Polnews24: Jun 19, 2011

Sunday

Farewell match a 'farce' : Ballack

Berlin, June 18 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Former captain Michael Ballack has described as a "farce" an offer to end his Germany career with a friendly against Brazil in August, saying on Friday he was not being treated with respect by coach Joachim Loew.

On Thursday Loew ruled out using the 34-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder again, saying a number of talented younger players were now more important ahead of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

The German football federation has offered Ballack, kept on as official captain despite recent injuries, a 99th and final international against Brazil.

"To call a friendly match that was arranged long ago a farewell match is a farce. I know I owe my fans this match but I cannot accept the offer," Ballack said in a statement.

"I found out yesterday, while on holiday, through an announcement that the national coach does not plan with me (in the squad) any more.

"The style and content of the statement (by Loew) are unfortunately exactly like the way he (has) treated me since my serious injury last summer."

Ballack, who has scored 42 goals in 98 internationals since making his debut in 1999, has not played for Germany since March last year after sustaining an ankle injury that forced him to miss the 2010 World Cup.

Germany finished third in that tournament in South Africa after fielding their youngest World Cup team in 76 years but Loew said at the time that Ballack would return as skipper once he was fit again.

Loew, however, has ignored Ballack's claims in recent months despite his recovery from injury.

The coach said on Thursday he repeatedly explained his views to Ballack and the player had understood.

However, the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder denied that was the case.

"The style and content of this piece of news surprised and disappointed me because it does not in any way reflect what the coach told me," Ballack said.

"If now they say that I and my role were treated openly and with honesty then that is hypocritical."

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Quantum honours blood donors

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? A voluntary blood donation platform has accorded reception to the blood donors, who offered their blood to the ailing people without a second thought.

Quantum foundation organised the reception for 321 donators at the National Press Club auditorium on Friday.

A 'Silver Medal', certificate and a special ID cards were given to 300 donors, who donated for at least 10 times, while the rest 25, who donated for at least 25 times, were given a 'Golden Crest', certificate and a special ID card.

Chief guest and former national professor M R Khan, and special guest Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed handed over the certificates to them.

Khan said, "Science tells us that blood donation decreases the risk of complicated and critical diseases."

"So, we must come forth to donate blood as we must remember the fact that blood cannot be substituted with anything else, when needed," he told the function.

According to the Quantum Foundation, only 26 percent of the annual 500,000 units of blood demand were met by voluntary, non-commercial blood donations in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, only 0.4 people of a thousand donate blood voluntarily, which is 113 in Switzerland and 60-80 in the countries in Europe.

The country could meet its annual need if only two of a thousand people donate blood.

According to the foundation, founded in 1996, there are around 141,086 blood donators across the country under the programme.

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Rain impacts six dists most

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Six districts across the country are facing waterlogging problem following Thursday's rain, while water levels are up in most of the rivers and embankment breaches have occurred at many places.

bdnews24.com correspondents sent in write-ups from across the country on the post-rain scenario in their respective areas.

However, maximum impact of the rain was seen in the coastal districts of Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Cox's Bazar.

In Patuakhali, most of the lower regions were under water on Thursday. Road communication with Dhaka snapped and more than five hundred families were cut off.

Hundreds of fishing trawlers took shelter in the Mahipur Alipur canal as the sea became rough.

Daylong rain in Bhola brought down embankments at four places and flooded 20 villages.

Tides were 3-4 feet above the normal level, Bhola Water Development Board (WDB) chief engineer Mahfuzur Rahman said.

Bhola?Lakkhipur ferry ghat had to be closed down on Thursday evening.

In Barguna, embankments on Payra and Bishkhali rivers broke down at 10 places, flooding at least a thousand hectares of Irri fields and hundreds of houses.

Barguna WDB said it recorded 50 mm rain on Thursday night.

Cracks developed in Sadar and Sharankhola embankments in Bagerhat. The district headquarters as well as a large portion of the district got flooded.

Water level in the rivers rose by about 4-5 feet, district WDB chief Khalilur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

Loading unloading at Mangla Port is, however, going on at usual pace.

Locals of Gabura and Padmapukur Unions in Satkhira said the embankments on rivers Kapotaksha and Kholpetua face washout.

Satkhira deputy commissioner Abdus Samad, however, said though the water levels had risen, there was no risk of any major damage.

He said the administration had been put on alert to tackle any situation.

Heavy rain and storm in Dakop upazila of Khulna damaged houses and tress in at least nine Unions. Sutarkhali Union Parishad chairman said water had entered large areas in the union.

In Cox's Bazar, coastal areas were submerged in at least three-feet-deep water, while hundreds of families faced waterlogging.

District WDB chief Mainuddin said continuous work was underway to block the entry of water through embankments.

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BNP: Nation under one-party rule

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? The BNP has alleged the government has established a 'one-party rule' in the nation.

"Using the court, the government has imposed one-party rule under a disguise?they've locked up democracy," BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a discussion at the National Press Club.

He called upon the people to build up a movement against the present situation.

"There is no time to waste. We must wake up to protect the nation and its democracy," he said.

The discussion was organised by the BNP's cultural wing JASAS to mark the 'Black Day for the Press'. On this day in 1975, the state had ordered closure of all but the four newspapers that it owned, under the 4th Amendment that introduced a one-party rule.

Fakhrul alleged the government was selling out everything to the foreigners in the name of friendship.

"They want to make the country dependent on others and a market for other countries. That is why they gave transit," he said.

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Comfort's Kuakata housing project kicks off

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Plot booking for housing under a project of Comfort Homes Limited at Kuakata in Patuakhali district has begun.

The realtor began booking plots of the Comfort Holiday City-Kuakata project at the city's Ruposhi Bangla Hotel on Friday.

Terming their project an environment-friendly one, Mohammad Enayetullah, managing director of the firm, hoped that it would attract domestic and foreign tourists.

Firm's chairman Jannatul Ferdous, chief advisor Mohammad Nurul Huda were, among others, present at the inaugural ceremony.

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SEA LIMITSVerdict on Dhaka-Yangon dispute early 2012

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Verdict on maritime boundary dispute between Bangladesh and Myanmar is likely to be delivered in the first quarter of the next year.

President Jos? Lu?s Jesus of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) said this addressing the 21st meeting of the 162 states parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at the UN headquarters in New York last week, according to an ITLOS press statement.

Bangladesh accepted the jurisdiction of the ITLOS for the settlement of the maritime boundary dispute in the Bay of Bengal in December 2009, while Myanmar had accepted a month earlier, in November 2009.

"The final written pleading should be filed by July 1, while oral proceedings are scheduled for September," Luis said.

The president also mentioned that he had appointed three arbitrators, including himself, in the arbitral tribunal set up to settle the dispute between Bangladesh and India over the maritime boundary delimitation in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh submitted its memorial to ITLOS in July last year, while Myanmar submitted its counter-memorial in December.

Dhaka also filed its reply in March, though Myanmar will file its rejoinder in July this year.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Dipu Moni lodged Bangladesh's submission on the extended continental shelf with the United Nations in New York in February.

Bangladesh's claim ranges from 400-460 nautical miles (NM) in the sea-bed of the Bay.

The submission completes the outstanding obligation of Bangladesh under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to provide scientific and technical information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of Bangladesh's rights to the continental shelf beyond 200 NM.

Bangladesh has held extensive consultations with Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) of Germany, GRID?Arendal of Norway, Centre for Coastal and Ocean Mapping of the University of New Hampshire, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, USA for preparation of Bangladesh's submission.

Economic and legal section of the Commonwealth Secretariat has provided legal and technical assistance in the final documentation of Bangladesh's submission.

Bangladesh has also received advisory assistance from Dr. Herald Brekke, a member of the Commission on the Limits of the Continentals Shelf.

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Sitting MP seeks cover as ex-MP charges

Narayanganj, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? The deputy commissioner's office here turned into a battleground on Saturday as a former parliamentarian of the ruling party enraged following a wordy duel charged at the sitting MP, also of the same party.

Argument started between Awami League MP Sarah Begum Kabari and former MP Shamim Osman at a meeting on bus fare on Saturday at the Narayanganj deputy commissioner's office. At one point, Shamim left his seat and rushed angrily towards Kabari.

Kabari later told reporters that Shamim used profanities against her and also tried to assault her physically.

Shamim, however, denied the allegations.

Private televisions showed footages of the incident, where Shamim is seen charging at Kabari and Kabari following the suit.

The meeting was called to discuss a general strike called by a commuters' platform of the district.

'Jatri Adhikar Shangrakkhan Forum' called the half-day strike on June 20 to protest increased bus fare on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route.

Over 60 organisations?political, professional, social and cultural?expressed their support for the strike.

While Kabari and district Awami League president Anwar Hossain took a stance for the strike and its demands, Shamim, who had been invited there by transport company owners, started by questioning the legitimacy of the citizen's bodies behind the strike.

Arguments sparked off and at one stage Shamim left his seat and advanced menacingly at Kabari.

While Anwar Hossain and some others shielded Kabari, yet others came to Shamim's aid. Chaos broke out in the deputy commissioner's office amid television cameras and photographers witnessing and recording the scene.

Deputy commissioner Shamsur Rahman sat out the fracas.

MP Nazrul Islam Babu and superintendent of police Sheikh Nazmul Alam were eventually able to calm everyone down and the meeting continued, but it ended without any decision.

A large number of police and RAB personnel were deployed outside the office when supporters of both leaders gathered there.

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Depression weakening

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? The Meteorological (Met) Department has asked Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla maritime ports to display local cautionary signal number three over a land deep depression.

In a warning issued on Friday evening, the department says the depression over the south-western part of Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal moved slightly north-northwestwards, weakening into a land depression, now lying over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh area.

"It is likely to move towards the north-northwesterly direction further in land and weaken gradually by giving precipitation," the warning message reads.

It says squally weather may continue over the maritime ports and coastal areas of the country, while the sea could remain rough.

"Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal number three," it adds.

According to the message, low-lying areas of the coastal districts ? Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Chandpur, Pirojpur, Jhalokati, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira ? and their offshore islands and shoals are likely to be inundated by a wind-driven surge one to three feet above the normal astronomical tide.

It has advised all fishing boats and trawlers over the northern bay to remain at shelters until further notice.

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Tremlett cuts through Sri Lanka

Southampton, June 17 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? England fast bowler Chris Tremlett recorded his best test figures of six for 42 to reduce Sri Lanka to 177 for nine in their first innings as rain brought an early close to the second day of the third and final test on Friday.

After the morning session had been washed out, Sri Lanka, resuming on 81 for four, lost wickets consistently through the afternoon and had problems with Tremlett's pace and steep bounce on a lively pitch. The evening session was also washed out.

Wicketkeeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardene made an impressive 43 and was the only player to look assured throughout his innings while tailender Dilhara Fernando counter-attacked for an unbeaten 33 off 41 balls.

The combination of England's dominance and the many weather interruptions with only 38 overs possible on day one, are damaging Sri Lanka's chances of achieving the win they need to level the series.

Thilan Samaraweera fell to the 12th ball of the day for 31 in what turned out to an eventful over from Tremlett.

First the batsman was struck a painful blow on the right glove which caused a brief delay as he received treatment.

He then scored two runs through midwicket to register the 50 stand with Jayawardene, before his dismissal.

Samaraweera was undone by a rare Tremlett delivery that was pitched up just outside of his off stump and he pushed tentatively to offer Kevin Pietersen a comfortable catch in the gully.

Thisara Perera (2) failed to justify his promotion in the batting order with an ugly, short-lived innings.

The left-hander ignored his team's perilous situation and tried to slog Tremlett several times, but managed only a faint edge to wicketkeeper Matt Prior off his sixth ball.

Jayawardene continued to ignore the struggle at the other end and played some elegant strokes, including an on-drive through midwicket for four off James Anderson and a cover driven three in the same over.

Even when England scattered their close-in fielders for him and placed two men back for the hook shot, he took them on with success, cracking Stuart Broad's bouncer over deep backward square-leg for four.

Rangana Herath played another counter-attacking innings and was slightly more successful than Perera with 12 from 15 balls, until he hooked Tremlett to Anderson at fine leg.

Jayawardene was eventually the eighth man out when he swept off-spinner Graeme Swann to deep mid-wicket.

Tremlett, who also had Suranga Lakmal caught behind off his first ball, may yet better his first-class career best of six for 44.

England won the first test in Cardiff and drew the second at Lord's.

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4 cops among 5 killed in accident

Bogra, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? At least five people, including four policemen, have been killed and six policemen injured in a road accident on Bogra-Natore highway at Shjahanpur upazila.

Police said constables Abdur Rauf, 'Aslam', and 'Utpal', and the driver of the police van carrying the 10 police personnel were killed on the spot when the vehicle collided head-on with a Khan Enterprise bus in Jamadar Pukur area around 2:30pm on Friday.

Of the injured, constable Abdur Razzak died at the Bogra Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, Bogra Sadar Police Station officer in-charge Khalequzzaman told bdnews24.com.

All of the police officials aged 25-30.

Policemen at the hospital burst into tears when the bodies were taken there.

The bus has been seized, though the bus driver and his helper managed to flee, Khalequzzaman said.

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Mawa-Kawrakandi ferry service resumes

Munshiganj, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? Ferry service on Mawa-Kawrakandi route has resumed 43 hours after its disruption due to bad weather.

The ferry service remained suspended since Thursday noon due to inclement weather caused by depression over the Bay, a senior official of Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Authority (BIWTA) Mawa office told bdnews24.com.

The movement of ferries returned to normal around 8am on Saturday, the official said.

On Friday, over 600 vehicles got stranded at the ghats (terminals) on both sides of the Padma River due to disruption in the ferry service, he said.

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Leather Tech College clash injures 5

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? At least five students of Leather Technology College have been injured in a clash at its dormitory.

The injured were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital early on Friday.

Hazaribagh police chief Mohammad Rafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com that the clash was the result of a longstanding conflict between former and current students of Qudrat-E-Khuda Hall over its control.

Equipped with clubs and sharp weapons, both the groups fought a pitched battle on Thursday night, said Rafiqul.

He said Rayhan Mahmud, 23, Ahmed Swapan, 23, Firoz Khan, 24, 'Hassan', 25, and Mahmudur Hassan were injured in the clash.

Police have been deployed at the dormitory to fend off further trouble, Rafiqul said.

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Caretaker talks anywhere, anytime: AL

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? The Awami League general secretary has said his party is ready to discuss the caretaker issue with the opposition BNP anytime, anywhere ? in or outside parliament.

Syed Ashraful Islam on Friday told a press briefing that his party did not want to take decisions unilaterally. "We'll wait until the end."

"We're hopeful that [BNP chairperson] Khaleda Zia will discuss the issue. We're ready to discuss it anywhere in or outside parliament," he said.

The press briefing was held at the Dhanmondi office of the party president, prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Letter will be issued formally, if they want. The letter can be sent within [Saturday], if necessary," he added.

Syed Ashraf, however, said the next general election would be held after amending the constitution in line with the court verdict if BNP did not join discussion.

"Khaleda Zia will not be able to oppose then. It'll be a democratic process," he said.

This is a major shift in the party's position that had so far maintained that opposition must come back to parliament to talk the contentious issue.

The Awami League president, prime minister Sheikh Hasina, recently asked the BNP to join parliament and place an 'alternative formula'.

The opposition maintain that they would not join the next general elections without a caretaker government in place.

Khaleda at a press conference on Thursday rejected the proposal for discussion.

She said: "She [Hasina] keeps saying over and over something that is not there in the verdict. The verdict says 'the Constitution (13th Amendment) Act. 1996 (Act 1 of 1996) is prospectively declared void and ultra vires the constitution'. Which means the system is not void yet.

"The verdict will be effective only after holding of the next two elections under the caretaker system. This is, in fact, mentioned in the latter part of the verdict," she added.

If the caretaker provision is retained, the former prime minister said, she was willing to join such discussions either 'inside or outside parliament'.

The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government, but said the next two general elections could be held under unelected rulers.

The special parliamentary committee on charter review has proposed to cancel the system.

Syed Ashraf's unconditional offer came a day before a belligerent BNP was scheduled to announce a new course of campaign including possibly another round of nationwide shutdown.

BNP, along with its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami staged two general strikes demanding that the system be retained.

Only last week, BNP enforced a 36-hour lockdown throughout Bangladesh, the first such harsh antigovernment campaign since the Awami League returned to power two and a half years ago.

'MISINTERPRETATION BY KHALEDA'

Syed Ashraf termed Khaleda's speech 'self-contradictory, false and the worst example of political opportunism'.

Khaleda had said Hasina was puzzled with the court verdict. She said there might be discussion with the government only if the declaration to retain the caretaker government system came.

"Not only this, she also tried to misinterpret Supreme Court verdict which amounts to contempt of court," he said.

The local government minister added, "Khaleda Zia in her speech said the caretaker government system was not declared scrapped or illegal in the Appellate Division verdict.

"Not following the main verdict, she has spoken of its observations. She misinterpreted the observation as the main verdict," he added.

Syed Ashraf went on: "Basically, it was said in the observation that the next two general elections may be held under caretaker governments. The words 'may be held' were clearly mentioned in the observation."

"She wants to turn 'may be' into 'must' forcefully. She wouldn't have made this mistake if she had the least knowledge of English."

The scathing remark aside, Syed Ashraf said the opposition chief had made some positive remarks at the press briefing.

"Khaleda Zia said there might be discussion with the government on who will be the next caretaker government chief, and having an impartial Election Commission and administration," he said.

"She will join discussion on caretaker government issue, too. With my political experience, I can say that she will join the discussion finally."

"She has no way other than discussion," Syed Ashraf said. "In the last parliamentary elections, she said 'no' to every issue, including transparent ballot box and voter list with photos. But finally she said 'yes' to all and joined the elections."

About the apex court observation that if parliament wants, the next two general elections could be held under caretaker governments, Ashraf said, "We're trying to take a decision about all the issues through discussion with the opposition because of this [the observation]."

SHE'LL AGREE WHEN SHE UNDERSTANDS

The AL general secretary said BNP harmed people by calling hartal instead of joining discussion. "The sooner the discussion is held, the better it is for the nation."

About BNP's stance against -electronic voting, he said, "Khaleda Zia said 'no' to electronic voting without understanding anything. She will say 'yes' when she understands."

The prime minister has opined in favour of using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general elections.

The Election Commission trialled EVMs during local government elections in some centres.

The EVM issue is one of the five that are being discussed in the on-going dialogues between the commission and the registered political parties.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said it would accept voting with EVM if finger prints were included. Abdul Kader Siddiqui-led Krishak Sramik Janata League expressed reservations about electronic voting.

Hussein Muhammad Ershad's Jatiya Party said e-voting should not be launched now while Anwar Hossain Manju-led Jatiya Party (JP) backed the prime minister.

Rashed Khan Menon-led Workers Party opined in favour of launching e-voting in some centres alongside voting in conventional system.

Awami League and BNP are yet to join the dialogues.

BARBED-WIRE FENCING

Syed Ashraf denied BNP's claim that they were not given chance to speak in parliament. "Stop lying and join the house by getting to the real world."

He also ruled out another allegation of the opposition that BNP leaders and activists were being barred to enter the party's headquarters at Naya Paltan.

"The Awami League office at Bangabandhu Avenue was surrounded with barbed-wire fences during BNP's tenure," he said.

The Awami League general secretary said, "Hawa Bhaban was the centre of every corruption and militancy during BNP's tenure. The new building at Gulshan will become a new Hawa Bhaban if the party takes power again."

"People won't believe that Khaleda, with Jamaat-e-Islami on one side and [Fazlul Haque] Amini on the other, will establish democracy," he said.

He claimed no BNP leader had been assaulted by the government in past two and a half years.

Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and organising secretary Ahmad Hossain were present at the press briefing.

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Wembley to stage Champions League final in 2013

Nyon, June 17 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Wembley stadium will stage the 2013 Champions League final two years after hosting the showpiece match between Barcelona and Manchester United because of "exceptional circumstances", UEFA said on Thursday.

The decision, taken unanimously by the European governing body's executive committee, was made to mark the English FA's 150th anniversary, UEFA president Michel Platini told reporters.

"This may seem exceptional but I think it was important for us to respect this anniversary of our game," said Platini. "If we don't know our past, we don't know our future," he added.

"The Football Association is the oldest of all the national football associations," he added, describing 2013 as "an exceptional moment in our beautiful game.

"We will also celebrate 150 years of the Laws of the Game, we felt it was our duty at UEFA to help the FA celebrate in some special way.

Wembley staged this year's final, which Barcelona won 3-1, although there was widespread criticism about ticket prices.

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OIL-GAS DEAL Who is a better patriot, asks PM

Dhaka, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? Echoing her cabinet colleagues and energy officials, prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said they are doing nothing against the country's interest.

She also slammed those opposing the deep-sea gas exploration deal with US firm ConocoPhillips, inked on Thursday, and questioned, "Who is better patriot and protector of the country's interests?"

Hasina was addressing the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the National Board of Revenue headquarters at Agargaon in the city on Saturday.

In an oblique reference to the protest programmes carried out by the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, she said they were silent during the previous government when there was no development work in the country. "When we're marching ahead, these groups are opposing us," she regretted.

The prime minister said this group often cries out loud in the name of protecting the country's interest. "Where were they when there was no electricity production, no gas exploration and long-wait of investors to go on production for lack of gas and electricity?"

She claimed that her government would do nothing against the country and its people.

Texas-based ConocoPhillips was chosen to conduct its seismic surveys in blocks 10 and 11 as per an international tender in line with a model PSC-2008 formulated during the last caretaker government.

The final go-ahead for inking the PSC was given on May 23 by the cabinet committee on economic affairs.

The oil-gas protection committee has been opposing the deal from the very beginning. Besides, an MP, several leftist parties and fuel experts gave speeches and issued statements against the deal.

They said Bangladesh would own 20 percent of the gas and it would have to buy the rest 80 percent at a certain rate according to the PSC. If Bangladesh fails to import the rest of the gas amount, ConocoPhillips could export it elsewhere.

During the signing ceremony, fi nance minister A M A Muhith said the government had protected the interest of the country in the deal. "After maximum negotiations with the company, the government has prepared the agreement," he said.

Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said the export provision is part of resource diversification. "We want to import LNG and at the same time we will allow export of LNG to keep all the options open," he explained.

"The export is only possible when Bangladesh will refuse to buy gas from the company."

Petrobangla chairman Hossain Monsur on Wednesday told bdnews24.com that some people were misinterpreting the deal. "There's nothing against the country's interests in the PSC," he claimed.

Hasina at the programme claimed that her government took effective measures to accelerate the country's development.

"We've created an investment-friendly environment in the country to attract foreign direct investment and simplified investment related laws and ruled to this end."

Hasina claimed that foreign direct investment was increasing as Bangladesh has become most attractive investment destination in South Asia.

She also said the government was providing capital for massive development projects in infrastructure and service sectors. She also pointed at the proposed economic zones in seven divisions.

The prime minister said in the proposed national budget of next fiscal tax holiday facility were ensured for 17 sectors and that Public Private Partnership Policy was formulated to encourage private investments in infrastructure and service sectors.

"The country's image has brightened abroad following the establishment of good governance."

She said two incentive packages were awarded to the export sector to tackle the adverse affects of the globaleconomic meltdown.

Saying that two closed jute mills have already been reopened and five others would be reopened soon, she said thus jute regained its lost glory.

State minister for housing and public works Abdul Mannan Khan and BoI executive chairman S A Samad were, among others, present at the meeting.

The 14-storey NBR office will be implemented by the Public Works Department costing around Tk 1 billion to be financed by the government.

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SPECIALMohiuddin still bats for city govt

Mitoon Chowdhury
bdnews24.com correspondent

Chittagong, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Former Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor A B M Mohiuddin Chowdhury does not see any alternative to the city government for development of the port city.

"There is no alternative to implementation of city government idea for development of Chittagong city," he said while talking to bdnews24.com on Thursday.

Mentioning that the system is there in many countries, Mohiuddin said: "We are to depend on the central government for budget [due to non-existence of the system in Bangladesh]."

Sometimes the financial year ends even before approval of project proposals by the government, he said recalling his 17 years' experience as CCC mayor.

Mohiuddin, who tried to convince the government to introduce the city government system during his tenures, believes the expected level of development of the city is not attained because of non-fulfilment of the idea and non-implementation of the corporation's income generating projects properly.

"I wanted to make the CCC self-sufficient with my own initiatives by introducing different income generating projects," he said.

He said he wants to cooperate with incumbent mayor M Manzur Alam in development of the city.

Ruling Awami League's Chittagong city unit president Mohiuddin, who served the CCC as mayor for three terms, was defeated by his once associate and pro-BNP Manzur in the polls on June 17 last year.

Mohiuddin said he advises the mayor on the affairs of the corporation whenever he meets him.

"When we meet each other on any occasion, he [Manzur] he seeks my advices on different affairs of the corporation. I want to extend all sorts of assistance to him for development of the city."

The ex-mayor alleged that some councillors were trying to misguide the Manzur in different issues including the development programmes.

He declined to evaluate the activities of Manzur. "The people elected him to mayor. Not it's time for him to do his job. The people will evaluate his works."

He, however, said the mayor is unsuccessful in running the income generating projects properly. "And probably it's the reason behind the increase in the holding tax."

Mohiuddin claimed that the initiatives taken during his tenures were successful as the profit from the income-generating projects was spent in different sectors, including education and health.

Disapproving of the recent move to increase the holding tax, he said: "Development is quietly impossible being dependant on tax in a poor country."

He alleged that the tax re-evaluation officers of the corporation were extorting bribes from house owners scaring them of imposing additional tax.

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IMF cuts US growth forecast, warns of crisis

SAO PAULO, June 17 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for US economic growth on Friday and warned Washington and debt-ridden European countries that they are "playing with fire" unless they take immediate steps to reduce their budget deficits.

The IMF, in its regular assessment of global economic prospects, said that bigger threats to growth had emerged since its previous report in April, citing the euro zone debt crisis and signs of overheating in emerging market economies.

The global lender forecast that US gross domestic product would grow an anemic 2.5 percent this year and 2.7 percent in 2012. In its forecast just two months ago, it had expected 2.8 percent and 2.9 percent growth, respectively.

The outlook elsewhere was mixed. The IMF said it was slightly more optimistic about the euro area's growth prospects this year, but a lack of political leadership in dealing with that crisis and the budget showdown in the United States could create major financial volatility in coming months.

"You cannot afford to have a world economy where these important decisions are postponed because you're really playing with fire," said Jose Vinals, director of the IMF's monetary and capital markets department.

"We have now entered very clearly into a new phase of the (global) crisis, which is, I would say, the political phase of the crisis," he said in an interview in Sao Paulo, where the forecast was published.

In the United States, the political problems include a fight over raising the debt ceiling. Fears that the world's biggest economy could default, even briefly, have rattled markets, with Fitch Ratings saying even a "technical" default would jeopardize the country's AAA rating.

Meanwhile, Greece has edged closer to default as euro zone officials disagree on a possible second aid package for the indebted country. With strikes and protests around the country, political turmoil has added to uncertainty, stoking fears that the government will not be able to tighten its belt enough to reduce crippling deficits.

"If you make a list of the countries in the world that have the biggest homework in restoring their public finances to a reasonable situation in terms of debt levels, you find four countries: Greece, Ireland, Japan and the United States," Vinals said.

EMERGING MARKETS OVERHEATING?

Fears of contagion in the euro zone have driven global markets lower in recent sessions, with other vulnerable countries such as Ireland and Portugal feeling pressured.

The IMF raised its growth view for the euro area in 2011 to 2 percent from 1.6 percent. For 2012, the IMF saw growth at 1.7 percent, nearly stable from its previous 1.8 percent.

It raised its forecast for Germany, the powerhouse of the euro zone, to 3.2 percent from 2.5 percent, with growth moderating to 2 percent in 2012.

Forecasts for large emerging markets remained stable or slipped. While China's GDP view stayed at 9.6 percent this year, the IMF lowered its forecast for Brazil to 4.1 percent from 4.5 percent in April.

Those countries, along with Russia, India and South Africa, make up the fast-growing BRICS, a group of emerging economies whose brisk expansion has outstripped that of developed markets recently.

Robust growth has caused emerging economies to tighten monetary policy, with higher interest rates and reserve requirements, even as many developed nations keep policy ultra-loose to try to boost anemic growth.

The IMF warned that many emerging markets still need more tightening. In China, for example, the high inflation rate means negative real interest rates.

Some emerging markets have been reluctant to tighten too far, fearful of derailing growth or attracting speculative flows that could pressure currencies ever higher.

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Rangpur road crash kills 4

Rangpur, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? A road accident on Dhaka-Rangpur highway has left four people dead and at least six others injured.

Police said the accident took place in Rasulpur area under Peerganj upazila of the district when a truck carrying labourers from Dhaka overturned around 9:30am on Saturday.

Three of the deceased were identified as Mohammad Rabiul, 35, of Taraganj, Anukul Chandra of Gangachhara and Kalu Mia, 48, of Kishoriganj in Nilphamari.

The injured were taken to Peerganj Upazila Healtyh Complex.

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Chelsea defend regular change of manager

Bangkok, June 17 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Chelsea have defended the club's rapid turnover of managers in recent years with the chief executive saying it was results that mattered and a new team boss could be named within a week.

Ron Gourlay told Reuters in an interview that the Premier League club's hire-and-fire approach to managers -- after going through four in as many years -- had delivered the goods in terms of the number of trophies won.

"Continuity is very important but so is performance and results," said Gourlay, who was in Bangkok on Thursday to promote the club's pre-season Asian tour.

"Our model may not be the model others agree with but at the end of the day, we've taken the decisions we felt we needed to take to develop Chelsea Football Club... and we've won 10 major trophies in the last six years."

Gourlay declined to comment on whether Turkey's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, was being lined up to replace sacked Italian Carlo Ancelotti but said several candidates had been looked at.

"The process of getting a new coach is going very, very well. I'd expect a new coach to hopefully be in place within the next week, maybe two weeks, but maybe even earlier," he said.

BELT-TIGHTENING

Gourlay also said the club planned to tighten their belt and generate fresh revenue to comply with new UEFA finance rules.

He said Chelsea would have no problem adhering to new financial fair play regulations devised by European soccer's governing body aimed at stopping clubs from borrowing vast sums to buy success and spending more than their income.

ANALYSIS on the financial fair play rules [ID:nLDE7581LB]

Chelsea posted a loss of 71 million pounds ($114.8 million) in June last year and spent an equivalent amount in January on Spain striker Fernando Torres and Brazil defender David Luiz that was Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger said was "logic-defying". [ID:nLDE7110YU]

Gourlay said the struggling Torres was a "fantastic signing" but Chelsea, like most clubs, must in future control spending and balance the books by nurturing more home-grown talent and generating new revenue sources without raising ticket prices.

UEFA's new financial regulations will be applied from the reporting period starting at the end of next year.

"Performances on the field help drive a lot of the revenue off the field so you have to get the balance right, look at the costs, control wages going forward," he said.

"Squads may not be as big as in the past and we have to get the youngsters through the academy and, when that happens, it takes a bit of the pressure off."

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

Part of the remedy was to expand Chelsea's global footprint with Asia seen as a key market with huge growth potential.

The club was working hard to lure more Asian sponsors, raise Chelsea's profile by launching more "Blue Pitch" development programmes, offering up the expertise of its coaches and sending youth and first-team squads to play in Asia.

He said the club was already active in Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong and planned to expand into Japan, South Korea and China, Gourlay added.

Hourlay described Chelsea's failure to win a trophy last season after finishing nine points adrift of champions Manchester United as a huge disappointment, adding that the squad would be "freshened up" before the start of the new campaign though he would not be drawn on potential signings.

"Unfortunately, we just left ourselves at the end with too much to do," he said of the title race.

"The expectation was so high after winning the double (in 2010), our most successful year, so it was a disappointing season but we need to remain very, very confident, the club must continue to develop, we must not change our strategy."

Chelsea will play pre-season matches in Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia in late July.

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Barca president turns up heat on Real

Madrid, June 18 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? A war of words between Barcelona and Real Madrid intensified on Thursday when Barca president Sandro Rosell accused the Catalan club's bitter rivals of anti-sporting behaviour and slammed Real coach Jose Mourinho.

Bad blood boiled up between the Spanish giants around four clashes in three competitions in 18 days late last season and Rosell used his end-of-campaign news conference to read out a strongly-worded statement condemning Real.

"We believe that this season Real Madrid has gone beyond all the limits of the necessary sporting rivalry, making accusations against our club that have no foundation," Rosell said.

"The rivalry will continue next season but we will not allow the limits of sporting behaviour to be exceeded again.
"Football deserves clean competition and FC Barcelona will do everything to preserve that.

"If necessary, we will take legal action and take the case to the relevant sporting tribunals."

Real responded with a statement in which they said they regretted Rosell's "unfortunate comments".

The club said his statement was motivated by "pressure the board of directors has been placed under by part of a certain and nearby media environment, which has called for an aggressive attitude towards our club".

"For the good of football, Real Madrid CF will continue working to maintain the best possible relations with FC Barcelona, as it typically does with all clubs in Europe and the world," the statement added (www.realmadrid.com).

CHEATING, ABUSE

European champions Barca eliminated Real from the Champions League and beat the Madrid club into second place in La Liga for a third successive season. Real claimed a dramatic King's Cup final win over Barca to win their only silverware of the campaign.

The four matches were marred by play-acting, brawling and allegations of cheating and racist abuse.

After the Champions League semi-final first leg, Mourinho said Barca enjoyed favourable treatment from referees and Real later filed a complaint with UEFA -- which was rejected -- accusing Barca players of diving and alleging midfielder Sergio Busquets had called defender Marcelo a monkey.

Barca filed their own complaint with UEFA over Mourinho's comments and the Portuguese was suspended for five matches and fined 50,000 euros ($70,700).

He faces an appeals hearing on July 29 and has said he will use every means at his disposal to fight the sanction.

"The news conference that the Real Madrid coach gave after the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu shamed anyone who considers themselves an athlete," Rosell said.

Barca were also outraged by a report on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, which cited an unidentified Real official as its source, that suggested Barca's players and medical staff were engaged in illegal doping.

"I can assure you that if someone, in the name of FC Barcelona, had made an accusation of this kind we would have acted with firmness, denying it immediately and taking those responsible to court," Rosell said.

"We would have appreciated a similar response from Real Madrid but unfortunately this was not the case."

Real said Rosell's remarks were "serious and false insinuations" and insisted the Cadena Cope report had nothing to do with the club.

"Reports which, as everyone knows, our club denied at the time, immediately and categorically, in the place of their origin," the club's statement said.

GREAT BENEFICIARY

Rosell said it was now up to Real president Florentino Perez to mend relations between the clubs.

"A few days ago the president of Real Madrid said he would not stop until the club had won a 10th European Cup," he said.

"We hope that they attempt this on the pitch, in a sporting manner and rediscovering a way of behaving that I believe many Madrid fans want.

"The president of Real Madrid has a chance to reconstitute our relations, on and off the pitch.

"Football, which usually gives you back what you put in, will be the great beneficiary."

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CG SYSTEMLet's talk, but within verdict: govt to BNP

Dhaka, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? The government has said its action on the caretaker government issue will be within the periphery of the court verdict.

"Whatever will happen to the caretaker government system, it will be in line with the court verdict," Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after a meeting of the party on Saturday.

"We haven't said that the door to discussion has been closed. It's still open. Whoever says whatever, the discussion will be held. We just want that it is held at the right time," Syed Ashraf said.

In reply to the BNP's allegation that the government lacks sincerity on the discussion, he said, "Our call for the discussion is not a farce."

The Supreme Court on May 10 repealed the 13th Amendment to the constitution that introduced the caretaker government, but said the next two general elections could be held under unelected rulers.

However, the special parliamentary committee on charter review has proposed to scrap the system.

On Friday, Syed Ashraf said his party was ready to settle the caretaker government issue anytime, anywhere ? in or outside parliament.

His unconditional offer came a day before a belligerent BNP announced three-day agitation protesting government move to repeal the system.

The BNP, along with its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami, staged two general strikes demanding that the system be retained.

Only last week, BNP enforced a 36-hour lockdown throughout Bangladesh, the first such harsh anti-government campaign since the Awami League returned to power two-and-a-Half years ago.

DISCUSSIONS CAN DELIVER

Pointing out that discussion was the only way to settle any issue, Syed Ashraf said, "Acceptable settlement is possible through discussion. But whatever we do, we'll have to honour the court verdict."

He urged the media to play a significant role in creating a friendly environment for the discussion.

He also urged everyone to be patient. "The opposition leader [Khaleda Zia] has agreed to discuss three of the four issues. She'll agree for the other one, too."

About Khaleda's allegation that the government was misinterpreting the Supreme Court verdict repealing the caretaker government system, Syed Ashraf said, "Discussion is also needed for this. It is possible to reach a decision if we misinterpret the court verdict."

DEAL WITH US FIRM

Ashraf slated those who are opposing the deal with the US firm ConocoPhillips to lift gas from deep sea. "Some people don't want that the natural resources of the country be used properly."

"This deal is not illegal. It is not the first of its kind. Many such deals with foreign firms were signed in the past and many will be done in the future," he said.

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Tidal surge hits Barguna villages

Barguna, June 17 (bdnews24.com) -- A tidal surge, caused by depression over the Bay and full moon, has swept 10 villages of the coastal district.

Over 100 families of Burirchar and Nishanbaria villages in Sadar Upazila, Tatulbaria village in Taltali Upazila, west Ghatkhali village in Amtali Upazila, Padma, Mirabari villages in Patharghata Upazila, Aliabad village in Betagi Upazila, Kholpotua and Ramna villages in Bamna Upazila have lost their homes to the rolling water.

The gushing water also swept standing Irri crops on about 900 hectors of land in the villages.

Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan, chairman of Chaora Union Parishad (UP) of Amtali Upazila, told bdnews24.com on Friday that the tidal wave damaged some 500 meters of a flood protection embankment from West Ghatkhali village to Gilatoli village.

Met officials said 50mm of rain was recorded on Thursday night in the district.

They said a 4-5-foot high tidal surge than the usual one hit the villages breaking the flood protection embank at 10 points. Squally wind, caused by the depression, uprooted electric poles and trees, leaving the people of the area without electricity since Thursday night.

At least 10 villages, including West Ghatkhali, Boithakata, Betmore, Uttar Ghatkhali and Dakkhin Ghatkhali were inundated.
West Chaora Registered Primary School stands threatened due to the rolling water, Badal said.

Amtali Upazila agriculture officer Santosh Mondol said standing Aush and Irri crops on around 900 hectors went under water.

President of Taltali Upazila Fishermen Cooperative Society Dulal Farazi, who is also the Barabagi UP chairman, said over 200 fishing trawlers returned from the deep sea due to the bad weather.

Betagi Upazila's Sarishamuri UP chairman Zakir Hossain Faruk said some 100 meters of the flood protection dam at Aliabad and crops on 500 hectors got damaged.

Over 100 people of the area were passing their days in extreme misery for lack of emergency supplies.

Mamataz Begum, 34, of Burirchar village said she along with five other members of her family have been without food since Thursday. They have taken shelter on a local road.

Burichar union council member Abdus Salam said a food crisis might hit the area if the damaged embankment was not repaired immediately.

Ramna UP chairman Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com that three buildings of Khelpotua Government Primary School and a tin-roofed building of the social service department may be devoured by the Biskhali River.

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Khaleda meeting professionals

Dhaka, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? In her bid to build counter-pressure on the government, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has met a delegation of medical experts to discuss the state of affairs in the country.

The 30-member team, led by former advisor Prof M A Mazed, attended a discussion on the country's current political condition on Saturday at her office in Gulshan, Khaleda's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told bdnews24.com.

He said, "She discussed the current situation, caretaker government system, charter review and other issues with the team."

"She will hold similar discussions with various delegations of professionals in turn," he added.

Party's acting secretary general Mirza fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Khaleda's adviser Prof A Z M Jahid Hossain attended the discussion, among others.

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ESSENTIALS IMPORT12pc interest max on LCs: pvt banks

Dhaka, June 18 (bdnews24.com) ? Private banks have decided they will not charge more than 12 percent interest rate on letters of credit (LC) for essential items' import.

Depositors' interests would not be higher than 12 percent either, a meeting of bank entrepreneurs' organization Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) and private bank chiefs' organisation Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) on Saturday decided.

The decisions will be effective from Sunday.

The meeting also decided to take punitive measures against any bank who violated this decision.

At a meeting with prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday, leaders of BAB had assured her food grain import loans would not be charged than 12 percent interest.

They had also said depositors' interests would not be higher than 12 percent.

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Nadal opens Wimbledon defence against Russell

London, June 18 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? World number one Rafa Nadal will open the defence of his Wimbledon title against American Michael Russell and has been drawn in the other half of the draw to Roger Federer, raising the possibility of another final between the great rivals.

Six-times champion Federer, the third seed, starts his campaign against Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin, and has been drawn in the same half as world number two Novak Djokovic whose 41-match winning streak was broken by the Swiss this month.

The Serb could face Federer in the last four, weeks after the former world number one beat him in the French Open semi-finals to inflict his first defeat of the year.

Had Djokovic won that match, he would have ousted Nadal from the number one spot but instead the Spaniard arrives at the All England Club with his top ranking in tact as he seeks a third Wimbledon crown.

Djokovic takes on France's Jeremy Chardy in the first round, while Nadal's potential semi-final opponent Andy Murray opens his campaign against Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Home favourite Murray, the fourth seed, warmed up for the tournament with victory at the Queen's Club grasscourt event, heightening public expectations of a first British men's grand slam champion since 1936.

The first-round limelight could be stolen by American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, who have been drawn against each other a year after their epic 11-hour battle in the same round, the longest ever tennis match.

"Isner vs Mahut drawing each other in the first round after last year is the most amazing thing I've seen in tennis!" Murray tweeted.

TRICKY DRAW

In the women's singles, champion Serena Williams was drawn in the opposite side of the draw to her sister and five-times champion Venus but in the same half as world number one Caroline Wozniacki and another pre-tournament favourite Maria Sharapova.

Serena, seeded seventh after being sidelined for almost a year because of life-threatening blood clots on a lung as well as a foot injury, takes on France's Aravane Rezai in the first round of what could be a tricky draw for her.

Wozniacki, seeking a maiden grand slam title, has a straightforward-looking opening match against world number 107 Arantxa Parra Santonja but danger lurks in the shape of Sharapova.

The Russian 2004 champion, who reached the French Open semi-finals this month after returning to some of her best form after two years of struggling with a shoulder injury, is seeded fifth and could meet Wozniacki in the quarter-finals.

French Open champion Li Na of China, who became the first Asian player to win a grand slam title this month, is also in Serena's half of the draw and faces Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva in round one.

Venus, back from an injury layoff, could pose an early threat to last year's runner-up Vera Zvonareva and the American knows how to win from a lower seeding having triumphed in 2007 as the 23rd seed, the same as she is this time.

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Dhaka decries equal gay rights

Geneva, June 18 (bdnews24.com) -- Bangladesh has strongly denounced a United Nations resolution supporting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The top UN human rights body ? Human Rights Council ? declared in its 17th session on Friday that there should be no discrimination or violence against people based on their sexual orientation, a motion voted narrowly in favour, 23 to 19, with three abstentions.

Bangladesh was among the 19 that voted against the resolution, as were 11 other Muslim nations, and Russia. China abstained from voting.

The controversial resolution marked the first time that the Council recognised the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, diplomats said.

A press release from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Bangladesh councillor Nahida Sobhan told the council that Bangladesh supported all human rights, including the right to development and condemned violence against individual groups.

"Bangladesh is disturbed by the focus on personal sexual interests while discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion and other issues remained ignored," she said, seeking a vote on the resolution.

"There's no legal foundation for this draft resolution in human rights instruments. Bangladesh believes that rights included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been coded into international instruments. By introducing notions not articulated in human rights instruments, these very instruments and the human rights framework are undermined," she said.

The resolution was presented in the council by South Africa.

USA hailed the resolution as historic.

"Allover the world, people face human rights abuses and violations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including torture, rape, criminal sanctions, and killing," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement issued in Washington.

"Today's landmark resolution affirms that human rights are universal," she said.

Britain, France joined the United States in voting in favour, while Russia voted against and China abstained.

South African Ambassador Jerry Matthews Matjila said the aim was for a dialogue on discrimination and violence meted out to those "whose only crime seems to be their choice in life."

But delegations from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Bangladesh took the floor to reject the text in a heated debate held on the last day of the council's three-week session.

Mauritania's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Cheikh Ahmed Ould Zahaf, said the issue did not fall within the scope of any international human rights treaty.

"This issue has nothing to do with human rights," he said, speaking before the vote. "What we find here is an attempt to change the natural right of a human being with an unnatural right. That is why Mauritania calls on all members to vote against it."

Homosexuality is generally taboo in Islamic states as it is seen as a violation of religious and cultural values. Homosexual men in the Gulf are regularly arrested and sentenced to prison terms.

Mexican Ambassador Juan Jose Gomez Camacho said the issue had nothing to do with imposing Western or other values, but with non-discrimination. People are already protected under international treaties against discrimination on grounds of race, religion, and gender, he said.

"Non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is exactly the same," Camacho said, winning applause.

The resolution calls on the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to draw up the first U.N. report on challenges faced by gay people worldwide.

Her report, due by December, should document discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

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Haider slapped $5,800 fine

Karachi, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has been fined Rs 500,000 ($5,800) by the PCB for violating their code of conduct.

He flew to London last November, mid-way through a series in the UAE, without informing the team management, reports ESPNcricinfo.

Comprising, Wasim Ahmed and Mohammad Awais Haider, he appeared before the PCB disciplinary committee on Friday in Lahore.

"Zulqarnain will also be under a one-year probation period, during which his conduct will be observed," the committee's head Sultan Rana said after a two-hour hearing.

Haider had gone missing from the Pakistan team's hotel in Dubai on the morning of the fifth ODI against South Africa on November 8, and later said he had received death threats from unidentified people seeking to draw him into match-fixing.

"I did what I thought was right at that time. I should have informed the PCB, I should have informed my seniors," Haider said.

"I just want to play cricket. It all depends on the selection committee whether they pick me for the national team or not."

Haider had announced his retirement from international cricket. However, he withdrew his application for asylum and returned to Pakistan in April this year after getting safety assurances from the country's interior minister Rehman Malik.

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Fire in commercial building

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? A fire erupted on the second floor of the four-storey Garrison Market in Cantonment area of the city on Friday evening.

Fireman Brajen Kumar Sarker told bdnews24.com that three units of fire brigade reached the spot and the flames were controlled after an hour's effort, he said.

The floor where the fire erupted also houses a branch of the Trust Bank, according to Sarker.

However, no casualty was reported.

The reason of the fire could not be established immediately and the damage assessment was being done when the reports last came in.

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Defence buys up in last fiscal

Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Dhaka, June 17 (bdnews24.com) ? Arms and ammunition imports increased by a million dollar in the last fiscal, with China being the top exporter to Bangladesh.

The country imported $24.61 million worth of arms and ammunition and parts and accessories in 2009-10 fiscal, while it was $23.71 million in the previous fiscal, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

China exported about $17 million worth of arms and ammunition in the last fiscal compared to about $10 million in the preceding fiscal.

The US, the UK, France and Russia jointly supplied about $0.11 million worth of arms and ammunition in 2009-10 fiscal, while it was about $7.4 million in the previous fiscal.

The finance minister in the proposed budget for 2011-12 fiscal has imposed 100 per cent supplementary duty on bomb, grenade, torpedo, mine, missile, revolver and pistol and similar explosives.

The minister has proposed to raise the defence spending of the country by Tk 27.76 billion to Tk 119.55 billion in the next fiscal.

It is 7.3 percent of the total budget size of Tk 1.64 trillion for the fiscal 2011-12.

For the current fiscal, the defence budget is 6.9 per cent of the Tk 1.32 trillion budget.

The revised spending, however, increased to Tk 93.22 billion from the original expenditure of Tk 91.79 billion.

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in his budget speech for 2011-12 on June 9 said the government had taken steps to modernise the defence system.

"There is no alternative to augmenting the defence capacity of the country through modernisation of armed forces," he said.

The government has taken steps to provide training to the three forces to enhance their operational capacity and efficiency.

"Side by side, we have been trying to procure modern equipment and modern technology-based military hardware and to enhance other benefits for the defence forces," he said.

He said approximately a total of 9,000 members of three forces were working in peace-keeping missions of the United Nations.

"Our armed forces have not only glorified the image of Bangladesh but also made significant contribution to the economy," he said.

"We believe that they will continue to leave their mark in the international arena in the similar fashion as they are doing now," he added.

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