Polnews24: Jun 21, 2011

Tuesday

UP ELECTIONSPost-poll violence claims 2 lives

Rajbari, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? A post-polls clash between the supporters of the winning chairman and his rival at the district's Babupara union of Pangsha upazila has left one dead and at least six others injured.

Police said the clash erupted on Sunday morning when the supporters of candidate Iman Sarder attacked the house of 'Shahidul', a supporter of the winning candidate Kashem Sarwar.

The deceased, Abdul Momin, 20, son of Abul Hossain Fakir, and another injured 'Raju', 21, were shot at during the clash. Momin succumbed to bullet injury on way to the Faridpur Medical College (FMC) from the Pangsha Upazila Health Complex.

Health complex officials said the injured Aynal Sarder, 24, Ujir Ahmed, 22, 'Rezaul', 30, 'Iran', 40 and Jahirun Nesa, 45, along with Momin and Raju were taken to the complex first.

All of them were admitted to the complex, while Raju was admitted to the FMC.

Pangsha Police Station acting officer in-charge (investigation) Alamgir Hossain said Momin and Raju were shot at by Shahidul's brother 'Montu'. He fired from his licensed gun to save his brother from the attack.

Police arrested Montu and seized the gun with 19 rounds of bullet.

A case has been filed with Pangsha Police Station and additional police force has been deployed in the area.

Meanwhile, another post-polls clash between the supporters of the winning candidate and his rival at Sahapara union of Sadar upazila of Gaibandha district has left one dead.

Tajul Islam, 30, died at the Rangpur Medical College (RMC) on Sunday where he was admitted on Friday after the clash between the supporters of candidates Mominul Haque and Sahadul Islam.

Gaibandha Police Station officer in-charge Moshiur Rahman said dispute between supporters of the two candidates turned into a clash which left at least 12 people injured at Chakchaka village of the union.

"Of them, critically injured Nazrul Islam and Tajul were and admitted at the RMC. Tajul died in the early hours on Sunday," he said.

A case had been filed in this connection at the Sadar Police Station, he added.

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Black hole consumes star

WASHINGTON, June 20 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - A monster black hole shredded a Sun-like star, producing a strangely long-lasting flash of gamma rays that probably won't be seen again in a million years, astronomers reported on Thursday.

That is definitely not the norm for gamma ray bursts, energetic blasts that typically flare up and end in a matter of seconds or milliseconds, often the sign of the death throes of a collapsing star.

"This is truly different from any explosive event we have seen before," said Joshua Bloom of the University of California-Berkeley, a co-author of research on the blast published in the journal Science.

Initially spied on March 28 by NASA's Swift spacecraft, which is trolling the universe for gamma ray bursts, this particular flash has lasted more than two months and is still going on, Bloom said in a telephone interview.

What makes this even stranger is that the black hole, located in the constellation Draco (The Dragon) about 4 billion light years, or 24 sextillion miles (38.62 sextillion km) -- 24 followed by 21 zeroes -- from Earth, was sitting quietly, not eating much, when a star about the mass of our Sun moved into range.

"We have this otherwise dormant black hole, not gobbling up an appreciable amount of mass, and along comes this star which just happens to be on some orbit which puts it close to the black hole," Bloom said.

FEEDING FRENZY

"This was a black hole which was otherwise quiescent and it sort of has an impulsive feeding frenzy on this one star," he said.

Bloom figures this may happen once per black hole per million years.

This kind of behavior is different from what active black holes generally do, which is to suck in everything their vast gravity can pull in, even light. Most galaxies, including our Milky Way, are thought to harbor black holes in their hearts.

Black holes are invisible, but astronomers can infer their existence because the material they pull in lights up before it gets sucked in.

In this case, though, the black hole feasted on one star -- about the same mass as our Sun -- with such relish that it tore the star apart before gulping it down. As it did so, the black hole emitted powerful gamma ray jets from its center as bits of the dying star were turned into energy.

The black hole's gravitational pull was so great that it exerted what's called a tidal disruption on the passing star.

Astronomers could use this observation to help them learn more about how black holes grow, Bloom said.

"We still don't understand how black holes and the universe grow," he said. "We think most black holes start off as being no more than the mass of our Sun ... How they go from 10 solar masses to a billion solar masses is critical."

There is a strong connection between the mass of black holes and the mass of the galaxies that host them, with black holes feeding on gas and stars that come near.

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1 killed in Madaripur polls violence

Madaripur, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Miscreants have hacked a sexagenarian man to death at Kalkini upazila in Madaripur, hours before the Union Parishad polls began in the area.

Police said the incident took place early on Sunday at Char Daulat Kha village in the upazila that saw polls in 14 unions on Sunday.

The victim was identified as Mohabbat Ali Sarder, 60.

At least three people were killed in the upazila last month centering the local body elections.

Locals alleged the supporters of two chairman candidates -- Sarder Mohammad Abdul Mannan and Chan Mia Shikder -- set off a number of hand bombs from 10:30pm until the early hours of Sunday, spreading panic in the area.

Mannan's supporters tried to drive out the agents of their rival candidate from three centres, Kalkini Police Station officer in-charge A K M Shahin Mandal told bdnews24.com.

The body of Mohabbat was in the police station until filing of the report.

Additional police were deployed at the village to avoid further trouble, the police officer said.

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Muktijoddha SKC keep title hope alive

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC kept their title hope alive in the Grameenphone Bangladesh League beating Chittagong Mohammedan SC by 2-1 goals at the Cox's Bazar Stadium Monday, reports UNB.

It was the 2nd consecutive victory for the freedom fighters team Muktijoddha in the ongoing league after beating the port city team Mohammedan SC by 6-0 goals in the first leg match.

In the day's match, national coloured medio Arman Aziz put

Muktijoddha ahead in the 10th minute and Sudanese striker James Saeed Moga doubled the margin in the 50th minute. Shahedul Alam scored the consolation goal for Chittagong Mohammedan in the 68th minute.

After the day's feat, Muktijoddha SKC remained at the 2nd slot in the league table securing 47 points from 21 outings, three points behind league leader Sk Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who bagged 50 points.

Chittagong Mohammedan SC still under relegation threat with 17 points with one more match to play

In the day's other match, Arambagh KS confirmed their survival in the Bangladesh League with a 2-0 victory over Farashganj at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Monday.

With the day's win, Arambagh KS took their tally to 24 points from 21 matches to move up to the 7th position while Farashganj remained in the danger zone with 19 points and one match to play.

After a barren first half, Nigerian Subair Mohammed Omobolaji put Arambagh KS ahead in the 67th minute by placing the ball home capitalizing on square pass of Ismael Bangoura (1-0).

In the injury time, Ismael Bangoura doubled the margin for Arambagh KS in the injury time by a placing shot off a low cross of Faisal Ahmed Emeka (2-0)..

Earlier, Farashganj's best chance came in the 77th minute when substitute forward Kalou Johnson's placing shot off a Siyo Zunapiyo pass narrowly travelled over target.

Farashganj were unfortunate in the 87th minute when Siyo Zunapiyo's head off a Rajiv cross, rebounded to the game and Kalou Johnson headed the ball wide.

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Rumana 'can't cheat'

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Residents of Saint John's College on the campus of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver have dismissed the allegation slapped against Rumana Monzur being unfaithful by her husband as false.
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Rumana's 20 acquaintances have come up with individual statements to refute the charge.

Dr Olav Slaymaker, acting principal, St. John's College, and also a professor emeritus of geography, put forward the individual statements along with his own remarks on Rumana.

"We, people from Saint John's College, who lived with Rumana during her stay in Canada strongly reject this accusation," Dr Slaymaker said in his forwarding letter, emailed to bdnews24.com.

Rumana, a teacher of Dhaka University's international relations department, was taken to India on June 14 as she was seriously injured after her husband, Hassan Sayed, tried to gouge her eyes out and chewed her nose off in Dhaka on June 5.

She is completing a master's degree in political science at the Vancouver campus of The University of British Columbia, where she was supposed to submit her thesis paper in October.

All the 20 students in their statements said Rumana was a kind, intelligent and good Muslim who was devoted to her family during her time in Canada.

Dr Slaymaker said the 20 residents include graduate students (called Junior Fellows), post-doctoral students and visiting scholars. "Each student is housed in a private study bedroom with its own private bathroom," the professor said.

"The residents in the College constitute an elite group of highly qualified persons, each of whom is engaged in specialized research and enjoys access to the University's library, laboratories, museums and research parks. They are mature, self-reliant individuals in whom I have complete confidence," he said.

INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS

Mohsen Seddigh, a UBC PhD law student from Iran , says: "I know her [Rumana] as a friend and a fellow resident. I never saw Rumana engage in any kind of behavior with any male resident or nonresident which would even remotely imply that she was more than simple friends with any man?

"Therefore, the general impression that I have of Rumana is that of a family-oriented and pious woman."

Amber Perreca of Canada says: "I witnessed no acts of infidelity while knowing her during her stay in Canada."

Ilksen Icen from Turkeysays, "Not only she [Rumana] used to cover her head as a symbol of the Islamic values which she practiced all the time, but she, at the same time, was surrounded by her female friends all the time, so to speak."

Bieke Johanna Magdalene Primavera Gils of Belgium says, "Rumana Monzur and I often spent time together. We shared breakfast and dinner at the College, and occasionally went out for lunch together.

"I'm confident that the allegations about Rumana Monzur being unfaithful made by her husband are false."

Pearl Siganporia of India says, "I would like to confirm the fact that Ms. Rumana Monzur has not had any extra-marital affair while at her stay at St. John's College, UBC, Vancouver."

Isabel Andrade of Ecuador says: "I think these allegations are baseless and untrue and as one of the closest persons to Rumana I always observed that she conducted herself responsibly throughout her stay at the College and was well respected by many people myself inclusive."

Alexander Bauer Westbye, Norway : "I can testify that I have no doubt that the accusations put forward by her husband are false, and are an attempt to damage Rumana Monzur's flawless reputation."

Those issued statements also include Dr Elena Cirkovic and Chang Chen, Canada, Nicole Ong of Singapore, Nima Taherinejad of Iran and Ziaul Hassan of Indian, ?avlan Erengezgin of Turkey and Abhijit Pandhari of India.

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Hassan grilling after Rumana returns: DB

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Hassan Syed, the husband of tormented Dhaka University teacher Rumana Monzur, will be grilled after she returns from India on Tuesday, a senior officer of the Detective Branch (DB) of police has said.

"Rumana will return on Tuesday. Syed will be quizzed after that," DB deputy commissioner Monirul Islam told bdnews24.com on Sunday.

"Though Syed admitted to the attack, we'll speak to Rumana about when and how he attacked her. The entire incident will be matched after speaking to her," he said.

The detective said Syed, who claimed to have passed out from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), had not completed his studies in the university.

"He stopped studying after completing his third year in electrical engineering department. We'll check how true his claim that he stopped studying for weakening eyesight is," he said.

"It was understood during the remand that Syed had been suffering from inferiority complex," Islam added.

Earlier, a Dhaka court granted Bahauddin Faruqi, a DB sub-inspector and the investigation officer, one day to question Syed in the attempt-to-murder case filed by the father of the victim on June 6.

Hassan, 38, was produced before the court on completion of his two-day remand.

Absconding since June 5, Hassan was arrested on June 15 after he allegedly tried to gouge her eyes out and chewed part of her nose off.

Assistant professor of international relations of Dhaka University, Rumana was taken to Chennai, India for better treatment on June 14, as doctors said the tissues of the victim's eyes had got badly ruptured in the attack.

After arrest, Hassan claimed she had an affair with an Iranian, whom Rumana met while studying in Canada.

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DURBAN MEET 'Midwives can be safe motherhood guides'

Nurul Islam Hasib
bdnews24.com senior correspondent from Durban

Durban, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? Nearly a thousand lives can be saved everyday in developing countries, including Bangladesh, if proper midwifery services can be ensured, a new report says.

The first-ever 'State of the World's Midwifery 2011' report released on Monday in South Africa's Durban said around 1,000 women die from pregnancy and childbirth each day in 58 developing countries.

The death could be avoided if midwifery services can be ensured, it said.

The report said, "Proficient, motivated and supported midwifery workforce is a key to success in tackling this heavy toll of death."

It suggested the governments to recognise midwifery as 'a distinct profession' and promote it as a career with posts at the national level policy.

The report, launched at the International Confederation of Midwives' 29th triennial congress, unveiled that there is a wide gap between the numbers of the practising midwives and those needed to save lives.

"The report points to an urgent need to train more health workers with midwifery skills and ensure equitable access to their life-saving services in communities to improve the health of women and children," said Bunmi Makinwa, UNFPA's regional director for Africa in his speech while unveiling the report.

UNFPA coordinated preparation of the report.

The report said unless an additional 112,000 midwives are trained, deployed and retained in supportive environments, 38 of 58 countries surveyed, might not meet their target to achieve 95 percent coverage of births by skilled attendants by 2015, as required by Millennium Development Goals.

The report, however, represented old statistics of Bangladesh's MDG indicators.

It said maternal mortality ratio is 340 per 100,000 in Bangladesh which means the county is far off the MDG 5.

But results of the nationwide Maternal Mortality Survey 2011 suggest that maternal deaths fell to 194 per 100,000 in 2010 from 322 per in 2001, putting Bangladesh on track to achieve the goal.

MDG 5 requires the country to reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015.

"We used data from similar sources for all countries. We used joint statistics (2008) of World Health Organisation, World Bank, UNFPA and Unicef," UNFPA maternal health adviser Vincent Fauveau told bdnews24.com.

He, however, said they lately came to know Bangladesh's progress.

Dr Khaled Shamsul Islam, who is attending the congress as the Bangladeshi representative, told bdnews24.com that he had talked with the UNFPA coordinator soon after the report release.

"Basically they collected all information in 2010, but our survey findings (Maternal Mortality Survey 2011) came out in February 2011," he said.

He said Bangladesh has started preparing strategies to scale-up midwifery services despite its successes in cutting maternal deaths.

"We've already made some policy decisions that include creating separate midwifery workforce, converting Bangladesh Nursing Council into Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council and Department of Nursing Services into Department of Nursing and Midwifery Services."

He said the government is committed to produce 3,000 midwives by 2015.

Chief of UNFPA's Sexual and Reproductive Health Branch Dr Laura Laski commended Bangladesh's 'big' policy decision on midwifery.

"Its (midwifery) one aspect is to reduce maternal deaths, but another significant aspect is improving women's health," she told bdnews24.com.

"In Bangladesh the number of adolescent girls is increasing and they are entering into reproductive age and becoming sexually active.

"You (Bangladesh) need to provide them with a package of services that include maternal health services, contraceptives and information on adolescence.

"They don't know when to get pregnant and even what to do when pregnant," she said.

She added that midwives posted at community levels could help in this regard.

ICM president Bridget Lynch said it is the first-ever comprehensive report that clearly identified the need of a competent and active midwifery workforce, working as a key part of an effective healthcare system.

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MP terms deal with ConocoPhillips time-befitting

FE Report

A vested quarter is hatching conspiracy to destroy the country's economy in the name of protecting its natural resources like oil, gas and coal, a ruling party lawmaker said in parliament Monday.

Tajul Islam, a lawmaker from Noakhali, termed the deal signed between state-owned Petrobangla and ConocoPhillips of the United States time-befitting, saying that neighbours of the country, Myanmar and India, have started exploring oil and gas from deep sea blocks in the Bay of Bengal to earn more benefits.

"If we do not explore such natural resources right at this moment, our neighbouring countries will take the same away from us. Those who are protesting the move do not want progress of the nation," the parliamentarian said.

Meanwhile Manoranjan Sen Gopal, a member of parliament from Comilla, said the government should strengthen the activities of state-operated telecom company - Bangladesh Tele-communications Company Limited (BTCL) - as security and sovereignty is at great danger due to domination of the leading overseas telecom firms.

"Five foreign mobile companies - Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Citycell - are dominating the sector, which is not a good thing for the nation," he said.

"The government should take immediate measures to boost up the capacity of BTCL considering the country's security and sovereignty," he added.

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3 children among 15 dead in new raid on Libya

3 children among 15 dead in new raid on Libya
A picture taken on a government-guided tour Sunday shows the rubble of buildings. TRIPOLI, June 20 (agencies) : Three children were among 15 people killed in a new NATO-led air strike Monday, government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim told reporters as they were given a tour of damaged buildings in Sorman, 70 kilometres (45 miles) west of Tripoli.

Meanwhile: NATO acknowledged late Sunday that it was responsible for civilian deaths in Tripoli after Libyan officials showed reporters five bodies, two of them of toddlers, they said were among nine people killed in a "barbaric" air strike.

Rebels fighting the four-decade rule of Moamer Kadhafi meanwhile warned that they were running out of money as their struggle enters a fifth month and called on governments in the NATO-led coalition to make good their promises of funds.

An alliance statement released in Brussels said "NATO acknowledges civilian casualties in Tripoli strike" during action targeting a missile site.

"It appears that one weapon did not strike the intended target and that there may have been a weapons system failure which may have caused a number of civilian casualties," the statement added.

The admission that the civilian deaths were caused by NATO was an embarrassment for the alliance which has led the bombing campaign under a UN mandate to protect civilians.

Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim accused the Western alliance of "deliberately targeting civilians," insisting there were no military targets anywhere near the residential area of Tripoli that was hit early on Sunday.

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Govt appoints five national professors

The government has appointed five eminent academicians of the country as National Professors for next five years, a PID release said Monday. The appointed National Professors are-Prof Sardar Fazlul Karim, former professor of Dhaka University (DU), Prof A F Salahauddin Ahmed, former professor of History department of DU, Prof Dr Mustafa Nurul Islam, former professor of Jahangirnagar University and former Director General of Bangla Academy, Prof Shahela Khatun, former professor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Prof Dr Rangalal Sen, former professor of Sociology department of DU.

? BSS

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Scope still there for BNP: Law Minister

Nationwide

Author / Source : independent online/bdnews24.com

Dhaka: The law minister has said BNP still has the scope to discuss the constitution amendment issue and give its opinion.

"Approval from the cabinet doesn't mean it's turned to be a law. It'll be placed in parliament and be sent to the standing committee from where it'll return to the House again after scrutiny," Shafique Ahmed said on Tuesday.

"At every step, BNP has the opportunity to discuss the issue," he told reporters after attending a views-exchange meeting in the city.

His comments came after BNP's standing committee member Moudud Ahmed on Monday said there was no scope left for talks.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the special parliamentary committee report containing 51 recommendations, submitted in parliament on June 8.

Shafique said the committee prepared the recommendations after taking opinions from all quarters.

"They [BNP] had been made member of the committee, but they didn't appear," he added.

"The country will be run as per the constitution; there is nothing to be done here forcibly," the minister added.

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KIBRIA KILLINGCharge-sheet a farce, says widow

Shafiqul Islam Milton
bdnews24.com correspondent

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? The widow of murdered former finance minister Shah A M S Kibria has alleged that the 'real criminals' are not named in the supplementary charge-sheet of the case.

After the charge-sheet was submitted to a court on Monday, Asma Kibria told bdnews24.com that only the names of some 'small fries' of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) were included in it.

The charge-sheet against 14 people, including ex-BNP state minister Lutfozzaman Babar, was pressed in the Habiganj Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court around 10:30am on completion of further investigation.

Investigation officer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam of Criminal Investigation Department of the police told bdnews24.com that hearing on the charge-sheet would be held on June 24 at Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal.

Former finance minister and Awami League leader Kibria and four others were killed in a grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Habiganj on Jan 27, 2005. Over 70 people were also injured in the gruesome attack.

Abdul Majid Khan, then general secretary of Awami League's district unit and currently an MP, filed two cases over the incident.

CID officer Munshi Atiqur Rahman submitted a charge-sheet naming 10 people on Mar 10, 2005. But the High Court ordered further investigation into the murder when the caretaker government was in office.

Babar, now behind the bars in an arms case, was also shown arrested in connection with the grenade attack.

Another five accused, including HuJI leader Mufti Hannan, are also detained in jail.

'TOP OFFICERS HAD LINK'

Asma said, "There is a little difference between the supplementary and the main charge-sheets."

"Names of real criminals are not mentioned in the supplementary charge-sheet, too," she added.

She blamed the 'lack of sincerity of the investigation officers and the government' for the omission.

"The then government tried to divert the flow of the investigation. The caretaker government only followed it," Asma said.

She said she became hopeful about the trial of the case. "But I was frustrated after seeing the supplementary charge-sheet."

"The real criminals could be found if the government was sincere," she said.

Asked whom she suspected to be assassins of her husband, Asma said: "I can't accuse anyone as I am not the agency that was given the charge to investigate."

"But many top officers of the then government were linked with the murder," she added.

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17 admin officials shifted

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? The government has transferred two joint secretaries and 15 senior assistant secretary-level officials.

The public administration ministry issued orders to this effect on Monday.

Of the senior assistant secretaries, 10 have been made additional deputy commissioners (ADCs) in different districts, while four have been made Upazila Executive Officers (UNOs).

Of the joint secretaries, Ahmed Ullah of the energy and mineral resources division has been deputed at the public administration for his further appointment. He has been replaced by Safat Ahmed of the home ministry.

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Six team qualifier for CLT20

Dhaka, June 21 (bdnews24.com) ? The Champions League Twenty20 will be preceded by a six-team qualifying stage that will see English teams back in the tournament.

The matches will be held from September 23 to October 9 in Hyderabad (the qualifiers), Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai, which will also stage the final, reports ESPNcricinfo.

Three teams from the qualifying stage will join the seven who've already qualified and play out the format used in 2010. The sides in the main round will be divided into two groups of five, with the top two from each qualifying for the semi-finals.

Kolkata Knight Riders, who finished fourth in the IPL this year, the Caribbean T20 Champions Trinidad and Tobago and the HRV Cup - New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 competition - title-winners Auckland Aces have been invited to participate in the qualifiers, to be held from September 19 to 21.

One team from Sri Lanka and two from England are expected to join them, though those teams and the format for the qualifiers are yet to be decided.

The qualifiers clash with the third Test between Sri Lanka and Australia, and in that case Kolkata as well as the Sri Lankan franchise could be deprived of players on national duty.

The seven confirmed participants include the top three from the IPL, and the winners and runners-up from the Big Bash in Australia and the Pro20 tournament in South Africa.

They are Chennai Super Kings (IPL and CLT20 champions), Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians from the IPL; South Australia Redbacks and New South Wales Blues from the Big Bash, and the Warriors and Cape Cobras from South Africa.

Pakistan are the only major Test-playing nation to not have teams play in either the qualifiers or the main round.

The main round will be split among Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata. The opening game will be held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium while Chennai will stage a semi-final and the final.

The inaugural edition of the tournament in 2009 had 12 teams. The 2010 edition, which was played in South Africa, had ten teams, including New Zealand's Central Districts, who, among others, are yet to receive their prize money.

This due led to criticism by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), the players' representative body, of the organisers of the Champions League - the boards of Australia, India and South Africa.

While Australia and South Africa have paid their teams the prize money, the rest are still waiting. However, a governing council member said that the deposits would be made 'any day now.'

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DURBAN MEETWe're here, proclaim midwives

Nurul Islam Hasib
bdnews24.com senior correspondent from Durban

Durban, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Traditional dance, beating of drums and school children's parading, with flags of over 85 countries swaying in the breeze, gave a perfect start to the 29th triennial congress of midwives in the busiest port city of South Africa on Sunday evening.

The International Convention Centre (ICC), Durban wore a festive look where hundreds of midwives gathered, representing their countries at the grand opening of the event.

International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) president Bridget Lynch formally opened the five-day congress by thanking all who "extended support to make the event happen".

"It (the congress) proves midwives can do what they want when united," she said, adding, "We (midwives) are moving forward."

"We could develop a global standard of education and regulation for midwives. It's the only profession in the healthcare profession that could do that," she said amid thunderous applause and cheers.

"We must know a midwife is a midwife wherever she goes," she underlined.

Referring to Saturday's five-kilometer walk, Lynch said, "It's clear to the world that midwifes will no longer be invisible?"

Midwives from across the globe walked five kilometres along the Durban waterfront on Saturday, a day prior to the opening of the congress, to send the message across that "the world needs more midwives now than ever to save mothers".

The theme of the congress is midwives tackling the "Big 5" globally that include globalisation, listening to women and their partners, continuum of care, strengthening midwives and midwifery, and taking consideration of culture, tradition and society.

South Africa's deputy health minister Gwendoline Ramokgopa welcomed global midwives in South Africa and thanked them for their contribution in cutting maternal deaths and improving lives of women.

Apart from ensuring a skilled attendant during delivery, midwives also ensure family planning, pregnancy check-ups and post-delivery care, and prevent transmission of diseases from mother to child.

"The historic event brings hope and encouragement to the women, and children," Kiran Bajracharya, president of Midwifery Society of Nepal, told bdnews24.com.

"The congress gives a platform for sharing a best practice model towards improving the midwifery," she said.

Midwives are the hope for many villagers in Nepal, who do not see doctors, according to her.

An Afgan midwife Madina Rashidi and a Nigerian midwife Catherine Oluwatoyin Ojo were honored on the occasion with Save the Children Everyone Midwife award for their outstanding contribution in developing midwifery in their respective countries.

Dr Christina Mudokwenyu-Rawdon with 38 years of experience in midwifery was awarded Marie Goubran Award for her leadership in developing midwifery education and research.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that supports midwifery development observes that competent midwives are cost-effective solution to cut maternal deaths.

"But the point is midwives have to be supervised. Supervision is extremely important," a UNFPA coordinator for midwifery programme told bdnews24.com earlier.

The UNFPA-coordinated State of the World Midwifery 2011 report will be released in the congress on Monday.

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PCB to protest CLT20 exclusion

Dhaka, June 21 (bdnews24,com) ? Pakistan are expected to raise the issue of their continued snub from the Champions League Twenty20 at the ICC annual meeting later this month in Hong Kong.

The Champions League unveiled its schedule and a new format for this year's tournament on Monday, a ten-team tournament to be held in India in September and October, preceded by a six-team qualifying stage, reports ESPNcricinfo.

This season sees the return of teams from England for the qualifying stages, but as expected no team from Pakistan has been invited.

That leaves them as the only major Test nation without representation in the tournament; Bangladesh are the only other full member without a team in the mix.

Officially the PCB chose not to respond to the snub, but one official said that the issue would not be left alone. "We plan to have full scale discussions during the ICC AGM later this month about our exclusion," he told ESPNcricinfo. The board has, according to the official, already raised the issue "indirectly" with other boards, as well as the ICC.

They have not yet, however, been in contact with the three boards that run the event, those of India, Australia and South Africa.

"The response from the Indian side is very cold and we have not discussed this with CA or CSA because the BCCI calls the shots and it is no use discussing it with others," the official said. An official from the Champions League was contacted but no response was forthcoming.

The muted public response is in a way indicative of Pakistan's confused approach to one of the game's most lucrative tournaments.

A team from Pakistan - the then champions Sialkot Stallions - was invited to the inaugural edition of the tournament at the end of 2008, but that was postponed after the Mumbai terror attacks in November that year.

The fall-out of those attacks was a deteriorating political relationship between India and Pakistan, and a cricketing one between the BCCI and PCB. The invitation was withdrawn for the 2009 event.

Last year, the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt first said Pakistan would be open to sending a team to the second tournament, before ruling out that possibility less than two weeks later and then finally denying, two months later, that he had ruled out participation and expressing his disappointment.

The snub comes days before Pakistan's own, new domestic T20 tournament gets underway in Faisalabad (from June 24).

The tournament is a new addition to the domestic calendar, cashing in on the immense popularity of the format in Pakistan and in particular its own T20 tournament over the last few years. This version is a kind of champions league itself; open only to the top eight domestic sides (according to their standings in the main T20 tournament earlier in the season).

Despite a recent dip in form, Pakistan is counted among the top Twenty20 sides in the world, having won the world title in 2009, finished runners-up in 2007 and only been denied a final spot in 2010 after a freakish innings from Michael Hussey.

This also means that the ICC AGM will be a particularly significant one for Pakistan.

In addition to the issue over the exclusion from the Champions League, the matter of the PCB's legal notice to the ICC over governance will fall under the spotlight, as well as the board's objection to the proposed changes to the presidential appointment system.

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Thousands in Yemen call for president's son leave country

Thousands in Yemen call for president's son leave country
Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President . SANAA, June 20 (AP): Tens of thousands of Yemenis have taken to the streets of the capital, demanding that the president's son leave the country.

Ahmed Saleh, 42, is a one-time heir apparent who commands the elite Yemeni Presidential Guard. The force has been leading the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators since the uprising began in February.

Demonstrators on Monday called for him to leave, along with his brother Khaled, who is also an army commander.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president of nearly 33 years, was badly wounded in an attack on his presidential compound earlier this month and is undergoing medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

A ruling party official said last week he would return soon, though he faces growing pressure at home and abroad to step down.

Meanwhile: At least 12 militants and nine soldiers were killed in three clashes on Sunday in southern Yemen, where Islamists and separatists have launched several attacks during the country's bloody political crisis.

Twelve militants and two soldiers were killed outside Zinjibar-the capital of the flashpoint southern province of Abyan, a military official said.

A local official later told Reuters that five soldiers were killed in a separate attack by militants near Zinjibar.

In the southern province of Lahej, a local official said two soldiers were killed in a shootout.

Thousands of people have fled the clashes between the army and militants believed to be close to al Qaeda in the southern province of Abyan, after its capital Zinjibar fell to militants last month.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's opponents have accused him of handing over Zinjibar to Islamists to reinforce his threat that the end of his three-decade rule, as demanded by protesters, would amount to ceding the region to al Qaeda.

In Lahej, where both separatists and Islamist forces have as much or more sway than the central government, gunmen have launched bold attacks in recent weeks.

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Rumana returns from India

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? Rumana Monzur, the tormented Dhaka University teacher, has returned from India.

The plane carrying the International Relations department teacher touched down at the Shahjalal International Airport around 4pm on Monday, her colleague Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan told bdnews24.com.

According to Khan, doctors at the Indian hospital, where Rumana was under treatment, has asked her to be there again after her wounds heal.

She was taken to Chennai, India for better treatment on June 14, as doctors said her eye tissues had got badly ruptured.

Her husband Hassan Syed was arrested and grilled in a case filed for torturing her. He allegedly tried to gouge her eyes out and chewed part of her nose off.

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Indian army chief calls on PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh believes in peaceful co-existence and friendly relations with all neighbouring countries, reports UNB.

The Prime Minister made this reiteration of her government's foreign policy when visiting Indian army chief General V.K. Singh called on her at Ganobhaban Monday morning.

PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters that during the meeting, the Prime Minister observed such visits would help strengthen bilateral ties.

Bangladesh believes in good relations with India, as with all other neighboring countries, Hasina is said to have made clear to General Singh.

The Prime Minister also stressed cooperation to alleviate poverty in South Asia.

She recalled with deep gratitude the active cooperation of the Indian government, people and military during Bangladesh war of liberation in 1971. She remembered in particular the sacrifice made by the Indian army.

During the meeting, the Indian army chief showed the Prime Minister some rare photographs from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visit to India, and events related to the Liberation War.

Indian High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter, Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Abdul Wadud and other senior army officers were present.

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US, Panama reach CONCACAF semi-finals

WASHINGTON, June 20 (AFP): Panama booked their CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final berth in dramatic style Sunday, beating El Salvador 5-3 on penalties after Luis Tejada equalized in the 90th minute.

Panama lined up another match against their Group C rivals the United States, who had second-half goals from Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey in a 2-0 victory over Jamaica in the quarter-finals of the regional championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

In the second match of the day's double-header at RFK Stadium, Tejada's 90th minute strike answered the penalty converted by Rodolfo Zelaya in the 78th for El Salvador.

Tejada converted in the penalty shoot-out, making the clinching shot after Nelson Barahona, Luis Renteria, Anibal Godoy and Amilcar Henriquez converted.

Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo stopped the first penalty he faced in the decider, from El Salvador's Dennis Alas.

"If things don't go your way in terms of soccer, you have to look for other ways to reach your goals," Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes said. "We have gotten a result in a way we're not used to.

"I think Panama never stopped fighting, and that's how we reached the goal, which is the most important thing going forward."

Both coaches were unhappy with some of the referee's calls.

Tejada's goal in the last minute of regular time first appeared to have been saved by El Salvador keeper Miguel Montes, but he was in the net and it was determined the ball crossed the goal line.

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BB to include other banks' deposits for calculating CDR

Siddique Islam

Commercial banks will able to lend more as the central bank has decided to include other banks' deposits for the calculation of credit-deposit ratio (CDR), officials said Monday.

In accordance with the latest decisions, the banks will be allowed to calculate the CDR considering other banks' deposits as a source of fund instead of excluding those deposits from the denominator.

Besides, the banks will have to include credit to other banks in their total credit position. But overnight borrowing and lending will be excluded from the total deposit and credit.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) took the decisions at a meeting with the leaders of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) and Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) held at its conference room Monday.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman presided over the meeting, while a nine-member delegation of the associations representing the owners of private commercial banks (PCBs) and their chief executive officers (CEOs) or managing directors led by BAB chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder took part in it.

"We'll issue a directive in this connection within a day or two," a senior official of the BB told the FE, adding that the central bank has taken the decision aiming to mobilise funds through encouraging intermediation in the banking sector.

"The banks will able to lend more funds in different sectors after issuing the new directive relating to calculation of the CDR," another BB official said.

The banks have to include credit to other banks in their total credit position, he said, adding that overnight borrowing and lending will be excluded from the total deposit and credit

The apex forum of the country's PCBs welcomed the BB's latest move, saying that it would help ease liquidity crunch in the banking system.

"The banks will able to maintain their CDR limit, set by the central bank earlier, easily following the BB's latest decision," Mr. Mazumder told the FE.

On February 20 last, the BB has set June 30 as deadline for bringing down the CDR of the commercial banks to a reasonable level.

Under the directive, 19 conventional commercial banks will have to bring down their CDR to 85 per cent while five Sharia-based Islamic banks to 90 per cent by June 30 this year.

"We've briefed the BB governor of our Saturday meeting's decisions," chairman of ABB K Mahmood Sattar told reporters, adding that the BB has welcomed Saturday meeting's decisions.

On Saturday, the BAB and the ABB decided to follow a uniform policy on deposit rate, indicating a maximum rate of interest at 12 per cent on deposits.

Besides the decision taken on the deposit rate, the meeting resolved to keep the limit on lending rate on import funding for food items at 12 per cent.

The decision came into effect from Monday, the BAB chief added

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9 gold smugglers held in Sylhet

Sylhet, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? The police have arrested nine members of a gold-smuggling ring in Sylhet.

They were arrested in the early hours of Monday from Naiorpul area of the city, police said.

The arrested are -- Feroz Alam Rubel, 24, Monir Hossain, 27, Taj Uddin Raju, 33, Raja Mia, 22, 'Ali', 35, Khurshed Alam, 41, Mohammad Jamal, 25, 'Majid', 22, and 'Khokan', 30.

A locker for the gold, a microbus and a pick-up van were seized from their possession, Kotwali police chief Khondakar Nowroz Ahmed told bdnews24.com.

Police set up check points at all the spots of the city after a burglary at Nayan Jewelers in the dead of night, at the Shahi Eidgah area of the city, the officer said.

Seven people were held with a locker, used for storing the gold, from a microbus early on Monday.

Later, two more were arrested from a hotel in the Dargah Gate area after information from the seven, he added.

The detainees confessed to being gold smugglers at the station. A case has been lodged against them with Kotwali police, he said.

bdnews24.com/corr/rm/aik/tk/1511h

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Govt hopeful of achieving Boro procurement target

Talha Bin Habib

The government could achieve its Boro rice procurement target this year as the concerned department has been getting positive responses from the millers since the inception of the drive this month, officials said.

The government has started procuring Boro rice from June 5 last. This year the target for procurement of Boro rice has been fixed at about 0.6 million tonnes. The procurement of per kilogram (kg) of rice has been fixed by the government at Tk 29.

The concerned department has already stored nearly 0.1 million tonnes of Boro rice in the government depots so far due to the positive responses from the millers.

"We have already stored about 83,000 tonnes of Boro rice at the Central Supply Depot (CSD) and Local Supply Depot (LSD) of the government since the start of the procurement drive," an official of the procurement division of Directorate General of Food told the FE Monday.

He said the food department has already made a deal with the millers for supplying rice in line with the agreed price between the government and the millers.

"We had already made deal with 9,640 millers to supply rice to the government," Director (Procurement) of Directorate General of Food Md Badrul Hasan told the FE Monday.

He said so far the millers have agreed to supply about 0.432 million tonnes of rice. The rest amount of rice, as per the government target, will be fulfilled easily since the concerned department is going to sign more contracts with more suppliers (rice millers) soon.

He said the government has set September the deadline for rice procurement drive, and it would be possible to achieve the target even before the timeframe.

"We strongly believe that the government target to procure 0.6 million tonnes of rice from internal sources can be possible even by July if favourable weather persists in the country," he added.

Asked whether the price of Boro procurement should benefit the farmers, he said the price of per maund of coarse paddy is now between Tk 650 and Tk 700.

"If we consider the present market price of paddy and procurement price of rice by the government then it can ensure guarantees of benefits to both the farmers and the millers," he asserted.

It is worth mentioning that last year the government purchased Boro rice at Tk 28 a kg. According to the present food stock situation, the government has 0.735 million tonnes of rice and wheat against a maximum capacity of stocking 1.5 million tonnes.

The food planning and monitoring committee at a meeting recently set the target for buffer rice stock at 1.1 million tonnes for the 2011-12 fiscal. About 5.2 million tonnes of food grains have already been imported through the public and private channels. The figure will reach 5.5 million tonnes as there is a possibility to import more 0.3 million tonnes of food grains during the last one week of the current 2010-11 fiscal.

Last year (2009-10 fiscal) about 3.5 millions tonnes of foodgrains through the private and public channels were imported.

The government had a target to procure about 1.2 million tonnes of rice and paddy from the internal sources last year (2009-10). Out of the procurement target, the government was able to procure only 0.56 million tonnes of rice from the internal sources. And out of 0.15 million tonnes of wheat procurement target, only 8,000 tonnes were procured last year (2009-10 fiscal), according to the concerned department.

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Tunisia's Ben Ali sentenced in absentia to 35 years in jail

Other International

Author / Source : Independent Online/reuters

TUNIS, Jun: A Tunisian court sentenced former president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in absentia on Monday to 35 years in jail, six months after his overthrow in a revolution helped to inspire the "Arab Spring."

Ben Ali, who has been in Saudi Arabia since he was forced from power, was found guilty after just one day of deliberation of theft and of illegally possessing jewelry and large sums of cash.

The same sentence was handed down to his wife Leila Trabelsi, a former hairdresser whose lavish lifestyle and clique of wealthy relatives were symbols of the corruption of the Ben Ali era for many Tunisians.

Ben Ali and his wife flew to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after mass protests against his 23-year rule. The Tunisian government said in February it had asked Saudi Arabia to extradite Ben Ali.

During his time in office, members of his extended family accumulated fortunes while his security forces routinely arrested anyone who dared to dissent.

Tunisia's revolt electrified millions across the Arab world who suffer similarly from high unemployment, rising prices and repressive governments. Ben Ali's case has been watched closely in Egypt, where former president Hosni Mubarak is due to stand trial over the killing of protesters.

In a statement issued by his lawyers earlier on Monday, Ben Ali denied all the charges against him, saying that he was the victim of a political plot. He said he had been tricked into leaving the country.

"What a moment," said Meriam, a student who was one of a handful of people waiting late into the evening outside the courthouse to hear the verdict. "After 23 years when he manipulated the courts, today a very fair court has returned to us a little bit of our honor."

"My brother was put in prison for nothing ... and the other one was forced to stay in Europe in exile for nine years," she said. "This (verdict) gives us some peace."

STEALING

Judge Touhami Hafian, who read out the verdict and sentence in the Palace of Justice in the Tunisian capital, also ruled that Ben Ali and his wife would have to pay fines totaling 91 million Tunisian dinars ($65.6 million).

The judge said the verdict on other charges, relating to illegal possession of drugs and weapons, would be handed down on June 30, according to a Reuters reporter who was in the courtroom.

During the hearing, a prosecutor had asked the judge to hand down "the most severe punishments for those who betrayed the trust and stole the money of the people for their personal gain .... They did not stop stealing for 23 years."

Ben Ali's defense lawyers refused to comment after the sentence was passed. Abderrazak Kilani, a senior lawyer who was not involved in the trial, told Reuters: "They have been given the heaviest sentence in this type of case."

Earlier, Ben Ali's lawyers had given the first detailed account of the events that led to his departure from Tunisia.

At the time, thousands of protesters had gathered in the center of the capital Tunis to demand that he step down, the culmination of three weeks of demonstrations which police tried to disperse by firing on the crowds.

The statement issued by his lawyers said that the head of presidential security had come to Ben Ali in his office and told him that "friendly" foreign intelligence services had passed on information about a plot to assassinate the president.

He was persuaded to get on a plane that was taking his wife and children to safety in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but with the intention of returning immediately, the statement said.

"He boarded the plane with his family after ordering the crew to wait for him in Jeddah. But after his arrival in Jeddah, the plane returned to Tunisia without waiting for him, contrary to his orders.

"He did not leave his post as president of the republic and hasn't fled Tunisia as he was falsely accused of doing," the statement said.

Ben Ali's version of events is unlikely to draw sympathy from the majority of Tunisians. They are now enjoying relative freedom after decades when most people would not speak openly for fear of arrest by the secret police.

In his statement released on Monday, Ben Ali said the weapons he was accused of possessing illegally were gifts from other heads of state and the jewelry had been given as presents to his wife by foreign dignitaries.

The money and drugs had been planted in his home and the presidential palace after his departure as part of the plot against him, he said in the statement.

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JP lawmaker wants 'filter' for judges

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Appointment of partisan judges in the higher courts creates instability in the judiciary.

Jatiya Party lawmaker Mojibul Haq in his budget discussion Sunday said there should be a system to appoint impartial and efficient judges in the higher courts.

"I have seen the partisan appointments in the regime of all governments but it creates problems," he said.

He was of the view that there should be laws to ban hartal.

About warrants of precedence, he said public representatives should not be categories lower than that of public servants.

"Cabinet and principal secretaries have higher ranks than that of lawmakers in the warrants of precedence and it should be amended," he pointed out.

H N Asiqur Rahman said inequality between rural and urban areas was increasing.

"The prospect of a person from rural area is not the same as of an urban person," he said.

Asaduzzaman Khan proposed to increase the tax-free income to Tk 0.25 million from Tk 0.18 million.

State minister for environment and forests Hasan Mahmud came down heavily on the national committee on protection of oil, gas, mineral resources.

"Who gave Monu (Anu) Mohammad the mandate to protect the national interest," he asked.

"He is a professor of economics. What he knows about mineral resources," he said.

"How the committee becomes a national one which is comprised of street urchins?"

"They want to stab the country and work on behalf of foreign patrons," he added.

"Some like to come to highlight by urinating on the head of people, while there are many who want to be highlighted by urinating on the country," Hasan said.

Mojibul Haq was in the chair when Hasan made the speech and the speaker gave him thanks for his wise and knowledgeable speech.

Lawmakers Afsarul Amin, Shawkat Ara Begum, Mohammad Abdul Hai, Giasuddin Ahmed, Mohammad Moslemuddin, Narayan Chandra Chanda, AKM Rahmatullah, Monowar Hossain Chowdhury, Mir Showkat Ali Badsha and Mohammad Shah Alam also spoke.

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AL can't win next polls: Moudud

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? A senior opposition leader has said no strategy of ruling Awami League to win the next national elections will succeed.

"The ruling party is devising various strategies apprehending its defeat in the next elections. But these strategies will not work," BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said on Monday.

He was addressing a discussion on 'Cultural imperialism and distressed humanity' organised by Dhaka University (DU) unit of the Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS) at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Moudud, also a former law minister, said the government is giving India transit neglecting the national interests.

It also took a US$ 1 billion loan from India on tough conditions.

"Thus India, as a large state, is taking control of Bangladesh," he said urging all to be united against the move.

Mentioning that Bangladesh's trade gap with India is US$ 4 billion, the BNP leader said the government has done everything last two and a half years what is needed to weaken the state.

"It (the government) is signing different agreements with India neglecting the national interests. As a small state our security is threatened. The foreign policy of the government is weaker than that during its previous tenure of 1996-2001."

Moudud said: "Bangladeshi people have no rivalry with Indians. We want to be a friend of India, but not neglecting the national interests."

He criticised the government for politicising the judiciary and the public administration.

BNP joint secretary general Aman Ullah Aman, JASAS general secretary Monir Khan and singer Rizia Pervin, among others, spoke at the discussion.

bdnews24.com/sm/skb/ssr/2016h

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Supplementary charge-sheet submitted

Habiganj, June 20 (bdnews24.com)?A supplementary charge-sheet has been submitted in the Shah A M S Kibria murder case against 14 people, including ex-BNP state minister Lutfozzaman Babar.

The charge-sheet was submitted to Habiganj Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court around 10:30am on completion of further investigation, CID senior ASP and investigation officer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com.

He said the hearing on the charge-sheet would be held on June 24 at Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal.

Former finance minister Kibria and four others were killed in a grenade attack in Habiganj on Jan 27, 2005. Over 70 people were also injured in the gruesome attack.

Abdul Majid Khan, then the general secretary of Awami League's district unit and currently an MP, filed two cases over the incident.

On Mar 10, 2005, then senior ASP of CID Munshi Atiqur Rahman submitted a charge sheet naming 10 people.

The High Court ordered further investigation into the murder case when the caretaker government was in office.

Babar, currently serving 17 years behind bars in an arms case, was also shown arrested in connection with the Aug 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally when he was the junior minister.

The case had been languishing for three years when it was taken up for further investigation as per directives of the High Court to find out the mastermind behind the grenade attack. Six accused are now detained in jail, including HuJI leader Mufti Hannan.

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Unidentified body recovered in Old Dhaka

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? Police have recovered the body of an unidentified man from Old Dhaka.

The deceased, around 40, attired in check lungi, was recovered from Shah Saheb Lane, under Gandaria police station, around 6:30am on Monday, said police.

Miscreants had allegedly hacked the man to death last night and dumped the body on the lane, Gandaria Police Station sub-inspector Abul Kalam told bdnews24.com.

The body has been sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, said the officer.

bdnews24.com/kt/aik/tk/1430h

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Withdraw oil-gas hartal, urges DCCI

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) has called on the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports to withdraw its proposed July 3 half-day general strike.

The citizens' body called the strike on Saturday to protest the government's deep-sea oil and gas exploration deal with US firm ConocoPhillips.

A DCCI press release on Saturday urged the committee to call off its strike, saying it welcomed the gas exploration activities that also upheld national interests.

"Many industries in the country are unable to operate due to lack of gas supply. They are facing losses," the release said.

The Production Sharing Contract (PSC) was signed with ConocoPhillips on Thursday, assigning it two of the 28 sea blocks with the country for exploration of gas and oil.

bdnews24.com/arr/sh/nir/2345h

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Suranjit slams minister over trial disclosure

Suranjit slams minister over trial disclosure
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate Suranjit Sengupta speaking at a discussion on 'Terrorism and War Crimes Free Non-communal Bangladesh' organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity on the occasion of the birth centenary of Poet Sufia Kamal. ? Focusbangla Photo Awami League advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta has said no minister has the legal jurisdiction to declare when the trial of suspected war criminals will begin.

Suranjit's barb was apparently aimed at the law minister Shafique Ahmed for his remarks that the trial would begin in July, reports bdnews24.com

At the Dhaka Reporters' Unity Monday, Suranjit, also the chief of parliamentary watchdog on law ministry, slammed the government for its 'unpardonable' failure to begin the trial even after two and a half years into its term.

The discussion, organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, on militancy and communalism-free Bangladesh was held to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Sufia Kamal.

About the announcement, he said: "The government has already formed the tribunal, prosecution and the investigating agency. It's the tribunal who will decide about the beginning of the trial.

"No minister has the legal power to say so, not even us," he observed.

Law minister Shafique Sunday said, "The progress that the investigators and prosecutors have shown lead me to believe that the trial could begin next month. They have confirmed about beginning of the trial of two.

"The rest may face trial in August," the technocrat minister added.

Suranjit said only the tribunal and prosecution team members should speak to the media. "Confusions may be created if others do that."

Urging the government to begin the trial soon, he said: "People will lose patience if the trial wouldn't start by this year."

The senior Awami League leader hoped the report of the special parliamentary committee on constitution review would be placed in the cabinet shortly.

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Sangakkara ton seals draw

Southampton, June 20 (bdenws24.com/Reuters) ? Stand-in captain Kumar Sangakkara rued Sri Lanka's bizarre batting collapse in the first test after his team lost the three-match series 1-0 to England.

Sangakkara's six-hour 119 helped clinch a draw in the third and final test at the Rose Bowl on Monday as his side finished on 334 for five, 141 runs ahead of the home team.

The remarkable innings defeat in the opening test in Cardiff -- where Sri Lanka were skittled for 82 in 24 overs -- ultimately cost them the series.

"That was probably the biggest regret on this tour," Sangakkara told reporters. "None of us were switched on to that situation.

"We needed to bat consistently for 25 or 30 overs, just one pair to put on a proper partnership on a wicket that was flatter than this one.

"It goes to show that one mistake, two mistakes, can magnify a situation that we should have been capable of handling nine times out of 10," added Sangakkara who was skippering the side at the Rose Bowl in place of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan.

England's series victory was their fifth in a row but Sri Lanka are clearly missing retired spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Sangakkara said his team had to find new ways of winning now that Muralitharan and pace pair Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga had quit the test arena.

"Our ambition has to be to consolidate with the players we have, the ability we have, and find new ways of winning test matches," he added. "We don't have Muralitharan any more, we don't have Vaas.

"For us to win we have to find different avenues. Those are the questions we need to answer in the months ahead."

OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

It is a more optimistic outlook for captain Andrew Strauss's England, who are eyeing the world number one test ranking.

Strauss's men are now third behind South Africa and leaders India, who tour England next month.

"We'll take the series win -- it continues our momentum from the winter and leads us into the India series in good cheer and in pretty good form," Strauss said.

"All three test matches were affected by the weather and in all three tests time was running out in order to force a result. In a way we're very satisfied we were able to convert one of the three opportunities to force a result.

"Maybe there's a tinge of disappointment we weren't able to do more today because we felt we were in with a really good chance of winning the game," added Strauss.

Both teams must now switch their attentions to Saturday's one-off Twenty20 international at Bristol and the subsequent five-match 50-over series.

Sri Lanka should have Dilshan back after he missed the third test with a broken thumb.

"I think Dilsh will be fine," Sangakkara added, praising the captain's 193 in the drawn second test at Lord's. "We hope he will be fit because of the way he is batting.

"I think he'll again be the key factor for us to win the ODI series. For him to be back leading us on the field will be good for all of us and Dilsh."

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BB asks banks to publicise rate charts properly

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has instructed all scheduled banks to publicise their rate charts for deposit and lending in a proper manner, reports bdnews24.com.

The banks will display the interest rate matrix in their head offices and branches at suitable places where everybody can see it.

The central bank, in a circular issued Monday, clarified the interest rate disclosure guidelines as it found that the banks are not properly announcing the rates.

It said the banks would disclose the mid-rate of interest, and considering risks of any client, it could charge 1.5 per cent up or down of the disclosed rate.

The banks will send the interest rate matrix to BB by the 7th of any month, the circular added.

If the central bank has fixed or will fix any rate for export or any other sector, the banks won't be allowed to charge more than that.

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Hassan on fresh remand

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com)?Detectives have got another day to question Hassan Syed, husband of tormented Dhaka University teacher Rumana Monzur.

Dhaka's chief metropolitan magistrate Shahriar Adnan on Sunday granted the Detective Branch (DB) the one-day remand.

Bahauddin Faruqi, a DB sub-inspector and the investigation officer, sought 10 days for questioning him in the attempt-to-murder case, filed by the father of the victim on June 6.

Hassan, 38, was produced before the court on completion of his two-day remand.

The investigator in the remand petition said it was necessary to further question him to check Rumana's Facebook and e-mail accounts. Hassan knew passwords to the accounts, he added.

Hassan's lawyer Monwar Islam Chowdhury appealed that he be grilled at the jail gate alleging that he was beaten during the remand.

Terming the torture on Rumana 'not a murder attempt', Monwar said there was no reason to remandi him again.

"She (Rumana) led her life in a western style. Her husband became sick due to her affair," he said.

Earlier, a Human Rights Foundation petition to list it as one of the plaintiffs in the case was granted. Lawyers Mahmuda Akter and Shammi Akter argued for the organisation.

Absconding since June 5, Hassan was arrested on June 15 after he allegedly tried to gouge her eyes out and chewed part of her nose off.

After arrest, Hassan claimed she had an affair with an Iranian, whom Rumana met while studying in Canada.

He said, "I requested her to discontinue the relations with the Iranian guy and deleted his name from her Facebook friends' list on June 5 when she was in bathroom."

"Finding the Iranian guy's name deleted, she attacked me and we had a scuffle," Hassan added.

The incident has sent a shock wave across the country, with Dhaka University teachers and students, civil society members and people of all walks of life condemning it.

The University of British Columbia, where Rumana is completing a master's degree in political science at its Vancouver campus, has also condemned the brutal attack.

bdnews24.com/pb/pd/pks/ost/sam/bd/1727h

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Keep rates above board, BB tells banks

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? Bangladesh Bank has instructed all scheduled banks to publicise their deposit and lending rates in a proper manner.

The central bank, in a circular issued Monday, clarified the interest rate disclosure guidelines as it found that the banks are not properly announcing the rates.

It said the banks would disclose the mid-rate of interest, and considering risks of any client, it could charge 1.5 per cent up or down of the disclosed rate.

The banks will send the interest rate matrix to Bangladesh Bank by the 7th of any month, the circular said.

If the central bank has fixed or will fix any rate for export or any other sector, the banks cannot charge more than that.

The banks will display the interest rate matrix in their head offices and branches at suitable places where everybody can see it.

bdnews24.com/ssz/nir/2030h

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Panama in semis

Washington, June 20 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Panama scored in the 90th minute to tie the game and went on to beat El Salvador 5-3 on penalties on Sunday, earning a place in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against the United States.

With the teams locked at 1-1 after extra time, Panama converted all five penalties they attempted and El Salvador missed their first spot kick from substitute Dennis Alas.

El Salvador opened the scoring in the 78th minute when striker Rodolfo Zelaya, who missed a penalty attempt in the first half, converted a second penalty attempt after he was brought down by defender Roman Torres.

El Salvador looked certain to hang on and advance to the semi-finals for the first time until Panama evened the score after a late goal-mouth scramble.

From close-range, Luis Tejada got a header that was ruled to have crossed the line. Tejada also converted the decisive spot kick in the shootout.

Panama will now play the U.S. Wednesday's in Houston after the Americans beat Jamaica 2-0 in the earlier quarter-final at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. [ID:nN1E75I08N]

The U.S. defeated Panama on penalties in the 2005 final final but Panama beat the host-nation in the group stages last week to raise hopes of another win this week.

The other semi-final will be played between Mexico and Honduras.

The eventual winner of the tournament will represent North and Central America and the Caribbean at the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.

bdnews24.com/sd/1505h

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Venus wins first match

WIMBLEDON, England, June 20 (AP): Five-time champion Venus Williams, back on her favorite grass surface, swept into the second round of Wimbledon on Monday with a straight-set win over 97th-ranked Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan.

Williams, who returned to action at Eastbourne last week after an injury layoff of nearly five months, looked right at home at the All England Club as she beat Amanmuradova 6-3, 6-1.

Williams also made a fashion statement, wearing a one-piece halter-top playsuit which exposed some of her back.

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56-man team leaves for Spl Olympics today

56-man team leaves for Spl Olympics today
Bangladeshi athletes who are going to take part in the Special Olympic Summer Games in six disciplines pose for photograph during a official photo session in the city Sunday. Hopes are very high as a strong 56-member of Special Olympics Bangladesh contingent will leave here for Greece today (Tuesday) to take part in the Special Olympic Summer Games, reports BSS.

This year Game is expected to be more colourful and more entertaining beginning from June 25, Saturday next in Athens.

This year's Special Olympic Summer Games is expected to attract near about 7,500 intellectual disabilities athletes. Participants from 182 countries will be competing in 22 Olympic-type sports.

However 40 Bangladeshi athletes would be competing in six disciplines - athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, football and bocce, a sports quite similar to bowling.

Bangladesh have been participating in the Special Olympics from the 1995 New Heaven Summer Games in United State where the Bangladesh athletes hogged the headlines capturing 20 medals including six gold and the intellectual-challenged athletes maintained their success in last Special Olympics in Shanghai in China, 2007.

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HC asks why upazila parishad being 'bypassed'

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? The High Court has issued a rule seeking to know why steps should not be taken to implement an order to submit reports prepared by various government officials at upazila level to the upazila parishad chairmen.

The bench of justices Farid Ahmed and Sheikh Hassan Arif issued the rule on Sunday.

The cabinet secretary and the secretaries of the public administration, health and family welfare, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, relief and disaster, social welfare, education, women and children affairs, youth and sports and the public works ministries have been asked to come with explanation within four weeks.

Anwarul Haque Bablu, presidium member of the Bangladesh Upazila Chairman and Vice Chairman Unity Council and chairman of Akkelpur upazila parisad in Joypurhat, filed the writ in the morning.

His lawyer Yusuf Ali told bdnews24.com, "The Article 24 of the Upazila Parisad Act has given the government the authority to depute any government department to the upazila parishad."

According to him, the local government ministry deputed several departments to upazila parishads by issuing a gazette on Dec 30, 2009.

The lawyer said, "Everyone deputed to the upazila parishad will have to obey the orders of upazila parishad chairmen, as it is an administrative unit recognised by the constitution of the country."

bdnews24.com/sn/ost/nir/2345h

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Ogier clinches victory in Greece

Athens, June 20 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Frenchman Sebastien Ogier won the Acropolis Rally for the first time on Sunday following an thrilling duel with Citroen team mate and overall leader Sebastian Loeb on the race's final day.

Ogier began proceedings just 2.2 seconds behind his compatriot in the overall classification and the two Citroen DS3 drivers reached the mid-morning service in Loutraki east of the capital separated by a mere tenth of a second.

The 27-year-old then built up a 10.5-second advantage over Loeb heading into the event-closing Power Stage which he maintained after both drivers posted almost identical times in a dramatic finish. Title rival Mikko Hirvonen finished third in his Ford Fiesta.

"It was a very good rally for me," said Ogier, who bagged three bonus points for his Power Stage victory. "At the beginning it was difficult to find the rhythm but yesterday in the second loop we drove fast, we pushed hard and now we have a great result."

Ogier's victory ended Loeb's run of victories in this year's world championship, following the seven-time champion's triumphs in the previous two rounds in Argentina and Italy.

It is the third time that the 27-year-old, whose last win came in Jordan two months ago, and co-driver Julien Ingrassia have triumphed and as a result Citroen have now won the last six rounds of the series.

Loeb retains the overall leadership with 146 Points. Hirvonen lies second just 17 points behind while Ogier is third a further five points adrift.

"It's been a great battle," Loeb told reporters. "It was frustrating not to win because I think we were the fastest in the rally. We were first on the road for two days and second on one day so we had a disadvantage."

After securing the overnight lead, Loeb was favourite to win his third race in succession but had to settle for second after a tense battle with Ogier.

Ogier led going into the final power stage, a four kms test using the start of Saturday's Nea Politia night stage and sections of two stages already ran in the morning resulting in a tricky, rock-strewn surface.

The Power Stage is a new concept this season and awards bonus points to the fastest three drivers.

The rally, one of the most gruelling tests in the championship with cockpit temperatures usually well in excess of 30 degrees Celsius, is returning to the calendar after a year's absence.

The seventh round of the championship marking the halfway stage of the season is the Rally of Finland from July 28-31.

bdnews24.com/sd/1514h

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Aman Azmi's petition rejected

Dhaka, June 19 (bdnews24.com) ? The High Court has rejected a writ petition of Abdullahil Aman Azmi challenging his discharge from the army.

A bench of justice Jahangir Hossain rejected the petition of Azmi, son of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam on Sunday.

Attorney general Mahbubey Alam told reporters after the hearing that the writ would go to the chief justice who would then send the petition to a third bench.

The first bench to hear the petition was the bench of justices Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain.

The attorney general stood for the state in the hearing while barrister Abdur Razzaque spoke for the petitioner.

Mahbubey Alam argued at the hearing that according to article 45 of the constitution, members of the armed forces were denied certain fundamental rights.

"Therefore, they cannot petition the High Court and file civil cases," he concluded.

Abdur Razzaque told reporters after the hearing that a single-judge bench could not hear such a case.

bdnews24.com/sn/sh/nir/1907h

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BNP rebuffs EC talks invite

Dhaka, June 21 (bdnews24.com)?Opposition BNP has snubbed the Election Commission's invite to join the ongoing talks, terming electoral body 'disputed'.

In a letter to the EC on Tuesday, the party said, "We think it will be appropriate if the disputed commission does not initiate reforms of laws and rules and rather leave the job to the next commission."

The letter signed by acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was dated June 13.

Tenure of the current commission expires on February next year.

The electoral commission already has held talks with registered political parties to exchange opinions on further amendment of the election laws, and issues like state funding for poll expenditure, e-voting introduction, formulation of demarcation rules and procedure of appointment of the election commissioners.

Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain said they would respond to the BNP letter later.

"We have a schedule for the party [BNP] until [Wednesday]," he told bdnews24.com.

The BNP did not join the dialogue with the EC, scheduled for June 13. The commission later invited the party again to the talks on any day between June 19 and Wednesday.

However, party chairperson Khaleda Zia at a press conference on June 16 rejected the call alleging that the current EC was not impartial.

The chief election commissioner on Monday said it would be sad if BNP does not join the dialogue.

"BNP's decision [not to join the dialogue] is sad. The Election Commission has nothing to do if anyone doesn't come," A T M Shamsul Huda told reporters.

bdnews24.com/mhc/pks/bd/1543h

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Suranjit slams Shafique over trial disclosure

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com)?A senior Awami League leader has said no minister has the legal jurisdiction to declare when the trial of suspected war criminals will begin.

The ruling party's advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta's barb was apparently aimed at the law minister Shafique Ahmed for his remarks the trial would begin in July.

At the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday, Suranjit, also the chief of parliamentary watchdog on law ministry, slammed the government for its 'unpardonable' failure to begin the trial even after two and a half years into its term.

The discussion, organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, on militancy and communalism-free Bangladesh was held to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Sufia Kamal.

About the announcement, he said: "The government has already formed the tribunal, prosecution and the investigating agency. It's the tribunal who will decide about the beginning of the trial.

"No minister has the legal power to say so, not even us," he observed.

Law minister Shafique on Sunday said, "The progress that the investigators and prosecutors have shown lead me to the belief that the trial could begin next month. They have confirmed about beginning of the trial of two.

"The rest may face trial in August," the technocrat minister added.

To date, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary-general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, assistant secretaries-general Muhammad Abdul Quader Molla and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee, BNP leaders Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Abdul Alim, a minister of Ziaur Rahman 's cabinet, have been arrested on war crimes charges.

Suranjit said only the tribunal and prosecution team members should speak to the media. "Confusions may be created if others do that."

Urging the government to begin the trial soon, he said: "People will lose patience if the trial don't start by this year."

CHARTER AMENDMENT

The senior Awami League leader hoped the report of the special parliamentary committee on constitution review would be placed in the cabinet shortly.

"It'll be tabled in parliament this session and the amendments will be inserted."

The report containing 51 recommendations was placed in the legislative assembly on June 8 and is now with the law ministry for scrutiny.

Suranjit, co-chair of the panel, said that the review was necessary as the court had annulled fifth, seventh and 13th amendments.

CG ISSUE

Suranjit urged the BNP not to create anarchy over the caretaker government issue. "Discussion is not possible outside parliament. So the opposition has to come to parliament."

Pointing at the opposition leader Khaleda Zia, he said: "She has suddenly liked some parts of the 13th amendment. Then you've to clarify in parliament if you accept the verdicts in fifth, seventh and 13th amendment."

The BNP chief on June 16 said ruled out discussion with the government on the caretaker government issue.

"The provision of holding national elections under caretaker government must be retained. No new formula is required. There is no scope for discussion either."

Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on the next day though urged Khaleda for talks?anytime, anywhere. On June 18, he said the government action on the issue would be within the periphery of the court verdict.

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

The special parliamentary committee, however, proposed to scrap the system.

bdnews24.com/arr/sh/pks/bd/1421h

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Muktijoddha keep Sk Jamal waiting

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC edged past hosts Chittagong Mohammedan 2-1 at the Cox’s Bazar stadium on Monday to keep Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club waiting for their title.

Jamal could have won the title if Muktijoddha had dropped points in this game, but goals from Arman Aziz and James Moga in two halves kept slim hopes for them of championship.

Jamal, with 50 points from 21 matches, three more than Muktijoddha, will be champions if they beat Brothers Union in their last game on Wednesday. Even if they lose the game and Muktijoddha fail to beat Rahmatganj, the title will be Jamal’s.

Muktijoddha can be champions only if Jamal lose to Brothers and they beat Rahmatganj as they have a better goal difference (+33) compare to Jamal’s +30.

Ace midfielder Arman Aziz gave Muktijoddha an early lead and tournament’s highest scorer James Moga doubled the lead with his 17th goal five minutes into the second half.

Shahedul Islam, however, pulled one back in the 68th minute for the hosts but the final result was not enough to reduce the port City Club’s relegation tension. They are now 11th in the league standings with 17 points with one game left.

Meanwhile, Arambagh KS registered a 2-0 victory over Farashganj SC to beat the drop having earned 24 points. The defeat means Farashganj, the Independence Cup champions, are now in relegation danger as they have only 19 points and are in ninth place.

Two teams will be relegated from the 12 with Chittagong Abahani already being confirmed of it. Farashganj, Chittagong Mohammedan and Feni Soccer are the three teams who are now in danger zone.

Related ContentsSat, 07/05/2011 - 3:33pm BdST

Leaders Muktijoddha Sangsad came from behind to play out a 1-1 draw against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in their crucial Grameenphone Bangladesh League fixture at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Tue, 19/10/2010 - 12:51am BdST

Abahani's bid to break a nine-year jinx of Federation Cup, got off to a poor start when the Bangladesh League champions were held a 1-1 draw by star-studded Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in Group A encounter of the season's curtain-raising tournament at Birsreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium yesterday.

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British minister in town

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? British minister of state for international development Alan Duncan has arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit.

The minister will visit several Department for International Development (DFID) projects and meet senior government officials, according to a government press statement.

The DFID will spend an average of ?250 million per year in Bangladesh until 2015. In the last fiscal, it spent ?149 million in the country.

bdnews24.com/ssz/nir/2216h

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SCBA says mobile court punishment unlawful

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com)?The president of the opposition-controlled Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has said executive magistrates punishing opposition supporters in political programmes through mobile courts is unlawful.

Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, a pro-BNP lawyer, on Monday at a press briefing said that such move was a threat to the independence of judiciary.

Magistrates before and during the BNP shutdown on June 12 and 13 summarily sentenced over 100 opposition supporters to jail and penalised many others.

BNP acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on the second day of the 36-hour countrywide lockdown vowed to challenge such mobile courts in court. He also expressed the party's stand to face the issue politically.

He alleged the punishments were given under the tobacco and anti-drug law of 1952.

Two executive magistrates on that day claimed that they were handing down punishments under sections 353 and 186 of the 2009 Bangladesh Penal Code for mobile courts. The sections provide for action against obstruction in government duty.

Home minister Shahara Khatun the same day said legal action had been taken against those creating anarchy.

"Mobile courts are working in line with the law, even the ministers don't have the right to speak about or against the court."

Human-rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra expressed concern over the operations of such mobile courts, saying those might affect general people like in the past.

bdnews24.com/sn/pks/bd/1648h

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BCB to organise IPL-like event

Dhaka, June 20 (bdnews24.com) ? Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to organise an international Twenty20 cricket tournament, like Indian IPL, the state minister for youth and sports tells parliament.

During the question-answer session on Monday, Ahad Ali Sarker said BCB made the decision at its 31st meeting.

Answering a query by Rangpur-1 MP Hossain Makbul Shahriar, he said: "The process of making a concept paper or business module of the tournament is at the primary stage."

Responding to another query by Kishoreganj-3 MP Mohammad Mujibul Haque, the state minister said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had controlled the affairs of World Cup cricket organisation in Bangladesh and its entire earnings and expenditure.

"After getting the final account from the ICC, the parliament will be informed of it," he said.

In reply to a question by reserved women seat MP Tahura Ali, local government and rural development minister Syed Ashraful Islam said since 2007, 86 roads in Dhaka city have been named after freedom fighters, journalists, Language Movement veterans and political leaders, who made important contributions to the country.

bdnews24.com/mhc/pd/skb/ssr/2110h

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