Bangladesh won the Series

Shakib and Ashraful beat West Indies

Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Ashraful played a critical role in seeing Bangladesh through @afp

Bangladesh 276 for 7 (Shakib 65, Ashraful 64) beat West Indies 274 for 5 (Dowlin 100*, Smith 44) by three wickets

At first Bangladesh win their series against the hosts. When Ashraful and Shakib on the pitch then Bangladesh go slowly to their winning target and at last they win against WIN. Ashraful got back to back fifties for the first time since 2006. The good news is Ashraful get run and this is the main fact for Bangladesh bating lineup. And non other Shakib he is a golden boy for Bangladesh. More importantly, this win came by way of their highest successful chase in the limited-overs format, reaching the requisite 275 with six balls to spare. The Shakib-Ashraful combination outdid an exceptional effort from Travis Dowlin, whose maiden international century lifted a fledgling West Indies to a fighting total. Ashraful and Shakib came together after a sensible third-wicket partnership between Ashraful and Raqibul Hasan had ended, thanks to the pressure created by a slow pitch and tight bowling. Nevertheless, they had added 52 after the openers fell in a quick succession.

It was here that Ashraful took the lead, not letting the pressure mount. He first made room and slashed Bernard in the 28th over for the first boundary in 70 balls. When Rawl Lewis replaced Bernard in the next over, Ashraful lofted him over long-off for a six, bringing up his second fifty in three days. Shakib joined him in that charge, sweeping both Lewis and Bernard over midwicket. Those three overs brought Bangladesh 32 runs, and also brought down the asking-rate to less than six.

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Hartal, political confrontation should be matter of past: German Envoy

UNB, Dhaka

Reforms promoting intra-party democracy, accountability of party finances, combating corruption and a truly independent Anti-Corruption Commission could constitute 'positive political signals' to attract German investment in Bangladesh, German Ambassador Frank Meyke said here on Sunday.
"There is immense potential for German investment provided that there are right political signals in Bangladesh politics," he said at the Meet-the-Reporters program at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
Ambassador Meyke, who witnessed turbulence in Bangladesh politics before the state of emergency as well as restoration of democracy in his three and a half years' tenure, said: "We, Germany and European Union, welcomed the emergency rules to avert a dangerous situation in this country."
Responding to questions on the role of the army-backed caretaker government that ruled the country for two years, he said before the promulgation of the emergency his country closely monitored the situation and finally the European Union suspended its election observation mission on January 11, 2007 as the ground situation marked by bloody political violence on the street was not conductive to holding free and fair elections.
"When emergency came we welcomed the neutral role of the armed forces to overcome the dangerous situation. What could be the better solution than the emergency at that time?" he told a correspondent.
Meyke said they tried to encourage the caretaker government to announce a roadmap for free and fair election for the restoration of a democratically elected government.
He said Germany supported the reform measures undertaken by the caretaker government, and strengthening of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission gave a positive signal to the international community.
He said emergency was imposed owing to internal dynamics but "look at the results at the end of day."
Asked about the arrest of two top leaders-Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia-and the caretaker's move to banish them from politics, the German ambassador noted that it is an internal matter of the country but political stability of Bangladesh is a matter of international concern.
Meyke said the 27-member European Union is closely monitoring the current developments in the country after the restoration of an elected government. He welcomed the holding of the council by ruling Awami League, invitation to BNP to the council and BNP's plan to hold its council towards the end of this year as positive developments.
"Politics of hartal and political confrontation should be a matter of the past. We want to see strong government and cooperation among parties in parliament," the Ambassador noted.

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Party, govt will be run separately: Ashraful

Staff Correspondent

The Awami League General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has said that the government would actively consider the extension of the deadline for the political party's registration if such proposal comes from the Election Commission. Stating that they do not want to see any political party, including BNP, remaining out of registration process due to time restriction and legal barriers, Ashraful Islam assured, "If the Election Commission proposes to extend the time limit for any party which failed to submit the documents as per the RPO within the stipulated timeframe on July 25, the government will respond to the plea positively."
He was talking to newsmen at his Bangladesh Secretariat Office in the capital on Sunday. About the full-fledged national central committee, Syed Ashraf said, the full-fledged committee of the AL would be declared within two or three days.
"Stage was all set to hold election for the new committee
during the council session in order to continue the democratic practice inside the party.
For this ballot papers and transparent boxes were ready but no election was required as there was no contestant except only one for the post of President and General Secretary of the Awami League respectively," the AL General Secretary continued,
"The party activities will be geared up further following the council. The party and the government would be run separately. The party will monitor the government activities while the government will implement the party election-pledges."
Ashraful Islam highly appreciated the presence of the BNP representatives in the AL Council's inaugural session and the message sent from the BNP Chairperson wishing the
success of the council and expressed his optimistic attitude that in the upcoming days, the chiefs of both the arch-rival political parties would attend the programmes of each others party and deliver speeches.
Referring to the trial of the war criminals, the LGDR nad Cooperative Minister said, "We failed to reach a consensus on different national issues like the trial of war criminals. But there should be national unity for the welfare of the country and its people nation." "If the political parties become united on
different national issues, democracy will be strengthened at the state-level as well as inside country's political parties," he observed.

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Energy Ministry to sit with CNG pump owners today to avert strike

UNB, Dhaka

As the CNG pump owners moved to go on strike from August 1 to realize their 6-point demands, the Energy Ministry is going to sit with them today (Monday) to find a settlement on the issues and avert the planned shutdown.
According to official sources, an invitation letter was sent to the pump owners' organization-Bangladesh CNG Filling Station & Conversion Workshop Owners Association (BCFSCWOA)-asking them to sit in a meeting on Monday at the Energy Ministry. Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin will preside.
Officials of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), which is the licensing authority of CNG pump and conversion business, have also been asked by the Energy Ministry to be present at the meeting.
However, the leaders of BCFSCWOA expressed their frustration over the invitation, saying that such official-level meeting does not produce any outcome.
"We've had similar meetings twice. But our problems still remained unresolved. We want to hold meeting with the political leadership who can understand our problems with due importance. We want to meet the state minister for power and energy," said a top leader of the BCFSCWOA.
The BCFSCWOA's 6-point demands include reducing the gas price to Tk 13.26 from the existing Tk 16.75 per cubic metre at the consumer level, fixing feed gas price Tk 5.23 like other industries, cancelling the minimum billing system, installing electronic volume conductor (EVC) on
emergency basis, reducing BERC licence fee to Tk 5,000 from existing Tk 1 lakh, cancelling the cash security deposit system and exempting the CNG stations from NOC of Environment Department.
Meanwhile, the BCFSCWOA today brought out a car rally in the city in support of their demands, which drove through different roads.
BCFSCWOA Senior
Vice-President Manoranjan Bhakt and general secretary Zakir Hossain Nayon led the rally.

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JS team goes to Tipaimukh on July 29 without BNP

UNB, Dhaka

The government eventually decided to send an 11-member parliamentary team for a spot visit to India's Tipaimukh Dam site on July 29, apparently keeping uncertain the main opposition BNP's participation in the tour of inspection.
An official announcement Sunday said the decision came from the sixth meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources Ministry held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban earlier in the day. Committee chairman and former Water Resources Minister Md Abdur Razzaque presided over the meeting. Committee-members Water Resources Minister Romesh Chandra Sen, ABM Ruhul Amin Hawladar, Md Abdur Rahman, AKM Fazlul Haque, Abdullah Al Jacob, ABM Anwarul Haque and Mohammad Fazlul Azim joined the meeting.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and ex-PM Khaleda Zia had sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking cooperation in sending a separate delegation to the proposed Tipaimukh dam site.
The letter contained names of six nominated members of the delegation. They include two former BNP ministers-MK Anwar and Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed-former water resources secretary Mohammad Asafuddoula, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Maniruzzaman Miah, former director of Water Development Board Sharif Rafiqul Islam and water-expert Prof M Abdur Rab.
A three-member BNP delegation led by party joint secretary Nazrul Islam Khan handed the letter to prime minister's Assignment Officer Manoj Kanti Boral and Protocol Officer Proloy Kumar Joardar at Prime Minister's Office.
The BNP chairperson sent the letter following the Prime Minister's call on June 24 to the opposition to send a separate team for the dam-site visit, as they declined to join the parliamentary delegation unless water experts were included.
Khaleda in her letter to Hasina wrote that 'in the interest of the nation BNP has agreed to send a separate delegation, incorporating water experts, to visit the Tipaimukh-dam site'.

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Govt pledge-bound to establish justice in society: PM

UNB, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government is "pledge-bound to establish justice in society through uprooting corruption and curbing terrorism". He said this at a meeting with the outgoing Dutch Ambassador in Bangladesh Bea Ten Tusscher on Sunday.
The Netherlands offered assistance to Bangladesh in facing the challenges stemming from the global climate change, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned government plans in this regard.
Dutch Ambassador in Bangladesh Bea Ten Tusscher gave the assurance when she paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Sunday.
Tusscher said if Bangladesh
government wants, the Dutch
government would provide training for the Bangladeshi engineers to make them more capable of working out ways of tackling the adverse impacts of the climate change caused by global warming.
The Dutch envoy recalled that in 1973 Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had planned to reclaim lands through constructing embankments in the coastal areas and major rivers. She described Bangabandhu as the "most visionary leader" of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister said the
government has already planned to launch capital and maintenance dredging in the country's major rivers as a step to tackle the calamitous climatic conditions.
During the meeting, the outgoing envoy congratulated Sheikh Hasina on their timely and smoothly holding Awami League Council and on her reelection as the party's president.
The Ambassador observed that the timely AL council would play a vital role in strengthening not only
the party democracy but also strengthening the democratic
foundations of the country.
Sheikh Hasina recalled with
gratitude the all-out support and cooperation of the development
partners, including the Netherlands, in holding the December 29 polls in a free, fair, neutral and acceptable manner and thus restoring
democracy in the country.
She, however, said cooperation of all is indispensable to this end as it is not possible for the government alone to carry out the huge tasks.

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Ex-Adviser Matin won’t be heard as papers prove his corruption

JS Sub-committee chief asserts

bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The parliamentary sub-panel investigating corruption charges against M A Matin will not allow the former shipping adviser to defend himself over awarding a container handling work at Chittagong port, its chief said on Sunday.
But, after the June 29 meeting of the sub-committee, Mohammed Shah Alam had told bdnews24.com that they would hear Matin, who was also home adviser and the chief of the corruption-busting national committee formed by the military-installed caretaker government.
"We have enough papers that prove his corruption. So, we will not summon adviser M A Matin to hear his version," Alam told bdnews24.com after Sunday's meeting at parliament building.
He said the shipping secretary and an assistant secretary involved in the deal had confessed at the meeting that Matin had forced them to award the contract to Ishaq Brothers in violation of government rules.
"Today, the officials of the Chittagong Port Authority submitted papers which prove Matin's direct involvement in awarding the work," said Alam.
The probe body chief said that his sub-committee would meet on July 30 to finalise the report and refer the same to the main committee-the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry-which formed the four-member all-party enquiry committee.
"We will refer the report to the main committee as soon as possible and the standing committee will make the final recommendations," said Alam.
Awami League's Shamsul Haq Chowdhury and Nazrul Islam and the BNP's Mostofa Kamal Pasha are the other members of the probe body.
According to Alam, the secretary and assistant secretary hab been were "under pressure" from Matin to award the contract of container handling work at Chittagong port to Ishaq Brothers, which had no prior experience, on Jan 6, Matin's the last day in office as adviser.
Matin earlier at a press conference had denied wrongdoing after the parliamentary watchdog on May 27 formed the sub-committee.
The standing committee found that Matin had allegedly arranged a board meeting of the Chittagong Port Authority in the afternoon of Jan 5 to evaluate the tender committee's report.
The CPA initiated the file to award the contract within 24 hours to Ishaq Brothers after the meeting and couriered it to Dhaka by air, the committee said.
The file was accepted on Jan 6 morning and the same was sent to Chittagong Port Authority for necessary actions after the adviser had signed it, it said.
The standing committee said the contract was awarded when the new government was taking oath at the Bangabhaban.
The file reached Chittagong in the afternoon of January 6 and the CPA awarded the works to Ishaq Brothers at 9pm.
The standing committee also alleged that Matin had raised the service age of "pilots" at the Chittagong port to 60 years from 57.
"He is not the authority to increase age of any public servants. This should be a political decision.
"He must be made accountable for this," said Alam.

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Bangladesh win in 1st ODI

Dhaka, July 26 bdnews24.com) -- A four-wicket haul by Abdur Razzak helped Bangladesh to win the first one-day international against a makeshift West Indies side by 52 runs on Sunday.

It was also their first ODI victory over the Caribbeans in 14 matches, with two rained out.

The Tigers dismissed the home side for 194 in 43.4 overs after making 246-9 at Windsor Park in Dominica after the left-arm spinner grabbed 4-39.

It marked a triumphant return for the bowler who remained suspended for his suspect action.

He was named man-of-the-match.

Razzak, who last played against South Africa in November last year, weaved his magic around the batsmen.

Apart from Devon Smith who made 65 off 84 balls and Dave Bernard 38, there was very little resistance offered by the home side against the Bangladesh spinners.

All the bowlers chipped in with a wicket.

The two sides meet again in the second ODI at the same venue, which made its ODI debut on Sunday, on July 28 and third and final match is in St Kitts on July 31.

Earlier, half-centuries by Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib Al Hasan propelled Bangladesh to their highest one-day total against the hosts.

They scored 246-9 after being put into bat, which easily surpassed the previous best of 219-5.

The Bangladesh innings, however, got off to a horrible start after Tamim Iqbal was caught behind for a first-ball duck off Kemar Roach who finished with 5-44.

The former Bangladesh captain Ashraful, who struggled during the Test series, began watchfully before getting to his 17th ODI fifty. He made 57 off 95 balls with five fours before being run out attempting a single.

He added 74 runs for the second wicket with Junaed Siddique (47-ball 36).

Shakib, who was instrumental in the two-match Test series, continued his purple patch hammering 54 off 60 deliveries. His knock, however, contained just three boundaries.

The left-handed Shakib featured in a 79-run stand for the sixth with Mahmudullah Riyad, who made a 39-ball 42 with the help of two sixes and as many fours.

Shakib who scored his 11th one-day half-century eventually fell with the score on 230 to Roach.

Dave Bernard, Nikita Miller and Rawl Lewis grabbed one wicket each.

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Some Happy and Some sorrow Moment of H.S.C result

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Notre Dame topmost

DU Correspondent

Notre Dame College in Dhaka has topped the list of all colleges in the HSC examination-2009 with 1207 students securing GPA-5 this year.
Based on the number of students securing GPA-5, Dhaka City College took the second position with 934 students having obtained GPA-5 while Viqarunnisa Noon College third position with 531 students getting GPA-5.
Among the educational institutions under Dhaka Board, Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Rifles Public School & College secured the fourth position with 409 students getting GPA-5, Dhaka Commerce College fifth position with 409 students getting GPA-5, Motijheel Ideal School and College sixth position with 393 students getting GPA-5, Dhaka College seventh position with 359 students getting GPA-5, Holy Cross College eighths position with 339 students getting GPA-5, Rajuk Uttara Model School and College ninth position with 317 students getting GPA-5 and Milestone College tenth position with 229 students getting GPA-5.
Ten institutions namely Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Rifles Public School & College, National Ideal College, Cambrian College, Shamsul Haque Khan School and College, Abdul Kadir Mollah City College, Quality Education College, SOS Hermann Gmeiner College, Holy Child College, South Point College and Mymensingh Girl's Cadet College topped the list of the institutions under Dhaka Education Board for having 100 pass percentage.
Besides, Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah of Demra and Tongi branch, Daruzanat Siddikia Kamil Madrasa, Sarsina Darussunat Kamil Madrasa, Jameya Ahammadia Sunnia Kamil Madrasa, Jhalokathi NS Kamil Madrasah, Dhap Satgara Baitul Mukarram Kamil Madrasa, Jameya-e-Kasemia Kamil Madrasa and Namazgarh Gausul Azam Kamil MAdrasa topped the list of all madrasahs in the country on the basis of securing highest GPA-5 under Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board.

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3 lac seats, 4.42 lac pass

No room for 1.5 lac students at higher level

Daud Md Isa

A serious crisis is likely to creep up over the admission of the students, who have passed the HSC, Alim and HSC in Business Manag-ment examinations this year, to higher educational institutions due to shortage of seats in degree colleges, medical colleges and different private and public universities.
Informed sources say, an alarming situation is likely to arise in the premier institutions in cities where many brilliant students are unlikely to get admission due to shortage of seats.
According to the BANBAIS, there are about 3 lac seats for the students in the country's degree colleges, medical colleges and public and private universities.
The number of students who have passed HSC and equivalent examination this year from nine education boards is 4, 42,389 including 20, 136 GPA-5 holders. A total 1, 21,531 students obtained GPA between 4 and 4.88 while 93,268 students between GPA 3.5 and 3.9 while 83, 986 between GPA 3 and 3.5, while 1, 06,111 between GPA 2 and 2.9 and 17, 357 between GPA 1 and 1.9.
Thus the number of successful students this year exceeds the seats by nearly 1, 40,000.
On the other hand, the sources point out, there is another problem relating to admission to the universities in the cities specially Dhaka. Most of the brilliant students who fared well in the examination are interested in getting themselves admitted to the reputed universities in the capital and other cities.
But the number of seats are limited to accommodate them all. So, hundreds of meritorious students including GPA-5 holders are sure to be deprived of the opportunity of admission to the colleges of their choice.
In the capital, there will be a heavy rush of brilliant students from all over the country for admission to reputed universities like Dhaka University, BUET, Dhaka Medical College and Salimullah Medical College.
For this situation, students and their guardians face an uncertain future in respect of admission to premier institutions of higher education.

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To ease traffic congestion

Articulated bus service soon

UNB, Dhaka

The government has decided to introduce articulated bus service (dedicated-lane bus service) soon as a pilot project in the city as part of efforts to resolve its nagging traffic congestion. The decision came from a recent inter-ministerial meeting held with Roads and Railway Division secretary ASM Ali Kabir in the chair.
According to the decision, 20 buses -- 10 of BRTC and 10 privately owned double-deckers run by diesel-will ply Gabtali-Asad Gate-Farm Gate-Shahbagh-Gulistan route under the articulated bus service. Executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) Abu Bakar Mohammad Shahjahan was learned to have told the meeting that there is no alternative to introducing articulated bus service in Dhaka as traffic congestion in the city is getting worse day by day.
He said some 4000 minibuses are now plying the city and those need to be phased out to ease the traffic jam.The DTCB executive director also called for making the city roads free from rickshaws before introducing the articulated bus services.
Articulated buses (either motorbuses or trolleybuses), also known as tandem buses, bendy buses, banana buses, slinky buses, caterpillar buses or accordion buses (and not to be confused with Flxible buses), are buses of a type with an increased passenger capacity.
Found almost exclusively in public transportation use, these buses are approximately 18 m (60 ft) long, while regular buses are 11 to 14 m (35-45 ft) long. To make them nimble enough to safely navigate streets at their increased length, they are fitted with an extra axle (set of wheels) and a joint usually located slightly behind the midpoint of the bus, behind the second axle.

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No return to politics of vengeance: Ashraful

Staff Correspondent

Newly-elected General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League has thanked party's grassroots level leaders and activists for their courageous role to free party President Sheikh Hasina from jail and to restore the democracy in the country.
"Had there been no such role of the grass-roots level leaders and activists of the party during the tough time, democracy wouldn't have restored and it would have been impossible to secure Sheikh Hasina's release from the jail," Syed Ashraful, also the AL Spokesman, said this while exchanging views with the leaders and activists of different associate bodies and partymen at his Hair Road official residence on Saturday noon. Asfraful Islam, also the LGRD and Cooperative Minister, reiterated the pledge of his government to implement all plans and programmes based on the charter of changed the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's and urged all concerned to play an effective role to build hunger-free 'digital Bangladesh'.
The AL General Secretary was very vocal against corruption and anti-people activities and said, "No change is possible at all amid corruption." "We didn't want to go back where there were the politics of vengeance or retaliation and destructive acts. We don't want to establish a specialized Bhaban in order to give the corruption in an administrative and constitutional shape. Rather we are firm to change the lot of Bangladesh as people voted the AL to power," he added.
Terming the grassroots level partymen as the steersmen for the possible change in the upcoming days, the AL Spokesperson thanked the countrymen and the greeted the party leaders and activists of all levels. Replying to a query of newsmen, Ashraful Islam said, "The full-fledge committee of the central Awami League will be announced within a day or two after the consultation with the AL Chief and Leader of the Parliament Sheikh Hasina."

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India, Myanmar grabbing BD’s maritime territories

NCPMTRB leaders allege at press confce

UNB, Dhaka

Leaders of the National Committee for Protecting Maritime Territory and Resources of Bangladesh (NCPMTRB) on Saturday alleged that Bangladesh's two neighboring countries-India and Myanmar-are trying to grab much of its maritime territories.
They demanded the government strengthen the Bangladesh Navy and establish necessary institutions to protect the country's maritime territories and its resources.
Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, Prof Anu Mohammad said it is clear that Bangladesh is under a strong aggression of India and Myanmar as previous governments and even the current one have failed to perform their duties when it came to maritime issues.
"We're losing huge maritime territories to India and Myanmar, which is three times bigger than Bangladesh itself, simply because of negligence of the government," Prof Anu Mohammad said. He said had the previous Bangladesh governments been able to handle the issue strongly neither India nor Myanmar could dare to proceed with this issue after 1982.
Prof Anu said the Bangladesh delegations that visit different countries to discuss bilateral issues only put signatures on papers; even they hardly see the contents of any agreement. "They did never go for bargaining and thus they brought such a horrible situation for us."
Criticizing the remarks of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, he said the envoy might come up with even harsher words as the government has failed to reply to his remarks the way it should have been."Such remarks manifest how aggressive the India government is. We had hoped that our government would give a befitting reply, as it was highly insulting for the people of Bangladesh, but it didn't," he said.
Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said Bangladesh is losing its control over its own sea as there is no one to raise voice against it. "We need to mobilize public opinion both at home and abroad to stop India and Myanmar from grabbing Bangladesh's maritime territories," he said. Prof Islam said politicians could not prove their patriotism as they did not protest the bid.
Earlier, reading out a written paper, NCPMTRB convener Engineer M Enamul Haque said India and Myanmar would have to withdraw the claim over maritime territories, which were placed to the United Nations and demanded implementation of clauses of UNCLOS-III convention. Justice Golam Robbani, Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahid Ullah and Prof Ramjul Haque were also present at the press conference.

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If 6-point demand not met immediately

Countrywide CNG strike from August 1

UNB, Dhaka

CNG pump owners Saturday renewed their call for the government to immediately accept their 6-point demand failing which they would go on strike from August 1 at the gas-filling stations across the country.
Their demands include reducing the gas price to Tk 13.26 from the existing Tk 16.75 per cubic metre at the consumer level, fixing feed gas price at Tk 5.23 like other industries, cancelling the minimum billing system, installing electronic volume conductor (EVC) on emergency basis, reducing BERC licence fee to Tk 5,000 from existing Tk 1 lakh, cancelling the cash security-deposit system and exempting the CNG stations from NOC of Environment Department.
The CNG pump owners made their call at a meeting of the steering committee of Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion workshop Owners Association.
The meeting, with senior Vice-President Manoanjan Bhakt in the chair, at Bangabandhu Convention Centre at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, was attended by 49 leaders of the association. Of them, 28 leaders came from 14 zonal committees across the country.
The leaders in the meeting expressed their frustration over non-fulfillment of their "legitimate" demands.
There are more than 450 CNG re-fuelling stations now operating across the country while another 150 are in the process of installation. So far, government had issued licences to about 900 entrepreneurs.
The CNG pump owners observed that following the enhancement of CNG price at consumer level on April 24, 2008, the conversion of diesel-run motor vehicles to usage got tremendously reduced.
They fear that if the government does not reduce the CNG price at consumer level, the whole industry would collapse and become non-viable.
"So, for the existence of the new sector, the 6-point demands have to be met by the government," said Zakir Hossain Nayon, General Secretary of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion workshop Owners Association.

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Downturn in HSC pass rate, GPA scoring

72.78 pc pass, 20,136 obtain GPA-5 in 10 boards
DU Correspondent

The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent Alim and HSC in Business Management examinations under ten education boards this year marked a surprise downturn in pass rate and GPA scoring compared to that of last year. On average 72.78 percent students passed while as many as 20,136 examinees achieved highest grade point average (GPA)-5.
According to the results published on Saturday, the average pass percentage under eight education boards is 70.14 this year as against 74.85 last year. The pass percentage under Madrasa Board is 84.14 while that in Technical Education Board is 80.74. Taken all together the overall average pass percentage under ten education boards is 72.18 against 76.19 last year.
The pass percentage under the Dhaka Education Board is 71.53, Rajshahi 70.47, Comilla 66.99, Jessore 78.77, Chittagong 76.31, Barisal 67.20, Sylhet 73.96 and Dinajpur 55.90.
A total of 4, 42,389 examinees came out successful in the examinations out of 6, 07,872 students who appeared from the ten education boards. Of the successful students, a total of 20,136 students secured GPA-5 (Grade Point Average), the highest grade point, which is 1909 less than that of the previous year from the ten education boards. A total of 18,222 students got GPA-5 from eight general education boards this year. Of the total number of students securing GPA-5, 12,088 are male and 8048 female.
Under the Dhaka Board, a total of 9450 students (5465 male and 3985 female) secured GPA-5 while 2229 students (1314 male and 915 female) got GPA-5 from Rajshahi Board.
Besides, 601 students (369 male, 232 female) got GPA-5 from Comilla Board, 2093 (male 1219, female 874) from Jessore Board, 1448 (male 759, female 689) from Chittagong Board, 574 (male 318, female 256) from Barisal Board, 439 (male 258, female 181) from Sylhet Board, 1388 (male 830, female 558) from Dinajpur Board, 1894 (male 1545, female 349) from Madrasa Board, and 20 (male 11, female 9) from the Technical Education Board.
Out of 152470 students a total of 1, 09,060 passed from Dhaka Board, out of 74,274 students 52,339 from Rajshahi Board, out of 41,199 students 27,598 from Comilla Board, out of 73,264 students 57,713 from Jessore Board , Out of 41,498 students 31,668 from Chittagong Board, out of 29,720 students 19,972 from Barisal Board, out of 18,136 students 13,413 from Sylhet, out of 58,541 students 32,722 from Dinajpur Board, out of 58,978 students 49,626 from Madrasa Board and out of 59,792 students 48,278 from Technical Education Board.
As many as 6, 07,872 students -- 3, 33,505 boys and 2, 74,367 girls -- appeared in this year's HSC and its equivalent examinations and 442389 of them -- 245588 boys and 196801 girls --passed. Among the GPA-5 holders, 12088 are boys and 8048 are girls. Pass percentages for boys and girls are 73.64 and 71.73 against 76.69 and 75.57 of last year.
Last year, 76.19 per cent students passed and 22,045 students achieved GPA-5 in the second largest public examinations. The pass percentage was 65.60 in 2007, 65.65 in 2006 and 59.74 in 2005.

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Abdul Jalil quits Awami League post

Breaking news Today

ABDUL JALIL resigned

Abdul Jalil quits resigned from his general secretary post. Today he said in a press briefing at his Gulshan home. He told, "I am resigning as I was not allowed to discharge my duty in the upcoming council."

"I hoped that I would work in the council. As I was not given this scope I had no other option but to resign from my post as general secretary," he said.

National council is scheduled for 24th July.

Abdul Jalil said he would send his resignation letter to Sheikh Hasina later in the day.

source: bdnews24.com

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Bangladesh win 1st test series on foreign soil

Bangladesh won the second and final Test at St George's, Grenada against makeshift West Indies by four wickets on Tuesday. Shakib Al Hasan's men survived a nervy period on the fourth day at the National Cricket Ground before chasing down the modest 215-run target. Sakib is a great player he can do any thing and for that bangladesh won a test series on foreign soil. Tigers reached 217-6 in 54.4 overs. Shakib man-of-the-match and series. Shakib played unbeaten 96 runs of 97 balls including 13 fours and a six. Raqibul Hasan whose plucky 66 off 99 balls steadied the innings that appeared wobbling at 67 for 4.

	Bangladesh 2nd innings (target: 215 runs)		R	B	4s	6s	SR
	Tamim Iqbal	c †Walton b Sammy	18	42	2	0	42.85
	11.5 that's a double breakthrough for West Indies, Sammy bowls a very teasing line outside off, forces Tamim forward and he manages a very thin edge to Walton, everyone knew it and the umpire raised the finger immediately, very similar to his first innings dismissal 29/2
	Imrul Kayes	c Sammy b Roach	8	28	1	0	28.57
	10.3 Roach strikes! short of a good length delivery, angling away from the left-hander. Kayes pushes at it and ends up with a thick edge. For a second it looked as if the ball will go over the slip cordon but Sammy at second slip jumps high in the air and takes it cleanly. Brilliant catch. 27/1
	Junaid Siddique	c Reifer b Sammy	5	22	0	0	22.72
	17.4 West Indies breathe fire! Sammy pitches it up on middle and off, Junaid Siddique plays down the wrong line and gets a thick leading edge which travels low to Reifer at first slip, he falls to his right and cups it comfortably, Bangladesh are in need of urgent repair work here 49/3
	Raqibul Hasan	c & b Sammy	65	99	8	1	65.65
	45.6 Raqibul fails to see his team through but he's done his job! He leans forward to drive straight but he ends up spooning it back to Sammy who juggles and takes the catch in the second attempt 173/5
	Mohammad Ashraful	c †Walton b Sammy	3	11	0	0	27.27
	21.4 Sammy is the toast of the town, he lands it on the corridor of uncertainty outside off, Ashraful is totally at sea and he doesn't know whether to play or leave it, the ball deviates as it passes him and Walton goes up in arms immediately, umpire Hill shakes his head, Ashraful doesn't even look at the umpire and Sammy slips during his celebrations. What on earth was Sammy trying to do? Only he knows, anyway he's taken the wicket and his ankle's safe 67/4
	Shakib Al Hasan*	not out	96	97	13	1	98.96
	Mushfiqur Rahim†	c & b Sammy	12	31	1	0	38.70
	53.4 almost an action replay of raqibul's dismissal, Rahim spoons a full delivery back to the bowler and Sammy takes it in the second attempt, he takes five, kisses the ball and acknowledges the cheers from the very sparse crowd 201/6
	Mahmudullah	not out	0	2	0	0	0.00

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BNP to focus on Tipaimukh, Asian Highway, Maritime Boundary: Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka

Former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said her party is focusing on Tipaimukh Dam, the Asian Highway and demarcation of maritime boundary as priority issues of the day in order to protect national interests.
Khaleda, leader of the opposition in the present parliament, outlined the BNP's present priorities apart from reorganizing the party while talking exclusively to UNB at her Gulshan office on Sunday night.
She said India's Tipaimukh dam is an important national issue for Bangladesh and it should be resolved through united effort of all irrespective of political opinions.
Referring to the presentation of data and information about the controversial dam and its adverse impacts on Bangladesh under her personal initiative on July 18, Khaleda said she had invited ministers, leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties, experts and people of different professions to share information, data and knowledge over the dam and its possible fallouts.
The BNP chairperson observed that not only people of Bangladesh, people of some states of India have also raised their voice against the Indian government's move to construct the Tipaimukh dam as it will harm both the countries rather than help either.
She said since experts are more competent than others to analyze the impact of the dam, her party has been emphasizing sending experts to visit the dam site and collect data and information about it.
Begum Zia mentioned that earlier she had sent a letter to the Prime Minister with a list of six members of a team that included four experts to visit the dam site. The names were sent responding to the Prime Minister's proposal, but they did not yet get any reply from the government side.On organizational matter, the BNP chairperson said she is now engrossed in dealing with organizational matters. She said the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has been constituted and committees of other front organizations, including Jatiyatabadi Jubodal and Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, are in the offing. Replying to a question, Khaleda said, "There is no disappointment among leaders and workers over the formation of grassroots-level committees as everything is moving smoothly."She however said in few palaces, where some problems are there, grassroots leaders are informing the party in writing and corrective measures are being taken.
Asked about the pro-reform group in BNP that had emerged during the previous army-backed caretaker regime, Begum Zia said: "Excepting one or two, all of them are in the party."

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Little hope for 18 missing after Kiribati capsize

AFP, Wellington

Eighteen people who were lost overboard when a canoe capsized in the Pacific nation of Kiribati are unlikely to be found alive, a rescuer said on Monday.
The double-hulled canoe was carrying 45 passengers from the capital Tarawa to the outlying atoll of Maiana for Independence Day celebrations when it capsized on July 13.
"We don't expect any survivors at the moment.... We expect only to collect the bodies of the dead," Tatai Tata, captain of a boat searching for the missing, told Radio New Zealand International.
The 17-metre (56-foot) canoe capsized during the attempted rescue of a crew member who fell into the water in rough conditions, officials said.
Five people were able to swim ashore to raise the alarm.
Kiribati groups 33 coral atolls straddling the equator and spread over an ocean area equal in size to the continental United States.
Earlier a New Zealand Air Force spokesman said 20 people had survived the capsize, seven were confirmed dead and 18 were missing.
New Zealand's air force helped in the search last week but withdrew at the weekend, the spokesman said.
On Friday the air force plane conducted a six-hour search of the area but found only debris floating in the water.

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Is Ban Ki-moon getting a raw deal?

AFP, United Nations

His critics berate him as ineffective, uninspiring and a poor communicator, but UN chief Ban Ki-moon's entourage says he is getting a raw deal from people who misunderstand him and his mission.
Half-way through his first five-year term, the UN secretary general has been subjected to a barrage of criticism, mainly in the Western media, over his handling of crises in Darfur, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. In the latest swipe, The Wall Street Journal last week described him as "the UN's invisible man." The UN chief's most recent international mission -- a trip to Myanmar -- only served to fuel his critics.
Ban lamented the fact that his hosts refused to let him see democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and ignored his call for the release of political prisoners, but his detractors saw it as an indictment of his quiet diplomatic style.
Roberta Cohen, a human rights expert at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, said Ban is "overly deferential" to governments.
She said the UN head has preferred to bow to the mandates of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- "rather than try to lead the world community in defense of the international protection of civilians," she said.
"As the head of the UN, Ban Ki-moon must also be the chief advocate for its values and principles including those values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," said Iain Levine, a spokesman at New York-based Human Rights Watch. "And that means being prepared to speak out -- clearly, passionately and uncompromisingly -- in support of those values."
"Too often -- including in Sri Lanka and Burma -- the secretary general has held back from a truly principled stance. He must remember that his primary obligation and loyalty is not to member states -- especially abusive ones -- but to those whose rights are so often violated," Levine told AFP.
Abiodun Williams, a former UN policy-maker now with the Washington-based think tank United States Institute of Peace concedes that Ban, a 65-year-old South Korean former foreign minister, is playing an important role on issues such as climate change.
"But he clearly could do more despite the political, bureaucratic and other constraints of the job," he said.
"The capacity to communicate is one of the qualities required for the job," Williams said. "Action may speak louder than words, but words do matter and clearly the message is not getting through effectively enough about the significant role the UN is playing in many areas: peacekeeping, humanitarian work, refugee relief."
The softspoken Ban is often compared unfavorably with his charismatic predecessor Kofi Annan.
But Ban's aides view some of the criticism against their boss as grossly unfair and portray him as a compassionate workaholic whom they admire for his decency, integrity and fierce dedication to his job.
Nicholas Haysom, a South African who is one of Ban's key advisers, thinks the issue of Ban's lack of charisma is overblown.
And "suggestions that he's not outspoken, not very visible are simply wrong and not borne out by the evidence," Haysom said.
"On humanitarian crises and conflicts, he has been extremely active. The truth is that he's not always reported, not always heard."

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China dismisses US spy charges as fabrication

AFP, Beijing

Beijing said Monday that a Chinese-born former Boeing engineer convicted by a US court of spying for China had been set up, and insisted it had no links to the espionage case.
"The allegation that a so-called Chinese person stole trade secrets in the United States and gave them to China is purely a fabrication made up out of ulterior motives," the foreign ministry said in a short statement. The ministry refused further comment on the case.
The former Boeing engineer, Dongfan 'Greg' Chung, was convicted by a US court last week of stealing technology and trade secrets for China for decades, including data on NASA's space shuttle programme.
Chung, 73, a resident of Orange County, California and a naturalised US citizen, was found guilty of economic espionage and acquiring information using his "secret" classified clearance.
The former employee of Rockwell International's space and defence unit, which was taken over by Boeing in 1996, was convicted of multiple counts related to his decades-long espionage. Chung, who was arrested in February 2008, remains in custody pending sentencing on November 9.

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Israel barrier no obstacle to Palestinians seeking work

AFP, Jerusalem

Every day they sneak into Israel by the dozens under the eyes of the soldiers at checkpoints -- a stream of Palestinian labourers from the occupied West Bank desperate for work.
"We are always looking for new methods -- if the Israelis crack down on refrigerated lorries we use ambulances, if they start stopping ambulances we use hearses," says Abu Ali, a smuggler who granted a rare interview to AFP on the condition his real name and the name of his village be kept quiet.
Sometimes it's a simple question of timing -- Abu Ali claims he once sneaked 97 workers across in the luggage compartment of a bus because it passed through a checkpoint at dusk, when the sun was in the soldiers' eyes.
The covert commute testifies to the economic despair in the occupied West Bank and calls into question Israel's claim that its controversial separation barrier keeps Palestinians from entering clandestinely.
The vehicles are driven by Israelis, either Jews or Arabs, who are part of smuggling rings that straddle the boundaries of the conflict and often include Jewish settlers, soldiers and bribed checkpoint officials, Abu Ali says.
He charges around 50 dollars per person, but says he pockets less than 10 of it, with the rest paying the other people involved in the ring.
The sheer number of workers using his services has allowed him to build a new three-storey house and made him one of the wealthier residents in his village.
Israeli police have arrested more than 16,000 undocumented Palestinian workers since the start of the year, releasing the vast majority after a few hours, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
"Our units respond immediately, number one because of the possibility of terror infiltration. But in a majority of cases the suspects claim they are coming in for work purposes," he says. Abu Ali insists he would never help an aspiring suicide bomber to enter for fear of being caught by Israeli security forces. "The Israelis catch them before they ever leave the West Bank 95 percent of the time," he says.
The labourers who sneak in can make up to 50 dollars a day at construction sites and factories in Israel, up to four or five times what they would make in the West Bank, where work is scarce.
"The economic situation is so desperate in the Palestinian territories that people are willing to endure all kinds of hardships to enter," says Sarit Michaeli, a spokeswoman for the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
Long dependent on employment inside Israel and its settlements, the Palestinian economy was sent into a tailspin with the restrictions on movement of goods and people Israel imposed on the West Bank after the second Intifada, which erupted in September 2000.

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Civil war fear for Honduras after talks collapse

AFP, Tegucigalpa

An international mediator warned of civil war in Honduras after the failure of talks between representatives of the country's rival governments.
Talks broke down late Sunday after representatives of the de facto rulers rejected a proposal by mediator Oscar Arias, the Costa Rican president, that ousted leader Manuel Zelaya go back as president in charge of a "reconciliation" government.
Arias, who has won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work resolving conflict in Central America, warned Honduras was at the brink of "civil war and bloodshed".
"We have started organizing internal resistance for my return to the country," Zelaya told reporters in Nicaragua, where he has been based since he was forced out by the army on June 28.
Arias pleaded for the talks to resume after a 72-hour break but there was no sign his appeal would be heeded, though sources close to the negotiations said the two sides might meet again Wednesday.
Neither Zelaya nor the head of the de facto government, congress leader Roberto Micheletti, were in Costa Rica for the talks.
Michelette's representatives took exception to Arias's use of the words "civil war." Its deputy foreign minister, Martha Lorena Alvarado, accused the Costa Rican president of "taking us towards a situation of near-panic" with the phrase.
She welcomed the call for 72 hours' reflection, but ruled out allowing Zelaya's return as president.
Micheletti's government has promised to arrest Zelaya if he does return and prosecute him for treason and 17 other charges.
Zelaya's supporters in Honduras, however, said they would intensify their protests pressing for his reinstatement. They called a strike for Thursday and Friday.
The leader of the National Front Against the Coup d'Etat, Berta Caceres, told AFP her group opposed Arias's plan for a reconciliation government that included what she termed "the putschists."
The secretary general of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, said his body would press Honduras's de facto government to recognize "this is a coup that failed." The OAS would hold a meeting Monday on Honduras, he said.
Zelaya has vowed to go back to Honduras with or without agreement from his rivals.
He tried to fly back on July 5 on a plane borrowed from his ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, but aborted the landing when Honduran military vehicles parked on the runway.

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