THE DAILY NEWSPAPER Write to the editor » No more Myanmar » Soaring food price » Emergency and polls » ‘Dependent’ and ‘independent’ » ADB and debt » Money power and jail authorities Pages Front Page « National « Metro « Business « International « Sports « Editorial « Op-Ed « Home « Timeout « Letters « Others Archive « Special Supplements « Pahela Baishakh Special Independence Day Special Search this site   BNP splinter group for strong presence of army during polls EC holds talks with the group amid tight security The government-backed splinter group of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday proposed a strong presence of the army troops at the grassroots level during elections with magistracy powers to army officers...[ + ] Formal talks with parties in May, says govt spokesman The military-controlled administration hopes to start formal dialogues with the political parties in the first half of next month to discuss ways to hold the stalled ninth parliamentary elections and transfer of power to an elected government, an official spokesman said.....[ + ] Hasina asks party not to contest polls without her Says she will not retire from politics The detained Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said neither her party would participate in any polls without her nor she would retire from politics under any pressure. Hasina, also a former prime minister, said this as she talked with her lawyers and relations in a makeshift courtroom on the Jatiya Sangsad complex after appearing in the special judge’s court for hearing in the framing of charges in the MiG-29 corruption case...[ + ] Zila, upazila parishads to have 2 vice-chairmen each Direct election proposed in draft ordinance The interim administration has taken a move to create new posts of vice-chairman in upazila and zila parishads to be elected by direct vote. One of the two posts of vice-chairman in both the local government bodies will be held by a female, directly elected...[ + ] Other Headlines » Govt, EC plotting farcical polls, says Delwar » AL defers hunger strike to May 5 » Karzai escapes assassination bid as Afghan MP killed » Chevron suspends Lawacherra survey work » Charge hearing in MiG-29 case deferred till May 4 » Haji Selim jailed for 13 years, wife for 3 years » Govt urged to fully implement women development policy » Bangladesh needs readjustment of foreign policy, says Iftekhar » Nepal Maoists need to convince opposition for power » Anti-terrorism ordinance to be promulgated soon: spokesman » IDB not to change interest rate on $200m loan » Disruption of power the main reason for water crisis, says Anwarul Iqbal » Power agencies swing into action against shops open after 8pm » Hillary challenges Obama to 1-on-1 debate » Thai police arrest Bangladeshi with 1,000 fake passports » Thailand will not cut rice exports: PM » Atiqullah jailed again for 7 years » Secy-level meeting today » Low intensifies into depression over Bay » SCBA election to be finally held today IMF suggests fuel price hike to finance safety net programmes The International Monetary Fund has prescribed upward adjustment of petroleum prices and higher revenue collection to finance the enhanced budgetary spending that is needed for protecting vulnerable groups from the impact of high commodity prices...[ + ] Stocks gain over ICB MF price rise Stocks closed up on Sunday mainly owing to rise in share prices of mutual funds of the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh, said market operators. The general index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange gained 7.76 points or 0.25 per cent to close at 3087.11, while its blue chips index, DSE20, advanced by 6.38 points or 0.27 per cent to close at 2401.25...[ + ] Other Headlines » BPC to attract more tourists to Cox’s Bazar, Sunderban » Smaller call centres struggling to keep people from leaving » BTRC to hand over 21 call centres licences today » PKSF seminar suggests low-cost tech to fight poverty » IFC reaffirms strategic focus on infrastructure advisory » Singapore feels pinch of inflation at 26-year highs » Strike hits key British oil refinery » Israeli restrictions hobble Palestinian economy: WB » Czechs head Central Europe’s catch-up quartet in race for Western riches » Fed nears end of rate-cut cycle » Greho Naksha teams up with ScanCement » MTBL chooses GP business solutions » Berliners vote on fate of historic airport » Australia denies telling China to back off on investments » Asian currencies mixed against dollar » Stock Watch Weekend No respite from mosquito menace in Rajshahi Mosquito menace continues to frustrate people in the Rajshahi city in the absence of any drive during the past three months. The Rajshahi City Corporation has not yet taken any initiative to protect the dwellers from mosquito hazards because of fund constraints. ‘We could not launch anti-mosquito drives due to fund crunch,’ said an official of the RCC mosquito department....[ + ] BRTA court files 12 cases, realises Tk 30,700 in fines A mobile court of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority on Sunday filed 12 cases and realised Tk 30,700 in fines from vehicles and drivers during a drive at Jatrabari in the capital. The court, led by BRTA executive magistrate Abdur Rashid, filed the cases against CNG-run auto-rickshaws, taxicabs, human haulers, buses and other modes of transports for not having necessary documents like updated route permits, registrations, fitness certificates and tax tokens...[ + ] Salahuddin, Amin vie for BFF hotseat Amid fanfare and high expectations, the Bangladesh Football Federation elections take place today at BFF House. The polls, which were scheduled for April 2007, will be held now after FIFA extended the tenure of the executive committee for one year to amend the constitution. Two panels one led by football legend Quazi Salahuddin and the other headed by Maj Gen (retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury will contest the first full fledged sports federation election under the caretaker government regime...[ + ] Katich, VRV Singh set up Punjab win Kings XI Punjab (162/6) beat Delhi Daredevils (158/8) four wickets    Simon Katich’s last game of the IPL turned into a memorable one as he steered Punjab’s run-chase against a formidable Delhi bowling line-up in Mohali on Sunday. After a four-pronged pace attack had made use of a surface that offered bounce, keeping Delhi down to a modest total, Katich’s innovative methods helped Punjab to their second successive win in the competition. After watching two early losses, Priety Zinta has plenty of reasons to smile...[ + ] Editorial » Take urgent steps against malnutrition » Our inheritances Op-Ed » Way out of an impending energy disaster » Resetting local government in Bangladesh National » CNG-run buses keep charging higher » Gazipur sweater factory burnt Home » Locals to protect five villages from erosion » Acute water crisis in Comilla town International » Myanmar tightens security amid possible demos » Tamil Tigers bomb military position in Sri Lanka Timeout » Unmad show at Drik Gallery   EDITOR: NURUL KABIR FOUNDER EDITOR: ENAYETULLAH KHAN Copyright © New Age 2005 Mailing address Holiday Building, 30, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh. Phone 880-2-8153034-39 Fax 880-2-8112247 Email newagebd@global-bd.net Web Designer Zahirul Islam Mamoon