Vol. 5 Num 1088 Sat. June 23, 2007       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture Views Point-counterpoint Editorial Write to Editor Sections StarTech Literature Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Sarwar Jamal arrested, residence searched Members of the joint forces and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested in the port city Thursday midnight, Sarwar Jamal Nizam, a former BNP lawmaker from Chittagong 12 constituency.   AL reformists for curbing party chief's 'absolute' power Reformist leaders of Awami League (AL) finalised their 25-point reform proposal including a few provisions for curbing the party president Sheikh Hasina's absolute power in the party.   BNP reformists may take tough line if Khaleda says 'no' Pro-reform leaders of the BNP will take a hard line if Chairperson Khaleda Zia refuses to accept the proposals they claim are aimed to ensure intra-party democracy.   Uniform rules for all public universities on the cards The government plans to introduce uniform recruitment and promotion rules for teachers, officials and employees of all public universities to check political appointments and ensure quality education.   Manpower export sector to undergo drastic reforms The government is planning major reforms in manpower export sector including changes in emigration rules and procedures.   Divisions with low poverty rates get more funds! Divisions having lower poverty rates received higher funds under the social safety net programmes (SSNP) than the divisions with higher poverty rates, the latest survey by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics   CID probing Sabbir murder and Babar's bribery The CID is examining if any case could be filed against former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar for receiving Tk 20 crore from Bashundhara Group chairman in exchange for relieving his son ofthe   Grameenphone's Thai version DTAC hits Bangkok bourse Telenor's Thai version of Grameenphone, the DTAC, hit Bangkok securities market yesterday offering 220 million primary shares to the public, demonstrating that the Norwegian company is sensitive to local   Hawkers go berserk as pickup kills 2 colleagues Hundreds of hawkers staged fierce demonstrations at the city's Gulistan throughout the day yesterday after two of their fellows were run over and killed by a speeding pick-up in the early hours.   Extortionists gun down trader Criminals yesterday shot dead a 'jhoot' (garment by-products) trader inside a club at Baishtek of Kafrul in the capital apparently for refusing to pay a huge amount of money to a local criminal gang.   An unelected govt for a long time can be dangerous Outgoing US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis yesterday said an unelected government for a long time could be dangerous for a democratic country like Bangladesh.   Flooded roads..   Mohiuddin may apply for leave to appeal Monday The jail authorities are likely to forward the written application of Bangabandhu killer AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed to the Supreme Court by Monday for allowing him to submit a delayed leave to appeal against   Ex-state minister Salahuddin, ntv MD Bappi sent to jail Former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed and ntv Managing Director Enayetur Rahman Bappi were sent to jail yesterday after they were produced before a Dhaka court on completion of their   Bomb found again at Ruet Police yesterday recovered a powerful bomb in front of the main gate of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet).   Notices on 965 Ctg bldgs to remove illegal parts in 30 days Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has served notices on the owners of 965 multi-storied buildings to remove unauthorised parts of their establishments by next 30 days.   AL founding day today The Awami League (AL) observes its 58th founding anniversary today. On this day in 1949, East Pakistan Awami Muslim League was founded at the historic Rose Garden in Old Dhaka.   Busy carpenters...   JCD cadres at JU beat up 4 students Four students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) were yesterday injured as Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) cadres beat them up following filing of a case against some JCD cadres.   Some RU teachers protest UGC move to probe irregularities Progressive Teachers Society (PTS) of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday denounced the University Grants Commission (UGC) probe body that reached the campus to investigate all kinds of alleged irregularities,   5 PBCP men arrested in Sirajganj Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested five members of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj district early yesterday.   Nato air strike kills 25 Afghan civilians A Nato air strike in southern Afghanistan early yesterday killed 25 civilians, including nine women and three young children, police said amid rising concern about civilian casualties. Business Concerns over possible labour unrest on the rise Concerns over a possible labour unrest in ready made garment industries are on the rise as full enforcement of a tripartite deal on minimum wages for RMG workers within the deadline of June 30 remains   WTO looks to putting broken trade talks back together All 150 members of the World Trade Organisation met Friday to assess where tortured negotiations go from here following the collapse of talks between four key players in Germany.   Indian inflation down India's wholesale inflation fell to its lowest level in more than a year Friday on a continuing trend of lower food prices, official data showed. The weekly wholesale price index was up 4.   Seminar on leather begins In a bid to promote export potential of leather and leather goods through the application of Total Quality Management (TQM), a two-day long seminar began yesterday in Dhaka.   Weekly Currency Roundup June 17-June 21, 2007 Local FX Market The demand for US dollar was stable in the week. Sports Cricket: Rain ruins tour opener Rain ruined Bangladesh's only warm-up match ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka as the tourists' three-dayer against Sri Lanka A fizzled out to a draw on the third and final day at the Colts Cricket   Football: Zaim rescues Russel A second half strike by Nureddine Zaim bailed out Sheikh Russel with a 1-0 win over Farashganj but Russel's fellow title contenders Muktijoddha were not as much lucky as they stumbled to a 1-1 draw in   Table Tennis: Hamlet pilots Biman to top Hamlet led Bangladesh Biman to a thrilling 3-2 win against defending champions Sheikh Russel in the AB Bank Senior Division Table Tennis League yesterday.   Cricket: Aaqib to help GP pacer hunt bowlers Former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed will impart tips to the final round participants of the GrameenPhone Pacer Hunt.   Cricket: Vital time for hosts Ireland captain Trent Johnston has said this weekend's one-day internationals against India and South Africa are of "vital importance to Irish cricket.   Cricket: Collingwood in charge Paul Collingwood was named Friday as England's new one-day captain and put in charge of a new-look squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies.   Cricket: Vandort replaces Tharanga Sri Lanka have called up Michael Vandort to replace injured opener Upul Tharanga for next Monday's first Test against Bangladesh in Colombo.   Cricket: Army puts players to task They were scared at first, but Pakistan's cricketers have emerged from 15 gruelling days of army training in peak condition, instructors say.   Tennis: Difficult draw for Nadal Rafael Nadal's bid to dethrone Roger Federer at Wimbledon faces a tough early test after the Spanish second-seed was drawn with experienced American Mardy Fish in the first round of the men's singles.   Tennis: Maria dreams of glory Maria Sharapova has set her sights on going for an Olympic gold medal at Wimbledon.   Cricket: India embark on rocky road Just 15 months ago, Indian one-day cricket was riding a wave the size of big Pipe in Hawaii, having brushed aside the challenge of Pakistan (4-1 away from home) and a feeble England (5-1).   Cricket: Ramdin, Morton give WI win Despite having barely half their full side, the West Indians completed a confidence-boosting seven-wicket win against the England Lions at New Road.   Hockey: Dhaka ride on Jimmy treble Russell Mahmud Jimmy slammed a hattrick as title aspirants Dhaka brushed aside Chittagong 8-0 in yesterday's 27th National Hockey Championship match at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.   Cricket: Bracewell place to be reviewed New Zealand Cricket has formed a subcommittee to determine whether John Bracewell should be retained as the national coach.   Cricket: 'Shoaib vital to success' Coaching hopeful Geoff Lawson believes Pakistan can produce the best cricket team in the world if express paceman Shoaib Akhtar stays fit for extended periods.   Cricket: Bleach at your peril A man who tried to bleach his hair to look like Sri Lanka's "sexiest" cricket player, Lasith Malinga, has ended up in hospital with severe burns, the Daily Mirror said here Friday.   Cricket: SA to play in Karachi South Africa will play a Test and a warm-up match in the southwestern Pakistani city of Karachi, a venue where they refused to play over security fears four years ago.   Cricket: Joseph turns down captaincy Sylvester Joseph, who was named by the West Indies Cricket Board as the captain of the A-team tour of Zimbabwe, has turned down the offer, according to a report in The Nation newspaper.   Football: The cream of the crop Renowned sports journalist and broadcaster Gabriel Marcotti runs the rule over the best players on the planet. Here is his pick of the 50 best footballers today.   Football: Mixed reactions from Thais Thais reacted to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra's bid to take over Manchester City Friday with a mix of scepticism and pride, with some seeing it as a ploy to restore his popularity at home.   Football: Socceroos like favourites tag Australia have never been favourites to win a football tournament before and they are revelling in it, while being cautious about underestimating any team at the Asian Cup.   Football: Riquelme, Veron back Juan Roman Riquelme has been handed a recall to the Argentina squad.   Football: Hinkel slams Loew FC Seville's German defender Andreas Hinkel says Germany coach Joachim Loew has ignored him while he plays his football in Spain, it was reported on Friday.   Football: USA- Mexico final The United States and Mexico set up a Gold Cup showdown on Thursday, advancing to the final of the CONCACAF regional football tournament. Metropolitan 6 killed in road crashes At least six people including a woman were killed in separate road accidents across the country yesterday.   Lightning kills two in Gaibandha Two farmers died and five others were injured by lightning in the district yesterday.   Dhaka Strategic Transport Plan needs amendment Experts at a view exchange meeting yesterday called for amending the proposed Dhaka Strategic Transport Plan (STP).   Govt working for social change: Iftekhar Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said the caretaker government is working to make a tolerant and clean society by taking various reform measures.   'Maintain quality of pharmaceutical products' Health and Family Welfare Adviser Major General (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman yesterday underlined the need for maintaining proper quality of pharmaceutical products to expand foreign markets for enhancing   WB approves $100m credit to improve quality of secondary education The World Bank on Thursday approved a US$100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to support the government's efforts to deepen and sustain reforms in the education sector.   Teen defies early marriage A 16-year-old girl, whose parents wanted to marry off her against her will, has managed to foil their plan with the help of the local ward commissioner and the police in the port city.   Kidney stone of 2-yr-old boy removed by PCNL method Stone has been removed from the kidney of a two-year-old boy by applying Perceutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) method for the first time in the country, said a press release of The Barakah Kidney Hospital   Palassey Day today Today is historic Palassey Day. On this day in 1757, the glorious sun of national independence set in Palassey on the bank of the Bhagirathi.   Housewife electrocuted in Pabna A housewife was electrocuted in the district on Thursday night. She was identified as Aleya Khatun, a housewife of Batuan village under Bhangura upazila.   Seminar on biotechnology Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Brac University held the first of a series of seminars on Biotechnology at the department on Thursday, says a press release.   Four held with fake driving licences Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested four persons with fake driving licences and materials used for them from South Badda of the city Thursday night.   Woman found dead in diagnostic centre in city Police recovered the decomposed body of a woman from a diagnostic centre and clinic in the city in the early hours of yesterday.   Depression crosses Andhra The deep depression over the Bay crossed north Andhra coast near Machilipatnam at noon yesterday and lay centred as a land depression over Andhra Pradesh.   Drishti fruit festival held Drishti, a cultural organisation, organised a fruit festival at the cafeteria of Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on Dhaka University campus yesterday with a view to upholding the culture and heritage ofthe   Father, son electrocuted A man and his son died and three others of the family injured when they came into contact with a live electric wire in Kharkhori area under Boalia Police Station in the city on Thursday night.   HSC examinee dies in rooftop fall in Ctg An HSC examinee died after falling from a rooftop water tank in the port city yesterday.   Int'l Public Service Day today The International Public Service Day will be observed across the country today in a befitting manner as elsewhere in the world. This year the theme is "Building trust in government". National Hunt for ex-PM's nephew Tuhin Joint forces are raiding different villages along the border and areas close to Indian enclaves to nab former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia's nephew Shahrin Islam Tuhin, one of the 100 corrupt suspects   Join fight against corruption Veteran lawyer Dr.   Another extortion case against Sylhet city BNP chief Another extortion case has been filed against Sylhet city BNP chief Ariful Haque Chowdhury, also a ward commissioner of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC).   RU teachers term decision 'inhuman' The Progressive Teachers Society (PTS) at Rajshahi University yesterday criticised government's steps barring Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina from visiting recent landslide victims in Chittagong   Special zone in Sylhet soon to draw investment Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr.   Anti-corruption body formed in Satkhira A 10-member Satkhira district Corruption Preventive Committee was formed at a meting held at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner yesterday.   20 hurt in Netrakona clash At least 20 persons were injured in a clash over building a dam over 'Patkuri River' at Bajgon village under Kendua upazila in Netrakona yesterday morning. Point-Counterpoint Needed a correct overall energy strategy The Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN), a global network of pro-environment Bangladeshis, is alarmed by recent news reports indicating that the government is moving toward adoption of a coal policythat   Coal -- the energy resource for 21st century World's population is expected to reach over 8 billion by 2030, from its current level of 6.4 billion and consequently global energy demand will grow by almost 60 percent by 2030 and rise to 16.   Renewable energy deserves proper attention Energy is one of the most important ingredients for development. There are two major sources of energy, finite i.e., fossil fuel like gas, coal, oil etc. and renewable i.e. Culture National Music and Dance Centre opens The much-awaited National Music and Dance Centre, the new auditorium of Department of Music and Dance, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), was opened on June 21.   Zahir Raihan and Alamgir Kabir remembered To pay homage to the film legends of the country -- Zahir Raihan and Alamgir Kabir -- Department of Theatre and Film, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) arranged a two-day programme at the National Theatre   A medley of flamboyant paintings The group exhibition at Radius brings together some fine works by upcoming experimental artists-- all of them being influenced by nature.   Artist Safiuddin Ahmed's 85th birth anniversary today Veteran artist Safiuddin Ahmed's 85th birth anniversary is being celebrated today.   Programme celebrating works of Tagore, Nazrul and Sukanto Speakers at a recent discussion in Khagrachhari said, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Sukanto Bhattacharya are creative titans in our literature. International N Korea gets ready to shut N-reactor US envoy Christopher Hill said yesterday that North Korea is prepared to promptly close down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in line with an agreement reached earlier this year.   Abbas mulls early Palestinian polls In his bitter wrangling with Hamas over legitimacy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is considering calling presidential and legislative elections to strengthen his position, a top aide said Thursday.   WHO seeks over $ 2 billion to tackle drug-resistant TB The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday it is seeking 2.   Mood turns against Musharraf From the dusty streets of Punjab to the privileged ranks of the ruling parliamentary party, the mood in Pakistan is turning against its military leader.   Young communists prompt fears for Nepali peace Sitaram Prasai, a rich Nepali businessman wanted by police for massive bank fraud, used to think he was above the law.   Amnesty renews calls for immediate closure of Guantanamo prison Amnesty International on Friday renewed its call on the United States to immediately close its naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where it holds detainees from its "war on terror".   Pakistan builds third N-reactor for bombs Pakistan appears to be building a third plutonium nuclear reactor to significantly boost its production of atomic bombs, a US research group said yesterday.   Lanka court delays hearing on eviction of Tamils Sri Lanka's Supreme Court yesterday delayed hearing a case challenging the eviction of minority ethnic Tamils from Colombo, which police said was undertaken to root out Tamil Tiger rebels.   US terror charges against Iran are 'lies’ Iran rejected as "lies" Thursday US allegations that it is arming Shia extremists in Iraq, and alleged that some Nato powers are supplying weapons to the Taliban in Afghanistan.   Lanka slammed over press rights International media rights activists yesterday described Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists due to a worsening climate of violence and censorship.   US forces kill 17 Iraqi al-Qaeda gunmen US helicopters armed with missiles killed 17 suspected al-Qaeda gunmen in the province of Diyala yesterday where thousands of troops have launched a crackdown on the terror group, the military said.   SC deplores HC for granting bails to influential Indians The Supreme Court has taken a serious view of high courts exercising their "inherent powers" in granting bails to accused persons who try to "win over witnesses by using their muscle and money power.   EU summit locked in treaty deadlock European Union leaders were locked in intense talks on the second day of a summit Friday seeking to break a deadlock with Britain and Poland over a new reform treaty.   EU team in Manila to help curb human rights abuses A European Union delegation has met Philippine officials to help Manila address human rights abuses, including political murders blamed on the security forces, a presidential aide said yesterday.   Rushdie death Fatwa still valid The death sentence Fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie by Iran's revolutionary leader 18 years ago is still valid and will remain so, a leading cleric said yesterday following Britain's knighting of the   Blackout traps 20,000 in Tokyo trains Nearly 20,000 passengers were trapped yesterday for more than four hours in packed commuter trains in suburban Tokyo due to a power failure, with some 45 people falling ill, officials said.   China to build strong ties with Bangladesh The Chinese government is committed to building strong ties with Bangladesh, which is a key part of its policy of fostering friendship and partnership with the neighbours, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister   CIA declassifies 1970s records on illegal surveillance Documents from the 1970s that detail more than two decades of the CIA's illegal spying activities on US soil have been declassified and are now available on the Internet, officials said Thursday.   Storms leave hundreds stranded at Frankfurt airport Hundreds of passengers had to camp out overnight at Germany's Frankfurt airport after storms forced the cancellation of more than 240 flights, an airport spokesman said yesterday.   India sends runaway bride back to Pakistan An 18-year-old girl who fled to Indian Kashmir over one of the world's most heavily militarised borders to escape her Pakistani husband-to-be has been sent home, police said yesterday. Editorial Editorial: Sponsoring terrorists The nexus between the BNP-Jamaat alliance government and the JMB, which the media, including this newspaper, had exposed to public knowledge several years back, has once again been confirmed through a   Editorial: Adolescent delinquency Little wonder, the sentencing in a Jamalpur court of one 16-year-old and another aged 17, to ten and seven-year imprisonment terms, respectively, in an arms case, has surprised legal experts and children's   Overstretching the virtues of democracy The demand for the early lifting of the ban on indoor political activities by some quarters assumes added significance in the background of the United States ambassador's remark to the effect that delay   Russia's westpolitik and the EU's response Russia's increasing self-confidence as an "energy power" has changed the balance in its relationship with the EU, as Moscow no longer sees itself as the union's younger partner.   Increased focus on children needed In the backdrop of the observance of the World Child Labour Elimination Day on June 12 last, sensible citizenry in the country issued a clarion call for arresting the crimes against children especially StarTech Cutting edge mobility No matter what your social identity is you always need to network with others in order to keep yourself informed.   A promising solution in modern computing In this hi-tech age diversified approach in IT has compelled Microsoft to migrate to a new concept called 'interoperability' in order to make it easier for its customers to gain maximum business advantage   YouTube to stream videos to iPhones Apple announced Wednesday that YouTube videos will stream directly to iPhones so that users of the soon-to-be launched devices can watch video clips on the go.   Humanoid Literature The Daily Star Short Story Contest Winner The winner of The Daily Star Short Story Contest Nuzhat Amin Mannan being presented with the Taka 5000 prize by Editor Mahfuz Anam for her winning entry 'The Meltdown'.   The Meltdown I might be wrong, I don't know. In another lifetime these sorts of admissions would have been unthinkable... A lifetime ago, I was not afraid of being daring, crass, disingenuous...   Reading amid the load-shedding The summer has set in and electricity failures are worse that ever since the privatization of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation.   Jamini The latest issue of Jamini (March 2007), the international art journal published by ICE Media Limited of the Bengal Group, has a striking cover: A head smoking a cigar, black terracotta, by Alok Roy,titled   © thedailystar.net, 2007. All Rights Reserved.