| Front Page | 
BNP proposes committee with equal representation
The ruling BNP at last responded to Awami League's queries yesterday, inviting it to nominate five representatives of the 14-party opposition combine to a 10-member committee to discuss the opposition's
|
| |
Meaningful reforms talks needed for credible polls
Visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Gastright yesterday underscored the need for a meaningful dialogue between the government and the opposition over electoral reforms to ensure free,
|
| |
Charges to be pressed against JMB chief, 10 others tomorrow
Charge sheet in one of the two cases filed in Sylhet against the outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Abdur Rahman and his accomplices is likely to be submitted in the court tomorrow,officials
|
| |
Quake in Iran kills 70, wipes out villages
At least 70 people were killed when a powerful earthquake struck western Iran early yesterday, destroying whole villages and sending frightened residents fleeing from their homes, according to the latest
|
| |
Cotton farming ignored though it can boost RMG
Wide-scale cultivation of cotton still remains a far cry, although business leaders think growing its high-yielding varieties could turn the country into one of the world's most competitive readymadegarment
|
| |
JCD calls indefinite strike at RU
Rajshahi University Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) yesterday called an indefinite strike on the campus in protest of Thursday's police attack on its activists.
|
| |
Now comes the Jamaat question
The ruling BNP while agreeing to allow non-legislator leftist opposition leaders to be on a proposed 10-member committee to discuss the opposition's reform proposals also wants the four-party coalition
|
| |
Remittances exceed development aid, FDI in Bangladesh
Annual remittances exceed official development aid and foreign direct investments in Bangladesh, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) said in its latest economic and
|
| |
JCD leader, 3 others held for extortion in Rangpur
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) caught red-handed a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader and three of his accomplices for extortion at Dhap Islambagh in Rangpur on Thursday.
|
| |
Private cellphone cos must cut call charges or face action: Saifur
Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman has warned of government intervention if the private mobile phone operators do not reduce their call charges.
|
| |
Join agitation to have a truly democratic govt: Dr Kamal
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain called upon the people to extend their all out support to the movement of the opposition for the sake of forming a pro-people and truly democratic government in future.
|
| |
Sky over DU turns colourful
The blue sky over Dhaka University (DU) wore a different look and colour yesterday afternoon as hundreds of kites were flying in the entire sky during a traditional kite festival at the DU playground.
|
| |
15 hurt as JCD, Shibir clash at CMC
At least 15 students were injured in a clash between the activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) at a hostel of Chittagong Medical College (CMC) at Chatteshwari road
|
| |
AFC Challenge Cup kicks off today
The inaugural AFC Challenge Cup begins today in Dhaka and Chittagong with 16 teams taking part in the biggest tournament in the country's history involving national football sides.
|
| |
Cellphones seized at ZIA, one arrested
Law enforcers at Zia International Airport (ZIA) arrested a man with 1,270 smuggled cellphones as he along with some ZIA employees were trying to put those on a vehicle yesterday.
|
| |
Outlaw killed in 'shootout' in Chuadanga
An armed cadre of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddho) was killed during a "shootout" between his accomplices and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Jugirhuda under Alamdanga
|
| |
Bahrain cruise boat sinks, 57 bodies recovered
A cruise boat carrying up to 150 people capsized Thursday night in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Bahrain, and at least 57 bodies were recovered, officials said.
|
| |
Delicious and thirst-quenching!
|
| |
Pay heed to UN call or face isolation
The world's major powers told Iran on Thursday it must heed a UN call to curb its nuclear programme or face isolation, but Tehran refused to budge.
|
| |
Senate panel set to consider bid to censure Bush
Former White House counsel John Dean, who helped push President Richard Nixon from office during the Watergate scandal three decades ago, heads to Capitol Hill yesterday to back an uphill attemptto
|
| |
Tank lorry strike called off
The Tank Lorry Owners' Association withdrew its call for indefinite strike, which was supposed to start today, following fruitful negotiations with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) yesterday.
|
| |
Iran test-fires new 'invisible' missile
Iran successfully test-fired yesterday a new missile capable of avoiding radar detection and striking a number of targets simultaneously, a top military commander announced.
|
| |
Ainjibi Parishad sweeps SC Bar elections
Pro-opposition lawyers' forum Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad (SASP) swept through the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections on Thursday winning all the 14 seats.
|
| |
Rice admits 'thousands' of mistakes in Iraq
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged yesterday that the United States has made "thousands" of tactical errors in Iraq.
|
| |
India's training of Iranian military may dampen nuke deal: US lawmaker
India's alleged training of Iranian troops could dampen vital US Congress support for a bilateral landmark civilian nuclear deal, a ranking Democrat warned Thursday.
|
| |
Bomb hurled at NGO office in Khulna
Unidentified criminals yesterday hurled a bomb, targeting the office of ADAMS, a non- governmental organisation (NGO), at Maheshwar Pasha under Daulatpur Police Station of Khulna city.
|
| |
India renews transit treaty with Nepal
India has renewed a transit treaty with landlocked neighbour Nepal which will allow the Himalayan country to export its goods through Indian ports, the Indian foreign ministry said yesterday.
|
| |
27 shanties gutted in Ctg
At least 27 shanties were gutted in a fire at Bakalia in the port city early yesterday.
|
| Business |
Local firm set to market hygienic, halal meat
A local company -- Bengal Meat Processing Industries Ltd -- is set to market hygienic and halal meat at home and abroad as it has established a state of the art plant for the first time in Bangladesh.
|
| |
WTO powers seek elusive common ground in Brazil
The US and EU trade chiefs were due to meet here this weekend under Brazilian auspices in a bid to bridge yawning differences on how to tear down global trade barriers before an April deadline.
|
| |
India calls for Asian free trade area
India Thursday called for an Asian Free Trade Area to be created following robust economic growth across the region.
|
| |
Oil prices mixed
World oil prices showed mixed fortunes at the end of a week in which they have surged owing to global supply concerns.
|
| |
Australian watchdog accuses Citigroup unit of insider trading
Australia's corporate regulator has filed a federal court action accusing the local subsidiary of global investment giant Citigroup of insider trading.
|
| Sports |
Football:
Stage set for minnows
There will be no clear favourites when the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup kicks off in Dhaka and Chittagong today with 16 national teams participating in one of the major football events to be held in the
|
| |
Football:
Hosts ready to break jinx
Even the hardliners would not dream of Bangladesh going all the way in the AFC Challenge Cup which kicks off today but captain Arif Khan Joy is hopeful to get an auspicious start.
|
| |
Cricket:
No selection surprises
There was no surprise when Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced an 18-member preliminary squad for this month's two-match Test and three-match one-day series against Australia at home.
|
| |
Football:
India and Taipei confident ahead of openers
India and Chinese Taipei start as favourites to qualify for the quarterfinals from Group A in the AFC Challenge Cup beginning here today.
|
| |
Cricket:
Bangladesh A crawl back
Despite a stubborn batting performance from the middle order, Bangladesh A still conceded a first innings lead of 98 runs to Sri Lanka A on day three of the second Test at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in
|
| |
Football:
Blatter arrives in Dhaka today
FIFA president Sepp Blatter will arrive in Dhaka this morning from Zurich to attend the opening ceremony of the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup which kicks off today.
|
| |
Cricket:
Rookies power India
Teenager Suresh Raina hit an unbeaten 81 to halt an Indian collapse and secure a narrow victory against England in the second one-day international on Friday.
|
| |
Cricket:
Seamers shake SA
Australia's pace bowlers exploited a helpful pitch to reduce South Africa to 140-4 at tea on the opening day of the third Test in Johannesburg.
|
| |
Football:
Boro get Swiss rolled
Middlesbrough's dreams of European glory were ripped to shreds after a two-goal burst by Swiss side Basel left Steve McLaren's men staring down the barrel of a UEFA Cup exit Wednesday.
|
| |
Football:
Fergie's sweet dilemma
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has an enviable selection dilemma for Saturday's trip to Bolton Wanderers where victory would keep the Reds hanging on to the coat tails of Chelsea.
|
| |
Football:
'El clasico' pride at stake
Real Madrid's faint hopes of depriving Barcelona of a second consecutive league title will be extinguished if they fail to beat their arch-rivals in Saturday's "clasico" at the Nou Camp.
|
| |
Football:
Juve seek home comfort
Juventus must shake off their European hangover when they face bottom club Treviso on Saturday if they are not to lose their grip on the Italian title.
|
| |
Cricket:
Lara keen on home WC
He is keen to play in the first World Cup to be staged in the Caribbean next year but Brian Lara accepts that it is up to the selectors to accommodate his stated intention of reducing his number of ODIs
|
| |
Cricket:
Inzy rues missed chance
Inzamamul Haq, the Pakistan captain, felt that his side failed to capitalise on their opportunities after ending the first day of the Test against Sri Lanka in a strong position.
|
| |
Cricket:
Sanath bids Test bye
Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer Sanath Jayasuriya Friday said he would retire from Test cricket next week to concentrate on the one-day game.
|
| |
Cricket:
BD A one-day team named
Ehsanul Haque was included in the Bangladesh A squad when the selectors announced a 13-member squad yesterday for the three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka A.
|
| |
Cricket:
Pietersen fastest to 1000
England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Friday equalled former West Indies captain Vivian Richards's world record as the fastest to score 1,000 runs in one-day internationals.
|
| |
Football:
Wenger loyal to Gunners
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on Friday committed his long-term future to the English Premiership side amid speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job at Real Madrid.
|
| |
Football:
Bachini banned for life
Siena midfielder Jonathan Bachini has been given a life-long ban after twice testing positive for cocaine, the Italian football league's disciplinary commission said Thursday.
|
| |
Tennis:
A Russian final
Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova routed the top-seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-4 to reach the final of the WTA and ATP NASDAQ-100 Open on Thursday.
|
| |
Football:
FIFA names WC referees
World football governing body FIFA on Friday named 23 referees from as many countries for the 64 World Cup matches in Germany starting on June 9.
|
| |
Football:
Olympiakos renew Rivaldo contract
Olympiakos president Socrates Kokkalis announced that Brazilian superstar Rivaldo will remain with the club for another season. No information was provided by Kokkalis on the deal.
|
| |
Football:
BU aids ailing booter
Local giant Brothers Union have provided Tk 1 lac for treatment, to a promising player in the Bangladesh U 19 team.
|
| |
Cricket:
Gaibandha cricket
Ghagot Krira Chakkra defeated Sunrise Sporting Club by 21 runs in the Naheed Cotton First Division Cricket League at the Gaibandha Stadium yesterday.
|
| |
Cycling:
Golden first day for hosts
Hosts Patuakhali, BJMC and BDR won gold medals on the opening day of the 30th National Cycling Championship yesterday.
|
| Metropolitan |
Opposition for meaningful talks on electoral reforms
Leaders of 14-party opposition combine yesterday said they are ready for a meaningful discussion over electoral reforms.
|
| |
Indigenous freedom fighters neglected
Thousands of indigenous freedom fighters played a vital role in defeating Pakistani occupation forces during the liberation war but their contribution has been neglected in the history of the war, said
|
| |
FFs vow to save country from anti-liberation forces
Freedom fighters at a rally yesterday vowed to save the country from the clutches of anti-liberation forces like Jamaat-e-Islami and their accomplices.
|
| |
Women-only buses hit Ctg city roads today
Special City Bus Service for women is hitting the city roads from today to facilitate hassle free movement of female passengers.
|
| |
Irregularities in admission seekers' list alleged
The central admission committee of Jahangirnagar University (JU) has ordered to stop admission of students at zoology department from the waiting list under 2005-06 academic session following allegations
|
| |
Bangla e-mail service launched in Chittagong
A Unicode-based Bangla e-mail service, claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, was launched in the port city yesterday.
|
| |
JCD divisional confce in Rajshahi today
The Rajshahi divisional grassroots representatives' conference of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) will he held at Sultanganj High School ground on the outskirts of Rajshahi city today.
|
| |
Global warming threatens people in SA region
Global warming and massive intervention of the sub-continental river systems are threatening the existence of a large section of people in the South Asian region, said the leaders of South Asian Association
|
| |
Domestic help found dead in Tangail
A teenage domestic help was found dead in Biswas Betka area in Tangail town yesterday morning.
|
| |
Rare example of honesty
Babu Rajak, laundry businessman of Goalanda Bus Stand bazaar, has set a rare example of honesty by returning Tk 62,000 to his client, which he found while ironing the client's trousers.
|
| |
Greater Dhaka Journalists' Forum executives
A 19-member executive committee of Greater Dhaka Journalists' Forum for 2006-08 was formed yesterday with Shafiqul Kabir of the daily Ittefaq as its president and Ahmed Selim Reza as general secretary,
|
| National |
Locals point finger at ruling party goons
Kushtia: Police are yet to find any clue to the March 24 murder of three Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists at Nawda Azampur village in Mirpir upazila or arrest any of the killers.
|
| |
Cellphone network demanded at Benapole
Lack of cellphone network at Benapole, the largest land port in the country, hampers export-import, compelling traders and clearing forwarding (C&F) agents to use smuggled Indian mobile SIMs to run business.
|
| |
'Unite against defeated forces, militants'
Speakers at a discussion meeting yesterday called upon freedom fighters and the people to unite against the defeated forces of 1971 and Islamist militants, saying they are hatching conspiracy againstthe
|
| |
Police station besieged for killers' arrest
Hundreds of teachers, students and guardians yesterday laid siege to Shyamnagar Police Station demanding arrest and punishment to killers of Zahangir Hossain, a student of Shyamnagar Mohsin College and
|
| |
Surf Excel Protibhar Lorai held in Dinajpur
The 'Surf Excel Protibhar Lorai', a children's competition to express their creativity, was held at Dinajpur Stadium yesterday.
|
| |
Attack on Puja committee for toll
A gang of hoodlums attacked a meeting of Shaghata Puja Udjapon Committee yesterday as it refuse to pay toll for holding the traditional Baishakhi Mela (fair held on the first day of Bangla year) on the
|
| Point-Counterpoint |
Civil society's concern for credible election
One piece of heartening news in a otherwise bleak atmosphere enveloping the Bangladesh polity is the reported civil society initiatives to ensure a fair, credible and clean election for the country, with
|
| |
The squeezing middle class cry for relief
The economy of the country is in a state of recession. In consequence of the closure of a number of industries like jute mills, textile mills, steel mills, sugar mills and other factories producing essential items, joblessness has surged up.
|
| |
Khondker Abdus Sami
Khondker Abdus Sami, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance was popularly known as Sami in his circle of friends, colleagues, and well-wishers.
|
| |
Bangladesh-India relations enters constructive phase
Geo-political compulsion dictates that laying foundation of friendly relations with neighboring countries in the first place should be the cornerstone of Bangladesh's foreign policy.
|
| Culture |
A concert for charity
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) in Bangladesh held its third charity concert at Wintergarden, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on March 30. This was HSBC's third charity concert.
|
| |
In conversation with Hakim Jamain
Hakim Jamain is one of the five participants from Jordan, who have participated in the 12th Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh.
|
| |
Tauquir Ahmed's new venture
After Jaijatra, actor-filmmaker Tauquir Ahmed is working on his next project Roopkothar Golpo.
|
| |
Fame Trio live at Dhaka Club
India's first "Jodi No 1" from the popular talent hunt Fame Gurukul, Ruprekha Bannerjee and Qazi Touqeer, along with Rex D'souza once again charmed the audience with their second performance in
|
| |
Shooting Dogs: Preserving memories of genocide in Rwanda
A new film on Rwanda's genocide reduced many survivors to tears at its premiere in Kigali, but President Paul Kagame said on last Tuesday the movie would help to ensure memories of the mass murder were
|
| General |
Five killed in road accidents
At least five people were killed and 18 others injured in separate road accidents in Tangail, Comilla and Chittagong yesterday.
|
| |
5-yr-old boy burnt alive
A five-year-old boy was burnt alive and ten houses were gutted in a devastating fire in remote shoal areas of village Khorda in Sunderganj on Thursday night.
|
| International |
Suicide bomber kills 4 Israelis days after polls
A Palestinian militant leader was killed in an explosion in Gaza City yesterday but Israel denied responsibility for the blast that came after a West Bank suicide bombing left four Israelis dead.
|
| |
Lankan ruling party wins local polls
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's government took a strong lead in local poll results yesterday, boosting his position despite gains by his hardline Marxist allies ahead of key talks with Tamil
|
| |
'Antarctic warming 3 times faster than earth average'
Antarctica's atmosphere is heating up three times faster than the earth average, British scientists said after a 30-year study released Thursday.
|
| |
India warns of setback to US ties if nuclear deal is scrapped
Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran warned Thursday of a setback in US-India ties if Congress refuses to ratify a civilian nuclear deal reached between leaders of the two countries.
|
| |
Indian states discuss strategy to stem Maoist insurgency
Officials from 13 states in central, eastern and southern India reeling from attacks by Maoist rebels were holding talks Friday on ways to stem the rebellion, the home ministry said.
|
| |
Brahmaputra threatens to sink island way of life
It is 14 times the size of Manhattan, but South Asia's largest river island could disappear beneath the Brahmaputra river within 25 years unless efforts to save it are dramatically stepped up, officials
|
| |
West is 'racist' towards Palestinians: Haniya
New Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said Palestinians were "sick and tired of the West's racist approach" to the Middle East conflict in an article published in a British newspaper Friday.
|
| |
Thai PM vows to ride out political storm
Embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he was confident of riding out the political storm in Thailand, which shows no sign of ending even after voters go to the polls tomorrow.
|
| |
Indian court considers raja's will after 173 yrs
A court is set to reopen the country's oldest pending case 173 years after it was first lodged in Calcutta, then the administrative and commercial capital of British colonial rule.
|
| |
Lanka to discuss defence aid with Pakistan
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse was due in Islamabad yesterday for a three-day visit during which he is expected to discuss military cooperation with Pakistan, official sources said Friday.
|
| Editorial |
Editorial:
ADP implementation
Lately, the whittling down of the Annual Development Programme (ADP), FY 2005-06, worth Tk 24,500 crore by eight percent has hogged news headlines.
|
| |
Editorial:
Extremists slipping away
We share the concerns of the political watchers regarding the extremist elements of nearly 26 other religion-based outfits in the country who still remain untraced.
|
| |
India only takes note of Bangladeshi concerns
One of the disadvantages of writing on fixed days is that you have to wait to express your views. You are in a queue.
|
| |
Rescuing fact from fiction
Pakistan's economy is on the move, and why not? We are a geographical crossroads country blessed with (primarily) an agriculture economy and increasingly finding our industrial bearings.
|
| Letters to Editor |
Mobile phone companies and BTRC
"The mobile phone companies in Bangladesh are doing businesses without giving any licence fee, which is not possible in other countries," said Saifur Rahman reportedly.
|
| |
Anything is possible in this country!
There is a common perception amongst us that everything is possible in this country.
|
| |
SSC English paper
Few days ago our SSC examination commenced and already English 1st paper and 2nd paper exams are over. In both the papers there lies some confusions regarding question no.
|
| |
Honest candidate to make us free from evil force!
It's a crucial time to build our country by selecting honest candidate for the next general election.
|
| |
Views on the postal service
Reading the article on the sad state of the postal service in Star City (March 29th issue) I felt that the depiction was not entirely fair.
|
| |
Our home in the air?
Thank your for you timely editorial about Biman Bangladesh. The airline is blot on Bangladesh, giving the world a rather misleading image of it as a poor and backward country.
|
| Civil Society Initiative for Accountable Development |
Start dialogue with farmers
Let me first commend for the initiative taken by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Prothom Alo and The Daily Star inviting inputs from individuals from all walks of life about an accountable development
|
| |
Needed awareness about citizen's bill of rights
The enormity and complexity of Bangladesh's economy and society highlight the need for addressing a number of systemic problems, one of which is the electoral process.
|
| |
Wanted 'fit' candidate for 'fair' election
Bangladesh had three Parliamentary Elections under Caretaker Government in 1991, 1996 and 2001.
|
| |
Not only initiative but also responsibilities of civil society
We welcome the initiative taken by the civil society in connection with the forthcoming election.
|
| |
A revolt in the arena of dirty politics
The announcement published in 'The Daily Star' exhilarated me to write something regarding "An accountable development process and the national election 2007".
|
| |
Let's feel the need to elect clean candidates
Existence of strong accountable development process in developing countries deters politicians to seek candidacy from any political party to gain/cling to power for meeting selfish end.
|
| StarTech |
Carry your workstation in your pocket
Once known as simple little gizmos that were basically just modern replacements for floppy disks, USB flashdrives have suddenly grown.
|
| |
Lexmark rolls out six new products in Bangladesh
LEXMARK, one of the most popular brands in printing solutions, have recently launched six new products for the Bangladeshi market, replenishing their already impressive product line.
|
| |
QMS based QISS software launched
Quality Institute of America (QIA), the premier consulting and training house of the country in the fields of quality, environmental and safety management systems, recently launched QMS based software,
|
| |
The Godfather game hits market at last
Electronic Arts Inc. on Tuesday said its highly anticipated, but much delayed, video game based on the popular "Godfather" films is now in U.S. stores, and will debut in Europe on March 24.
|
| |
T-REX BOT
|
| Literature |
City Shoes in The Village - Part I
There would be no familiar faces to greet him when he arrived. But Altaf could expect the children to hear his call.
|
| |
"Battuta was here"
Shams al-Din Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Yusuf al-Lawati al-Tanji Ibn Battuta was more commonly known as Ibne Battuta.
|
| |
Limiting the sense of self
Circumstances always seem to shatter those who have the least to lose. The Inheritance of Loss, Kiran Desai's second novel, is set in Kalimpong, at the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas.
|
| |
Life Incarnate
I wonder what happens to
Plum trees in winter.
Do they stop their argument
To take it back up in summer?
Every life has its season...
|
