Vol. 5 Num 1141 Tue. August 14, 2007       Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Sports Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Point-counterpoint Editorial Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives WWW thedailystar.net Today's Index Front Page Voter listing hits snags as EC fails to complete procurement Completion of the task for preparing a voter list with photographs within the time specified in the roadmap now seems uncertain as the Election Commission (EC) is unlikely to complete the procurementof   Impossible task of crime investigation An investigation officer (IO) of a case gets a little over Tk 3 a day as conveyance although he has to travel to many places for investigation purposes besides regular duties; the IO also gets Tk 10 a   Rain delays recession of floodwaters Due to intermittent rain caused by the depression over West Bengal, India, recession of floodwaters in the central and south-central districts of Bangladesh is likely to be delayed.   Govt okays plan for 1 lakh low cost flats The government yesterday approved in principle a proposal submitted by a Malaysian company for building one lakh apartments for low and middle income groups in the capital, but with a caveat that local   Mir Nasir's wealth increased 16 folds, son's 40 times Former state minister Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin's money in banks increased over 16 folds in four years and his son Mir Helaluddin's swelled over 40 times in the last three years.   Criminals gun down 2 hotel staff in city Two hotel staff were killed and another was injured as criminals opened fire on them at a residential hotel in city's Gulistan area yesterday.   EC hopes govt will lift or relax ban on politics The Election Commission (EC hopes the ban on indoor politics will be withdrawn or relaxed this month allowing it to hold dialogue on electoral reforms with political parties from next month accordingto   Take action against those doing politics defying ban Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday demanded that the caretaker government take action against those who have been carrying out political activities defying the ban.   Full bench SC hearing today The hearing of the state petitions seeking stay on High Court orders granting bail to detained Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case and on halting the ACC notice, asking her for submitting   Army to work with civil admin for post-flood reconstruction Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday said the army will work with the civil administration during the post-flood reconstruction work to prevent corruption as happened in the past.   BNP too won't sit for talks if ban exists The BNP will not sit for a dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) unless the ban on indoor politics is lifted, party chairperson's adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah has said echoing what the   Plan to shift patients from ICDDR,B to govt hospitals The government yesterday decided to shift diarrhoea patients to different public hospitals from ICDDR,B to ease pressure on the country's lone institution for treatment of diarrhoea patients.   Pollution...   7 killed as bus rams autorickshaw Seven people including four school students were killed and another two students sustained injuries in a road accident yesterday in Kumira area of Sitakundo upazila.   Only half an hour needed to vanish a stolen motorbike An organised gang of motorcycle thieves takes only half an hour after stealing a motorbike to prepare fake documents for it and to change its registration number plates.   Ziaul Haq Zia's SUV seized from Gazipur A Lexus sport utility vehicle (SUV) belonging to former BNP leader and state minister for LGRD and cooperatives Ziaul Haq Zia was seized yesterday by anti-corruption taskforce.   AL to observe Aug 15 on a limited scale The Awami League (AL) will observe the 32nd death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tomorrow on a limited scale in line with the caretaker government's directives.   Drive against illegal structures   $50m Saudi relief for the flood-hit Saudi Arabia is sending five cargo planes loaded with relief supplies worth $50 million for the flood-stricken Bangladesh at the instruction of King Abdullah.   Fire-damaged Ghorashal urea fertiliser factory still shut Ghorashal Urea Fertiliser Factory that remained shut since Sunday morning following a devastating fire is yet to resume production.   Ex-BNP MP's wife jailed for extortion A court here yesterday sentenced two people, including wife of former BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid Harun, to five years' rigorous imprisonment each in an extortion case.   Arrest warrant of Abbas' wife to be put up near her house A Dhaka court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to hang up an arrest warrant in tax evasion cases against Afroza Abbas, wife of detained former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas,   Shamim Osman's immovable property to be attached A Narayanganj court yesterday ordered attachment of the immovable property of former Awami League (AL) lawmaker Shamim Osman by Thursday for evading income tax and concealing information about his wealth.   Bush's political guru Karl Rove quits Karl Rove, the master political tactician behind President George W Bush's two election triumphs, quit yesterday in a bombshell announcement after more than six tempestuous White House years.   Taliban free 2 South Korean hostages Two women among 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in mid-July were freed yesterday on a rural Afghan roadside, the first significant breakthrough in a hostage drama now more than three weeks old.   9 Taliban killed in Afghan clash Afghan security forces clashed with Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, leaving nine militants dead, while a subsequent roadside blast targeting a police vehicle killed five officers, an official   Pak PM refuses to rule out emergency Pakistan's government does not want to impose a state of emergency right now, but has not ruled out the measure for the future, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said.   Criminals assault Ctg journalist A gang of criminals attacked a senior journalist and damaged his motorbike at Bakalia in the port city yesterday.   Maintenance needed   Pakistani troops kill three militants Pakistani troops killed three suspected Islamic militants in a clash in a remote tribal town near the Afghan border, the military said yesterday.   Monsoon storm hits Pakistan: 22 killed A monsoon storm unleashed landslides and collapsed houses in a village in Pakistan's mountainous northwest Monday, killing 22 people. Business 9 NBFIs to come under lens The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has decided to monitor the activities of 9 non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) as classified loans and provision shortfall of those went alarmingly high.   Asia's labour force to grow 200m by 2015: ILO Asia's economies face the challenge of finding jobs for an extra 200 million workers between now and 2015, according to a new International Labour Organisation (ILO) report out Monday.   Stocks recover as central banks inject more cash World share prices rallied on Monday, after heavy losses last week, as central banks again pumped billions of dollars into a global financial market worried about a possible credit crunch.   BB chief links proper post-flood rehabilitation to 7pc GDP growth The central bank governor, Salehuddin Ahmed, yesterday said it is possible to achieve the estimated GDP growth if post-flood rehabilitation programmes are implemented properly.   Oil prices up in Asia Oil prices were higher in Asian trade amid lingering worries that the US subprime mortgage crisis will eventually hurt US economic growth, dealers said.   PepsiCo to buy top Russian juice maker US snack and beverage giant PepsiCo plans to buy 76 percent of Russia's largest juice maker, Lebedyansky, and is ready to pay up to two billion dollars, business daily Kommersant reported Monday.   Seminar on MICR tech for bank cheque clearing held A seminar on MICR technology for bank cheque clearing was held in Dhaka on Sunday where representatives from 49 commercial banks were present, says a press release.   FDI in China up 17.8pc in July Foreign direct investment into China in July reached 5.04 billion dollars, a rise of 17.8 percent from the same month a year earlier, the government said Monday.   India Inc makes foray into Pak market India Inc is steadily making inroads into Pakistan with as many as 424 Indian companies, manufacturing consumer goods, registering their products with Trademark Registry of the Intellectual Property Organisation   Wal-Mart to help Indian retailers Retail giant Wal-Mart, which has joined hands with Bharti Group for back-end business, is in talks with 'big' organised retailers in India for providing technical expertise in front-end operations and   Citibank sets up China's 1st drive-through ATM Citibank has launched China's first drive-through automatic teller machines (ATM) in east Beijing -- but only holders of bank cards issued abroad can use them for now.   Motorola wins $394m China Mobile deal Motorola Inc signed contracts worth $394 million in the first half of the year to supply telecoms gear to China Mobile, the larger of China's two wireless carriers, the firms said on Monday.   Motorola wins $394m China Mobile deal Motorola Inc signed contracts worth $394 million in the first half of the year to supply telecoms gear to China Mobile, the larger of China's two wireless carriers, the firms said on Monday.   Dollar stable in Asia The dollar was broadly steady in Asian trade Monday as recent concerted action by the world's major central banks helped to restore some calm to volatile financial markets, dealers said.   US airlines vie for China route United Airlines has plans to start new flight services between California and two Chinese cities in next two years to exploit the booming US-China route, but the airline is facing stiff competition from   Currency Sports Cricket: New selectors soon The Faruque Ahmed-led selection panel finished their last assignment by submitting the academy squad to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday for the coming tour of Australia.   Hockey: Bangladesh eye 6th place A depleted Bangladesh hockey team will look to better their last-place finishing in the 2003 Asia Cup when they participate in the seventh edition of the continental hockey championship starting on August   Cricket: India near series win India dismissed England captain Michael Vaughan as they closed in on a series victory on the last day of the third and final Test at The Oval here Monday. >England, at tea, were 232 for three.   Cricket: Negatively positive! Watching Rahul Dravid during his 96-ball 12 was to see a captain ponder with the bat.   Kamal's death anniversary tomorrow Abahani Limited will observe the 32nd death anniversary of the club's founder Sheikh Kamal tomorrow.   Cricket: Remember, I'm Your New Boss!   Cricket: Kumble leaves McGrath behind Anil Kumble surpassed Glenn McGrath to become the world's third highest wicket-taker in Tests as India bowled England out for 345 on the fourth day of the third and final Test at The Oval on Sunday.   Cricket: WI coach hunt officially on More than three months after Bennett King stepped down as West Indies coach, the cricket board has finally advertised for applications to fill the vacancy.   Cricket: Harmy on the comeback Steve Harmison continued his comeback after a hernia operation when he was named in Durham's Championship side to face Surrey over four days from Monday.   Cricket: Hoggard returns for Yorkshire Matthew Hoggard returns to the Yorkshire side for their Championship match against Worcestershire at Kidderminster after recovering from the back spasms which have ruled him out of the Test series against   Cricket: Langer staying as Somerset Somerset captain Justin Langer is set to sign a contract for the 2008 season with the county this week.   Football: Rooney out for two months Wayne Rooney will be out for two months with a hairline fracture in his left foot, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said Monday.   Football: Arsenal accused of simulation Furious Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez accused Arsenal of diving after his side slipped to a controversial 2-1 English Premier League defeat on Sunday.   Football: Jose fearful of injuries Just when Jose Mourinho thought his injury worries were starting to fade, Michael Essien has joined the ranks of Chelsea's walking wounded.   Football: Delight for debutants Bundesliga newboys Karlsruhe and Duisburg marked their arrival in Germany's top flight with convincing away wins on Sunday but Bayern Munich finished the opening weekend on top of the table.   Football: Pretenders fire blank Title pretenders Lens and Paris St Germain did little to inspire faith in their own fans with a dire 0-0 draw on Sunday.   Football: 'Germany not yet there' Germany's head coach Joachim Loew said on Monday his side still have some way to go if they are to challenge Europe's elite at next summer's European Champion-ships.   Football: Hamburg deny van der Vaart offer Hamburg have not received an offer from Spanish first division side Valencia for their Dutch captain Rafael van der Vaart, a spokesman for the Bundesliga club said on Monday.   Tennis: Djokovic fells Federer Novak Djokovic elbowed his way into the tennis elite on Sunday with a 7-6 , 2-6, 7-6 defeat of world number one Roger Federer in the final of the Montreal Masters.   Cricket: Akhtar to fight the fine Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar said Monday he had appealed against a 300,000 rupees (5,000 dollars) fine imposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board after he walked out of a training camp.   Tennis: Biggies look forward After Novak Djokovic's stunning triumph at the Montreal Masters, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will try to get their US Open preparations back on track in Cincinnati this week.   Tennis: A Serbian day Serbian third seed Ana Ivanovic defeated fourth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-4 here Sunday to win the 600,000-dollar WTA hard court tournament.   Athletics: Forrest Gump's coach arrested The coach of India's five-year-old marathon runner, Budhia Singh, was arrested Monday after the wonder boy accused him of torture, reports said.   Football: Shootout heartbreak for Daily Star The Daily Star's march in the Meril Media Cup football tournament was brought to a grinding halt by New Nation who won the battle of the English dailies in penalty shootout at the Bangabandhu National Metropolitan Ensure access to ICT to boost rural economy Ensuring access to information and communication technology (ICT) for the rural people would help reduce the cost of doing business and boost rural economy, experts at a workshop said yesterday.   Call for united movement to protect indigenous people Speakers at a national seminar yesterday said the rights of indigenous people would not be established until their philosophy, culture, wisdom and traditional knowledge are duely appreciated by the majority   Build knowledge-based society President Iajuddin Ahmed called upon various organisations and well-off sections of the people to help foster talents and genius for building a knowledge-based society that could lead the nation on ahigher   Task force to ensure closure of outer campuses University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam yesterday said the caretaker government following the recommendation of the UGC decided to close down all approved and unapproved outer campuses   'Political will needed to build gender equitable society' Speakers at a workshop yesterday underscored the need for political will and conceptual clarity of 'gender mainstreaming' in order to build a gender equitable society.   Road accidents kill 6 At least six people were killed in separate road accidents in Sirajganj, Comilla and Brahmanbaria yesterday.   More bodies come to aid of flood victims More organisations and individuals came to the aid of flood-affected people yesterday as relief operations continued in areas reeling under floods.   Minor tremor jolts capital A minor earthquake, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale, jolted the capital and adjoining areas yesterday. The epicentre of the tremor that was felt at about 14hours 28 minutes 41.   Lutfur made Ctg Customs (Import) Commissioner Lutfur Rahman, commissioner of of VAT Appeal Commissionerate Chittagong, took over the office of Commissioner of Chittagong Customs (Import) here yesterday.   Four fishermen missing after trawler capsizes Four fishermen went missing as a hilsha-laden trawler capsized in the Boleshher river in Sarankhola upazila on Sunday night as fishing fleets returning to coast from rough sea amid a monsoon depression.   Land depression over W Bengal, adjoining Bangladesh The land depression moved slightly northwestwards and lies over West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh yesterday afternoon.   Camel Jockeys in UAE Bangladeshi children to get compensation Bangladeshi children who worked as camel jockeys in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at any time after January 1, 1993 and suffered physical and mental illness will get compensation from the UAE, says a   IBA Team 1 becomes champion The prize giving ceremony of the National English Debate Championship 2007 organised by the Communication Club of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Dhaka University, was held at Radisson   Rehab president resigns Engineer Mohammad Abdul Awal resigned as president of Real Estate Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab) yesterday. National Dredge Kobadak to stop recurring flood in Satkhira, Jessore Leaders of the newly formed Kabodak Basin Union Parishad (UP) Forum in Satkhira and Jessore districts at a meeting here yesterday urged the government to re-excavate silted Kabodak river to free the area   Observe Aug 15 at state level, declare it a public holiday Over 150 teachers of Rajshahi University under the banner of Progressive Teachers Society (PTS) in a statement yesterday called upon the caretaker government to observe the 32nd death anniversary of Bangabandhu   Former Satkhira Jamaat MP remanded in two cases Former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam, arrested on March 9 by joint forces, was placed on a five-day remand yesterday for interrogation in two extortion cases.   38 pc clients bribe officials for power in Jhenidah At least 38.   Govt playing dual role, Menon alleges Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon yesterday alleged that the government was playing a dual role by allowing a political party leader to distribute relief under party banner while barring others   Voter roll work begins in Rangpur Aug 19 Work on preparation of voter list and national ID card registration begins in the district town on August 19, district EC office sources said.   Verdict in Nadim Mostafa's case today Verdict in the case against former BNP lawmaker Nadim Mostafa and 17 others for alleged extortion and terrorising people during Union Parishad election in Durgapur upazila will be delivered today.   437 more jute workers get arrear wages More 437 retrenched workers of closed People's Jute Mills here yesterday got their 15 weeks' arrear wages.   Cops suspended in Satkhira Two police constables were suspended temporarily yesterday for negligence in duty leading to escape of a criminal from their custody in Satkhira.   Bus dacoity in Jhenidah Highwaymen stabbed nine people including driver and helper of a bus and looted cash and valuables worth Tk 3 lakh from passengers at Bittipara village on Jhenidah-Kushtia highway, passengers said. Point-Counterpoint 'The students will be trained to face the world' Located on a stunning campus of 100-plus acres in Chittagong, Asian University for Women (AUW) will begin offering an international quality education for women from all cultural, religious, ethnicand   A business unfriendly government Oh my! How perceptions have changed since January! In the immediate aftermath of 1/11, I kept thinking that was a pity that the famous singer James Brown, the man with the potent rasping voice was dead.   My homage to Ambassador Momin Ambassador Abdul Momin passed away on August 11, at the age of 86. With his death, the country has lost an astute diplomat, a perfect gentleman and, above all, a valiant freedom fighter. Culture A medley of abstracts from Japan Shimizu Tomono, who has had many group exhibitions in Tokyo, held a solo at the Zainul Gallery recently. She had used soft, gentle colours and brought in interesting texture work in her mixed media creations.   Do's and don'ts for little ones during flood Speaking on the latest activities of Sisimpur at Hotel La Vinci recently, eminent actor and cultural activist Asaduzzman Noor of Nayantara Communications said, "Sisimpur is working   Homage to Tagore and Nazrul A programme celebrating the occasion of Rabindra-Nazrul anniversary 1414 was held at the Metropolitan University, Sylhet, recently.   Drama serial "Shukher Ashukh" on Channel i Written and directed by Dil Mohammed Dilu, drama serial Shukher Ashukh will be aired tonight on channel i at 6pm.   Love and death dominate Locarno nods The Japanese film "Ai No Yokan" (The Rebirth), a story of love between the mother of a murderer and the father of the victim, claimed the top prize at the Locarno International Film Festival, which concluded General ‘30pc students study privately with their school teachers to get more marks in exams’ Around 30 percent of school students in the port city studied privately with the teachers of their own institutions to get more marks and spent on an average Tk 683 per month in this regard, revealeda   Biman pays 70pc of benefits to retired staffs Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd paid 70 per cent of the benefits to its 1,877 retired employees in the first installment as of yesterday. The employees went on retirement under a voluntary schemerecently. International Nuke deal does not prohibit atomic test India is free to test nuclear weapons under a much-touted nuclear deal with the United States, the country's prime minister said yesterday as lawmakers opposed to the pact noisily demanded the agreement   Arabs urged to stop 'genocide campaign' by Iraqi Shias Iraq's most senior Sunni politician issued a desperate appeal Sunday for Arab nations to help stop what he called an "unprecedented genocide campaign" by Shia militias armed, trained and controlled by   Kashmiris call for end to Indo-Pak divide Mughlia Begum was just 18 when partition shook the sub-continent on August 14, 1947. In the bloody turmoil, she lost her father Abdul Aziz, who worked in Peshawar as a cook.   Maoists threaten to quit Nepali govt Nepal's former rebels threatened Sunday to quit an interim coalition government unless their demands were met, which include the creation of a republic and protection against attacks from rival groups.   Case filed against Indian MP for threatening to kill Taslima The police in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad filed a case against a legislator of an Islamic party who had threatened to kill exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen if she visits the city again.   Boucher to talk security, politics in Pakistan Richard Boucher, Assistant US Secretary of State for South Asia, is due to visit Islamabad for top level security and counter-terrorism talks, officials said yesterday.   No deal with Musharraf on dual posts: Benazir Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto has said there is no agreement with Pervez Musharraf that he continue to hold the dual posts of Army Chief and President, but the issue need not be the reason Editorial Editorial: Draft police ordinance A roundtable arranged by this newspaper on the Bangladesh Draft Police Ordinance 2007 on Saturday highlighted some important police reform issues in the country.   Editorial: Relief work with a bang! The authorities' reservations about using banners by political parties while conducting relief operations could be construed as an attempt to keep an essentially humanitarian job above or away from politics.   Is India a victim of its own policy? Unilateral water diversion, or withdrawal of water from international or common rivers, has been the long-standing policy of India.   A Japan that can say no Almost two decades ago, the deceased Sony chief Akio Morita joined hand with the Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara to co-author a book that was much criticized in the West, particularly in the United States,   © thedailystar.net, 2007. All Rights Reserved.