Vol. 5 Num 795 Mon. August 21, 2006       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Rush for record govt procurements The Cabinet Purchase Committee is set to consider today, approval of a record number of government procurements worth over Tk 2,447 crore many of which were rejected earlier by the government itselfwhile   Voter number rises as field-level task ends The field-level task of updating the voter list ended yesterday with many eligible voters remaining left out. The number of voters is now over 9.   Questions left unsolved Two years into the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally on the Bangabandhu Avenue to assassinate party chief Sheikh Hasina, many questions still remain unanswered.   Baffled, they gave up on justice The August 21 grenade attacks in 2004 took away bread-earners of several families while scores of others became crippled, lost their eyesight or born grenade splinters never to be got out.   Govt 'unaware' of HuJi comeback The government yesterday claimed ignorance about the Harkatul Jihad al Islami (HuJi) meeting in the capital on Friday despite the fact that several identified and most sought-after leaders of the banned   Govt's failure in probe draws flak Eminent citizens and opposition political leaders yesterday termed the August 21 grenade attack on the main opposition in the parliament as the most brutal in the country's political history.   AL to mourn carnage with 2min silence The main opposition Awami League (AL) will observe the second anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack on its rally at Bangabandhu Avenue through a two-minute silence at 5:22pm across the country today   Contesting from more than 1 JS seat challenged The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in three weeks why the provision for one candidate contesting from more than one seat in parliament at a time should not be declared   AL won't accept updated voter list: Hasina Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina said her party would not accept the updated voter list prepared by the present Election Commission (EC) as it violated High Court (HC) directives.   Hasina says govt didn't carry out proper probe The government did not carry out proper investigation to bring persons responsible for the August 21, 2004 grenade attack to justice after repeated demands from both national and international quarters   Shahjahan looks beyond silver Shahjahan Ali Rony might have to be content with a silver medal in the men's 100m breaststroke here yesterday, but the BKSP swimmer kept his hopes alive to strike gold in the shorter distance event later   Closed for five days...   B Chy, Kamal may launch new alliance Wednesday Following in the footsteps of the BNP and Awami League, some small political parties are going to kick off an alliance-- the Juktafront (United Front)-- on Wednesday.   Women representatives face maltreatment in local govt bodies Women members of Union Parishads (UP), Paurashavas and city corporations at a dialogue yesterday said humiliating treatment by the male UP members, chairmen and ward commissioners and deprivation of their   Ensure equal access to healthcare for the poor Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday urged the health ministers of Southeast Asia to urgently find a remedy for stark inequities in access to healthcare within and among the nations and ensure medicines   US congressmen write PM for new, fully free probe Eighteen congressmen of the United States, including the chair of Bangladesh Caucus, sent a letter to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia asking for a new and fully independent investigation in the August 21 grenade   Mourning of poet continues...   Lebanon truce may unravel, says UN The United Nations said on Sunday the week-old truce between Israel and Hezbollah could easily collapse, a day after it condemned an Israeli raid on the guerrillas in Lebanon as a violation.   Ex-speaker Razzak gets death threat Former speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Shaikh Razzak Ali received a death threat via mail at his Khulna home on Thursday.   Ex-navy officer found strangled Criminals strangled a retired official of Bangladesh Navy inside his house at Uttara in the capital early yesterday while a security guard of a house in Mohammadpur was slaughtered.   Arrest warrant against ex-director of City Bank A Dhaka court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against an ex-director of City Bank Limited and three others in a graft case filed for misappropriation of Tk 1.1 crore.   Occupied territory...   90 killed in waves of Afghan attack A series of Taliban-linked attacks in Afghanistan this weekend killed around 90 people, including more 70 rebels killed in a major clash in the south and four US soldiers, officials said.   Snipers kill 20 Shia pilgrims in Iraq Gunmen ambushed Shia pilgrims as they marched through Baghdad yesterday, killing 20 and wounding 300, a year after a stampede claimed nearly 1,000 lives on the deadliest day in post-war Iraq.   Dhaka-Ctg train services halted for 9 hours Train communication on Dhaka-Chittagong line was disrupted for nine-and-a-half hours yesterday following derailment of two bogies of a freight train.   Dhaka fully supports Nepal peace process Welcoming the latest developments in Nepal, Prime Minister and current South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday extended Bangladesh's full moral support   BNP to hold nat'l standing body meeting after 4 years BNP high command decided, after more than four years, to hold a national standing committee meeting, the highest policymaking forum of the party as per its constitution.   7th Expert Group Consultation session today Nagorik Committee 2006 will hold its seventh Expert Group Consultation session on the Vision 2021 for Bangladesh, Goal Seven: "To be environmentally sustainable" at Cirdap Auditorium in the capital today.   Health risk...   Highway blocked protesting power outage People from all walks of life including students barricaded the Gaibandha-Rangpur highway at Dariyapur yesterday for three hours protesting at the continuing power outage for hours.   Iran tests tactical missile during war games Iran test-fired a short-range missile yesterday during the second day of nationwide military exercises in a demonstration of its readiness to "respond to any threat," state television reported. Business Tender submission deadline ends today The deadline for tender submission to buy state-run Rupali Bank ends today with any price offerings from none of the six short-listed bidders till yesterday.   Skilled Bangladeshis can migrate to UK Mayor of Tower Hamlets of the UK Shafiqul Haque yesterday urged the highly educated and skilled Bangladeshis to avail of the migration opportunities to the United Kingdom under a scheme of the British   Freight forwarders demand cancellation of new SRO Freight forwarders and cargo agents yesterday demanded cancellation of a new SRO that increased license fees for foreign and joint venture players and made it mandatory for them to invest in Bangladesh.   BB profit up 21pc in last fiscal Bangladesh Bank (BB) saw a 21 per cent rise in its profit in the last fiscal year. The central bank made a profit of Tk 2,291 crore in FY 06 against Tk 1,891 crore in FY 05.   Gold investors take fright in wild central Asia As US gold giant Newmont battles to save its operation in the deserts of western Uzbekistan, instability and threats against personnel are making much of Central Asia a no-go area for normally hardnosed   WTO to review Dhaka's trade policy next month The World Trade Organisation (WTO) will review Bangladesh's trade policy from September 13 to 15 in Geneva as part of a policy review programme for its member states.   Indonesia eyes more bio-fuel sale in 2007 Indonesia's state-owned oil/gas company Pertamina has projected the volume of bio-fuel sale in the country at 6.6 million kiloliters next year.   Asean holds economic meet this week Southeast Asian economic ministers meet here this week under pressure to accelerate the creation of a single trade bloc and combat the rise of China and India which are drawing away foreign investment.   BSCIC industrial estate in Sylhet on verge of closure The industrial estate of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) here is on the verge of closure, with 25 of the 71 industrial units already shutdown.   India's Air Sahara to operate Kolkata-Dhaka flights from Nov Dhaka is one of the three international destinations India's leading private carrier Air Sahara has decided to connect this winter.   Real estate fair in Ctg from Aug 24 A three-day real estate fair begins in the port city on August 24 with a view to offering housing solutions to the city dwellers.   Infosys chief steps down India's best-known entrepreneur N.R. Narayana Murthy stepped down on his 60th birthday Sunday as chairman of software export giant Infosys, which he founded a quarter-century ago.   Gulf Air Dhaka introduces e-ticketing Gulf Air Dhaka introduced e-ticketing to all Gulf Air destinations effective from yesterday, says a press release.   Northeast India to produce power from bamboo A bamboo-fuelled eco-friendly power station is to come up in Mizoram to help meet the energy needs of India's northeast, according to Indo-Asian News Service Sunday.   Japan ends US long-grain rice imports Japan has suspended imports of US long-grain rice following a positive test for trace amounts of a genetically modified strain not approved for human consumption, a news report said Sunday.   Korean Air seeks to buy S-Oil stake Korean Air Co, South Korea's top carrier, looks set to bid for treasury stocks of the oil refinery S-Oil Corp. in a move to secure a stable fuel supply. Sports Mixed day in kabaddi Bangladesh got off to an impressive start in the inaugural women's kabbadi competition in the history of the South Asian Games when they edged Nepal 28-24 at the 10th edition of the regional event here   Golden opportunity The whole Bangladesh contingent will look to Rubel Rana and Shramin Akhter when the two defend their South Asian Games gold medals in their respective events today.   Football: Cruciani wants to stay Legendary Argentine football coach Cesar Luis Menotti had told his former assistant Diego Cruciani that he (Cruciani) would not have much chance to succeed in Bangladesh.   Football: PFL still a doubt Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) sumptuous venture to establish the Professional Football League in the country seemed to be nipped in the bud as the participating teams have taken an opposite stance   Cricket: Rain winner in Sri Lanka The one-day cricket series between India and Sri Lanka has been cancelled after the first two of three scheduled games were rained off, a Sri Lankan official said on Sunday.   Cricket: BCB boys bat out final day Jahirul Islam stroked a half-century to follow his first innings ton as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) National Cricket Academy batted out the last day to draw the first four-day match against Pakistan   Cricket: India dismiss Aussie claims India's cricket chiefs on Sunday dismissed suggestions in the Australian media that national coach Greg Chappell's contract will not be renewed after next year's World Cup.   Football: Pioneer soccer begins today Dhaka City Corporation Pioneer Football League kicks off today at the Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur.   Football: United sound out massive warning Wayne Rooney signed off before his controversial three-match suspension by orchestrating Manchester United's emphatic 5-1 victory over a hapless Fulham to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson's side got their Premier-ship   Football: Messi picked for Brazil clash Londoners will witness the first appearance in international soccer of gifted teenage striker Sergio Aguero when Argentina meet Brazil in a friendly at Arsenal's Emirates stadium next month.   Football: Magura alive Magura brightened their chances to book a place in the last four of the Jubok Phone National Football Championship when they registered a 2-1 victory over Bangladesh Navy at the Sylhet Stadium yesterday.   Football: Rooney ravages ban England striker Wayne Rooney has threatened to stop co-operating with the Football Association's (FA) commercial deals in protest at his three-game ban, according to reports here Sunday.   Football: Juve start bright Underfire Juventus began the season with a 3-0 win over third division Martina Franca in the first round of the Italian Cup on Saturday.   Football: Ronaldo can handle terrace taunts Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo will be strong enough to handle the terrace taunts this season.   Chess: Chess players leave for KL Five chess players left Dhaka yesterday to take part in the IGM third Dato Arther Tan Malaysian Open Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur over August 21-27.   Football: Porto lift Portuguese Super Cup Portuguese double winners Porto beat Cup runners-up Vitoria Setubal 3-0 on Saturday to win the Super Cup, the new season's curtain-raiser.   Cricket: Ball-tampering at The Oval Play in the fourth Test here at The Oval was overshadowed by a controversial decision by the umpires to penalise Pakistan five runs for ball tampering on the fourth day here Sunday.   Cricket: Test thrown into chaos after Pakistan's refusal to play Pakistan risked forfeiting the fourth and final Test against England at The Oval here Sunday after refusing to come out for the last session of the fourth day after they'd been penalised for ball tampering.   Tennis: Hingis walks on Martina Hingis reached the Rogers Cup final when Anna Chakvetadze quit during the second set Saturday because of an injured right arm.   Cricket: Cricket was hurt: Sonn World cricket boss Percy Sonn said on Sunday he was disappointed at South Africa's decision to abandon the tour of Sri Lanka for security reasons, but declined to impose sanctions on the Proteas.   Tennis: Tennis with a difference The tennis establishment is embracing change by allowing on-court coaching and instant replays. Anne Worcester, the longtime director of the Pilot Pen tournament, is delighted.   Cricket: Shoaib gets ODI call-up Pakistan selectors have included uncapped batsman Shahid Yousuf and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in the squad to play five one-day internationals against England.   Tennis: Andy powers into finals Powering up his vintage serve-and-volley style, Andy Roddick overwhelmed Chile's Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday night to reach the finals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.   Cricket: Iqbal keeps up the tradition Pakistan middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal admitted on Saturday that he's happy to carry on a family tradition of Test match backchat.   Football: Bremen leave it late Title challengers Werder Bremen continued their perfect start to the season with a late goal from Portuguese midfielder Hugo Almeida clinching a 2-1 comeback victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.   Football: Reading rallies in debut Reading overturned a two-goal deficit Saturday and beat Middlesbrough 3-2 in their first ever English Premier League match on the opening day of the season.   Football: Marseille trounce Auxerre Franck Ribery, who flirted with a move to champions Lyon before committing his immediate future to Marseille, helped the slumbering south coast giants to a 3-0 win over outclassed Auxerre on Saturday.   Football: Wenger slams Domenech Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hit out at Raymond Domenech on Saturday after the France coach played Thierry Henry for the full 90 minutes in the midweek friendly against Bosnia.   Football: Sir Bobby to have brain surgery Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson is to undergo brain surgery to remove a tumour, he said Sunday, two weeks after being taken ill with a suspected stroke watching an English Championship game.   Football: Rivaldo stars in Olympiakos win Two goals from Brazilian striker Rivaldo helped Olympiakos Piraeus come back from a goal down to defeat Xanthi 2-1 on Saturday in their first match in the new Greek Super League. Metropolitan No power plants could operate for corruption Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday said the government is nurturing terrorists and militants instead of curbing them.   Identify loopholes in laws to curb crime against humanity Speakers from home and abroad on the second day of a two-day regional discussion yesterday stressed the need for identifying loopholes in constitutions and laws of their respective countries to curb crime   One killed, 6 army men hurt in Barisal road accident A cyclist was killed and six army men, including a lieutenant, were injured after a pick-up of Bangladesh armed forces fell into a roadside ditch at about 12:30pm yesterday.   JS body discusses bill on cable TVs The 19th meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Information Ministry was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here yesterday with committee president Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury in the chair.   3 factors key to convince voters: Moudud Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed yesterday said three factors -- commitment for peace, development and Islamic values -- would appear as the key consideration for voters in the next   Next hearing on Sept 14 A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned the hearing of the case filed against lawmaker Maulana Fazlul Haque Amini, chairman of a faction of Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), in connection with threatening Proshika President   Agitation continues Teachers and students of marketing department of Rajshahi University (RU) continued to boycott their scheduled classes and examinations yesterday demanding punishment to criminals who made an attempton   Make flawless voter list under neutral EC Speakers at a coordination meeting here yesterday demanded preparation of flawless voter lists under a neutral Election Commission for electing a credible government in the country, says a press release.   National Prof Nurul Islam hospitalised National Professor and founder of University of Science and Technology, Chittagong (USTC) Prof Dr Nurul Islam was sent to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Dhaka from Chittagong Medical College Hospital   Minor girl pays with life for witnessing extra-marital affair A four-year-old girl had to pay with her life for witnessing an extra-marital affair of a housewife in her neighbourhood.   2 JMB leaders get 10 yrs' RI in Bogra A Bogra Court yesterday sentenced two leaders of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 50 thousand each, in default, to suffer two years more rigorous imprisonment.   Housewife burnt to death for dowry After a three-day struggle with her burn injuries, Swapna Begum, 28, finally gave in yesterday at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday.   'Govt to expand UP chairmen activities' LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday said that the present government has taken many initiatives to consolidate responsibilities and expand areas of activities of union parishad   3 killed in boat collision in Netrokona Three people were killed, 30 others injured in a head-on engine boat collision at Bamarchar in Kongsa river under Mohonganj upazila in the district at about 4:00pm yesterday.   RU BCL leader stabbed by JCD cadres A group of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) cadres stabbed a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Rajshahi University (RU) unit yesterday for teasing a girl.   Appeal for help Family and well-wishers of Anika Haroon, a 16-year-old girl, have appealed for help in her battle against osteosarcoma, a malignant bone cancer.   First ever health debate contest begins Aug 23 With the slogan 'Spreading the message of health through reasoning', the first ever health debate competition begins on August 23 with a view to making the students aware of the revolutionary changesin   Robbery at Tejgaon A group of robbers looted valuables, including cash and gold ornaments from a residence at Tejgaon in the city yesterday.   Shafiul new Red Crescent secy general M. Shafiul Alam, former additional secretary and chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), has joined the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society as secretary general recently, says a press release.   DU Evening Masters exam begins Aug 26 The postponed course final examinations of Evening Masters programme (Part-1)-2005 of Institute of Social Welfare and Research at Dhaka University will begin from August 26, says a press release. National Highways blocked in Dinajpur, Gaibanda Several thousand people barricaded highways Dinajpur and Gaibandha yesterday demanding smooth power supply.   Illegal extraction of sand, stone destroying Sherpur forests Government forests are being destroyed and the ecology threatened as some local influentials are illegally lifting sand and stone indiscriminately from Jhenaigati forest areas in Sherpur.   Hartal observed protesting killing of AL leader A dawn-to-dusk hartal was observed in Gopalpur upazila yesterday protesting killing of Dhopakandi union Jubo League convener Abu Sayeed. Gopalpur unit of Awami League (AL) called the hartal.   Bouncing back to 'poison-free' cuisine Farmers in Atia union in Delduar upazila are reaping double benefits by avoiding chemical fertiliser and insecticides.   151 RU teachers protest violation of rules by VC One hundred and fifty one teachers of Rajshahi University in a statement yesterday protested what they called violation of the University Act of 1973 by the vice-chancellor.   Work on B'baria grid substation to begin soon A 132/33 KV power grid substation will be built in Brahmanbaria at a cost of Tk 60 crore to ease the power crisis in the district. Point-Counterpoint Shamsur Rahman: A tribute Shamsur Rahman left us on August 17. I am writing this obituary note on the 18th, barely 26 hours after his death.   The terror of August On Tuesday, August 8, I flew to San Francisco from London's Heathrow airport.   The Night of Ascension The Holy Quran states: "Glory of Allah who did take His servant for a journey by night from the sacred mosque to the farthest mosque, whose precincts We did bless -- in order that We might show him some   Peace in the Middle East Although the declared aim of Israel's disproportionately violent offensive in Lebanon was to seek the release of two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah, in fact this was merely an excuse.   RMG sector: Survival of the largest? The lack of external initiatives for efficient infrastructural development in power and energy sectors, a "natural" component for any finished-goods manufacturing industry, and no appropriate measures Culture Rabiroshmi celebrates eighth anniversary The cultural organisation Rabiroshmi honoured eminent Tagore singer Fahmida Khatun at their 8th anniversary on August 19. The programme, titled Jago Antore Jago, was held at the National Museum.   Mymensingh Museum in dire need of preservation Mymensingh museum, which once had the makings of an important regional institution for preservation of locally collected historical evidence, now lies in a desolate state.   Through the lens with eminent artistes On the occasion of World Photography Day, photography club Deepro organised a rally, discussion and an exhibition of still photography on August 19 at DOTS, Contemporary Art Centre.   Drama serial Neel Josnaey on Channel i today Drama serial Neel Josnaey, featuring Raisul Islam Asad, Mahfuz, Srabonti, Shanu, Oli, Apu, Mahbuba Islam Sumi and others will be aired today at 7:50 pm on Channel i. International Lanka moves to lift Jaffna siege amid fighting Sri Lankan troops backed by artillery and fighter jets are resisting a Tamil Tiger rebel advance on the Jaffna peninsula amid moves to lift a nine-day siege of the embattled region, military officials   Pak aid group probed in UK terror plot A British government agency that oversees charities said Saturday it is looking into a report that several suspects in the alleged plot to bomb jetliners were linked by involvement with an aid group that   Indian lawyer launches crusade against rights abuses in Kashmir It took Supreme Court lawyer Sonia Raj Sood just one visit to Indian-administered Kashmir to find her true calling in life -- to fight atrocities against Kashmiris attributed to India's security forces.   Musharraf failing to curb extremism in Pakistan: Benazir Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf needs to do more to limit the influence of religious parties and militant groups to tackle extremism, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said in London yesterday.   Saddam's genocide trial revives Kurd anger Iraq's ousted leader Saddam Hussein will return to the dock today to face genocide charges in a highly-charged case that has revived bitter memories among the country's Kurdish minority.   Nepal revokes fuel price hike after angry protests Nepal's government Sunday cancelled price rises for gasoline and other fuel after two days of widespread protests crippled the capital, a minister said.   Pakistan to offer incentives to foreign firms in nuke field Pakistan has decided to set up 'designated nuclear power parks' as an additional incentive to attract foreign investors to build and run atomic power plants in the country.   Rebels blow up gas pipeline in Pakistan Tribal insurgents blew up a gas pipeline in southwestern Pakistan's restive province of Baluchistan early yesterday, disrupting supplies in the area, officials said.   Canadian arrested in major drug bust in India A Canadian was arrested with illegal drugs worth five million dollars in the Indian capital in what was billed as a major effort to stop narcotics being shipped to the West, police said yesterday.   11m illegal immigrants living in US The number of illegal immigrants living in the United States likely rose from 10.   Protests in Kathmandu over fuel price hike Activists torched dozens of vehicles and attacked a senior politician in Kathmandu on Saturday in protest against an increase in prices of petroleum products, police and witnesses said.   Malaysia ruling party warns split could cost power The party, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957 could lose power over a dispute between the current prime minister and his predecessor, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said.   Lebanon warns against truce violations Anyone who violates a ceasefire deal by firing rockets on Israel from Lebanon will be tried for treason, Defence Minister Elias Murr said yesterday, in an implicit warning to Hezbollah and other armed   Iran defiant as nuclear deadline nears Iran insisted yesterday that a nuclear freeze was not on the agenda and showed off its latest weaponry, two days before it is to respond to an international offer aimed at ending the long-running crisis.   Scandals rock Israel after the war The president is locked in a sex scandal, the justice minister is quitting over a purported stolen kiss, the prime minister is haunted by a property deal and the country's top general is under fire for   US, South Korea to start military drills US and South Korean troops start military drills today which are likely to increase regional tensions already high due to the North's July 5 missile launches and reports it is preparing for a nucleartest.   'Clarify' contribution to Lebanon force France yesterday called for a meeting of EU countries to "clarify" their troop contributions to the UN force in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told AFP.   Experts call for radical re-think in global water management With the world's population forecast to grow by 2-3 billion by 2050 and water already a scarce resource for some, there has to be a radical transformation in the management of the planet's resources of   Thackeray flays golden throne for Sai Baba The Shirdi Sai Baba temple trust's plan to install a Rs 22-crore golden throne for the saint has evoked sharp criticism from Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who said the money should be used for welfare   'Hillary to run for US presidency' US Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton is quietly putting in place the infrastructure and logistics for a White House run, Time Magazine reported in its issue to hit the newsstands today.   Nepali women strip and plough to appease rain gods Dozens of Nepali women stripped naked and ploughed their fields in west Nepal, hoping to appease the gods and get some much needed rain, a newspaper report said yesterday.   ... to appease rain gods Dozens of women stripped naked and ploughed their fields in west Nepal, hoping to appease the gods and get some much needed rain, a newspaper report said yesterday. Editorial Editorial: Two years since August carnage It is with a tremendous sense of sorrow, outrage and trepidation that we look at the two-year long barren investigation trail left by the government since the grenade blast massacre of August 21, 2004.   Editorial: Our links to history While there is a great theoretical emphasis on preserving archaeological sites, lack of proper maintenance has already turned most of them into historical wreckage, which can bring nothing but disgrace   Another harvest of the grapes of wrath Ever since the founding father of Bangladesh fell to the assassins' bullets -- thirty-one years on -- the nation's collective guilt refuses to go, something profane remains stuck to our subconscienceand   An Alaska diary Alaska, perched on the crest of the world, has the majesty of royalty. It is therefore best seen at a slight distance.   Talks turn tough in Kathmandu Efforts for a sound understanding between the government and the radical leftists in Nepal seem to have hit a snag, with fresh fears that they may fall apart on certain crucial issues governing the pattern Letters to Editor Israel issue President Bush made his position clear on the latest Israeli offensive against Hezbollah, accusing Lebanon of not disarming Hezbollah.   Who are the extremists? Muslims are the people who fight for their religion. This is the image that the westerns have created.   Magic book Mr. David Brown was an ordinary author but Vinci Code, his much talked about novel, made him famous overnight. It is an amazing book full of suspense, thrill, mystery and great finishing.   Shahrukh Khan Very recently, several Indian movie channels broadcast a few trailers of the upcoming movie "DON", featuring one of the greatest actors of the current Indian film industry and the heartthrob of 'billions',   Football artist Legendary footballer Zidan made an unlawful mess at the end of the final game. No excuse is enough to defend him. He was sent off but he is still the hero of France.   Banking facilities in rural areas Banking facilities in rural areas are needed for eradicating poverty and for making people more solvent. It is usually seen that there are very few commercial bank branches in rural areas.   Politics of Tata investment I liked the article "Govt says wait but Tata pushes on", as it brought out the true reason for not finalising the Tata investment by the present government.   Public figures and criticism Mr. Mahmudur Rahman's actions and disrespectful comments about Dr Bhattacharya bring into question his role as our nation's representative to the foreign investors.   The trial of Colonel Abu Taher My kudos to The Daily Star for publishing this report written by Lawrence Lifschultz.   Terror speech! Recently the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh appealed to the Indian government to attack Bangladesh for "giving shelter to alleged militants" who are crossing over to our side   Supporting enemies It is funny how people bring up religion in everything.   State offices Thanks for the report on use of state offices for political purpose. The immediate government response was as usual, there is nothing wrong in it. They are just following the AL political culture.   Spreading hatred Over the past month, conflicts in the Middle East have revealed a lot of Bangladeshi hatred for Israel and the United States. Just look at the letters page each day.   BoI chief I am absolutely disgusted to read that Mahmudur Rahman is taking members of CPD to court over alleged defamation comments. Mr. Rahman accuses that CPD tarnished his image and the image of the country.   Brutal assault Recently, a barbaric incident took place at Patharghata, Chittagong, between Mr. Sydney Thomas Robertson and his landlord's sons who assaulted Mr.   SMEs beyond Dhaka Small and medium enterprises are the most vibrant and dynamic factor nowadays for the overall development of a country like Bangladesh. SMEs account for 90% of industrial structure and 25% of theGDP.   Dean Jones It's indeed sad that Dean Jones, the former Australia Test batsman turned TV commentator, was immoderate when he called Hashim Amla a terrorist while he took the catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara.   Prayer and education My mother was suddenly diagnosed with severe heart problems and told she would not live more than a few months, and on hearing this I returned to Bangladesh hurriedly on a few days' notice in 1968.   Who is a terrorist? Terrorists mean the people whose activities are against the interest of general people as well as the whole nation. Star City Only bypass studded with ditches, potholes The only bypass connecting the old part of the city with Savar road in Gabtoli is in a dilapidated state with ditches, potholes and encroachments on it.   First phase of Light and Sound Show inaugurated It will be a fast-track historical journey in Bangladesh through light and sound, back to ancient Dhaka with the 300-year-old Lalbagh Fort in the spotlight.   Dhaka: Yesterday, today and tomorrow The Daily Star (TDS): What are your childhood memories of Dhaka? Prof Nazrul Islam (NI): When my elder brother and I arrived in Dhaka in December 1950 following transfer of my father, the city being   Rajuk serves second notice Sonargaon Hotel authorities Rajdhani Unnyan Kartripakhya (Rajuk) served a second notice on August 17, to the general manager and director (technical) of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel authorities asking them to show cause within   An architectural landmark in the city National Press Club authorities have initiated the building of a 25-storey media complex on its own premises that could be recognised as an architectural landmark, with a monumental dimension and stand   © thedailystar.net, 2006. All Rights Reserved.