'No suspicion, no presumption'

Dhaka, Nov 28 (bdnews24.com) ? Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee Defender Abdur Razzaq, says that his questioning the impartiality of the judiciary Nizamul Huq was based on hard facts.

"It was not suspected, it was not conjecture."

Talking to the press after a meeting with Stephen J Rapp, the U.S. Ambassador at large war crimes issues, on Monday, claimed he, that the community Executive Council member of the petition by priority from the domestic and abroad was accompanied.

Responding to an order earlier in the day of the international war crimes Tribunal where has Sayedee to 20 points for crimes against humanity, he allegedly 1971 committed accused that during the Bangladesh liberation war in the year Razzaq said the Defense only wanted one thing.

"We want justice, justice, justice." "We want justice."

Justice Nizamul Huq said no question of "suspicion, perception or conjecture was" in his order on Monday, questioning the impartiality of the judges of the High Court.

You judge according to which the petition, was bias, "unprecedented" in the legal history of Bangladesh for his statement as President of the Court for the international crimes despite claims, called Huq "outrageous, contemptuous and outrageous".

Rapp with the defenders of individuals met alleged war criminals currently held behind bars is.

Razzaq said that she discussed a number of issues including the possibility of hiring foreign lawyers for the case.

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Panel reports to HC on student 'torture'

Dhaka, Nov 28 (bdnews24.com) ? The judicial committee to investigate the alleged police torture on Dhaka University student Abdul Kadar has found that he had been tortured in detention on false charges.

Deputy attorney general A B M Altaf Hossain presented the report to the bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain on Monday.

Law ministry joint secretary Ashish Ranjan Das, the lone member of the panel, said in the report that police had detained Kadar on suspicion, shown him arrested over false charges and tortured in custody.

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Majid Ul Haque cleared of graft charges

  Dhaka, Nov 28 (bdnews24.com) -- Former BNP minister Mohammad Majid Ul Haque has been acquitted in a corruption case, filed over 15 years ago.

Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Mohammad Abdul Majid gave the verdict on Monday after a hearing on the acquittal petition.

Majid Ul Haque told bdnews24.com after the ruling that most of the corruption cases against him were false and politically motivated. This case had also been filed to harass him, he said.

A retired major general from the Pakistan days, Majid Ul Haque served in the 1991-96 cabinet of prime minister Khaleda Zia in charge of water resources and then agriculture.

He was also minister for industries, railway and communication, and establishment in the cabinet of the late Lt. Gen Ziaur Rahman.

The Magura leader was also a member of the BNP's highest policymaking standing committee until he defiantly resigned in 1998.

The case alleged that the former minister had used two cars purchased for official purposes for personal business violating rules and regulations.

The case further alleged that he also had illegally spent the government funds allotted for fuel, salaries of the drivers, repairs of the cars and other heads, wasting a little over Tk 2 million from the government exchequer.

The now-defunct Bureau of Anti Corruption filed the case on Oct 20, 1996 with the Motijheel Police Station when Awami League had just returned to power.

Charges were pressed in the court against Majid on Dec 6, 1998.The judgment came after the court took statement of eight of the 11 prosecution witnesses.

"The real corrupt people get away from the genuine corruption cases because of such false cases," Mohammad Aktaruzzaman, the lawyer for Majid Ul Haque, told bdnews24.com on Monday in his reaction to the ruling.

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<font size=6>Now MPs to be taxed</font>

  Dhaka, Nov 28 (bdnews24.com) ?The cabinet has cleared proposals to tax salaries of the speaker and members of parliament, who will have to pay income tax once they are passed in parliament.

The approval came from a cabinet meeting on Monday chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.

On Nov 17, the cabinet approved proposals to tax salaries of ministers, state and deputy ministers.

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German president in town

  Dhaka, Nov 28 (bdnews24.com) ?German president Christian Wulff has arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit.

His Bangladeshi counterpart Zillur Rahman welcomed him at the Shahjalal International Airport around 1pm on Monday.

Both the presidents will have a meeting on Tuesday. Wulff will have meetings with representatives of civil society and different faiths at the Goethe-Insititut, Germany's cultural institution, the same day.

He will also meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister Dipu Moni and deliver a lecture at the Dhaka University.

Germany is one of the biggest trading partners of Bangladesh and destination of over $1 billion of exports.

This is the second time a German president is visiting Bangladesh after his predecessor Von Weizsucker came here in 1986.

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Now it is train investors: Azizul

Dhaka, Nov 28 (bdnews24.com) ?Former Adviser to the Transitional Government A B Mirza Azizul Islam has advised investors, the stock market patiently to be and responsible behavior, to arrest the market slide.

"Now the investors to take the responsibility for the stabilisation of the market", Azizul said anyone who thinks that the Government has done everything what they had to do that.

The former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) expressed his hope on Monday that the market will recover after December.

After the Government took a series of decisions to lift the declining stock market, trading the week began with steep drop of in stock prices on Sunday. The Dhaka stock exchange (DSE) General index lost more than 100 points in the first five minutes of trade on Monday.

In his immediate response to the case, Azizul bdnews24.com said that he could not understand why stock prices fell back after so many measures. "I don't have any explanation."

"If investors believe that they can realise their losses within one day, they are mistaken." You need to (investors) patience, "he said."

He suggested that investments in basic stocks with low prices only to sound understanding, rumors not respect.

"Investors need to keep in mind that the stock market is a place to invest, no place to make a quick buck." You have to make some gains if you after watching the market investing, "added to Azizul."

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Redknapp could miss five weeks

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp could face a four- or five-week layoff after undergoing minor heart surgery, he said on Sunday.

The Premier League club had initially said the 64-year-old, favourite to take over as England manager from Fabio Capello next July, would be set to return to work in two weeks following Wednesday's operation.

"(The doctor's) telling me I shouldn't even think about (returning) for at least four to five weeks. I hope to be back before then," Redknapp told Britain's Sky Sports News.

Redknapp said he would try to stay calm in front of the television while watching Spurs visit Fulham in the Premier League later on Sunday.

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Federer wins title again in Basel

Roger Federer won the Swiss Indoors title for the fifth time in six years when he demolished unseeded Kei Nishikori in the final on his home town tournament on Sunday.

Federer, playing in his 98th ATP final of which he has won 68, triumphed 6-1, 6-3 against the 21-year-old Japanese wild card, who was playing in his third.

"He didn't give me a chance, he was too good for me today," said Nishikori, who beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the Basel semi-final.

Federer, who completed his third match without dropping a set following his wins against Andy Roddick and Stanislas Wawrinka, won his second title of the year and his first since Doha in January.

Nishikori, meeting his idol Federer for the first time, held his serve in the opening game but the dominant Swiss rattled off the next seven as he totally dominated proceedings against the world number 32.

The Swiss, playing in his first tournament since the US Open in September, hit five aces and no double faults while Nishikori took only six points off Federer's serve.

Nishikori put up more resistance in the second set, saving two break points in the second game to at least end Federer's run.

However, it was only a matter of time and Federer broke in the sixth game. Nishikori defiantly saved four break points but could do nothing about a perfect Federer lob which left him stranded on the fifth.

The Japanese had his only break point in the ninth game but Federer saved it and went on to finish off the match with a forehand smash.

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'Guest' butchers in town

Two cobblers from Keraniganj will turn into butchers for the next two days.

Search for eking out a living has brought 'Cheena' from Madaripur, Keraniganj to Dhaka's Shahidnagar where he works in a shoe store, and taken his brother 'Bhutta' to Moulavibazar.

But on Sunday, the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, they are both in Dhaka with teams of men. For the next two days, they are both professional butchers.

The sacrificial rite of Eid-ul-Azha, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifice of his son, brings thousands of cattle to the capital every year. Along with them come hordes of butchers from across the country.

"Each team slaughters and dresses at least 15 cows on the first two days of Eid. The money is good. It's better than my job," Bhutta told bdnews24.com.

"I've worked on Eid-ul-Azha for 10 years," he said.

Jahangir Matbar, a businessman from Kamrangirchar, told bdnews24.com that butcher Farid would be coming in from Faridpur on Eid day to slaughter his cow.

"He comes to this area every Eid and dresses at least 20 animals."

These 'guest butchers' are a welcome sight to those making sacrifices on Eid, as the professionals who work the year round in Dhaka's butcher shops are in high demand.

"Babul', Nur Islam and Misir Ali are three such men. Their shop is in the Madbarbazar of Kamrangirchar.

"With a five-man team, we can chop up a large cow into pieces in two hours," Nur Islam confidently said.

He said he hoped to pocket at least Tk 50,000 in the next two days.

Over the years, Nur Islam's service has got costlier.

"I have sacrificed cows for the last 40 years, but never had to take so much pain over finding a butcher," said Azad Ali, a resident of Keraniganj.

Many old residents of the city avoid this problem by making a regular arrangement. "Each year, butcher Kalam and his four-man team dresses my cow," said Anisur Rahman, who has lived in Mirpur for 20 years.

Usually there is a verbal agreement on how much a butcher charges on the Eid day. Last year the rate was 10 percent of the cattle's price.

"But they've become more expensive. That rate won't work anymore," Anisur said.

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Spurs hold on for victory

Tottenham Hotspur required a slice of luck as they recorded a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.

Spurs ran up a two-goal lead as Gareth Bale's shot was diverted into his own net by Chris Baird on ten minutes before Aaron Lennon scored in first-half injury time, reports ESPNsoccernet.

Fulham fought back, though, and after a Younes Kaboul own goal in the 57th minute, the hosts went close on numerous occasions, including a string of golden opportunities at the death.

Spurs finally killed the game off in the 95th minute when Emmanuel Adebayor set up Jermain Defoe for 3-1.

The win over their London rivals helped Spurs move into fifth in Premier League.

Bolton picked up their first home Premier League win of the season at the sixth attempt by thrashing Stoke 5-0.

Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic made two early errors. The Bosnian picked up a backpass and then compounded the mistake by allowing Ivan Klasnic to quickly take the free-kick from which Kevin Davies opened the scoring after two minutes.

Begovic then slipped when attemping a clearance, sending the ball straight to Chris Eagles, who drilled in from a tight angle on 22 minutes.

Eagles played a pivotal role in the Trotters' third, which arrived on the hour mark, producing the pass from which Mark Davies fed scorer Klasnic. Eagles completed a brace ten minutes later, conjuring a dinked finish having collected Klasnic's through ball.

Stoke's misery heightened further when Klasnic added a fifth, stooping to nod in a close-range header after David Wheater's header was not cleared.

In the early kick-off, David Edwards struck the killer blow as Wolves beat relegation rivals Wigan 3-1 at Molineux.

With both sides languishing at the wrong end of the table, Wolves claimed their first win in nine league matches to hand a welcome boost to manager Mick McCarthy, while Wigan have now lost their last eight Premier League encounters.

Jamie O'Hara's first-half strike was cancelled out by Ben Watson as the two sides went into the break level-pegging. But on only his third start of the season, Edwards found a way past dogged Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi before Stephen Ward sealed all three points.

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Udinese, Lazio go joint top

Udinese and Lazio leapfrogged Juventus at the summit of Serie A on Sunday with home victories over Siena and Parma after the Turin side's match with Napoli was postponed due to flooding.

Goals in each half from Dusan Basta and Antonio Di Natale kept up Udinese's 100 percent record at home this season with a 2-1 win over Siena, while a late strike from substitute Giuseppe Sculli gave Lazio a 1-0 victory at home to Parma as the two sides reached 21 points from 10 games, a point clear of Milan and two above Juventus.

With forward Antonio Cassano released from hospital earlier in the day after his minor heart operation, Milan won their fifth straight match, crushing Catania 4-0 thanks to goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Gianluca Zambrotta and an own goal from Francesco Lodi.

There were wins for Atalanta, Lecce and Chievo Verona but Inter Milan's game at Genoa was also postponed because of floods.

AC Milan went a goal up within seven minutes after Robinho was floored in the box by Davide Lanzafame. Ibrahimovic, whose pass had initially played in the Brazilian, drove home the resulting penalty for his fifth strike of the season.

The two forwards combined again on 24 minutes as the hosts went two up with Robinho collecting a hooked pass from the Swede before skipping inside Giuseppe Bellusci and curling a precise finish into the far corner for his second goal of the season.

Clarence Seedorf, Robinho, Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini all had good chances to make the game safe before halftime.

Catania came close to reducing the deficit 10 minutes into the second half when Alejandro Gomez hit the top of the bar but Milan settled the match on 69 minutes when Ibrahimovic again played in Robinho whose shot was deflected in off Lodi.

Three minutes later Zambrotta made it four, slotting home from six metres after Aquilani's free kick had been parried.

In Udine, the home side took 48 seconds to take the lead when Serbian midfielder Basta took advantage of a ricochet to poke home from close range.

They doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Di Natale struck his eighth goal of the season with a low finish, before a 77th-minute strike from Francesco Bolzoni had the home side sweating to make sure of the three points.

Luca Rigoni's second-half winner gave Chievo Verona the points at home to Fiorentina as they climbed to 14th, and added more pressure on under-fire Viola coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.

A deflected shot from Juan Cuadrado gave 10-man Lecce the points in the basement battle with Cesena who, despite replacing Marco Giampaolo with Daniele Arrigoni as coach this week, are now four points adrift at the bottom.

An 80th-minute winner from German Denis, the Argentine striker's seventh goal this season, gave Atalanta victory over Cagliari.

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Lokman's Narsinghdi home attacked

 Unknown assailants have attacked the home of slain Narsinghdi mayor Lokman Hossain.

Family members told bdnews24.com the men had swooped on the home around 11pm Sunday with local weapons, injuring two family members and a guard before fleeing.

Those injured are 'Bablu', 'Sohel' and 'Saimum', all relatives of Lokman.

Police have taken position in front of the house after the incident.

Earlier in the day, police found four bombs from a field near the house.

Lokman's brothers district general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League Shamim Newaz and Kamruzzaman are in that house.

Kamruzzaman on Thursday filed a murder case against telecommunication minister Rajuddin Ahmed Raju's brother Salahuddin Ahmed Bachchu and 13 others, mostly ruling Awami League members, over his brother's death.

But Bachhu has claimed to the media that he was in no way involved with the murder.

Lokman, a popular mayor, was shot dead by unknown men on Nov 1 in front of the district Awami League office.

In the wake of the murder, the Narsingdi superintendent of police (SP) Akkas Uddin Bhuiyan, additional SP (Special Branch) Enamul Kabir and Additional SP Bijay Basak were "withdrawn" on Friday.

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President, PM, opposition chief sacrificing cows

 Top politicians including the prime minister have made their own plans to sacrifice Eid-ul-Azha cattle on Monday like millions of other Bangladeshis.

President Zillur Rahman will sacrifice a cow like earlier years in Bangabhaban while prime minister Sheikh Hasina will make the sacrifice in three places and opposition leader Khaleda Zia in her Gulshan residence.

A senior leader of the ruling coalition's Jatiya Party told bdnews24.com seven cows would be sacrificed in party chief H M Ershad's Rangpur residence. The former president is in Saudi Arabia now performing hajj.

President Zillur Rahman's press secretary AKM Nesar Uddin Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com that the president will sacrifice a cow.

"Like previous years he will distribute the meat among the Bangabhaban staff."

Hasina will sacrifice cattle on behalf of her family in three places, a highly placed source at Ganabhaban confirmed bdnews24.com . The sites, according to the source, are Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at capital's Dhanmondhi 32, her Tungipara paternal house and her official residence Ganabhaban.

Khaleda's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told bdnews24.com the opposition leader would sacrifice a cow in the name of her family members.

"She will make the sacrifice at her Gulshan residence."

During the Eid, animals are slaughtered as a reminder of the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God as an act of obedience and submission.

A portion of the meat is then distributed to the poor along with other charitable donations, as per Islamic tradition.

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Cattle sale booming at midnight

 

Dhaka, Nov 6 (bdnews24, com) ? Business was booming in the capital's Gabtoli and temporary cattle markets well into the night after a fresh influx of cattle late in the evening of Eid-ul-Azha's eve, but prices were hefty.

The buyers of sacrificial animals were perplexed on Sunday to find most of the cattle heads had already sold out in most of the 19 markets of the capital after heavy trading on Saturday. It lead to panic-buying amid fears that cattle are running out and buyers were found waiting in the evening.

But bdnews24.com correspondents reported trucks carrying cattle coming into the city in the evening.

Cattle dealers and 'Haat' people said that 75 percent of the cattle heads were sold out in between Saturday afternoon and night.

A businessman in the Gabtoli haat told bdnews24.com more cattle would come in at night. Around 9pm, Haat owners said at least 2,000 trucks had entered the capital.

Despite the fresh inflow, however, prices remained high in most places.

Akhter-uz-Zaman, owner of the Haat at Banani-Kakali Rail Crossing, told bdnews24.com their Haat was packed up in the afternoon since most of the cattle were sold out. But it opened again in the evening as a fresh haul started coming in.

At midnight there were some hundred cattle heads in that Haat.

Asked why the sudden crisis of cattle happened earlier in the day, several businessmen said sellers were discouraged from coming to Dhaka because of the low prices prevailing up to Saturday. Many were locked up in traffic, they added.

Earlier in the day, Nuru Sarder of Sirajganj told bdnews24.com he had brought 49 cattle heads for sale to the Poly-Technique Maidan market. Out of those, 35 were sold out during afternoon and night of Saturday.

Nuru told bdnews24.com that prices rose sharply after Ashr prayer on Saturday, in keeping with the sudden spike in demand.

Hafiz, a Haat Management Committee member said on Sunday, "There are more buyers than cattle heads for sale in the Haat now. So, the dealers are taking advantage price of the few cattle heads not disposed of yet by jacking their prices.

"A cow that fetched Tk 30,000 on Saturday is selling now for Tk 45,000."

A buyer, engineer Hafiz Sikder, who came to make a buy in the haat, said, "The cow which I had bought for only Tk 35,000 last time is not available for even Tk 60,000 this time."

Similar was the situation at Kakali Haat, leading to apprehension that thousands of people might have to go without sacrifices this time.

Asked for the reason, one cattle seller Mobarak said, "The cost of cattle-raising is the prime cause. About 35 truck-loads of cattle heads used to arrive from Rajapur of Natore every year. But this year only 15 trucks have come so far."

Sohel Ahmed, cattle head dealer of Gabtali Haat told bdnews24.com, "There are too many buyers with too less number of cattle heads in the haat so the price has doubled."

The situation was no different in Banani, Badda, Banrupa and other cattle markets.

However, finding the prices too high, quite a few people had to be content with goat buys to meet religious obligations.

According to a Banani Haat dealer, the prices of castrated goats also went up by about 200 percent.

The capital has 19 cattle haats including 13 approved by DCC.

The only permanent, recognised cattle market in the capital is Gabtali Haat and other temporary hats approved by DCC are: Jhigatola, Hazaribag,Taltala, Azampur Uttara, Balurmath, Gopibag, Meradia Bazar Khilgaon, Dhupkhola East End Club Maidan and Adarsha School Maidan adjacent to Golapbag Maidan, among others.

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150 houses, shops burnt in Dighinala

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Khagrachharhi, Nov 6 (bdnews24.com) ? A fire has burnt over 150 houses and shops at Dighinala upazila in Khagrachharhi hills district .

The flames are believed to have originated from an electrical short-circuit at a tea-stall in Babucharha market around 2pm on Sunday, police said.

Mohammad Shahadat Hossain Titu, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dighinala Police Station, said the Fire Brigade personnel were a bit late to arrive at the scene even though they were informed immediate after the accident.

"They came only after the houses and shops were completely burned down," he alleged.

Referring to the victims, the OC said the fire caused a loss of about Tk 20 million as it annihilated a total of 110 shops and 47 houses.

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Sri Lanka extend lead as draw looms

 Tharanga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara both hit half-centuries on Sunday as Sri Lanka extended their lead over Pakistan to 237 runs at the close of the fourth day and set up an intriguing finale in the third and final Test in Sharjah.

Earlier Sri Lanka paceman Chanaka Welegedara picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests to help dismiss Pakistan for 340 in their first innings.

Pakistan's bowlers fought back but Sri Lanka opener Paranavitana was still at the crease on 66 when bad light brought a premature end to the day's play with the hosts on 164 for five.

Resuming on their overnight score of 282 for six, Pakistan, who lead the three-match series 1-0, were bundled out for 340 on the stroke of lunch.

Trailing Sri Lanka by 131 runs after the third day, captain Misbah-ul-Haq (89) added 47 for the ninth wicket with Saeed Ajmal (12 not out) to significantly cut into the lead after Pakistan lost Abdur Rehman and Umar Gul early.

Welegedara dismissed Rehman (3) in the first over of the morning and clean bowled number 11 Junaid Khan for a duck to add to his tally of three wickets from Saturday.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath chipped in with three wickets while off-spinner Suraj Randiv took the scalp of Misbah, who skied a sweep that allowed Tillakaratne Dilshan to take a running catch.

Misbah, who was dropped three times in the first hour of play, effectively shielded Ajmal from the Sri Lankan attack during their ninth-wicket stand and hit seven boundaries and a six to frustrate the visitors.

Sri Lanka's hopes of garnering quick runs were dampened when the hosts claimed an early wicket as paceman Umar Gul found Dilshan's edge with the new ball.

First-innings centurion Sangakkara and opener Paranavitana added 75 runs for second wicket before Sangakkara was caught by Asad Shafiq at point off the bowling of Mohammad Hafeez for 51.

Mahela Jayawardene was trapped lbw by Umar Gul for 20, before Saeed Ajmal gave Pakistan hope of snatching a very unlikely victory with the wickets of Angelo Matthews (13) and Kaushal Silva (0) in the space of five balls.

The Pakistan fightback was halted when the umpires took the players off for bad light, effectively ending the prospect of an overnight declaration and leaving a draw as the most likely outcome.

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Last hour rush at Sadarghat

It was a hectic day on Sunday at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha.

The rooftops of the around 25 launches were crammed with holidaymakers on Sunday noon.

Schoolboy Robiul Hawlader Mridul and his grandmother Rawshan Ara, who were heading to Barisal, came to the pier at 10am to take a launch to Bakerganj.

"Red Sun took extra passengers. So, we had looked for Saikat but could not find it. Time is passing away. We'll have to take any launch that we get now," Rawshan Ara told bdnews24.com at 2:30pm.

Marine safety and traffic management department senior director Muhammad Rafikul Islam said 54 launches had left the terminal for Barisal, Barguna and Bhola from the morning until 2pm.

"Nearly 30 others will leave for Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal, Madaripur and several other districts until midnight," he added.

According to him, 120 launches left the terminal on Saturday, 97 on Friday and 85 on Thursday.

"We can't manage the excessive number of passengers even after introducing special services. Usually, the number of passengers is 20,000-25,000 daily. But on Saturday, around 1.5 million passengers left the terminal," Rafikul said.

When asked about overloaded launches, he said, "We were able to prevent launches from carrying passengers on roofs until Friday. But on Saturday there were just too many people. Now we are watching whether any launch gets seriously overloaded."

He also claimed that the launches were charging fares fixed by authorities.

Traffic inspector Mohammad Moinuddin said, "The pressure of passengers was high in the morning. It has decreased now (afternoon) and will ease further in the night."

He said launches will leave on Eid morning.

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Czech Republic clinch first Fed Cup title

Kveta Peschke and Lucie Hradecka beat Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-2 in the decisive doubles to give the Czech Republic a 3-2 win over Russia in the Fed Cup final on Sunday, clinching the country's first title as an independent nation.

Earlier, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova prevailed over Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first match of the day to put the Czechs within a point of claiming their first Fed Cup crown after they split from Slovakia in 1993.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who replaced Kirilenko after the latter's straight-set loss to Kvitova on Saturday, overpowered Czech number two Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-4 in the second reverse singles to pull the hosts level at 2-2.

The Czechs' last triumph came when, playing as Czechoslovakia, they beat the former Soviet Union 2-1 in the 1988 final.

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Bolt and Blake on Athlete of the Year shortlist

Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake and Kenyan David Rudisha have been shortlisted for the men's World Athlete of the Year award, while Valerie Adams of New Zealand, Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot and Australia's Sally Pearson are up for the women's prize.

The IAAF announced their nominations on Friday, a week before the winners are revealed at the World Athletics Gala in Monaco.

Bolt is on the list following his two golds in the world championships at Daegu in the 200 metres and 4?100 relay and despite his disqualification at the start of the 100 final, which Blake won.

Rudisha, who became the youngest World Athlete of the Year award winner when he was 21 last year, is back in contention after winning the 800 metres title in Daegu.

Adams won her third successive world shot put title in Daegu, Cheruyiot won both the 5,000 and 10,000 titles and Pearson won the 100 metres hurdles title where she ran the fourth fastest time in history.

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Heart procedures relating to cognitive dismantling

NEW YORK, Nov 4 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - in a new study of German heart patients, people deal, the invasive surgery and those who less showed invasive placement stent declines in thinking and memory subject to a few months after the procedure.

Doctors have been concerned about cognitive decline in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as a result of blocked arteries undergo a long time, and in fact, memory were deficits more significant after these procedures than after stenting.

Nevertheless not the results prove it is the procedure itself, that cause memory decline that-it might just be that plaque build up in blood vessels in the heart and the brain in the same patient caused a lot of problems.

"These patients have obviously all atherosclerosis," said Dr. Mark Newman of cognitive studies after cardiac surgery at Duke University to decline medical center in Durham, North Carolina.

"You have atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels, you have it probably in other ships in your body also."

Patients treated with CABG are often in poor condition, with the further development, as those who undergo stenting. It that "cognitive degradation" might be after this procedure applies to more on the severity of atherosclerosis as the procedure itself, said Newman, who was involved in the new studies, Reuters Health. "I think this is still a debate."

Nevertheless said it makes sense that if cholesterol built-up in the heart ships came loose during operation is, could it cause travel and problems to the brain, researchers.

The current study included 37 patients receive a stent placed and a further 47 in CABG, above all in their 60s and early 70s. Ago and three months after the operations the participants completed a series of were thinking and memory tests to measure, recall how well they come with or certain keywords, symbols and images.

The changes in their test results were compared to those of an other 33 healthy volunteers.

Patients in the stent Group had a major drop in score on two of the 10 tests compared to controls, a few months after their procedure. Bypass patients results on seven tests has slowed down.

Dr. Tibo Gerriets of Justus Liebig-Universität Gießen and colleagues write in the American Journal of heart, that it was clear how much the cognitive changes, which really bothers people in their daily lives after heart procedure occur.

But Newman said that this type is different from changes in thinking and memory abilities in some patients may require independent living and additional help.

Dr. Todd Rosengart, head of heart-chest surgery at Stony Brook University Medical Center in New York, said that the risk of cognitive decline after bypass surgery of which depend on how the procedure has done popular - and doctors, the German operations executed, not the best techniques may be used to protect patients against these risks.

"Today (a procedure to do) very well it means not only the patients through the process with no mortality this get through the procedure well in form," he told Reuters Health.

Heart patients, he said, should not their surgeons about the steps that they are doing to protect their brains by the intervention of shy away from issues.

With good surgeon in a good hospital should not likely, that think and memory problems on the bypass operation greater than a 20, his Rosengart added.

Heart procedure "safer and more secure receive" agreed Newman. "I don't think that people overly concerned (cognitive decline) should." "I think they should have the right treatment to help them as a whole, and see options, how they can improve their quality of life."

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Thorpe Ruft Reality-check

five time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe disappointing seventh in the final of the 100 metres individual medley in a World Cup event on a hard first day in the competition after five years away.

The 29-year-old Australian, who hopes to qualify for next year the Olympic Games began to lose on the back with the butterfly leg and then he fight penultimate in an event with the chest, as he rarely before retirement sponge completed.

"I'm really happy with the first 50, the fly leg was great, the back was great and I'm really happy with the underwater work tonight," Thorpe told reporters.

"I was really good and then the chest happened." It was not so bad this morning. "It is something that I can work."

South African Chad of Le Clos, 19, won the race with a time of 53.06 seconds with Thorpe three and a half seconds back in one of the worst results of his illustrious career.

"I saw his career talks for himself, he grew up," Le Clos, said of Thorpe.

"I don't know, whether it a victory, exactly, call you can, because it is obviously not in close to his best always, but to beat him, I'll take it."

Before Thorpe had more nervous than usual, despite claims of suffering he said with his sixth place in heats in his first race back was happy.

Before the final, Thorpe saw a much more relaxed as he smiled his way through conversation seemed careless with Austrian Markus Rogan before his blue T-shirt, to discover his impressive physique.

"A lot today evening centredness,", said Thorpe.

"But what much fine is A little more nervous than what I would consider normal."

Lanky Thorpe, with the feet huge, flipper-like part take on Saturday as his preparations to try to qualify the Games 100 m butterfly still in March 2012 in London with the Australian Olympic.

Australia's most successful Olympian is expected to again in the Saturday event to fight, but the individual layers and Butterfly disciplines are very likely that for the Freestyle are dropped, on which he built in his name.

His fights in the glamour-free environment of Singapore Sports School of a few hundred spectators cheering highlighted the difficult task which he arises in achieving an other Olympics with little preparation time and competitors ten years younger than he.

"People want me do well and to see, do me quickly." I prefer to do, that I prefer not to wait, ", said Thorpe.

"I've swum not for a long time." I have where I was, where I am now 12 months ago to take stock. I am pretty good in the final of the competition. I am happy.

"I hope a little longer we some good performance can."

To fight an other recurring Australian Libby Trickett was. The Olympic gold finished last in the final of the 100 m butterfly and the sixth in their first international gathering since the 2009 World Championships 50 m freestyle.

Despite the results, 26-year-old was confident perform also in the Olympic trials.

"I think I'll be in time for the March." "I know that I think is moving forward, and this is only a step on the way."

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No new euro-zone money for debt crisis at the G20

 but no new money at a G20 Summit tortured to overcome using a sovereign debt crisis effectively supervision was placed during Italy under IMF.

Leaders of major economies in the world, meeting on the French Riviera on Friday, said Europe to sort their own problems and deferred to the next year every step of the International Monetary Fund to offer more cope with the crisis of resources.

"There is hardly any countries here that said you were willing to go along with the EFSF (euro zone Rescue Fund)," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a press conference.

Sovereigns investors such as China and Brazil wanted to see, before making a firm commitment, money in the bailout funds provided.

Global stocks and the euro fell again surfaced as doubts about financial bailout of Europe.

He joked President Barack Obama had learned a lot in two days on the complexity of the "tedious" decision-making process of the EU but said he was convinced that Europe had the capacity and the right plan, the challenge. The key was now rapid implementation.

"they have a strong partner in the United States go, but the European Heads of State and Government understand that ultimately a strong signal from Europe is important, that they stand behind the euro," he said in a press conference.

But Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard of many Summit participants summarized the mood when she said: "Europe needs to get an own house in order."

The two-day summit began under the shock have Greece since withdrawn plan to hold a referendum, which propelled it from the zone of 17-currency, and ended with Italy is pressed to restore its credibility on financial markets.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, his Government is hanging by a thread, said that Italy would welcome quarterly IMF monitoring of the long delayed pensions and labour market reforms and privatisation, he, now has promised to implement.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a Summit, kidnapped by the euro crisis Chair, said that Berlusconi had declared themselves ready to accept the additional control because he "of market doubts about the implementation of the plan" was

Given the size of its economy, Italy provides a far more serious threat to the 17-currency zone as in Greece, which almost the euro down brought, of mismanaging their finances.

With rising borrowing costs and debt, which firmly to 120 percent of GDP Rome has the third largest economy in the euro area with the largest government-bond market and is too big to fail. Paralysis in the faction-ridden Berlusconi Government has still undermine the confidence of investors.

ULTIMATUM

The Italian leader said the IMF had offered, borrow money Italy, but he refused. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said that Italy for all IMF line of credit could not qualify.

Berlusconi for monitoring licence step came back after a European ultimatum Greece of his referendum and instead forced to take a national consensus search through austerity measures.

"I this is Italy's reform process for the country and for the euro area as a whole as evidence of how important," said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

The Commission shall also Italy, carry out a first assessment next week. But the IMF new role the euro-zone crisis to a new level and suggests that to control the markets no longer trust the EU, their own economies.

To varying degrees, bailout recipients Greece, Portugal, Ireland and now Italy are giving sole control of its economic policies.

The leaders of the France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the European Central Bank, the IMF and the European Union institutions discussed with Obama ways promote the IMF warchest to prevent to overthrow fallout from Europe, the world economy into a recession.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose Eurosceptical decided by the single currency, country argued vigorously against any use of IMF funds for the euro area.

He was supported by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the reporter said: "We see no reason why Canada, or open how would each area of other countries contribute such bailout."

Euro zone countries were wealthy and had the means to deal with their own problems, said Harper.

No figures have been agreed the IMF but the increase in resources, especially from major emerging economies such as China, could be in the range of 300-350 billion dollars, G20 officials said.

Sarkozy said that the G20 Finance Ministers were tasked to meet several options for the increase in the budget of the Fund at their next February.

"We will ensure that the IMF still means its systemic role for the benefit of all members", the final G20 Communique said.

Would an idea discussed in Cannes entail pooling euro countries rights to the IMF builds a martial art to borrow funds to support the vulnerable rulers, such as Italy and Spain. This could make available another $280-300 billion, a G20 source said. But no decision has been taken.

ABOUT GREEK DRAMA

Delegates gathered in the building that hosts of the annual Cannes Film Festival even watch the euro-zone battle for its largest fire still snuff found.

Greece, future in the euro area can hinges on a vote of confidence in the Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou late Friday.

If he wins, say Government sources he has promised a step aside, and making the way for an interim national unity Government, to adopt the EU/IMF bailout plan, get an important help rate and pave the way for early elections next year.

However, if he loses, Greece will be plunged into deeper political turmoil and can be a difficult standard and possible withdrawal from the 17-nation single currency.

The Greek drama wiped out to rethink Sarkozy's hopes for a breakthrough on large early objectives such as the global monetary system. But the Summit a quick change to market determined exchange rates for the first time in this connection expressly to mention China.

"The crisis in Europe caused a systemic crisis, including Asia." Rather than create a new global framework that everyone expects the IMF-more actively, "Finance Minister Japanese Jun Azumi"said.

"The focus of the debate is, as you a firewall but you consider that the IMF should be a big wall set up,."

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NARSINGHDI MAYOR MURDERTrain set on fire

   The supporters of slain Narsinghdi mayor Lokman Hossain have set fire to a Dhaka-Kishoreganj passenger train, as a general strike is in force to protest against the murder.

Narsigndi railway station master Maron Chandra Das told bdnews24.com that the angry protesters set six coaches of the Egaroshindur Express on fire on Wednesday.

He said the incident occurred at around 10.15am on Wednesday when the train reached Narsinghdi.

"Many passengers jumped off the train at that time and were injured. We are working to douse the flames," the master added.

"A patrol team of the Rapid Action Battalion-11 went to the spot after learning about the torching and was pelted with brickbats by angry protesters.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Awami League, has enforced a 72-hour general strike in Narsinghdi to protest against the murder.

Shops and business organisations were seen shut on Wednesday morning. Activists of ruling Awami League and associate organisation have taken out processions demanding arrest and punishment of the assailants.

The organisers, however, said the first day's protest would not be that tight as family and party colleagues were waiting for the Hossain's body to arrive for burial.

"It will be an eased protest until 6pm Wednesday to facilitate the burial," said S M Qayum, a former central committee member of the student wing.

Qayum added that the Namaaj-e-Janaza would be held after Asr prayers when his body is brought back from Dhaka, where it underwent an autopsy.

Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to control the situation. Deputy inspector general (DIG) of Dhaka range police M H Nuruzzaman, Rapid Action Battalion-11 additional DIG Mostofa Kamal have reached Narsinghdi overnight to keep close watch on the situation.

Superintendent of Narsinghdi police Akkas Uddin Bhuiyan said, "A large number of law enforcers from Narsinghdi and surrounding districts has been deployed to handle the situation."

Doctors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) declared the 43-year old Hossain dead nearly three hours after he was shot by a masked gunman in front of the Awami League office at the district headquarters' Sadar road at around 8pm on Tuesday.

Lokman, also the ruling party's town unit general secretary, was a two time Gold Medal winner as Best Mayor.

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WI close to win series

  West Indies took three vital wickets before lunch as Bangladesh reached 263-6 on day five of the second test on Wednesday.

Bangladesh, still trailing by 245 runs, must depend on its middle and lower order batting through two sessions to avoid defeat, which looks unavoidable, at least for now.

Bangladesh was struggling from the beginning of the second innings after being set a towering 508 to beat the West Indies in the second test or more than four sessions to hold out for a draw.

Resuming at 164-3, Bangladesh lost Tamim Iqbal (83), Shakib Al Hasan (55) and Mushfiqur Rahim (69), with Darren Sammy leading the bowling attack for 2-16. Devendra Bishoo has figures of 2-82 for the innings.

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BREAKING NEWSDeal signed with Russia to build N-power plant

 Bangladesh has signed a cooperation deal with Russia for the country's first nuclear power plant to be set up at Pabna's Rooppur.

State minister for science, information and communication technology Yeafesh Osman said Wednesday that the agreement envisaged building a 2000 MW nuclear plant with two reactors.

He announced the decision at a press briefing at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre in Dhaka.

The state minister said in March that the plant shall be built to withstand 10-magnitude earthquakes.

On Feb 24, Bangladesh signed a framework agreement with Russia for setting up the power plant at Pabna's Rooppur, following parliament's approval on Dec 9 last year.

The state minister told bdnews24.com on Jan 8 that the work on the plant was expected to start by 2012.  

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DSE gains in first hour

  The country's premier bourse saw an 101.08 point rise in the general index on the first hour of trading, on the second last working day of the week.

The benchmark index at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) stood at 5306.25 points at 11.58am on Wednesday. Shares worth a total of Tk 823.44 million have change hands with gainers heavily outweighing losers 202 to eight.

On Tuesday, the DSE reclaimed some ground, 169 points in the general index, following the fall that persisted in the previous trading days.

The market shed 40.62 points or 0.8 percent on Monday, and the benchmark index closed at 5036.49 points, amid continued protests by retail investors following continuous drop in share prices.

A platform of small investors called for making bank investments compulsory to stabilise the stock market. They also called for steps from the government forcing the banks to invest up to their limits and for implementation of investment declaration by banks from Tuesday.

The investors also urged the government to force merchant banks, financial organisations and insurance companies to maximise their investments to the limit allowed and for making a compulsory investment of 80 percent of mutual funds in the market.

On Sunday, the benchmark index lost 231.65 points or 4.36 percent to close at 5077.12 points.

Last week, the index shed 237 points to stand at 5308.79 points at the close on Thursday.

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Doctors to decide on Humayun Ahmed soon

  Doctors have said that they will decide on the next course of action after the fifth, or perhaps the sixth chemo on Humayun Ahmed.

Diagnosed with colon cancer, the eminent writer's doctors in New York had previously said that they would be able to decide on the next course of treatment after the fourth chemotherapy session, scheduled for Nov 8. But it now appears that there won't be a decision till late November.

Currently undergoing treatment at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, Humayun Ahmed has been responding positively to his chemo sessions and reportedly feels quite well. "In fact he would rather fly back home after the fourth cycle," said his publisher Mazharul Islam who has been living with Humayun in a three-bedroom apartment in Jamaica, New York.

The Anyaprokash chief executive, who has been attending to the writer since he arrived there on Sep 13, told bdnews24.com on Monday that Humayun's writing had also picked up.

"I received even another write-up this morning," said Mazhar who arrived in Dhaka two days ago and is set to fly off to New York around mid-November. "I will be here till after the book fair, marking Humayun's birthday on Nov 13, and will perhaps leave after that."

Mazhar said that Humayun had also developed two plays for two television stations ? one for Channel i and the other for ATN Bangla.

Humayun Ahmed's white blood cells had taken a dip, which, according to Mazhar, was apparently a side effect of chemo treatment. Ahmed had been given an injection to lift up the lymphocyte count. "He had been in a bit of a pain till yesterday because of that. But not anymore. He is doing quite well now."

The contemporary writer has already begun writing about his experiences in New York for newspapers, which Mazharul Islam said would be published as a collection in future under the title ? "New York-er Neel Akashe Jhokjhoke Rodh"? which translates 'Bright sun under New York's blue sky.' The next instalment, 'No free lunch' is forthcoming in a couple of days, where the writer presumably dwells upon his brush with the typically American saying.

Mazhar estimated off the top of his head that Humayun Ahmed's treatment with the six chemo sessions has cost about $100,000 together with the doctor's fees and other charges.

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Sony mulling pulling out of LCD JV with Samsung: sources

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
TOKYO, Oct 30 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Sony Corp, struggling with a loss-making television business, is considering dissolving its LCD joint venture with South Korea's Samsung Electronics in a bid to cut costs, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

The Nikkei business daily, which reported the news earlier, said the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant was aiming to reach an agreement by the end of this year to sell its nearly 50 percent stake in liquid-crystal display joint venture S-LCD to Samsung.

Sony needs to step up outsourcing to reduce procurement costs and cope with rapidly declining prices of LCD panels due to a global oversupply.

Industry sources told Reuters in Tokyo that Sony hoped to dissolve the joint venture quickly, but that it had yet to agree terms or timing with Samsung.

Spokesmen for both Sony and Samsung Electronics declined to comment.

South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo had a similar report on the joint venture breakup in July, which Sony denied.

A well-informed industry source told Reuters in Seoul that such reports seem to be "distorted" because Sony has been negotiating with Samsung over its return on investment in the joint venture, rather than shareholdings.

"Under the contract on the LCD joint venture, the two parties are allowed to discuss such matters, which outsiders could misunderstand as a step for Sony to withdraw from the joint venture," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In April, the two companies cut capital in the joint venture by $555 million as Sony sought to slash its TV losses and Samsung pushed ahead with next generation displays.

Sony is under pressure to show it can reduce its exposure to the loss-making TV unit and concentrate on developing its strategy for smartphones.

Last week, it announced it will take control of its mobile phone joint venture with Ericsson as it seeks to exploit its music and video applications to help it catch smartphone leaders such as Apple Inc.

Sony reports July-September results on Wednesday. Analysts are forecasting Sony will fall short of its operating profit outlook of 200 billion yen ($2.63 billion) for the year to March 2012, with consumer confidence wobbling in Europe and the United States and as the strong yen bites into profits.

The electronics giant, which competes with Samsung and LG Electronics in televisions, needs to slash costs as it heads for its eighth straight annual loss in its TV business.

Sony has already sold off TV factories in Spain, Slovakia and Mexico in the past few years and outsources more than half of production to companies including Hon Hai Precision Industry. It retains four TV plants of its own in Japan, Brazil, China and Malaysia.

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DSE fluctuating

  Trading at the country's premier bourse on the week's second day has started amidst fluctuations with the general index gaining only 16 points in the first one and half hour of trade.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange general index stood at 5093.14 gaining 0.32 percent at 12.30am on Monday. Shares worth Tk 1.16 billion have changed hands with prices of 112 issues rising, 97 declining and eight remaining unchanged.

Traffic at Motijheel came to a halt again after retail investors staged a street demonstration protesting the steep fall in share prices on Sunday. The benchmark index lost 231.65 points or 4.36 percent to stand at 5077.12 points.

Last week, the index shed 237 points to stand at 5308.79 points at close on Thursday.

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Keep close watch on remittance process: Wahiduddin Mahmud

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Dhaka, Oct 26 (bdnews24.com) ? Former advisor to the caretaker government Wahiduddin Mahmud has urged the government to keep a close watch over the remittance process so that wage earners do not face any trouble when sending money home.

"Remittance constitutes ten percent of Bangladesh's total foreign currency earnings, which is also five times more than foreign assistance. In last year, a total of $ 11.4 billion came from the expatriates. So the government and Bangladesh Bank should keep a close watch on the remittance sending process," he said at a 'remittance fair' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Wednesday.

He also proposed to announce 2012 as the 'Year of expatriates'.

The day-long fair was organised by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).

Wahiduddin Mahmud also said that the government does not take any initiatives for the benefit of non-resident Bangladeshis, even though they have a huge contribution in the development of the country.

Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Ziaul Hassan Siddiqui said steps to solve different problems related to expatriates would be taken after a discussion meeting with representatives from different banks on Oct 30.

"Steps should be taken so that the banks process remittance related issues in the shortest possible time," he added.

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NCC election will not be free and fair: Noman

 BNP has expressed its fear that the Narayanganj City Corporation election will not be free and fair.

"The present election commission is biased. No election can be free and fair under its management," said BNP vice-president Abdullah Al Noman at a press briefing on Tuesday.

A total of six aspirants are contesting for the mayoral post on the vote, scheduled to be held on Oct 30.

The six candidates are ruling Awami League members, Shamim Osman and Selina Hayat Ivy, with 'wall clock' and 'pen-inkpot' symbols, respectively, BNP's Taimur Alam Khandokar with 'pineapple', Islami Andolan leader Atikur Rahman Nannu Munsi with 'bullock cart', and independent candidates Sharif Mohammad with 'duck' and Atikul Islam Jibon with 'padlock'.

On Tuesday, BNP held a meeting at its New Paltan office with Abdullah Al Noman in the chair. He briefed journalists just after the meeting.

While expressing his fear about the free and fair election, he told the journalists, "It's a local government election. We have a nominated candidate who is contesting there and central committee leaders of the party are working there for him for last few days."

Asked about the electronic voting system (EVM), Noman said, "Whatever the election commission says, we have tested that election result using the EVM can be changed. Huge forgery is possible using these machines. So, we asked the election commission not to use EVM in the national election."

Commenting on the price fall in the stock market, he said, "The government could not protect the fall in the stock market though the Bangladesh Bankers Association (BAB) promised to inject Tk 50 billion. A special class is trying to profit by raising prices. So, we think these additional funds will not be able to protect the continuous fall."

"Steps should be taken against these circles. But the government can't take any steps. So, general people and businessmen have no confidence in this government," he added.

City BNP member secretary Abdus Salam and a freedom fighter also briefed the journalists. He said, "I was called by the war crime tribunal for some information. They asked me about my activities during the liberation war, when I attended the war, in which place and whether I knew Nizami, Muzahid or not. I did not give any statement about anybody. Just answered some questions asked by tribunal officers."

After discussion with the party chief and lawyers, Salam went to the tribunal court along with two of his lawyers on Oct 17, he added.

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Energy protection committee to set out on 3-day march

  Dhaka, Oct 25 (bdnews24.com) -- The National Committee on Protection of Oil and Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports has initiated a three-day long march, from Dhaka to Sunetra from Oct 28 to Oct 31, demanding implementation of its 7-point charter of demands.

Member secretary of the committee, Anu Mohammad officially announced the program from a press meeting at Mukti Bhaban in the Purana Palan area on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (BAPEX), a subsidiary of Petrobangla struck another gas reserve worth 1 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in Rashidpur Gas Field, using 3D seismic survey for the first time.

BAPEX will carry 3D seismic survey in Sunetra gas field at Shunamganj of Netrokona district in November-December.

Anu Mohammad said, "Foreign companies and their commission agents have predominance over the energy sector of the country. So, it has became harder to solve problems related to this sector.

"So, to protect national rights and for the development of this sector, we would request everybody to attend long-march towards Sunetra, urging for the lifting of gas through local companies," he added.

LONG MARCH SCHEDULE

The long march will commence from the national press club on Oct 28 and on the same day a rally will be held at Gazipur town.

On Oct 29, the long-march will move forward to Mymensingh from Gazipur and a rally will be held at Mymensingh town.

On Oct 30, leaving Mymensingh, the long-march will reach Netrokona and a rally will also be held in the town.

On Oct 31, the long-march will start for Sunetra and it come to an end after a rally.

Anu Mohammad said that there will be songs, dramas and processions during the progression of the road march to keep participants' spirits up.

The 7-point demands include, passing a news law 'banning export of natural resources' in parliament, a stop to further agreements with any foreign company, use of safe techniques in lifting coal, dismissing all agreement with ConocoPhillips, implementing the Phulbari agreement, and handing over compensation to the affected farmers of Barapukuria coal mine.

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Week-long school de-worming campaign starts

 A weeklong school de-worming campaign has been launched in the capital with a new 'little doctors' strategy to check for existence of the illness among the students after taking the pill.

Minister for primary and mass education Afsarul Ameen opened the nationwide campaign by administrating a tablet to a child and urged the schoolteachers and guardians to help in making the campaign successful.

At least 20 million school going children between the ages of 5 to 12 will be administered with the de-worming tablet free of cost.

The government has started the campaign, held twice a year, in Nov 2008 after a survey indicated that 80 percent of school going children suffer worm infections, triggering malnutrition.

"De-worming tablets are safe to consume and the campaign is important to keep all children worm-free," Be-Nazir Ahmed, director (disease control) of the Directorate General of Health Services said.

"But reports of falling ill after taking the tablet hampers the campaign," he said, adding they would introduce 'little doctors' in schools this time.

"Some 15 students of class five will be picked up to motivate their classmates before the campaign," he explained and that 'if they (the students) knew earlier about the tablet and its need, they would not feel any discomfort.'

"They feel discomfort in taking the tablet particularly in an empty stomach. Someone might feel immediate pain in empty stomach. And a single incident can trigger mass-illness in schools."

The director urged all not to panic as de-worming was very important for students to remain healthy.

"Worms can cause severe malnutrition in children."

However, the primary and mass education minister urged the health authorities to be a part of the mothers' gatherings at schools in a bid to create health and hygiene awareness.

Director general for health Khondaker Md Shefayet Ullah said they would take steps in this regard.

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NNC election will not be free and fair: Noman

  Dhaka, Oct 25 (bdnews24.com) ? BNP has expressed its fear that the Narayanganj City Corporation election will not be free and fair.

"The present election commission is biased. No election can be free and fair under its management," said BNP vice-president Abdullah Al Noman at a press briefing on Tuesday.

A total of six aspirants are contesting for the mayoral post on the vote, scheduled to be held on Oct 30.

The six candidates are ruling Awami League members, Shamim Osman and Selina Hayat Ivy, with 'wall clock' and 'pen-inkpot' symbols, respectively, BNP's Taimur Alam Khandokar with 'pineapple', Islami Andolan leader Atikur Rahman Nannu Munsi with 'bullock cart', and independent candidates Sharif Mohammad with 'duck' and Atikul Islam Jibon with 'padlock'.

On Tuesday, BNP held a meeting at its New Paltan office with Abdullah Al Noman in the chair. He briefed journalists just after the meeting.

While expressing his fear about the free and fair election, he told the journalists, "It's a local government election. We have a nominated candidate who is contesting there and central committee leaders of the party are working there for him for last few days."

Asked about the electronic voting system (EVM), Noman said, "Whatever the election commission says, we have tested that election result using the EVM can be changed. Huge forgery is possible using these machines. So, we asked the election commission not to use EVM in the national election."

Commenting on the price fall in the stock market, he said, "The government could not protect the fall in the stock market though the Bangladesh Bankers Association (BAB) promised to inject Tk 50 billion. A special class is trying to profit by raising prices. So, we think these additional funds will not be able to protect the continuous fall."

"Steps should be taken against these circles. But the government can't take any steps. So, general people and businessmen have no confidence in this government," he added.

City BNP member secretary Abdus Salam and a freedom fighter also briefed the journalists. He said, "I was called by the war crime tribunal for some information. They asked me about my activities during the liberation war, when I attended the war, in which place and whether I knew Nizami, Muzahid or not. I did not give any statement about anybody. Just answered some questions asked by tribunal officers."

After discussion with the party chief and lawyers, Salam went to the tribunal court along with two of his lawyers on Oct 17, he added.

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Seething anger at DMCH Burns unit

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Kamal Hossain Talukder
bdnews24.com Correspondent

Dhaka, Oct 24 (bdnews24.com)?Patients at Dhaka Medical College Hospital's Burns unit are put through agonising wait and spending for delays in releasing project funds.

They are then forced to buy from a simple gauze bandage to costly drugs, a bdnews24.com investigation suggests.

Doctors say they have not been able to supply necessary drugs and accessories to the patients since June this year when the 50-bed project, begun in 2003, ended and the government slipped it into a new five-year project.

"But the money is yet to be released," Dr Samanta Lal Sen, project director of the Burn unit, said acknowledging the distress of the patients there.

"At least 10 doctors and 14 staff are not getting their salaries for the same reason," he added.

Director (hospital) of the Directorate General for Health Mamtaj Uddin Bhuiyan blamed donors' tardy process of releasing funds and said the problem would be 'resolved soon'.

"It was inserted into a new project. It takes time to get donors' funds," he said "The World Bank and other donors are delaying (the release of) their funding."
"It (Burns unit) was supposed to go under revenue budget, but did not," he added.

At least 300 patients, mainly poor, have been found spending worrying moments at the unit, only of its kind in Bangladesh, on Sunday during a visit to Bangladesh's largest public hospital.

Doli Akhter with no-one but the crippled husband with her said she had bought everything in the last one month.

The 42-year old housewife suffered severe burns while cooking.
A builder, Abdul Khalil, said he had spent nearly Tk 60,000 in the last one month after being electrocuted.

"How I can afford such huge costs being a simple builder?" he asked.

Elachi Begum, mother of a 24-year old patient, wondered whether it was a government hospital.

"I knew it's a government hospital. But now I have to buy everything," she said while narrating her last one month's experience in the hospital with her daughter battling for life.

Professor of plastic surgery Sazzad Khondaker said patients' woes would have increased further if the unit were not a part of their department.

"Our department (plastic surgery) is with the hospital, that's why we can provide at least some cottons and gauze bandages for a few patients from the hospital (DMCH) supply," he said.

Doctors say a burn patient needs at least seven to ten times more cottons and bandages than a normal surgical patient. A patient with severe burn needs nearly Tk 5,000 worth of drugs and accessories like cotton and bandages a day.

Prof Khondaker said the crisis would be resolved once funds got released.

A doctor of the Burn unit, Samiul Alam Sohan, who is not getting salary for the same reason, told bdnews24.com that he was feeling the pinch of daily life.

"It's tough," he said, "When people are struggling to meet both ends meet with their regular salary in this (high priced) market, how can I manage?"

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Bangladesh lose Mushfiq, Nafees

  Dhaka, Oct 24 (bdnews24.com) ? Bangladesh have lost four wickets after resuming the fourth day's game of the first test against West Indies at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

Bangladesh were 332/8 in 120 overs on Monday.

The hosts resumed the innings on 255-4 with captain Mushfiqur Rahim (68) and Naeem Islam at the crease.

But, on the first ball of the day, Mushfiqur was out, caught by Devendra Bishoo off FH Edwards.

On Monday, Bangladesh faced 30 overs and added 77 runs before lunch amid tight bowling by the visitors.

Nafees, who was retired hurt on Friday, returned to the game on his 21, but failed to add any big score as he was out for 32, caught by the wicketkeeper off an Edwards delivery.

Bishoo claimed Nasir Hossain for 34 and Elias Sunny for a duck.
Naeem Islam on 28 will resume the second session along with Shahadat Hossain on 4.

On Friday, Tamim Iqbal scored 52 while Raqibul Hassan made 41 and Shakib Al Hasan added 40.

The game was abandoned on the second and third day for wet outfield.

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Construction site supervisor shot

  Dhaka, Oct 24 (bdnews24.com)--Unidentified miscreants have shot a construction site supervisor in the capital's Kafrul area.

Didarul Alam, 25, who works for RSB Developer Company, said a gang shot him on the lower part of his right leg around 6.45am when he was asleep at a site in East Kafrul on Monday.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp sub-inspector Mojammel Haque said that co-workers of Alam, who is from Mymensingh's Gaforgaon, brought him to the hospital around 8.30am.

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JnU students injured in accident

Dhaka, Oct 24 (bdnews24.com)?At least 12 students of Jagannath University have been injured after a bus, requisitioned by the police, rammed a double-decker student transport of the university in the capital's Mouchak area.

The injured have been admitted to various hospitals, including the Dhaka Sumona Clinic, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Suhrawardi Hospital.

Jahid Hassan Shuvo, one of the injured, under treatment at Sumona clinic, told bdnews24.com, "A bus rammed our double-decker bus, Ulka-1, from behind while we were on our way to the campus from Uttara, crushing the rear side."

Deputy police commissioner of Motijheel zone Anwar Hossain told bdnews24.com , "There were no police personnel on the bus. Jagannath University students beat the driver and took him with them to campus. He was later handed over to Kotwali police."

He added that the incident was being probed.

Police informed that two more students, in addition to Shuvo - Meshtakul Alam and Md. Momen- have been admitted to Sumona Hospital. The other injured students have been taken to various hospitals including Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

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'More funds from banks to allay fears'

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Dhaka, Oct 23 (bdnews24.com) ? The Bangladesh Association of Banks chief has assured investors that there is no scope of the market 'plummeting' after revealing the association's move to increase bank investments in the market.

BAB chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder gave the assurance after declaring the formation of a 'Market Stabilisation Fund' in a press briefing following a meet at the associations Gulshan headquarters on Sunday.

The investors have been demonstrating over the past few weeks and calling for stimulation measures after indices plunged to lows continuously since last month.

The announcement came after weeks of discussions on the issue as ministers, regulators and stock brokers sought to end the protests. The central bank urged commercial banks to increase their investments.

Nazrul said, "Banks can invest up to 10 percent of their liabilities in the capital market. The central bank governor has assured us about investing. Many have started investing. There is no scope of the market falling now."

Despite the 10 percent ceiling, the average investments by the banks until September stood at around three percent.

Also the chairman of Exim Bank, Nazrul said, "We can invest up to Tk 450 to 500 billion if we invest 10 percent completely."

He added that the limit of the MSF was not Tk 50 billion and it could be increased if needed. The fund will initially start off with Tk 10 billion.

"We have decided in principle to make the investments as soon as possible after receiving approval from the central bank and the share market regulator."

"We hope the fund, which we call Market Stabilisation Fund, will make a huge positive impact on the market," said Mazumder.

The bank-owners' platform chief also said 20 banks will contribute Tk 200 million each to this fund. Besides them, insurance association and listed companies will subscribe to the fund to participate.

The announcement comes only two days after a platform of top bank executives, Association of Bankers, Bangladesh, said they will start investing in the capital market from Sunday to bolster the sagging market.

The BAB chief said, "This fund is different from that step. The banks will invest in line with their agenda. This fund will run on a separate track."

Responding to queries about whether this fund will come under the 10 percent limit imposed by the central bank, Nazrul said that they will hold talks with the governor over the matter and will urge hiking the ceiling to 15 percent.

"We are seeing that the stock market has become a burden for the country. It has to be fixed. This fund aims at stabilising the market," he added.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) declared forming this fund on Sep 29.

"It is the same fund. Only the banks are playing a key role," Nazrul pointed out.

FBCCI also said that the fund will buy up the credit from margin loan debtors who are unable to sell their shares, giving a certificate in return which will be tradable in the stock market. The portfolio against margin loan will be transferred to the fund with the consent of the debtor and the creditor. The creditor will be issued with a certificate equivalent to the fund's units plus an added premium. These units will be tradable in the stock market.

When asked whether the FBCCI declaration will be implemented, Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC) president Salman F Rahman said, "There is a scheme like that. Let's wait until the fund starts working."

bdnews24.com/rb/mi/rn/1731h

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Rains wipe out 2nd day

  Dhaka, Oct 22 (bdnews24.com) ? Umpires have called off the second day's game of the first test between Bangladesh and West Indies because of soggy outfield stemmed from overnight downpour at Chittagong's Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

The start of the game was initially delayed in the morning and after a final inspection at 11 am, umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Nigel Llong said the play was impossible as the ground was saturated, with puddles in the outfield.

Bangladesh will go into day three on 255 for four in their first innings, with captain Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 68.

On Sunday, the match is scheduled to resume at 9.00 am.

Source: bdnews24.com

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EC for more time to make NIDs binding

 

Dhaka, Oct 22 (bdnews24.com)?Regulatory bodies have urged the Election Commission to make display of the National Identification Card compulsory for opening bank accounts, Beneficiary Owners (BO) accounts and taking bank loans.

In a meeting with the commission on Thursday, central bank governor Atiur Rahman, finance ministy's banking division chief Mohammad Shafiqur Rahman Patwari and Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) chief Khairul Hossain gave their views in support of the move.

However, the commission said that the move should wait until online verification of the information on the National IDs is possible.

"We have suggested making compulsory the show of National IDs for opening accounts and taking loans. We have placed details of our recommendation. Now it's up to the commission to make its decision," SEC chief Khairul Hossain told bdnews24.com.

Election commissioner Mohammad Sohul Hossain explained the commission's position.

"We are preparing to allow online verification of National IDs. But, until then it will not be fair to impose the decision," he said.

A policy is being drafted on the usage of personal information submitted and stored to the commission for National IDs. The commission has plans of launching the online verification soon in line with the policy after providing all citizens with error-free National IDs.

"Online verification will help bar individuals from opening several bank and BO accounts and taking fake loans under different names. It would also reduce other but similar crimes," the commissioner added.

The National Identity Registration Act 2010 allows service-providers to ask for display or submission of copies of the National IDs to verify identities of individuals seeking service or citizens' benefits.

It also says that the commission will be responsible to carry out related activities including carrying out registration drives, manufacturing, distributing and maintaining the IDs.

FAKE ID

Until now, more than 850 million voters have been given National IDs. However, a mentionable chunk of the IDs given in the first session have spelling and information errors, EC officials said.

Also, at least 1.5 million citizens have not yet been given the IDs as the voter list has not been updated. The updating will start at the end of this year.

"The imposition by organisations like some banks, which made national IDs compulsory before adequate measures were taken, has barred reaching the intended goal. Since there is no way to verify the IDs, there has been huge rush to create fake IDs," additional commission secretary Sirajul Islam said.

"The companies will have to start a verification process to stop such illegal activities and the EC is now ready to give this scope."

Fake IDs can be easily distinguished barring offenders from taking bank loans under false names or opening multiple bank and BO accounts.

The national registration act has provisions for maximum seven-year prison terms and Tk 0.1 million fines for counterfeiting IDs.

Source: bdnews24.com

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CMCH ordered shut after student's death

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Chittagong, Oct 22 (bdnews24.com)?The authorities of the Chittagong Medical College have shut down the college and suspended all political activities following the death of a student injured in an alleged attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of ruling Awami League.

"The decisions were taken in an emergency meeting of the academic council early Saturday," the college's principal, Selim Mohammad Jahangir, told bdnews24.com.

He said that the decision was taken from the fear that the death could trigger violence.

The students have been asked to leave the dormitories by 7am on Saturday.
"They have started vacating the dormitories," he said.

A third-year student of the dental surgery department, Mohammad Abidur Rahman, was injured in an attack reportedly carried out by Chhatra League activists. He died on Friday night.

The academic council sat in the meeting after the death created tension in the campus.

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PM leaves for Berlin

Dhaka, Oct 22 (bdnews24.com) -- Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has left for Berlin on a five-day official visit to Germany to attend the World Health Summit-2011.

A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying Hasina took off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5.30 am on Saturday, said foreign ministry officials.

Foreign minister Dipu Moni, health minister A F M Ruhul Haque, ambassador-at-large M Ziauddin accompanied her.

She would address the World Health Summit in Berlin on Sunday as the keynote speaker.

During the Oct 22-26 visit, she will also meet German chancellor Angela Markel on Oct 25 and address a joint news conference.

The bilateral relations are likely to be reviewed during the meeting.

The visit will bear special significance for Bangladesh-Germany relations as the largest economy in Europe is also one of the largest trading partners and an important development partner of Bangladesh.

Germany is a leading economic and political power in Europe and an influential member of the European Union and G8, the grouping of eight major economies.

Two joint declarations of intent -- one on adaptation and mitigation on climate change and the other on cooperation in the field of health, as proposed by the German side -- are likely to be signed during the visit.

Hasina will also have a meeting with the president of German Parliament.

On Oct 24, she will attend a seminar titled `Emerging Market-Bangladesh' at Hotel Adlon in Berlin, to be organised by the German-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and participated by leading German business leaders and potential investors.

German-South Asian Parliamentary Group will host a dinner in her honour later that day.

The German minister for economic development and cooperation Dirk Niebel, the minister for environment Norbert Rottgen and foreign minister Guido Westerwelle will call on the prime minister on Oct 25.

The German Federal president is scheduled to visit Bangladesh next month.

Hasina is expected to return home on Oct 26.

Source: bdnews24.com

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Overnight rain delays start

Dhaka, Oct 22 (bdnews24.com) ? Dampened outfield due to rain all over night has delayed the start of second day play of the first Test between Bangladesh and West Indies at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Saturday.

Half-centuries from opener Tamim Iqbal and captain Mushfiqur Rahim took Bangladesh to a commanding 255 for four at the close of day one of the first Test on Friday.

Captain Rahim (68) and Naeem Islam (8) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

Marlon Samuels picked up two wickets, while Ravi Rampaul and Darren Sammy took a wicket each for the Caribbeans.

West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (capt), Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Keiran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Shane Shillingford, Lendl Simmons.

Bangladesh (from): Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Raqibul Hasan, Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Shahriar Nafees, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Shuvagata Hom, Elias Sunny.

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HC questions legality of mobile courts

  Dhaka, Oct 19 (bdnews24.com) ? The High Court has issued a rule on the government asking why executive magistrates-headed mobile courts should not be declared illegal.

The law and home secretaries, capital's developer RAJUK's chairman, executive magistrate Mohammad Shahidul Islam and its officer-in-charge, Dhaka District Magistrate and Mohammadpur police chief have been made respondents of the rule issued on Wednesday.

The bench of justices Mirza Hussain Haider and Anwarul Haque ordered them to come up with their responses within four weeks.

The rule was issued following a writ petition filed by a managing director of a real estate developer.

Aesthetic Properties MD Kamruzzaman Khan, who had been sentenced to one month in jail on Sep 14 for violating building code, filed the petition on Sep 19, two days after he was released on bail.

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Hitches in Teesta deal, enclaves to go soon: PM

Lalmonirhat, Oct 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said the difficulties over signing of Teesta deal and swapping enclaves with India will be overcome soon.

On a visit to Lalmonirhat on Wednesday to declare Tin Bigha corridor open round the clock, Hasina said, "India is a friendly country. We have good relations with them. I hope the Teesta deal will be signed soon."

The corridor connects Dahagram-Angorpota enclaves along the border.

Asked about enclaves, she said, "We are hopeful about this, too. I hope it (enclave swap) will start soon."

She arrived at the corridor around 12:45pm. Indian health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and state minister for home affairs Jitin Prasada welcomed her there.

Earlier, she inaugurated Dahagram-Angorpota power distribution line at Dahagram School ground.

After the inauguration, she assured residents of Dahagram-Angorpota enclaves that the government would provide all help to improve their living standard.

"Everything will be done to ensure your education, health, shelter and food. Those having no house will get houses for free," she said.

She emphasised on education to diminish poverty. "There is no alternative to education. So, a college and a madrasa will be built here."

"You have lived lives of prisoners for long. Your imprisonment has ended with the opening of the corridor 24 hours a day," she said.

Awami League's Dahagram unit president Mohammad Kamal Hossain presided over the inaugural function. Health minister A F M Ruhal Haque and state minister for power Enamul Huq accompanied the prime minister.

THE CORRIDOR

The corridor gate, which had always been shut after 6pm despite the 1974 treaty between India and Bangladesh, was thrown open at 6pm on Sep 8 following signing of a protocol during Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka.

The protocol to the 'Agreement Concerning the Demarcation between India and Bangladesh and Related Matters', signed on Sep 6, seeks to address all outstanding land boundary disputes for a final solution.

The corridor had so far been kept open from morning until evening to visit or come out of the enclaves falling under Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat. Now, it will be under the vigil of Indian security men.

Bangladesh was granted the route through the Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman treaty of 1974. But the authority remained with India, though Bangladesh in exchange for the enclaves had given South Berubari area.

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