March 2009 - Dhaka Mirror

Capital experiences hailstorm

March 30, 2009 by Admin

Staff Reporter

City street littered with unusual size of hailstones following yesterdays storm. Sharif Khan — City street littered with unusual size of hailstones following yesterday's storm. Sharif Khan

Dhaka city yesterday experienced hailstorm accompanied with rain late in the afternoon. The hailstorm and rain brought soothing relief to city dwellers from the scorching hit of the summer.
The hailstorm was marked by gusty winds speed reaching up to 19 kilometers an hour.
According to residents from different parts of the city the size of some hailstones was as big as one kilogram. The hailstorm was more intensive in Mirpur, Gulshan, Badda and Dhanmondi areas of the city.
A Met office official told The New Nation that the localized storm was of the Kal Baishakhi type even though the storm was

1,800 BDR men yet to report: Mutiny tapes at audio, video internet

March 28, 2009 by Admin

Mamunur Rashid

Children of Army officials killed during Peelkhana carnage formed a human chain in front of Jahangir Gate of the Dhaka Cantonment demanding exemplary punishment of the killers. NN photo

Though the investigation teams on the carnage at the Peelkhana BDR headquarters have identified some of the killers of the army officers, they are yet to find out the identity of the people who orchestrated the plot to

MSC clinch Tk 1 crore Super Cup

March 28, 2009 by Admin

Raihan Mahmood

Dhaka Mohammedan players celebrate with prime minister Sheikh Hasina after winning the Tk one crore Citycell Super Cup by defeating Abahani Ltd by a solitary goal at the Banghabandhu National Stadium on Friday.— Sanaul Haque

Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club made history when they became the first team to win a prize money of Tk 1 crore with a 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals Dhaka Abahani in the final of the Citycell Super Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Friday.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, distributed the prizes in front of a capacity crowd of 45000 and a few thousand waiting

Unified law suggested for local govt bodies

March 28, 2009 by Admin

Report by Now-defunct LGC
Unified law suggested for local govt bodies
Rakib Hasnet Suman
The now-defunct local government commission (LGC) recommended forming a unified law to govern all local government institutions repealing the existing acts for local government bodies.
Besides the functioning ordinances and acts, there are more than 100 subordinate laws related to the local government institutions, said the LGC in its report published before the ordinances lost their effectiveness last month.
It said a single law could be formulated instead of a number of related laws to run all local government bodies like union parishads, upazila parishads, municipalities, city corporations and Chittagong Hill Tracts

Swiss NGO offers cheap treatment : New hope for monga-hit mothers, children of Kurigram

March 28, 2009 by Admin

Talha Bin Habib, back from Kurigram
Continued river erosion, poor communication system, seasonal monga and limited income opportunities deprive people of Rangpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat from taking nutritious diet that usually push them to embrace to suffer various diseases throughout the year.
But the scenario of Kurigram district is worst than those of other districts. Majority of households in the district are landless farmers who hardly could manage two round meals a day.
As a result the mothers and children in the districts have been suffering from malnutrition. Most of the children have been suffering various diseases like anaemia, diarrhoea, diphtheria and child related diseases.
The medical facilities for mother and children are insufficient in these districts. Kurigram sadar hospital has little capacity to provide medical care to the pauper mothers and their children. But the scenario has started changing. The Mother and Child Health Home Centre of

Woman dies after taking formalin by mistake at clinic

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj
A woman died after drinking formalin by accident at a clinic in Chapainawabganj on Wednesday night.
The victim, Nadira Begum, 40, who was attending to her daughter at the post-operative room at Sheba Clinic, drank formalin mistaking it for water.
Hospital and family sources said Nadira came with her pregnant daughter Sumi to the clinic. After her caesarian operation, Sumi was taken to the post-operative room.
When Nadira was attending to her, she found a bottle of formalin near her daughter’s bed. Mistaking it for water, she drank it around 10:30pm. Soon she felt irritation and pain in the stomach.
As her condition deteriorated, Dr Moyej Uddin of the Sheba Clinic sent her to Adhunik Sadar Hospital where she died around

Desh TV goes on air

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Staff Correspondent

Asaduzzaman Noor announces the launching of Desh TV in front of the Shikha Chirantan at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the city yesterday. Photo: STAR

With a commitment to presenting healthy entertainment, thoughts and ensuring objectivity and professionalism, Desh TV, a new private satellite channel, went on air yesterday coinciding with the celebration of the 38th Independence Day.
Through a different and exceptional programme in front of the Shikha Chirantan (Eternal Flames) at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan

Rod prices 20pc up

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Sajjadur Rahman

A man works at a small steel re-rolling mill. The price of rod, an important construction material, is a concern for people in real estate. A hike in scrap metal prices in local markets has pushed the prices of mild steel rod by 20 percent in a span of two months. Photo: STAR

A hike in scrap metal prices in local markets has pushed the prices of mild steel (MS) rod by 20 percent in a span of two months.
The price of 40-grade MS rod is now selling at Tk 47,000-49,000 a tonne against Tk 37,000-38,000 two months ago, while the 60-grade category has soared to Tk 52,000 from Tk 43,000-44,000.
“Shipbreakers now charge Tk 35,000 a tonne of scrap, but the rate was Tk 26,000 two months back,” said Mizanur Rahman, managing

Paragon set to grow organic tea

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Sohel Parvez

Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Ltd is the countrys lone producer of organic tea. Paragon Agro plans to be the second market player. Www.teatulia.com — Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Ltd is the country's lone producer of organic tea. Paragon Agro plans to be the second market player. Www.teatulia.com

Paragon Agro, a concern of Paragon Group, plans to cultivate organic tea, aiming to exploit the growing consumer demand for the product in domestic and global markets.
“Everybody demands organic food. That is why we are preparing to organically grow tea. We are now readying our garden to accomplish the mission,” said Moshiur Rahman, chief of a poultry hatchery and feed based entity of

Pope ‘distorting condom science’

March 27, 2009 by Admin

One of the world’s most prestigious medical journals, the Lancet, has accused Pope Benedict XVI of distorting science in his remarks on condom use.
It said the Pope’s recent comments that condoms exacerbated the problem of HIV/Aids were wildly inaccurate and could have devastating consequences.
The Pope had said the “cruel epidemic” should be tackled through abstinence and fidelity rather than condom use.
Correspondents say the attack from the Lancet was unprecedentedly

Steaming hot tea linked to cancer

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Drinking steaming hot tea has been linked with an increased risk of oesophageal (food tube) cancer, Iranian scientists have found.
The British Medical Journal study found that drinking black tea at temperatures of 70C or higher increased the risk.
Experts said the finding could explain the increased oesophageal cancer risk in some non-Western populations.
Adding milk, as most tea drinkers in Western countries do, cools the drink enough to eliminate the risk.
The oesophagus is the

Hurman Heartbroken Over Priyanka?

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Rumours are rife in Bollywood about Hurman Baweja disappearing from the limelight, since his split with Priyanka Chopra.

Priyanka and Shahid Kapoor have been spotted getting closer of late, sparking reports that they could be the reason for Hurman suddenly becoming a loner.

His latest movie, Victory bombed at the box office and he seems to be taking the break up with Priyanka quite badly.

According to One India, he is nursing his broken heart in

Mugdha Godse Upset With Asin’s Win

March 27, 2009 by Admin

This year’s Best Filmfare debut award went to Asin for her role in Bollywood film Ghajini but it seem’s one person is not happy at all with this, step forward Mugdha Godse.

Mugdha was nominated in the same category for her part in Fashion and was very displeased to loose out. She said: “Awards are just trophies and if all of them have gone to an actress who has done around 12-13 South Indian films already, what can you say?

“People have appreciated my performance in Fashion and their SMSes are my rewards.

When Asin was asked about these comments she replied

Banna Mirza: Beauty, grace and reflective demeanour

May 7, 2009March 27, 2009 by Admin

Syeda Shamin Mortada
Our small screen is a kaleidoscope that presents various colours of life. Today, the television has become a powerful and effective medium that consists of a galaxy of dazzling stars. Many celebrities over the years have contributed to their respective fields and gained popularity as an acknowledgement for their dedication. One of them is Banna Mirza, whose beauty, grace and reflective demeanour have won the hearts of many.
In a freewheeling chat with The Daily Star, Banna talks about her life and professional experiences.
Banna Mirza earned her acting credentials through theatre and is known for her acting sensibilities. Talking about her early days, she says, “I thought of doing something just after I completed my HSC. I have been involved with the theatre troupe, Desh Natok, for 18 long years.” Hungry for variety, Banna has managed to dig roles that offer her scope to convey myriad emotions. Some of her memorable work on stage includes

Super Cup’s Tk 1 crore final today

March 27, 2009 by Admin

Sports Reporter
The curtain will drop on the country’s most expensive football tournament today when archrivals Abahani and Mohammedan lock horns in the Citycell Super Cup final.
President Zillur Rahman will witness the final and distribute trophies as chief guest.
The final will be telecast live by Bangladesh Television from the Bangabandhu National Stadium from 5 pm.
Earlier in the day, Brothers Union will take on Chittagong Mohammedan in the third-place playoff at the same venue.
The winners will take away Tk one crore and the richest prize ever in any domestic competition has already attracted strong

ET tracked down on Google Street View

March 27, 2009 by Admin

UFO experts were left baffled after claims that ET was finally tracked down on Google Street View.

The spooky snap was caught by Google image cameras in the town of Berkeley Heights in New Jersey. Photo: CATERS

A misty shape, bearing a distinct similarity to the movie alien, was captured behind a bush next to a mysterious beam of light.
The spooky snap was caught by Google image cameras in the town of Berkeley Heights in New Jersey.
Some claim the image could be evidence of life in outer space while others point to a simple trick of the light.
The ‘ET’ alien was photographed on Diamond Hill Road, a semi-rural location about eight miles from Morristown Municipal

Britney Spears’ New Jersey Home

March 26, 2009 by Admin

Britney Spears is renting an $8 million New Jersey house.
The singer and her sons, three-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, two, will live in the mansion in Alpine for a month, with her record label Jive footing the $30,000 bill.
A source told Life and Style Weekly magazine: “Britney wanted a home away from home while she was on tour, especially for the boys – something close to Manhattan. They talked about Long Island, but she wanted something closer that could feel like home for Sean and Jayden.”
Property broker Dennis McCormack described the property as a quiet hideaway in an exclusive neighbourhood.
He said: “It’s very spacious, so there’s lots of room for her kids to run around and play. The colonial-style home has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms and two half baths.
“It has an understated elegance, with high ceilings and lots of bright light.”
It is believed Britney was attracted to the area because residents are used to seeing A-list stars.
A source said: “Jive president Barry Weiss has set up celebrities at the house before. It’s a gorgeous neighborhood with big sprawling

Sangakkara says attack on Lankan team in Pakistan has changed cricket forever

March 26, 2009 by Admin

ANI
Colombo: Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara has said the terrorist attack on the team bus outside Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium has changed the players’ approach forever.
Sangakkara said now players would first assess security arrangements and talk to their families before committing themselves to any tournament.
He told the BBC it was a miracle that none of his team members were killed in the attack.
Of the seven Lankan players who were injured, Thilan Samaraweera had a bullet lodged in his left leg while others, including Sangakkara, received shrapnel injuries.
Sangakkara said the incident has changed the security aspect of sport forever and it it is likely that players rather than

IPL won’t be same in South Africa: Warne

March 26, 2009 by Admin

Melbourne: Spin legend Shane Warne said it’s a shame that the Indian Premier League had to be shifted to South Africa and felt “it won’t be the same” in the rainbow country.
Warne, who led underdogs Rajasthan Royal to title victory in the first edition, said it would not be possible for South Africa to match the frenzy that surrounded last year’s IPL.
“It’ll be nothing like if it was in India, and it’s a shame it can’t be in India. It won’t be the same as it being in India, but hopefully the South African public will get behind it and turn up to the ground and make it a great spectacle,” Warne told reporters in Melbourne.
The organisers moved the second

End of road for Shah Rukh and buddy Mushtaq Sheikh?

March 26, 2009 by Admin

Spicezee Bureau
Mumbai, March 25: Shah Rukh Khan’s onetime best buddy, writer Mushtaq Sheikh is a friend no more. Bollywood is stunned at this supposed fallout since the two swore by each other till sometime back.
According to reports, SRK and Mushtaq (who had in the past written two books- ‘Still Reading Khan’ and ‘Shah Rukh Can’, on the life of his best buddy SRK) have drifted apart. It is believed that their friction intensified when Shah Rukh’s ‘Billu’ which was written by Sheikh bombed at the BO.
Mushtaq, who was also the co-writer of ‘Om Shanti Om’, was to write another script for SRK but