensingh At least two persons were killed and 25 others injured, three of them critically, when a nor'wester hit 12 villages and the campus of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in the sadar upazila yesterday.
	President greets king of Jordan President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday conveyed felicitations to the King of Jordan, Abdullah-II Bin Al-Hussein, on the occasion of the National Day of the country.
National	Zia Fertiliser makes loss for frequent mechanical faults The Ashuganj Zia Fertilizer Company Limited (ZFCL) has turned into a losing concern, mainly due to frequent interruption in production resulting from mechanical breakdown.
	Railway engineer arrested for Tk1.5 cr ‘forgery’ An Assistant Engineer of Bangladesh Railway has been arrested on charge of drawing Tk 1.5 crore from Bangladesh Krishi Bank by producing forged savings bonds.
	Hundreds collect fish eggs from Halda The Halda river wore a festive look on Sunday night when hundreds of fishermen collected fertilised eggs released by carps including Ruhi, Katla, Mrigel and Kalaboush.
	Continue road projects for ultra-poor women in CHT Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC) Chairman Jiotyrindriya Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma and Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Dr Maniklal Dewan have urged visiting officials of
	Arrested UPDF men sent to jail The 15 leaders and activists of United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), arrested in Khagrachhari town on Monday in connection with shooting an activist of Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), were sent tojail
	7- year boy abducted for ransom A seven year-old boy was abducted for ransom on Sunday from Dhankhali in Munshigonj union under Shyamnagar upazila.
	Nazrul's birthday programme at Trishal The Cultural Affairs Ministry and local administration have jointly organised a three-day national programme at Kazir Shimla and Darirampur in Trishal to mark the 106th birth anniversary of national poet
	Death threat to newsman A journalist received death threats from unidentified telephone callers during the last few days.
Point-Counterpoint	Motor launches: Veritable death-traps On May 15, MV Prince of Patuakhali was caught in a Nor'wester and capsized near Galachipa with nearly 200 passengers on board. At least half of them are reportedly missing or dead.
	Don't push Myanmar into a corner THE ongoing debate and speculation as to whether Myanmar would, or should, assume the chairmanship of Asean next year has, in a way, served to highlight again the rich and sometimes threatening diversity
Culture	Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam, our National Poet is rightfully an icon of the masses for his revolutionary ideas, secular philosophies and defiance against any socio-political injustice.
	The role of media in invigorating mass interest in Nazrul's songs -- Fatema Tuz Zohra Let me take this opportunity to say that I feel blessed to be a Nazrul singer. Nowadays we hear the complaint that the younger generation is not responsive to Nazrul songs or classical music.
	Is Nazrul given due recognition as our National Poet? -- Khairul Anam Shakil Talented Nazrul singer, Khairul Anam Shakil, is voluble on the subject of Nazrul as the National Poet. As he says, "Nazrul always spoke for the common people.
	Current popularity level of Nazrul sangeet -- Nashid Kamal Discussing the popularity of Nazrul sangeet, well-known singer Nashid Kamal said that in Bangladesh both BTV and private channels like Channel I and ATN are making efforts to popularise this genre.
	Saving Nazrul's creations from distortion-- Salauddin Ahmed Nazrul Islam, despite being the country's National Poet has had his work distorted perhaps more than any other of his peers.
	How to generate interest in Nazrul songs among the newcomers -- Ferdous Ara The responsibility of generating interest in Nazrul sangeet among the upcoming artistes lies with us, the singers, who are devoted into this genre," says Ferdous Ara.
	Incorporating Nazrul effectively in the institutions -- Shumon Chowdhury Before discussing how to incorporate Nazrul more effectively in our institutions, we have to overcome the obstacles in practicing Nazrul's songs accurately.
General	Strike in schools today, hartal May 30 Schoolchildren across the district observe a strike today demanding trial of the killers of schoolgirl Mili while Sammilito Nagorik Samaj and a child rights organisation yesterday called a daylong hartal
	BDR pushes back 23 Indians Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel pushed back 23 Bangla-speaking Indians to their country through Chamusha border under Bholahat Upazila in Chapainawabganj district in the early hours of yesterday.
International	'Pockets of repression' mar rights progress in Asia Amnesty International said Wedne-sday Asia had recorded some progress on human rights but warned that "pockets of repression" remained, with many abuses committed in the name of the "war on terror".
	Bush, Karzzai ink strategic partnership pact US President George W. Bush and Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai signed a "strategic partnership" Monday enabling long-term US involvement in Afghanistan's security as well as reconstruction.
	Israeli, Palestinians fail to reach accord Palestinian Interior Minister Nasr Yussuf and Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz failed to reach an agreement on Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official said late Monday, as the
	Japan-China ties nosedive again An outraged Japan said yesterday that China needed to learn better manners after it stood up Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as relations between the Asian powers worsened over memories of World War
	'Syria severs military ties with US' Syria has severed military and intelligence cooperation with the United States, its ambassador to Washingt-on told The New York Times in an interview published on its Web site on Monday.
	India to allow Hurriyat leaders' Pak trip India will allow leaders of Kashmir's main separatist political alliance to visit Pakistan for talks on the disputed region's future, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview published
	Manmohan drums up support to save tigers Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday promised to save endangered Royal Bengal tigers in India after he sighted one for the first time in his life in a national park under threat from poachers.
Editorial	Editorial: Winds of change over Kashmir The palpable change in their Kashmir policy and the prospect of the oldest running cause of conflict between India and Pakistan at last ceasing to be so, fill us with optimism.
	Editorial: Bridge on the river Rupsha The more we think of it, the opening of Khan Jahan Ali Bridge since Saturday increasingly dawns on us as providing a vital communication link with a high potential for unlocking a whole range of possibilities
	Uzbekistan's turmoil and the US response The Bush administration, by all accounts, has made advancing democracy and human rights in the world the centrepiece of its foreign policy.
	Quest for democracy, governance and social justice Can we aspire to achieve democracy in a country without ensuring good governance and social justice for all? The answer to this question is perhaps a big "no.
	Closer trade links with Pakistan When we think about closer links with India or Pakistan we do not perhaps feel confident of the outcome because of our lack of mutual trust.
Letters to Editor	Desecration of the Holy Book It all started from a report in Newsweek regarding desecration of the Holy Koran by some of the interrogators at Guantánamo Bay.
	US and Islamic world We always witness that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro give speeches against the US and President Bush's activities.
	Women political activists I am writing in protest of a statement that has been ascribed to Mr.
	Launch capsize Launch capsize is common news during the months of April and May . Hundreds of lives are lost for some insensible and unscrupulous people to whom lives mean nothing.
	Melting ice hotel In the picture we see the world-famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjaervi, outside Kiruna in northern Sweden, melting away on Saturday (21st May).
	Flash points No doubt, Soviet Union experienced dire consequences in the aftermath of being divided on 21 Dec. 1991. The UK lost colonial rule in the post WWII period.
	Cannot we do better? There seems to be a culture of "break, burn and destroy" pervading in our country. During hartals, vehicles are burned and people are attacked for trying to earn their daily bread.
	English version of textbooks The education boards introduced the English version of the traditional curriculum 10 years ago.
	Progress of China Prior to socialism the private sector was the primary economic strength of China.
	Politics and religion The Jamaat chief has come out publicly (press reports) with some sober observations about the long-term policy of the Islamic political parties in Bangladesh.
	Our films BFDC, Bangladesh Film Development Corporation. Yes, BFDC is now elaborated like this-- Blue Films Development Corporation. It is not too much.
	Road accidents During recent years, there has been a sharp increase in road accidents in Bangladesh.
	Domestic helps I was appalled to read the news of two minor girls being tortured brutally by their employers in the city. It is indeed a serious problem.
	A new face It is really good news that a 16 year old Bangladeshi boy played so well in the two matches against English county sides. Mushfiqur Rahim has really shown that there is nothing to fear.
	Awami League and hartal We resent your decision to call "Hartal" at the slightest pretext and we condemn your policy makers' such hasty decision in the strongest terms. Every time you call "Hartal", your vote bank dwindles.
Star Chittagong	CCC power plants may get govt nod A five-year-old initiative of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) is likely to get nod from the government following a recent cabinet decision that allows construction of private small power plants.
	CNG auto-rickshaws under metering system by June 30 Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority (BRTA) started bringing the CNG-run auto-rickshaws in the port city under metering system on Sunday.
	Death-trap...
	Loko Utsab Puratani Mela
Star City	Rampant illegal earth-filling on Hatirjheel Owners of three CNG filling stations and a former ward commissioner are illegally filling up a large area on the Hatirjheel-Begunbari canal, the last remaining natural waterbody of Dhaka.
	Pre-paid electricity meter on trial by July Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco) is going to introduce pre-paid meters by July this year to reduce harassment of customers and ensure smooth collection of bills.
	Summer fruits too hot to touch Summer fruits have started arriving in the city markets but the prices are beyond the reach of most customers.
	Footpaths on BB Avenue occupied by hawkers Pedestrians, shopkeepers and restaurant owners in Bangabandhu Avenue area are suffering because of hawkers who keep the footpaths occupied.