Some messages coming out of your mouth bypass the vocal chords. Turns out that your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues also have plenty to say -- about your overall health.
"Your mouth is connected to the rest of your body," says Anthony Iacopino, dean of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. "What we see in the mouth can have a significant effect on other organ systems and processes in the body. And the reverse is also true: Things that are going on systemically in the body can manifest in the mouth."
Sexless After 40? Don't Be!
So stay attuned to the following warning messages, and have worrisome symptoms checked out by a dentist or doctor.
Dental warning #1: Flat, worn teeth plus headache
Sign of: Big-time stress
Many people are surprised to learn they're tooth-grinders. After all, they do this in their sleep, when they're not aware of it. And they underestimate the physical toll that stress can place on the body. "Crunching and grinding the teeth at night during sleep is a common sign of emotional or psychological stress," says Iacopino.
You can sometimes see the flatness on your own teeth, or feel it with the tongue. Or the jaw may ache from the clenching.
What else to look for: Headaches, which are caused by spasms in the muscles doing the grinding. Sometimes the pain can radiate from the mouth and head down to the neck and upper back, Iacopino says. Mouth guards used at night can relieve the symptoms and protect teeth.
Dental warning #2: Cracking, crumbling teeth
Sign of: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Older adults, especially, are vulnerable to teeth that appear to be cracking or crumbling away. The enamel becomes thin and almost translucent. But this erosion isn't a normal consequence of aging. In fact, it can happen at any age.
Disintegrating teeth are usually caused by acid that's coming up from the stomach and dissolving them, Iacopino says. The cause: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, also called acid reflux disease). GERD causes stomach acid to back up into the esophagus -- and from there, it's a short distance to the mouth for some of the damaging acid. GERD is a chronic disorder caused by damage or other changes to the natural barrier between the stomach and the esophagus.
What else to look for: Dry mouth and heartburn are related GERD symptoms. (But in an older adult in someone else's care -- in a nursing home, for example -- these complaints may go unreported.) Cracking or chipping teeth in a younger person is also a telltale sign of bulimia, the eating disorder in which the sufferer causes herself (or himself) to vomit before digesting. Same net result: Stomach acid washes up into the mouth, over time disintegrating the tooth enamel.
Dental warning #3: Sores that won't go away
Sign of: Oral cancer
Many people bite the insides of their mouth as a nervous habit. Others sometimes bite the gum accidentally, creating a sore. But when an open sore in the mouth doesn't go away within a week or two, it always warrants showing to a dentist or doctor. "We all injure our oral tissues, but if an area persists in being white or red rather than the normal healthy pink, this needs to be evaluated to rule out oral cancer," says Susan Hyde, an associate professor of clinical dentistry at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry.
More than 21,000 men and 9,000 women a year are diagnosed with oral cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Most are over age 60. Oral cancer has a survival rate of only 35 percent, Iacopino says, but this is mainly because cases are often detected too late. Smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancer, but one in four oral cancers develop in non-smokers.
What else to look for: Suspicious oral ulcers tend to be raised sores and often have red or white (or red and white) borders. They may lurk underneath the tongue, where they're hard to see. Bleeding and numbness are other signs, but sometimes the only sign is a sore that doesn't seem to go away. A biopsy usually follows a visual check.
Dental warning #4: Gums growing over teeth
Sign of: Medication problems
If you notice your gum literally growing over your tooth, and you're taking a medication for heart disease or seizures or you take drugs to suppress your immune system (such as before a transplant), it's well worth mentioning this curious development to your prescribing doctor.
"A swelling of the gums to where it grows over the teeth is a sign the dosage or the medication need to be adjusted," the ADA's Anthony Iacopino says. Certain drugs can stimulate the growth of gum tissue. This can make it hard to brush and floss, inviting tooth decay and periodontal disease.
What else to look for: The overgrowth can cause an uncomfortable sensation. In extreme cases, the entire tooth can be covered.
Dental warning #5: Dry mouth
Sign of: Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes
Many things can cause dry mouth, from dehydration and allergies to smoking and new medications. (In fact, hundreds of drugs list dry mouth as a side effect, including those to treat depression and incontinence, muscle relaxants, antianxiety agents, and antihistamines.) But a lack of sufficient saliva is also an early warning of two autoimmune diseases unrelated to medicine use: Sjogren's syndrome and diabetes.
In Sjogren's, the white blood cells of the body attack their moisture-producing glands, for unknown reasons. Four million Americans have Sjogren's, 90 percent of them women. Twenty-four million people in the U.S. have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a metabolic disease caused by high blood sugar.
What else to look for: Other signs of diabetes include excessive thirst, tingling in the hands and feet, frequent urination, blurred vision, and weight loss. In Sjogren's, the eyes are dry as well as the mouth, but the entire body is affected by the disorder. Because its symptoms mimic other diseases (such as diabetes), people are often misdiagnosed and go several years before being properly diagnosed.
Dental warning #6: White webbing inside cheeks
Sign of: Lichen planus
The last thing you might expect to discover while brushing your teeth is a skin disease. But it happens. Lichen planus, whose cause is unknown, is a mild disorder that tends to strike both men and women ages 30 to 70. The mucus membranes in the mouth are often a first target.
Oral lichen planus looks like a whitish, lacy pattern on the insides of the cheeks. (The name comes from the same roots as tree lichen, a lichen that has a similar webbed, bumpy appearance.) Seventy percent of lesions appear in the mouth before they strike other parts of the body, says professor Anthony Iacopino.
What else to look for: Another common area where a lichen planus rash may appear is the vagina. Lichen planus often goes away on its own, but sometimes treatment is necessary.
Dental warning #7: Crusting dentures
Sign of: Potential aspiration pneumonia
Most people don't connect dentures (false teeth) with pneumonia, other than to think they're both words that often refer to the world of the elderly. And yet the two have a potentially deadly connection. "A leading cause of death in older people is aspiration pneumonia, often from inhaling debris around the teeth and dentures," Iacopino says.
In aspiration pneumonia, foreign material is breathed into the lungs and airway, causing dangerous (even fatal) inflammation. Too often, the problem stems from people in the care of others -- those in nursing homes, for example -- who fail to clean dentures properly. Dentures need to be removed daily from the mouth, cleaned with a special brush, and stored in a cleansing solution.
What else to look for: A soft, crusty material developing around dentures. With proper cleaning, though, you don't have to worry about other red flags. "It's amazing. You can get a 100-percent reduction in what's otherwise a leading cause of death for denture wearers," Iacopino says.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Govt’s popularity nose-diving: NAP’s ‘grand rally’
The leaders of the National Awami Party’s faction led by Mozaffar Ahmed, a partner of the Awami League-led alliance, on Monday said that the country is facing serious political crisis and the AL-led government has failed to meet the aspirations of the common people.
Senior leftist leader and president of the party, Mozaffar Ahmed, said at a grand rally of the party in Muktangan that the common people of the country are finding it almost impossible to maintain their families because of the price hikes of essential commodities.
The government has failed to control the prices of essential commodities, to solve the nagging problem of the acute shortage of power and water, and to stop criminalisation, extortion and tender manipulation by the AL activists, said Mozaffar.
As a result the popularity of the AL-led government has started nose-diving throughout the country, he opined.
In our country the gap between the poor and the rich is increasing day by day and the poor are becoming poorer and the rich are getting richer, said NAP’s president.
He called on the ruling AL to do the politics of principle and said that politics without principles cannot solve any of the country’s numerous problems.
Mozaffar said that the people are becoming frustrated at the role of both the ruling party and the opposition.
He called on both the ruling and opposition parties to make the Parliament the focal point of discussion, and to discuss the issues of gas, coal and transit to India in the Parliament.
NAP would continue its struggle for establishing the rights of the poor people, said Mozaffar.
The USA is pressuring the government to let foreigners use the natural resources of the country, so the government must decide whether it will work to safeguard the national interest or be exploited by the imperialists.
The rally, chaired by Mozaffar Ahmed, was addressed by the party’s general secretary Enamul Haque, presidium members Amena Ahmed and Lutfar Rahman, central leaders Abdur Rashid Sarkar and Paritosh Debnath, along with others.
Hasanul Haq Inu, president of a faction of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Pankaj Bhattacharya, presidium member of the Gana Forum, Bimal Biswas, member of the Workers Party’s politburo, and the joint convener of the Communist Kendra also addressed the rally.
Several hundred party leaders and activists from across the country took part in the grand rally.
-New Age
Senior leftist leader and president of the party, Mozaffar Ahmed, said at a grand rally of the party in Muktangan that the common people of the country are finding it almost impossible to maintain their families because of the price hikes of essential commodities.
The government has failed to control the prices of essential commodities, to solve the nagging problem of the acute shortage of power and water, and to stop criminalisation, extortion and tender manipulation by the AL activists, said Mozaffar.
As a result the popularity of the AL-led government has started nose-diving throughout the country, he opined.
In our country the gap between the poor and the rich is increasing day by day and the poor are becoming poorer and the rich are getting richer, said NAP’s president.
He called on the ruling AL to do the politics of principle and said that politics without principles cannot solve any of the country’s numerous problems.
Mozaffar said that the people are becoming frustrated at the role of both the ruling party and the opposition.
He called on both the ruling and opposition parties to make the Parliament the focal point of discussion, and to discuss the issues of gas, coal and transit to India in the Parliament.
NAP would continue its struggle for establishing the rights of the poor people, said Mozaffar.
The USA is pressuring the government to let foreigners use the natural resources of the country, so the government must decide whether it will work to safeguard the national interest or be exploited by the imperialists.
The rally, chaired by Mozaffar Ahmed, was addressed by the party’s general secretary Enamul Haque, presidium members Amena Ahmed and Lutfar Rahman, central leaders Abdur Rashid Sarkar and Paritosh Debnath, along with others.
Hasanul Haq Inu, president of a faction of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Pankaj Bhattacharya, presidium member of the Gana Forum, Bimal Biswas, member of the Workers Party’s politburo, and the joint convener of the Communist Kendra also addressed the rally.
Several hundred party leaders and activists from across the country took part in the grand rally.
-New Age
Transit to India cannot benefit Bangladesh: Jamiruddin Sircar
Former speaker and opposition BNP lawmaker Jamiruddin Sircar said on Monday that Bangladesh would in no way gain out f transit given to India.
He said that the Awami League government gave transit to India to link its regions through Bangladesh territory disregarding opinion of the people in the country.
Speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club Jamiruddin Sircar, also a standing committee member of the party said that a section of the intellectuals and some foreign envoys jointly brought one eleven for which democracy in Bangladesh has gone back by 20 years.
‘One eleven was unnecessary,’ he said.
The discussion on ‘The Conspiracy from 1/11 to Now: Tarique Rahman and future politics in Bangladesh’ was hosted by Swadhinata Forum at the Press Club to mark the 46th birthday of BNP senior joint-secretary general Tarique Rahman.
Sircar said that the Awami League led government was giving all jobs seeing their political background.
He said that the late president Ziaur Rahman and BNP established rule of law in Bangladesh and ‘impersonal functioning of the state.’
He urged party men and all those who love Zia and Tarique to counter all propaganda against them and the BNP.
Another BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy described one-eleven as ‘a stain on national politics.’
He criticised the role of the one-eyed civil society leaders during the two-year rule of the military backed emergency caretaker government.
He called for ‘strong unity’ of the nationalist forces to foil all anti Bangladesh conspiracies.
BNP senior joint secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir debunked an international conspiracy out to depict the past four-party alliance government as ‘fundamentalist’ and ‘communal’.
He said that the Awmi League led government ‘is giving transit to India but what about the ‘water’ issue.’
He said if any Indian bus or truck goes through Bangladesh, India would have to allow similar facilities to Bangladesh to go to China and Nepal.
Chaired by the Forum president Abu Naser Muhammad Rahmatullah, the session was addressed, amongst others, by BNP chairperson’s advisor AZM Zahid Hossain and Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal president Shirin Sultana.
-New Age
He said that the Awami League government gave transit to India to link its regions through Bangladesh territory disregarding opinion of the people in the country.
Speaking at a discussion at the National Press Club Jamiruddin Sircar, also a standing committee member of the party said that a section of the intellectuals and some foreign envoys jointly brought one eleven for which democracy in Bangladesh has gone back by 20 years.
‘One eleven was unnecessary,’ he said.
The discussion on ‘The Conspiracy from 1/11 to Now: Tarique Rahman and future politics in Bangladesh’ was hosted by Swadhinata Forum at the Press Club to mark the 46th birthday of BNP senior joint-secretary general Tarique Rahman.
Sircar said that the Awami League led government was giving all jobs seeing their political background.
He said that the late president Ziaur Rahman and BNP established rule of law in Bangladesh and ‘impersonal functioning of the state.’
He urged party men and all those who love Zia and Tarique to counter all propaganda against them and the BNP.
Another BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy described one-eleven as ‘a stain on national politics.’
He criticised the role of the one-eyed civil society leaders during the two-year rule of the military backed emergency caretaker government.
He called for ‘strong unity’ of the nationalist forces to foil all anti Bangladesh conspiracies.
BNP senior joint secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir debunked an international conspiracy out to depict the past four-party alliance government as ‘fundamentalist’ and ‘communal’.
He said that the Awmi League led government ‘is giving transit to India but what about the ‘water’ issue.’
He said if any Indian bus or truck goes through Bangladesh, India would have to allow similar facilities to Bangladesh to go to China and Nepal.
Chaired by the Forum president Abu Naser Muhammad Rahmatullah, the session was addressed, amongst others, by BNP chairperson’s advisor AZM Zahid Hossain and Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal president Shirin Sultana.
-New Age
BNP calls hartal for November 30
The main opposition BNP on Monday called countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike for November 30.
Earlier on November 14, it enforced a nationwide daylong hartal protesting the ‘eviction’ of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from her disputed house in the Dhaka Cantonment.
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain announced the programme emerging from the meeting of its national standing committee at the party's Gulshan office.
The main opposition BNP at about 8:30 in the evening started the meeting of its highest policy-making body for the second consecutive day with its Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair.
The committee on Sunday adjourned the meeting till Monday evening.
On the first of the meeting, the body expelled BNP vice-chairman barrister Nazmul Huda from the party.
-Daily Star
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain announced the programme emerging from the meeting of its national standing committee at the party's Gulshan office.
The main opposition BNP at about 8:30 in the evening started the meeting of its highest policy-making body for the second consecutive day with its Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair.
The committee on Sunday adjourned the meeting till Monday evening.
On the first of the meeting, the body expelled BNP vice-chairman barrister Nazmul Huda from the party.
-Daily Star
Dhaka, Delhi to sign protocol soon to conserve Royal Bengal Tigers
Bangladesh and India will sign a protocol very soon to conserve the endangered species of Royal Bengal Tiger.
State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said this while speaking as the chair of the plenary session of the Tiger Summit being held at Saint Petersburg in Russia.
The draft of the protocol has already been prepared and it will be finilised very soon, Dr Hasan said.
Heads of the governments and environment ministers from 13 tiger range countries including Bangladesh, China, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India and Indonesia are taking part in the four-day summit.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina will speak in the high segment of the summit.
Dr Hasan called for stronger collaboration among the tiger range countries to conserve the habitats of the wild cats to double their population by 2022.
Terming the habitats of the tigers as the haven of the bio-diversity, Dr Hasan said, “We have to identify the tigers' habitats and take all efforts for their protection”.
Eco-tourism could be promoted through conservation of tigers and involving local people with the initiative, he said adding that all habitats of tigers must be brought under close vigilance so that none can take the tiger killing as a leisure pursuit.
Dr Hasan also urged for strong collaboration among Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Interpol and other international agencies to stop illegal trafficking of tigers, their skin and body parts.
The state minister highlighted the initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh for conservation of tigers and said the government is implementing a nine year Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan in this regard.
Besides, he said the government with the support of Global Tiger Initiative has prepared a National Tiger Recovery Programme (NTRP) to increase the population of tiger.
He said Bangladesh Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh are jointly working to reduce the tiger human conflict in the villages around the Sundarbans, a habitat of Royal Bengal Tiger.
-Daily Star
State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said this while speaking as the chair of the plenary session of the Tiger Summit being held at Saint Petersburg in Russia.
The draft of the protocol has already been prepared and it will be finilised very soon, Dr Hasan said.
Heads of the governments and environment ministers from 13 tiger range countries including Bangladesh, China, Russia, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India and Indonesia are taking part in the four-day summit.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina will speak in the high segment of the summit.
Dr Hasan called for stronger collaboration among the tiger range countries to conserve the habitats of the wild cats to double their population by 2022.
Terming the habitats of the tigers as the haven of the bio-diversity, Dr Hasan said, “We have to identify the tigers' habitats and take all efforts for their protection”.
Eco-tourism could be promoted through conservation of tigers and involving local people with the initiative, he said adding that all habitats of tigers must be brought under close vigilance so that none can take the tiger killing as a leisure pursuit.
Dr Hasan also urged for strong collaboration among Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Interpol and other international agencies to stop illegal trafficking of tigers, their skin and body parts.
The state minister highlighted the initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh for conservation of tigers and said the government is implementing a nine year Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan in this regard.
Besides, he said the government with the support of Global Tiger Initiative has prepared a National Tiger Recovery Programme (NTRP) to increase the population of tiger.
He said Bangladesh Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh are jointly working to reduce the tiger human conflict in the villages around the Sundarbans, a habitat of Royal Bengal Tiger.
-Daily Star
TSA head sorry for pat-down causing urine spill
ROMULUS, Mich. – A bladder cancer survivor from Michigan says the head of the Transportation Security Administration called to apologize for an airport pat-down that caused a bag of the traveler's urine to soak his clothes.
Sixty-one-year-old retired special education teacher Tom Sawyer says the rough pat-down happened before he caught a flight to Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 7.
The Houghton Lake man tells MSNBC.com that the experience left him "absolutely humiliated."
Sawyer tells the Detroit Free Press that TSA chief John Pistole called him Monday and "apologized on behalf of the TSA."
Sawyer says he accepted Pistole's apology. The newspaper says it couldn't immediately reach the agency for comment.
Earlier, Pistole said on CBS' "The Early Show" that he's concerned about people such as Sawyer who've had uncomfortable experiences with agents.
Sixty-one-year-old retired special education teacher Tom Sawyer says the rough pat-down happened before he caught a flight to Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 7.
The Houghton Lake man tells MSNBC.com that the experience left him "absolutely humiliated."
Sawyer tells the Detroit Free Press that TSA chief John Pistole called him Monday and "apologized on behalf of the TSA."
Sawyer says he accepted Pistole's apology. The newspaper says it couldn't immediately reach the agency for comment.
Earlier, Pistole said on CBS' "The Early Show" that he's concerned about people such as Sawyer who've had uncomfortable experiences with agents.
Feds OK 2nd human study of embryonic stem cells
NEW YORK – For only the second time, the U.S. government has approved a test in people of a treatment using embryonic stem cells — this time for a rare disease that causes serious vision loss.
Advanced Cell Technology, a biotechnology company based in Santa Monica., Calif., said the research should begin early next year, following the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Just last month another biotech company, Geron Corp., said it had begun preliminary testing in people for treating spinal cord injuries by injecting cells derived from embryonic stem cells.
Scientists hope to use stem cells to create a variety of tissues for transplant. But human embryos have to be destroyed to harvest those cells, which has made their use controversial.
ACT's experiment will focus on Stargardt disease, which affects only about 30,000 Americans. But the company hopes the same approach will work for similar and more common eye disorders like age-related macular degeneration, which affects millions.
Stargardt is an inherited disorder that attacks central vision used for tasks like reading and recognizing faces. Some patients go totally blind, even losing peripheral vision, while others are severely impaired and can only perceive light or see their hands moving in front of their faces.
The disease typically starts in adolescence. The key problem is that impaired scavenger cells fail to remove toxic byproducts from the eye, allowing them to build up and kill other cells. There is no proven treatment.
In the new study, 12 patients will be treated with healthy scavenger cells, created in a laboratory from human embryonic stem cells. This early phase of the research is primarily to test the safety of various doses, injecting only one eye of each patient.
"We're also hoping to see some improvement in visual acuity, but that's a bonus," said Dr. Robert Lanza, ACT's chief scientific officer.
The research will be performed at medical centers in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oregon, ACT said.
Stephen Rose, chief research officer of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, said his group is "very, very glad" that ACT has permission to begin the study.
Advanced Cell Technology, a biotechnology company based in Santa Monica., Calif., said the research should begin early next year, following the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Just last month another biotech company, Geron Corp., said it had begun preliminary testing in people for treating spinal cord injuries by injecting cells derived from embryonic stem cells.
Scientists hope to use stem cells to create a variety of tissues for transplant. But human embryos have to be destroyed to harvest those cells, which has made their use controversial.
ACT's experiment will focus on Stargardt disease, which affects only about 30,000 Americans. But the company hopes the same approach will work for similar and more common eye disorders like age-related macular degeneration, which affects millions.
Stargardt is an inherited disorder that attacks central vision used for tasks like reading and recognizing faces. Some patients go totally blind, even losing peripheral vision, while others are severely impaired and can only perceive light or see their hands moving in front of their faces.
The disease typically starts in adolescence. The key problem is that impaired scavenger cells fail to remove toxic byproducts from the eye, allowing them to build up and kill other cells. There is no proven treatment.
In the new study, 12 patients will be treated with healthy scavenger cells, created in a laboratory from human embryonic stem cells. This early phase of the research is primarily to test the safety of various doses, injecting only one eye of each patient.
"We're also hoping to see some improvement in visual acuity, but that's a bonus," said Dr. Robert Lanza, ACT's chief scientific officer.
The research will be performed at medical centers in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Oregon, ACT said.
Stephen Rose, chief research officer of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, said his group is "very, very glad" that ACT has permission to begin the study.
Searchers seek gunman in Utah ranger shooting
The target of their manhunt was Lance Leeroy Arellano, 40, who officials believe may be wounded and in need of medical help after the shootout late Friday. Authorities have recovered a rifle, backpack and a tattered, bloody T-shirt while searching for Arellano over the weekend in a canyon along the Colorado River.
The ranger, Brody Young, 34, suffered injuries to an arm, leg and his stomach area, and underwent surgery over the weekend, Grand County Sheriff Jim Nyland said. A spokeswoman for St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., said Monday that Young is listed in serious condition.
The shootout occurred after Young stopped a vehicle near the Poison Spider Mesa Trail southwest of Moab near the Colorado River. The scenic trail, among Utah's best-known biking runs, rises more than 1,000 feet into the surrounding countryside.
Authorities have not yet been able to interview Young, and it remained unclear what sparked the violence.
More than 160 law enforcement officers spent the weekend searching a 15-square mile area near eastern Utah's Dead Horse State Park. Nyland has said the area's rugged terrain likely has given Arellano the "upper hand" in avoiding capture.
"He pretty much knows where we are at all times because of the number of people we have," Nyland said at a press conference.
Authorities have confiscated and searched Arellano's 1999 silver Pontiac Grand Am, which was found parked in the brush several miles south of the shooting site.
Nyland said he thinks Arellano is still in the contained search area and "there's not any possible way for him to leave the area without us knowing."
"We consider this individual armed and dangerous. As we're tracking him we have to keep that in mind — the security of the trackers — and we're having to move pretty slow," Nyland said. Arellano has a criminal history that includes assault and drug charges.
The shooting comes in the wake of the killing earlier this month of a 31-year-old game warden in Pennsylvania who was shot while trying to apprehending an armed poacher.
LA County coroner aims to revive gift shop sales
Tucked as unobtrusively as possible in a closed-door room off the coroner's lobby, the store is jam-packed with mortality-mocking merchandise: Water bottles marked "bodily fluids," boxer shorts dubbed "undertakers," toe tags, crime-scene tape and beach towels bearing the county coroner's trademarked symbol of a body outline.
Trouble is, few people know about the tongue-in-cheek store and its related website, "Skeletons in a Closet." The shop's biggest customers? No shock here — homicide detectives.
"Most people know it through word-of-mouth," said Craig Harvey, the department's chief of operations. "But we are mentioned in guidebooks and we get tourists."
County auditors, however, say given the unique nature of the trinkets — the department is believed to be the nation's only coroner with a trademarked merchandise line — the 17-year-old business could be a robust moneymaker if infused with marketing lifeblood.
They recommend the coroner hire an outside firm with an eye to marketing the merchandise in high-traffic tourist areas, such as Hollywood Boulevard and Los Angeles International Airport.
Harvey is first to admit the merchandise has potential. It just hasn't been a priority for a department that prides itself as one of the top forensic science units in the country, as well as the busiest.
"There is a mystique about the LA County coroner, something people identify with. People want to know what we do and how we do it," Harvey said. "We can do government services very well, but business is another thing."
A management audit released earlier this year found the store's losses totaled $270,000 from 2003 to 2008, and was in effect being subsidized through surplus funds from a drunken driving educational program.
Noting that retailing is not part of a coroner's mission, Harvey said the department is open to expanding the operation but is awaiting a forthcoming fiscal review from the county controller-auditor to develop a plan.
At one point, the department contracted a company to market the items in Japan, but the project was dead soon after arrival — with little consumer interest, Harvey said. The department hasn't sought new ventures since.
Still, the marketing opportunity is clearly there, given the department's unrivaled profile in a largely unheralded field.
Over the decades, some of the world's most captivating morbid mysteries have played out under the prying scalpels of Los Angeles pathologists.
There are the deaths of the famous such as Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean; killings that led to charges against the famous such as O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake and Phil Spector; and the victims whose killers became famous such as the Menendez brothers, Charles Manson, and the victim herself, the Black Dahlia.
Numerous TV shows have added to the cachet, including the long-running 1976-83 drama "Quincy M.E.," in which Jack Klugman played a curmudgeonly crime-solving coroner, and the more recent documentary-style "North Mission Road," named for the department's street location.
"There's a definite interest in this," said Scott Michaels, who owns Dearly Departed Tours, which offers tours of LA's celebrated death landmarks. "Every other store along Hollywood Boulevard has LAPD and LAFD T-shirts. The LA coroner would be a natural."
The store has always been somewhat of a barebones operation. It evolved from a few coffee mugs and T-shirts the department had printed up to use as giveaways at conferences. Then people started requesting them and the department opened a small shop in a supply closet in 1993.
A following developed for the items that poke fun at death — there's nothing gory or bloody — and it landed in tourist guidebooks as a stop for unique souvenirs.
Tour buses stop there and tourists do seek it out. However, the shop's success has been limited by its location on the eastside of downtown Los Angeles amid a grimy strip of auto-glass businesses. The shop lacks a sign outside the coroner's office, a red-brick, century-old former hospital.
It makes for a lot of lonely hours for store manager Edna Pereyda, who had no customers during a recent visit.
The department has deliberately downplayed the store, mindful that most people who seek out the coroner's department are bereaved relatives. "They're really not in the mood for this stuff," Harvey said.
After a 2002 audit noted the store lost $100,000 in 2000-01, the department tightened up operations considerably with better inventory and cash controls, and limits on officials' using merchandise as gifts. The audit noted that officials gave away $2,600 worth of stuff over a four-month period.
In 2008, losses narrowed to about $55,000 on the $175,000 per year operation.
Marketing experts said the merchandise would likely be popular, although it could perhaps reinforce foreigners' perception of American cities as breeding-grounds for violence.
"It is part of the makeup of people's view of large cities in America," said Bill Baker, author of "Destination Branding for Small Cities." "But if this is more of a humorous thing, it could be a 'I survived it' sort of mentality. It'll possibly sell well."
Police eye death of boy who fell at Staples Center
LOS ANGELES – The family of a 2-year-old boy was posing for pictures in a luxury suite high inside Staples Center when he managed to scale a clear safety barrier and fell about 30 feet to his death, police said on Monday.
Lucas Anthony Tang suffered head injuries Sunday when he landed on rows of seats minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 117-89, police said. The boy later died at a hospital.
"Somehow the child went over the edge of the section," Officer Julie Sohn said.
Police were releasing few details about the incident as they tried to determine what happened.
Sohn said the boy's family was taking photographs at the time of the fall.
The Los Angeles Times, citing unidentified police sources, said the toddler's family was looking at digital photographs and lost track of him. He somehow got over the top of the glass barrier, the newspaper reported.
Sohn, however, said she could not confirm those details.
The luxury boxes have tiers of seats, fronted by concrete walls. Atop the walls are glass barriers. The barrier varies in height but at its lowest point is about the height of an adult's waist, said Michael Roth, a spokesman for Staples and owner, AEG.
Roth said the toddler fell into a general seating area about 30 rows up from the court.
Initial estimates put the child's fall at about 50 feet, but Roth later said the third tier of boxes is three stories up, or about 30 feet.
Witnesses said the boy was moving his arms, legs and head when paramedics put him in an ambulance, Roth said.
The 950,000-square-foot stadium opened in 1999 and has 160 luxury suites on three levels.
"In 11 years, we've never had an incident like this," he said.
The building is in compliance with city codes, Department of Building and Safety spokesman David Lara said.
Building regulations require guardrails that are at least 26 inches high in front of seats, he said. Guardrails in front of stairs must be 42 inches high.
The police department's juvenile division, which has investigative responsibility when a victim is under age 11, was handling the probe. "It's procedural" and did not necessarily indicate that a crime was involved, Sohn said.
The arena was conducting its own investigation, Roth said.
Roth declined to release details about the boy's family but said the luxury box — as with most suites — probably was owned by a corporation.
"Our condolences and prayers go to the Tang family," Roth said a short prepared statement.
The Lakers organization issued a statement expressing shock and sadness at the tragedy.
"To go from a moment of happiness and enjoyment, to the loss of this boy's life, is tragic and heartbreaking. We would like to ask Lakers fans to join us in keeping Lucas and his family in our thoughts and prayers," the statement said.
Roth said Monday night's game between the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Hornets would go on as scheduled.
The arena is home to the NBA's Lakers and Clippers, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
Adjacent to the popular LA Live entertainment complex, Staples is also one of the city's major venues for concerts and special events such as the Grammy Awards.
Lucas Anthony Tang suffered head injuries Sunday when he landed on rows of seats minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 117-89, police said. The boy later died at a hospital.
"Somehow the child went over the edge of the section," Officer Julie Sohn said.
Police were releasing few details about the incident as they tried to determine what happened.
Sohn said the boy's family was taking photographs at the time of the fall.
The Los Angeles Times, citing unidentified police sources, said the toddler's family was looking at digital photographs and lost track of him. He somehow got over the top of the glass barrier, the newspaper reported.
Sohn, however, said she could not confirm those details.
The luxury boxes have tiers of seats, fronted by concrete walls. Atop the walls are glass barriers. The barrier varies in height but at its lowest point is about the height of an adult's waist, said Michael Roth, a spokesman for Staples and owner, AEG.
Roth said the toddler fell into a general seating area about 30 rows up from the court.
Initial estimates put the child's fall at about 50 feet, but Roth later said the third tier of boxes is three stories up, or about 30 feet.
Witnesses said the boy was moving his arms, legs and head when paramedics put him in an ambulance, Roth said.
The 950,000-square-foot stadium opened in 1999 and has 160 luxury suites on three levels.
"In 11 years, we've never had an incident like this," he said.
The building is in compliance with city codes, Department of Building and Safety spokesman David Lara said.
Building regulations require guardrails that are at least 26 inches high in front of seats, he said. Guardrails in front of stairs must be 42 inches high.
The police department's juvenile division, which has investigative responsibility when a victim is under age 11, was handling the probe. "It's procedural" and did not necessarily indicate that a crime was involved, Sohn said.
The arena was conducting its own investigation, Roth said.
Roth declined to release details about the boy's family but said the luxury box — as with most suites — probably was owned by a corporation.
"Our condolences and prayers go to the Tang family," Roth said a short prepared statement.
The Lakers organization issued a statement expressing shock and sadness at the tragedy.
"To go from a moment of happiness and enjoyment, to the loss of this boy's life, is tragic and heartbreaking. We would like to ask Lakers fans to join us in keeping Lucas and his family in our thoughts and prayers," the statement said.
Roth said Monday night's game between the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Hornets would go on as scheduled.
The arena is home to the NBA's Lakers and Clippers, the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
Adjacent to the popular LA Live entertainment complex, Staples is also one of the city's major venues for concerts and special events such as the Grammy Awards.
DeLay jurors weigh mostly circumstantial evidence
DeLay's attorneys said prosecutors needed jurors to infer DeLay's guilt because they'd presented no proof the ex-lawmaker committed a crime.
Jurors deliberated for about four hours after closing arguments without reaching a verdict. They will resume their deliberations Tuesday.
They sent several questions Monday to Senior Judge Pat Priest, including a request for clarification on the definition of money laundering. Priest told jurors he would answer their questions about money laundering on Tuesday.
Prosecutors had focused on summarizing the volumes of e-mails and other documents they presented during DeLay's three-week trial in an effort to prove DeLay used his political action committee to illegally channel $190,000 in corporate money into 2002 Texas legislative races through a money swap.
DeLay, a once powerful but polarizing Houston-area congressman, has denied wrongdoing. The Republican is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors Gary Cobb and Beverly Mathews said the circumstantial evidence in the case, when put together, showed DeLay took part in a scheme with two associates, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, to get corporate money to seven Texas House candidates. Under Texas law, corporate donations can't go directly to political campaigns.
"What was Tom DeLay's motive to do this? His motive was redistricting, pure and simple," Mathews said.
Prosecutors claim the corporate money helped Republicans elect candidates and take control of the Texas House. That enabled the GOP majority to push through a Delay-engineered congressional redistricting plan that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 — and strengthened DeLay's political power.
Prosecutors say the corporate money was laundered through an arm of the Washington-based Republican National Committee, or RNC. The money was exchanged for the same amount in individual donations, which can be used in Texas campaigns.
"You can logically infer anything from the evidence. That is what circumstantial evidence is. You don't have to have an eyewitness to figure out what went on here," Mathews said.
But Dick DeGuerin, DeLay's lead attorney, restated what he had often said throughout the trial: that prosecutors had failed to prove the ex-lawmaker committed a crime and the money swap was legal.
Throughout his closing arguments, DeGuerin repeated one phrase in particular: no corporate money went to candidates in Texas. He even included the sentence — in bold, black letters — in a slide show he presented to jurors.
DeGuerin argued DeLay was being punished for his political views and that prosecutors tried to "make politics dirty." Trial testimony from prosecution witnesses often focused on how money is raised in political campaigns, particularly from corporations.
"I don't agree with tearing down someone because of what their beliefs are," DeGuerin said.
The case had been originally brought by a Democratic district attorney who is now retired.
The strongest evidence prosecutors presented was an audio interview in which DeLay said he knew beforehand about the money swap. DeLay says he misspoke in the interview with prosecutors in 2005, just before his indictment.
DeLay has said Ellis told him about the money swap on Oct. 2, 2002, after it had been approved. At trial, prosecutors focused on a Sept. 11, 2002, meeting Ellis had at DeLay's Washington office. Prosecutors told jurors that an hour before Ellis was in DeLay's office that day, he received a blank check from the PAC's accountant in Austin. That check was later sent to the RNC and filled out for $190,000. Two former DeLay staff members testified DeLay would have been too busy to be at the Sept. 11 meeting.
During closing arguments, both prosecutors and defense attorneys played excerpts from the audio interview. Prosecutors said it proved in DeLay's own words that he knew about the money swap before it happened. DeGuerin argued it proved DeLay didn't propose the transaction and had little if any involvement in how the PAC was run.
Prosecutors presented more than 30 witnesses during the trial that started Nov. 1. In contrast, only five witnesses took the stand in DeLay's defense.
At trial, prosecutors also presented records showing the seven Texas candidates got more donations from the RNC than all other state legislative candidates around the U.S.
The criminal charges in Texas, as well as a separate federal investigation of DeLay's ties to disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, ended his 22-year political career representing suburban Houston. The Justice Department probe into DeLay's ties to Abramoff ended without any charges filed against DeLay.
Ellis and Colyandro, who face lesser charges, will be tried later.
DeLay, whose nickname was "the Hammer" for his heavy-handed style, runs a consulting firm based in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land. In 2009, he appeared on ABC's hit television show "Dancing With the Stars."
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Case study: Could Facebook trigger asthma?
Can virtual friends give you asthma? The question is put in an unusual case study reported on Friday by the medical journal The Lancet.
Italian doctors describe how a 18-year-old man with a history of asthma suddenly experienced bouts of breathlessness during the summer months, when he was normally free from these symptoms.
The teen`s worried mother learned that he was depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend, who had deleted him from her list of "friends" on Facebook while "friending" lots of new young men.
Using a new nickname on Facebook, the young man succeeding in becoming her "friend" once more and in finally gaining access to her picture on her Facebook profile.
Intrigued, the doctors asked the patient to wear an airflow mask, measuring respiratory flow, whenever he accessed Facebook.
Sure enough, his breathing volume dramatically plunged as soon as he logged in, sometimes by more than 20 percent. After getting help from a psychiatrist, the patient determined not to login to Facebook any more -- and the asthma attacks stopped.
The patient had no other physical problems or anything else untoward in his medical history, say the investigators.
They conclude it was the stress of Facebook login that triggered the asthma: the patient literally choked at the prospect of seeing and communicating with his ex.
The case is reported in a letter by five doctors, led by Gennaro D`Amato of the High Speciality Hospital in Naples.
The authors say the case could be a useful tip for doctors who want to explore mystery cases of wheezing and breathlessness among young patients, for whom social networking is fast taking the place of real-life relationships, with all their ups and downs.
"Facebook, and social networks in general, could be a new source of psychological stress, representing a triggering factor for exacerbations in depressed asthmatic individuals," says the letter.
"Considering the high prevalence of asthma, especially among young people, we suggest that this type of trigger be considered in the assessment of asthma exacerbations."
-Internet
The teen`s worried mother learned that he was depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend, who had deleted him from her list of "friends" on Facebook while "friending" lots of new young men.
Using a new nickname on Facebook, the young man succeeding in becoming her "friend" once more and in finally gaining access to her picture on her Facebook profile.
Intrigued, the doctors asked the patient to wear an airflow mask, measuring respiratory flow, whenever he accessed Facebook.
Sure enough, his breathing volume dramatically plunged as soon as he logged in, sometimes by more than 20 percent. After getting help from a psychiatrist, the patient determined not to login to Facebook any more -- and the asthma attacks stopped.
The patient had no other physical problems or anything else untoward in his medical history, say the investigators.
They conclude it was the stress of Facebook login that triggered the asthma: the patient literally choked at the prospect of seeing and communicating with his ex.
The case is reported in a letter by five doctors, led by Gennaro D`Amato of the High Speciality Hospital in Naples.
The authors say the case could be a useful tip for doctors who want to explore mystery cases of wheezing and breathlessness among young patients, for whom social networking is fast taking the place of real-life relationships, with all their ups and downs.
"Facebook, and social networks in general, could be a new source of psychological stress, representing a triggering factor for exacerbations in depressed asthmatic individuals," says the letter.
"Considering the high prevalence of asthma, especially among young people, we suggest that this type of trigger be considered in the assessment of asthma exacerbations."
-Internet
Send SMS to complain to police
After e-ticket and health service through cellular network, citizens are now offered filing complaints with police by texting on mobile phone and general diaries online.
Under a joint initiative by the government's Access to Information (A2I) programme, mobile phone operators and police department, the arrangement comes into effect by the end of this month.
A2I started working on this project in mid-2009. It was delayed due to various technical glitches, officials concerned said.
KAM Morshed, assistant country director of UNDP in Bangladesh, said, "UNDP is working with the home ministry on various concerns. This A2I initiative is one of them."
"The move is aimed at ensuring that the ordinary people get easy access to law enforcement agencies in emergency," he said.
Once the scheme opens, people will be able to file complaints with the police control room or complain desk by sending SMS to 7373. Foreigners staying in Bangladesh can also send their particulars to the same number.
All the police stations in the country will send data related to First Information Report (FIR) to the central short message service (SMS) server of the police headquarters.
Police officials will send all their necessary information to the central server by sending SMS to 7374.
The information in this server could be accessed by texting 'FIR' to 7373 from any operator.
Anyone will be able to submit a general diary (GD) or collect a police clearance certificate online.
The online GD system is already being implemented experimentally, the officials said. A police clearance certificate website is also under construction.
People will also have the access to latest information on their passports through the service.
It would also be possible for law enforcers to report or track any lost or stolen vehicles by texting on mobile phone.
-The Daily Star
Under a joint initiative by the government's Access to Information (A2I) programme, mobile phone operators and police department, the arrangement comes into effect by the end of this month.
A2I started working on this project in mid-2009. It was delayed due to various technical glitches, officials concerned said.
KAM Morshed, assistant country director of UNDP in Bangladesh, said, "UNDP is working with the home ministry on various concerns. This A2I initiative is one of them."
"The move is aimed at ensuring that the ordinary people get easy access to law enforcement agencies in emergency," he said.
Once the scheme opens, people will be able to file complaints with the police control room or complain desk by sending SMS to 7373. Foreigners staying in Bangladesh can also send their particulars to the same number.
All the police stations in the country will send data related to First Information Report (FIR) to the central short message service (SMS) server of the police headquarters.
Police officials will send all their necessary information to the central server by sending SMS to 7374.
The information in this server could be accessed by texting 'FIR' to 7373 from any operator.
Anyone will be able to submit a general diary (GD) or collect a police clearance certificate online.
The online GD system is already being implemented experimentally, the officials said. A police clearance certificate website is also under construction.
People will also have the access to latest information on their passports through the service.
It would also be possible for law enforcers to report or track any lost or stolen vehicles by texting on mobile phone.
-The Daily Star
Siddikur going great guns
Siddikur Rahman's fine form at the UBS Hong Kong Open followed into third round when he leaped from 36th place to joint 19th (placed 26th) with a score of third round of 6 under par.
His aggregate score is now 8-under par 202 after three rounds with a third round 6-under par.
It remains to be seen whether Siddikur can finish this event on a high after commendably completing Barclays Singapore Open last week.
Meanwhile, Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter continued to dominate as he took a two-shot lead over Graeme McDowell in the 2.5-million-dollar event on Saturday, shooting a six-under-par 64 in the third round.
US Open champion McDowell sits on his own in second place on 17-under after his round of 63, while England's Simon Dyson is in third, one shot further back.
-Daily Star
His aggregate score is now 8-under par 202 after three rounds with a third round 6-under par.
It remains to be seen whether Siddikur can finish this event on a high after commendably completing Barclays Singapore Open last week.
Meanwhile, Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter continued to dominate as he took a two-shot lead over Graeme McDowell in the 2.5-million-dollar event on Saturday, shooting a six-under-par 64 in the third round.
US Open champion McDowell sits on his own in second place on 17-under after his round of 63, while England's Simon Dyson is in third, one shot further back.
-Daily Star
Mixed day for Bangladesh
Bangladesh had a mixed day at the Asian Games in Guangzhou yesterday with some heartening results chipping in amid disappointing ones.
The most commendable performance of the day came in chess where the men's team completed a clean 4-0 sweep of South Korea while the women's lost 1.5-2.5 to leaders China.
In the men's board, GM Ziaur Rahman, FM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagor, FM Abu Sufian Shakil and FM Mehedi Hasan Parag won over their respective opponents. The men's team is in the eighth position with four points from four rounds while China lead the table with 8 points.
In the women's section, WFM Sharmin Sultana beat China's WGM Zhao Xue while Shamima Akhter drew with another WGM Ju Wenjun. However, Nazrana Khan and Masuda Begum lost their respective boards. The women's team now have four points from four rounds and are in the sixth position as China lead the table with 7 points.
Bangladesh women's archery team gave North Korea a run for their money but ultimately conceded a 205-195 defeat in the pre-quarterfinals at the Aoti Archery Range. The final scores however do not fully reflect the performance as two out of the four rounds were won by the Bangladeshi trio of Mathui Prue, Beauty Roy and Najmin Khatun. However, the aggregate scores from Bangladesh over the four rounds weren't good enough to challenge their more established opponents.
There was good news from track and field too, where the country's fastest man Azharul Islam made it to the semifinals of the Games' showcase event 100m sprint. Azharul timed 11.19 seconds in heat No. 6 to finish fourth from the six-man heat. The semifinals of the event will be held today. However, Azhar's female compatriot Nazmun Nahar Beauty could not follow his footsteps as she finished 22nd among 26 participants to bow out from the heats. She finished her race with a timing of 12.72 seconds.
Erratic performance in the hockey field continued when Bangladesh lost their last group match against Pakistan by 6-1 goals.
Taposh Barmon scored a consolation goal seven minutes from time after conceding six goals against the former world champions.
Veterans Shakeel Abbasi and Sohail Abbas scored two goals apiece to give Pakistan a 4-0 first-half lead before Muhammad Imran converted two penalty corners in the second.
-Daily Star
The most commendable performance of the day came in chess where the men's team completed a clean 4-0 sweep of South Korea while the women's lost 1.5-2.5 to leaders China.In the men's board, GM Ziaur Rahman, FM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagor, FM Abu Sufian Shakil and FM Mehedi Hasan Parag won over their respective opponents. The men's team is in the eighth position with four points from four rounds while China lead the table with 8 points.
In the women's section, WFM Sharmin Sultana beat China's WGM Zhao Xue while Shamima Akhter drew with another WGM Ju Wenjun. However, Nazrana Khan and Masuda Begum lost their respective boards. The women's team now have four points from four rounds and are in the sixth position as China lead the table with 7 points.
Bangladesh women's archery team gave North Korea a run for their money but ultimately conceded a 205-195 defeat in the pre-quarterfinals at the Aoti Archery Range. The final scores however do not fully reflect the performance as two out of the four rounds were won by the Bangladeshi trio of Mathui Prue, Beauty Roy and Najmin Khatun. However, the aggregate scores from Bangladesh over the four rounds weren't good enough to challenge their more established opponents.
There was good news from track and field too, where the country's fastest man Azharul Islam made it to the semifinals of the Games' showcase event 100m sprint. Azharul timed 11.19 seconds in heat No. 6 to finish fourth from the six-man heat. The semifinals of the event will be held today. However, Azhar's female compatriot Nazmun Nahar Beauty could not follow his footsteps as she finished 22nd among 26 participants to bow out from the heats. She finished her race with a timing of 12.72 seconds.
Erratic performance in the hockey field continued when Bangladesh lost their last group match against Pakistan by 6-1 goals.
Taposh Barmon scored a consolation goal seven minutes from time after conceding six goals against the former world champions.
Veterans Shakeel Abbasi and Sohail Abbas scored two goals apiece to give Pakistan a 4-0 first-half lead before Muhammad Imran converted two penalty corners in the second.
-Daily Star
Chanchal busy again after Eid
Actor Chanchal Chowdhury, of Monpura fame was very busy in shooting for Eid special TV plays for various television channels during the Eid holidays, had no time for the drama serials. After Eid schedule, He plans to pay most of his time on these serials.
‘The hectic schedule for Eid Special TV plays did not allow me to give schedule to the ongoing TV serials,’ said Chanchal.
One of the most busiest actors on the small screen, Chanchal has won hearts of many viewers of the country by playing roles of various TV plays within a short period of time.
He has also proved his talent in film-acting after the huge hit of his debut film, Monpura.
Chanchal is fond of playing roles, which are a bit rustic, as he finds it easy to relate to characters resembling his own roots. His favourite roles include the characters of Fiza Master in Bhober Haat, Japan Daktar in Sakin Shari Shuri and Shonai in Monpura.
The characters he plays in a number of TV plays bear some similarities of his own restlessness during his boyhood in Kamarhaat village in Pabna.
One of the most busiest actors on the small screen, Chanchal has won hearts of many viewers of the country by playing roles of various TV plays within a short period of time.
He has also proved his talent in film-acting after the huge hit of his debut film, Monpura.
Chanchal is fond of playing roles, which are a bit rustic, as he finds it easy to relate to characters resembling his own roots. His favourite roles include the characters of Fiza Master in Bhober Haat, Japan Daktar in Sakin Shari Shuri and Shonai in Monpura.
The characters he plays in a number of TV plays bear some similarities of his own restlessness during his boyhood in Kamarhaat village in Pabna.
SEC rewrites listing rules for energy firms
The stockmarket regulator has eased some IPO rules under the book building method to encourage infrastructure, power and fuel companies to go public
Non-listed companies in the three sectors with at least a year of commercial production and profits can now raise funds from the market, according to a circular issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday.
Previously, a company had needed at least three years of commercial operations and profits for a minimum of two years before being eligible to raise capital through the exchanges.
However, if a company wishes to float shares under the fixed-price initial public offering (IPO) method, the new, easier rules will not be applicable.
The relaxed rules will not apply to companies in other sectors. SEC officials said infrastructure, fuel and power sectors are being prioritised for economic development.
"The rules are being relaxed so that entrepreneurs in the sectors can raise funds easily and run their projects smoothly," an SEC official said.
"It will also increase the supply side in the market, which is now crying for new securities after the entry of thousands of fresh investors with thousands of crores of taka in cash.”
Although some companies listed on the stockmarket using the book building method, a modern pricing mechanism for an IPO, no companies in energy and infrastructure sectors are yet to float shares under the new system.
On Monday's circular, SEC also made another amendment to the book building rules. It said the institutional investors that will participate in fixing the indicative prices of a company's shares will also have to participate in the final bidding to discover share prices. Previously, it was not mandatory for them.
Companies with a minimum of Tk 18 crore in paid-up capital will be also be allowed to go public from now on, said the SEC circular. But the minimum size of the IPO should be Tk 12 crore, meaning a company with at least Tk 30 crore in paid-up capital, including the minimum IPO size, can go public.
A company with large capital will have to go for an IPO with minimum shares equivalent to 10 percent of total paid-up capital and IPO size.
For example, if a company's existing paid-up capital is Tk 150 crore and it wants to raise Tk 10 crore from the stockmarket, its IPO size should be at least Tk 16 crore, which is 10 percent of Tk 160 crore.
The circular said the market lot of shares will have to be equivalent to Tk 1,000 or multiplied. For example, if a company's share face value is Tk 10, the market lot must be 100 shares, but if a company's share face value is Tk 100, the market lot will have 10 shares.
-Daily Star
Non-listed companies in the three sectors with at least a year of commercial production and profits can now raise funds from the market, according to a circular issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday.Previously, a company had needed at least three years of commercial operations and profits for a minimum of two years before being eligible to raise capital through the exchanges.
However, if a company wishes to float shares under the fixed-price initial public offering (IPO) method, the new, easier rules will not be applicable.
The relaxed rules will not apply to companies in other sectors. SEC officials said infrastructure, fuel and power sectors are being prioritised for economic development.
"The rules are being relaxed so that entrepreneurs in the sectors can raise funds easily and run their projects smoothly," an SEC official said.
"It will also increase the supply side in the market, which is now crying for new securities after the entry of thousands of fresh investors with thousands of crores of taka in cash.”
Although some companies listed on the stockmarket using the book building method, a modern pricing mechanism for an IPO, no companies in energy and infrastructure sectors are yet to float shares under the new system.
On Monday's circular, SEC also made another amendment to the book building rules. It said the institutional investors that will participate in fixing the indicative prices of a company's shares will also have to participate in the final bidding to discover share prices. Previously, it was not mandatory for them.
Companies with a minimum of Tk 18 crore in paid-up capital will be also be allowed to go public from now on, said the SEC circular. But the minimum size of the IPO should be Tk 12 crore, meaning a company with at least Tk 30 crore in paid-up capital, including the minimum IPO size, can go public.
A company with large capital will have to go for an IPO with minimum shares equivalent to 10 percent of total paid-up capital and IPO size.
For example, if a company's existing paid-up capital is Tk 150 crore and it wants to raise Tk 10 crore from the stockmarket, its IPO size should be at least Tk 16 crore, which is 10 percent of Tk 160 crore.
The circular said the market lot of shares will have to be equivalent to Tk 1,000 or multiplied. For example, if a company's share face value is Tk 10, the market lot must be 100 shares, but if a company's share face value is Tk 100, the market lot will have 10 shares.
-Daily Star
Dhaka hopes COP-16 will deliver green fund
Annual global climate conference under UNFCCC in Cancun, Mexico may not yield any major breakthrough on reaching deal for reducing carbon emission, but most likely to achieve success to create ‘green fund’ to support the developing countries for adaptation.
Members of Bangladesh delegation taking part in the negotiation meeting said this at a press briefing at the National Press Club in Dhaka Saturday ahead of their departure for the conference slated for November 29 to December 10.
The Copenhagen climate conference agreed to create the ‘green fund’ under which the developed countries pledged to deliver $30 billion to the developing countries for the period of 2010-2012 for adaptation and mobilise $100 billion by 2020 to combat climate change.
Senior member of the negotiating team Qazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed said Bangladesh along with other developing countries would try its best to establish its position and persuade developed nations to take pragmatic measures to reduce their carbon emission in the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 16).
The secretary of the ministry of environment and forests, Mihir Kanti Majumder, said, ‘Our main focus will be persuading the large emitters to come to an agreement for mitigation to reduce global warming as mitigation is the best way for adaptation.’
Chairman of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad Mohammad Farash Uddin, members of the Bangladesh delegation Ansarul Karim and Asaduzzaman were present.
The state minister for environment and forests, Hasan Mahmud, will be present at the ministerial level meeting of the conference, QK Ahmed, also the chief of the Working Group on global climate negotiation, said.
He said the secretary of the MOEF would lead the negotiation team comprising representatives from the government and non-government organisation, and researchers, civil society members and media.
Recognising the importance of the climate conference, he said parliament members from all political parties, academics, civil society member and journalists from major media houses had been included in the Bangladesh delegation.
‘Climate negotiation is an important diplomacy which can be successful through massive media campaign,’ Farash Uddin, former Bangladesh Bank governor, said hoping that COP-16 would certainly be able to make a way for a global deal by a couple of years to contain global warming.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s position in the COP-16, QK Ahmed said, ‘We want enhanced action for adaptation and mitigation, and quick release of the fund as agreed in the Copenhagen climate summit last year.’
‘Developed countries must reduce their emission up to 45 per cent by 2020 from 1990 level and up to 90 per cent by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5 degree than the pre-industrial level,’ he said.
Khaliq said Bangladesh wanted financial support from developed countries up to 1.5 per cent of their gross national product to fight adverse impacts of climate change in the form of grant.
He acknowledged some differences of least developing countries with major economies of G77+China group and said, ‘We are making efforts to consolidate the strength of LDCs as separate group called as most vulnerable countries is not possible under the existing UN system.’
‘But, we want implementation of the Copenhagen Accord which agreed for giving preferential treatment to the needs of most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change and technology transfer,’ he said.
The secretary of the MoEF mentioned the steps taken by the government to address climate change issues. He said the government plan for building a 7,000- kilometer-long coastal defence embankment and ten-year Bangladesh Climate Change Strategic and Action Plan has already earned global acclamation.
Formation of Climate Change Trust Fund and Climate Change Resilience Fund, Bangladesh Biodiversity Plan and innovation of saline and drought-tolerant crops are included among the salient measures of Bangladesh to adapt to climate change, he said.
-New Age
Members of Bangladesh delegation taking part in the negotiation meeting said this at a press briefing at the National Press Club in Dhaka Saturday ahead of their departure for the conference slated for November 29 to December 10.
The Copenhagen climate conference agreed to create the ‘green fund’ under which the developed countries pledged to deliver $30 billion to the developing countries for the period of 2010-2012 for adaptation and mobilise $100 billion by 2020 to combat climate change.
Senior member of the negotiating team Qazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed said Bangladesh along with other developing countries would try its best to establish its position and persuade developed nations to take pragmatic measures to reduce their carbon emission in the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 16).
The secretary of the ministry of environment and forests, Mihir Kanti Majumder, said, ‘Our main focus will be persuading the large emitters to come to an agreement for mitigation to reduce global warming as mitigation is the best way for adaptation.’
Chairman of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad Mohammad Farash Uddin, members of the Bangladesh delegation Ansarul Karim and Asaduzzaman were present.
The state minister for environment and forests, Hasan Mahmud, will be present at the ministerial level meeting of the conference, QK Ahmed, also the chief of the Working Group on global climate negotiation, said.
He said the secretary of the MOEF would lead the negotiation team comprising representatives from the government and non-government organisation, and researchers, civil society members and media.
Recognising the importance of the climate conference, he said parliament members from all political parties, academics, civil society member and journalists from major media houses had been included in the Bangladesh delegation.
‘Climate negotiation is an important diplomacy which can be successful through massive media campaign,’ Farash Uddin, former Bangladesh Bank governor, said hoping that COP-16 would certainly be able to make a way for a global deal by a couple of years to contain global warming.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s position in the COP-16, QK Ahmed said, ‘We want enhanced action for adaptation and mitigation, and quick release of the fund as agreed in the Copenhagen climate summit last year.’
‘Developed countries must reduce their emission up to 45 per cent by 2020 from 1990 level and up to 90 per cent by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5 degree than the pre-industrial level,’ he said.
Khaliq said Bangladesh wanted financial support from developed countries up to 1.5 per cent of their gross national product to fight adverse impacts of climate change in the form of grant.
He acknowledged some differences of least developing countries with major economies of G77+China group and said, ‘We are making efforts to consolidate the strength of LDCs as separate group called as most vulnerable countries is not possible under the existing UN system.’
‘But, we want implementation of the Copenhagen Accord which agreed for giving preferential treatment to the needs of most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change and technology transfer,’ he said.
The secretary of the MoEF mentioned the steps taken by the government to address climate change issues. He said the government plan for building a 7,000- kilometer-long coastal defence embankment and ten-year Bangladesh Climate Change Strategic and Action Plan has already earned global acclamation.
Formation of Climate Change Trust Fund and Climate Change Resilience Fund, Bangladesh Biodiversity Plan and innovation of saline and drought-tolerant crops are included among the salient measures of Bangladesh to adapt to climate change, he said.
-New Age
WB helps studies for sustainable dev of Sundarban
The World Bank is helping Bangladesh carry out a series of studies to develop a holistic programme for sustainable development of the Sundarban, the world’s single largest mangrove forest.
The Sundarban is home to an estimated 425 species of wildlife, including 300 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, as well as the Royal Bengal Tiger.
A comprehensive plan based on a total of six studies would be developed to integrate prioritised interventions to address the region’s main conservation and development challenges, a WB spokesman told BSS Saturday.
The studies will draw up the main challenges of poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation in the Sundarban.
The studies, expected to be completed by September next year, will take full account of the distinction between protected areas and surrounding inhabited areas for assessing the development challenges of the Sundarban by providing them with alternative livelihood.
Bangladesh and India share the world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarban and 62 per cent of the Sundarban falls in Bangladesh.
Due to its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem, the ecological importance of the Sundarban Reserve Forest is immense. Over 3.5 million people live in the Sundarbans Ecologically Critical Area, with no permanent settlement within the Sundarban Reserve Forest.
Among them, about 1.2 million people directly depend on the Sundarban for their livelihoods. Most of these people are Bowalis (wood cutters/golpatta collectors), fishermen, crab and shell collectors, Mowalis (honey collectors) and shrimp fry collectors and mostly women and children.
The study will integrate the ecological dimension and importance of the Sundarban’s biodiversity while maintaining a careful distinction between protected and inhabited areas to ensure that conservation of the protected areas can be upheld.
To succeed in any conservation efforts, it will be important to arrange sustainable and alternative income generation opportunities for the people living in the periphery of Sundarban who are dependent on forest resources.
A World Bank team already visited Bangladesh earlier this year to prepare the Terms of Reference for the studies and to discuss setting-up of two national committees to ensure the quality of the studies and coordinate closely with the study team.
Bangladesh’s people are proud of having the Sundarban as it was named ‘The Venice of Nature’ at a special event at the Shanghai Expo in China recently.
-New Age
A comprehensive plan based on a total of six studies would be developed to integrate prioritised interventions to address the region’s main conservation and development challenges, a WB spokesman told BSS Saturday.
The studies will draw up the main challenges of poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation in the Sundarban.
The studies, expected to be completed by September next year, will take full account of the distinction between protected areas and surrounding inhabited areas for assessing the development challenges of the Sundarban by providing them with alternative livelihood.
Bangladesh and India share the world’s largest mangrove forest Sundarban and 62 per cent of the Sundarban falls in Bangladesh.
Due to its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem, the ecological importance of the Sundarban Reserve Forest is immense. Over 3.5 million people live in the Sundarbans Ecologically Critical Area, with no permanent settlement within the Sundarban Reserve Forest.
Among them, about 1.2 million people directly depend on the Sundarban for their livelihoods. Most of these people are Bowalis (wood cutters/golpatta collectors), fishermen, crab and shell collectors, Mowalis (honey collectors) and shrimp fry collectors and mostly women and children.
The study will integrate the ecological dimension and importance of the Sundarban’s biodiversity while maintaining a careful distinction between protected and inhabited areas to ensure that conservation of the protected areas can be upheld.
To succeed in any conservation efforts, it will be important to arrange sustainable and alternative income generation opportunities for the people living in the periphery of Sundarban who are dependent on forest resources.
A World Bank team already visited Bangladesh earlier this year to prepare the Terms of Reference for the studies and to discuss setting-up of two national committees to ensure the quality of the studies and coordinate closely with the study team.
Bangladesh’s people are proud of having the Sundarban as it was named ‘The Venice of Nature’ at a special event at the Shanghai Expo in China recently.
-New Age
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
PM unhappy with DCC mayor's role
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday came down heavily on Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka for his 'negligence' in running the affairs of the corporation.
“The works of DCC are not going well, waste management is not being done properly,” she said while addressing a function at Gono Bhaban marking the handover of 100 waste collection vehicles by the government of Japan.
Hasina said the DCC mayor is not performing his duties properly. “I invited him to attend this ceremony but he did not come. It would have been better if he came and see the vehicles.”
In this connection, she said that it was the sole responsibility of the DCC mayor to keep the capital city clean.
The premier expressed her dissatisfaction over the activities of the DCC and its mayor.
-The Daily Star
“The works of DCC are not going well, waste management is not being done properly,” she said while addressing a function at Gono Bhaban marking the handover of 100 waste collection vehicles by the government of Japan.
Hasina said the DCC mayor is not performing his duties properly. “I invited him to attend this ceremony but he did not come. It would have been better if he came and see the vehicles.”
In this connection, she said that it was the sole responsibility of the DCC mayor to keep the capital city clean.
The premier expressed her dissatisfaction over the activities of the DCC and its mayor.
-The Daily Star
China begins damming Brahmaputra
China has started damming the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra River, or the Yarlung Tsangpo as it is known in Tibet, to begin construction on a 510MW hydropower project that has raised concerns in India.
The government for the first time revealed that it has, since November 8, begun damming the Tsangpo's flow to allow work to begin on the hydropower project at Zangmu, reports The Hindu.
This is the first major dam on the Brahmaputra and has been billed by the Chinese government as a landmark hydropower generation project for Tibet's development.
A news report on Monday said the "closure of the Yarlung Zangbo River on November 12 marked the beginning of construction." Work is expected to continue beyond 2014, when the first set of generators will be put into operation. The total investment in the project is 7.9 billion yuan ($1.2 billion).
The Indian government has raised concerns about the possible downstream impact of this project during talks with China earlier this year. Chinese officials have assured their Indian counterparts that the project would be "run of the river," having little impact downstream.
China has said that its projects were only for hydropower generation, and were neither storage projects nor designed to divert the water.
Officials at India's Ministry of External Affairs have, however, voiced frustration over China's general lack of willingness to share information regarding the Zangmu project, meaning they had little means to verify claims on the specific construction plans and impact on flows.
According to Ramaswamy R. Iyer, former Water Resources Secretary of the Government of India, for India "the point to examine would be the quantum of possible diversion and the impact it would have on the flows to India."
Usually, to ensure that the flow downstream remains unaffected during the period of construction of a dam, the water is diverted through streams around the construction site and returned to the river.
"Since the flow of the water cannot be stopped, the water will be diverted so there will be no reduction of flow in this stage," Mr Iyer, who is an authority on dams and transboundary water issues, told The Hindu on Monday, speaking from New Delhi.
He stressed that he was speaking in general terms regarding any dam construction, and did not have specific details regarding how China was carrying out this particular project.
There is still some uncertainty on what China intends for the project, and whether or not a storage reservoir, which could affect downstream flows, will be built beyond the minimal "pondage" required to operate the turbines.
Chinese media reports indicated that the Zangmu project is unlikely to be the last on the Brahmaputra. A news report on the widely read portal Tencent said the Zangmu dam was "a landmark project" for Tibet's development, being the first major dam in Tibet, and "a project of priority in the Eleventh Five Year Plan."
The report said that such projects would "greatly relieve the energy stress in the middle regions of Tibet" and upgrade power capacity from 100 MW to over 500 MW.
'NO TREATY'
Mr Iyer said a larger concern for India was the absence of a water-sharing treaty with China, which does not allow India to either qualify or address Chinese claims regarding specific projects.
"Between India and Pakistan, we have a treaty which specifies what we should do," he said. "We're not supposed to retain a drop, and [even] during a stated period of construction, inflow is equal to outflow."
"But with China," he added, "we have no treaty. So what they will do, we have no idea."
-bdnews
This is the first major dam on the Brahmaputra and has been billed by the Chinese government as a landmark hydropower generation project for Tibet's development.
A news report on Monday said the "closure of the Yarlung Zangbo River on November 12 marked the beginning of construction." Work is expected to continue beyond 2014, when the first set of generators will be put into operation. The total investment in the project is 7.9 billion yuan ($1.2 billion).
The Indian government has raised concerns about the possible downstream impact of this project during talks with China earlier this year. Chinese officials have assured their Indian counterparts that the project would be "run of the river," having little impact downstream.
China has said that its projects were only for hydropower generation, and were neither storage projects nor designed to divert the water.
Officials at India's Ministry of External Affairs have, however, voiced frustration over China's general lack of willingness to share information regarding the Zangmu project, meaning they had little means to verify claims on the specific construction plans and impact on flows.
According to Ramaswamy R. Iyer, former Water Resources Secretary of the Government of India, for India "the point to examine would be the quantum of possible diversion and the impact it would have on the flows to India."
Usually, to ensure that the flow downstream remains unaffected during the period of construction of a dam, the water is diverted through streams around the construction site and returned to the river.
"Since the flow of the water cannot be stopped, the water will be diverted so there will be no reduction of flow in this stage," Mr Iyer, who is an authority on dams and transboundary water issues, told The Hindu on Monday, speaking from New Delhi.
He stressed that he was speaking in general terms regarding any dam construction, and did not have specific details regarding how China was carrying out this particular project.
There is still some uncertainty on what China intends for the project, and whether or not a storage reservoir, which could affect downstream flows, will be built beyond the minimal "pondage" required to operate the turbines.
Chinese media reports indicated that the Zangmu project is unlikely to be the last on the Brahmaputra. A news report on the widely read portal Tencent said the Zangmu dam was "a landmark project" for Tibet's development, being the first major dam in Tibet, and "a project of priority in the Eleventh Five Year Plan."
The report said that such projects would "greatly relieve the energy stress in the middle regions of Tibet" and upgrade power capacity from 100 MW to over 500 MW.
'NO TREATY'
Mr Iyer said a larger concern for India was the absence of a water-sharing treaty with China, which does not allow India to either qualify or address Chinese claims regarding specific projects.
"Between India and Pakistan, we have a treaty which specifies what we should do," he said. "We're not supposed to retain a drop, and [even] during a stated period of construction, inflow is equal to outflow."
"But with China," he added, "we have no treaty. So what they will do, we have no idea."
-bdnews
Sholakia hosts the largest congregation
China has started damming the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra River, or the Yarlung Tsangpo as it is known in Tibet, to begin construction on a 510MW hydropower project that has raised concerns in India.
Thousands of people from far and wide started flocking to the ground, spanning over seven acres of land, overnight.
Two special trains—Sholakia Express—carrying devotees from Bhairab and Mymensingh reached Kishoreganj at 8am.
The Eidgah committee estimated that more than a hundred thousand Muslims participated in the 183rd congregation, that started at 9am.
Maolana Farid Uddin Masud, chairman of the Islahul Muslimin Parishad, led the prayers.
One of the oldest surviving congregation grounds in Bangladesh, established in 1828, the Sholakia Eidgah reportedly held 1.25 lakh people at its first congregation.
RAB and police were deployed at the Eidgah and its adjacent areas to maintain security.
-bdnews
Thousands of people from far and wide started flocking to the ground, spanning over seven acres of land, overnight.Two special trains—Sholakia Express—carrying devotees from Bhairab and Mymensingh reached Kishoreganj at 8am.
The Eidgah committee estimated that more than a hundred thousand Muslims participated in the 183rd congregation, that started at 9am.
Maolana Farid Uddin Masud, chairman of the Islahul Muslimin Parishad, led the prayers.
One of the oldest surviving congregation grounds in Bangladesh, established in 1828, the Sholakia Eidgah reportedly held 1.25 lakh people at its first congregation.
RAB and police were deployed at the Eidgah and its adjacent areas to maintain security.
-bdnews
Eid-ul-Azha being celebrated
Devotees by their thousand turned up at mostly makeshift prayer grounds on Wednesday morning as Eid-ul-Azha, the second-largest religious festival of the Muslims, was celebrated throughout the country with due religious fervour and solemnity.
The main Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah on the High Court premises at 8.00am. The first congregation of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque was held at 7:00 am.
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, Dhaka City Corporation mayor, parliament members, Supreme Court judges, election commissioners, the attorney-general and senior political leaders joined around a hundred thousand people to offer Eid prayers at the main congregation.
Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Prof Moulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the Eid prayers at the mammoth congregation.
A special munajat was also held seeking divine blessings for peace, development and welfare of the country and its people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.
Stringent security arrangements were made by the law-enforcing agencies to maintain law and order. Policemen in plain clothes as well as uniform were deputed at Eid congregations for the security of the devotees.
After offering Eid prayers, people sacrificed animals. The process of sacrificing the animals will continue till Friday (third day of Eid) for the holy fiesta. People are sharing the meat with their family, friends and the poor.
The eid is being celebrated on the tenth of Jilhajj with sacrifices and prayers in memory of the sacrifice of Prophets Ibrahim Khalilullah and Ismail Zabihullah (peace be upon them).
It does not simply commemorate the unique sacrifice made by them--it also testifies eloquently to the way in which both father and son cheerfully offered to suffer any self-sacrifice, however painful or difficult it might be, in order to obey the command of Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia earlier gave separate messages greeting the countrymen on this occasion.
Dhaka City Corporation, like previous years, is carrying out massive cleanup drive after the slaughtering of sacrificial animals for the holy fiesta.
Besides, important public buildings, thoroughfares and road islands of the capital have been decorated with national flags and banners inscribed with `Eid Mubarak.` Major government buildings have also been illuminated.
-Bangla news
Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, state ministers, Dhaka City Corporation mayor, parliament members, Supreme Court judges, election commissioners, the attorney-general and senior political leaders joined around a hundred thousand people to offer Eid prayers at the main congregation.
Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Prof Moulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the Eid prayers at the mammoth congregation.
A special munajat was also held seeking divine blessings for peace, development and welfare of the country and its people and greater unity of the Muslim Ummah.
Stringent security arrangements were made by the law-enforcing agencies to maintain law and order. Policemen in plain clothes as well as uniform were deputed at Eid congregations for the security of the devotees.
After offering Eid prayers, people sacrificed animals. The process of sacrificing the animals will continue till Friday (third day of Eid) for the holy fiesta. People are sharing the meat with their family, friends and the poor.
The eid is being celebrated on the tenth of Jilhajj with sacrifices and prayers in memory of the sacrifice of Prophets Ibrahim Khalilullah and Ismail Zabihullah (peace be upon them).
It does not simply commemorate the unique sacrifice made by them--it also testifies eloquently to the way in which both father and son cheerfully offered to suffer any self-sacrifice, however painful or difficult it might be, in order to obey the command of Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia earlier gave separate messages greeting the countrymen on this occasion.
Dhaka City Corporation, like previous years, is carrying out massive cleanup drive after the slaughtering of sacrificial animals for the holy fiesta.
Besides, important public buildings, thoroughfares and road islands of the capital have been decorated with national flags and banners inscribed with `Eid Mubarak.` Major government buildings have also been illuminated.
-Bangla news
15 killed in road mishaps in different dists on Eid day
At least 8 people were killed and 22 injured in separate road accidents in Comilla and Magura early Wednesday, as homebound holidaymakers were still struggling then to reach their destinations to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha.
In Comilla, five people were killed and 22 others wounded in a head-on collision between two buses at 7.30 in the morning in front of Bijoypur market adjacent to Comilla-Noakhali Road in Sadar upazila (south) of the district.
Four of the deceased four were identified as Malek Bhuyan, 45, of Begumganj, Rojina Begum, 26, of Selimpur in Noakhali, Sadek, 5, and Taslima, 25.
ASI Moktar Hossain of Lalmai Upazila Highway Police Box told banglanews that a Noakhali-bound passenger bus of Palsh Paribahan collided with a Dhaka-bound passenger bus of Alfalah Paribahan, coming from opposit direction, leaving five passengers of Palash Paribahan dead on the spot and 22 passengers of both the buses injured.
The injured were admitted into Comilla Medical College Hospital, three in critical condition.
Police seized the buses but drivers and helpers managed to flee the scene.
In another fatal accident in Magura, three people were killed early Wednesday as a bus knocked down an Easy bike (battery-run auto rickshaw) on the Magura-Jhenidhah road in Alamkhali-Ramnagar area.
The deceased were identified as Rabeya Khatun, 50, her husband Abu Jafar, 60, and Ubaidul, 30, the easy-bike driver.
On information about the death of her brother, Rabeya along with her husband was leaving for Parnanduali village by an easy bike, said Magura thana SI Nazrul Islam. “But they also died on the spot as a Chuadanga-bound passenger bus of Darshana Deluxe rammed the easy bike in Alamkhali- Ramnagar area," he added.
A case was filed in this connection.
In Narsingdi, the separate two road mishaps claimed four lives, including three of the same family.
Officer-in-Charge of Shibpur Model Thana, Mujibur Rahman Majumdar, told banglanews that a sand-laden truck collided head on with an auto-rickshaw at 12 noon near Purandia of Shibpur Upazila in the district leaving three persons dead on the spot.
The deceased were identified as CNG driver Abul Kashem, 35, of Shibpur Manikdi village, his brother Shafiqul Islam, 22 and nephew Bijoy, 4.
In another accident, Hussain Ali, 65, was run over by a motorcycle near Sahapratab Crossing on Dhaka-Sylhet Highways when he was returning home after offering Eid prayer.
In Savar, two men were killed in two road accidents on Wednesday.
Police said, an unidentified pedestrian, 32, was crashed under the wheel of a speedy truck at 7:30 in the morning at Amin Bazar.
One more was killed in another accident occurred near Amin Bazar on Dhaka-Savar Highways.
When contacted, Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge off Savar Model Thana, confirmed the accident.
In Barisal, a day labourer was killed in a road accident in Askor area under Agailjhara upazila in the district.
The diseased was identified as Tulu Mia, 28, of Nagirparh Village under the upazila.
According to witnesses, Tulu was seriously injured when a motorcycle hit him at the time of crossing the road in Askor area.
He was rushed to Gauranadi Health Complex where the on duty doctor declared him dead.
Police arrested motorcyclist Rabin, 28, in this connection.
-Bangla News
In Comilla, five people were killed and 22 others wounded in a head-on collision between two buses at 7.30 in the morning in front of Bijoypur market adjacent to Comilla-Noakhali Road in Sadar upazila (south) of the district.Four of the deceased four were identified as Malek Bhuyan, 45, of Begumganj, Rojina Begum, 26, of Selimpur in Noakhali, Sadek, 5, and Taslima, 25.
ASI Moktar Hossain of Lalmai Upazila Highway Police Box told banglanews that a Noakhali-bound passenger bus of Palsh Paribahan collided with a Dhaka-bound passenger bus of Alfalah Paribahan, coming from opposit direction, leaving five passengers of Palash Paribahan dead on the spot and 22 passengers of both the buses injured.
The injured were admitted into Comilla Medical College Hospital, three in critical condition.
Police seized the buses but drivers and helpers managed to flee the scene.
In another fatal accident in Magura, three people were killed early Wednesday as a bus knocked down an Easy bike (battery-run auto rickshaw) on the Magura-Jhenidhah road in Alamkhali-Ramnagar area.
The deceased were identified as Rabeya Khatun, 50, her husband Abu Jafar, 60, and Ubaidul, 30, the easy-bike driver.
On information about the death of her brother, Rabeya along with her husband was leaving for Parnanduali village by an easy bike, said Magura thana SI Nazrul Islam. “But they also died on the spot as a Chuadanga-bound passenger bus of Darshana Deluxe rammed the easy bike in Alamkhali- Ramnagar area," he added.
A case was filed in this connection.
In Narsingdi, the separate two road mishaps claimed four lives, including three of the same family.
Officer-in-Charge of Shibpur Model Thana, Mujibur Rahman Majumdar, told banglanews that a sand-laden truck collided head on with an auto-rickshaw at 12 noon near Purandia of Shibpur Upazila in the district leaving three persons dead on the spot.
The deceased were identified as CNG driver Abul Kashem, 35, of Shibpur Manikdi village, his brother Shafiqul Islam, 22 and nephew Bijoy, 4.
In another accident, Hussain Ali, 65, was run over by a motorcycle near Sahapratab Crossing on Dhaka-Sylhet Highways when he was returning home after offering Eid prayer.
In Savar, two men were killed in two road accidents on Wednesday.
Police said, an unidentified pedestrian, 32, was crashed under the wheel of a speedy truck at 7:30 in the morning at Amin Bazar.
One more was killed in another accident occurred near Amin Bazar on Dhaka-Savar Highways.
When contacted, Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge off Savar Model Thana, confirmed the accident.
In Barisal, a day labourer was killed in a road accident in Askor area under Agailjhara upazila in the district.
The diseased was identified as Tulu Mia, 28, of Nagirparh Village under the upazila.
According to witnesses, Tulu was seriously injured when a motorcycle hit him at the time of crossing the road in Askor area.
He was rushed to Gauranadi Health Complex where the on duty doctor declared him dead.
Police arrested motorcyclist Rabin, 28, in this connection.
-Bangla News
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Ecuador army rescues captive President Rafael Correa
Soldiers in Ecuador have rescued President Rafael Correa from a police hospital after a day of protests by security forces angry at benefit cuts.
Mr Correa was rescued after soldiers opened fired on dissident police.
Moments after being freed he appeared on the balcony of Quito's presidential palace and spoke to thousands of cheering supporters.
He thanked the crowds and said he had just lived through the saddest day of his government.
Hundreds of police, angry over a law that would cut their benefits, appeared to have prevented him from leaving the clinic.
Under cover of darkness Mr Correa was reportedly smuggled out of the hospital in a wheelchair even as a gunbattle between troops and police was under way.
Unrest had been reported across Ecuador on Thursday amid anger at a new law cutting benefits for public servants.
Speaking to his supporters, Mr Correa said he hoped the events of the day would serve "as an example to those who want to bring a change and stop the citizens' revolution without going through the polls".
Mr Correa said at least one police officer had died during the gunbattle at the clinic. Earlier there had been unconfirmed reports that one person had been killed and several injured during the unrest.
There are unconfirmed reports that a second army operation against dissident police is still under way in Quito.
'Kill the president' The drama began on Thursday morning when members of the armed forces and police angry at the austerity measures occupied several barracks and set up road blocks across the country.
TV stations showed images of police setting tyres on fire in the streets of Quito, Guayaquil and other cities. The National Assembly building was also occupied.
Police also took control of Quito's international airport for several hours.
In an emotional speech to soldiers from Quito's main barracks, President Correa tore at his shirt and said: "If you want to kill the president, here he is. Kill him, if you want to. Kill him if you are brave enough."
Moments later Mr Correa was forced to flee the barracks wearing a gas mask shortly afterwards when tear gas was fired by the protesters.
The president was later treated for the effects of the gas at a police hospital. His supporters said that dissident officers were preventing him to leave the clinic.
Mr Correa has blamed the Patriotic Society Party (PSP), led by Lucio Gutierrez, for fomenting the unrest, and said "all bad elements" in the police force would "be removed".
During the day Mr Correa received strong support from governments throughout the Americas, with a string of Latin American nations and the US all speaking up for the embattled president.
Mr Correa was rescued after soldiers opened fired on dissident police.
Moments after being freed he appeared on the balcony of Quito's presidential palace and spoke to thousands of cheering supporters.
He thanked the crowds and said he had just lived through the saddest day of his government.
The violence came after dark on a day of unrest in Ecuador that the president and his supporters said amounted to an an attempted coup.
Mr Correa had been holed up in the police hospital, where he was treated after being hit by tear gas in a confrontation.Hundreds of police, angry over a law that would cut their benefits, appeared to have prevented him from leaving the clinic.
Under cover of darkness Mr Correa was reportedly smuggled out of the hospital in a wheelchair even as a gunbattle between troops and police was under way.
Unrest had been reported across Ecuador on Thursday amid anger at a new law cutting benefits for public servants.
Speaking to his supporters, Mr Correa said he hoped the events of the day would serve "as an example to those who want to bring a change and stop the citizens' revolution without going through the polls".
Mr Correa said at least one police officer had died during the gunbattle at the clinic. Earlier there had been unconfirmed reports that one person had been killed and several injured during the unrest.
There are unconfirmed reports that a second army operation against dissident police is still under way in Quito.
'Kill the president' The drama began on Thursday morning when members of the armed forces and police angry at the austerity measures occupied several barracks and set up road blocks across the country.
Police also took control of Quito's international airport for several hours.
In an emotional speech to soldiers from Quito's main barracks, President Correa tore at his shirt and said: "If you want to kill the president, here he is. Kill him, if you want to. Kill him if you are brave enough."
Moments later Mr Correa was forced to flee the barracks wearing a gas mask shortly afterwards when tear gas was fired by the protesters.
The president was later treated for the effects of the gas at a police hospital. His supporters said that dissident officers were preventing him to leave the clinic.
Mr Correa has blamed the Patriotic Society Party (PSP), led by Lucio Gutierrez, for fomenting the unrest, and said "all bad elements" in the police force would "be removed".
During the day Mr Correa received strong support from governments throughout the Americas, with a string of Latin American nations and the US all speaking up for the embattled president.
Tributes for 'fine actor' Curtis
Tributes for 'fine actor' Curtis
Tributes are being paid to Hollywood star Tony Curtis who has died at his US home in Nevada aged 85.
Sir Roger Moore, who worked with Curtis on 70's TV series The Persuaders!, called him "a fine actor".He added: "He was great fun to work with, a great sense of humour and wonderful ad libs."
Curtis's daughter Jamie Lee Curtis praised her father saying he "leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings". "He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world," she added.
The Oscar-nominated actor, who starred in Some Like it Hot opposite Marilyn Monroe, passed away peacefully in bed, a family spokesman said.
The star received an Oscar nod in 1959 for The Defiant Ones, in which he starred with Sidney Poitier.
His career spanned six decades and he made more than 120 films including Trapeze, Spartacus and The Vikings.
'Wonderfully indiscreet'
Clark County coroner Mike Murphy told the Associated Press that the actor died at 2125 local time on Wednesday.
Sir Michael Parkinson, who interviewed Curtis several times, said his performance in Some Like It Hot would live forever.
"Some Like It Hot is one of the greatest comedies of all time," he said.
"Billy Wilder, did not suffer fools so for Tony Curtis to work with him and make that film shows just how good he was. He was an extraordinary man.
"Hollywood tried to make him into a sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s but he was his own man. He was a great chatshow guest and was wonderfully indiscreet but he was very bright and did not take himself too seriously," he added.
He is survived by his wife, Jill Vandenberg Curtis, and six children.
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Entertainment
Gohine Shobdo in Parisian Cinema Theatre
Much talked-about Bangla movie ‘Gohine Shobdo’ by Khalid Mahmood Mithu is going to achieve the honor to be released commercially in eight theatres of Paris- the capital of world art and culture.
With the French sub-title, the film is hoped to be appreciated by the Parisian viewers.
Not only that- Impress Tale film, the producing company of the movie, is also going to release it in various countries of Europe like Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.
Director (Marketing) of Impress Telefilm, Ibne Hasan says, ‘this is going to be very first gateway for the Bangla movies to Europe. We have been trying to achieve this feat for couple of years. We hope that other producers of the country would be benefited from this opportunity in near future.’
The cast includes Kusum Sikdar, Emon, Sams Sumon, Jui, Ariful Haque, Abul Hayat, Khaleda Akter Kalpona, Haider Hussain, Munira Mithu and Ahsanul Haque Minu.
Noted Tagore artiste Rezwana Choudhury Bonya, popular singer Hyder Hussain and promising singer Rinku did playback in the film.
The story unfolds the miseries of a freedom fighter named Nura reduced to begging, who along with other beggars, asks for alms in the city. He lives in a slum in the outskirts of the city. His only daughter Swapna (Kusum Sikdar), a university student, falls in love with Emon who is a student too. Emon was born and raised in the upper tiers of society.
Desperate Emon frantically tries to convince her that he truly loves her. However, Swapna suggests that he should look deeper into the matter. She requests Emon not to view love emotionally, but realistically.
Business
WB lifts commitment fee on loans not released in’09
The World Bank (WB) has withdrawn commitment charges on loans approved, but not yet released in the fiscal 2008-09, following a request by the government
However, the multilateral lending agency will not withdraw such charges on loans that have already been released for Bangladesh, according to a WB letter sent to the Ministry of Finance recently.
The WB generally charges 0.5 percent commitment fee on committed and unutilized disbursed loans. Every year the government has to pay a huge amount of money as commitment fees due to its (the government's) failure to spend money or for the donor's unwillingness to release committed money claiming faults in expenditure.
Earlier in 1986, the WB had also withdrawn commitment fees fully, which was effective till 1998. It again attributed such fees in the following year.
The letter, sent by the WB Loan Service Group Division, said in 1988 the Executive Director (ED) of WB decided that the commitment charge levied by the International Development Association (IDA), the WB's concessionary arm, be made variable within a range of 0-0.50 percent per annum.
It was further agreed that the applicable charge for each fiscal year would be reviewed and set on an annual basis.
Concerned officials of the Ministry said Bangladesh has demanded to withdrew commitment charge while a high level WB mission came to Dhaka in November last year. But, they did not say anything in this regard at that time.
Later, they abstained from addressing commitment charge in loan agreements.
Sources said commitment charges normally became effective 90 days after signing loan agreements. Sometimes the government has to pay commitment charge if the money is not released by the donor, showing glitches in the disbursement or project implementation procedures.
An official of the Ministry said in many cases hard conditions imposed by the donor delay the disbursement process and also project duration.
"As donors attribute tough conditions for loan disbursement, commitment charges become a burden for government," he added.
He further said sometimes donors delayed loan disbursement following lack of coordination between concerned Ministries and Divisions.
Though the WB had realised 0.5 per cent commitment fee for long, in 2000 it reduced it to 0.35 per cent.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) sources said regarding the WB loans to Bangladesh, in an average around US $1.5 billion remains in pipeline every year.
In that case, government has to pay a huge amount of money as commitment charges on different grounds.
An ERD official, however, said that commitment charge was not attributed in the last seven to eight loan agreements with the WB.
-New Nation
Govt extends tax return deadline to Oct 7
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday extended the deadline for submission of income tax returns to October 7 on 'special consideration' following strong demand from leading business chambers.
NBR Chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed told The Daily Star last night that the deadline, which expired yesterday, has been extended for a week.
"We have extended the deadline on special consideration after the businessmen made strong demand," he said.
The extension came on the last day of the five-day long income tax fairs in Dhaka and Chittagong, organised to boost tax collection and bring more people under the tax net.
Earlier, Ahmed, at a press conference at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, said 55,707 taxpayer identification number (TIN) holders submitted their income tax returns worth Tk 117.19 crore.
Such fairs would be organised at divisional cities from next year, he added.
It was the first fair of its kind in the country and a total of 17,560 new TINs were registered.
The fairs opened simultaneously at the auditorium of Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka and the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong on September 26.
Thousands of businessmen, professionals and share traders thronged the fairs. Many queued for hours to submit their returns.
The events offered TINs to new taxpayers and helped them fill income-tax forms from 10:00am to 6:00pm each day. The authorities, however accepted statements till 8:00pm yesterday.
As of September 29, about 3.26 lakh TIN-holders submitted tax returns, which is less than half of the last year's submission by 7.57 lakh people, according to NBR officials.
A meagre 7.57 lakh people paid income taxes in a country of 160 million people, although there are about 27 lakh TIN holders.
At 8.5 percent, Bangladesh's tax-gross domestic product ratio is one of the lowest in South Asia.
-Daily Star
Sports
Transfers open today
The players' transfer for the 2010-11 football season begins today with very little expectations of the usual last-minute drama, with most of the excitement centered around the emergence of a new force and the reinvention of a former champion.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Muktijoddha Sangsad have challenged the power of Abahani and Mohammedan Sporting Club by signing most of their big name players, a long time before the official players transfer.
Despite that, the headquarters of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will become slightly busier on the opening day of the transfers that will last a week for the local footballers and 15 days for the foreign brigade. The transfers will officially kick off at 3pm but only a few smaller clubs will probably show up to confirm their players on the first day.
Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, a new brand name for club that has been in existence since 1962, has taken all the headlines since July. They have roped in as many as sixteen national team players.
In a ceremony earlier this month, the new faces of the club paraded its acquisitions that include Aminul Haque, Zahid Hasan Emily, Enamul Haq, Wali Faisal, Mohammad Sujan, Mamunul Islam, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Zahid Hossain, Nasiruddin, Komol and Shahed, all poached from the two Dhaka giants.
In the same vein, Muktijoddha have renewed hope of a title push this season as they have revamped their entire squad. They have roped in some 19 players, many of them top stars from giants Abahani and Mohammedan.
Muktijoddha have confirmed the services of goalkeeper Biplob, defenders Firoz Mahmud Titu, Obaidur Rahman, Yeamin Munna midfielders Motiur Munna, Enamul Haq Sharif, Arman Aziz, Azmal Hossain Biddut, Alamgir Kabir Rana, strikers Rokonuzzaman Kanchan and Mithun Chowdhury.
To counter the exodus, the league authorities have confirmed yesterday that five foreign players (with the fifth being the goalkeeper) can be part of the starting eleven of all the teams.
But that factor won't confirm success and Abahani have confirmed the services of Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Nazrul Islam, Abul Hossain, Mohammad Robin, Pranotosh Kumar, goalkeeper Zia, veteran striker Alfaz Ahmed, defender Amit Khan Shuvro, defenders Arup Kumar Baddya and Monayem Khan Jitu.
Mohammedan, who disappointed in last season's Bangladesh League, have lost the most number of stars such as Emily, Aminul, Wali, Mamunul, Ariful to Sheikh Jamal and later lost Arman Aziz, Sharif, Nasir and Saikat to Muktijoddha.
All these players are just a step away from officially coming under the clubs' umbrella as they have to put pen to paper at the BFF headquarters.
According to sources, Mamun Mia is the only player who could create a bit of a problem as Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra has claimed that Mamun has taken money in advance from them although the player himself claims to be in Abahani's books and has already won the Bordoloi Trophy with the Dhanmondi giants.
Tomorrow could see some of the bigger clubs coming with all their players and finishing the formalities but that too, is a forgone conclusion.
-Daily Star
Rain ruines 1st practice gamehttp://fognews24.blogspot.com/
Rain ruines 1st practice game
Today's first limited-over warm-up match between the visiting New Zealand and BCB XI was called off due to wet outfield at the BKSP in Savar following incessant rain over the last few days.
"The pitch is okay but the outfield condition is unplayable as it's soggy, soft and still water-soaked. It would be risky for the players to play in this kind of condition and that's why after inspecting the ground the match was called off," informed match referee Raquibul Hassan yesterday.
The late monsoon is in full flow at the moment and after the downpour in the last few days it was impossible for the groundsmen to make the ground match-fit. And there is serious doubt over the second and final practice match, which is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue, as another downpour in the area within the next two days may keep the condition the same.
"The second match is still on. Actually we even tried to play a 20-over-a-side match tomorrow but the condition was so bad that the ground's man was not confident about taking a risk. There were also two representatives from the New Zealand side (performance director Roger Mortimer and coach Shane Jurgensen) during the visit and they were also not ready to take a risk," said Raquibul.
The former national skipper however informed that New Zealand expressed their desire to play the match tomorrow at Mirpur and organising secretary Gazi Ashraf Hossain said that they would look into the matter.
"We have to check many things before taking a decision regarding the issue. We get back to them after checking everything," said Ashraf.
The focus would definitely have been on former national skipper Mohammad Ashraful but the batsman who was dropped for the five-match series, was not focusing on the warm-up matches but instead was looking forward to the domestic competition to recover his form.
"It's nice that I got a chance to play the warm-up match but I'm not focusing too much on it. My main target is to score runs in the domestic competition. I will try my best to return to form when I play ten innings in the national league," said Ashraful, who was captain of the BCB XI for the first match.
"This is not a good situation for me as I was out of the team when there is a one-day series at home ahead of the World Cup but I have to accept the reality. I was out of the team because of my poor performance which has been lingering this time," he added.
Ashraful however said that he was not frustrated rather he was confident about comeback to the national side.
"There is hardly any problem with my batting but the fact is that I was not getting runs. I need some good innings to emerge from the vicious circle and I am hopeful because still I am young and I have to long way to go," said a confident Ashraful.
"I don't believe there is any psychological problem behind the poor run of form. Once again I need some good innings and that's why I am looking forward to the domestic competition where I want to play some big knocks," he added.
-Daily Star
Bangladesh is no more a `basket case'
Nearly four decades after US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dubbed Bangladesh a bottomless basket, the largest circulated newspaper of his country the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has said the South Asian nation was no more a `basket case'.
"For the outside world, much of the country's (Bangladesh) history can be summed up as a blur of political protests and natural disaster punctuated by outbursts of jihadis violence and occasional coup', said a nearly 1,000-word analysis of the world's most read newspaper, which is regarded for its in-depth coverage of international business and politics.
It further noted that "Nearly 40-year ago, only the most reckless optimist would have bet on flood-prone, war-ravaged Bangladesh over relatively stable and prosperous Pakistan".
"But with a higher growth rate, a lower birth rate and more internationally competitive economy, yesterday's basket case may have the last laugh," read the analysis written by WSJ columnist Sadanand Dhume in the current issue of the journal.
The WSJ comments came days after US President Barrack Obama congratulated Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the country's MDG (millennium development goal) achievements.
The achievements also earned the country the prestigious UN Award on the sidelines of the 65th UN General Assembly session, where the world leaders including UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon too highly appreciated Bangladesh's progress, particularly under Sheikh Hasina's leadership.
Bangladesh was one of the six countries in Asia and Africa feted for its progress towards achieving its MDGs, a set of targets that seek to eradicate extreme poverty and boost health, education and the status of women and children worldwide by 2015.
"Bangladesh has much to be proud of," said the WSJ noting that its economy grew at nearly six percent a year over the past several years, while it exported 12.3 billion US dollars worth of garments alone last year, making it fourth in the world behind China, the EU and Turkey.
Against all odds, the WSJ noted, Bangladesh curbed population growth with the average Bangladeshi woman today bearing fewer than three children in her lifetime, down from more than six in the 1970s.
"Perhaps most strikingly, Bangladesh-the world's third most populous Muslim-majority country after Indonesia and Pakistan-has shown a willingness to confront both terrorism and the radical Islamic ideology that underpins it," the analysis read.
Since taking office in 2009, it said, the Awami League-led government arrested local members of the Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, the al Qaeda affiliate Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami-Bangladesh, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a domestic outfit responsible for a wave of bombings in 2005.
In July this year, the Supreme Court struck down a 31-year-old constitutional amendment and restored Bangladesh to its founding status as a secular republic while a long-awaited war crimes tribunal will try senior Jamaat-e-Islami figures implicated in mass murder during Bangladesh's bloody secession from Pakistan, the analysis said.
The WSJ also noted with appreciation Bangladesh's foreign relations affairs, saying its crucial ties with India were "on a high" while in development sector the country's leading NGOs including the microcredit pioneer Grameen Bank earned a global reputation for their anti-poverty campaigns.
The analysis, however, said it would take more than a burst of entrepreneurial energy and political purpose before Bangladesh turns the corner for good as the "long-running feud" between major parties and the "war of ideas" against the country's plethora of Islamist groups required the kind of sustained pressure that Dhaka has been unable to apply in the past.
"Despite these caveats, Bangladesh ought to be held up as a role model, especially for the . . . other Muslim-majority states," read the analysis which particularly tended to make a comparative study taking into account of the contemporary history of Pakistan.
It said Pakistan could learn about economic growth and combating terrorism from its former eastern province.
"Perhaps most importantly, Bangladesh appears comfortable in its own skin: politically secular, religiously Muslim and culturally Bengali. Bangladeshis celebrate the poetry, film and literature of Hindus and Muslims equally," it read.
-BSS
Babri mosque site 'split between Hindus, Muslims'
A court ruled on Thursday that the site of a demolished 16th century mosque in northern India would be divided between Hindus and Muslims, local television and a Hindu lawyer said.
The demolition of the 16th century mosque by Hindu mobs in 1992 triggered some of India's worst riots that killed about 2,000 people. More than 200,000 police have fanned out in India on Thursday to guard against any communal violence.
The television reports have not been confirmed by the court in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Local television said it was a 2-1 majority verdict, giving two thirds of the land to Hindus and one third to Muslims.
If confirmed, it could help appease both sides in one of the most divisive court cases in India's history.
"The majority of the bench has ruled that the place where Lord Rama is enthroned, that is the birthplace of Rama," Ravi Shankar Prasad, lawyer for a Hindu petitioner, told reporters.
Hindus wants to build a temple on the site. Muslims want the mosque rebuilt after it was demolished in 1992.
The verdict is almost certain to be challenged in the Supreme Court and a final decision could take years.
From the capital New Delhi to the financial hub Mumbai and towns of the northern Hindu "cow belt" along the holy Ganges river, many Indians had waited with apprehension on the verdict, some staying at home and stocking up with food ahead of the verdict.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called the verdict one of the country's biggest security challenges, and it comes at an already tense time when India worries about its international image days before the Commonwealth Games start in New Delhi.
Commentators say the verdict is unlikely to spark widespread riots that hit Mumbai and other cities in 1992. Political parties have called for calm and there is little electoral headway to be made in egging on religious riots in post-economic reform India.
The verdict's outcome will be a barometer of whether a rapidly globalising India with a growing middle class and an interest in investor stability has shed some of the religious extremism that often marred its post-independence years.
The issue haunts the ruling Congress party, a left-of-center group with secular roots, which will have to stand by a verdict that is likely to upset one or other major voter bloc.
-Daily Star
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