Arch rivals Abahani Limited and Mohammedan SC shared the Premier Division Hockey League honour when they played a tense 3-3 draw at Moulana Bhasani National Hockey League Saturday.

Rain ruined the third day of the first test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday with only 8.5 overs possible during a frustrating day for players and spectators. In that period, a 40-minute session before lunch, England took their overnight score of 68 for no wicket to...

Portsmouth won the FA Cup for the first time in 69 years on Saturday when Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu's first-half goal was enough to overcome the spirited challenge of Championship (second division) Cardiff City.

Former captain and leading all-time scorer Raul and Barcelona teenager Bojan Krkic were left out of the Spain squad for Euro 2008 on Saturday.

Swing bowler Matthew Hoggard has been ruled out of England's squad for the second test against New Zealand after fracturing his thumb on Friday.

Bangladesh Bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said Saturday high inflation would not put strains on consumers if the purchasing power of people could be strengthened.

Commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said Saturday the caretaker government would take all necessary steps to ensure the labour law is observed in the shrimp industry. Updated

The caretaker government has indicated its willingness to extend the mobile phone network beyond the municipal areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts following years of restricted coverage in the area, an official said Saturday.

Steel millers Saturday asked the government to take steps for appreciation of the taka against the dollar to cope with a hike in the prices of raw materials on the international market.

The right-wing Hindu government in Rajasthan declared Friday their decision to deport "illegal Bangladeshi migrants" in Jaipur within 30 days in the wake of growing concerns over the alleged role of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami in the May 13 serial bomb blasts in the tourist city. Sumon K Chakrabarti, chief national...

Chuadanga Correspondent

One of the four convicted extremists, who fled away from Chuadanga District Jail by scaling over its boundary wall Thursday night, was arrested from village Chhaighoria under Sadar upazila of the district yesterday morning.
Abdul Hamid, 55, leader of Hamid Bahini, who was sentenced to 44 years in jail, was arrested from a house of the village where he was hiding, said Rabiul Islam, officer-in charge of Chuadanga Sadar Police Station.
Police said the local people encircled the house of one Sirajul Islam learning that the convict was hiding in the house.

UNB, Dhaka

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday morning said his farewells in tears as he left Bangladesh for London, ending his four-year extended diplomatic assignment in his paternal place.
"Farewell Bangladesh, stay well, see yout(inaudible)," he told reporters in emotion-charged broken words before boarding a British Airways aircraft at Zia International Airport. Choudhury did not use the VIP lounge perhaps to avoid journalists from print and electronic media. But just before boarding the aircraft, he turned back to reporters and made the brief remarks.

Staff Reporter

The government is going to form a separate cadre service for primary education to improve the quality and to bring more accountability in field level basic education system across the country.
The Primary and Mass Education Ministry has recently sent the summery to the Chief Adviser in this regard for his approval, ministry sources said.
The move is likely to be approved at the next adviser committee meeting, ministry sources added.
Primary and Mass Education Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury said the Ministry has been run by officers from other cadres since long which hinders the dedicated improvement of the primary education system.

Staff Reporter

A court in Dhaka on Thursday issued warrants of arrest of against 12 'absconding' accused in the GATCO scam case, including six former ministers of the immediate past BNP-led four-party alliance Government but the warrants are yet to be served.
The ministers include M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury of BNP, and Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami.
Confusion persists over the arrest of high-profile accused in the case as most of the wanted leaders are staying in their residences till yesterday but are being identified as absconders.

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami who has been charge-sheeted as an accused in the GATCO corruption case said Saturday that his party would resort to both legal and political means to fight against the case he termed politically motivated.
"When the court process will start in the case, my lawyers and the party will definitely face it legally. But since it does not seem merely a legal matter, rather politically motivated, political workers will obviously face it politically besides the legal means," he said.

Bdnews24.com, Jammu

The right-wing Hindu government in Rajasthan declared Friday their decision to deport "illegal Bangladeshi migrants" in Jaipur within 30 days in the wake of growing concerns over the alleged role of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami in the May 13 serial bomb blasts in the tourist city.
Now, the chief of the Indian Border Security force (BSF) has added his voice to a growing number of officials calling for the move, criticising Bangladesh for "living in a state of permanent deniability".

UNB, Dhaka

The special corruption-trial court orders today whether charges would be framed against former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina and 7 others in the Khulna barge-mounted power plant graft case.
On Thursday, Judge M Firoze Alam, after closing arguments by both the prosecution and the defence lawyers on the arraignment hearings that had exhausted long 21 working days, fixed Sunday for its ruling that decides the fate of the high-profile persons.

Staff Reporter

Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday described poverty and natural disaster as the two major challenges before the South Asian countries and called for launching collective efforts to address these challenges.
He pointed out that food crisis, energy crisis and environment change were posing challenges to the South Asian countries at the moment.
Iftekhar was speaking at a roundtable on "Future of SAARC: Expectation of Citizens" jointly organised by SAARC Citizens Council and Grameen Nagorik Federation at the National Press Club.

UNB, Dhaka

All the domestic airliners, except Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, have abruptly raised their fares of Dhaka-Chittagong route saying that the fuel price, taxes and surcharges have increased significantly.
Their new fares took effect yesterday even though the passengers had no idea about the enhanced fare.
The airliners have sent a directive to their officers and sales agents in this connection. "We've re-fixed our ticket fare, including all taxes and surcharges, at Tk 4,995," Best Air chairman M Haider Uzzaman told UNB yesterday.

Hasanuzzaman Khan

Indian media seems to have launched a canard against Bangladesh implicating an organisation already outlawed in Bangladesh claiming its involvement in the terrorist attack in Jaipur.
In August last year a similar story was spread when there were blasts in Hyderabad in the Deccan killing 38 people. But India which is a home to a number of militant groups ranging from Maoist rebels to secessionists in its north east can not escape the responsibility. A few days back fourteen secessionists were killed in Nagaland following Indian Army action.

DU Correspondent

Quality education has become imperative for sustainable development of the country and achievement of this objective demands proper attention.
This was stated by speakers at a seminar on " Development through Education: Opportunities in Bangladesh and Pakistan" at a city hotel yesterday.
The seminar was organised by the University and industry alliance (U&I), Management and Development Consultants affiliated with the Dhaka University.

Military rulers grant rare access, but diplomats say they have not seen enough.

Feuding political leaders agree to examine electoral law as part of wider dialogue.

Tsvangirai delays return to country after his party claims his life is in danger.

Thousands flee amid reports that lake in Sichuan province could burst its banks.

US president set to hold talks on Middle East peace process in resort city.

Brother of slain US president John Kennedy admitted to hospital following seizure.

Elections called by the emir after failure by parliament and cabinet to get along.

Spain criticises crackdown on foreigners, saying it encouraged racism and xenophobia.

Government failure to restore sacked judges prompts lawyers to plan new agitation.

Tariq Azizzudin was seized by Taliban three months ago after departing from Peshawar.

Mar. 30 - Top news on reuters.com

Mar. 29 - Violence erupts in Chile's capital, Santiago, as students clash with police during an annual protest.

Mar. 30 - British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, comments on Iran's behaviour towards the capture of the British personnel.

Mar. 30 - Iraqis bury their dead on the morning after one of the bloodiest days in months.

Mar. 30 - Iranian TV is showing pictures of 3 British military personnel, with one apparently admitting that his group entered Iranian waters.