BANGLADESH

GMG Airlines, the largest private airline of the country, has announced suspension of its flight operations from Mar 30 for what it called 'strategic restructuring against rising fuel price and competitive global market'.

A media statement from the company said on Wednesday that the airlines will go off air starting Friday.

"As we transit to the new strategy, our operations will be temporarily suspended with effect from Mar 30, as we await the delivery of new-generation aircraft, clear legacy issues, execute the rightsizing and organise ourselves better to take up the future challenges," chief executive Sanjiv Kapoor said in the statement.

GMG Airlines is planning to adopt a new business strategy in the light of rising fuel prices and changing international competitive environment through a 360 degree restructuring of its strategy, organisation, fleet and business model, he elaborated.

"It (airline) will redesign its route network to focus on higher yield, higher growth domestic and regional routes using new-generation narrow body aircraft," Kapoor added.

GMG Airlines started operations on local routes in 1998 and introduced international flights in 2004. BEXIMCO bought a large number of company's shares in 2009.

Flight operations have been suspended on six international routes since January. The company, the first private airlines in the country, used Boeing-767 and MD-80 airplanes for its international flights.

Only three local flights have been in operation on three local routes using two Dash-8 aircraft.

"One of the hired Boeing-767 airplanes was returned and the other two are set to be returned to the manufacturers. Instead, the company will bring two narrow-body aircraft," GMG director (Marketing and Customer Experience) Asif Ahmed told .

"Besides, a decision has been taken to exclude three MD-80 aircraft from the GMG fleet. Of the three, one is owned by the company while the other two were hired. Besides, a Dash-8 model aircraft will be sent for maintenance," said Asif.

"Flight operations will resume after getting the narrow-body aircraft," he added.

The press release said during the period of suspension, all ticketed passengers will be given a full refund through the airlines' sales offices and employees will be paid compensation benefits in accordance with the labour law.

Students of Titumir College on Wednesday blocked the street from Mohakhali to Gulshan-1 in protest against Tuesday night's detention of their fellow students over vandalism in a bar run by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.

The demonstrating students vandalised several vehicles on the street blocking traffic in the area around 12pm on Wednesday.

Police held at least 26 students of the college from Ruchita Bar in Mohakhali area after they allegedly rampaged it around 10:45pm on Tuesday.

A handful of their fellows gathered in front of the college on Wednesday noon demanding their release. At one stage, they burned papers on the street.

They also hurled brickbats on the nearby buildings, breaking window glasses.

Gulshan zone's deputy commissioner of police Lutful Kabir told that they discussed the issue with the teachers of the college.

He said the situation would calm down after the detainees would be freed on bail bond.

Traffic on the street came to halt for over an hour also during Tuesday's vandalism in the bar.

Gulshan Police Station officer-in-charge Rafikul Islam said, "The incident originated from a personal-level conflict over payment. Others might join afterwards."

He, however, said police will check who were responsible.

"Legal steps will be taken against those responsible for the incident," he added.

Now a days many old parents are shock his/her children.The High Court has asked the government to explain within three weeks why it should not be directed to enact a law making it mandatory for the children to bear the maintenance cost of their parents in old age.

The vacation bench of justices Mohammad Anwarul Haque and Mohammad Khasruzzaman passed the order on Wednesday after primary hearing on a writ petition.

The law secretary and the social welfare secretary have been made respondents to the rule.

Abdul Jahid Mukul, founding president of Gazipur Adult Rehabilitation Centre, filed the writ petition seeking the High Court directive to the government to enact a law so that old parents can claim their maintenance costs from their children.

Advocate Fariduzzaman Farhad stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Rajik Al Jalil represented the state.

Leading mobile operator Grameenphone has signed an agreement with Kaspersky Lab's local representative Officextracts to ensure enterprise security solutions for its users.

A Grameenphone media statement on Wednesday read, "Officextracts, a local software distribution company, will distribute security products of the Kaspersky Lab and will also ensure service and assistance to the mobile operator's commercial clients."

Grameenphone has started Kaspersky Lab and Internet Security (anti-virus) software to guard against various viruses, spyware, crimeware, hacking, phishing and spamming while using internet, the statement added.

Now bangladesh start their 3g licence work in step 3.when 3g comes bangladesh fully then we are get good tecnology and our communication will be fast.The telecom regulator has proposed to award licences for 3G mobile service in the country on Sep 3.

In its draft guideline for issuing licence, the regulator – Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) – has also clarified that in all, five mobile phone operators would be awarded 3G licence and not four, as decided previously.

BTRC chairman Maj Gen (retd) Zia Ahmed confirmed that the draft titled "Cellular Mobile Phone Service (3G/4G/LTE) Regulatory Licence Guideline 2012" was forwarded to the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications on Wednesday afternoon.

He said the process of distributing the licence would begin once the ministry finalises the draft.

Earlier, BTRC finalised the draft guidelines providing scope for awarding 3G mobile service licence with options to upgrade to 4G and long-term evolution (LTE) without any extra fees.

3G LICENCE AWARDEES

Teletalk will get the licence as the state-owned firm while three others would be selected from the existing five private mobile operating companies. The fifth one to get the licence will be a new operator, said Zia.

The licence would be valid for a period of 15 years.

AUCTION TECHNICALITIES

According to the draft guideline, the licences will be auctioned again if at least two operators do not take licences.

Zia Ahmed, however, expressed hope that more than five operators would be eager to buy licences.

AUCTION PROCESS BEGINS MAY 7

The draft states that advertisement for the auction would be published on May 7.

The operators will have to apply to take part in the auction on July 12 and the name of the operators eligible to take part in the auction would be made public on July 19.

BTRC chairman said the draft proposes $30 million as bid money for every megahertz of spectrum.

If the draft gets final nod, the operators will have to pay Tk 500,000 to apply for the auction and Tk 100 million as the licence fee. The licence holders will have to pay 5.5 percent revenue sharing and one percent social obligation fees every year.

LICENCE HANDOVER WITHIN NOVEMBER

The draft says that every operator willing to take the licences will have to pay the same amount as called by the highest bidder.

"The operators will receive the licences within 60 working days from the day bidding is held", Zia Ahmed said referring to the guideline.

3G ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 3 YRS

The draft guideline proposes to take 3G services to other parts of the country within three years. "The operators will have to extend network in three phases."

It also talks of Tk 1.5-billion bank guarantee for a 3G licence, out of which BTRC would take away Tk 500 million if the operators fail to meet any phase of the targeted network. In case of their success in one phase, Tk 500 million would be refunded.

Old operators, who already have 2G services, would have to finish the first phase of network expansion in six divisions within six months and the new ones within a year.

Old operators will be given 18 months for the second phase of network expansion in 30 percent districts and new ones will get two years.

The last phase will have to be finished within three years of licence issuance.

Claiming that Jamaat-e-Islami is uniting inside and outside the country under various names, Awami League general secretary on Tuesday advocated ban on the 'anti-liberation' party.

"We need to grow beyond the notion that photograph of Ghulam Azam and Jamaat have to be around for democracy [in the country]," he told a discussion in the capital.

Referring to the ban on Nazi forces in Germany and the political party of Benito Mussolini in Italy, he said: "Should we say there is no democracy in those countries?"

Ashraf, also the local government and rural development minister, said: "Jamaat, Muslim League and PDP were banned [after the independence]. But after Bangabandhu was assassinated, these anti-liberation parties were allowed back in politics by Gen Ziaur Rahman."

He urged everyone to stay alert against Jamaat's activities inside and outside the country.

Ghulam Azam, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief during the Liberation war, is currently facing war crimes charges.

He stayed in London for seven years after 1971 and returned to Bangladesh in 1978 during Gen Zia's rule.

On the issue of war crimes trial, Ashraf, said: "The trial began under hostile conditions as it started 40 years after the crimes were committed, and most of the witnesses are either missing or dead."

Azam had allegedly led the infamous, 'Peace Committee', Rajakar, Al-Badr and collaborated with the Pakistan Army, which executed massacre and torture in Bangladesh during the Liberation War.

He also allegedly advocated the cause of Pakistan in the middle-eastern countries during the war.

Police have detained 26 students of Titumir College for vandalising a bar of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in the capital's Mohakhali area.

Confirming the action, Gulshan police station officer in-charge Rafiqul Islam said they are looking into the matter to find the reason behind the incident.

Traffic on the road to Gulshan-1 from Mohakhali's Amtoli intersection was halted for at least one hour during the incident that took place at the bar 'Ruchita' around 10:45pm on Tuesday.

Normal traffic movement on the road could resume only around 12:30am.

"The incident occurred following a dispute at the bar. The students might have joined later," OC Rafiqul said.

Action will be taken against those found guilty for the vandalism at the bar of the state-owned BPC, he said.

"We reached the spot soon after the brawl begun, but we could not do much as the number of police personnel was not enough," Rafiqul added.

Although a hostel of the college is located close to the bar, the college's Marketing Department teacher Halim told , "Those who vandalised the bar did not come to the hostel ... those staying here are examinees."

About detention of the students, he said, "Police arrested them just to maintain law and order. But the way they were beaten up is not right."

The Department of Environment (DoE) has ordered closure of three paper mills and fined them Tk 1.45 million for polluting the Karnaphuli river.

The action was taken during a special drive of a team led by Zafar Alam, director of Chittagong division DoE, at the mills, located near the river in the Halisahar Kha Chaar area in Patiya.

"Haqqani Pulp and Paper Mill, Ambia Pulp and Paper Mill and Anwara Pulp and Paper Mill have been fined Tk 1.45 million as they did not take any step [to stop pollution of the river] despite being warned in the past," assistant director of Chittagong division DoE Mohaammad Mainuddin told .

"The mills have been polluting the Karnaphuli river and the environment, as they did not set up effluent treatment plants (ETP)," he added.

He said the department also fined a brickfield, Kerani Haat Bricks, at Satkania upazila Tk 75,000.

President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Haisna on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the foreigners who had supported the causes for the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

"I am offering my gratitude to all those, who offered us humanitarian and moral aids during our fight for freedom," president Mohammad Zillur Rahman told a function organised to honour the foreign friends at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"You stood by us from across the globe and encouraged us," he said.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said, "It is a singular honour for me to be in your midst at this solemn ceremony of awarding Bangladesh Liberation War Honour and Friends of Liberation War Honour to those who we owe a debt of gratitude for our hard-earned freedom." Hasina told the honouring function.

"In our pride, the foreign contributors to our liberation war in 1971 have been equal partners," she added.

The president and the prime minister gave the awards to 83 of the foreigners who stood for Bangladesh in the fight against Pakistani forces in 1971. Many had raised their voices against repression, genocide and put pressure on then the West Pakistan.

While India took bold steps in support of Bangladesh's struggle, many foreign politicians, diplomats, artistes, authors, journalists and students from across the world had come forward to back Bangladesh's causes for freedom in the face of widespread violation of human rights and war rules.

"It is matter of pride for us that many of our foreign friends sympathised with us, many took part in the 1971 liberation war," the prime minister said.

Representatives of heads of state or government of eight countries received the Liberation War Honour from the president.

Bangladesh, then the eastern wing of Pakistan, gained independence through a nine-month bloody war that ended with the surrender of thousands of Pakistani soldiers on Dec 16, 1971. The war cost the lives of about 3 million people while about 200,000 women were raped and nearly 10 million people took shelter in refugee camps in India.

Foreign minister Dipu Moni helped the president and the prime minister give the awards on Tuesday.

The chief justice, ministers, advisors to the prime minister, MPs, chiefs of the three forces and top government officials attended the programme.

A fire at Nimtoli in the old part of the city on Monday gutted a polythene factory and damaged property and valuables worth about Tk 40 lakh.

Resulting from an electric short-circuit, the fire raged through the factory for an hour from 3:00pm until fire fighters brought it under control.

"The fire originated from power fluctuations at a polythene factory called SM Telecom," said fire service deputy director Mizanur Rahman.

The place where the fire broke out is the ground floor of a residential five-storied building, and no casualty has been reported, he added.

The fire brings back the horror the country experienced back in June, 2010 when more than 110 people were charred in a fire that engulfed several houses and shops in the same locality.

"I fear Nimtoli tragedy may revisit if reasons causing this type of fire is not attended properly," said Babul Hossain, a second-floor resident of the building.

The war crimes tribunal will hear the prosecution on Mar 29 countering Jamaat-e-Islami guru Ghulam Azam's petition for discharge.

The International Crimes Tribunal, set up to deal with crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, deferred indictment order of BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury to Apr 4 and extended the bail of another BNP man Abdul Alim.

The three-judge tribunal, headed by Justice M Nizamul Huq, ordered the prosecution to begin placing formal charges against Alim on Apr 24. The court ordered the prosecution to submit the formal charge, witness testimonies and other documents to the registrar's office by Apr 1 for the defence to collect them by Apr 2.

Justice Huq told Salauddin Quader's defence counsel Fakhrul Islam the newly appointed member of the tribunal, Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque, would also have to agree with the indictment order.

"So he needs to become familiar with the proceedings of the case. Once he has perused them and familiarised himself with the case, we shall pass the order."

The tribunal chairman, thus, deferred the order scheduled business for Tuesday by a week.

As regards Jamaat's former chief Ghulam Azam's case, his senior counsel Abdur Razzaq has concluded countering the prosecution's arguments in support of the formal charges against the 89-year old retired politician by way of moving a discharge petition.

Prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum prayed his arguments be heard on Mar 29 since the prosecution needed to have extensive work done on the petition. The court granted his prayer just before breaking for lunch.

Razzaq has been arguing that certain charges against Ghulam Azam do not have the necessary details as prescribed by the tribunal's own rules and pleaded that those charges be dropped.

The main contention of the defence arguments was that, contrary to the prosecution's claims, Razakar, Al Badr, Al Shams and such fronts mobilised by Jamaat and its student wing, the Islami Chhatra Sangha during the Liberation War, do not constitute auxiliary force as defined by the tribunal's laws.

He said that these fronts had to be under the direct control of the Pakistan military for them to be regarded as auxiliary force. Razzaq has also argued that charges against Ghulam Azam were vague and did not show any direct link between atrocities and his lectures.

Razzaq has also held that the inordinate delay of 40 years between the alleged time of commission of the crimes and bringing forward the case against Azam pointed to malafide intentions.

He had said it was only because the Jamaat has become a formidable political force that these war crimes charges were being levelled against its leadership. Razzaq represents the entire Jamaat leadership at the war crimes tribunal.

JAMAAT GURU IN ICT

On Dec 12, the prosecution brought a 52-point charter of charges against Azam and appealed for his arrest. Later, following the orders, charges were re-arranged and presented to the tribunal on Jan 5.

He was produced before the tribunal by its order on Jan 11 and sent to jail on the same day. Since that evening Ghulam Azam has been shifted to the prison cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for better treatment considering his delicate health.

Azam had allegedly led the infamous 'Peace Committees' and collaborated with the Pakistan Army during the Liberation War. He also spoke in favour of Pakistan to the Middle Eastern countries during the war, according to the prosecution.

He stayed in London for seven years after 1971 and returned to Bangladesh in 1978 during Gen Ziaur Rahman's rule. Having led Jamaat for long, Azam retired from active politics in 1999.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina said on Tuesday she was grateful to foreigners who had supported the causes for the birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

"It is a singular honour for me to be in your midst at this solemn ceremony of awarding Bangladesh Liberation War Honour and Friends of Liberation War Honour to those who we owe a debt of gratitude for our hard-earned freedom," she told a function organised to honour the foreign friends at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"We owe you our sincerest gratitude, and profound respect," she said.

"In our pride, the foreign contributors to our liberation war in 1971 have been equal partners," she added.

President Mohammad Zillur Rahman and the prime minister gave the awards to 76 of the foreigners who stood for Bangladesh in the fight against Pakistani forces in 1971. Many had raised their voices against repression, genocide and put pressure on then the West Pakistan.

While India took bold steps in support of Bangladesh's struggle, many foreign politicians, diplomats, artistes, authors, journalists and students from across the world had come forward to back Bangladesh's causes for freedom in the face of widespread violation of human rights and war rules.

Representatives of heads of state or government of eight countries received the Liberation War Honour from the president.

Bangladesh, then the eastern wing of Pakistan, gained independence through a nine-month bloody war that ended with the surrender of thousands of Pakistani soldiers on Dec 16, 1971. The war cost the lives of about 3 million people while about 200,000 women were raped and nearly 10 million people took shelter in refugee camps in India.

Foreign minister Dipu Moni helped the president and the prime minister give the awards on Tuesday.

The chief justice, ministers, advisors to the prime minister, MPs, chiefs of the three forces and top government officials attended the programme.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia have sent greetings to Bangladesh's cricket star Shakib Al Hasan on his 26th birthday.

"The prime minister wished Shakib a glorious future and hoped that he would lead Bangladesh's cricket to new heights," Hasina's special assistant (media) Mahbubul Haque Shakil told bdnews24.com on Saturday.

Khaleda's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan also told bdnews24.com that Khaleda sent a cake and flowers with a greetings card to Shakib.

Party's sports affairs secretary Raihan Amin Talukder took the presents to Shakib's Mirpur residence, he said.

Shakib was born on Mar 24, 1987 in Magura. His debut test match was against India in 2007 while his ODI debut was against Zimbabwe the previous year.

He won the title of 'Man of the Tournament' in the just-concluded Asia Cup by scoring 237 individual runs and claiming six wickets during the tournament.

After 40 years of Liberation War, Bangladesh is set to honour its foreign friends on Mar 27 for their contribution to the freedom struggle in 1971.

The cabinet has approved a list of 132 but the government finally invited 110 friends, out of which 75 have consented to either come themselves or send their representatives to receive the honour.

This was disclosed by foreign minister Dipu Moni and state minister for liberation war affairs M Tajul Islam at a press briefing at the foreign ministry on Saturday.

The invitees will receive gold-plated silver metallic plaques bearing replica of the national mausoleum and a citation on silk cloth.

"We had formed a national committee to identify the foreign personalities contributing to our Liberation War," Dipu Moni said.

"We had prepared a list of 560 people, and finally we short-listed 132 names," she said.

In the first phase, daughter-in-law of former Indian prime minister Sonia Gandhi received the Bangladesh Freedom Honour awarded to Indira Gandhi in July last year.

President Zillur Rahman and prime minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the award to the recipients at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

"The committee has worked for the last two years and it is an ongoing process."

TRIPURA CHIEF MINISTER

When asked why Tripura chief minister is being honoured, the foreign minister said Manik Sarkar was a youth leader in 1971 and he contributed to the Liberation War.

Tajul Islam, also a freedom fighter, said he is the witness of the Manik's contribution to the Liberation War.

"He was junior to me by two to five years but when I went to Tripura, I saw him personally going door-to-door to seek help for freedom fighters," he said.

"Besides, it is we to decide whom we will give honour not the people of other country," he said referring to the ongoing agitation in Tripura as to why Manik Sarkar is being awarded in Bangladesh.

INVITEES

The foreign minister explained that out of the 132 in the list, they could manage to invite only 110 of them.

"Forty years have passed and many of them have changed their addresses and we found it difficult to locate them," she said.

PAKISTANIS IN THE LIST

When asked why there is no Pakistani in the list, the foreign minister said it is an 'ongoing process'.

"We acknowledge that there is a small group of Pakistanis which did raise voice for Bangladesh, and I am sure that after scrutiny they will be honoured," she said.

The liberation war affairs minister said the government has taken necessary steps to provide security to the invitees.

The telecom regulator has finalised the draft of the guidelines for awarding 3G mobile service licence with options to upgrade to 4G and long-term evolution (LTE) without any extra fees.

In the draft, the regulator -- Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) -- has proposed to give four companies the licences including two from existing five private mobile operators and a new one.

Teletalk will get the licence as state-owned firm.

"The draft will be sent to the telecommunications ministry next week," BTRC chairman Zia Ahmed told bdnews24.com in an interview on Thursday.

The work to award the licences would be complete by June or July after the ministry nods the guidelines, he added.

On Aug 9, a high-profile meeting of senior ministers and advisors chaired by the prime minister Sheikh Hasina took the decision to auction the wireless telecom spectrum to facilitate nationwide spread of 3G technology and wireless broadband services.

Ahmed had earlier said both local and foreign firms would be able to bid for the spectrum.

A top BTRC official has said 3G licence holders will be able to upgrade licences to 4G or LTE without any fee once the Cellular Mobile Phone Service (3G/4G/LTE) Regulatory Licence Guideline 2012 is cleared.

In the draft guidelines, the fee for every megahertz has been proposed at Tk 1.5 billion.

The floor price of 3G licence auction has been set Tk 15 billion.

The BTRC chairman said the estimated revenue from 3G licence is Tk 80 billion.

State-owned Teletalk, along with private operators Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Citycell, is offering 2G services now.

The 3G technology will make mobile telephony much more efficient, with high-speed data transfer facilitating users to watch mobile TV, make video calls, using navigation equipment and access many other services.

LTE's data transfer speed is 80 percent higher than 3G.

Experts say 4G and LTE are same. Its download speed is 100 megabyte per second and upload speed is 50 Mb/S.

LTE's data pipe is built in such a way that users are able to do work of desktop computers with their mobile phones.

Bangladesh have demanded deduction of five runs from Pakistan's total score of Thursday's Asia Cup final for 'deliberate' obstruction by a Pakistani bowler to Mahmudullah in the last over of the match.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) operations committee chairman Enayet Hossain Siraj on Saturday told bdnews24.com that they have appealed to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council for review of the act of Pakistani bowler Aizaz Cheema.

"The appeal was made at a meeting with ACC," he said.

Current BCB chief A H M Mustafa Kamal is also ACC head, while former Bangladesh cricket player Syed Ashraful Haque is the organisation's chief executive.

The ACC has taken the plea into cognisance.

In case Pakistan get the five-run penalty or Bangladesh get five runs added to their score, Tigers could be the new Asia Cup champions.

Pakistan won by two runs after Bangladesh could score only six runs from the final over bowled by Aizaz Cheema.

BCB made the appeal to the top Asian cricket body alleging Cheema had deliberately blocked batsman Mahmudullah in the final over which they believe cost them the game.

He said, "Though the umpire had warned Cheema during the game, Bangladesh is not satisfied."

"We have seen video footage of the incident several times. It is clear that Cheema blocked Mahmudullah deliberately," Siraj added.

A never-say-die Bangladesh had lost agonisingly by two runs in a nail-biting thriller to hand Pakistan their second Asia Cup on Thursday.

Pakistan had batted first and scored 236 losing 10 wickets in the final match while chasing 237 to win, Bangladesh scored 234 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

The BCB appeal is in line with Section-42 (5) of the ICC's playing conditions.

Governments should offer farmers 'suitable' alternatives to growing tobacco as the 'detrimental' costs of planting tobacco far outweigh their economic benefits.

"Tobacco growing carries health, environment and socio-economical risks. Evidences show more and more farmers want to quit planting it. But you have to give them alternatives," Anne-Marie Perucic, health economist of World Health Organisation's Tobacco free Initiative, said on Thursday.

"The alternatives will vary by country," she told bdnews24.com on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore.

She said incidents of diseases related to the farmers' exposure to tobacco like green tobacco sicknesses are steadily increasing across the globe.

"It (tobacco cultivation) causes deforestation and contaminates water supply because of pesticides. Soil degrades because of intensive use of fertilisers for tobacco growing."

In addition, she said, cigarette butts littered anywhere are also toxic and detrimental to environment.

"You will also see unfair contractual arrangements between farmers and tobacco industries. They are trapped in vicious circle of debt and unable to get a fair price for their product.

"It also promotes child labour because tobacco growing is labour-intensive, particularly in harvesting season and most farms in developing countries are of small acreage and family-owned," she said.

In Bangladesh it is alleged that loans disbursed by tobacco companies is making more and more farmers turn to this sector.

They ignore health hazards of working in fields where these plants are cultivated.

"Even though I am suffering from various physical disorders including chest pain and breathing problems, I have to go to the tobacco field to work," Mariam Begum, a 32-year-old farmer in the northern Nilphamari district, told bdnews24.com earlier.

Visiting a tobacco factory in northern Haragach village it was found that primary school goers were making bidis (local cheaper cigarettes) amid tobacco dust.

"You cannot force upon farmers to reduce supply," the WHO economist said and that alternatives should be explored and programmes should be developed to cut demand and to support farmers wishing to switch.

She said the 2005 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that Bangladesh ratified tells governments to keep provision of support for economically viable alternative activities.

"It also tells for protection of the environment and the health of persons."

But, Perucic said research is needed to find out alternatives, which will be different from one country to another.

She said the Ministry of Agriculture in Brazil provides technical support to rural farmers.

They provide credit with lower interest rates to agricultural families engaging in tobacco who wish to invest in other activities.

Alternative activities are very diverse there ranging from fruits, vegetables, aquaculture to animal husbandry, she said.

Kenya is promoting plantation of bamboo among small tobacco farmers. They are getting immense benefits both economically and environmentally, as it requires little investment to grow bamboo, but benefits are higher.

Tobacco growing subsidies were phased out by 2010 from European countries. Amounts moved to a tobacco fund to promote knowledge on effect of tobacco but also research on alternatives to tobacco growing.

According to latest edition of The Tobacco Atlas, countries do not profit economically from tobacco production and consumption -- in fact, they suffer great financial harm.

The health damage from a single pack of cigarettes costs US$35 to an American smoker, it said.

Bangladesh have won the toss and will field first against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Mirpur on Thursday.

An unchanged Bangladesh come into their biggest tournament finalwith back-to-back wins against Asian giants India and Sri Lanka and will be gunning for the head of the other one, Pakistan, to clinch their first major title.

Pakistan have replaced bowler Wahab Riaz with wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

In nine previous battles against Pakistan in the tournament, Bangladesh failed to see any success.

The Tigers may find some inspiration from the match against Pakistan in 1999 World Cup, the only of the 30 matches they won against the South Asian giants.

Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy in 1997 and then made it to the final of a home tri-series against Sri Lanka in 2009. But, if they win this one, it will be arguably their biggest win in ODIs.

The government is going to bring about some changes in eligibility criteria for candidates for the posts of primary school teachers.

"Both male and female candidates for the post of assistant teachers will have to have bachelor degrees, while the qualification for principal will be Masters," state minister for primary and mass education Mohammad Motahar Hossain told on Monday.

The new qualification norms will be effected once the next circular regarding recruitment of government primary teachers is published, he said.

Currently, women who have passed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination and men who have bachelor's degree can apply for the post of assistant teachers in government primary schools, said director (administration) of the Directorate of Primary Education Abdur Rauf Chowdhury.

Those having bachelor's degree with at least three-year experience as teachers in primary or high school can apply for headmaster's position, he said. "But those who doesn't have any experience, will have to have master's degree," he added.

There are 37,672 government primary schools across the country.

The state minister said only 0.83 percent SSC-passed candidates applied for teachers' posts in the past three recruitment tests. "The rest had bachelor's or master's degrees."

"For less than one percent, the majority can not suffer," Hossain said.

The state minister said the assistant teachers will be paid the scale of other government officials having bachelor's degree.

"The headmasters will be awarded the scale of those having master's degree. Their salary will be almost doubled," he added.

Now, assistant teachers of government primary schools are being paid Tk 5,800 scale and the headmasters Tk 6,500.

"A teacher is considered for promotion as headmaster through tests after s/he completes seven years in service. Besides, they can get appointed as assistant upazila education officers after 12 years of service," he said.

"We'll improve prospects of teachers' promotion," he added.

The state minister said 60 percent posts of headmasters are filled by promoting assistant teachers in government primary schools while the other 40 percent are filled through direct appointments.

The 60 percent quota for women in appointment of teachers of government primary schools will be reduced to 50 percent, Hossain added.

BNP has announced rallies across the country on Wednesday to protest indictment of its senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman in Aug 21 grenade attack case.

Party's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press briefing at BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters on Monday – the day after a Dhaka court framed charges against Tarique, the elder son of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"The chargesheet against Tarique Rahman is politically motivated. It has been submitted in the court as part of the conspiracy to keep him away from elections," he said.

Alamgir also urged the authorities to withdraw the 'false' chargesheet.

On Sunday, a special court of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 framed charges against Tarique in absentia, as he has been staying in the UK for over three years now. Twenty-nine others have also been charged in the case over the grisly attack in 2004. Judge Shahed Nooruddin has fixed Mar 28 to start recording deposition of witnesses.

At least 24 people, including incumbent president Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, were killed in the attack on an Awami League rally. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, then the opposition leader, also received injuries in the attack.

"Fearing Tarique Rahman popularity, the government has linked him with the Aug 21 grenade attack case so as to keep him away from politics," Alamgir claimed.

"This is an act of ruling party's politics of vengeance," he said.

The BNP leader said when Awami League came to power, it launched further investigations into the attack with Abdul Kahhar Akhand, a former and 'partisan' police officer, as head of the probe panel to link Tarique with the case.

Alamgir said Tarique was not given the chance to defend.

"Although Abdur Rezzak Khan was appointed his lawyer, it was not taken into cognisance. The court started the trial in his absence in a one-sided fashion by accepting the chargesheet," he said.

"The government has withdrawn 7,500 cases against the ruling party men. The president acquits those who should walk to the gallows... Tarique Rahman was linked with the Aug 21 case with pure political intent..."

He further alleged that the government had shown Tarique fugitive in the case even though the Supreme Court had granted him bail.

Alamgir went on that chief of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) Mufti Abdul Hannan was forced to name Tarique during a 222-day remand. "Although Mufti Hannan withdrew the false confession later, Tarique has been named in the chargesheet solely for political reasons."

None of the 61 accused named Tarique before the extended investigation, he said. "It was Kahhar Akhand who included Tarique Rahman's name."

Akand, special police superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), submitted supplementary chargesheets on July 3 last year in two cases relating to the grenade attack accusing Tarique, Khaleda's former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed and 27 others of complicity in the attack.

At present, the total number of accused stands at 52, including the previous 22.

The fresh accused also include former state minister for home during the BNP-led 2001-06 cabinet Lutfozzaman Babar, Khaleda's nephew Saiful Islam Duke and BNP MP Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad.

The hearing on the discharge plea began on Sept 11 last year.

Nineteen of the 52 chargesheeted accused in the twin Aug 21 grenade attack cases are now staying abroad. The cases were filed for possessing explosives and murder.

Mufti Abdul Hannan and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu of BNP are among the previously accused.

A schoolteacher of Debhata upazila in Satkhira district was sued on Saturday for beating up a second grade student and his mother with a wooden stick.

The student's mother Sonia Khatun filed the case with Debhata Police Station against Abdul Hannan Babul, 40, an assistant teacher of Chandpur Government Primary School.

The case details say the teacher beat up Sharaban Pervez Siam, 8, son of Sheikh Syed of Chandpur village, over a trivial matter on Thursday morning.

As the boy informed his mother Sonia Khatun, she went to the school and asked the teacher the reason for punishment. Angered at this, the teacher also beat up the student's mother.

Confirming the incident, officer in-charge of the Debhata Police Station Shahjahan Ali Khan told bdnews24.com that there are allegations that the teacher had also beaten up several other students in the past.

The High Court on Jan 13 last year declared physical punishment illegal in the educational institutions of the country.

Defining caning, beating or subjecting students to any cruel and inhuman punishment as 'misconduct' under the Government Servants Discipline and Appeal Rules 1985, it had directed the education ministry to ensure dissemination of the directives and regular inspection to prevent occurrences of corporal punishment.

It also directed the ministry to take actions against those in breach of the law.

TV actor-director couple Toukir Ahmed and Bipasha Hayat have been sued in the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court for allegedly embezzling Tk 1.5 million.

Toukir's sister Tanjin Haider filed the case on Monday.

Metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Shahadat Hossain has taken the plaintiff's testimony and said an order will be passed on the matter later.

Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker argued the case on behalf of the plaintiff at the hearing. Advocate Zakaria Haider took part in the hearing on behalf of the defendants.

Tanjin said she and her husband formed a company in joint venture with Toukir and Bipasha to build and run the 'Nakkhtrabari Resort and Convention Centre' on 25 bigha land at Rajendrapur, Gazipur. Her husband Syed Ali Haider became the chairman of the company with Toukir its managing director.

Tanjin claimed she and her husband gave Toukir a total Tk 1.5 million in cash and USD 177,422 through bank. She added that she even had to sell her paternal property at Tangail to find the money.

The case accuses Toukir and Bipasha of 'deceitfully' buying land and building the resort under their names. Tanjin alleged that she and her husband were not being allowed to go to the resort and instead were being threatened.

According to case details, Tanjin served a legal notice on Toukir and Bipasha in January this year but the couple did not resolve the issue then.

Seven people have been made witnesses in the case.

Toukir was awarded the National Film Awards in 2004 for his liberation war-based movie 'Jayjatra' in 2004. His wife, Bipasha, is the daughter of another popular Bangladeshi actor Abul Hayat. She won the National Film Award as best actress in the film Aaguner Parashmoni.

Toukir also Daruchini Dwip that won the National Film Awards in seven categories in 2007.

People taking Hajj pilgrimage under government arrangement this year will have to pay Tk 44,398 more than they did last year.

The cabinet on Monday provisionally approved a proposal on the Tk 303440 Hajj package with the additional cost of Tk 18375 for meal.

Cabinet Division secretary Mohammed Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters the rise in cost was due to the devaluation of taka against Us dollar and Saudi rial.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has greeted Sachin Tendulkar over his 100th international century.

Abul Kalam Azad, press secretary to Hasina, told bdnews24.com she sent the 'Little Master' with sweets and flowers on Saturday.

Watching Sachin Tendulkar ending his quest for the 100th hundred on Friday came as a bonus for the packed holiday crowd at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, with the home side scrambling over the line with four balls to spare and five wickets in hand.

Relatives of three missing people have claimed that Rapid Action Battalion men took away the trio five days ago following an altercation with some RAB personnel in Gaibandha, but the elite force denies the charge.

The three traceless people – Bajlar Prodhan, his friend Hasanul Islam and cousin Mintu Prodhan – of Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha, also alleged at a press conference at Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) on Saturday that police did not file a case in this regard.

The trio was allegedly held by RAB men from Gabtoli of Bogra, where they were hiding after RAB filed a case following the altercation on Feb 23.

RAB media wing director M Suhayel termed the allegation against the force 'baseless'.

"They have been on the run since the case was filed. This is a drama to alter the course of the case," he told bdnews24.com.

Hasanul's wife Rokeya Begum, brother Hossain Ahmed, Bajlar's wife Lima Akter and Mintu's wife Suraiya Begum were present at the press briefing.

'ALTERCATION, CASE, ALLEGATION AGAINST POLICE'

The family members of the missing three said Hasanul had an altercation with the passengers of a car over breaking of its looking glass at Fasitala intersection of Sapmara union on Feb 23.

"At one stage of the row, the passengers beat up my husband severely. As the locals reacted to the beating of Hasanul, the car passengers introduced themselves as RAB members," Rokeya said.

The issue was settled on assurance of giving Tk 2,000 as compensation but RAB filed a case against her husband, his friend and cousin the following day, she said.

She further said as they went to the local RAB camp after the case was filed at the Gobindaganj Police Station over a missing pistol and a mobile phone of RAB members, "they said we know nothing about the case".

When the relatives of the trio went to the police station on March 12 to file a case in connection with the 'missing' three, the officer in-charge said no case or general diary can be filed as they already have a case lodged against them, Rokeya said.

RAB spokesman Suhayel said, "They (the trio) said they will compensate but instead called some goons from their locality and beat up RAB personnel, looted arms and vandalised the RAB car."

"Additional police force had to be called in to calm the situation," he added.

A minor earthquake jolted parts of Bangladesh on Sunday morning.

The 3.2-magnitude tremor was felt at 8.55am, said professor Syed Humayun Akhter of the Dhaka University Earth Observatory.

No casualties were reported immediately.

In the capital, Dhaka, many ran for safety.

According to initial reports, the tremor was felt in Uttara, Mohakhali, Rampura and Mirpur.

After waiting more than a year, India's Sachin Tendulkar finally became the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries during an Asia Cup one-day match against Bangladesh on Friday.

The 38-year-old further cemented his place as one of the greatest of cricketing greats when he stroked a single off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan to reach the landmark. He has scored 51 centuries in Tests and 49 in one-day internationals.

Tendulkar hit 10 boundaries and one six on the way to his hundred, which he reached off 138 deliveries on an easy-paced pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

The celebrations for his much-awaited target were muted and Tendulkar looked more relieved than elated after completing the 100th run.

He stood at the non-striker's end looking at his bat for a moment before thanking the heavens. He then raised his helmet towards the crowd, planted a kiss on the Indian cricket logo and was hugged by team mate Suresh Raina.

Tendulkar said the achievement had yet to sink in.

"It was a tough phase for me. Especially tough when you know that I started off this season batting reasonably well," a tired-looking Tendulkar told the NEO Cricket channel.

"I batted well in Australia. I felt at times I was luckless. Doesn't matter how many hundreds you score, you still have to put your head down, grind it out and do the job for the team.

"It hasn't sunk in but I have definitely lost about 50 kilos."

"DIFFICULT MENTALLY"

It took the greatest accumulator of runs in international cricket more than a year to score his coveted hundred after he reached 99 centuries with his 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in Nagpur on March 12 last year.

"Precisely a year ago when I got my 99th hundred no one spoke about it during the World Cup. And then it was I guess the media who started all these," Tendulkar added.

"Wherever I went, to restaurants, the house keeping, the room service, whoever I met just spoke about the 100th hundred.

"It became a little difficult mentally, because I am not playing only for my 100th hundred.

"The 99 hundreds that I scored, nobody spoke about them. Everyone had their opinion but eventually I have got to do what is important for the team."

India prime minister Manmohan Singh said Tendulkar was an inspiration for the country.

"I join the nation in congratulating Sachin Tendulkar on his making history - a hundred centuries," the prime minister's office said in a statement.

"He has made India proud. Tendulkar's long career has been a triumph of class, character and courage. Wish him many more innings and feats to continue inspiring the youth."

Tendulkar was finally out for 114 off 147 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and a six.

Bangladesh pulled off a sensational five-wicket win against defending champions India in the Asia Cup to keep their hopes alive of progressing.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (46 not out) and Nasir Hossain (54) scripted the incredible result after the pair smashed 64 runs for the fifth wicket as the Tigers reached the stiff target with four balls to spare.

Vice-captain Mahmudullah brought up the winning run with a four.

Earlier, Earlier, India scored 289 for 5 in 50 overs with the help of a vigilant 100th ton from the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, as they were invited to bat first by the home skipper Mushfiqur Rahim.

The 38-year-old master batsman, who completed the landmark in the 44th over with a single off the fourth ball of Shakib Al Hasan's over, needed 138 balls to achieve it.

During his 147-ball knock, Tendulkar struck 12 overs and a six before being caught behind. Suresh Raina made 51. Together they added 86 runs for the third wicket.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza ended his stay having him caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim towards the end of the 46th over.

India batsman SR Tendulkar ,atlast make her 100/100.last match in asia cup SR Tendulkar take 114 runs and his dream successful.all countrys people who likes SR Tendulkar want that SR Tendulkar 100.today's 114 makes his 100 100 means today his ODI and test match 100 100.today they play vs bangladesh.

CONGRATULATION