Vol. 5 Num 817 Wed. September 13, 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 Star Chittagong Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Cops go wild on marchers Police brutally clubbed senior leaders, lawmakers and activists of Awami League-led 14-party opposition combine in Dhaka yesterday to foil their siege of Prime Minister's Office (PMO), injuring over 150   Phase-wise RMG wage increase proposed The National Wage Board at its 24th meeting yesterday failed to reach a consensus on minimum wages for garment workers despite a hectic seven-hour long negotiation.   Chaos in JS over attacks on MPs, law and order Yesterday's session in the parliament saw a pandemonium as lawmakers of the ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL) embarked on an unscheduled mud slinging, following which AL walked out ofthe   Dhaka set to sign energy cooperation deal with Bangkok Thai energy minister Viset Choopiban will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow to participate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries on energy sector cooperation and manpower   PM opens Karnaphuli EPZ, 2 fertiliser units Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday inaugurated two DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser factories and a new export processing zone (EPZ) in Chittagong.   Jute mill workers withdraw rail blockade but strike on The indefinite railway blockade enforced by Patkal Sangram Parishad (PSP), a platform of jute mill workers, was withdrawn at 9:00pm yesterday in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt but the indefinite strike   A three-minute neat job The policemen and women looked bored. They had taken off their protective jackets and helmets. Many sitting on the road divider.   EU mission asks BNP leaders about electoral reform dialogue Visiting members of the European Union (EU) Election Observation Exploratory Mission asked BNP leaders if a dialogue is possible between the ruling alliance and the opposition coalition on the issue of   Clashes sparked by attempt to besiege PMO FROM LEFT...   Butenis for polls with opposition participation US Ambassador in Dhaka Patricia A Butenis yesterday said her government wants the upcoming election in Bangladesh to take place as per the constitutional provisions and the opposition parties to participate   Home ministry for dropping 2 cases filed on 'political ground' The government decided to withdraw two cases filed against two brothers in connection with the possession of 520 bottles of contraband Phensidyl saying the cases were filed with 'political motivation'.   Hartal called in Pabna, Nilphamari District Awami League (AL) units in Pabna and Nilphamari yesterday called half-day hartal for today in the districts protesting police assaults on their local lawmakers Mohammad Nasim and AsaduzzamanNoor   Police barricades hassle commuters Commuters in the capital yesterday experienced intolerable sufferings as police blocked major roads in the city and re-routed some of the vehicles to other roads during the 14-party opposition coalition's   Hartal victim fights for life A cab driver, badly burned during the opposition's hartal on Sunday, has been fighting for his life in Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).   Govt crackdown brings Proshika to grinding halt Nationwide activities of Proshika, one of the country's largest non-government organisations (NGO), were at a standstill for the third consecutive day yesterday as most of its staff continued to refrain   Cops asked to take legal action Police officers of the rank of sub-inspector and above have been empowered to take legal action against use of polythene shopping bags in the metropolitan areas and elsewhere.   Court quizzes JMB leader Sunny A Dhaka court yesterday questioned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) military commander Ataur Rahman Sunny and four others in connection with two cases filed in December last year.   Gunmen try to take US Embassy in Syria Militants attempted to storm the US Embassy in Damascus yesterday using automatic rifles, hand grenades and at least one van rigged with explosives, the government said.   Iran sets conditions for enrichment suspension Iran has set a list of conditions in offering to consider a two-month suspension of uranium enrichment, but the United States has welcomed progress made in weekend talks between the EU and Iran.   27 people killed in Iraq violence Insurgents killed at least 27 people in Iraq yesterday, including six in a car bomb attack against a US convoy in Baghdad, security officials said.   50 killed in stampede at Yemen election rally At least 50 people were killed and 100 hurt in a stampede yesterday at a stadium in southern Yemen during an election rally by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a week ahead of polls already marred by violence.   Peace within reach in Kashmir: Musharraf Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said yesterday that peace was within reach in the divided region of Kashmir and challenged India to seize the opportunity to end the bloody conflict.   Pakistan has not done enough to control terrorism: Manmohan Setting the tone ahead of his meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said Pakistan has not done enough to control elements like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Business Cabinet body sits today to decide on handover Proposal for the sale of 67 per cent shares of Rupali Bank, including five conditions that the government has to fulfil before the bank's handover, looks set to be placed in a cabinet committee meeting   MCCI stresses raising productivity Raising country's overall productivity to escape the poverty trap is strongly needed, said the Chamber News, a regular publication of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), in its editorial.   Private fixed telephone firms in great distress Multiple problems have been crippling tremendous growth potential of the country's private PSTN (public switched telephone network) service.   Give SMEs access to loans Bangladesh Bank Governor Salehuddin Ahmed once again has urged commercial banks and financial institutions to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to finance by changing their attitude.   Beximco to raise fund again from overseas stock exchange Beximco Group is once again going to raise funds from overseas stock market through global depository receipt (GDR).   Export licences of 4 shrimp factories cancelled Export licences of four shrimp processing factories of Khulna have been temporarily cancelled due to the presence of a harmful chemical, Nitrofuran, in shrimps.   Wärtsilä to supply equipment for 34.92MW power plant of Summit Wärtsilä will supply equipment for a 34.92MW power plant of Summit Power Limited to be constructed at Ashulia, Savar, says a press release.   A close look at Asian performance: Citigroup's economics takeout (Sept '06)   World economy at juncture: IMF The world economy is at "an important juncture", International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato said Tuesday, mainly owing to the growing risk of a bigger-than-expected slowdown in the United States.   India firm on farm issues Standing firm on agricultural issues in the suspended Doha Round of negotiations, India has underlined once again the need to correct the structural flaws in the world trade in agriculture arising out   Dollar holds steady against yen The dollar held steady against the yen in Asian trade Tuesday after hitting a two-month high overseas on a rebound ahead of a Group of Seven meeting of finance ministers, dealers said.   France, Sweden find banned GMO traces in US rice France and Sweden have discovered traces of a banned genetically modified substance in imported US rice, in tests which must be confirmed by EU laboratories, a European Commission source said Tuesday.   Volkswagen plans $540m car plant in India Germany's Volkswagen AG plans to sell small cars in India by next year with an investment of 25 billion rupees (540 million dollars) to build a new manufacturing plant, a state official said Tuesday.   Videocon to buy Daewoo India's biggest electronics firm VideoCon Industries signed an agreement Tuesday to buy debt-burdened South Korea's Daewoo Electronics for a reported 700 million dollars. Sports Football: Clubs blast BFF The clubs to take part in the inaugural Professional Football League (PFL) have accused the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) of being insincere about staging the tournament.   Cricket: And BCB it remains! The cabinet approval on Monday to rename the country's most affluent sports federation as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in lieu of the Board of Control for Cricket in Bangladesh (BCCB) evoked more surprise   Cricket: Aussies see off WI scare Australia returned to international cricket with a bang Tuesday, sparking an embarrassing West Indies batting collapse to win their opening DLF Cup one-dayer here by 78 runs. Set 280 to win at 5.   Cricket: Freddie to lead Ashes defence Andrew Flintoff has beaten off competition from Andrew Strauss to captain England in the defence of the Ashes in Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced when naming the squad here   Cricket: Tigers under the cosh The Bangladesh cricket team, now preparing for next month's ICC Champions Trophy in India, had a lengthy training session yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.   Tennis: Bad day for local girls All eight Bangladeshi participants crashed out of the girls' singles first round of the Sagufta ATF Under-14 Tennis Series yesterday at the Ramna National tennis Complex.   Football: Javed hattrick lifts Bachelors A brilliant hattrick by Mohammed Javed enabled Bachelors Sporting Club to a facile 4-0 victory over Uttara Hockey Club in the Green Delta Metropolis First Division Hockey League at the Maulana Bhasani   Cricket: 9/11 cricket match held Muslim imams and Christian clergy played each other in a friendly cricket match on Monday in a show of inter-faith unity to mark the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.   Football: Battle of Britain looms large The all-British clash between Manchester United and Celtic at Old Trafford should ensure that Wednesday night's Champions League matches are not short of fireworks.   Football: Houllier unworried by Real French champions Lyon begin what has become their annual quest to get past the quarterfinal stages of the Champions League against one of the competition's historic giants on Wednesday.   Football: Rooney to be unleashed As Blackburn's Michael Gray will testify, Wayne Rooney suffers more than most from the pent-up frustration that afflicts professional footballers when they are prevented from plying their trade.   Football: Bayern top earnings list Bayern Munich are the kings when it comes to earnings from the Cham-pions League, according to a report here Tuesday.   Hockey: Battle on for last four Favourites the Netherlands defeated England 4-3 at the men's field hockey World Cup championship here Monday but their semifinal berth rests on the outcome of other teams' results.   Cricket: Not driven by racism Darrell Hair, the Australian umpire at the centre of The Oval controversy last month, has hit out at suggestions that his decisions which led to the forfeiture of the Test were hasty, and, even worse,   Cricket: Inzy far from happy Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq Tuesday termed his team's overall performance in England as "unsatisfactory", saying that the team badly needed to improve its fielding in one-day cricket.   Football: Legalised betting a possible solution A legalised betting system is vital to winning the battle against match-fixing, according to Asian Football Confederation general secretary Peter Velappan.   Cricket: Imran slates ODI effort Former cricket great Imran Khan Tuesday said he was dejected at Pakistan's poor performance in the one-day series against England's "weakest" outfit.   Cricket: Zim planning Test return Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran has revealed Zimbabwe are planning to return to Test cricket in November 2007, following their withdrawal at the start of this year.   National carrom from tomorrow The three-day 4th National Carrom Championship will begin at the National Sports Council gymnasium tomorrow.   Chess: 5 share lead in women's chess Tanima Parveen shared the lead with four others at the end of the second round of Begum Laila Alam Women's FIDE Rating chess tournament yesterday.   Football: City crash at Reading Premiership newcomers Reading notched up their second win of the season here Monday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a toothless Manchester City side relegated to 10 men for the last 10 minutes.   Football: City crash at Reading Premiership newcomers Reading notched up their second win of the season here Monday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over a toothless Manchester City side relegated to 10 men for the last 10 minutes.   Football: Hamburg test for Arsenal Arsenal aim to finally get their season up and running on Wednesday when they travel to Germany to face SV Hamburg in the first Champions League Group G match.   Football: Only the world will do Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists winning the Champions League would not be enough to satisfy his desire for world domination.   Football: Aragones explains change of heart Spain coach Luis Aragones has said he changed his mind about quitting because the Spanish Federation (RFEF) and his coaching assistants convinced him he had no reason to throw in the towel.   Football: Viduka to rejoin Socceroos Socceroos captain Mark Viduka indicated Tuesday he would return to the Australian national team for next year's Asian Cup.   Football: Bus driver strands rowdy fans A bus driver dumped his load of celebrating Marseille fans around 300km from home after becoming fed up with their rowdy antics.   Football: Rivals love to hate Chelsea: Boulharouz Chelsea's recently signed Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz said he has been stunned by how rival players, and their cheeky fans, will behave to show their hatred of the London club.   Football: Diarra knowledge could be key Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra is ready to use his inside knowledge to help Real Madrid avenge last season's Champions League defeat by his former club Olympique Lyon.   Football: Perrotta extends Roma contract Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta has signed a two-year contract extension, the Serie A club confirmed on Monday. The 28-year-old Italy international's new deal will keep him at the club until 2010.   Football: Heinz signs for St Etienne Former Czech international striker Marek Heinz will sign a three year deal with Saint Etienne, the French first division side said Tuesday.   Football: India PM pleads to Brazil India will seek Brazil's help to improve football standards in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday ahead of a state visit to the South American nation.   Football: Eriksson pulls out of WC conference Former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is fed up with being branded a failure, according to UEFA president and fellow Swede Lennart Johansson.   Football: Jarolim, Kompany fit for Hamburg Belgian defender Vincent Kompany and Czech midfielder David Jarolim have returned from injury to give SV Hamburg a timely boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Arsenal on Wednesday.   Football: Henry out of Hamburg trip Arsenal will have to rely on young forwards Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie to lead the line in their crucial Champions League tie in Hamburg after Thierry Henry pulled out injured on Tuesday.   Football: Pires needs another six months Villarreal midfielder Robert Pires is recovering after undergoing a knee operation in the southern French city of Marseille, his Spanish club announced Tuesday. Metropolitan Today's inauguration by PM a political stunt The scheduled inauguration of US$ 430 million Rajshahi Gas Project by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Kharkhari on the outskirts of the city today is only a political stunt, said the leaders of local trade   'Empowerment of EC a must for strengthening democracy' The Election Commission (EC) has to be properly empowered for ensuring a formidable democratic system, speakers at a debate programme observed yesterday. "Reforms in the electoral system are a must.   Inadequate rainfall unlikely to hit Aman production Agriculture Minister MK Anwar yesterday said the country would not face any setback in Aman production due to inadequate rainfall this year as the water crisis was already met through using deep tubewells   Set up nuclear power plant to meet growing demand Academics yesterday suggested setting up of nuclear power generation plant to meet growing power demand in the country.   Develop tieswith Muslim nations Jamaat Ameer and Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami has called on the western societies to make fundamental paradigm shift in their attitude towards Muslims to make fruitful relations with the Muslim   Ebtedaee madrasa, community teachers to get same salary Education Minister Osman Farruk yesterday said teachers of Ebtedaee Madrasas will soon get the same salary scale like the teachers of community primary school from the government exchequer.   Four labourers die in B'baria road accident Four day-labourers were killed in a fatal accident at Bertala on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Sarail upazila yesterday morning.   13 DU students get Dean's Award Faculty of Social Sciences of Dhaka University (DU) will give away prestigious "Dean's Award" to 13 students of different departments under the faculty for outstanding academic performance.   Duja annual seminar today Annual seminar, 2006 of Dhaka University Journalists' Association (Duja) will be held today at Dhaka University (DU).   Prof Shamsul Haque passes away Prof M Shamsul Haque, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 80, says a press release. Prof Haque was also a former adviser to the caretaker government.   Lightning kills 3 in Tangail Three teenage boys were killed and five others injured seriously in two separate incidents of lightning at Kalihati and Gopalpur upazilas in the district yesterday.   Five get life for murder in Naogaon The district court yesterday sentenced five men to life imprisonment for killing a co-villager at Tatarpur village in Mohadebpur upazzila nine years ago.   Two prisoners fall sick, die in hospital Two prisoners of the Central Jail died at Sir Sallimullah Medical College Hospital in the city in the last two days. Krishnachandra Rajbankshi, 34, of Sutrapur, fell sick on Monday night, sources said.   Fabric worth Tk 1 crore seized Customs officials unearthed an attempt to release cotton fabric worth about Tk 1 crore with fake documents and seized the fabric.   Put forward your demands to PMO as my initiative not enough The members of BCS Economic Cadre, who placed their four-point demand at a meeting with Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman in the city yesterday, were advised to put forward their demands to the Prime Minister   Cop succumbs to injuries A police constable, who received injuries during Sunday's hartal, succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in the city in the early hours of yesterday.   546 RU staffs demand job confirmation Five hundred and forty-six employees of Rajshahi University (RU), whose appointments have been mired in controversy, laid siege to the vice-chancellor's residence yesterday demanding confirmation of their   Information minister off to Jeddah Information Minister M Shamsul Islam left here yesterday for Jeddah to attend a conference of information ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).   EU team likely to arrive eight weeks ahead of election The EU election observation team is likely to arrive in Bangladesh five to eight weeks ahead of the general election. National Make position about Phulbari mine clear Leaders of five Left parties at a rally in Phulbari yesterday urged the government to implement the agreement signed with the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources on August 30and   12 to seek BNP ticket, back any party nominee but Nitai Roy Twelve BNP aspirants yesterday said all of them would seek nomination from Magura-1 but would work jointly for any party nominee but former minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury.   Set up sessions judge's courts in CHT Speakers at seminar here yesterday urged the government to take steps for creation of sessions judge's courts in the three hill districts as per the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation (Amendment) Act-2003,   Hartal observed in Moulvibazar for train service A half-day hartal was observed in Kulaura, Juri and Baralekha upazilas in Moulvibazar district yesterday at the call of Sylhet Division Development Council to press reintroduction of Kulaura-Shahbajpur   Audit report submitted toUGC team A five-member audit team of Patuakhali Science and Tech-nology University (PSTU) headed by its deputy controller Md Nizam Uddin on Monday handed over an internal audit report to the University GrantsCommission   Rangpur AL council today after 8 yrs Rangpur district Awami League will hold its council today. The council was not held since 1997 due to intra-party feud, party sources said.   6 pirates held with arms in Manikganj Shivalya police arrested six pirates with two firearms from Alokdia area in the Jamuna Monday night. Point-Counterpoint 'Alarm bells are ringing' Mike Moore, former prime minister of New Zealand and ex-head of the WTO, was in Dhaka from September 8-11, as one of the multi-national delegation organized by the NDI to assess the state of Bangladesh's   Food crisis in the offing? The northern districts of the country suffered from prolonged drought during the rainy season of the current year.   The damage done Barely a few days after ruling party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's accusation that the opposition parties were making the country's constitutional bodies controversial, a judge was appointed   Teaching them a lesson As long as the accumulated mint is there, monopoly in politics will be there. Being driven by this motto, politicians in the country erred, are immersed in blunders. Culture Films to inspire children CHILDREN'S Film Society, Bangladesh had a programme of films at the Goethe Institut on 10th September. Films for children were also shown at the same premises on the 11th and the 12th.   Artifacts from brick kiln Bashir is a self-taught artist, who is having his solo at the Zoom Gallery of Alliance Francaise.   Michael Moore takes on US health care First, General Motors, then gun control, followed by George W Bush. Now rabble-rousing filmmaker Michael Moore has turned his irreverent camera on health care in America.   Sushmita Sen turns snake charmer Beauty queen turned Bollywood actress, Sushmita Sen, doesn't just dazzle audiences, she charms snakes too.   Oitijhya bookfestival in eight district towns A fifteen-day book festival organised by Oitijhya is on simultaneously at 8 different locations -- Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Narayanganj and Cox's Bazaar between September   fan mail! In our monthly fan mail section this month we turn the spotlight on veteran film actor Razzak. International Lanka govt, Tigers willing to talk, says Akashi The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger guerrillas have told Norwegian mediators they are willing to return to peace talks without conditions, Japan's peace envoy to the country said yesterday.   Developing states retool NAM for new era Not aligned with whom? Developing countries in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) are working to make their Cold War-era group a united front with a sharper focus: countering not two superpowers, but one.   25 civilians killed in Afghan offensive At least 25 Afghan civilians are believed to have been killed and 7,000 families displaced in a major Nato operation against Taliban rebels, rights and government officials said yesterday.   New bird found in India after more than 50 yrs A striking multi-coloured bird has been discovered in India's remote northeast, making it the first ornithological find in the country in more than half a century, experts said yesterday.   Israeli court orders release of 18 Hamas lawmakers An Israeli military court yesterday ordered the release of 18 Hamas lawmakers, including three Cabinet ministers.   Court convicts 4 for '93 Mumbai bombings An Indian court yesterday found four members of a Muslim family, including a woman, guilty in the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people, the first convictions in one of the world's longest   Militants kill couple in Kashmir Suspected Islamic militants shot and killed a husband and his wife in a remote mountain village in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir, police said yesterday.   NATO fight in Afghan south risks long-term aims NATO troops have been sucked into bloody combat with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan that risks turning local opinion against them and undermining their ultimate goal of fostering reconstruction, analysts   Iran pledges help for security in Iraq Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, on his first official visit to Iran, yesterday won a pledge from the Islamic republic of unequivocal support in restoring security to the insurgency-plagued country.   185 combatants killed in Sri Lanka in 6 days A battle raging in northern Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil rebels has killed 185 combatants over the past six days, government officials said yesterday.   Iran, Syria must work with int'l community to be accepted: Annan Iran and Syria must work with the international community if they want to cease being isolated from world affairs, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said in an interview published in The Financial   Life in ruins after Guantanamo jailPakistani says Mohammad Sagheer says the year he spent in prison in Guantanamo Bay has ruined his life. He has lost his saw-mill business, his family has sunk into debt and his children have had to quit school.   No let up in Kashmir rights abuse: HRW Human rights abuses by security forces and Muslim militants continue unchecked in Indian Kashmir despite a three-year-old peace process between India and Pakistan, a global human rights group said yesterday.   Helicopter crash in Russia kills 11 At least 11 people, most of them high-ranking officers, died in a military helicopter crash near the Russian city of Vladikavkaz, officials said yesterday.   Brown moving into 10 Downing Street British finance minister Gordon Brown, long tipped to take over from Prime Minister Tony Blair, is finally to move into 10 Downing Street -- even if he hasn't got the top job yet, officials said yesterday.   Quake shakes western China A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook China's northwestern region of Xinjiang early yesterday, but there were no deaths or damage in the remote, unpopulated area, the government announced. Editorial Editorial: NDI's concerns A National Democratic Institute (NDI) team from the United States, led by Tom Daschle, former Majority and Minority Leader of the US Senate, and composed of former Prime Minister of New Zealand Mike Moore,   Editorial: Water-logging woes Incessant rains on Monday submerged many city streets and thoroughfares in the capital. It has caused immense suffering to the people all over.   Ah, yes, the constitution . . . There are all these people in the government who are suddenly tempted to demonstrate their loyalty to the constitution.   Blairs's exit and Anglo-American relations Prime Minister Tony Blair finally, under pressure, announced that he would leave office sometime next year.   Lebanese not out of the woods Ceasefire violations in Lebanon continue taking place -- naturally from the Israeli side. To begin with, it is not the ceasefire proper. Letters to Editor The Muslim world Muslims killing one another should simply be unacceptable to anybody who claims himself to be a Muslim.   Qawami education I'm not against religious education. But I'm against low standard of education. Again, the government is playing with our education for power.   Shahjalal University Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, once known as the country's first Science and Technology University with its distinct curriculum and academic rigor, is about to lose its glorious image   Please don't threaten me I have every reason now to live in fear and agony in my beloved country. I have every reason to verify myself as a Muslim. I have all the reasons to feel like a dead man. So, please don't threatenme.   Civic problems at Baridhara I am forced to draw the attention of the highest authorities for the very simple reason that the officials at lower levels do not function at all without orders from the higher chain of commandunder   Science and life There should be a human face of scientific ventures. History proves that science is not the ultimate means for human development.   Juvenile diabetes Type 1 juvenile diabetes is becoming widespread in developed world and may hit Bangladesh soon.   "Let us go against the stream" This refers to the above article written by Mohammad Badrul Ahsan published in your Friday, 1st September issue and I very much agree with most of the points raised by Mr. Ahsan.   Private universities This in an undeniable fact that private universities of Bangladesh were once a matter of debate as they could not ensure quality education for the students. Star Chittagong Unplanned billboards spoil panoramic view of port city Signboards and billboards erected in an unplanned way are spoiling the panoramic view of the port city and hampering public movement seriously.   Garbage problem turns concrete Chittagong, the second largest city, is gradually losing its beauty and name as a clean one as the city corporation has turned a blind eye to garbage littering around city roads, streets and back lanes Star City Unlicensed blood banks pose threat to public health Private blood banks and transfusion centres in the capital and elsewhere are running without licence, according to official sources.   A journey through 100 years The few names that come to our minds when we mention Dhaka or Dhaka University (DU) -- Curzon Hall is one of them.   CNG cylinders need regular check up The authorities' neglect of fitness monitoring of the CNG equipment installed in vehicles has resulted in fatal accidents in the city and elsewhere.   To a better, safer future... Nurses and doctors were desperately trying to hold back their tears as the ceremony of handing over Shuchi took place.   Dhaka: Home away from home When I first landed in Dhaka it was 11:30 pm. The flight was delayed for 20 hours. I got out of the airport and saw people hanging around outside it.   Dhaka: Home away from home When I first landed in Dhaka it was 11:30 pm. The flight was delayed for 20 hours. I got out of the airport and saw people hanging around outside it.   © thedailystar.net, 2006. All Rights Reserved.