BGP hands over 32 Bangladeshis

Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) handed over 32 Bangladeshi nationals, who were jailed there on charges of infiltrating into the country and committing various crimes, this morning under the extradition treaty between the two countries.A 24-member team of Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion- 42 led by Teknaf Border out Post (BoP) company commander Subedar Md Zakaria Alam went to Mongdo BGP camp in Mayanmar around 7:30am to attend a prescheduled meeting.

Cuet closed sine die after BCL infighting

The authorities closed Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) for an indefinite period this morning following a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League.The male students have been asked to vacate their dormitories by 1:00pm while female students by 5:00pm today, reports our Chittagong correspondent.The university took the decision at an emergency meeting in the morning, CUET Registrar Faruque-Uz-Zaman told The Daily Star.

Taskin burst restricts India to 105

Riding on five wickets of pacer Taskin Ahmed, Bangladesh restricted India to 105 in the rain-interrupted second One Day International match at capital’s Sher-e Bangla National Stadium.The right arm pacer picked up five wickets in his debut.  Taskin dismissed Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Cheteshwar Pujara, STR Binny and A Mishra.An expected downpour interrupted the match and cut it down to 41 overs.Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and elected to field first.

Icy plant revived after 1,500 years

British scientists have successfully revived mosses that have been frozen under the Antarctic ice for 1,500 years.
The researchers thawed out the ancient vegetation and were surprised to see new shoots rapidly appear.
While bacteria of a similar age have been recovered before, the scientists say these are the oldest plants to be brought back to life.
The research has been published in the journal Current Biology.

Fate of 228 CHT schools uncertain

The fate of around 16,000 students at 228 primary schools in the Chittagong Hill Tracts hangs in the balance, as the process of nationalising these institutions remains stuck due to land registration complicacy.
These non-government schools in some remotest parts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban were set up by locals at different times. But they could not run those due to financial constraints.
In 2009, international development partners started funding the schools through the UNDP under its Support to Basic Education in CHT project, a component of the UN body's programme in the hill districts.
The funding will expire in December. And if the UNDP does not extend it and the government does not nationalise the schools, those will be closed, said teachers and project officials

Crimea 'independent'

President Vladimir Putin yesterday signed a decree formally recognising Crimea as an independent state following its vote to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, news agencies quoted a Kremlin statement as saying.
Russian news agencies quoted the decree as recognising "the Republic of Crimea, in which the city of Sevastopol enjoys special status, as a sovereign and independent state."

Lost jet’s path seen as altered via computer

The first turn to the west that diverted the missing Malaysia Airlines plane from its planned flight path from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing was carried out through a computer system, according to senior American officials.
It was most likely programmed by someone in the plane’s cockpit who was knowledgeable about airplane systems, reports The New York Times quoting the officials.
Instead of manually operating the plane’s controls, whoever altered Flight 370’s path typed seven or eight keystrokes into a computer on a knee-high pedestal between the captain and the first officer.

ATTACK ON ASADUZZAMAN NOOR Another accused found dead

A third accused in a case filed for attacking the motorcade of ruling Awami League lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor in December last year has been learnt to have been killed.

The body of Mohidul Islam, 26, son of Munshi Anwar Hossain in Sadar upazila of Nilphamari, was found lying beside a road in Mokamtola of Bogra on February 1.

HC drops bail pleas of Sagar-Runi murder accused

The High Court today dropped the bail petitions from cause list of three accused in journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi murder case.

The court also refused to hear the latest status of the case from the investigation officer.Assistant Superintendent of Rapid Action Battalion Jafarullah, also the IO of the case, appeared before the bench of Justice M Shawkat Hosssain and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam with progress report this morning in compliance of an HC order.

JnU students to block encroached land

At present, a school run by the Dhaka City Corporation is on the land of the ‘Shahid Bazlur Rahman Hall’ located in old Dhaka’s Bangshal. The land was occupied following a clash with locals in 1985.

Shariful Islam, convener of a body demanding return of the dormitories, made the announcement on Wednesday after a protest rally at the university’s Shahid Minar intersection.
Around 11.30am, several hundred students staged a sit-in for the third day by blocking the main entrance of Bangladesh Bank’s Sadarghat branch.

Former State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon has been indicted in a hijacking and extortion case.

The BNP leader was present when Chandpur’s Additional District and Session Judge Mahbubur Rahman gave the order on Wednesday.

He and 18 others, accused in the case, have pleaded not guilty to the charges by Alamgir Hossain, who was president of Jubo League at Kachua Upazila’s Srirampur Union in 2010.

They allegedly snatched Alamgir’s phone and motorcycle after beating him up on Jan 5 of 2007 during the caretaker regime.

Cop shoots dead colleague in Rangamati

Apolice constable shot dead one of his colleagues at one stage of brawl in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati this morning.

The incident took place at a police camp in Baghaihat around 9:45am, reports our Rangamati correspondent.

According to Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge of Sajek Police Station, constable M Anwar, 24, and constable Muktadir locked in an altercation over a personal matter at the camp this morning.  

At one state, Muktadir fired several shots at Anwar from his rifle, the OC said, adding: "One bullet hit his abdomen."

India to chase Tigers' 279

India need 280 to win
Bangladesh 279/7 (50ov)

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim finally left the crease after hitting a marvelous century first Asia Cup match against world champion India at Fatullah Stadium in Narayanganj today.
Middle-order Nasir Hossain gave away his wicket behind the wicket on a delivery of pacer Mohammed Shami.
Indian pacer Varun Aaron bowled opener Anamul Haque Bijoy on his 77 runs off 106 balls.
However, Mushfiq was still on the crease playing a captain's knock with a tight half-century.

Mahmood Ali made foreign minister

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AH Mahmood Ali has been made the new minister for foreign affairs.

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After being sworn in on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave him the portfolio which he held in the poll-time government.
Lt Col (retd) Nazrul Islam is officially the state minister for water resources.
Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, who was deputy minister for water resources has been shifted to the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Stay on HC's Pubali Bank order

The Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s order which vacated eight positions of directors at the Pubali Bank.

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Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique gave the order on Wednesday following a plea by the bank authorities.

On Tuesday, the High Court vacated the posts due to non-compliance of share-holding requirements.

Govt trying to influence upazila polls: Rizvi

BNP today alleged that the government has moved to influence the second phase of upazila elections scheduled for tomorrow after its defeat in the first phase.
“In a bid to influence the polls result, law enforcers are harassing the chairman aspirants backed by the BNP-led 19-party alliance, their supporters and even their family members,” said BNP joint secretary general Rizvi Ahmed.
The BNP leader came up with the statement at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan office in the capital.

GP gets Green Mobile Award

Grameenphone Ltd, the country’s largest mobile phone operator, has been awarded the Green Mobile Award for its Climate Change programmes.
“This programme has set clear targets for the adoption of renewable power sources, including water conservation, and displays commitment to long term pursuit of the project aims,” the GSMA award judges said while presenting the prize to GP.
Vivek Sood, CEO of Grameenphone, received the award at the Global Mobile Award prize ceremony during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday.
The Global Mobile Awards uniquely offer organisations the opportunity to showcase the latest mobile products, services and initiatives to the world.

Govt trying to win US favour citing al-Qaeda issue: Fakhrul

The government is trying to win favour from the US banking on the issue of al-Qaeda threat, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged today.
“In a bid to get US favour, the government is telling the so-called threat of the al-Qaeda since the US and whole world rejected the January 5 election,” the BNP leader said at a press conference at the party headquarters in Nayapaltan of the capital.
The press conference was organised to reveal the party's reaction to allegation that the ruling Awami League lawmakers made in the parliament linking the BNP-led alliance with the recent audio message said to be from the global militant organisation.

Gold trader, family silent against RAB

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The family of abducted Chittagong gold trader Mridul Chowdhury have quieted down after his release despite their earlier allegation against the RAB.

The businessman after being found alive in Comilla on Monday, six days after he had gone missing, said he was kidnapped from Chittagong by a group of armed men in a black microbus.
Mridul, before his abduction, had filed a case against RAB Major Rakibul Amin, a RAB source and his own driver for looting 80 Bhori (933g) of gold.

KL detains 57 more Bangladeshis

The Malaysian law enforcers detained 57 more Bangladeshis between Thursday and Sunday under an ongoing nationwide crackdown against illegal foreign workers.

With this, at least 508 Bangladeshis have so far been held since the beginning of the crackdown on January 21 in order to streamline the country's labour market, according to the Malaysian media.

Malaysian English daily The Star today reported that the immigration department with the law enforcers conducted raids and arrested at least 4,640 illegal immigrants and 48 employers.  

Of them, 1,800 are Indonesians, 642 Myanmar nationals, 502 Filipinos, 288 Nepalese, 239 Indian nationals, 209 Pakistanis and the remaining 452 from various countries, said Malaysian Immigration Director Datuk Aloyah Mamat.

ONGC signed for Bay exploration

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State-owned Petrobangla has signed a deal with Indian state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for the hydrocarbon exploration and extraction of oil and gas in shallow-water Blocks 4 and 9 of the Bay of Bengal.

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ONGC is the first Indian company to get exploration contracts in Bangladesh.
The two agreements were signed between the Bangladesh Government, Petrobangla and ONGC; and Oil India and state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) at capital Dhaka’s Petrocenter on Monday.

al-Qaeda message uploaded from US: BTRC

The audiovisual message allegedly issued by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was uploaded from the US, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) suspected.
The message was uploaded from the state of Arizona, a BTRC official seeking anonymity told The Daily Star.
An audiovisual message purported to be from al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has urged the Muslims in Bangladesh to wage an intifada (popular uprising) to confront the “crusader onslaught

‘No cutting into reserves’

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The government has no plan to cut into its foreign currency reserves to finance the Padma River project, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said.

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Rebutting media reports, he said the foreign currency needed to procure project material and equipment would be provided for in the same way it is done to open Letters of Credit (LCs) for fertiliser and fuel imports.He said each year’s budget would have a special allocation for the project. “In the first year, we only did some river training work at the Jajira point, which didn’t cost much. The big construction work hasn’t started yet.”