Men are likely to live longer if they marry a younger woman, new research suggests. A man’s chances of dying early are cut by a fifth if their bride is between 15 and 17 years their junior. The risk of premature death is reduced by 11 per cent if they marry a woman seven to ... Read more
Month: June 2009
Women with emotional intelligence have better sex lives
BEAUTY may bag you a man – but brains will bring you more fun in the bedroom. Women blessed with “emotional intelligence” – the ability to express their feelings and read those of others – have better sex lives, research shows. Those most in touch with their feelings have twice as many orgasms as inhibited ... Read more
Mix of progress, protection
Farm sector, major environmental initiatives, hugely expanded social safety net set proposed budget big-spending Finance Minister AMA Muhith proved his reputation of being a straight talker when he placed his maiden budget for the new government in parliament yesterday that explicitly aimed at protecting the domestic industry and at the same time laid down the ... Read more
Tk 1,13,819 cr nat’l budget for 2009-10
Earning Tk 79,461 crore; Expenditure Tk 82,ooo crore; ADP Tk 30,500 crore; deficit Tk 34,358 crore; GDP growth target 5.5 per cent Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith presented a Tk. 1,13819 crore national budget for 2009-10 in parliament on Thursday with special emphasis on implementing the ruling Awami League’s election pledge – ‘Charter of ... Read more
1818 imported vehicles cleared in 5 hours
Officials of the import wing of Chittagong Customs House (CCH), biggest revenue earner for the national exchequer, reportedly became over efficient and finished formalities of clearing more than 1800 automobiles before Wednesday midnight. According to some of the retired customs officials the state exchequer could have received more than Taka 540 million if the clearing ... Read more
Tk 1,176cr allocated for employment generation: 2.5pc GDP to be spent on social-safety net
As the new government stresses strong and expanded social-safety net in its flagship vision of change, Finance Minister Muhith proposed to allocate Tk 1,176 crore for employment generation for the hardcore poor in a bid to give a shot in the arm of the rural economy. In his budget speech in parliament yesterday he said ... Read more
Power generation to rise to 20,000 MW by 2021
The government has stressed the private sector involvement to increase electricity generation to 20,000 MW by 2021 from 3,800MW at present. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in his budget speech said, “We are determined to take appropriate steps to increase power generation to 20,000 MW by 2021. It is not possible on the part ... Read more
Edn, health, tech sectors to get Tk 21,367cr
The finance minister, AMA Muhith, allocated Tk 21,367 crore for education, health and technology sectors in the proposed national budget for the 2009-10 financial year terming them integral part of total development planning. The amount is 19 per cent of the total budget. In current fiscal year, the allocation for education and technology was Tk ... Read more
Govt opens arms for black money
Amnesty offered in form of investment upon 10pc tax The government yesterday proposed to allow whitening of black money in exchange for payment of 10 percent tax on the amount, with a caveat that the whitened money must be invested in any of prescribed 62 sectors. The 62 prescribed sectors are divided into three categories: ... Read more
Govt bows down to black money
Amnesty offered in form of investment upon 10pc tax The government yesterday proposed to allow whitening of black money in exchange for payment of 10 percent tax on the amount, with a caveat that the whitened money must be invested in any of prescribed 62 sectors. The 62 prescribed sectors are divided into three categories: ... Read more
Up and down
Some consumer items will be costlier and some others cheaper due to the proposed taxes and duties in the budget for fiscal 2009-10. The new budget proposes an increase in supplementary duty on import of luxury vehicles, and tax on private cars at specific rates on the basis of their engine capacity (CC). Prices of ... Read more
Middleclass still out of comfort zone
Watching television in the afternoon is rare for Abidur Rahman. But keen to know what the new budget holds for a middle class family like his, he opted to upset his daily routine yesterday. He returned from work early and tuned in to hear Finance Minister AMA Muhith’s speech. Last year’s budget by the caretaker ... Read more
TV Watch: Meghbondhu on Banglavision
Banglavision will air new drama serial ‘Meghbondhu’ from tonight at 8:15pm. Full shooting the drama serial was held in Nepal. Shafiqur Rahman Shantanu has scripted the drama, while Sokal Ahmed has directed the serial. Mahfuz Ahmed, Mosharraf Karim, Bijory Barkatullah, Romana, Challenger, Maznun Mizan, Tania Hossain, among
Guide on NTV from tonight
First episode of drama serial ‘Guide’ will be aired from tonight on NTV at 9:45pm. Aranya Chowdhury has written story and scripted dialogue of the drama. He has also directed the serial. Tawkir Ahmed, Runa Khan, Apurbo, Nova, Bindu, Arefin Shuvo, Hillol, Nafiza, Chhanda, Mou, Moutushi Biswas, among others, have performed in the
The fading rhythm of handloom
Anjan’s exhibition at National Museum Much has been written on the glorious past of Bengali (particularly Dhaka and surrounding regions) handloom. Locally produced cotton and advanced skills of ‘taanti’ (weavers) attained worldwide acclaim in the form of ‘Muslin’ during the Mughal era. But where does Bangladeshi handloom stand now? Once known as the “Manchester of ... Read more
“I am a workaholic” — Sara Zaker
My daughter Sriya says that I always have an agenda,” says a laughing Sara Zaker on a relatively relaxed day. The grouse of her family is that the media personality never takes a break. In a freewheeling interview with The Daily Star, she took time off to talk about her professional and personal life. Excerpts ... Read more
Pre-budget speculation makes some items pricey
As speculation on possible increase of tax and duty on luxury goods import mounts up, prices of some items have showed an increasing trend. Market sources and shoppers told New Age about the price increase of reconditioned cars and high-end mobile phone sets while some traders have started to build up their stocks of cigarettes ... Read more
Aila, tidal surge cost shrimp farmers Tk 40cr in Cox’s Bazar
Say businessmen Fish and shrimp worth around Tk 40 crore have been washed away from more than 400 shrimp enclosures and ponds in seven upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district by cyclone Aila and the recent tidal surge, businessmen said yesterday. The affected upazilas are Teknaf, Ukhia, Moheshkhali, Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Chakoria and
Thank you Ashraful
ICC World Twenty20 England09 Thank you Ashraful It is high time to seriously consider whether Bangladesh cricket is held hostage by a set of Ashra-FOOLS. And if it is the case then we better immediately send those ‘FOOLS’ to rehabilitation camp at least to stop the emotional bloodshed that was overpowering after Monday night’s stunning ... Read more
Dejected Tigers leave England
Down and out from the ICC World Twenty20, a dejected Bangladesh cricket team left England on Tuesday without their skipper Mohammad Ashraful and coach Jamie Siddons. The International Cricket Council did not want to spend any extra penny for them and asked the team to pack their bags to catch the next available flight after ... Read more