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Procession of BNP

Priyo Photo: BNP’s Supporting Worker make a Procession for the extend parole of Arafatr Rahman Koko from at Paltan Office and Police impeded it. 22/8/10

Procession of BNP

Priyo Photo: BNP’s Supporting Worker make a Procession for the extend parole of Arafatr Rahman Koko from at Paltan Office and Police impeded it. 22/8/10


Don't force women to wear veil: HC

The High Court on Sunday in a suo moto order directed the government to ensure that no women were forced to wear veil (Burqa) or religious dress in the educational institutions and offices.

Don't force women to wear veil: HC

The High Court on Sunday in a suo moto order directed the government to ensure that no women were forced to wear veil (Burqa) or religious dress in the educational institutions and offices.

The court also ordered the government to ensure that the cultural activities and sports in the educational institutions are not restricted.

An HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain issued the order following a news item published in a Bangla daily on Sunday with the headline “Rani Bhabani Mahila College - Borka Na Porle Ashte Mana”.

Two Supreme Court (SC) lawyers -- Barrister Mahbub Shafique and KM Hafizul Alam -- placed the matter through an application before the HC bench.

The news item said that principal of the college in Natore has stopped any cultural activities and sports at the college and forced female students to wear Borka or veil in the college.

The HC also directed principal Mozammel Haque to appear before the HC bench on August 26 to explain the matter.

It also issued a rule upon the government to explain why imposition of restriction on cultural activities and sports in the educational institutions and offices and forcing the female students to wear veil should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of home, education, social welfare and women affair and principal Mozammel Haque has been made respondent to the rule and order.

-Daily Star


Tk 60cr full-fledged Liberation War Museum planned

In a bid to projecting the significance of the 1971 Liberation War before the young generation, authorities of the Liberation War Museum (LWM) have planned to build a full-fledged museum with modern facilities in the city

Tk 60cr full-fledged Liberation War Museum planned

In a bid to projecting the significance of the 1971 Liberation War before the young generation, authorities of the Liberation War Museum (LWM) have planned to build a full-fledged museum with modern facilities in the city.

The LWM sources said a Taka 60 crore has been earmarked to build the six- storied building on 0.82 acres (over 2.5 bighas) of land at the city's Agargaon and necessary works on architectural design already completed to that end.

"We are expecting to start construction works of the Muktijuddha Jadughar before the upcoming Victory Day (December 16)," AKM Mahbubul Alam, general manager of the LWM, told BSS.

Alam said the LWM, now located at Segunbagicha here in a rented house, had been suffering from space constraints which hinders exhibition of many objects at a time.

Once completed, he said, the six-storied building will have numerous display of objects in six galleries include history and rich heritage of Bengali culture, Pakistan period (1947-1971), denial of popular verdict by Pakistani rulers, non- cooperation movement of March (March 1971).

Besides, armed-struggle by sector-commanders, objects used by martyrs and freedom fighters, international support, roles of media and religious fundamentalists, collaborators of military regime, killing of intellectuals and Victory in December 16, 1971 will also feature, he said.

When asked about the financial sources, the LWM official said the government has sanctioned a Taka five crore while bankers, businessmen and individuals extended their supports of Taka 31 crore to the project. Besides, he said, the LWM got overwhelming moral supports from all sections.

The LWM is the lone museum which is collecting documents of Liberation War in a collective way, he said describing it as one of the uniqueness of the museum.

He said the main objective of the museum is to educate the new generation with the history of Independence so that they can feel proud of their motherland and get imbued with the spirit of patriotism and liberal democratic ideas.

"We are carrying the achievement of 1971 forward for the future generation," said Alam, a retired government joint-secretary.

Talking to the news agency, architect Tanzim Hasan Salim of DWG Works, which was tasked for architectural design of the new LWM building, said he had a good opportunity to do the job as he did not see the liberation war.

Efforts would be made as far as possible to give a clear idea about the armed struggle of the Liberation War and its spirit in the design of the new building, he said.

The LWM, which bears testimony to the supreme sacrifice made by the people of Bangladesh to realize freedom, was established in 1996.

It has now 1,600 objects put on display and more than 15,000 in archive including arms and ammunitions, letters, media coverage and body parts used in 1971, the LWM sources said.

-BSS


None would be spared if found guilty: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday reiterated that she would not spare anyone of his party and associate bodies if found guilty.

None would be spared if found guilty: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday reiterated that she would not spare anyone of his party and associate bodies if found guilty.

“I want to start taking action from my own house. If I can’t do that, it won’t be possible for me to take action for the outsiders,” she said while addressing a memorial meeting, organised by Bangladesh Awami League at Bangabandhu International Conference Center marking the August 21 grenade attack.

“One must face stern action for committing any wrong intentionally,” Hasina said. “Howsoever big a leader you are; you may belong to Chhatra League, Jubo League or Awami Legaue, there is no excuse,” she warned.

The Prime Minister also said, “We are in power to establish justice in the society that was lost during the previous regimes.”

Earlier in the same meeting, General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in his speech alleged that some ruling party activists are damaging the government image by their ‘negative activities’, our correspondent reports.

“The countrymen do not expect such activities like tender manipulation, rape, murder and all other kind criminal activities orchestrated by the Awami Leaguers”, Ashraful, also the LGRD minister said.

The minister also said it would be a matter of great regret for the nation if half of the stories, which had been printed and broadcasted over the news media against Awami League activists were true.

He also called upon all his party leaders and workers to check their activities and also warned everyone to remain alert to avert untoward situation like August 21.

-Daily Star

Ben 10 Games


Online games can range from simple text based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously

Ben 10 Games

in Entertainment

Online games can range from simple text based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously

Ben 10 Games are full of alien heros which I enjoy playing with my friends. This includes challenges such as defeating against my team player. Nowadays kids are bugged up watching cartoon channels, mostly children prefer playing online Cartoon Games such as Tom and Jerry Games, Powerpuff Girls games and Avatar Games.

Many online games have associated online communities, making online games a form of social activity beyond single player games.

Fire at old town chemical storage :3 sustain critical burns

At least three people suffered serious burns in a fire at a chemical warehouse at old Dhaka’s JN Saha Road Sunday afternoon, police and hospital sources said.

The fire in the Old Town, second since June 3, left the 40-year old owner of the building Kazi Shafiqul Alam Jewel, and two others 52-year old Nitai Mandal and 43-year old Anu Miah left seriously burnt, said Lalbagh police station.

Anu sustained 100 per cent burn on his body, Nitai about 70 per cent and Jewel more than 50 per cent burn, said doctors at the burn and plastic surgery unit of at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Dr Tapan of the burn unit of DMCH described their condition as ‘critical.’

He said that they sustained the burns from highly flammable chemical substances.

The fire broke out at the under-construction two-storey building at 171 JN Saha Road, with chemicals stored in the ground floor, police said.

A devastating fire at Nimtali, in the Old Town had claimed at least 123 lives and left more than 150 seriously burnt.

Following the Nimtali fire, the government had ordered for shifting all chemical warehouses from the densely populated residential neighbourhoods in the Old Town by August 17.

Later, the government shifted the deadline to September 30 on pressure from chemical factories and traders.

Niati Mandol told reporters that the fire broke out at the second floor of the house in the afternoon leaving him and the two others with serious burns.

It took the neighbours 20 minutes of hectic efforts to douse the flame.

The fire service got information of the fire.

A two-member team from the Lalbagh Fire Station, who visited the spot, told New Age that the fire broke out at the chemical storage.

A neighbour said that the fire had originated at the chemical shop owned by Kazi Shafiqul Alam Jewel.

Lalbagh police said that adhesives used in making shoes were stored at the ground floor of the house.

The Fire Service director general Abu Nayeem Shahidullah told New Age that they identified at least 965 chemical warehouses and factories in the metropolitan area, most of them in the Old Town.


Hanging doesn’t scare me: Ershad

Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Hossain Muhammad Ershad yesterday hoped that the seventh amendment to the constitution would not face the same fate as the fifth amendment.

Hanging doesn’t scare me: Ershad

Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Hossain Muhammad Ershad yesterday hoped that the seventh amendment to the constitution would not face the same fate as the fifth amendment.

The latter had broken the basic structure of the constitution while the seventh amendment was introduced only to give legality to his rule. He was addressing a views exchange meeting with his party leaders at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in the city.

The former president said that it was said that he would be hanged if the seventh amendment was cancelled but "I am ready to face any consequences as I had worked during my rule only for the peoples' welfare, not for my personal interest."

"Don't worry about my hanging. If such a situation arises, I will accept it with honour," he told his followers adding: 'I was close to hanging when I was in prison for six years. So nothing can scare me.'

On the cancellation of the seventh amendment, he posed a question. What would be the fate of government officials who joined public service through the BCS during his tenure ? He also wanted to know whether after the cancellation of the seventh amendment the former land owners of different roads would get back their lands as he had built the roads acquiring their land.

The JP chief claimed that he had introduced democracy in the country withdrawing martial law in November 10, 1986.

He asked his colleagues to strengthen the party so that they could play an important role in the country's politics.

Ershad hinted that his younger brother GM Kader would take the responsibility of the party in future saying: "We have finalised the party's future leadership but we will not declare it now. You can rest assured that the party leadership will go to a skilled and uncontroversial person." Among others, the party's secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and a number of grass root representatives spoke at the programme. All presidium members, excluding GM Kader, executive committee members and president and office-bearers from all units of the party attended the meeting.

-The Indepedent


Govt likely to okay expressway design today

Design of the long-expected Dhaka elevated expressway is likely to get the cabinet’s nod today, officials said.

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway has been planned to improve road connectivity between the northern part of Dhaka city and the central, south and south eastern parts linking important commercial and business centers of the capital.

The first phase of DEE will stretch over 22km of the 32.5km the expressway project worth $2 billion connecting Narayanganj and Joydevpur.

In addition to providing a much-needed increase in traffic capacity, the expressway is designed to relieve existing overload on roads.

Access and distribution to the expressway has been designed to avoid additional congestion to existing facilities.

Transit and high-occupancy use of the expressway will also be encouraged as existing roads occupy only 8 per cent of the city’s land area as against an ideal proportion of 25 per cent.

Finalisation of the design of the elevated expressway would dominate the cabinet meeting’s agenda today, the officials said.

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and other cabinet ministers will be apprised of the pros and cons of the ambitious project.

According to information from the communication ministry the concession agreement with successful investor for the expressway project will be signed by December this year.

The first phase of the project is expected to be complete within December 2013.

International consultants AECOM Australia Ltd has been appointed to carry out economic feasibility study on the project.

AECOM has identified four alternate options of route alignments, of which one option will be finalised.

An expert committee, headed by Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, has been formed to review the consultants’ recommendations.

The communications ministry said that pre-qualification of international investment companies for the project has already been completed as nine overseas investors submitted their proposals and four of them were already short-listed.

The short-listed companies are Ital-Thai Development Company Ltd (Italy-Thailand), Gammon-Bougyes JV (India-France), Sikder-KCC JV (Bangladesh-South Korea) and China Railway International Ltd (China).



Ctg residents exposed to serious air, sound pollution

Air and sound pollution have aggravated in the Chittagong city, causing different diseases to the city dwellers, environmentalists and locals said.

Ctg residents exposed to serious air, sound pollution

Air and sound pollution have aggravated in the Chittagong city, causing different diseases to the city dwellers, environmentalists and locals said.

Air pollution caused by black smoke emission by unfit vehicles and dusts from open space has increased bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory-related diseases among the city dwellers, physicians said.

Besides, people of different strata in Chittagong are also experiencing sound pollution caused by the hydraulic horns, power generators and wielding engineering workshops located in and around residential areas.

They said noise affects children physically and psychologically while normal life is being hampered by round-the-clock operations of the power generators in different posh residence in the city and wielding engineering workshops.

Experts said sound pollutions have reached nearly 200 decibel against its tolerable level of 60 decibel. They said air pollution from thousands of unfit vehicles reached 100 per cent against its maximum tolerable level of hard ridge smoke unit of 65 per cent.

Besides, pollution from dusts has also reached 500 plus microgram though its tolerable level is considered 200 microgram suspended particulates matter.

Environmentalists blamed smoked air caused by unfit vehicles, coupled with dusts from open space, for such environmental degradation in the city.

Physicians feared that if such environmental degradation would continue, respiratory deceases would increase manifold among city residents.

Department of Environment, Chittagong office sources said the pollution is very high in a few jam-packed places of the city including Bahaddarhat crossing, GEC crossing, Newmarket, Agrabad, Chawkbazar and Andarkillah.

Residents of Bahaddarhat and Chawkbazar areas alleged that the situation worsens at night as wielding operators start their generators which create noise higher than the tolerable levels of sound.

‘If my mother calls me loudly from the next room, I do not hear her because of the sound, created by generator of a nearby residential flat and wielding factory,’ alleged Jasmin Akter, an SSC examinee living at Katalgonj of the city said.

‘I usually study at night but I find it very difficult to continue my study for the noise,’ Nurul Alam, a teacher of Muradpur area, said.

‘It is very hard to sleep, my kids often get up being frightened and start crying to hear the sound of heavy vehicles,’ he added.

Continuous sound pollution may totally deafen the children as well as the adults, ENT specialists feared.

‘A noisy environment can affect children physically and psychologically,’ said ENT specialist Abdus Sattar.

According to government guidelines, wielding engineering and lead machines, iron factories and generators must be set up at least one kilometer away from residences and power generators must be set up underground.

It is alleged that factory and wielding engineering owners and developers of the residential flats pay no heed to the complaints regarding the situation.

Over 20,749 unfit light and heavy vehicles have been plying the roads of Chittagong city and its adjacent areas without fitness certificates and emitting black smokes, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Chittagong office source said.

BRTA sources said send data about unfit vehicles every six months to the traffic department in the city and district for checking the vehicles and controlling the black smoke.

Masud Alam, assistant director of BRTA, said they issued notice regularly to the defaulting vehicle owners for renovating their respective vehicles, renewing the certificates and paying road taxes.

Faruk Ahmed, deputy commissioner (traffic), said the unfit vehicles not only pollute air and cause sound pollution but also contribute to traffic jams and road accidents.

He emphasised combined efforts by the traffic department and BRTA to check the vehicles.

Mustafizur Rahman Akand, acting director of DoE, Chittagong, said they continued to work for reducing air and sound pollution and fined nearly 4,000 unfit vehicles over Tk 50 lakh for emitting black smoke since 2007 last.

‘The drive against the unfit vehicles will continue and the authorities will take legal action as soon as possible if any body complains regarding sound pollution,’ Mustafizur Rahman said.



RU students hold demo to mark August 2007 campus protests

The students of Rajshahi University demanded on Sunday withdrawal of cases against the students of the university filed during the tenure of the military-backed emergency caretaker government accusing them of holding dem-onstration on August 22, 2007.

RU students hold demo to mark August 2007 campus protests

The students of Rajshahi University demanded on Sunday withdrawal of cases against the students of the university filed during the tenure of the military-backed emergency caretaker government accusing them of holding dem-onstration on August 22, 2007.

At least four cases were filed against the teachers and students of the Rajshahi University on August 22, 2007.

Though the cases against the teachers were withdrawn later, the students continue to face the cases.

More than 500 students of different departments got together under the banner of `Students Against Torture’ and held a demonstration on the campus to press the demand.

Progressive Students Allia-nce and the teachers of different departments of the university joined the procession.

The protesters paraded on the campus roads.

Teachers and students told the gathering that the police had attacked students and teachers on the campus in August 2007 in violation of the university autonomy.

They requested the students not to hesitate to ledge their protest against any kinds of colonial infringement of freedom of the students as well as the citizens of the country.

They said though the cases against the teachers of Rajshahi University filed by the two emergency caretaker government were withdrawn the cases of against the students were going.

The students demanded of the university authorities to take an initiative to free the students from the cases.

They criticised the university administration’s decision to impose restrictions on political activities.

They requested the university authorities to free the guest rooms at student dormitories from police presence.

Chhatra Union RU unit president Rafi Ahmed Chanchal, its secretary Shipon Ahmed, Al Mahmud Mitul, Samajtantrick Chhatra Front RU unit president Ahsan Habib Rocky, Bangladesh Student Federation convener spoke among others.



Transparency essential for good governance: Zamir

The chief information commissioner, Muhammad Zamir said on Sunday free flow of information alone could ensure transparency and accountability, two vital elements of good governance

Transparency essential for good governance: Zamir

The chief information commissioner, Muhammad Zamir said on Sunday free flow of information alone could ensure transparency and accountability, two vital elements of good governance.

Transparency and accountability in all areas of the society, he said, could be ensured if the demand and supply sides of information disclosure were strengthened.

He said that maximum proactive disclosure was the main principle of the concept of the Right to Information.

Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day training course for Anti-Corruption Commission officials on the right to information law he stressed the need for complying with the principles of disclosure of public information to promote the citizens’ right to information.

Management and Resources Development Initiative organised the training with support from USAID PROGATI with the objective of guiding the ACC officials on the use of the RTI law in disclosing information to the public.

Zamir said that media had a vital role in ensuring effective implementation of the RTI law.

The media, he said, took significant steps in promoting the right to information regime across the world.

He said that the media occupied a critical place in the governance process.

He said that as a gatekeeper, it disseminates critical messages to the public and highlights issues, concerns and initiatives.

Zamir said that training would help ACC officials properly implement the RTI law and serve the people with required information.

ACC director general Md. Shahjahan welcomed the initiative and said people have the right to know but there are rules that protect the officials’ right not to disclose certain information.

The training, he hoped, would enable ACC officials to determine the information to be disclosed and not to be disclosed.

In his opening remarks, MRDI executive director Hasibur Rahman mentioned the major challenges impeding the implementation of the right to information law.

He said unless the RTI law is implemented by the government and non-government organisations, its strength, weaknesses and limitations cannot be ascertained.

He requested the NGOs to play a proactive role in creating public awareness about the right to information law and how it could ensure the citizens’ right to get information from the government as well as non-government organisations.

Twenty senior officials of ACC are participating in the fifth batch of the training. Earlier, 80 ACC officials were trained in four batches under the programme.



Govt asks owners to remove mercury bulbs from shops

The Dhaka Power Distribution Company on Sunday asked shop owners to remove mercury bulbs from their shops and not to use air conditioners and a half of the total number of bulbs from iftar till the end of tarabi prayers.

Govt asks owners to remove mercury bulbs from shops

The Dhaka Power Distribution Company on Sunday asked shop owners to remove mercury bulbs from their shops and not to use air conditioners and a half of the total number of bulbs from iftar till the end of tarabi prayers.

The power distribution company gave the directive at a briefing it organised along with the Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association at the DPDC office in Dhaka.

The shop owners also urged the government to allow them to keep their shops open as long as they want during the last fortnight of Ramadan.

In addition to the supervision carried out by the power ministry, eight Dhaka Power Distribution Company teams are also monitoring whether shops are following the government instructions, officials said.

‘We agreed to go by the government instructions at a meeting with the state minister for power and the prime minister’s adviser, I would like to call on shop owners to follow the instructions,’ the shop owners’ association secretary general SA Quader Keron said.

‘But we expect that as in the past, the government will allow us to keep our shops open as long as customers are available after Ramadan 15 till Eid day,’ he said.

‘It is unfortunate that some owners were not going by the instructions. The association will in no way intervene if the DPDC or any government agency takes action against errant shop owners,’ he said.

The Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association chairman, Amir Hossain, said, ‘Even if the government cannot ensure uninterrupted power supply, we just want it to allow us to keep our shops open. We will run our shops with our own power supply systems.’

The DPDC managing director in-charge, FM Faridul Hoque, said they were doing half-an-hour outages as the power situation improved with the increase in production over a few days.

When his attention was called to hour-long outages in many city areas, he said, ‘We are now doing half-an-hour outages. There might have been some anomalies in distribution which might cause hour-long outage in some places in the capital.’

In connection with the statement of ministers that frequent power cuts were acts of sabotage, he said none of the DPDC officials were involved in such acts.

He said ‘We have urged all not to use air-conditioners in Ramadan and requested the city’s mosque committees to shut the air-conditioners to save on electricity.’

Later, the DPDC managing director told New Age it was for the government to decide whether the owners would be able to keep their shops open as long as they want after Ramadan 15. ‘It has, however, been a convention that the shop owners are allowed to keep their shops open as long as they want after Ramadan 15.’

In reply to a question, he said power plants under the Power Development Board network generated 4,645MW on Friday and 4,490MW on Saturday.

‘If the generation of power remains the same with the demand keeping stable, there would not be that much outage in the remaining days of Ramadan,’ he said.

He said the DPDC had achieved many successes as far as power distribution is concerned after its becoming a company two years ago.

The systems loss of the now-defunct Dhaka Electric Supply Authority was about 20 per cent which now has been reduced to 12.43 per cent, he said.



Oil-gas body wants Phulbari

The national committee to protect oil, gas, mineral resources, power and ports on Sunday expressed its dissatisfaction at non-implementation of the Phulbari agreement signed August 30, 2006.

Oil-gas body wants Phulbari

The national committee to protect oil, gas, mineral resources, power and ports on Sunday expressed its dissatisfaction at non-implementation of the Phulbari agreement signed August 30, 2006.

The committee is making preparations to observe the fourth anniversary of the Phulbari uprising as Phulbari Day on August 26 and a Dhaka–Phulbari long march between October 24 and 30.

The police fired into a rally of residents at Phulbari in Dinajpur on August 26, 2006, killing three people.

The national committee organised the rally in protest at the government plan for coal extraction from the Phulbari coal mine in an open-pit method by multinational company Asia Energy.

Open-pit mining will create a huge loss of wealth, natural resources and make a huge number of people living in the mining area homeless.

On August 30, the BNP-led alliance government signed a six-point agreement to calm the movement. The points included expulsion of the Asia Energy from Bangladesh, cancellation of the plan for open-pit mining and punishment of the people responsible for the killing at Phulbari.

The committee’s convener Sheikh Muhammd Shaheedullah and member secretary Anu Muhammd in a statement expressed their concerns about non-implementation of the agreement by the Awami League-led government although it has been in office for two years.

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, then the leader of opposition in parliament, went to Phulbari and said her party, if voted to power, would implement the agreement.

They called on the people to observe August 26 as Phulbari Day and the government to observe the occasion as a national day. The committee has also taken up programmes to observe August 26, when the firing took place, and August 30, when the agreement was signed.

The committee will place a wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka in the morning of August 26 and hold a rally at Phulbari in Dinajpur at noon. The committee units will also place wreaths at shaheed minars across the country.

They will also hold programmes to observe August 30 as agreement signing day.




Country now has 6.18cr cell phone subscribers


The number of mobile phone subscribers across the country surpassed six crore in July despite the mobile operators’ demand to the government for a cut in SIM taxes.

Country now has 6.18cr cell phone subscribers

The number of mobile phone subscribers across the country surpassed six crore in July despite the mobile operators’ demand to the government for a cut in SIM taxes.

The active mobile subscriber base reached 61.845 million at the end of July with the leading operator Grameenphone continuing to add large number of clients and state-run Teletalk losing subscribers for the second straight month.

Six mobile operators added 1.865 million subscribers in July as the number of active subscribers was 59.98 million at the end of June. Operators added 9.415 million new users in the first seven months of this year, according to the data released by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission on Sunday.

Grameenphone’s subscriber base reached 27.276 million as it added 0.816 million clients in July.

Banglalink, the second largest operator, added 0.704 million clients to take its subscriber base to 16.804 million while the total number of Robi subscribers reached to 11.326 million enlisting some 0.226 million clients.

Warid Telecom added 0.126 million subscribers taking the total number to 3.296 million while the lone CDMA operator CityCell added just 0.006 million customers in July taking its subscriber base to 1.996 million.

The lone state-run operator Teletalk lost 0.013 million clients with its subscriber base coming down to 1.147 million in July from 1.16 million in June. Many of the Teletalk clients switched to other efficient operators.

The total number of mobile subscribers was 34.37 million at the end of 2007, 44.64 million in 2008 and 52.43 million in 2009.

Mobile operators said that although the number of subscribers had passed 6.18 crore, the number of people using mobile phone would be less as many of the subscribers use services of multiple operators.

An official of a mobile company claimed that the number of subscribers would have been greater if the government had not imposed the tax of Tk 800 that they have to pay for each SIM.

He claimed that they gave ‘subsidy’ to each new subscriber by selling every SIM at a price much below Tk 800, mainly because of the fierce competition among the mobile operators.






Technology

Country now has 6.18cr cell phone subscribers


The number of mobile phone subscribers across the country surpassed six crore in July despite the mobile operators’ demand to the government for a cut in SIM taxes.

Operators to see new spectrum prices

The telecom regulator will introduce guidelines to set the spectrum price per mega hertz (MHz) for telecom, internet and other operators.

Websites of public varsities in bad shapes

Though the government, after returning to the power, has been emphasising on 'digitalisation' of education system especially the higher education segment of the country, but the authorities of public universities, the country's largest component of higher education, have hardly any impression in this regard.

Government plans to introduce e-tendering by end of this year

Planning Minister Air -Vice Marshal (Retd) AK Khandker today said the government is planning to introduce e-tendering by the end of this year and e-GP (electronic government procurement) in phases for making purchase accountable, dynamic and transparent.

Online procurement policy draft finalised

The government has formulated the draft of its online procurement policy to bring clarity and speed. "The policy will be finalised by December," planning minister AK Khandker said.

Poor network leaves Teletalk flustering

Teletalk, the state run cell phone company, struggling to survive, is all set to improve its network and service to subscribers to compete with five other more dynamic service providers in the private sector.

Workshop on e-govt procurement today

A government body will organise a workshop on e-government procurement on the Planning Commission campus at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka today.

Supreme Court website misleading?

The enrolment of Appellate Division Justice Md Abdul Matin as an advocate does not tally with his actual date of birth as the website of the Supreme Court shows.

BDR to use digital device recruitment process

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has initiated digital job application process by using electronic devices to bring more transparency in its recruitment process as well as checking harassment of job seekers, reports BSS.

DU goes for online admission

Dhaka University will introduce online application for student admissions to the first year honours courses for the 2010-11 session.




Entertainment

Nova’s glamour world career continues

Lured by the fun of it, Nova started modelling. At one point of her modelling career in 2006, she received an offer for acting in Animesh Aich’s TV play ‘Prem O Ghamer Galpo’ which went on air on Banglavision as special TV play on the occasion of Eid.


Bangladeshi short film “720 Degrees” going to Venice Film Festival

Bangladesh is going to be represented at this year's 67th Venice International Film Festival by Ishtiaque Zico's short film “720 Degrees”. It should be considered an achievement for Bangladeshi films, considering this is one of the most prestigious international film festivals.

Bangladeshi short film “720 Degrees”

Bangladesh is going to be represented at this year's 67th Venice International Film Festival by Ishtiaque Zico's short film “720 Degrees”. It should be considered an achievement for Bangladeshi films, considering this is one of the most prestigious international film festivals.

Zico's film is among 37 short and 45 full-length feature films from 35 countries that would be screened at the 11-day festival, starting from September 1. “720 Degrees” has been officially nominated for the segment 'Orizzonti'. The segment -- introduced in 2004 -- is dedicated to new trends in international films. It provides a wider and more dynamic outlook on emerging trends in the various languages that converge in cinema.

In the 'Orizzonti' segment, “720 Degrees” is the only film from the South Asia. The film will be screened on September 6, the sixth day of the festival, at 11:30 local time at the Sala Grande Theatre.

“720 Degrees” is an audiovisual journey to unmask the layers of relationships and our perceptions of reality.

The film is made in 35mm format with no dialogue. The original running time of the film is 5 minutes and 10 seconds. The film was shot in Cox's Bazar, while Zico was working as an associate producer for the film “Meherjaan”.

The young filmmaker said that his film is a by-product of the feature film “Meherjaan”. “The mise-en-scène was designed to meet the on location constraints: three unused 35mm film cans, available equipments, a limited crew, a few amateur actors, outdoor location and a single day of shooting,” said Zico.

Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932. The festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September in Venice, Italy. Screenings take place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi. It is also part of the Venice Biennale, a major biennial exhibition and festival for contemporary art.

-Daily Star


Actors Apurbo and Prova tied the knot

TV actors Ziaul Haque Apurbo and Sadia Jahan Prova tied the knot last Wednesday, according to Apurbo's family sources. The wedding took place in Mymensingh in the presence of a few close friends of both Apurbo and Prova.


Actors Apurbo and Prova tied the knot

TV actors Ziaul Haque Apurbo and Sadia Jahan Prova tied the knot last Wednesday, according to Apurbo's family sources. The wedding took place in Mymensingh in the presence of a few close riends of both Apurbo and Prova.

Apurbo's family, particularly his mother is happy for her son. Incidentally, Prova was engaged to someone else on April 16 this year.

Prova and Apurbo would feature as co-artistes in 10 TV plays set to air during the upcoming Eid. Apart from these, they will also appear in a six-episode mini-serial titled “Pakhir Dana-e Bhor”.

Chayanika Chowdhury is directing the serial that would also be aired during the Eid-ul-Fitr. Interestingly enough, the serial shows Apurbo and Prova's characters eloping and getting married.

-Daily Star

Three popular Kolkata singers on Banglavision Eid-special show

One of the highlights of Banglavision's range of special programmes for this coming Eid is a musical programme featuring three popular artistes of Kolkata. The programme, titled “Ek Mutho Roddur”, will be aired in two instalments and will include performances by Lopamudra Mitra, Rupankar and Shilajit.

Three popular Kolkata singers on Banglavision Eid-special show

One of the highlights of Banglavision's range of special programmes for this coming Eid is a musical programme featuring three popular artistes of Kolkata. The programme, titled “Ek Mutho Roddur”, will be aired in two instalments and will include performances by Lopamudra Mitra, Rupankar and Shilajit.

The first instalment of the show will feature Lopamudra rendering “Aaye Aaye Ke Jabi,” “Mon-e Porey Shei Shupori Gachher Shari” and “Aajke Jeta Bhalo.” Rupankar will sing “Choley Esho,” “Ek Shopnotey Jotno” and “Tomar Taney Sharabelar Ganey.”

Shilajit will perform on the second instalment. His songs on the show will include “Roj Ghum Bhengey Jaye,” “Hridoy Tomakey Chhutey Cheye” and “Tui Brishti Hotey Partish.” The programme, produced by Nahid Ahmed Biplob, has been recorded in Kolkata.

In between performances, the artistes will talk about their aspirations and views on music, mentioning artistes and composers of Bangladesh as well.

Mosharraf Karim as Barishali youth

The ‘jhakkas’ comedy actor Mosharraf Karim is a proud man from Gaornadi of Barishal district. Other than his own dialect he has a tremendous knack to deliver dialogues in various other dialects, such as of Comilla, Noakhali, Maymensingh and the unique old Dhaka city dialect.

Mosharraf Karim as Barishali youth

The ‘jhakkas’ comedy actor Mosharraf Karim is a proud man from Gaornadi of Barishal district. Other than his own dialect he has a tremendous knack to deliver dialogues in various other dialects, such as of Comilla, Noakhali, Maymensingh and the unique old Dhaka city dialect.

But he has got seldom chance to perform in his own Barishali tongue. This time he has got the opportunity to utter his own Barishali dialect which is also very much unique in essence.

The actor feels elated as he has been given the scope to act as a Barishali youth in the drama titled ‘Mirakel’. He says, ‘Generally, we the actors and actresses don’t use our own dialect in the media. But this time I got the opportunity to utter my own tongue and believe me, I have made the best use of it.’

Directed by Mainul Hasan, the drama will be telecast in any of the channels soon.

Legendary actress Shabnam celebrates her birthday

Recently legendary film actress Shabnam celebrated her birthday in homely environment. Her birthday was August 17. It is the correct birthday date, film actress Shabnam said.

Legendary actress Shabnam celebrates her birthday

Recently legendary film actress Shabnam celebrated her birthday in homely environment. Her birthday was August 17. It is the correct birthday date, film actress Shabnam said.

"I want everybody knows my correct birthday. Why everybody knows the incorrect date?" she told this correspondent while mentioning about different dates of her birth which are earlier mentioned in different national dailies.

One of her fans from Pakistan wished her early in morning, while her son Ronny Ghosh also wished her from Spain. Nobody in the film industry could not wish as they do not know her accurate birth date.

Shabnam lastly performed in movie 'Aammajaan,’ directed by Kazi Hayat. She performed in that movie in the central role and it was released in 1999

Tisha going to be a mother!

Actress of fame Nusrat Imroz Tisha alias Mrs. Farooki is going to be a mother. The news may come as a huge punch on the face of her fans and viewers, but it is a fact that she is going to be the ‘mother’.

Tisha going to be a mother!

Tisha

Actress of fame Nusrat Imroz Tisha alias Mrs. Farooki is going to be a mother. The news may come as a huge punch on the face of her fans and viewers, but it is a fact that she is going to be the ‘mother’.

And undoubtedly, it is happening not in reality, but in a drama. Yes, Tisha has been cast, for the first time, to perform the mother-role of a four year old girl.

Written and directed by Muhammad Kamal Raj the single episode drama ‘Lost and Found’ will also see Mosharraf Karim as the husband of Tisha.

The drama is scheduled to be telecast in Rtv on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

Sharmin Lucky in new ad

Popular model, presenter and actress Sharmin Lucky has always been very ambidextrous in household chores. From coking to decorating her home, she is very neat and prompt.



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