Dhaka Mirror

Eid-special programmes

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:43:24 +0000

This Eid-ul-Fitr, TV viewers are in for a treat. BTV, ATN Bangla, Channel i, ntv, Ekushey TV, Banglavision, Rtv, Desh TV and others are offering an array of special TV plays, feature films, tele-films, musical and variety shows on the occasion of Eid. The programmes will be aired throughout the week and will feature noted and popular artistes. Here are the highlights of the Eid-special programmes.
BTV
Ityadi: Mega-popular variety show “Ityadi” will be aired on the second day after 8pm news. Produced by Fagun Audio Vision, the show will be sponsored by Keya Cosmetics Limited. Hanif Sanket will host the show.
TV play “Bor + Bou = ?” will be aired on BTV on the second day of Eid-ul-fitr at 8:30pm. Written and directed by Mehedi Bin Ashraf and Milon Bhattacharya, the cast of the play includes Mosharraf Karim, Badhon, Kachi Khandakar, Mehedi Ashraf and Shihab Parvez.
ATN Bangla
Eid Anondo Dot Com: Entertainment show “Eid Anondo Dot Com” will be aired on the second day of Eid at 11:15 am. A group of celebrities will appear on the programme as guests. They include actors Hasan Masud, Aruna Biswas and Nirob; signers SI Tutul, Balam and Mila and models Nafiza and Suzanna. The guests will share their Eid experiences on the programme.
Produced by Queen Rahman, the programme has been directed and hosted by Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury.
Parliament Eid Special: Featuring ministers, MPS, noted politicians and their wives, variety show “Parliament Eid Special” will be aired on the second day at 6:10 pm. The programme has been directed jointly by Nahid Rahman and Punam Sharmin. Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader and Barrister Najmul Huda and their wives are the guests on the programme.
The programme will be hosted by Mahi B Chowdhury and Lopa.
Prokritostho: Written and directed by Bipasha Hayat and Tauquir Ahmed respectively, single-episode TV play “Prokritostho” will be aired on the third day at 8:50 pm. Set against the backdrop of a village, the play narrates the story of Madina and her husband Rajab Ali. Rajab doesn’t work. Madina runs the family with the inheritance from her father. Rajab’s only job is to watch movies with Madina. Suddenly life becomes tough for Rajab, when one day Madina declares that he would not be allowed to eat if he does not work.
The cast includes Tauquir Ahmed, Tarin and Moshumi Biswas.
Channel i
Third Person Singular Number: Mostafa Sarwar Farooki’s smash hit “Third Person Singular Number” will be aired on Eid day at 1:05 pm.
Tisha and Mosharraf Karim play the central roles as Ruba and Munna. Singer Topu, as himself, dons the other significant character. Abul Hayat, Dikon Nur, Aparna and Isha play other roles in the film.
Abujh Bou: Nargis Akhter’s latest film “Abujh Bou” will be aired on the second day of Eid at 10:30 am.
The film is based on Tagore’s short story “Shamapti” and follows the coming of age of a tomboyish 14-year-old rural girl, Mrinmayi, and her 20-year-old husband, Apurba.
Highway: Written and directed by Dhrubo Esh and Nurul Alam Atik, single-episode TV play “Highway” will be aired on the second day of Eid at 7:50 pm.
In this surreal play, Rumi, a professional photographer, is wary of his complex life and conjugal conflicts. He gets out and starts driving to an unknown destination. Rumi goes through a number of strange incidents that cannot be explained logically.
The cast includes Hillol, Sohana Nur, Chaiti, Joyraj and S.M. Mohsin.
Krishoker Eid Anando: A game show for farmers, “Krishoker Eid Anando” will be aired on the third day of Eid at 4:30 pm. Planned, anchored and directed by media personality Shykh Siraj, the game show highlights participation of aila victims from the southern part of the country in various rural sports.
ntv
Bolaka Mon: Written and directed by Ferdous Hasan, tele-film “Bolaka Mon” will be aired on Eid day at 2:30 pm. The cast includes Mahfuz Ahmed, Tarin, Prova, Dilara Zaman and Abul Hayat.
A young widow does not have the heart to break the news of her husband’s death to her mother-in-law. The mother-in-law knows her son is well overseas. Someone who sounds like her dead son talks to her on the phone. The widow, however, one day discovers a strange truth.
Kobi O Jontor Montor: Written and directed by Golam Sohrab Dodul, tele-film “Kobi O Jontor Montor” will be aired on the second day of Eid at 2:35 pm. The cast features veteran actors Aly Zaker, Humayun Faridee and Asaduzzaman Noor, along with Tisha and Iresh Zaker.
Poet Ishtiaq has been under a spell of writer’s block since he married Neela. Marital life has forced the poet to be more realistic; now he knows how much essentials cost and how many bills he has to pay. This materialistic stress has removed Ishtiaq from his poetry.
Maya Aar Mrityur Goppo: Jointly written by Krishnendu Chattopadhyay and Amitabh Reza, and directed by the latter, this single-episode play will be aired on the third day of Eid at 8:15 pm. The cast includes Chanchal Chowdhury, Joya Ahsan, Krishnendu Chattopadhyay and Nargis Akhter.
ETV
Phone O Live Studio Concert: Special episodes of “Phone O Live Studio Concert” will be aired at midnight for six consecutive days, starting from Eid day. Popular bands will perform on the show. Miles will perform on the second day of Eid at 12:30 am. Miles will perform ten of their most popular numbers. The musical programme has been directed by Tinku Azizur Rahman.
Eid Ananda Unlimited: Variety show “Eid Ananada Unlimited” will be aired on second day of Eid at 7:30 pm. The programme features music, dance and discussion with models and actors. The show has been directed and hosted by Fauzia Erin.
Banglavision
Shupatrer Shondhaney: Tele-film “Shupatrer Shondhaney” will be aired on Eid day at 2:30 pm. Hasan Shikdar has written the tele-film and directed it jointly with Shahin Kabir Tutul. The story revolves around a teacher, Ataur Rahman. Rahman, a perfectionist by nature, is a professor of Bangla. He always sneers at people who cannot pronounce words appropriately. As a result, Rahman fails to choose a suitor for his daughter. Finding no alternative, he puts an ad in the newspaper. On the other hand, his daughter is in love with a man whose pronunciation is awful.
Masud Ali Khan, Mosharraf Karim, Badhon and Hasan Masud play the lead roles in the tele-film.
Choltey Choltey Dekha Holo: Featuring singers Habib, Balam, Nancy, Mila, Arfin Rumey and Elita Karim, celebrity talk show “Choltey Choltey Dekha Holo” will be aired on Eid day at 6:05 pm. In between chitchat, the singers will render their popular songs. Balam will host the programme, produced by Kawnain Shourov. Anurup Aich has compiled the show.
Aar Jabona Everest: TV play “Aar Jabona Everest” will be aired on the second day at 11:15 pm. The play has been written and directed by actor Shahriar Nazim Joy. The cast includes Mir Sabbir, Badhon, Faruque Ahmed, Joy and Shabnam Parvin. The story of this humorous play revolves around a team of tourists. The team makes a trip to Nepal to see Mount Everest.
Tara Bhora Ratey: Featuring rockstar Ayub Bachchu as host, musical programme “Tara Bhora Ratey” will be aired on the third day at 6:05 pm. Singers Jewel, Rupom, Masud and Kanta, who have earned recognition through songs composed by Bachchu, will appear as guests on the programme. They will sing some of Bachchu’s compositions. Besides hosting the programme, Bachchu himself will sing on the show. Mamun Khan has produced “Tara Bhora Ratey”.
Rtv
Breaking News: Single-episode TV play “Breaking News” will be aired on the second day of Eid at 9 pm.
The plot: Tofazzal Hossain Vision is quite influential in the community. He involves himself with various progressive activities, but avoids media attention. One day a TV producer, Fuad, convinces him to attend a show that’d be aired live. The host of the show is a newcomer who gets intimidated by the noted personality.
The play has been written and directed by Iftekhar Ahmed Fahmi. The cast includes Shahiduzzaman Selim, AKM Hasan, Bindu, Fuad and others.
Lost & Found: Single-episode TV play “Lost & Found” will be aired on the third day of Eid at 9 pm.
A couple, with their three-year-old daughter, are trying to make ends meet. The father doesn’t earn much and it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the family. On his daughter’s birthday, the young one wants to eat out but can the father, who is broke, afford dinner at a restaurant and put a smile on her little face?
The cast includes Mosharaf Karim, Tisha, Montasir Saju, Babar and Anika. The play has been written and directed by Mostafa Kamal Raj.
Boishakhi TV
Violin: Written and directed by Sagor Jahan, single-episode TV play “Violin” will be aired on Eid day at 8:30 pm.
The play follows Anadi, a businessman, who is fond of reading books. One day he comes across a young woman, Kanna, at a bookstore. Anadi gets infatuated with her. When he decides to approach her, the owner of the shop informs Anadi that Kanna doesn’t talk to strangers. She wants everyone to understand the language of her violin. Anadi’s infatuation turns into love. He meets Kanna every now and then.
Mosharraf Karim plays the role of Anadi and Aupee Karim plays Kanna in the play.
Dhulobali: Written and directed by Arun Chowdhury and Chayanika Chowdhury respectively, single-episode play “Dhulobali” will be aired on the second day Eid at 10:30 pm.
Touquir Ahmed, Richi Solaiman, Abul Hayat and Sharmili Ahmed play the central roles.
Thataru: Written and directed by Mamunur Rashsid, single-episode play “Thataru” will be aired on the third day of Eid at 10:30 pm.
The play circles around Mazid who works at a land office. Mazid is thata (stubborn and straightforward). He cannot stand injustice and irregularities and supports what is just. Local influential individuals try to figure out a way to distract Mazid and decide that marrying a woman as stubborn as himself could be a solution.
The cast of the comedy includes Chanchal Chowdhury, Tamalika Karmakar, Momena Chowdhury, Tushar Khan, Mamunur Rashid, ATM Shamsuzzaman and others.
Desh TV
Kolpolok-er Golpokotha: As part of the children’s segment “Bombay Sweets Eid Uthshob”, this programme will present familiar stories for children written by famed authors. The show mingles the Bengali tradition of storytelling with contemporary presentation. The stories will be narrated by Tamanna Tithi. Mir Barkat has directed and Shumona Siddiqui has produced the show.
“Kolpolok-er Golpokotha” will be aired on Eid day at 9:30 am.
Monpura: Giasuddin Selim’s blockbuster “Monpura” will be aired on Eid day at 10:30 am.
Chanchal Chowdhury plays the role of Sonai and Farhana Mili dons the role of Pori. The cast also includes Mamunur Rashid and Fazlur Rahman Babu. Arnob is the music director of the film.
Himu, Misir Ali, Boro Chacha O Baker Bhai: Exploring what some of the hugely popular characters from hit Humayun Ahmed TV serials might be doing now, this miniseries will be aired for a week, starting from Eid day. Every night the play will be aired at 10:02 pm.
What would Baker Bhai be doing now if he weren’t killed off in “Kothao Keu Nei”? And Muna — has she married someone or is she still mourning Baker Bhai? How is the cool and composed Boro Chacha from “Aaj Robibar”? These questions are running around in Himu’s head. The eternal mystic drifter, Himu, is on his way to meet Rupa. Together they intend to locate fellow Humayun Ahmed characters — Misir Ali, Baker Bhai, Muna and Boro Chacha.
Featuring Aly Zaker, Asaduzzaman Noor, Suborna Mustafa, Ashish Khondokar and Tinni, the miniseries has been directed by Redowan Rony.

Beauty parlours facing an unusual rush

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:21:26 +0000

Beauty parlours, facing stiff competition, are offering discounts to its Eid time customers.
Beauticians said that despite a rapid growth in parlours they are finding it difficult to cope with an unprecedented rush of customers, with more and more beauty conscious women visiting them ahead of Eid.
A growing interest in glamour and fashion are supporting the growing industry, they said.
They said competition was prompting the parlours to come up with attractive discount packages to attract customers ahead of Eid.
Anyone passing by the parlours cannot but notice that they have been redecorated to attract customers.
‘I am waiting here for six hours for a hairdo after booking in advance a week back,’ said Shagufta.
The beauty parlours, which generate business worth over Tk 100 crore, created employment for over 100,000 women beauticians.
Besides well-known parlours like Persona, Bithi’s, Shenaz and Lee, thousands of them, small and big, in the cities like Dhaka and Chittagong and in the towns across the country provide employment to many.
Many training centres and institutes also came up to train young girls keen to become beauticians.
The training helped many women open their own parlours.
A trainee interested to learn how to do a makeup needs to be a high school graduate.
She has to learn cosmetology and artistic skills, said Kaniz Almas, founder of Academic Institute of Beauty and Lifestyle and owner Persona, a reputed beauty parlour.
She said that there is a shortage of professional institutes to train professional beauticians in the country.
She said more institutes could help a faster and proper growth of the industry.
She stressed the need for an association to foster coordination among the parlours and the working professionals working to protect their legitimate interest.
Kaniz Almas said the professionals have taken an initiative to organise a long overdue association.
Some parlours in the capital and the port city also train beauticians who get practical lessons standing beside their seniors.
‘It’s like job training,’ said Jolly Chakma, a trainee beautician at Sonia Beauty Parlour at Nilkhet.
It takes about a year to learn the art of common makeup and bridal makeover, she said.
Most of the parlours provide accommodation and food to trainee workers, and some of them also pay pocket money worth Tk 500 a month, said Jolly.
May Fair, the capital’s first beauty parlour, was established in 1965 by Carmel Hsieh, a Bangladeshi-born Chinese woman.
In 1977, 12 years later, Zarina Asghar opened Living Doll.
Ever since, the city of Dhaka witnessed a rapid growth of beauty parlours and salons for the urban middle class women.
The emergence of a new generation of beauticians, like Farzana Shakil, Sadia Moyeen and Nahid in the 1990s witnessed institutionalisation of training of beauticians.
Equipped with newer gadgets and techniques, the new generation has taken the beauty parlour industry to a new height.
With a stunning sense for décor, they created a new and attractive environment in their outlets.
The ever growing industry motivated a number of men to open parlours for men and take up the profession.
One cannot but avoid noticing grooming centres for men like Persona Adams, Face Wash, Super Cut and the Razors n Scissors.

Courtesy of NewAge

Ntv airs special telefilm ‘Je Jibon Phoring-er’

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:02:31 +0000

On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Ntv is going to air special telefilm “Je Jibon Phoring-er” on the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr at 2:30 pm. Written and directed by Masud Hasan Ujjal the cast of the film includes Aupee Karim, Ripon and Shoeb.
The story of the telefilm follows a seemingly slacker named Mudra.
One day he bums into a moving car. A frantic June, who was behind the wheels, rushes to make sure the man her car hit is ok.
After a while Mudra moves and surprises June with his annoying, nonchalant attitude. The story rolls on from this strange encounter.

Mad rush home before Eid

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:51:53 +0000

All roads leading to the three inter-district bus terminals, Kamalpur railway station and Sadarghat launch terminal in the capital experienced long tailback on Wednesday as thousands of people headed home with Eid holiday beginning on Friday.
Congestion tailed back from Sadarghat till the Purana Paltan crossing in the morning while vehicles near the bus terminals and the railway station also moved at snail’s pace with passengers remaining helpless with their heavy luggage.
Some of the passengers travelling light and stranded in the snarl-up got off the vehicles and walked down towards the terminals and the station to reach there on time, witnesses said.
Transport companies, exploiting the huge rush of home-bound people on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, were allegedly charging extra fares from their passengers.
People travelling on Wednesday complained they had no option but to pay them high to reach home to celebrate Eid, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims.
Their joy and festivity was also marred by different kinds of harassment like the hassle of getting a seat, unexpected delay in the travelling and overcrowded launch terminals and rail stations, thanks to the mismanagement on the part of the transport authorities.
Many passengers, mostly working class people and mid-income groups, fell prey to the deception by dishonest transport workers the law enforcing agencies kept a blind eye.
Desperate Eid passengers were seen riding on rooftops of bus, trains and launches.
Transport industry sources said the major rush is expected to be seen today (Thursday) when the government Eid holidays would begin.
A special train service was delayed by more than an hour to start the journey from Kamalapur rail station on Thursday morning because of ‘technical faults’ that had effects on other train services.
During a visit to the city’s different bus and launch terminals, it was found that most of the transport companies were selling tickets at high prices.
‘I had to pay Tk 200 for traveling to Patuakhali riding on the deck of the steamer whereas the usual fare ranges from Tk 100 to Tk 120,’ Abdul Gaffar, a passenger of MV Suravi, told New Age at Sadarghat launch terminal on Wednesday.
Ratan, a Jamalpur-bound passenger, had to pay Tk 250 to buy a ticket of Rajib Enterprise from Mohakhali inter-district bus terminal which is Tk 50 more than the usual fare.
According to the fare chart hung on the counter of Rajib Enterprise, the fare for traveling to Jamalpur is Tk 197 and Tk 220 (for a different route).
Asked why such extra fare is being charged, a staff at the counter said, ‘Brother, it is usual that we would take Tk 30-40 more during the Eid.’
Akota bus service which carries Bogra-bound passengers was also seen charging extra fare.
‘The normal fare for traveling to Bogra from Mohakhali is Tk 240, but now they are charging Tk 300 per ticket,’ Abdul Latif, a passenger told this correspondent, while standing in the queue to buy a ticket.
Similar allegations were received from people at the Gabtali bus terminal though the way of exacting extra fares are different.
According to the fare chart hung at the counter by the government and the bus owners association, the fare for traveling from Dhaka’s Gabtali bus terminal to Bagerhat is Tk 363 for normal coach and Tk 456 for chair coach.
The fair for traveling to Khulna is Tk 335 for normal coach and Tk 420 chair coach, for Jessore Tk 285 and Tk 355, Benapole Tk 316 and Tk 397, Satkhira Tk 337 and Tk 423, Jhineda Tk 259 and Tk 322 and Barisal Tk 320 and Tk 398.
‘I have bought a ticket to Khulna for Tk 330, though throughout the year the fare was Tk 280,’ said Sohel, who managed to procure a ticket from Eagle Paribahan.
Many passengers alleged that they were forced to ride on the normal coach, even after the bus authorities charged the fare of chair coach.
Talking to reporters, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque brushed denied the allegation of any kind of misconduct at the bus terminals.
‘I asked some homebound passengers at Gabtoli terminal whether they were forced to pay extra by the bus owners and they all replied in the negative.’ Shahidul Haque said.

Courtesy of NewAge

PM opens Shikalbaha Power Plant : Will there be gas supply to keep it running

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:47:04 +0000

As many as 150-MW electricity was added to the national grid as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the Shikalbaha 150-MW peaking power plant in Chittagong yesterday.
She opened the power plant built at a cost of Taka 777.98 crore by unveiling its plaque. Of the amount, Taka 553.15 crore is foreign currency and 21.71 crore is local currency, while Taka 574.87 core came on the turn-key basis, officials said.
M/s Sino Hydro Corporation Limited constructed the natural gas-based power plant on six acres at Shikalbaha in the port city. Financed by Bangladesh government, the plant went into production on August 16.
Bangladesh Power Development Board is the project implementing organization, while 540 days were needed to construct the plant.
After inauguration of the power plant, a Munajat was offered seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have said that inadequacy of gas is badly hampering industrialisation in the country, squeezing the scope of employment generation.
Necessary supply of gas an power to the existing industrial units can help raise export earnings by US dollar 5 billion per annum, said the stakeholders, adding immediate steps needed to find out new sources gas to meet the raising demand.
To make this new gas-based power plant running, the government has no alternative but to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas to the plant.
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Minister for Primary and Mass Education Dr Afsarul Amin, PM’s Defence Adviser Maj. Gen. (retd) Tareque Ahmed Siddiqui, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Enamul Haque, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipankar Talukdar, Aktaruzzaman Chowdhury, MP, and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Zhang Xianyi were present on the occasion.
Later addressing a gathering, the Prime Minister said the present government has been working relentlessly for development of the power sector in the country.
“Overall development of the country is not possible without adequate power generation. So, the present government has undertaken short, mid and long-term measures for development of the power sector,” she added.
Criticizing the past BNP-Jamaat alliance government for not taking proper steps for power generation, Sheikh Hasina said the alliance government is fully responsible for present state of the power sector.
“The past Awami League after taking office in 1996 raised power production to 4300 MW from 1600 MW and before handing over power, the government had made arrangement for production of 5,000-MW more electricity,” she said.
But after coming to power, she said, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government failed to add a single megawatt power to the national grid.
The Prime Minister said after assuming office this time the present government has been able to add 1000-MW electricity to the national grid. “The government has taken initiatives to raise power production speedily and we hope that the problems will be solved very soon,” she added.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina arrived here at 11.15am by a helicopter on a hectic visit. On her arrival at Maizzertek Helipad, she was received by Mayor of Chittagong Manjur Alam.

Courtesy of The New Nation

4-lane project stuck in consultancy row

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:45:43 +0000

Dhaka-Chittagong Highway
4-lane project stuck in consultancy row
The launch of Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway may be delayed by one year as the scheme is stuck in consultancy glitches and frequent changes of project directors.
This unexpected delay might make the highway one of the most impossible roads to negotiate with as the number of vehicles has already crossed 20,000 a day. With the Eid-ul-Fitr round the corner, more vehicles have clogged the current narrow passage, making the six-hour journey into a 10 to 15-hour one.
The present government revived the Tk 1,655 crore project initiated in 2006 on an urgent basis with a target to complete it in three years. But the project is now in the wilderness as the Pakistani consultant who was supposed to monitor the work suddenly quit in June after his demand for higher fees was turned down.
This has simply stalled the work that was still in its initial stage.
“The selected firms, who have already built their site offices and accommodations for workers, are now sitting idle due to absence of the consultant,” said a senior official of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).
The government has meanwhile changed the project director (PD) for seven times, which many RHD officials say is one of the reasons behind the delay.
“We are going to appoint a new consultant soon so that construction may start by the end of October,” said Arifur Rahman Zinna, who has recently been appointed as the new PD.
Additional Chief Engineer Dilip Kumar Guho of RHD was in-charge of the PD for one month as the communications ministry transferred his predecessor Md Mafizul Islam to Rangpur in July.
The Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation and two local companies — Reza Construction and Tahir Brothers Limited — are to construct two more lanes measuring 215 kilometres in length in three years adding to the existing two-lane highway.
Ten different construction segments are there in the project, major part of which will be done by the Chinese company.
“We have our offices and manpower but we can’t start the work due to the absence of the consultant,” an official of a local firm told The Daily Star requesting anonymity.
The government has targeted to upgrade the highway by 2013. The official said it would now take them an extra year to complete the project.
Cutting trees on either side of the highway is another problem to be resolved before construction begins. Some trees are owned by RHD and some by local people.
“We have already settled down the problem,” the new PD claimed.
The country’s busiest highway linking the prime port city and the capital has become a death trap due to fast increasing vehicular movement and frequent road accidents.
“Considered as the lifeline of the country, the highway also frequently witnesses traffic congestions these days as the average daily traffic has climbed to over 20,000 vehicles. The highway can’t take the load,” said engineer Iftekhar Kabir of Highway Development and Management Circle of RHD.
According to RHD statistics, the average daily traffic on the highway was 15,277 vehicles in 2008 and 13,720 in 2007.

Courtesy of The Daily Star

Workers finally return to work

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:42:17 +0000

Cheated, Abused in Libya
Workers finally return to work
The Bangladeshi workers in Libya finally went back to work for the company yesterday, which they had left a week ago protesting abuse and non-payment of salaries.
“The workers joined work on Wednesday morning,” Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, first secretary of Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, told The Daily Star last evening.
The Libyan labour ministry and the Immigration Department gave assurance of resolving the issues as the workers gathered on the premises of Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli on Tuesday.
At least 197 Bangladeshis, along with 28 Indians had left their camp on August 30 and had been living in an open field near a police station of Borak Al Shafi which is 1000 kilometres from the Libyan capital.
Earlier, the construction company, Al Rayed had pledged to address the grievances, after Bangladesh embassy intervened on September 5. However, the workers refused to go back to work in fear of reprisal which led the embassy to decide on transfering them to other jobs after the Eid vacation.
“As the workers gathered here I called the Libyan officials and asked the workers to return to their jobs at Al Rayed after reassuring them that the officials would sincerely tackle their problems in future,” said Kibria.
The company agreed to permit all to join work except for the ten who had provoked and prevented others from joining work when they had earlier assured the workers of addressing their problems.
“We assured the workers that we would closely monitor their status in the company and take necessary measures in case of any irregularities,” Kibria said.
The workers had earlier left their jobs for substandard living conditions and abusive behaviour towards them by the managers who beat them up for petty reasons. Besides, the company did not pay them for the last three months.

Courtesy of The Daily Star

Yunus receives SolarWorld Einstein Award

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:41:10 +0000

SolarWorld this year honoured Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus by presenting him 2010 SolarWorld Einstein Award.
Prof Yunus received the award in Valencia, Spain, in recognition of the work of “Grameen Shakti,” a company he founded in 1996 for providing solar energy to rural homes throughout Bangladesh, said a press release yesterday.
Grameen Shakti has brought electricity to more than 400,000 rural homes by installing small solar home systems (SHS).
This renewable energy enables rural residents to work after dark, makes it convenient for students study at night, operate electric machines, TVs and mobile phones.
At the same time, it reduces climate and health hazards emanating from kerosene lamps. Thousands of women have been trained in the installation and maintenance of these SHS, providing women with reliable income.
Grameen Shakti currently installs over a 1,000 SHS per day and hopes to reach a total of 1 million solar power systems installed within next year.
Grameen Shakti also installs biogas plants and improved cooking stoves in the villages.
“Prof Yunus stands for radically new thinking in economics and banking. He has recognised the potential of the poorest of this world who manage to make a decent living on the basis of a small starting credit, a lot of creativity and the sun as the source of energy. This is more than exemplary,” Dr Ing H C Frank Asbeck, chairman and CEO of SolarWorld AG said.
The SolarWorld Einstein Award 2010 was held on the occasion of the 25th European Photovoltaic Conference in Valencia, Spain, on September 6, 2010.
Prof Yunus joins a distinguished group of recipients of SolarWorld Einstein Award including Dr Rupert Neudeck (founder of Green Helmets), Prof Antonio Luque-Lopez (Spanish photovoltaic pioneer), Prof Martin Green (developer of the most efficient mono-crystalline solar cell), Prof Adolf Goetzberger (founder of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems), Prof Dr Klaus Topfer (former German environment minister and former executive director of the United Nations Environment Program) and Dr Hermann Scheer (one of the spiritual fathers of the German law on renewable energy sources).

Courtesy of BSS via The Daily Star

Two-thirds of Internet users hit by cyber crime: Norton

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:37:45 +0000

About two-thirds of Internet users globally and nearly three-quarters of Web surfers in the U.S. have been victims of online crime, according to a study to be released on Wednesday.
The top countries as far as reported victims are China, Brazil and India tied for second, and then the U.S., according to the findings of the study, titled ”Norton Cybercrime Report: The Human Impact.” More than 7,000 adults in 14 countries were interviewed for the study.
While one-quarter of respondents said they expect to be victimized by online crime, only half said they would change their behavior if they became a victim. Of those who have been victimized, 44 percent reported the crime to the police.
It takes an average of 28 days to resolve a cybercrime and costs on average $334, the report found. One-third of respondents who were victimized said they never fully resolved the matter.
Computer viruses and malware are the most common types of online attacks, with 51 percent reporting being impacted by them, followed by 10 percent hit by “online scams,” 9 percent by phishing and 7 percent each for social network profile hacking, online credit card fraud and sexual predation, according to the report.

Via: symantec.com

Rubcic sets lofty goal

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:28:43 +0000

Newly appointed head coach of Bangladesh national football team Robert Rubcic announced his intention to take Bangladesh thirty places higher in the FIFA rankings within the next year.
The 47-year Croat, who arrived in the capital last morning after travelling 24 hours from Zagreb, stated his aim at a crowded press conference at the BFF House yesterday. The soft-spoken Croat was visibly tired but said that he felt exceptionally honoured to be appointed chief coach of a national side for the first time.
“Bangladesh is ranked 152nd in the FIFA rankings and I would like to see them thirty places higher at the end of my term,” said Rubcic who is set to lead Bangladesh in the Asian Games, AFC Challenge Cup, Olympic Qualifiers and the FIFA World Cup pre-qualifiers during his one-year stint.
Rubcic, who has spent most of his career in club coaching, admitted it was a challenge coaching a national side. But the former Croatia international is confident he can take Bangladesh forward, but admitted he needs time to make a difference.
“It’s not going to be an easy job because the weather and atmosphere is far different from where I come from. But I’ve been in this line all my life. I’ve had very good communication with players wherever I have coached. I will try to make these players’ condition superb,” said Rubcic.
When it comes to style of play, the former assistant coach of Croatia looks likely to be defensive minded, and marked out Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho as his favourite and the best in the business.
“Mourinho is a serious coach, He prepares for a match for ten days. He thinks about the game for twenty-four hours. He is the best coach in the world.”
Rubcic’s liking of Mourinho is reflected in his philosophy of building a strong defensive block as he promises to present good football with a balanced formation of 4-2-3-1.
“I prefer fast and speedy football, running for the ninety minutes. I emphasise on the technical aspects,” Rubcic said. “I like open play too if the opposition are not that strong. When the opposition is superior, you have to switch tactically to a defensive mode.”
The former assistant coach of Croatia was also a member of the World Star XI that played a benefit match for Gabriel Batistuta alongside greats such as Claudio Tafarel, Joao Pinto and Hugo Sanchez in Florence in 1995.
The left-back, Rubcic, also played an international match for Croatia against Romania after representing Yugoslavia at the Under-16 and Under-18 levels.
After meeting the press, the coach travelled to the Bangladesh Krira Shikha Protisthan (BKSP) where he was introduced to the national team’s players. He also received a first hand introduction to his charges as they divided into two teams and played a practice match.
Rubcic is scheduled to sit with the local coaching staff today to discuss about the players and is supposed to take charge of the national side after the four-day Eid vacation that began yesterday and will end on September 13.

Courtesy of The Daily Star