Polnews24: Jun 23, 2011

Thursday

Sharapova starts with a bang

London, June 22 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? Former champion Maria Sharapova made a fluent start to her Wimbledon campaign with a 6-2 6-1 win over fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the first round on Tuesday.

The fifth seed and former world number one again showed the form which brought her this year's Italian Open title, fuelling the belief that she can repeat her stunning grasscourt run of 2004 when she beat Serena Williams in the final.

Still only 24, Sharapova is enjoying a new lease of life after the shoulder problems that played havoc with her once potent serve and sent her tumbling down the rankings.

While she admits she does not lay awake at night wondering if she will add to her three grand slam titles, she says knowing what it feels like to win at Wimbledon keeps the desire burning.

"Of course it's important," Sharapova, one of only three women in the draw to have lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish, told reporters. "It would be a wonderful achievement.

"But I'm really happy to be playing something that I really love. I don't look ahead and think how amazing it would be to hold the trophy.

"Obviously I'm very fortunate to have had that feeling before and knowing how good that feeling is. That's what drives you deep down inside."

Sharapova never allowed former world number five Chakvetadze to settle and used her booming groundstrokes to devastating effect throughout a 68-minute contest that was a late addition to the Centre Court programme.

Chakvetadze, a quarter-finalist at three of the four grand slams, has managed just three main draw wins all year as she battled health problems and her fragile confidence seeped away after Sharapova broke serve in the third game.

From then on it was one-way traffic as Sharapova booked a second round match against either British wildcard Laura Robson or Germany's Angelique Kerber.

Their first round encounter was one of several postponed on Tuesday as organisers cleared a backlog caused by Monday's rain.

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Hasina seeks British coop to curb terrorism

Hasina seeks British coop to curb terrorism
Visiting British Minister of State for International Development paid courtesy calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (left) and Opposition Leader Begum Khaleda Zia in the city Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought British cooperation for curbing militancy and terrorism in Bangladesh, reports UNB.

The Prime Minister (PM) sought the cooperation when the visiting British Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan MP called on her at her office Wednesday.

Hasina categorically said that her government will show zero tolerance against terrorism and militancy and there will be no space for the terrorists and militants in the soil of Bangladesh.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, PM's deputy press secretary Md Nazrul Islam said Hasina informed the British minister that her government is working for a stable democracy in the country and to give democracy a strong footing.

Appreciating the government efforts for women empowerment and its social safety net programmes, Duncan said that the UK would provide one billion US dollars as development assistance to Bangladesh in next two years.

To address the electricity problem in Bangladesh, Hasina sought more foreign investment in this sector, saying that her government is creating a congenial investment atmosphere in the country.

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Dravid steadies Indian ship to give them upper hand

Dravid steadies Indian ship to give them upper hand
Adrian Barath's half-century was the only bright spot for West Indies on a day dominated by the visitors.KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 22 (AFP): Rahul Dravid survived an early chance, and batted doggedly, giving India the upper hand in the first Test against West Indies on Tuesday.

The former Indian captain was on 45 not out, as India reached 91 for three in their second innings - an overall lead of 164 - at the close on the second day of the first Test.

Fortune smiled on Dravid on six, when West Indies captain Darren Sammy dropped him at second slip off Ravi Rampaul.

Dravid kept his nerve, and defied West Indies with resolute batting, offering little or no chances for the remainder of the day.

He added 56 for the second wicket with Abhinav Mukund, fortifying India's position, after Ishant Sharma collected three for 29 from 17 overs, and fellow fast bowler Praveen Kumar three for 38 from 18 overs in his test debut, as West Indies were dismissed for 173 about 25 minutes before tea.

The visitors were short-handed in the later stages of the West Indies innings, when Kumar was barred from bowling, after running onto the protected area of the pitch.

But his team-mates adjusted well to the challenge, and outside of opener Adrian Barath, whose 64 was the top score, no other West Indies batsman made a substantial contribution.

Murali Vijay then fell early, when India batted a second time, trapped lbw playing back and across for one to a delivery from Rampaul that kept low in the second over.

Mukund was caught behind for 25, top edging a cut off Devendra Bishoo, and next over, Sammy held a return catch to dismiss V.V.S. Laxman for a duck, leaving India 57 for three.

India 246 and 91 for 3 (Dravid 45*) lead West Indies 173 (Barath 64, Praveen 3-38, Ishant 3-29) by 164 runs.

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F1 engine clampdown to take effect in Valencia

London, June 22 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? A clampdown on engine mapping systems from this weekend's European Grand Prix in Valencia will affect all Formula One teams, Renault technical director James Allison said on Tuesday.

Formula One race director Charlie Whiting wrote to the teams earlier to notify them that with immediate effect they could no longer change settings between Saturday qualifying and the race.

Further changes will be enforced from next month's British Grand Prix at Silverstone to prevent teams gaining aerodynamic performance by keeping exhaust gases flowing constantly through the rear diffuser even when drivers are not on the throttle.

The immediate move could hit champions Red Bull, who have qualified on pole position in all seven races so far this season and won five of them, but Allison said all would be affected.

"The FIA's note will cause all teams (whether or not they use a blown floor) to change their operation," he said in a blog on the Lotus-backed team's website (www.lotusrenaultgp.com).

By changing settings after qualifying, some teams may have been able to gain performance on the Saturday by running a more extreme system before readjusting it for the race.

"The headline changes for the Silverstone GP are as follows: when the driver lifts his foot fully off the throttle pedal, then the ECU (electronic control unit) maps must be set up so that the engine ... closes the throttle," noted Allison.

"Previously it was possible to configure the engine maps to leave the throttle open and reduce the engine power by other means.

"Finally, with immediate effect, it will no longer be possible to reprogram the ECU configuration between qualifying and the race in the expectation that this will discourage extreme ECU setups for qualifying."

Allison said Renault, who have pioneered a forward-exiting exhaust system that has helped them to two podium finishes so far this year, would have preferred not to have make changes until the end of the season.

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BBS halves per capita income

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com)?The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics has halved the per capita income of the country after its recent survey on household expenditure revealed that in 2010 the yearly per capita income was Tk 30,636 or $418.

In contrast to BBS data, Bangladesh Economic Review showed per capita income for 2010-11 is at $818 or over Tk 57,000.

When asked about the incongruity, Statistics Division secretary Riti Ibrahim told bdnews24.com she did not know where the Bangladesh Economic Survey got the data.

"Only BBS conducts household income and expenditure survey and it found out that per capita monthly income is Tk 2,553 and if it multiplied by 12, one can get the yearly figure," she said.

The BBS recently completed its Household Income and Expenditure Survey for 2010 and found out that per capita income rose by 72 percent from 2005.

In 2005 the monthly per capita income was Tk 1,486.

The survey also revealed national poverty rates at 31.5 percent, a decline of 8.5 percentage points from 2005.

About 21 per cent of urban population are poor while the figure is 35.2 percent for rural areas.

Poverty rate is the highest in Barisal region with 39.4 percent while it is lowest in Chittagong at 26.2 percent.

Average per capita monthly consumption is Tk 2447 at national level, an increase of 99 percent from 2005.

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BNP 'no' to polls under Hasina-led govt

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? Turning down the government's latest offer for talks on the constitution amendment issue, the BNP has said they will not take part in the next election under any interim government.

Addressing a discussion at the National Press Club on Wednesday, party's standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said "The present prime minister will be the head of that government, so we don't want any government other than the caretaker provision,".

He alleged, "The government's invitation is fake and just to confuse the people."

Moudud, a former law minister, said, "The government has annulled the caretaker government system out of fear of losing the next election."

"It [the government] has brushed aside all possibilities of discussion by giving cabinet approval to the recommendations of the charter review committee."

On June 20, the cabinet approved the 51 recommendations, including annulment of caretaker provision, of the constitution review committee, paving way for parliament to pass them into a law.

Declining the remarks of committee co-chair Suranjit Sengupta and law minister Shafique Ahmed that there was still scfope for discussion, the senior BNP leader said their remarks were just a farce.

He also protested the electronic voting system.

BNP joint secretary general Aman Ullah Aman and party's international affairs secretary Nazim Uddin Alam also spoke at the discussion.

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Clarification

The Better Work and Standards Programme (BEST) has clarified a report published in The Financial Express on June 9, 2011 titled 'MoC, EC in a row over spending of Tk 3.584 b project'.

It said: "The report is full of factual errors, and presents a grossly erroneous picture of the true situation."

"MoC and EU are not in a row. In fact, there have been no direct discussions between MoC and EU about the implementation of this activity. UNIDO is the implementing agency and is in discussions with MoC as to how the project can support the consumer council and the directorate under the public sector element of the project," it said.

The BEST also said the budget for this activity under BEST is Tk 37.48 million, not Tk 3.58 billion as stated.

"Besides, quoting erroneous figures, the writer of the article completely misunderstands the significance of the cost categories in the budget which he has apparently been given access to. The figure of Tk 0.827 million quoted for expenditure on research and seminars has no relationship to any actual budget allocation. The cost of seminars and research is met from several different budget lines depending on the type of training and may include- international and national consultants, travel costs of international consultants, office supplies, publications, cost of venues, refreshments, and cost of travel and subsistence for participants in training abroad," it said.

It further said: "The activity is designed to improve protection of consumers' rights in several ways and not solely to strengthen the directorate in the ministry (through providing training and advice)."

"The budget for international personnel is Tk 13.47 million, not Tk 1.288 billion as stated, a major part of the personnel cost will be for experts to provide advice and training through seminars," it added.

"It is agreed that appointment of skilled personnel is essential for the proper functioning of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP). But EU and GoB agreed to provide technical assistance, advice and training to ensure a sustainable, effective organisation. If the directorate is from the start dependent on temporary funding to recruit staff then by definition it will not be sustainable."

"The major part of the budget cannot be spent on the development of the DNCRP as there are other agreed activities which also have to be implemented. And the part available for the development of the DNCRP is designed, as agreed with the government, mainly for technical assistance-advice, consultancy and training."

"Mr Mian's statement that only a small proportion of the budget is to be spent to achieve the objective is erroneous; the whole of the budget is allocated for this purpose. Strengthening the DNCRP is one element; consultancy was identified and agreed with government during the planning of BEST as a necessary resource to achieve this purpose."

FE Reply: The figure in the report was inadvertently mentioned as Tk 3.58 billion instead of Tk 37.48 million. The mistake is regretted.

However, other facts of the report were based on documents of the project and comments from the concerned authorities.

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Inter-bank deposit to be part of CDR

FE Report

Inter-bank deposits will be considered part of deposits of the banks for calculating their credit-deposit ratio (CDR) under the latest move of the central bank.

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) announced this on Wednesday.

This arrangement will partly ease the pressure on banks to meet their CDR requirement, in the context of their present liquidity constraints.

Banks under the BB's Asset Management Guidelines of 2003 are not allowed to include inter-bank deposits as their funds on the ground of avoiding the problem of double counting (accounting) of assets.

Under the latest move, the central bank will relax this condition about calculation of CDR

BB deputy governor Murshid Quli Khan told a press briefing at the central bank on Wednesday that the move would be purported to helping augment credit flow.

Under the relaxed condition relating to CDR, the capacity of banks to expand credit might raise by 3.0 to 4.0 per cent, the BB deputy governor said.

He indicated that the new arrangement would be comfortable for the banks and help improve their liquidity management.

The commercial banks, having fixed assets of other commercial banks with them, will have greater opportunity to make investment, he added.

Mr. Khan said the central bank will issue a detailed guideline relating to simplification of CDR and other issues concerned.

He also said the central bank will now be able to keep a better track of the overall situation in the banking sector under the new guidelines.

The circular will help further strengthen the position of banks, he maintained.

"Were expecting to issue a circular within next two or three days," he added.

Under its earlier directive issued on February 20 last, 19 conventional banks are required to bring down their CDR by June 2011 to 85 per cent and five Shairah-based banks, to 90 per cent.

However, the CDR has already been brought down to 81.54 per cent from 85.64 per cent, in case with most conventional banks.

Replying to a volley of questions, Mr Khan said there is no liquidity crisis in the country's money market.

Defending the supply of funds to the commercial banks under repo and reverse repo, he said this is the routine work of the central bank.

SK Shur Chowdhury, executive director of the central bank told the newsmen at the briefing that there was no liquidity crisis in the banking system. "It's only some shortage-type situation".

He said BB is providing funds to 15 primary dealers and two banks.

The supply of money, he added, will not create any inflationary pressures, the rate of which now has surged to over 10 per cent.

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Chelsea appoint Villas-Boas

Chelsea have appointed FC Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager in a record-breaking deal, a club statement announced on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old, who emerged as the front runner for the job after resigning as Porto coach on Tuesday, has signed a three year contract.

Villas-Boas not only becomes the youngest ever Premier League manager but also the most expensive coaching appointment ever after Chelsea paid Porto £13.3 million (15 million euros, $21.35m) to trigger the release clause in Villas-Boas’s contract.

Chelsea described Villas-Boas who led Porto to a domestic double and Europa League glory last season, as “the outstanding candidate for the job”.

“He is one of the most talented young managers in football today and has already achieved much in a relatively short space of time,” the club said.

They added: “His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre’s leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions.”

Villas-Boas, who replaces Carlo Ancelotti, is returning for a second spell at Stamford Bridge, having work as an asistant and scout under his mentor, Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea, trophyless last season, noted: “Andre will bring his coaching experience back to a club he is already very familiar with, having previously worked here for three years.

British media reports suggest Chelsea are paying Villas-Boas, who is their seventh manager in eight years, a salary of £4.5 million a year.

One of his first moves as the new Blues boss could be to sign Porto’s star striker Falcao, the £25million-rated Colombian who netted the only goal in Porto’s Europa League win over Sporting Braga in Dublin.

On Tuesday the way had been cleared for Villas-Boas to move back to London after he sent the club a fax informing them of his decision to join Chelsea.

Turkey coach Guus Hiddink had also been linked with a return to Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup as a caretaker manager in 2009.

Wednesday’s announcement brings to an end Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s search for the man he perceives as the right one to end the club’s recent trophy drought and crucially deliver Chelsea a long awaited first Champions League title.

Villas-Boas, who cut his coaching teeth under Sir Bobby Robson at Porto in 1993, served under Mourinho at Porto, then following ‘the Special One’ to Chelsea and later Inter Milan.

The Porto-born Villas-Boas was appointed manager of Academica in 2009 with the club then bottom of the Portuguese league.

He led them to an 11th-place finish and a cup semi-final.

In 2010 he joined Porto, winning the Portuguese SuperCup in his first term, and then the treble this year.

Porto were unbeaten in the league last season with 27 wins in 30 matches, becoming only the second Portuguese club to finish a league season unbeaten, after Benfica in 1972-73.

Porto have acted quickly to fill the void left by Villas-Boas by naming assistant coach Vitor Pereira as his successor

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B�desh upbeat about getting EU waiver on mandatory shrimp test

Monira Munni

Bangladesh is hopeful of getting a waiver on the EU's mandatory shrimp testing requirement after its FVO gave a green signal to the country's action plan on complying with their recommendations including testing facilities, officials and exporters said Wednesday.

The European Union (EU) last year imposed a 20 per cent mandatory testing requirement on each shipment of shrimps from Bangladesh as part of its rigorous quality control drive.

It said a Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) team from the regional bloc, which ended its visit, has sent its final report this week marking four preliminary reports' recommendations satisfactory.

"It is concluded that improvements were seen in the residue monitoring system, particularly in the laboratories. In contrast to the findings in 2010, the analytical methods used for the residue monitoring programme on crustaceans and for the pre-export testing are now validated and fit for purpose," the report said.

Referring to the report, Dr J Kwakman, president of Europe-based Seafood Importers and Processors Alliance (SIPA), said Bangladesh would get special preference for withdrawing the 20 per cent mandatory tests in laboratories on its shrimp consignments in EU ports as the authorities are happy to see massive development and monitoring of quality control measures taken by its government.

Mr Kwakman said this at a luncheon meeting with the government officials and exporters on June 21 in the city. He is now in Bangladesh on a five-day business tour to be concluded on June 25.

A three-member FVO team has reviewed the country's present situation of residue control in live animals and animal products and the control mechanism for veterinary medical products -- steps seen as critical for export of shrimps to the EU.

The team has also reviewed the implementation of public health and residue control requirement in aquaculture products from root level to the production level, so that health hazard causing agents or drugs cannot enter the bodies of shrimps meant for export, exporters said.

Mahbubur Rahman, director general of Department of Fisheries, said, "The final report is the green signal ahead of the country's way towards getting a waiver on the EU's 20 per cent stringent testing requirement."

Last year, the team gave 12 recommendations, while this year it suggested only four which also proved our improvement, he added.

"The FVO is satisfied and thanked the government for the measures taken by it," he said adding, "now we are confident that the EU will withdraw its decision on mandatory shrimp testing requirement very soon."

The FVO team was impressed by the improvement in the country's quality control system and expressed its satisfaction in its report, said Mohammad Aminullah, senior vice president of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association (BFFEA).

"Shrimp exporters were able to overcome the country's image crisis over the 'nitrofuran issue' and we have also improved our laboratory testing capacity to be able to comply with the EU's quality requirements," he said adding, "It is a matter of time to get the waiver on stringent testing requirements."

Bangladesh exported frozen fish worth $565.10 million during July-May of the current fiscal year. The EU is the largest importer of Bangladesh shrimps, accounting for as much as 50 per cent of the shipment.

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Govt sincere in resolving enclave problems : PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the Jatiyo Sangsad (JS) Wednesday that her government is very much sincere in resolving enclave problems with neighbouring India, reports BSS.

The discussion with India is now at the final stage for uninterrupted movement of the people of Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves with mainland Bangladesh, and the problem would be solved very quickly," she said responding to a scripted query from treasury bench member Benzir Ahmed.

The Leader of the House said during her visit to India in January 2010, both the countries agreed to resolve all existing border disputes in the light of the 1974 Land Border Agreement (Mujib-Indira Agreement).

To further steer this process, she said, a detailed discussion was held on the issue at the fourth meeting of Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) in November 2010.

"To expedite the process of enclave exchange, maps including the list of the enclaves have already been swapped between the two countries, while joint census of Bangladeshi people at the enclaves is underway," she said.

The Prime Minister said her government remains active to raise civic facilities of the enclave people. "The work on supplying power to Dahagram-Angorpota enclaves has already started," she said.

The Leader of the House said though there is a commitment of India to lease out the Tin-bigha Corridor to Bangladesh, the agreement was not implemented, as India is yet to ratify the deal.

Despite that, she said, the agreement was followed up to resolve the Bangladesh-India frontier problems, and according to it, the corridor is opened for a specific time everyday.

The Prime Minister said significant progress has already been made to solve the maritime boundary dispute between Bangladesh and India by utilizing existing good relations and democratic environment.

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Amended anti-money laundering act incorporates stringent measures

Nazmul Ahsan

The Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2011 has been made more stringent, by expanding the purview of the reporting agencies and widening the areas of suspected transactions and predicating offences.

With the change in the existing definition of "money laundering" under the act, the maximum term of imprisonment for the offence has been increased from seven years to 12 years and the minimum, from current six months to four years under the proposed new act.

The amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) was approved last Monday last at a cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

The Act, with the proposed amendments, will be placed now at the parliament as a Bill, sources in the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said.

According to the approved act, 11 types of financial and social business entities have to report now to Bangladesh Bank (BB) regularly on their "suspected transactions."

The newly included reporting agencies which came within the ambit of mandatory reporting are-stock dealers and stock brokers, portfolio managers, security custodians, asset managers, non-profit organisations, non-government organisations, cooperatives, real estate companies, jewel and metal businessmen, trust companies, lawyers and accountants.

Presently, only banks, insurance companies, money changers and financial institutions are liable to report to the BB on any suspected transaction.

"Many financial institutions including brokerage houses and cooperatives are now the safe havens for black money and money earned through illegal means. This should be stopped," a MoF official said.

"A number of global watchdog organisations on anti-money laundering have long been putting pressure on us to bring such financial institutions under the mandatory reporting to the central bank," he added.

The new proposed act has brought under its operational jurisdiction politically exposed persons, special judges appointed under Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1958, terror financing, any wealth obtained or possessed through corruption and money siphoned off to foreign countries.

It has included six types of offences with the existing ones to be treated as predicated offences.

The new areas are-smuggling, laundering currency, robbery, human trafficking and dowry.

The existing predicated offences have also been included in the AMLA. These are: trafficking of women and children, corruption and bribery, faking currency, faking land document, extortion, forgery, illegal trade of arms, illegal trade of narcotics, abduction and murder.

Officials in the MoF said the move to upgrade the existing anti-money laundering act, 2009 has been taken to comply with the international standard.

He said, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body formed to develop and promote national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, said in its report in 2010, Bangladesh is still non-compliant in at least 10 key areas for attaining international standard.

The FATF has strongly recommended to the government to make the current AMLA stringent to attain the global standard.

Accordingly, MoF formed a 12-member National Coordination Committee (NCC), headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, to update the existing anti-money laundering act.

"The US Justice Department has extended its technical cooperation for updating the act, which is now one of the global standard anti-money laundering acts," a top MoF official told the FE.

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HC wants investors' money back from Unipay2U

The High Court (HC) has issued a rule upon the government asking why it should not be directed to arrange to pay back the money of the 22 investors in Unipay2U Bangladesh, a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, reports bdnews24.com.

The bench of justices Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and M Enayetur Rahim issued the rule Tuesday in response to a writ petition filed by the investors.

The finance secretary, the governor and a deputy general manager of Bangladesh Bank and the managing director of Unipay2U have been asked to respond to it within three weeks.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and advocate Mohammad Nazmul Huda argued for the petitioners during the hearing.

Twenty-two investors in Chittagong filed the petition on May 13 last year to get back the money that they had invested in Unipay2U.

The government last year initiated moves to control multi-level marketing business on getting allegations that many such companies were cheating the people tempting them of high profit.

The central bank on Jan 9 warned the people against investing in multilevel marketing companies that offer abnormal profits in a short span of time.

It said the investors can be deceived by the companies that come up with schemes offering 10 per cent or more profits a month upon investments in gold markets abroad or foreign exchanges.

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed cases against several companies and the central bank stopped operation of their accounts.

In March, the commerce minister told parliament there were 62 registered MLM companies operating in the country.

He said the government knew the number of clients of only one of them, Destiny-2000, which is around 4.5 million.

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McCullum disappointed, but firmly behind Taylor

Wellington, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? Brendon McCullum has admitted he was disappointed to miss out on the role of New Zealand captain - which went to Ross Taylor - but said Taylor had his full support and their friendship was strong enough to avoid any rivalry.

McCullum and Taylor were in contention to take over from Daniel Vettori as New Zealand captain, but Taylor's prolific record as a batsman during his stint as stand-in captain played a major part in him being given a full-time role, reports ESPNcricinfo.

"Obviously I was disappointed to miss out on something that I desperately wanted but ultimately you've got to move on and I do wish Ross all the best and I definitely support him along that journey," McCullum told Radio Sport.

"I had my opportunity to present my case and to show what I thought was the way forward for New Zealand Cricket and ultimately they decided to go another route and you can't argue with that.

"We're good enough mates as well to overcome any differences this process may have thrown up."

McCullum, 29, who also plays for Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the IPL, said it took him a day to let the news sink in but stressed that his main priority was to play for New Zealand and he looked forward to doing that for at least another five years.

"Inside the first 24 hours when you suffer that disappointment you go through a range of different emotions and different thoughts. It took me about 24 hours for everything to come clear and that I have a huge opportunity to contribute to this team.

"It is still for me about playing for my country. It always has been. There may be a misconception out there that I'm not like that but I'm incredibly passionate about playing for my country and that will never change.

Whilst I may have opportunities to play elsewhere during my times off, New Zealand cricket is my priority and I'm excited by what the next five years could throw up for me."

McCullum was willing to deputise for Taylor as vice-captain, but didn't think the role was necessary. "I want to be the vice-captain of the New Zealand team and the fact that Ross is captain doesn't change anything... I still wonder whether the team needs a vice-captain but if that is what is determined then absolutely, because that's always been the case is that you do whatever is required for the team.

John Wright, the New Zealand head coach, who was part of the three-member panel - director of cricket in New Zealand John Buchanan and acting national selection manager Mark Greatbatch being the others - said he wanted McCullum to consider taking over the vice-captaincy, and hoped he'd be able to sort out any issues with Taylor with "total honesty."

"I hope that Brendon will be involved. I want him to stick his hand up and I hope that he wants to consider the role of vice captaincy but that's something a little bit further down the line," Wright said.

"When you're coaching a cricket team you don't only need a captain but a strong leadership group, and that's really the combination of your senior players.

"We've got to sit down together in a room and sort through those issues with total honesty. And really if you want to be an international cricket team that is winning at the top level you've got to be able to sort those things out - and I'm sure we'll achieve that."

bdnews24.com/smo/1255h

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India take lead on bowlers' day

Kingston, June 22 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? India dominated the second day of the first test against West Indies on Tuesday to seize the momentum in the series opener at Sabina Park.

Fast bowler Praveen Kumar captured three wickets in a devastating spell on his test debut as India dismissed West Indies for just 173 to snatch a 73-run first innings lead.

Then the tourists, who had managed 246 in their first knock, battled their way to 91-3 by stumps for an overall lead of 164 with seven wickets in hand.

Murali Vijay and VVS Laxman both made second innings ducks and opener Abhinav Mukund fell for 25 but Rahul Dravid kept the scoreboard ticking along with an unbeaten 45 while Virat Kohli was not out 14 at the close.

Kumar removed Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo and Brendan Nash in 14 deliveries just before lunch to trigger a West Indian batting collapse after the home side had resumed in a strong position at 34-1 in reply to India's modest first day total.

Barath top scored with a patient 64 off 122 balls while wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh chipped in with 27 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul made a cautious 23 but none of the other West Indian batsmen made it to 20.

Kumar finished with 3-38 from 18 overs while fellow paceman Ishant Sharma bagged 3-29. India's spinners, Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh, claimed two wickets each on a slow pitch starting to turn.

BAD BEGINNING

After making a bright start on the first day, West Indies made a bad beginning to the second day when Ishmar trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan lbw for three in the second over.

Barath, who hit nine boundaries and a six, combined with Bravo to steady the innings with a 56-run partnership for the third wicket before both batsmen were caught by wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Kumar.

The 24-year-old paceman then claimed a third scalp when Suresh Raina held a sharp catch at third slip to get rid of Nash as the home side limped to lunch at 119-5.

Chanderpaul and Baugh gave West Indies a brief glimmer of hope with a sixth wicket stand of 45 but both fell to Harbhajan as the Indian spinners polished off the last five wickets for just 26 runs.

India suffered an early setback in their second innings when Vijay was trapped lbw by Ravi Rampaul in the second over but Mukund and Dravid restored calm with a 56-run stand in a low-scoring match that already seemed destined for an early finish.

bdnews24.com/smo/1035h

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CARETAKER TALKS Nazmul Huda prods BNP to go ahead

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? The BNP must respond to the government's repeated calls to settle the caretaker government issue through discussion, says Nazmul Huda.

"The BNP must join the discussion, but on the condition that it won't take part in the next election if the discussion fails," Huda, who only recently got back his membership of the party, said in a press statement issued on Wednesday.

He suggested that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina should take part in a direct discussion.

After the cabinet cleared the proposals by the special committee on constitution amendment, the largest opposition party alleged that the government had closed all doors for talks on the issue.

It also threatened to stage tougher demonstration protesting the government move to amend the constitution.

Former communications minister Huda said an opportunity to make the election system free and fair was thrown up when the Supreme Court ordered to repeal the caretaker government system.

"The BNP should grab the chance," he added.

According to him, a BNP leader's remark that 'all the doors for talks have been closed' could close the doors on the future itself.

"BNP should not own up such a remark," Huda added.

The former standing committee member of the party also said, "I am sorry that I have no opportunity but to express my own idea alongside the BNP policymakers in this way."

bdnews24.com/sm/ha/ost/nir/2345h.

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A high reward high risk budget

Sadiq Ahmed
The new Bangladesh fiscal year (FY) 2012 National Budget, the second budget under the Sixth Five Year Plan, is on the whole a bold budget. It is ambitious in nature but achievable, provided the underlying policy actions are taken. The budget has to be bold in order to align it with the growth targets of the Sixth Plan that requires substantial increases in public investment, especially in the area of infrastructure. Much of this additional investment has to be financed from additional domestic revenues that require tax collections to go up substantially. Public revenue mobilization target in the budget, while higher than last year, is quite feasible in view of Bangladesh's still low tax effort.
At issue, however, is whether all possible tax instruments are being harnessed. The tax structure has significant gaps in terms of tax efficiency and equity. On the expenditure side, the development budget, while large in relation to the past, is still low in relation to the development needs of the country. The weak implementation argument, while valid, is not insurmountable with right policies.
There is, however, a question about the size of the current spending. There is a risk that the projected subsidy spending may actually underestimate the likely spending unless corrective actions are taken to contain the energy subsidies. The pressure from growing subsidies could also undermine the overall budget deficit target. On the financing side, the main question is whether the government is able to mobilize the projected optimistic increase in foreign financing. If this is not realized, as is likely, this will challenge the consistency of monetary and fiscal policy targets.
Indeed, there is a serious risk that the recent policy actions to curb the growth of money supply in order to reduce inflationary pressures might get compromised by the increasing budgetary demand for bank financing. In the past two years monetary growth much exceeded prudent limits even with limited pressure from the fiscal front. With pressure now being built up from the fiscal side, the ability to keep monetary expansion within prudent limits to prevent inflation and contain the balance of payments pressure will again become a substantial macroeconomic policy challenge in FY2012.
Key Fiscal Developments: The trend in major fiscal developments is shown in Table 1. Overall fiscal deficit is projected to increase to 5.0 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). This is higher than in recent years, but does not pose any threat to debt sustainability provided additional pressures from the growing subsidy bill is contained. As shown in Figure 1, the debt to GDP ratio and interest cost remain manageable and the primary balance, while growing, is still within prudent limits. More detailed debt sustainability analysis confirms this conclusion.

Revenue Targets: The budget targets total revenues to go up from 12% of GDP in FY2011 to 13.2 % (Table 2). Some 50% of the increase is expected from higher tax effort, which is projected to go up by 0.6 percentage point of GDP, from 10% of GDP in FY2011 to 10.6%. The other 50% of the increase (0.6% of GDP) will come from non-tax revenues. This enhanced tax effort is consistent with the performance in FY2011. The 10.6% of GDP tax rate is a welcome development in view of Bangladesh's historically low tax effort (Figure 2). Over the past two years the National Board of Revenue has been making a systematic effort to broaden tax coverage and strengthen tax administration. This is commendable and deserves strong support.

Nevertheless, the tax structure needs further reforms. The reliance on trade taxes, particularly supplementary duties, remains high and raises questions of consistency with export diversification efforts. New supplementary duties imposed in the budget will likely raise nominal rate of protection by another 2.0-3.0 percentage point, which goes in the wrong direction. Reliance on production taxes for revenues is known to distort incentives and reduces the efficiency of resource allocation. The budget's equity aspects are compromised by the continued inadequate coverage of income and wealth taxes. The budget's initiative to bring in salaries of senior public officials including parliament members into the tax net is a welcome move.
Similarly, the effort to broaden the wealth tax is also a positive development. Even so, the evasion of a large number of potential income tax payers from the tax net, the lack of a broad-based property taxation and the needlessly highly favourable treatment of capital gains from stocks and property ownership continue to raise concerns about the equity and efficiency of the tax structure. The latter two aspects of the tax structure also distort incentives in favour of real estate holdings and stock options at the expense of investment in real activities. These fiscal policy weaknesses could compromise the Sixth Plan's targets for improving the composition and efficiency of private investment. (This is the first of a two-part write-up. The second part will appear tomorrow. The writer is Vice Chairman of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh. He can be reached at e-mail: sahmed1952@live.com)

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Detectives speak to Rumana, witnesses

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com)?Detectives have spoken to Rumana Monzur, the Dhaka University teacher who lost both the eyes to a brutal attack by her husband.

Investigators of the Detective Branch (DB) of police took statement of Rumana at LabAid Specialised Hospital from 11am to 12:45pm on Wednesday.

Detectives also took statement of three witnesses of the Dhanmondi residence of Rumana's father where she lived.

Rumana on June 5 was severely tortured by Hassan Syed, who after being arrested on June 15 claimed that a scuffle took place that day as he protested her alleged relationship with another man.

The case was filed by the victim's father on the following day.

Hassan is currently being quizzed by detectives.

Rumana whose eyes were ruptured by the brutal attack was taken to Sankara Nethralaya in Chennai and Arvind Eye Centre in Pondicherry for better treatment.

Doing a master's degree in political science at the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia in Canada, Rumana said her husband tried to gouge her eyes out and chew her nose off.

She was supposed to submit her thesis paper in October.

"He [Hassan] had many complexities and so he always tormented me psychologically. My conjugal life became a suffering for me," she said on Tuesday and demanded his punishment.

bdnews24.com/lh/rm/mi/pks/bd/1520h

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Olympic day celebrations begin

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) in its bid to mark the occasion of Olympic Day 2011 and spread the message of Olympicism initiated its nine day program with plantation of tree at the BOA House premises on Wednesday.

BOA will host the Olympic Day Run 2011 on Friday, June 24 which will also be simultaneously held in all the six divisions and 64 districts across the country.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) officials announced nine-day
long programmes to celebrate Olympic day 2011 at the BOA house

To add more attraction and involve all the quarters of the society, BOA has chalked out a series of programs which highlights the birth of modern Olympic movement back in 1894.

The program includes tree plantation, a photo exhibition and competition titled ‘Tradition of Bangladesh Sports’, a sports competition for street children, a seminar on Sports and Environment and a painting competition for school children and a blood donation program.

To complete this wide array of programmes Coca-Cola Far East Limited, Exim Bank, Dhaka Bank, United Commercial Bank, Ashiyan City, RSRM and Blazer BD have come forward as sponsors. The budget for the programme is an estimated Tk 0.89 million.

A press conference in this regard was held at the BOA auditorium on Wednesday. BOA secretary general Kutubuddin Ahmed urged all to participate in the Olympic Movement that highlights peace, patience, harmony and the spirit of sports.

“I urge all to get involved with the spirit of Olympics to maintain a healthy mind and body. In the complex scenario of modern life, sports can provide the required stimuli for a healthy lifestyle.” said the BOA secretary general.

The BOA secretary general said BOA will distribute a total of 50000 tree plants to different organizations.

BOA vice president and the convener of Olympic Day Organising Committee Sirajul Islam Bachchu, deputy secretary general Anisur Rahman Dipu, convener of Media Committee Md Anisur Rahman and member secretary Hasanullah Khan Rana, BOA CEO Col (Rtd) M Waliullah, Nurul Fazal Bulbul, the director of Exim Bank, Cynthia Rodgers, the Administrative Assistant of Coca Cola Far East Ltd were also present on the occasion.

A seminar on ‘Sports and Environment’ was held at 3:00 pm at the same venue. Mahfuzur Rahman Siddiki, the Course Director of BOA presented the key note. The Art Competition will be held at the BOA House on Thursday at 3:00pm.

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BNP demands apology from PM

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ?The prime minister should apologise to people admitting her 'mistake' over the caretaker government system, a senior BNP leader has said.

"In 1996, Awami League had waged a vigorous movement for introducing the caretaker system and now she says it's not needed. You should admit your mistake and apologise to people for that," party acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday.

The interim system was introduced through the 13th amendment to the constitution despite opposition by BNP when it was in power. Since then, three national elections have been held under caretaker governments led by former chief justices.

The Awami League government has recently taken a move to discontinue with the system in line with the May 10 Supreme Court verdict annulling the interim arrangement.

But the court said the next two general elections could be held under unelected governments and gave parliament the liberty to decide the issue.

On May 31, Sheikh Hasina declared that the system could not be retained as the apex court revoked it.

The special committee on constitution review in its report placed in parliament on June 8 with a recommendation against the provision.

BNP, however, has been protesting the government move and threatens not to join the next general election under a political government.

Fakhrul in a discussion at the National Press Club that Hasina earlier told the special panel that the tenure of caretaker governments should not be more than 90 days. "But making a U-turn afterwards, saying 'there's no scope to retain it'."

The Awami League can do anything to gain its own interest, "as they established one-party BKSAL in 11 minutes by demolishing democracy in 1975".

He also slammed the cabinet approval to the charter report, saying it would push the country into a great uncertainty.

At a human chain programme in front the press club, Fakhrul wanted to know the whereabouts of BNP ward commissioner Chowdhury Alam, allegedly abducted by either police or RAB personnel on June 25.

"There's no guarantee of a natural death in the country. The government is carrying out murder and torture to annihilate the opposition."

He also said the country's human rights situation was dismal.

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Verdict in Coco case Thursday

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? A Dhaka court will pronounce on Thursday verdict in the money laundering case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman Coco and co-accused Ismail Hossain Simon in their absence.

On completion of arguments, judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-3 on Sunday fixed Thursday (June 23) for the delivery of judgement in the money laundering case against Coco and Simon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain.

The same judge will announce the verdict on Thursday, clerk of the court Ariful Islam told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

The first charge-sheet in the case against the two was framed on Nov 30 last year.

Coco, arrested on Sep 3, 2007 in the GATCO corruption case, has been in Bangkok for treatment on parole since July 19, 2008, while Simon is still absconding.

The government on Aug 19 last year cancelled Coco's parole and asked him to return home by Aug 31 and surrender before the court.

During the charge framing, the court on Nov 30 issued an arrest warrant against the accused as they failed to return to the country and appear before it within the specified time.

Recording of testimonies in the money laundering case against Coco started on Jan 4 this year and continued up to June 15.

The court on June 6 framed fresh charges against Coco and Simon under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002 to avoid legal complications as they were indicted for activities which occurred before 2009. The same court on Nov 30 last year indicted Coco for money laundering under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009.

Assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Abu Syed filed the case against Coco and Simon with the Kafrul Police Station in the city on Mar 17, 2009, stating that the accused had laundered to Singapore SGD 28,84,000 and to the United States USD 9,32,000 which they had received from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens for helping them bag government contracts.

China Harbour got a Tk 3.51 billion contract to set up New Mooring Container Terminal and Siemens a Tk 2.39 billion contract to supply and install equipment for Teletalk, the state-owned cell phone operator.

On Nov 12 last year, ACC official Abu Syed submitted the charge-sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, showing 23 people as prosecution witnesses.

Special public prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told bdnews24.com on Wednesday that the accused will be released from the case if they are found innocent by the court.

"If they are found guilty, they may be sentenced to a maximum punishment of seven year's jail and fined as per the Section 13 (2) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002," he added.

Coco's counsel Taherul Islam told bdnews24.com that the court recorded testimonies of the 21 witnesses within a short time. "The witnesses have not been cross-examined as the accused were shown fugitives in the court document. So the verdict may be biased."

He also said that Coco has five more cases filed against him. Of those, a case filed for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC, a extortion case and the GATCO corruption case have been on stayed following the Supreme Court order.

However, a tax evasion case filed against Coco by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is under hearing at the Dhaka's Senior Special Judge's Court.

The charges against the accused in the case will be framed on June 26.

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Photographer shot in second night of Belfast violence

BELFAST, June 22 (AFP): A photographer was shot in the leg and police were pelted with petrol bombs in a second night of sectarian violence in Belfast, in some of the worst clashes in Northern Ireland for years.

Police used water cannon as up to 400 people gathered in the Protestant east Belfast on Tuesday evening, near a Catholic area which was a notorious flashpoint during three decades of civil strife which started in the late 1960s.

Several gunshots were fired just before midnight, police and witnesses said, and a photographer working for Britain's Press Association news agency was shot in his lower right leg. He was taken to hospital but was in a stable condition.

The paramilitary group wants Northern Ireland to remain part of Britain, unlike the republican Catholics who want it to join with the Republic of Ireland.

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SEC 'serious' about bringing stability to stock market

Mohammad Mufazzal

The securities regulator has taken a series measures including the expansion of daily transaction volume and flotation of fresh shares in an effort to restore stability to the stock market, its chief said.

It also has started investigation into its officials' activities during the share market debacle as well as into the role of the persons allegedly active at that time after the ministry of finance issued directives in line with the recommendations of the share scam probe committee.

Professor Dr. M Khairul Hossain, chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Wednesday told this to the FE while speaking about the developments after the recast of SEC.

"The restoration of stability to the market is a big challenge for us, as thousands of investors are looking forward to the regulator," Mr. Hossain told the FE.

The SEC chief said the market would not return to a reasonable position unless the daily turnover touches the mark of Tk 15 billion a day.

"That's why we are trying to increase the trade volume in both the stock markets of the country," he said.

For more than two months, the average daily turnover of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) can't exceed Tk 4 billion, whereas in last October-November the average turnover was about over Tk 20 billiom.

Mr Hossain said the regulator is also trying to increase the purchasing power of merchant banks in their own portfolios, so that the market can overcome its liquidity crisis.

"We are trying to increase the purchasing power of merchant banks through some ways including investment by non-resident Bangladeshis," he added.

Mr Hossain also stressed coordination between the central bank and the securities regulator.

"Before the coordination meeting, which was supposed to be held today (Wednesday) at the office of Bangladesh Bank, I will talk to its high-ups on how to ease the liquidity crisis," he said.

Coming to paving the way for offloading fresh shares, Mr Hossain suggested asking the companies, which already completed road-shows to go public under book building, to review their offer prices as it would take more time to rectify the method.

"It will take about six months to bring changes to the book building method as we will have to take opinions of different stakeholders and experts for the purpose," he said.

He added that in such a situation, the regulator would ask the companies, which have yet to go public under book building method, to revise their offer prices.

In January last, the government postponed the book building method following a road-show bonanza for fixing very high prices for their shares to go public. As a result, a huge amount of money was siphoned off from the stock market, creating a liquidity crisis.

However, the SEC chairman said they would stress reasonable prices, which would match with company fundamentals.

"Some quarters sold their ten Taka shares at Tk 185 through private placement. The absurd situation may be enacted again if the regulator allows the companies to sell shares at such high prices," Mr Hossain said.

He said it would not be positive for the market if the regulator waited for changes in book building method.

"However, a committee has been formed to find solutions to offloading the shares in the light of review and coordination," he said.

He also said the regulator would keep watch so that investors get facilities with the flotation of the shares of state-owned enterprises under direct listing method.

When asked about the compliance of the directives issued by the ministry of finance (MoF) regarding further investigation into alleged irregularities, he said, "by this time, we have formed committees to carry out further investigations into some alleged irregularities occurred during the recent stock market scam."

Mr Hossain said the regulator has also started investigation against all officials of SEC following a directive by the MoF.

On June 6, the government issued a directive to investigate into the alleged "irregularities and manipulation" by nearly 1000 high officials and employees of the securities regulator and the state-owned Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) through their involvement in the recent share market scam.

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Chelsea hires Villas-Boas as manager

LONDON, June 22 (AP): Chelsea hired Andre Villas-Boas as manager on a three-year contract on Wednesday, challenging the young Portuguese coach to land the one prize that eluded his mentor Jose Mourinho at the club-the Champions League.

The 33-year-old Villas-Boas became the seventh manager in eight years under Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich after resigning as coach of Porto on Tuesday.

Villas-Boas, who has just two seasons of topflight managerial experience behind him, returns to the London club where he worked as a scout between 2004-07 under Mourinho, his fellow countryman and a coach to whom he is often compared.

Mourinho won two English league titles in his three years with Chelsea but never the Champions League, the competition that has obsessed Abramovich ever since the oligarch bought the club in 2003.

That will be the goal demanded of Villas-Boas, branded by Chelsea as "one of the most talented young managers in football today" and a man who will bring fresh dynamism to a team that has become stale in recent seasons.

"His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre's leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions," Chelsea said in a statement.

Villas-Boas succeeds Carlo Ancelotti as manager at Stamford Bridge following the Italian coach's sacking on the final day of last season, despite winning the Premier League-FA Cup double the previous year.

Villas-Boas will start work immediately on a reported contract of 5 million pounds ($8 million) a year, with one of his first tasks to decide at what stage the team-featuring a number of aging stars like Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and John Terry-needs to be dismantled and rebuilt in his image.

He will be familiar with many of the current Chelsea squad following his three years at Stamford Bridge during a trophy-laden period for the club.

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Grenade attack: reports on July 3

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? The investigation officer of the Aug 21, 2004 grenade attack cases has got 10 days more to submit reports as some government officials need to be implicated.

Dhaka's second additional metropolitan sessions judge Begum Chaman Chowdhury on Wednesday set July 3 for submitting the further probe reports.

While presenting the time-extension petition, special police superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department Abdul Kahhar Akand said the charge-sheets were ready for submission.

"But it needs to take permission from the authorities concerned since several names of high government officials will be incorporated," he said.

Akhand, however, declined to disclose the names before submitting the reports.

The grisly grenade attack on an Awami League meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka left 24 people, including incumbent president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, dead and 73 injured.

A case was filed with Motijheel Police Station, and later two separate charge-sheets were submitted against 22 people, including BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) leader Mufti Hannan, for murder, attempted murder and carrying of explosives illegally.

Al-Markazul leader Maulana Abdur Rashid and Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed are among those being quizzed in the cases.

Akhand said last month that former prime minister Khaleda Zia's political advisor Haris Chowdhury had links with the attack and that he would be implicated.

BNP claims the government is trying to insert the name of Khaleda's elder son Tarique Rahman in the cases.

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Exporters seek 10-day free time at Ctg Port

Our Correspondent

CHITTAGONG, June 22: Exporters have sought 10-day free time after common landing of import cargo at the country's premier maritime port or exempt enhanced port rent on the import cargo to facilitate local export.

The exporters said delivery of import cargo is often hampered by political programmes like hartal and two-day public vacation for which they have to suffer because of enhanced import cost due to hike in port rent.

The free-time demand was made through a letter to Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan today by Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CMCCI).

In the letter vice president of the CMCCI AM Mahbub Chowdhury said delivery of raw materials imported for industries including the readymade garment sector is delayed due to frequent hartal calls added by two weekly holidays.

"Pakistan as one of our competitors in the business has given 10-day free time after common landing at the Karachi Port to facilitate export market," he said in the letter to the minister.

"Generally we get five days for delivery of raw materials in a week. But it increases to four days when the political parties call hartals or general shut downs on Sundays and Mondays," he said.

On the other hand, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has increased charges by 300 per cent on containers, which has already increased the import cost, he added.

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Nat'l team preliminary camp from Friday

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has selected 24 players for a preliminary camp before forming the national team to play their home match against Pakistan in the 2014 FIFA-World Cup Brazil Asian qualifiers first round on June 29.

The match will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Bangladesh will play their away match with Pakistan in Lahore on July 3.

The BFF at last decided to organise a short-term warming-up camp from June 24 after Croatian and Macedonian coaches failed to turn up to guide the Bangladesh team as they refused to fly to Pakistan to play the away match on security grounds.

The BFF asked the selected players to report to local coach Syed Golam Zillani at BFF Bhaban on June 24 at 11 am. The players, who are yet to complete their Bangladesh League matches, would join the team in BKSP later on.

Newly crowned Bangladesh League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club have maximum number of nine players followed by Muktijoddha Sangsad with five players, Last three times professional league champions Dhaka Abahani Limited have three players, while four booters have been picked up from Sheik Russell Krira Chakra. Brothers Union and Farashganj Sporting have one each, while the other player in a Bangladeshi expatriate living in Denmark.

This will be the first time in the history of Bangladesh football that no player from Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting could even get a call in the preliminary camp.

The selected players are:
Goalkeepers: Biplab Bhatacharjee, Md Nehal (Muktijoddha) and Mamun Khan (Sk Russell).

Defenders: Mamun Miah, Md Lincoln (Abahani), Yamin Ahmed Chowdhury Munna (Muktijoddha), Uttyam Kumar Banik (Sk Russell), Ariful Islam, Rezaul Karim, Nasirul Islam Nasir (Sheikh Jamal), Yousuf Ali Kan (Brothers Union).

Midfielders: Maruf Ahmed (Muktijoddha), Monem Khan Razu ( Sk Russell), Zahid Hassan, Shakil Ahmed, Abdul Baten Majumdar, Atiqur Rahman Mishu (Sk Jamal) and Jamal Bhuyian (Bangladeshi living in Denmark).

Forwards: Mithun Chowdhury (Muktijoddha), Md Yusuf (Sk Russell), Zahid Hasan Emily (Sk Jamal), Sohel Rana (Farashganj) and Shakwat Hossain Rony (Abahani).

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8 Afghan police killed in checkpoint attack

GHAZNI, June 22 (AFP): Eight Afghan police were killed Wednesday when Taliban attacked their checkpoint in a brazen assault likely to raise fresh security questions as the United States prepares a troop drawdown.

The attack in Ghazni province's Qarabagh district, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of Kabul, is thought to have been an inside job in which insurgents worked with a policeman at the checkpoint to strike.

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Arrest warrant against DMP SI

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against a sub-inspector of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Golam Rasul Molla, on charges of demanding dowry and beating his wife.

Acting judge Nur Mohammad Jahangir Sarker of the Fourth Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal passed the order on Wednesday in response to a case filed by the police officer's wife Papia Akter Bristi, 28, on May 9.

The court on May 9 recorded the statements of the plaintiff and directed Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur to conduct a judicial probe into the case.

Seeing the investigation report on Wednesday, the court issued the arrest warrant against Golam Rasul Molla.

According to the case details, the couple got married on a Tk 700,000 denmohar (amount of money pledged to be paid to the bride by the bridegroom in a Muslim marriage).

After two months of the marriage, the plaintiff gave Tk 200,000 to his husband as dowry to buy a motorbike. Later, the accused demanded another Tk 200,000.

As she refused to pay the amount, the plaintiff alleged in the case, the accused beat her indiscriminately and injured.

Later, her father and relatives admitted her to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

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Azad wants end to 'political corruption'

Dhaka, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? After seeing the fate ('porinati') of the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) and stocks scam probe committee chief Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, no well-meaning man will ever speak against corruption, head of a top trade body has said.

"The TIB has landed in trouble after publishing a report. They have to run ('douradouri') around the High Court now," Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) president A K Azad said on Wednesday.

"After speaking against corruption, Ibrahim Khaled is in danger, too. No good man in this country will speak against corruption," he added.

Azad was speaking at a workshop, 'End to corruption and complexities to get environmental permission, and industrialisation' at a city hotel.

According to him, one month is enough to remove corruption if minister and secretary level officials want to. "But a system to keep a tab on them should also be there."

"End to corruption is not possible without removing political corruption from the country. It is seen that politicians face corruption cases when the government changes," he added.

The FBCCI president urged businessmen and members of the civil society to get united against 'political corruption'.

Chaired by International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) president Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, director general of the Department of Environment (DoE) Monowarul Islam, IBFB media public relation and communication officer Jesmina Shanta, among others, were also present at the workshop.

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Injured Fernando ruled out

London, June 22 (bdnews24.com) ? Dilhara Fernando, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has been ruled out of the limited-overs series against England due to an injury he sustained during the third Test at the Rose Bowl. Fernando.

The right-arm pacer, who played two Tests on the tour and will be returning to Sri Lanka, has been replaced by seamer Dhammika Prasad.

Prasad, 28, last played an international game in November last year and hasn't played an ODI since August 2009.

He's been on the fringes of the national side since he made his debut in February 2006, but will now be part of a pace attack that also includes Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Matthews and Thissara Perera.

The limited-overs' games include a Twenty20 international, starting on June 25, followed by five ODIs.

bdnews24.com/smo/1415h

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Imran to act as interim coach of tigers

Sarwar Imran will act as the interim coach of Bangladesh cricket team before the new coach joins the squad, said Bangladesh Cricket Board director Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu on Wednesday.

Though Bangladesh are in advanced stage with appointing a foreign coach, it is all but sure that, he couldn't take the charge before the second week of July.

At the moment, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is waiting for the nod from Stuart Law, the interim coach of Sri Lanka. Law who is supposed to give the BCB a reply irrespective positive or negative in this week. But he is yet to give any response to the BCB's mail.

“Wait a bit. Very soon we'll let you know the progress, probably in the next week” said the BCB CEO Manjur Ahmed.

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news digest

Greek government survives confidence vote

The Greek government has won a critical vote of confidence as it struggles to win support for extra austerity measures and avoid a debt default.Prime Minister George Papandreou's new cabinet was approved in parliament by 155 votes to 143, with two abstentions. MPs will now be asked to approve 28bn euros (?25bn) of cuts, tax rises, fiscal reforms and privatisation plans. ?BBC

Egypt gunmen kill police officers in Sinai

CAIRO, June 22: Unknown gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in the Egyptian town of Al-Arish on Wednesday, killing two policemen and leaving two injured, a security official said. "Unknown gunmen travelling in two small cars without number plates shot at police officers with automatic weapons," the official told AFP.

Australian flights resume as

Chile volcano ash clears

Flights are gradually resuming from airports across Australia after two days of cancellations caused by an ash cloud from a Chilean volcano. Qantas and Virgin jets took off from Adelaide on Wednesday morning. Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney airports were expected to resume flights later. But the ash is heading towards New Zealand, where disruption is expected. ?BBC

Iranian officials unhurt after attack in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, June 22: Gunmen opened fire on a visiting delegation of Iranian oil officials in Baghdad on Wednesday, wounding two Iraqi guards but the foreigners were unharmed, an interior ministry official and the oil ministry in Tehran said. "Gunmen fired on an oil ministry convoy carrying Iranian oil officials in the centre of Baghdad," the Iraqi official said. ?AFP

Dozens of Qaeda militants

escape from Yemen jail

ADEN, June 22 : Dozens of al Qaeda militants escaped from a jail in southern Yemen on Wednesday following an attack on the compound, a security official said. Western countries and neighbouring Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda is exploiting instability in Yemen to gain a foothold in the impoverished state and launch attacks in the region and beyond. ?Reuters

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Non-interference in civil service underscored

Front Page

Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

Dhaka, June 22: Emphasising the need for immediate reforms in the country’s dismal civil service, experts, top academicians, bureaucrats and media personalities on Wednesday recommended that the service must be made performance-based and result-oriented and be free from undue political interference.
The experts, who addressed a roundtable discussion on “Civil Service Reform” jointly organized by The Independent and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) in the city on Wednesday, also observed that it was a constitutional obligation of the government to pass a Civil Service Act, which would help make the service cadre efficient enough to meet the challenges ahead. Dr Gowher Rizvi, foreign affairs adviser to the Prime Minister, told the meeting that a Civil Service Act would be passed by the government very soon and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself was serious about it. He pointed out that since Independence , as many as 19 commissions had been set up on civil service reforms but to no avail.
Dr Rizvi, also a renowned academician, said that without a sound and efficient civil service system, a government could not deliver the most important thing it should -- social justice. He said transparency in the recruitment and promotion was one of the challenges that faced reforms in the service.
He observed that the private and non-profit sectors were luring away the best people these days; earlier the best people vied for a post in civil service. Referring to the regular training that has made the armed forces a very skilled institution, the adviser to the Prime Minister also stressed the need for providing the finest training to the civil servants.
The academician said that political interference in civil administration, a regular feature of the administration, must be stopped and that due emphasis should be laid on meritocracy and performance to develop the service into an efficient institution.
Dwelling on the critical issue of quota system, Dr Rizvi said there might be political compulsions behind the quota system in recruitment but the system should be time-bound as it goes against the spirit of merit-based recruitment.
Dr Farooq Sobhan, president of the BEI, said no country could progress without an effective and efficient civil service. The bureaucracy has gone through some changes over the years, he said adding, now it is imperative for the civil servants to be more responsive towards the private sector which has witnessed exponential growth in the present era.
An efficient Civil Service Act and its implementation could make our bureaucrats more acceptable; he said adding, there are some key factors for the success of that including the issue of motivating bright minds, creating certain skills and expertise and encouraging civil servants to think out of the box.
Dr Sobhan said the focus of bureaucracy should be on implementation and facilitation. “The bureaucrats should ensure how to speed up the process of implementing decisions,” he added.

Dr SA Samad, executive chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI), said there was once a time when the very best students used to join the civil service, but unfortunately now the best and brightest preferred to go abroad or looked for a job in the private sector with a handsome pay-check.
Dr Samad said he had quit a job with a much better salary only to join the civil service because, during his time, the job of civil servant was very prestigious. “But do we see the same attitude now?, he wondered.
Terming the current civil service a deteriorating version of the one the country had 40 years back, he said training at the civil service academy was much generalized now. “We have to keep in mind that one size doesn’t fit all,” he said adding, time has come to train the bureaucrats in accordance with the fields they would be working in so that they can serve the people better.
Dr Samad also said the quota system in the civil service should be gradually abolished.
Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, former BoI chairman, said that for a civil service reform to take place, a consensus and a multi-party approach was required. He suggested that to put the bureaucracy in the fast lane, more young people with specialization should be taken on board.
“If we are serious about making some development then we should go for specialized training, not a generalised one that the bureaucrats are now getting from the civil service academy,” Chowdhury said.
Mahbubul Alam, editor of The Independent, who was also an adviser to the former caretaker government, said reform in the civil service was necessary to create an accountable and transparent bureaucracy which could provide better service to the people. ATM Shamsul Haque, former secretary and director of CIRDAP, said strong political will was needed to reform the civil service. “For a government, the best time to effect civil service reforms is when it just comes to power,” he said.
He said that in many countries, the Civil Service Act had been introduced long ago to ensure the rights of the bureaucrats. “An Act can protect the interest of the bureaucrats and it can create a performance-based and result-oriented administration,” said Shamsul Haque who headed the last of the 19 commissions formed so far to put in place a Civil Service Act.
Ghulam Rahman, chairman of Anti-corruption Commission (ACC), said before reforming the civil administration, the government should determine what would be the role of the politicians and the civil servants.
“At present, politicians are influencing the process of recruitment, transfer, posting and promotion of civil servants and that has taken away much of the service’s glory,” he said.
“At present, the civil servants work only to appease the high-ups. And that’s the reason why they fail to meet the expectations of the masses,” added Rahman who is also a former secretary.
The head honcho of the anti-graft body emphasised that civil servants should be given basic training by recognised centres to make them efficient.
Ali Imam Majumder, former cabinet secretary, advised the government to implement the Shamsul Haque Commission report on reforms in the civil service.
“The immediate past caretaker government took the initiative to implement the report, but they didn’t have time to do it,” he said.
Majumder pointed out that most of the field-level officials, who work in districts and upazilas as deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers, are under the influence of party politics. Saiful Bari , chief advisor to satellite channel ATN Bangla, said implementation of Civil Service Act was more important than enacting it.
“The government enacted the rights to information Act a few days ago, but the authorities concerned are yet to implement it properly due to bureaucratic tangle,” he said.
“The civil servants should first change their attitude and mindset to do justice to their service,” the added.
Bari suggested that steps should be taken to pick and appoint brilliant people in the service, chalk out a handsome pay structure and keep the service free from politics.
Prof Harunur Rashid, associate editor of The Independent, said if the very mentality of the country’s politicians was not changed, then very few could be achieved by just forming Acts.
“The civil servants impose some sort of self-censorship on themselves as they can’t work freely,” he said adding, a good number of high level officials are made officers on special duty if they fall from political grace.
KZ Islam, managing director of the Nirman International Ltd said that the civil service should be free of any political influence and that the quota system should be abolished as it stops creating equal opportunity for all.

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‘Hasan wanted to kill Rumana’

Front Page

Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

Dhaka, June 22: Investigators believe that Hasan Sayed, who brutally attacked his wife Rumana Monzur, was plotting to kill her by strangulation.

The assistant professor of International Relations at Dhaka University had her eyes gouged out and her nose bitten off in her Dhanmondi home on 5 June.

Sub-inspector Bahauddin Farooquee, the investigation officer of the case accompanied by additional deputy commissioner SM Mehedi Hasan and additional deputy commissioner M Masud met with Rumana for the first time on Wednesday.

Rumana was taken to India on June 14 for specialist treatment.
Additional deputy commissioner SM Mehedi Hasan told The Independent, “Hasan Sayed Sumon is yet to show any interest regarding his wife and young daughter’s welfare.”

“We talked with her for over an hour at the hospital, where she described their conjugal life. Sumon used to torture Rumana,” Mehedi said. He added that they didn’t record her statement and went to her residence where they took deposition of three people, including two domestic helps.

The Investigation officer of the case told The Independent, “According to the statements of Rumana Hasan, Sayed Sumon tried to strangulate Rumana by sitting on her chest.”

Quoting Rumana Farooquee, he also said “Sumon cheated Rumana by constantly lying to her.”
Deputy Commissioner of Detective Branch police Monirul Islam told The Independent, “Rumana believes Hasan Syed Sumon would have killed her if the domestic helps hadn’t come to her rescue in time.”

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'Time for govt to fulfil poll promise'

Dhaka, June 23 (bdnews24.com) ? Amid the hue and cry over human rights violations in Bangladesh, the Awami League-led government has an opportunity to fulfil its poll promise, says a senior Amnesty International official, currently in Dhaka.

"It's over two-and-a-half years that the present government came to power, but they are yet to fulfil their election promise to look into the cases of human rights violations and ensure justice to hundreds of victims," said Amnesty International deputy director of Asia-Pacific Programme Madhu Malhotra, who is here to take stock of, primarily, the goings-on in the controversial Limon Hossain shooting case.

Talking to bdnews24.com, Madhu said such delays could lead to erosion in common man's faith in the justice system as well as in the institution of government itself. "So, it will be in the fitness of things only to initiate credible and impartial investigations into the cases in public eye."

Besides, she insisted, the need of the hour is that the government be fair not only in its intent to fetch justice to those wronged, but also be seen pursuing fairly the cause of the victims to soothe the ruffled feathers.

A London-based official of the Amnesty International, Madhu finds the action(s) vis-a-vis Limon case a 'convoluted' one.

"The RAB chief said 'Limon could be a victim of crossfire'...then the man retracted from his statement, and the boy (Limon) was labelled a 'terrorist'...then prime minister's defence advisor claimed 'Limon was not a target of RAB', and then again head of the home ministry's probe committee in Limon case said 'It (the investigation) was not the focus of his probe to find whether Limon is a criminal'...?"

"After all, what are they up to and what's that they are trying to prove? Maybe, they are themselves not sure about where they should head for... Everybody is so different (in describing the case) from the other...!"

The case has gone beyond the borders of Bangladesh, said the deputy director of Asia-Pacific Programme of Amnesty International. "That's why Amnesty International's here. We have been keeping an eye on the case since the beginning."

"I talked to Limon himself...he lost one of his legs in the so-called elite force's firing. Now he seems at a loss whom to approach for justice!" the lady sounded actually aghast at the sequence of events.

Madhu said she has prepared a report on the Limon case, which she would be handing over to the government, and request for justice and rehabilitation of the boy 'at the earliest', since "Limon is yet to get even any compensation from the government".

Talking about RAB or Rapid Action Battalion, she said the complaints are far too many.

The force was formed in 2004 in the midst of a crime wave and played a key role in confronting Islamist militants responsible for a spate of bombings that killed dozens of people, "but today people know it as a 'death squad'."

"A medicine that suits you now may not be good for you for all times to come. That's the case with RAB."

They shot Limon to disability; a mother of six, Rahima Begum received their bullet in the head in Panchabati in Bhairab; and a teenager Shuvo is killed in Bou Bazar area of Narayanganj when the 'elite force' RAB were conducting a drive against drug-peddlers... "Too much of coincidence," says Madhu.

The Amnesty International would rather see the 'elite force' tamed, if not disbanded, to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

bdnews24.com/nir/0845h

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Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai expecting baby

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai expecting baby
Indian film star Aishwarya RaiMUMBAI, June 22AFP): Former Miss World turned actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is pregnant, her father-in-law and veteran Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has revealed.

Aishwarya Rai, 37, married Bachchan's actor son Abhishek, 35, in April 2007. The child will be their first and comes after weeks of speculation in Indian gossip columns about the actress' fluctuating weight.

Bachchan senior later said on the micro-blogging site that he was "overwhelmed" with the response to the news from followers and had received 2,843 tweets of congratulation in just half an hour.

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Stop counterfeit notes: HC

Nationwide

Author / Source : Independent Online Report

The High Court on Thursday asked authorities concerned to take measure for arresting all involved in making counterfeit notes in the country.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Bazlur Rahman and Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order following supplementary petition filed by Advocate Manzill Murshid seeking necessary order to stop the counterfeit notes.

It also asked the concerned investigation officer to submit probe report before it within seven days of the case filed in Motijeel Police Station earlier in this regard.

On March 14, one Sanwar Hossain filed a case with the Motijeel Police Station against some unidentified people who were involved in making counterfeit notes.

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DSE up at midday

Stock Market

Author / Source : Independent Online/bdnews24.com

Dhaka: The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) posted rise until midday on Thursday.

The DSE general index gained 50.84 points to 5859.04 at 1:32pm.

Of the 252 issues traded, 189 advanced, 51 declined and 12 remained unchanged.

The turnover stood at Tk 3.40 billion.

The premier bourse advanced 63.10 points on Wednesday, 107.79 on Tuesday and 9.05 points on Monday.

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10,212 pass BCS preliminary exam

Results of the preliminary examinations of the 31st Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) batch have been published. Public Service Commission (PSC) public relations officer Mir Mosharraf Hossain confirmed Wednesday that 10,212 passed appeared at while results of 68 others were withheld.

? bdnews24.com

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Indo-Pak peace talks start Thursday

Islamabad, June 22 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? India and Pakistan begin peace talks on Thursday, an important safety valve between two nuclear-armed countries which the United States hopes will help stabilise the region as it prepares to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

But after many false starts, hopes were being kept deliberately low for the two days of talks between Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart, Salman Bashir.

"We have realistic expectations," an Indian government source said. "We should not expect quick and dramatic resolutions."

With the India-Pakistan rivalry often spilling into Afghanistan, the United States and its allies are hoping the peace process will gather pace in tandem with plans to gradually withdraw western troops ahead of a 2014 deadline.

President Barack Obama is due to announce the first of a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops later on Wednesday.

During the talks, the foreign secretaries will discuss Kashmir, the disputed territory which has bitterly divided India and Pakistan since independence in 1947.

Pakistan and India, which have fought three full-scale wars since independence, two over Kashmir, resumed a formal peace process in February, broken off after the November 2008 attack on Mumbai by Pakistan-based militants which killed 166 people.

Progress has been incremental in talks which have included meetings between defence, interior and trade secretaries and a visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to India to watch an India-Pakistan cricket match with his counterpart Manmohan Singh.

A CALL FOR PATIENCE

"Patience is something that is called for. We will have to be realistic, we will have to be positive in our approach," Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters in New Delhi this week.

He said the talks would hopefully "narrow the trust deficit and pave the way for normalisation" of relations.

Any sudden crisis between the two - for example if another Mumbai-style attack triggered a military confrontation - could further destabilise Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Given the importance of India's growing economy, it would also send shock waves around fragile markets worldwide.

In the Kashmir Valley, at the heart of a separatist revolt against Indian rule since 1989, and more recently scene of massive street protests which erupted in the past three summers, few held much hope of progress. "There is huge cynicism in Kashmir about the talks. People here have been witness to them for so many decades and never have they produced anything tangible, "said local political analyst Riyaz Ahmad. "These talks in the past have all ended in bitter disappointment," said Mohammad Saqlain, a 47-year-old school teacher.

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