Tuesday, April 10, 2012

3 heatwaves to follow



At least one severe heatwave will hit northern and central parts of the country, including the capital, while two medium to minor heatwaves the other areas this month, according to the weather forecast.
This seems quite hard to anticipate when people are in relief from the scorching sun as the current spell of rain has reduced the overall temperature by three to four degrees Celsius in most places of the country.
A low over the south Bay, which partially affected Bangladesh, caused the rain, Met officials said.
Along with the warning message, Bangladesh Meteorological Department also forecast that the rainfall would be normal this month. The country will see eight to ten rainy days in this month whereas last month had 61.2 percent less rainfall compared to the previous years.
There is a possibility of two depressions in the Bay, causing rainfall almost all over the country. At least two nor'westers will lash the northern and the central parts in April, Dhaka Met office said.
In the last three days, over 100 millimetre rainfall was measured in the capital. City dwellers also felt norwester-like gusty wind that, according to meteorologists, was normal at this time, just one week before Baisakh, the first month of Bangla calendar.
The rain is very good for standing crops, according to Agromet, an agriculture metrological service for farmers.
A Met official in Dhaka yesterday said, "The rain in this season is very good for standing crops if it is not hailstorm. Luckily, we have not so far had any hailstorm."
In this week beginning on Sunday, light to moderate rain or thunder shower will take place in most places of Sylhet, Chittagong and Barisal, the Met office said.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) said power distribution had improved due to decrease in electricity consumption for irrigation.
On April 5 before the rain, the demand for electricity was 1154 megawatt in the capital and four surrounding districts-- Munshiganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj while it was only 885 megawatt yesterday, said Kamrun Nahar Nur, public relations officer of Desa.
People are using air conditioners less than before as the temperature has dropped, she said.
There were, however, usual power cuts yesterday afternoon in Dhaka city as power supply went down to 3,700 megawatt from 4,500 MW a week ago.
The situation would have been better had the electricity production not decreased, she said.
The Desa official, however, could not give any reason behind the low power supply. 

378 million dollars CEO!


WORLD NEWS

DHAAK: Apple Inc’s Tim Cook was the highest-paid chief executive officer in the US last year as compensation gained 2 per cent overall from 2010, the New York Times reported.

Cook received about $378 million, which includes salary, perks and bonuses and a one-time stock award, that extends over 10 years.

One-half of the award vests in 2016 and the other in 2021, the newspaper said.

Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp was second with $77.6 million, followed by J C Penney Co. (JCP)’s Ronald Johnson, at $53.3 million, the Times said.

The median total compensation for US CEOs rose to $14.4 million, the newspaper said, citing the survey by executive compensation tracker Equilar.

Viacom Inc’s Philippe Dauman, who was No. 1 in the survey last year, was fourth this year with $43.1 million, followed by Honeywell International Inc’s David Cote, who received $35.3 million, the Times said.

Stephen Chazen of Occidental Petroleum Corp was paid $31.7 million and was sixth, the newspaper said.

Seventh through 10th, respectively, were Robert Iger, Walt Disney Co, $31.4 million; Clarence Cazalot Jr, Marathon Oil Corp, $29.9 million; Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Co, $29.5 million; and Rupert Murdoch, News Corp, $29.4 million.

Equilar’s study for the newspaper covered the 100 most compensated executives at public companies with annual revenue of more than $5 billion and had filed proxy statements by March 30, the Times said.

Equilar analyzed base salaries, cash bonuses, perks, stock awards and stock options for the newspaper.

BNP asks PM to resign


DHAKA NEWS


Dhaka, Apr 9  Opposition BNP has asked prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign claiming that the World Bank has found proof of corruption in the Padma bridge project.

BNP spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the demand on Monday referring to World Bank's temporary ban on a unit of Canadian company SNC-Lavalin over alleged irregularities in the bidding of Padma Bridge Project.

"After World Bank suspended funding, the prime minister claimed that there was no corruption in Padma Bridge Project," Mirza Fakhrul said.

"Now the World Bank ban on a Canadian company proves corruption in Padma project," he said adding, "Hence we demand prime minister's resignation."

Fakhrul said the demand came from BNP's National Executive Committee meeting that concluded on Sunday in Dhaka.

BNP's acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was addressing a press conference at the party headquarters at Naya Paltan.

The World Bank launched an investigation of the bidding process of Padma Bridge Project last September. A contract to build the bridge has not been awarded.

But the row over alleged corruption has led to suspension of funding by the Washington-based lender for the crucial project.

An international consortium, led by the World Bank, last year agreed to lend Bangladesh up to $2.9 billion for the 6-km (4-mile) bridge over the river Padma to link the country's underdeveloped south with its capital, Dhaka.

A few months after the World Bank's suspension of funding, the government removed then communication minister Abul Hossain and gave him the charge of ICT ministry.

Meanwhile, a delegation led by communications minister Obaidul Quader went to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia on construction of Padma bridge.

The Malaysian government in February expressed its interest in constructing the country's largest infrastructure project.

However, finance minister A M A Muhith is still hopeful of World Bank funding for the project. 

Population now 14.80cr Census-2011 results by June


DHAKA NEWS

DHAKA: The final result of Census-2011 is set to publish in next June, which adds 57 lakh more people with the previous census made by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The disclosure came from a press conference held at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) office at Agargaon in the city on Monday morning.

Earlier, the result of the BBS published census 2011 reported a total 14.23 crore people in Bangladesh.

Later, BIDS held an evaluation survey over the census and found 14.80 crore people in Bangladesh.

In the press conference, BIDS Director General Dr Mostafa K Mujari told the journalists that there were 3.97 percent errors in the previously published result.

Besides, BDS Director General Shahjahan Ali Mollah informed that the final result of the census would be published in June next.

AL denies sitting with BNP


DHAKA NEWS

DHAKA: The ruling Awami League government denied sitting with main opposition BNP for discussing on political issues, including caretaker government.

Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said this in a press conference after holding a national committee meeting on the occasion of observing the Mujibnagar Day on April 17.

The meeting was held at party president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office on Monday evening.

There is no need of dialogue with BNP, the AL leader said putting question, “Are there many problems in the country for that we have to call them (BNP) for dialogue?”

He added: “There is not profit to threat AL for movement against Awami League as BNP will not be able to realize any demand by movement.”

They have to place their demands before the parliament if they have any, he added.

AL presidium member, also Jute and Textiles Minister Syed Abdul Latif Siddiqui presided over the meeting.

BTRC's anti-cyber crime bid perfunctory?


DHAKA NEWS

Dhaka, Apr 9 Although the telecom regulator formed a special team almost three months back to crack down on cyber crimes, it is yet to devise a way to pass on cyber crime-related information to the team.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) formed the 11-member Bangladesh Computer Security Incident Response Team (BD-CSIRT) on Jan 25 to curb cyber crimes.

The team is tasked to mark websites with contents that could spread social, political, religious or national hatred.

But the people are yet to know to whom and where to contact to lodge a complaint, as BRTC has not provided name of any website or an email address, thus forcing them to knock at the doors of the court of law for blocking objectionable websites and web pages.

Giasuddin Ahmed, vice-chairman of the commission, who heads the team drawn from commission members, on Monday told that a website and an email address for the purpose will be made available soon.

"CSIRT members will sit in a meeting soon to discuss it," he added.

Ahmed said: "The website and email address will be disclosed soon after the meeting so that the internet users can make complaints directly to the telecom regulator."

BRTC had to act after the High Court on Mar 21 ordered authorities concerned to block five Facebook pages and a website for hurting people's religious sentiments, and identify the people behind them.

The regulator formed the team days after the army said it had foiled an attempted coup by hardline former and serving officers, who used internet and mobile phones to communicate with each other and to provoke others to join the move.

Earlier, a university teacher had in his Facebook status wished death to the prime minister, leading to much uproar.

According to the law, people accused of committing cyber crime may be sentenced to two to five years in jail and fined from Tk 500,000 to Tk 50 million if found guilty. 

Facebook apps `leak` info!


WORLD  NEWS

Facebook is now giving business companies the right to harvest vast swathes of private information, by downloading various `apps` on social networking sites.

While downloading apps, users are supplying its developers with one of the most coveted commodities in today`s economy personal data.

A Wall Street Journal examination of 100 of the most popular Facebook apps revealed that some seek the email addresses, current location and sexual preference, among other details, not only of app users but also of their Facebook friends.

It also found that the popular Skype service for making online phone calls seeks the Facebook photos and birthdays of its users and their friends, the telegraph.com.au reports.

It found that one Yahoo service powered by Facebook requests access to a person`s religious and political leanings as a condition for using it. According to the report, this appetite for personal data has reflected a fundamental truth about the Internet economy as a whole.

Facebook provides a free service that users pay for, in effect, by providing details about their lives, friendships, interests and activities. Facebook, in turn, uses that trove of information to attract advertisers, app makers and other business opportunities, the report said.

‘I sue Tauqir-Bipasha for justice’


DHAKA NEWS

sister of Tauqir Ahmed, said she filed case against his brother for getting justice, not influenced by her husband or any other person.

She came up with the opinion through a written statement sent to banglanews Monday.

On March 19, Tanjin Haider filed a case against Tauqir and Bipasha with Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court for allegedly misappropriating about Tk 1.57 crore.

She has come home from Sweden to appear before the court in the case. She is scheduled to leave the country Monday.

Tanjin Haider also brought allegation against Tauqir and Bipasha for giving threat to her and mental torture.

She added: “I cannot reside at my own flat in my paternal home for the torture and threat from Tauqir and Bipasha. So, I have to stay in my relatives’ houses.”

She said, “We have 50 percent share in ‘Nokkhottrobari Resort and Convention Centre Limited’, which is a registered company. I have filed the case as my brother refused to give my share.”

On March 25, Tauqir Ahmed and Bipasha Hayat filed a Tk 50 crore defamation suit against Tauqir’s sister with Joint District Judge Court of Dhaka-1.

Tauqir Ahmed’s sister Tanjin Haider and brother-in-law Syed Ali Haider were made defendant in the case.

“My brother-in-law made compelled my sister to file the fake case against me,” said Tauqir at a press conference on the same day.

Protesting Tauqir’s such comment, Tanjin Haider said, “Tauqir and Bipasha are creating confusion among people to hide their misdeed and protect image.”

She added: “I have not filed the case motivated by others.”

‘Bacchu Razakar’ flees to India: RAB



DHAKA NEWS

‘Bacchu Razakar’, accused for crimes against humanity during liberation war in 1971, has managed to flee to India on way to Pakistan.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) made the disclosure at a press conference on Monday evening.

In another development, the RAB personnel also arrested Bacchu Razakar’s two sons--Foysal Azad and Jihad Azad--and his brother -in-law Kazi Ehteshamul Haque.

Media Wing Director of the elite force M Sohael told journalists that the accused fled to India.

The elite force also produced arrestees before the newsmen at the press conference.

Quoting them, Sohael informed journalists that Bacchu would later leave India for Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directives to find whereabouts of the two sons and brother-in-law of Abul Kalam Azad.

Samania Jannati, daughter of Abul Kalam Azad, filed the writ of habeas corpus also to have its directive to appear them before the court.

Defense lawyer Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim told banglanews that the hearing on the writ petition Tuesday.

Hilsa at Tk 3,000 per piece!


DHAKA NEWS

DHAKA: Hilsa, the silver fish of Bangladesh that makes a delicious dish of the Begali people, is now out of reach of middle class people.

But, all the Bangalees want to eat a piece of hilsa with panta bhat (wet boiled rice) in Pahela Boishakh, the biggest festival Bangalee nation.

Fouzia Akter, a school teacher, told banglanews while shopping at Karwan Bazar that she cannot buy a middle size hilsa with the budget of total shopping.

Later, a gentleman came out from a Mercedes car and bought 15 big size hilsa.

The fish seller said the big size hilsha have been brought for some high profile persons on order.

The price of a couple big size hilsha is Tk 6,000 to 6,500 in city’s Karwan Bazar, Mohammadpur, Jigatola, Mirpur and Jatrabari fish market.

President of Karwan Bazar Five Star Godown Owners’ Association M Nurul Haque alias Nuru Mia told banglanews that most of hilsa come from Burma.

Owner of Jatrabari Kaptai Fish Traders M Salam Sawdagor said the price of hilsa would be increased more after two days ahead of Pahela Boishakh.