Vol. 5 Num 367 Thu. June 09, 2005       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives Today's Index Front Page Unquiet time for Saifur For Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, it is going to be an unquiet time to present his final budget in the tenure of the coalition government today -- he might get another chance to formulate anotherbudget,   Bidisha moved to prison cell Bidisha, the beleaguered wife of former president HM Ershad, was moved to the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMUH) yesterday afternoon.   Mobile to be taxed, money whitening to continue The government plans to impose Tk 1,500 in taxes on each SIM card, identifying the mobile phone sector as a thriving sector, and extend for another year the opportunity to whiten black money in the new   BAF assures victims of compensation Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) will compensate for the Uttara fighter crash that left six people injured and three houses damaged on Tuesday.   RMG order to shift unless work condition improves In the heel of accidents in garment industries, the latest being the collapse of Spectrum Sweaters in Savar that killed at least 61, a high-level delegation of top apparel buyers and labour organisations   Hasina accuses cops of torturing Bidisha Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that police have been torturing Bidisha, divorced wife of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, in the name of interrogation.   Body formed to refix bus fares The communications ministry yesterday formed a committee to refix the bus fare, reviewing its feasibility in the wake of the government-initiated increased fuel price.   36 including 3 GIs killed in Iraq US-led troops have clashed with insurgents in northwest Iraq, as at least 36 people including three US soldiers were killed in attacks centred mostly north of the capital.   Ex-chairman of Bagerhat Pourasava hurt in bomb attack Former chairman of Bagerhat Pourasava SM Atahar Hossain was critically injured in a bomb attack by unidentified criminals on Tuesday night near his house at Harunkhana in Bagerhat sadar upazila.   Japan investors keen to set up bamboo-based textile units A group of Japanese investors has decided to set up textile and cotton factories in Bangladesh to produce cloth and yarn from bamboo.   Rejoinder and our reply Additional Secretary of the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) Fareed Uddin Ahmed has contradicted a report The Daily Star ran on June 2 headlined, "JS body accuses DPHE ex-chief engineer   Thomas may be replaced The US Ambassador in Dhaka Harry K Thomas may be replaced and his successor may soon be named, diplomatic sources said last night.   Fire burns down 10 houses at Pakistanis' camp A fire burnt down 10 tin-roofed houses at Murapara stranded Pakistanis' camp in Pallabi in the capital last night, wounding at least 20.   Iran wants to import 150 product lines Iran is actively contemplating importing some 150 products from Bangladesh as it began negotiations to have greater trade cooperation with the country to boost bilateral trade.   Case filed against Mymensingh doctors for attack on cops A case was filed on Tuesday night against the students and intern doctors of Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), accusing them of attacking police and obstructing them in performing theirduties   Bodies of 2 PBCP cadres recovered in Khulna Police yesterday recovered bodies of two armed cadres of Janajuddha faction of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) from two places in the city.   11 Indians die as high voltage wire falls on bus Eleven people died when a high voltage wire fell on their bus in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh yesterday, police say.   BJP rejects Advani's resignation Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central office bearers and its Parliamentary Board yesterday rejected the resignation of LK Advani from the party president's post and called for the withdrawal of his decision.   PBCP threatens 5 journos with death The outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party's (PBCP) Janajuddha faction yesterday threatened five journalists with death in Satkhira.   WB for contracting out distribution management Experts from the World Bank yesterday advocated for contracting out the power sector's distribution management to improve its efficiency.   Arms cache found at Iraq embassy A cache of guns, bugging devices and equipment that may have been used for torture has been discovered at Iraq's abandoned embassy in London, the country's newly appointed ambassador said yesterday.   Kashmiri rebels may drop referendum call Indian Kashmiri separatist leaders indicated yesterday they may abandon their 57-year stance on holding a referendum in the divided Himalayan region after meeting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.   AL office at Sonatola set on fire An Awami League (AL) office at Sonatola was vandalised and set on fire on Tuesday night allegedly by BNP and Jubo Dal activists, a few hours after local Jubo Dal leader Ahsan Habib Ratan came under an   $80bn Google takes top media spot Internet search phenomenon Google has overtaken a swathe of venerable rivals to become the world's biggest media company by stock market value.   Jail police strangled Miscreants strangled a jail police at Hatikata village in Sadar upazila early yesterday. Business Bangla-Iran chamber needed to boost trade The visiting Iranian commerce minister yesterday called for setting up a Bangladesh-Iran joint chamber of commerce and industry to expand bilateral trade.   Set up Sino-Bangla road link Top business leaders of Bangladesh and China yesterday urged the governments of their respective sides to establish road link between the two countries on a priority basis to boost bilateral trade and   Energy producers urged to use cost-effective plants Experts at a seminar yesterday urged Bangladeshi energy producers to use cost-effective and energy-saving power plants like Wartsila's power generating plants.   Oil dips on Opec comments Crude oil prices fell on world markets Tuesday as the market digested Opec comments suggesting an increase in crude production output and anticipated rising inventories in the United States.   Working condition in RMG units not satisfactory The working condition in Bangladesh's readymade garment units is not satisfactory, speakers at a roundtable said yesterday.   BenQ faces uphill task to make Siemens phone unit profitable Taiwan's BenQ Corp faces a formidable challenge to turn around Siemens' mobile phone handset business, where continued heavy losses finally led the German electronics and engineering group to call ita   EU defends Airbus aid in US air row The European Union's executive commission said Wednesday that there was no reason for EU members to give up launch aid to Airbus, in a growing trade war with the US over subsidies to aircraft makers.   Asia Energy appoints Impact its PR agency in Bangladesh Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd yesterday appointed Impact PR its official public relations agency in Bangladesh.   BB clarification If the government borrowing increases in the end of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh Bank can manage this by using its monetary instruments and private sector credit will not be curtailed because of   IMF urges budget stimulus to help ROK growth Despite showing clear signs of recovery, Korea needs a budget stimulus to help spur growth, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.   IMF official urges EU to avoid China textile curbs Amid mounting trade tensions, the IMF’s chief European analyst repeated his organisation's appeal to the European Union Tuesday to avoid imposing curbs on surging imports of clothes and textiles fromChina.   India-Canada flights to increase five-fold India and Canada have agreed to boost passenger flights five-fold between the two countries as part of a pact liberalising bilateral air transport, a statement Wednesday said. Sports Football: Farashganj ride on Felix double Nigerian striker Felix struck twice in the first half to help Farashganj Sporting Club edge newcomers Dipali Juba Sangha 2-1 in the Premier Bank Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu Natio-nal Stadium   Cricket: Aussies due in Dhaka April 6 Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday revealed the itinerary of Australia's tour of Bangladesh next year.   Cricket: Warne the 3rd Australian Shane Warne joined a select band of cricketers when he unveiled a portrait of himself at Lord's here Tuesday.   Cricket: Pak greats hail team Former cricket greats Wednesday praised Pakistan for their series-levelling win against the West Indies at Jamaica but said the team missed a golden opportunity to seize a first-ever series win in the   Cricket: Chance of a lifetime for cricket fan Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne will both be involved in giving one lucky cricket fan the opportunity of a lifetime during next Tuesday's Tsunami appeal match between MCC and an International XI at Lord's.   Cricket: India want WC independently Just days after the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretray SK Nair had favoured a joint bid for the 2011 World Cup, its president Ranbir Singh Mahendra Tuesday said the BCCI was keen to holdthe   Cricket: Wright wishes Tendulkar well Sachin Tendulkar cheer-up.   Football: Badda, Agrani split points Title contenders Badda Jagarani dropped valuable points in the sixth and penultimate round when they drew goalless with Agarani Bank in yesterday's First Division Football League at the Birshreshtha Shaheed   Volleyball: Pepsi volleyball semis today The semifinals of the Pepsi inter-district women's volleyball competition will take place today at the Dhanmondi Women's Sports Complex.   Basketball: Mini basketball from June 3 The Sunnydale Mini girl's basketball tournament will begin on June 23 at the Dhanmondi Basketball gymnasium.   Cricket: Youhana needs shoulder op Pakistan batsman Yousuf Youhana is to undergo surgery on a chronic problem in his right shoulder which has troubled him for two years.   Football: Japan first from Asia Japan secured a spot at next year's World Cup finals with a 2-0 victory over fierce rivals North Korea on Wednesday, although celebrations were muted with the match played behind closed doors in Bangkok.   Football: Pele shattered A teary-eyed Pele admitted Tuesday that his son was involved with a gang of cocaine traffickers arrested by police a day earlier.   Tennis: Federer survives a scare World number one Roger Federer had a tough test against Sweden's Robin Soderling in the first round of the ATP grasscourt tournament here on Tuesday before triumphing 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.   Football: Chelsea pay the highest English champions Chelsea, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, are estimated to pay their players more than any other club in the world.   Football: Liverpool decision Friday Liverpool should find out on Friday whether they will be able to defend their Champions League title next season, a UEFA spokesman said Wednesday.   Tennis: Ex-Kenya boss to go on trial Former Kenya Cricket Association chairman Sharad Ghai is set to go on trial later this month on corruption charges, his lawyer said on Wednesday.   Football: Crespo to stay at Milan Hernan Crespo's agent said Wednesday that the Argentine striker owned by English Premiership club Chelsea will remain on loan at AC Milan next season.   Football: Vieri handed two-match ban Inter Milan's Christian Vieri was given a two-match ban by the Italian football league's disciplinary council on Tuesday for hitting Reggina's Ivan Franceschini in the face on the final day of the Serie Metropolitan Nationalisation of teachers' service remains elusive The nationalisation of some 90,000 non-government primary schoolteachers' jobs seems to remain a far cry, despite being one of the electoral pledges of the ruling BNP.   Indo-Bangla irritants can be resolved thru' talks Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan yesterday said that West Bengal could be a bridge between Bangladesh and India for improving bilateral ties.   'Stop building construction without professionals' help' The government should formulate a guideline to refrain individuals from constructing buildings without the help of professional agencies, said Rehab President Dr Toufiq M Seraj yesterday.   Ruling party cadres foil chehlum of AL leader The ruling party cadres foiled the chehlum of Awami League leader Haji Mofijul Islam Dudh Mia at Lalbagh in the city yesterday.   Take stern action against those creating anarchy on campus AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, chairman of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), yesterday demanded that the government take stern action against those disrupting academic atmosphere in the educational institutions.   'Resume power supply to Bihari camps' Members of the civil society in a joint statement yesterday expressed deep concerns over the authorities' decision to discontinue power supply to 66 Bihari Camps throughout the country.   Non-govt teachers demand 100 pc govt salary Teachers of the non-government schools and colleges yesterday said they would hold a national convention unless the government meet their 17-point demands, including nationalisation of their jobs.   UP leaders urge govt to increase allowance Leaders of Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum (BUPF) yesterday urged the government to consider an increase in the honorarium allowance of the Union Parishad chairmen and members in the upcoming national   1,434 more held, 14 arms seized Police arrested 1,434 people on various charges from different parts of the country in the last 24 hours as of 6:00am yesterday.   Missing Nurul Amin Chowdhury, an employee of the Oriental Bank, has been missing for the last one month. National Frame laws for CHT Land Commission The Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission in its first meeting here yesterday underscored the need for enactment of necessary laws for its functioning to start. "Only the commission has been formed.   Sylhet town protection project shelved The Planning Commission has finally rejected the revised Tk 90 crore Sylhet town protection project after sitting on it for over a year, according to Water Development Board (WDB) sources here.   Bridges built with no plan for approach roads! Three bridges constructed by the Road and Highways Department (R&HD) and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) on Karotoa river at a cost of about Tk 3.   Extortionists occupy house, land for refusing to pay toll Madhob Bhattachariya and his family are on the run for life as some miscreants occupied their lands along with the homestead and threatened them with death for non-payment of toll.   Horses’ death raises questions Two out of 15 horses died at Sardah Police Academy within one week of their purchase from India. Two other horses might die any moment following attack with fever, according to sources in the academy.   11 BCL men sued for Bogra blast Bogra district unit president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Shuvasish Podder Liton and 11 other activists were sued for their alleged involvement in Sunday's bomb explosion in Satmatha area here.   Bus owners raise fare in Comilla The Comilla Paribahan Owners' Association has increased bus fares unilaterally on all the 40 routes from the district town.   Workshop on HIV held in B'baria A day-long workshop and orientation programme on HIV/AIDS prevention, jointly organised by Brhamanbaria Press Club and Marie Stopes Clinic, Bangladesh, was held at Brhmanbaria Zila Parishad auditorium   ‘Robber’ lynched in Bogra A robber was beaten to death by mob and six villagers were wounded during an armed robbery committed at a bank cashier's house at Chhoto Akhira village in Adamdighi upazila on Monday night.   Bus dacoity in Thakurgaon Highway robbers looted about Tk two lakh in cash and valuables by beating passengers of a bus, injuring six of them. Point-Counterpoint Energy regulatory commission in a blind alley? Bangladesh energy system is in trouble, alleged to be the victim of a concoction of public sector and free market ideology, compounded by years of poor political leadership.   EU in crisis On May 29, the EU's worst fears were realised.   After the drama Politics took a turn towards the bizarre and, true, to the media age, it was all captured on camera. Culture Indra Mohan on the current scene of folk songs People still hum the song titled Maer Cheye Baro Keho Nai Re from the movie Trishna, rendered by veteran folk singer Indra Mohan Rajbangshi.   Marie Ange: The globe trotting filmmaker Haitian filmmaker Marie Ange Sylvain-Holmgren's home in Gulshan is a virtual treasure trove of artifacts. As soon as one enters, one is greeted by her photograph of Buddhist monks in Laos.   Regional Children's Drama Festival '05 in Bogra People's Theatre Association (PTA) in collaboration with the Bogra-based cultural organisation Au Aa Ka Kha will arrange a four day Regional Children's Drama Festival 2005 beginning from June 10, says   New Bach composition discovered A previously unknown composition by Johann Sebastian Bach has been discovered by researchers in Germany. The piece was composed for soprano, strings and bass continuo.   Ann Bancroft of "Mrs Robinson" fame passes away Anne Bancroft, who won the 1962 best actress Oscar as the teacher of a young Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker but more popularly known as the seductive Mrs. General Expert teachers a must for dev of English teaching Minister for Education Dr M Osman Farruk said properly trained expert teachers are needed for the development and expansion of teaching English as a foreign language in the country.   3 killed, 38 injured in road accidents At least three people were killed and 38 injured in separate road accidents in Gaibandha, Noakhali and Netrakona yesterday.   12,528 tons Japanese rice for flood victims Japan handed over 12,528 metric tons of rice worth over 5 million US dollar yesterday to Bangladesh to help the last year's flood affected people.   Four members of Film Censor Board relieved The government has relieved four members of Film Censor Board for various reasons, says a PID handout.   Acid attack on Ctg trader Miscreants threw acid on a businessman at Asadganj in the port city on Tuesday evening.   Prof Howlader awarded Jatiya Natyasabha has awarded Prof Howlader, chairman of World Astrological Society, for his contribution to palmistry, says a press release. International 22 killed in Ethiopia clashes At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in Addis Ababa Wednesday as Ethiopian police battled demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in last month's disputed elections for a third day,   Advani refuses to budge Indian Leader of Opposition LK Advani on Wednesday once again ruled out taking back his resignation from the post of BJP President.   Guantanamo "professional and humane" Visiting US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday defended the treatment of detainees at the Guantanamo prison as "professional and humane" and said Washington was not considering closing down   Kashmiri separatists may drop referendum call Indian Kashmiri separatist leaders indicated Wednesday they may abandon their 57-year stance on holding a referendum in the divided Himalayan region after meeting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.   Nepal court overturns closure order of radio centre Nepal's Supreme Court has overturned a government order to close a media centre in Kathmandu that supplies radio programming to community stations across the country, the centre said Wednesday.   Unfreeze our money and we'll talk Iran will agree to renew dialogue with arch-foe Washington if it releases Iranian assets frozen since the Islamic revolution, presidential frontrunner Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was quoted as saying Wednesday.   Car bomb outside petrol queue kills 3 in Baquba A car bomb that targeted a long row of cars queuing outside an Iraqi petrol station killed at least three civilians and injured another in the city of Baquba on Wednesday, police said.   Schroeder denies resignation rumours Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder found himself mired in resignation rumours Wednesday, forcing the German leader and his senior allies to rubbish reports that expose his fragility ahead of early elections.   At least 19 dead, 86 hospitalised in China coal mine gas leak At least 19 miners died Wednesday, two remained missing and 86 were rushed to hospital after a gas leak at a coal mine in central China, state media reported. Editorial Editorial: Ties with Malaysia The recent ministerial level meeting of the Bangladesh-Malaysia joint commission headed by the two countries' respective foreign ministers seems to have been a fruitful initiative.   Editorial: Community involvement for road safety The Roads and Highways Department and Brac organised a workshop on road safety and related issues in the city on June 6 against the backdrop of frightfully high incidence of road accidents in the country.   Archipelago of secret prisons and the immoral high ground The international community is confronted yearly with several reports bringing forth the state of human rights around the world and in individual countries.   Is Maldives moving towards representative rule? Of late, there has been good news from the tiny state of Maldives. Letters to Editor Why this commentary? The front page commentary "How is the BNP paying tribute to its founder" by you caught my attention. Needless to say, I could not understand why you wrote this article.   Dignity of judiciary James Bryce aptly remarked that there is no better test of the excellence of a government than the efficiency of its judicial system.   Computer tips These days everyone uses a PC. In most of the Bengali dailies we find that they present "computer tips" which help a lot to solve and learn so many things.   Demise of a freedom fighter He was involved in politics for 44 years in a row. He served the people of the city for 30 years. He played a huge role during the liberation war in 1971.   © thedailystar.net, 2005. All Rights Reserved.