Vol. 5 Num 785 Fri. August 11, 2006       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan Culture Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Environment World Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page BDR, BSF fierce firefight along Zakiganj border Indian Borders Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) locked in a fierce firefight for about 14 hours until yesterday noon on Zakiganj border, exchanging around 10,000 bullets and 400 mortal   Question mark hangs over credentials of some polls observers Neutrality of some local election observers has come into question when they have yet to undertake the task of monitoring the next general election.   Hail the Super Patriot The BoI chief has shamed us all by his patriotism. Oh, how he loves Bangladesh.   5 eminent citizens get bail The High Court (HC) yesterday granted ad interim anticipatory bail to five prominent citizens following issuance of arrest warrants against them in a defamation suit filed by Executive Chairman of the   10 more days given to finish updating job The Election Commission (EC) has once again extended time for updating the voter list giving the field level staff 10 more days to complete the task.   UK cops foil plot to blow up US bound planes British police are holding 21 people in connection with what they said was a foiled plot to blow up several passenger planes flying between Britain and the United States, police said yesterday.   Protests on against filing of case Researchers of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) expressed shock and dismay over the events between Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and a high-level government functionary that have   Graft, policy shift make a mess of healthcare system Experts at a consultation meeting yesterday identified lack of accountability, rampant corruption, frequent shift in policy and having almost no role of the specialised persons in the decision makingas   Documents doctored to dodge Tk 25cr tax a yr In blatant violation of the import policy, a section of vehicle importers are depriving the government of a huge amount of revenue counterfeiting import documents and tampering with engine and chassis   Charges pressed against 11 JCD men Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday pressed charges against 11 Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders and activists arrested in connection with preventing participants from buying schedules and bidding   Verdict in graft case against Ershad Aug 17 A Dhaka court yesterday for the third time fixed a new date for the delivery of judgment in a corruption case against former president HM Ershad for illegal withdrawal of income tax money.   Arguments of state side in judges killing complete The government counsel yesterday submitted in the High Court (HC) that the lower court rightly convicted seven militant leaders including Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) kingpins Abdur Rahman and   Court rejects charge sheet, IO showcaused again The Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday again issued a show cause to Investigation Officer (IO) Anwar Hossain, in-charge of the sensational abduction and murder case of business tycoon   Paban again denied bail A Dhaka court yesterday rejected the bail petition of Akter Hamid Paban, son of Chief Whip Khandakar Delwar Hossain, arrested on charge of carjacking.   Consensus govt Huda's new formula Communications Minister Nazmul Huda has come up with the idea of forming a consensus government to be led by BNP.   HC okays govt move to cancel house allotment to wife of Khaled Mosharraf The High Court (HC) yesterday declared valid the government notice cancelling the allotment of a house to Salma Khaled Mosharraf, the widow of a Bangladesh Liberation War hero.   Israel puts major offensive on hold for talks Israel plans to allow more time for US-led diplomatic efforts to resolve its dispute with Hezbollah before carrying out its decision to expand a ground offensive in Lebanon, a cabinet minister said yesterday.   Bomber kills 35 near Iraqi Shia shrine A suicide bomber killed 35 people near one of Shia Islam's holiest shrines yesterday, in what Iraqi leaders branded an attempt to sow sectarian hatred and destroy a fragile peace process.   Prodhan, Shil meet B Chy Ganotantrik Jatiya Party President Shafiul Alam Prodhan and independent lawmaker from Dinajpur-1 constituency Monoranjan Shil met Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB) chief AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury at his office   Medical Board monitoring poet Shamsur Rahman's health Poet Shamsur Rahman's health condition is being closely monitored by a nine-member medical board at the intensive care unit at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital (BSMMU).   Six drown as engine boat sinks in Haor Six people, including three of a family, drowned when an engine boat with 11 passengers on board capsized in Kanlar Haor (water body) under Sadar upazila on Wednesday.   443 Bangladeshis arrive in Syria from Lebanon At least 443 Bangladeshis arrived in Syrian capital Damascus yesterday evening under the supervision of International Organization for Migration (IOM) on their way back home in Bangladesh.   Malaysia offers on arrival visas for Bangladeshis Malaysia is offering visas-on-arrival to citizens of 23 more countries including China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, in a bid to boost its tourism industry, reports said Thursday. Business FM for equitable trade growth in Bimstec region As Bimstec ministerial meeting in New Delhi ended without fixing a new deadline to conclude the FTA negotiations, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan yesterday said all parties should show flexibility   KL may relocate labour-based industries to Bangladesh Malaysian government and businesspeople are contemplating relocation of their labour-based industries to Bangladesh as the country is now opted for technology-based industrialisation, a top official of   Bullish trend in DSE as call money market eases Shares on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed a bullish trend for the second consecutive week that closed yesterday with the easing of the call money market.   Farm exports to face setback if int'l norms not adopted Export of agricultural products from Bangladesh is going to face a serious market access problem if proper measures are not taken in conformity with the standards of international export markets in this   BEI seminar on corporate social responsibility held Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised a seminar on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Dhaka yesterday.   Expo Bangladesh in London Nov 22 In a bid to woo more European buyers into Bangladeshi market, a two-day annual trade fair titled 'Expo Bangladesh-2006' will kick off in London on November 22.   Motel at Water Kingdom in Ashulia this month Concord Entertainment Co Ltd (CEnCL) will launch a motel at Water Kingdom in Ashulia this month what it says the first-ever themed motel in the country.   Sino-Pak FTA talks next month Pakistan and China are scheduled to hold fourth round of negotiation on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Beijing next month.   AKTEL, CPA sign corporate accord Mobile phone operator AKTEL signed a corporate agreement with Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) here yesterday to provide complete communication facilities for the CPA.   World oil prices drop in wake of plane bomb plot Crude prices fell Thursday on prospects that air traffic could suffer following the discovery of a plot in Britain to attack flights, and on signs that the biggest US oil field will continue to produce   India to start 1st full-fledged bank in China The State Bank of India (SBI) will be the first Indian bank to offer full-fledged banking operations in China at a time when bilateral trade and investments are booming, a senior bank executive said here Sports Football: Defence worry for Babloo A depleted Bangladesh national football team will leave Dhaka on Sunday for Chittagong to play the 2007 Asian Cup qualifying round match against Qatar.   Cricket: Lankans await Sachin Sri Lankans can't wait to welcome back a fit-again Sachin Tendulkar as India arrive here on Thursday night to play a tri-series also featuring South Africa.   Cricket: Fletcher trusts Strauss Coach Duncan Fletcher looks set to keep faith with the captaincy of Andrew Strauss after leading England to their first success since last year's Ashes against Pakistan this week.   Chess: Uten surprises IM Rakib Uten upset International Master Abdullah Al Rakib in the fourth round of the Open FIDE Rating chess tournament at the federation chess room yesterday to share lead in the table with six others.   Cricket: Bashar to go to Bangkok for check up National cricket captain Habibul Bashar is expected to go to Bangkok to have further check up for his injured fifth metacarpal of the left hand.   Football: Inzaghi secures advantage Scandal-hit AC Milan celebrated regaining their Champions League place through the back door with a 1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade here Wednesday, with birthday boy Filippo Inzaghi producing the decisive   Squash: Bhola upsets Swapan Title contender Bhola Lal upset top-seed and his SA Games squad teammate Swapan Parvez 2-1 in the Premier Division of the GMG Open squash tournament at the Gulshan Club yesterday.   Football: Ibrahimovic becomes a Nerazzurri Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a four-year deal with Inter Milan after a 24.8 million euro (31.9 million dollar) agreement was reached by the club with Italian rivals Juventus on Thursday.   Football: Mixed times for Die Bundesliga Football is making a swift return to Germany. And no, its' not the World Cup.   Tennis: Biggies tumble at Toronto World number one Roger Federer won his 14th match in a row while fifth seed James Blake, Britain's Tim Henman and Australian Lleyton Hewitt lost Wednesday at the ATP Masters Series event here.   Cricket: England recall Gough Veteran bowler Darren Gough has been recalled to England's provisional squad named Thursday for the ICC Champions Trophy.   Tennis: Stosur downs Davenport Samantha Stosur spoiled Lindsay Davenport's return from injury on Wednesday, outlasting the former world number one 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the third round of this 600,000-dollar WTA US Open tuneup.   Football: Gonzalez spares L'pool blushes Liverpool came from behind to defeat Israel's Maccabi Haifa 2-1 in a tense Champions League qualifier here Wednesday thanks to goals from new signings Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez.   Football: Vieri quits Sampdoria Weary Italian striker Christian Vieri is without a club after quitting Sampdoria following just one month with the Serie A side.   Football: Terry named Eng captain Chelsea skipper John Terry has been appointed as England's new captain, the Football Association said on Thursday.   Cricket: WI contract row settled The West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) dispute with players has been settled ahead of next month's tri-series with India and Australia in Malaysia and Singapore.   Cricket: Inzy calls for calm Under-fire Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has called on his compatriots to support the team despite losing their first Test series to England since 1982.   Cricket: Ganguly to play in Super Sixes Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly will feature in the first Asian Super Sixes tournament in Pakistan next month, an organiser said on Thursday.   Football: Low springs no surprises Germany coach Joachim Low remained loyal to his country's World Cup squad on Thursday when naming his first group of 21-players for the friendly against Sweden on August 16 in Gelsenkirchen.   Football: Huntelaar fires Ajax Striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored both goals as Ajax Amsterdam beat Danish champions FC Copen-hagen 2-1 away on Wednesday to edge towards the lucrative Champions League group stage.   Football: Profligacy costs Hamburg It is advantage Osasuna after the Spanish side secured a 0-0 draw with German outfit SV Hamburg in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier here on Wednesday.   Football: Mourinho calls off Cole deal Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has told Premiership rivals Arsenal that he is not willing to break the bank to sign England full-back Ashley Cole.   Football: Lyon launch Ribery bid French giants Lyon have made a 22 million euro bid for Marseille's unsettled international midfielder Franck Ribery, the five-time champions disclosed Wednesday.   Football: Battle of Britain ends equal Chelsea may have introduced Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack to their supporters here last night but all thoughts turned to the club's tortuous pursuit of Ashley Cole as Wayne Bridge, at the moment   Football: Qualifying Results Collated results from UEFA Champions League final qualifying round first leg fixtures played Wednesday: At Moscow CSKA Moscow (RUS) 3 (Olic 58, 65, Vagner Love 83) Ruzomberok (SVK) 0   Football: DC United hold Real European power Real Madrid and United States league-leading D.C. United played to a 1-1 draw in an international football friendly here Wednesday.   Football: Record ticket sales for United Manchester United have recorded massive season-ticket sales for the coming campaign, a club spokesman confirmed Thursday.   Football: Barca claim pulsating draw Forward Samuel Eto'o scored in the 90th minute as FC Barcelona came from three goals down in the final five minutes to tie Club America of Mexico City 4-4.   Football: U-21 callup for Walcott Arsenal's untried 17-year-old striker Theo Walcott received his first England Under 21 call-up on Wednesday ahead of next week's opening European Championship qualifier against Moldova at Portman Road.   Football: Karimi blow for Iran Iran will be without injured playmaker Ali Karimi for next week's Asian Cup qualifier against Syria, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Thursday.   Cricket: Tendulkar close to full fitness India's coach Greg Chappell said Thursday that master batsman Sachin Tendulkar was close to regaining full fitness ahead of the triangular one-day series in Sri Lanka.   Kabadi: Women kabaddi team off to Kolkata A 12-member Bangladesh women's kabaddi team left Dhaka for Kolkata yesterday morning to play some preparation matches ahead of the 10th SA Games that officially begin in Colombo on August 18.   Cricket: Panesar not hurt by ODI omission England spin bowler Monty Panesar said on Thursday he was not upset at being left out of the one-day international squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in India later this year despite his recent Test heroics.   Athletics: French surprise Unheralded Yohan Diniz of France sprang a surprise on the fourth day of the European Championships here Thursday, winning the men's 50km walk.   Cricket: Waugh's wife recovering Steve Waugh's wife Lynette continues to make a good recovery from surgery to remove a blood clot from her brain, the former Australia captain said on Thursday. Metropolitan No polls without electoral reforms The first day of district level road march programme of Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition combine passed off peacefully in the district headquarters yesterday amid unprecedented security measurers.   Uncongenial atmosphere for pry education prevails in CHT The phantom of feudal anarchy is still haunting the hilly region and thus holds the indigenous children back from having compulsory primary education, said the speakers at a seminar in the city yesterday.   Four-party candidates to win with more votes than in '01 Grassroots leaders yesterday told BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia that the reigning four-party alliance candidates for the next polls would win with more votes than they got in the last   7 killed in road accidents At least seven people were killed in separate road accidents the city and Savar yesterday. Three people died in separate road accidents in the city and in the suburbs yesterday.   AL plots against polls Information Minister M Shamsul Islam yesterday said Awami League (AL) has been hatching conspiracy against the next general election sensing its defeat.   Former PS to Hasina alleges govt harassment RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, a government official who served as a personal secretary to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina during her tenure, yesterday said he tendered his resignation a year ago,   Khulna BNP factions hold separate rallies Two factions of Khulna BNP held rallies separately in the city as part of the party's central programme protesting what it said the anarchy created by the Awami League-led 14-party opposition combineover   JS body asks edn ministry to implement govt assurances The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the government assurances at a meeting yesterday asked the Ministry of Education to take immediate measures for implementation of various government commitments.   25 more dengue patients hospitalised With another 25 dengue-infected people admitted in different hospitals and clinics in the capital yesterday, the number of dengue patients reached to 1,125, said the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) sources.   Auto-rickshaw owners asked to renew route permit Owners of CNG-run auto-rickshaws have been asked to renew the route permit of their vehicles up to 2007.   Criminals demand tolls from N'ganj minority family Two people identifying themselves as members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) allegedly ransacked the house of a minority family and looted Tk 7,500 at Amlapara in Narayanganj on Wednesday night.   'Take steps to ensure votes of non-resident Bangladeshis' Mayor of Tower Hamlets Shafiqul Haque urged the government, opposition parties and Election Commission to take measures so that the non-resident Bangladeshis can cast vote in the next general election.   Stolen car recovered in Ctg Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) recovered a private car from Pahartali area in the port city yesterday.   Prof Faez new IU VC Prof Faez Mohammad Serazul Hoque has been appointed as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Islamic University (IU) yesterday.   Six injured as BCL, Shibir men clash in Lalmonirhat At least six were injured during a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) at Lalmonirhat Govt College here yesterday.   1,218 more held Police arrested 1,218 people from across the country on various charges in the last 24 hours ending at 6:00am yesterday.   Obituary Noted scientist and former director of the Institute of Food Science and Technology Dr Kazi AKM Nurul Haq died of kidney ailments at his Mirpur residence on August 8 at the age of 72. Point-Counterpoint Israel: Hypocrisy and double standards But this is a people robbed and spoiled, but they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith. Restore.   Politics, politicians and graft THERE is no denying that a tranquil political atmosphere is the sine qua non for any country to prosper and achieve its development objectives.   Pakistan under the microscope THERE was much satisfaction often bordering on euphoria at the Pakistan PM's office and in certain other corridors of Islamabad after the IMF certified that Pakistan's GDP per capita at current prices Culture All for mainstream Bengali movies THE doe-eyed quintessential Bengali beauty Purnima, is perhaps the reigning dream girl in Bangladeshi cinema.   Nargis Akhter's latest venture 'Megher Koley Roud' The release of the movie Megher Koley Roud will mark the return of director Nargis Akhter to the Bangladeshi movie circuit. The film is a sequel to her award-winning Meghla akash.   Manuscript preservation: The need of the hour Imagine a precious manuscript falling prey to the vagaries of nature, environmental pollution, or just sheer human negligence.   Road to 'Daruchini Dwip' Lux Channel i Superstar is heating up with the selection of 20 finalists. The contestants and a group of renowned personalities are in Cox's Bazar now where a grooming session is being held.   Fan mail The Culture Page is starting a monthly fan mail section on cultural personalities, based on questions sent by readers. Now you can ask the stars whatever you always wanted to know about them. Editorial Editorial: A shocking development The arrest warrants issued in the name of five eminent citizens connected with the research organisation called the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in a criminal defamation case lodged by the Executive   Editorial: Plight of indigenous people The International Day of the world's indigenous people has been celebrated in the country the other day bringing into focus the various aspects of their lives as lived in different parts of the country.   Comedy of errors Let me see if I can get this straight. On Sunday, August 6, speaking at a meeting with a forum of economic reporters at the press club, Board of Investment head Mahmudur Rahman referred to CPD as "a conspirator" and "a shameless liar" and accused the think-tank of maligning the country.   Last word in politics I think I know why there is no last word in politics. It happens when leaders, who aspire to last long in power, disgrace their own words.   BNP's unfulfilled commitment With less than three months left for the BNP led four-party alliance to hand over power to the caretaker government, very often we see ministers of the present government are blaming the press for depicting Letters to Editor Voices from the street As the on-going destruction of Lebanon by Israeli forces continues well into its fourth week, there is an unquestionable rise of hostile sentiment against the policies of Israel and its prime ally, the   Landless Adivasis Adivasis are losing their lands gradually. Due to poverty and illiteracy, Adivasis of the northwest will find themselves in further trouble if the government does not respond to their plight.   Talent without temperament? We must admit that they both are talented and have great future in international cricket.   David Beckham He's far from the best soccer player in the world. Sure, he's very good, but he's a second-tier player and only the third-best midfielder in his own team.   Learn from history This has reference to many letters that appeared in this column.   FIFA World Cup I am writing with reference to the letter: "FIFA World Cup" by Syed Badrul Haque(23rd July). Referring to the incident leading to Zinedine Zidane's sending off Mr. Environment How environment-friendly is the railway? The agenda for railway reform in Bangladesh has been stepped up through the recently held seminar (3 July 2006) in Dhaka which was attended by top government policy- makers and the World Bank along with   Fertility for food security Out of 16 essential elements for plants, boron is one of the micro nutrients used for normal growth and development of cereal crops and vegetables. In Bangladesh two third farm areas have boron deficiency. World South Asia: Fighting worsens in Lanka: 13 killed The Sri Lankan military attacked Tamil Tiger rebels from land and air yesterday, and the rebels retaliated in heavy fighting that killed at least 13 combatants, officials said.   South Asia: Opposition to move no-trust vote against Pakistani PM Pakistani opposition parties plan to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on August 23, opposition lawmakers said yesterday.   South Asia: Fighting kills 20 in Afghanistan Fighting in Afghanistan's south left 12 suspected Taliban and eight police dead, while a roadside bomb yesterday killed an Afghan civilian in an eastern province, officials said.   South Asia: Floods hit 13m Indians Thirteen million people across west and south India were still hit by floods yesterday, officials said, but water levels in one city, which had faced total inundation were beginning to recede.   South Asia: Nepal govt, rebels refuse draft interim constitution Nepal's government and Maoist rebels Wednesday refused to accept a draft interim constitution as some key issues remained unsettled, officials said.   South Asia: Pakistan detains Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit's ex-chief Pakistani authorities have placed under house arrest the former head of an Islamic militant group which Indian police suspect had a role in the Mumbai bombings, officials said yesterday.   South Asia: Verdict in 1993 Mumbai blasts delayed until Sept 12 An Indian court put off until next month a final verdict on the 1993 serial bomb blasts in the country's financial hub that killed 257 people.   South Asia: Myanmar rebel group signs up to landmine ban An anti-landmines campaign group said yesterday that it hoped two of Myanmar's largest armed opposition movements would give up using the weapons, after a smaller rebel group committed itself to an international   South Asia: 'US spy' shot dead in Pak tribal area Pro-Taliban militants shot dead a Pakistani tribesman after accusing him of spying for US troops in neighbouring Afghanistan, local officials and family members said yesterday.   British bomb plot causes worldwide airline chaos Air travel to and from Britain was plunged into chaos yesterday in the wake of the discovery of an suspected plot to blow up airlines on transatlantic flights.   US-French split delays UN action on ME war The United States and France were still at odds yesterday over when and how Israel should withdraw from Lebanon, delaying a UN resolution aimed at ending the five-week war between Israel and Lebanon-based   Gaza crisis deepens The month-old international crisis sparked by Israel's devastating offensive in Lebanon has stolen the spotlight from the Gaza Strip, which continues to be pounded daily by Israeli forces and is suffering   Dwindling energy supplies threaten Lebanon with standstill Lebanon's dire fuel shortage caused by an Israeli sea blockade and the bombing of power station fuel tanks could set off a chain reaction that threatens to bring the country to a standstill.   Lebanon crisis seen pushing US credibility in ME to all-time low The United States' credibility as a diplomatic broker in the Middle East has been pushed to an all-time low by the Bush administration's handling of the conflict in Lebanon, experts say.   KL urges countries to cut off ties with Israel Malaysia yesterday urged other countries, particularly those in the Middle East, to sever diplomatic relations with Israel over its military operations in Lebanon.   Airlines ban hand luggage from UK Airlines banned hand luggage on flights out of the United Kingdom on Thursday and warned of massive delays after British police said they had disrupted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight.   US threats make Castro's health a state secret Cuba on Wednesday justified the dearth of news on ailing President Fidel Castro's health, arguing that the country faces a clear and imminent threat from the United States.   UN sleuth hits Taliban over Afghan school attacks A United Nations investigator on Wednesday castigated "terrorist groups" in Afghanistan -- a clear reference to the Taliban insurgents -- over increasing attacks on schools and teachers around the country.   © thedailystar.net, 2006. 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