Blogger Rajib murder: 2 to die, Ansarullah chief jailed for 5yrs

In the first verdict of blogger killings, a court in Dhaka today handed death penalty to two persons, five-year jail term to chief of militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team and various jail terms to five others for the murder of blogger Rajib Haider in February 2013.

Full verdict on Sayedee's appeal released

The Supreme Court today released the full judgement on war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee paving way for a review against hiscommuted punishment.

The court released its full judgment, which commuted Sayedee’s death sentence to imprisonment until death, after the apex court’s five judges signed it.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, who is now abroad, had told The Daily Star his office will move a review against the judgment seeking death for Sayedee’s wartime offenses.

Meanwhile, Sayedee’s counsel Shishir Manir has said his client will move a review petition seeking acquittal of Sayedee from all charges brought against him.

On February 28, 2013, International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced Sayedee to death for killing Ibrahim Kutti and one Bisa Bali in Pirojpur in 1971, even though it had found him guilty on eight charges filed against him.

Read more: JAILED until DEATH

On March 28, 2013, Sayedee filed an appeal with the SC seeking acquittal on all charges. The same day, the government submitted a separate appeal seeking Sayedee’s punishment on all the eight charges.The SC on September 17 last year announced a short order in which it commuted Sayedee’s death sentence to imprisonment until death

Case over Bagmara blast, attackers still unknown

A case is filed against two unknown assailants over the blast at an Ahmadiyya mosque in Rajshahi’s Bagmara upazila that killed the suspected attacker and injured at least three on Friday. In the photo, members of CID’s crime scene unit investigate the blast site at an Ahmadiyya mosque in Rajshahi’s Bagmara upazila on Friday night. Photo: Star

Star Online Report

Police sued two unknown assailants over the blast at an Ahmadiyya mosque in Rajshahi’s Bagmara upazila that killed the suspected attacker yesterday.
Md Masud Ali, a sub-inspector of Bagmara Police Station, filed the case early today, our Rajshahi correspondent reports quoting Motiar Rahman, officer-in-charge of the station.
Though neither of the attackers have been identified yet, including the deceased, insiders said police were now suspecting a link of the banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
Case statement quoted witnesses to say there were two attackers in the Chokpara Ahmadiyya Jamaat Mosque. Both attackers said to have maintained eye contact.
Read more: ‘Attacker’ killed in Ahmadiyya mosque blast
Yesterday, during the simultaneous celebration of Christmas and Eid-e-Miladunnabi, a “suicide blast” (according to police) in the mosque killed the suspected attacker and injured three others in Rajshahi’s Bagmara.
This attack on the Ahmadiyya Muslim community followed a series of blasts on Hindu temples and attack on a Christian pastor in the northern district of Dinajpur – adjacent to Rajshahi.
Earlier this month, blasts were carried out at an Iskcon temple and Kantaji temple. One of the attackers caught red handed is a suspected JMB militant who confessed his involvement.
The man also confessed to have shot the Italian pastor last month.

How smartphone light affects your brain and body

Star Online Report

Checking your phone at night and before going to sleep seems like a normal habitual act, but it is some harmful than you think.
Smartphone screens emit bright blue light to help you see in the bright sunny morning. But at night, your brain gets confused by that light, as it mimics the brightness of the sun, reports Tech Insider.
 This causes the brain to stop producing melatonin, a hormone that gives your body the "time to sleep" cues. Because of this, smartphone light can disrupt your sleep cycle, making it harder to fall and stay asleep — and potentially causing serious health problems along the way.
Here's how it works:

'Many missing' in Myanmar landslide

Dozens of people are reportedly missing and feared dead after a landslide hit a jade mining region in Myanmar's northern Kachin state on Friday. This Reuters photo taken on November 25 shows miners search for jade stones at a mine dump at a Hpakant jade mine in Kachin state.

BBC Online

Dozens of people are reportedly missing and feared dead after a landslide hit a jade mining region in Myanmar's northern Kachin state.
Officials say a search for survivors and bodies is continuing after Friday's accident in the area around Hpakant.
Last month, more than 100 people were killed in the same area after a massive landslide.
Jade mining produces piles of waste rock. Itinerant workers climb the heaps to search for the gem stone.
The Bangkok Post quoted Hpakant official Tint Swe Myint as saying five bodies had already been found.
"According to witnesses, about 50 people are still missing," he said.
But Myo Htet Aung, another local official, told the AFP news agency that "just three or four people are missing at the moment" and no bodies were found at the site.
In November's disaster, many of those killed were people who made their living scavenging on or near the waste dumps left by large-scale industrial mining firms.
In a report in October, advocacy group Global Witness said the value of jade produced in 2014 alone was $31bn (£21n) - the equivalent of nearly half of Myanmar's (Burma's) GDP - yet hardly any of the money was reaching ordinary people or state coffers.
Local people in mining areas accuse the industry of a series of abuses, including poor on-site health and safety and frequent land confiscations.

Rooppur nuke plant: $12.65b deal inked with Russia

Bangladesh signed its biggest ever contract worth $12.65 billion with a Russia’s state-run company to build the Rooppur nuclear power plant that would generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity. Star file photo

Star Online Report

Bangladesh today signed its biggest ever contract worth $12.65 billion with a Russia’s state-run company to build the Rooppur nuclear power plant that would generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity.
The contract equivalent to Tk 1,01,200 crore is more than the total development budget of this fiscal year.
Engr Md Monirul Islam, chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and Savushkin, senior vice president of Russian builder ASP, a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear power company Rosatom, inked the contract this evening at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The construction part alone involves around $11 billion.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Science and Technology Minister Yefesh Osman, prime minister’s Energy Affairs Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, among others, were present. 
Of the $12.65 billion, the Russian government would provide 90 percent ($12 billion) as loan.
During loan negotiations, Russia argued that the cost was not high and that compared to nuclear power plants built by Rosatom in other countries, Rooppur would be cheap.
Earlier this month, the government initialled the financial contract with Russia. This was expected to be done some time next year.
Nuclear plants demand high upfront cost. But as its fuel cost is comparatively low and plant life is very high, power tariff turns out to be very cheap.
The economic life of the plant has been estimated to be 50 years. However, Rosatom says the Rooppur power plant would last for 60 years, three times higher than conventional coal or gas powered plants.
The exact power tariff would be available after the construction agreement is signed.
Earlier on Wednesday, two government committees -- the cabinet committee on economic affairs and the cabinet committee on purchase -- approved the proposal for general contract signing with Rosatom.
Following the approval, Minister for Science and Technology Yefesh Osman said “It is beyond just electricity, it's the technology. It will take Bangladesh to a new height.”
He said the prime minister was keen on seeing at least one of the two units, each with 1,200MW capacity, to go into operation within 2021.
However, it takes about seven years to build such a plant, he said.
Russia had said it might be able to meet that deadline for one unit, if the government signed the construction agreement within this month. 
Russia has agreed to take care of the fuel. It would bring in fuel and take back the spent fuel to Russia.
“I believe $12.65 billion is a good bargain. Besides, our prime minister believes that once this project takes off, we will learn a great deal about the technology,” said Yefesh Osman.
According to the proposal of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the interest rate on the loan is 6 months' LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate, an average of interest rates estimated by each of the leading banks in London) plus 1.75 percent.
However, the interest rate cannot be more than 4 percent per annum.
The proposal said as per the existing LIBOR, the interest rate might be 2.55 percent.
The utilisation period has been estimated at seven years and the repayment period 28 years, including 10 years' grace period.
The commitment fee is 0.5 percent.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith in October told reporters that the loan was neither concessional nor commercial.
In the case of commercial loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Bangladesh normally pays service charge of around 4 percent, with repayment period of 20 years.
The interest rate on commercial loans from the World Bank, ADB and JICA is below one percent and the repayment period is 30 years to 50 years, including grace period.
The general contract approved yesterday has eight main components --detailed design, equipment supply, construction and erection, commissioning & testing, warranty operation, initial nuclear fuel supply, equipment transportation up to construction site, and service up to warranty operation.
Rosatom is keen on signing the construction contract first since it takes a long time to install equipment for a nuclear power plant, Muhith said.
According to the proposal, the provisional takeover of the first unit is expected to be in October, 2023, and the second one in October, 2024. The final takeover would be in October, 2024, and October, 2025, respectively.
Preparatory work to build the plant was underway under a $500 million technical assistance from Russia.
In June, Rosatom submitted a feasibility report on the plant to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
Rosatom would maintain the plant for the first year of its commercial operation before handing it over to Bangladesh authorities.

Have faith in you

Tulip shares her experience to inspire female students

Staff Correspondent

A hall room of Scholastica was abuzz with excitement as students were waiting yesterday to meet Bangladesh-origin British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, a former student of the school.
More than 200 female students from nine schools gathered there to hear from her.
Then with a big smile on her face, Tulip, granddaughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, walked in. She shared with them her thoughts and advised them on how they should pursue the career of their choice.
The event titled "Inspiring Women", first of its kind in Bangladesh, was hosted by the private school in Dhaka, and supported by Tulip and her husband Christian Percy.
Modelled on a long-running campaign in the UK, the programme brought together some successful women from different sectors to talk to the female students to broaden their horizons and inspire them.
"I knew it from my childhood that I would join politics, become an MP. But you need not do politics.
"Do whatever you like to do. Be focused on your career and study the subject you like," Tulip said.
In the UK, Inspiring Women campaign is part of the broader "Inspiring the Future" service that aims to empower schools to coordinate volunteering opportunities for boys and girls of all ages and backgrounds.
The campaign reaches out to students of different countries and holds discussions with young girls about career, aspirations and choice, Tulip said.
In Bangladesh, the prime minister, Speaker of the parliament, and opposition leader of the House are all women, but Britain has men in all those positions, she said, telling the female students that they too could become one of them in Bangladesh.
"For that you have to have faith in you," said Tulip, a niece of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Female students of Scholastica school at the 'Inspiring Women' programme on the school's Uttara campus yesterday. Scholastica alumnus Tulip Siddiq, a British MP and niece of Bangladesh prime minister, spoke as the chief guest there. PHOTO: STAR

After the brief speech, she attended a press conference accompanied by her husband and Madiha Murshed, managing director of Scholastica.
Asked if she wants to do politics in Bangladesh, she said, “It is not possible to say what will happen in future and whether I'll return. I have become a lawmaker a few months ago and let's see what I'll do.”
Then she added, “If you want to help, you can do that from anywhere in the world. I can help Bangladesh from Britain."
Regarding child marriage in Bangladesh, the British MP said enforcement of relevant laws was necessary to stop it. ”Our country will not develop much unless we educate our girls.”
Asked about her doing politics, Tulip said she had grown up hearing stories of her maternal grandfather, his work and the 1971 Liberation War.
Besides, she heard her mother and aunty talking about welfare of the people of Bangladesh.
"I do politics to help people," she said.
Dubbing her aunty Sheikh Hasina as her role model, she said the Speaker of the parliament and Wasfia Nazreen, the first Bangladeshi to climb seven summits in the world, were also inspiring women for her.
Tulip also shared the challenges she had faced during the elections in the UK in May.
Even some Bangalis in the UK had campaigned that if she won she would speak about the Awami League only, she said.
About the female leadership in Bangladesh, she said it did not matter to her whether a man was ruling the country or a woman.
"What is more important to me is whether the person loves the country, works for the poor and takes the country forward."
She said she envisaged a prosperous Bangladesh in future.
Bangladesh has already been known as an emerging economy, she said, adding, "I want Bangladesh to do better.”

Hafeez, Azhar Ali may face disciplinary action for Amir boycott

Pakistan's Muhammad Hafeez (R) and Azhar Ali run between wickets. Photo: AFP

Cricbuzz

Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, on Friday (December 25) warned players refusing to train alongside Mohammad Amir during an ongoing fitness camp for the national side that they would faced fines and suspensions.
Khan said he was optimistic Mohammed Hafeez and Azhar Ali, the One-Day International captain, would end their boycott of the camp after meeting with the two players on Friday.
Hafeez and Ali refused to train with Amir on Thursday, threatening renewed controversy for a Pakistan side looking to reintegrate Amir, who was jailed in 2011 and hit with a five-year ban for spot-fixing.
"I had a very cordial meeting with the two players for 30 minutes and I told them that they were going against the policy of the PCB," Khan told AFP. "I told them that this could go against them and they could face disciplinary action."
Hafeez had told Waqar Younis, the head coach, that he would not attend any part of the camp in which Amir was participating, and Ali told reporters in Lahore, "Hafeez and I can't accept Amir's presence in the camp." Khan said, however, the matter could be resolved on Saturday.
"Both the players told us that they were not against PCB's policy and after I told them that Amir has completed his ban and a rehabilitation programme, the two players would confirm by Saturday morning whether they would attend the camp," said Khan.

Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Amir looks on as he takes part in a team practice session for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore on December 24, 2015. Photo: AFP

The PCB chief said Amir also apologised to his fellow players on Friday, adding that the bowler "will remain under the microscope whenever he plays, so I am satisfied with the meeting and hope the matter will be resolved."
Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were charged with accepting money in exchange for arranging deliberate no-balls during a Test match at Lord's in England in 2010. The three players and Mazhar Majeed, their agent, were jailed by a British court in 2011. Amir, Butt and Asif were also banned from cricket for five years.
But in September this year the International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted sanctions against the three players. Amir's ban was relaxed in January this year and he was allowed to play domestic matches.
At the time of the ban, Amir was tipped as one of the most talented fast bowlers in the world. Since his return, he has taken 22 wickets in four non first-class games, while his tally of wickets in the qualifying rounds of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy stood at 34. The Pakistan players are training ahead of the national side's upcoming tour of New Zealand, where they will play three ODIs and three Twenty20 International matches.

Djokovic, Federer in race to be first $100m man

Serbia's Novak Djokovic (L) and Switzerland's Roger Federer, pictured on November 22, 2015, are both on the brink of becoming the first men in tennis to hit $100 million in on-court earnings

AFP, Paris

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are poised to become the first $100 million men in tennis in 2016, in a gripping sub-plot to the new Grand Slam season.
No player in the history of the sport has broken through the $100 million on-court earnings barrier but world number one Djokovic and Federer, the number three, should reach the landmark next year.
Djokovic, 28, has just over $94 million in prize money while Federer, six years the Serb's senior, has banked $97.3 million.
With $3.85 million on offer for the winner of January's Australian Open, the season's first major, the veteran Swiss would be the first man to the magical number even if the odds are heavily stacked against a player who won the last of his 17 Grand Slam titles in 2012.
The staggering rewards for the modern player, all boosted by lucrative off-court earnings through sponsorship and endorsements, are a far cry from the heavyweights of the sport who starred in earlier eras.
Rod Laver, the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam -- something that eluded Djokovic courtesy of a French Open final loss in 2015 -- ended his playing career with $1.5 million, still a huge sum by the standards of the late 1960s.
John McEnroe earned $12.5 million while Federer's hero, Pete Sampras banked $43 million before he retired in 2002.
Djokovic earned a season record $21.5 million in 2015, a year which saw him win three of the four majors -- taking his total to 10 in total.
"My season was the best of my career with many highlights. It inspires me even more to keep on going, and I hope to continue to play at this level in 2016," said Djokovic.

Despite his dominance of the sport, Djokovic still has some catching up to do when it comes to matching Federer's overall personal fortune.
According to Forbes' rich list, Federer was the fifth highest-earning sportsman in 2015 thanks to $58 million in endorsements.
Djokovic was 13th, his on-court wealth boosted by $31 million worth of commercial riches.
But the Serb knows time -- and the form which saw him win 82 matches and suffer just six losses last season -- is on his side.
"I think I have a good chance. I'm 28 and I still don't feel like the end is anytime soon, that definitely excites me and motivates me to keep going."
The staggering wealth in the men's game dwarfs the women's tour.
Serena Williams's on-court earnings stood at just over $74 million after a 2015 season which saw the American also claim three of the the four Grand Slam titles.
Rival Maria Sharapova, the world's richest sportswoman due to her lucrative off-court portfolio, has earned less than half than Williams -- $36.4 million.
Back in the men's game, 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal has banked $75 million on court while current world number two Andy Murray has earned $42.5 million.

Champa becomes a grandmother

Photo: SHEIKH MEHEDI MORSHED 

 

National Film Award winning actress Champa has become a grandmother. Champa's daughter Esha has given birth to twin boys in Singapore recently.
The two newcomers are named Arzan and Arish.
Talking to The Daily Star, an elated Champa said, “My family members are very happy that we are blessed with twin baby boys. I don't have a son, and these twins are a blessing to me.”
The actress also informed that she recently came to Dhaka after spending four months in Singapore.
Champa expressed hopes of returning to television soon.  
 

Staff Correspondent

Actresses who refuse to drop their clothes

Sonakshi Sinha

Online Desk

Bollywood is getting bolder by the day. Actors and actresses are willing to shed their inhibitions and throw caution to the winds when it comes to dropping their clothes for love-making scenes. 

 

However, some celebs are still uncomfortable with the idea of getting intimate on-screen. Some actors-actresses even include a ‘no kissing’ clause in their contract. Times of India brings two of the actresses forward, who have refused to do love-making scenes or kiss their co-stars in films.

 

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has made his mark in Bollywood with his roles in films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kick, Badlapur and Gangs Of Wasseypur. 

 

However, there is an actress who apparently refused to do a love-making scene with the actor. She is none other than Pakistani actress, Mahira Khan, who is making her big Bollywood debut with Raees opposite Shah Rukh Khan. 

 

According to a report on Bollywoodlife.com, the actress apparently got the jitters while shooting for an intimate scene with Nawaz. Quoting a source, the report stated that the sex scene is pretty edgy, dark and somewhat brutal which has Nawaz forcing himself on her. The report further stated that the sequence was unsettling for Mahira and she refused to do it.

 

According to a Mumbai Mirror report, Sonakshi Sinha has a 'no kissing,’ ‘no bikini scenes' clause in her contract. 

 

Sonakshi has confirmed the news and said, " Yes, I am not comfortable kissing or exposing and I believe in laying open my cards well in advance so that no one is inconvenienced. Till date, I have been very specific about certain things and my directors have always understood my concerns and played along. I don't think this should pose a problem in the future as well. And if a director wants something like that, he is open to casting other actresses."

Mirpur raid: How explosives were disposed

The six men including three alleged militants are detained with explosives from the six-storey building in Mirpur 1 of Dhaka on Thursday. Photo: Shaheen Mollah

Star Online Report

Law enforcers disposed at least 16 crude bombs seized from a Mirpur building during an operation to capture militants today.
After the operation, members of Detective Branch (DB) and bomb-disposal unit of police gathered the explosives at a place near the building in Mirpur Section 1 and deactivated them with a series of controlled explosions.
“The explosives have striking similarity with those used during Hossaini Dalan and Kamrangir Char blasts,” Monirul Islam, DB’s joint commissioner, told the media at a press briefing after the successful raid.
The “criminals” were staying on the sixth floor of the building in disguise of students for the last four months, said Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of DB.
Dressed in casuals, detectives picked up the ‘bombs’ from a shoe-case like box without any protective gears and placed them near a wall on the ground at a nearby plot.
The bomb-disposal unit members placed couple of tyres around the pit where they intended to dispose the seized explosives. They used pipes and other devices to prepare the pit, and attached a long cable with a firing pin.
After they moved back to a safe distance, the explosives were detonated. They repeated the process until all the seized bombs were disposed.
The plot where the disposal of the bombs took place was surrounded by a rickshaw garage, a mazar and residential buildings. And the wall where they picked the spot was the back side of another tin-shed house. 
Since morning the police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members cordoned off the six-storey building on Road 9, Block-A of Mirpur-1 following information that alleged criminals were hiding there.
Among the detainees, three are key members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Monirul Islam told the reporters.

Nargis Fakhri’s Pakistani ad sparks online outrage

Star Online Report

Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri's advertisement on the front page of leading Pakistani Urdu newspaper Jang has created a stir over social media where people have condemned it by calling the advertisement "absurd", reports NDTV.

On Twitter, many including journalists have condemned the "obscenity" of the ad, which shows Nargis lying down with a phone in her hand in a red dress.

Pakistani investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi was the first one to condemn the ad on the micro-blogging site while others later joined him.

Here's what they have tweeted:

My strong protest to top jang group management for this absurd front page ad in today's jang. pic.twitter.com/M5SRc1p3H7

— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) December 20, 2015

@AnsarAAbbasi why newspapers are trying to be like playboy or weekend type of magazine ?? These kind o adds look good in magazine not on NP

— Muhammed Amer (@amerdxb1) December 20, 2015

cud've used a talent like @NargisFakhri in a much better way,@Mobilink's TOM / TRPs objectives still achieved!#makingnewspapersrelevantagain

— Aleem Qadeer (@aleemqadeer) December 20, 2015

3 ‘PBCP outlaws’ killed in ‘gunfight’ with Tangail Rab

People are looking the dead bodies (not in the photo) at Omarpur village in Tangail Sadar upazila where three alleged Purba Bangla Communist Party outlaws were killed in "gunfight" early Thursday. Photo: TV grab

Star Online Report

Three alleged Purba Bangla Communist Party (PBCP) outlaws were killed early today in what law enforcers said gunfight in Tangail Sadar upazila.
The deceased were identified as Omar, chief of the Tangail Sadar PBCP unit, Kasem and Saddam – two top listed terrorists, our correspondent reports.
The “gunfight” took place at Omarpur village with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), the elite force which has drawn widespread flak for extrajudicial killings, around 3:50am.
“We were tipped-off on a secret meeting of the PBCP,” said Md Mohiuddin Faruki, commander of crime prevention company-3 of Rab-12 in the region.
Rab members cracked down on the area. Sensing their presence, the outlaws opened fire compelling the law enforcers to fire back, the Rab official said.
“Afterwards, we found three criminals lying on the spot. Some seven to eight others managed to flee. We found two foreign pistols, two double barrel guns and seven bullets from the spot,” he said.
The victims were declared dead when taken to Tangail Medical College Hospital.

31 killed in Saudi hospital fire

Fire at hospital in Saudi Arabia on Thursday kills 25 people and injures 107 others. Photo: Okaz.com.

Star Online Report

An overnight fire at a hospital in the southwestern province of Jizan has killed at least 31 people and injured over 100, says Saudi defense according to AP.
Saudi Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Yahya bin Abdullah al-Qahtani says the cause of the blaze remains unknown.
Upon contacting officials at Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah told The Daily Star that they have no information about the Bangladeshis in the hospital yet.

Fire at a hospital in Saudi Arabia on Thursday kills 25 people and injures 107 others. Photo: Okaz.com.

But they are monitoring the incidents closely.
“Our officials are on the way to know whether any Bangladeshi was in that hospital or not,” said Mokammal Hossain, labour counselor at Bangladesh Consulate in Jeddah.
According to AP the fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday around the hospital's intensive care, maternity and neonatal care wards.
There was no immediate breakdown of the victims available.
The kingdom has suffered a number of large-scale accidents this year, namely a crane collapse that killed 111 and a stampede that killed at least 2,400 during the hajj pilgrimage in September, according to an Associated Press count.
Around 1.5 million Bangladeshis are working in different sectors in Saudi Arabia, according to Bangladesh mission there.

Suicide vest, grenades found at ‘JMB den’, 7 held

Law enforcers surround a building at Mirpur 1 under Shah Ali Police Station in Dhaka as they suspect that criminals are hiding inside. Photo: Palash Khan

Star Online Report

• Televised operation in broad daylight
• ‘7 held including 3 JMB men’
• High profile raid, say police
• 17 Homemade grenades, suicide vest seized
• Cops working to deactivate grenades Law enforcers claimed detention of six people and seized “a sack-full” of improvised grenades and suicide vests during a raid in Dhaka’s Mirpur-1 today.
  At least three of the detainees were key militants of banned Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of Detective Branch.
  The “high-profile” crackdown, that began from around 1:30am early today, continued till this afternoon – in a rare widely televised coverage throughout the day.
  
  
  

  The six men including three alleged militants are detained with explosives from the six-storey building in Mirpur 1 of Dhaka on Thursday. Photo: Shaheen Mollah
  The raid went without any casualties. However, there were explosions – carried out from both sides and police admitted of firing some bullets during the drive.
• AN OVERNIGHT WAIT BEFORE MORNING ARREST The detainees, whose identities were yet to be disclosed before the media, were living on the sixth floor of the Road 9, Block A as students for the past four months.
  Their information was obtained from an arrestee who was held last night, Monirul said while briefing reporters. Two people were held from one flat and the others from another adjacent.
  Police asked them to surrender repeatedly but there was no response from inside the flats. Some explosives were heard at scene. Those included some sound grenades of the police.
  The arrest was finally made late morning. Monirul Islam told reporters that there was “a sack-full of 17 handmade grenades,” inside the flats, including bomb making materials.
  
  
  

  Detectives dispose the bombs at a nearby plot at Mirpur1 on Thursday. At least 16 handmade bombs and other explosives were seized and 6 people were detained from a building there. Photo: Shaheen Mollah
  Detectives took away the detainees for further questioning; they were not shown to the media. The Daily Star obtained all its information from the briefing of Monirul Islam and Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of DB and chief of bomb disposal squad.
  More details about the arrestees will be disclosed later after further questioning.
  
• 

  According to a Jamuna TV report on Thursday, the building (left) at Mirpur 1 under Shah Ali Police Station in Dhaka is being surrounded by law enforcers as they suspect that criminals are hiding inside. Photos grabbed from TV

BANGLADESH ON HUMAN DEV INDEX: Steady progress shows hope

Once upon a time in Afghanistan…

Star Online Report

Students at the Higher Teachers College of Kabul. Photo Courtesy: Dr. William Podlich

Afghan school girls. Photo Courtesy: Dr. William Podlich

Afghanistan, now paints a picture of a war struck country, destroyed and defeated in
every aspect.  Presently, it is one of the most challenging places in the world to be a woman.
85 percent of the country’s women have no formal education, life expectancy is a low 51,
and violence against women in the country is on the rise, having peaked in 2013 according to the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan (AIHRC), reports the Indian online daily, The Citizen

Although in recent years, there have been significant developments improving the condition of women in the war-torn country -- such as the 2009 Elimination of Violence against Women Act (EVAW), the country continues to face several challenges in terms
of women’s rights and safety, including challenges pertaining to the implementation of EVAW. The UN in 2012 made 71 recommendations to improve the implementation of
the law, but in a subsequent report found that only four of its proposals were had been implemented.

In fact, UN Women chief Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, has described violence against women in Afghanistan as “pandemic” with 87.2 percent of women experiencing some form of physical, psychological, sexual, economic or social violence.

However, Afghanistan was not always such a repressive country. Photographs from the 1950s and 60s depict a very different Afghanistan; one where female students sat next
 to their male peers, where girls scouts worked along with boy scouts, where, in parks
and playgrounds, buses and record stores, hospitals and schools, women were seen in equal numbers as men.

The Citizen compiles a collection of images which offer a rare insight into
Afghanistan’s past.

Phonograph record store in Kabul. Photo Courtesy: Facebook page: Afghanistan

 Is Beautiful

Women in the Faculty of Medicine, Kabul University. Photo Courtesy: “Afghanistan: 

Cockpit in High Asia, 1966,” by Peter King

A vaccine research center attached to a Kabul hospital in the 1960s. 

Photo Courtesy: Facebook page: Afghanistan Is Beautiful

Afghan girl scouts pictured in the 1950s or 60s. 

Photo Courtesy: Facebook page: Afghanistan Is Beautiful

A school playground. Photo Courtesy: Dr William Podlich

Student nurses at Maternity Hospital, Kabul. 

Photo Courtesy: Facebook page: Afghanistan Is Beautiful

Tourists at a park in Kabul. Photo Courtesy: Dr William Podlich

30 hurt as Dhaka College students, traders clash

Motocycles were burnt in a clash between the students of Dhaka College and traders in the New Market which left six people injured. Photo: Shaheen Mollah

Star Online Report

At least 30 people were injured as Dhaka College students fought pitched battles with traders in the capital’s New Market area this afternoon.
The traders alleged that around 40 shops were ransacked at the two-storey Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, four motorcycles torched and some 10 vehicles vandalised during the two-hour clash.
Following the clash, traders shuttered around seven markets in the area and traffic movement came to a standstill for hours, causing huge congestion on the roads in the nearby areas.
During the clash that started around 3:15pm, both the students and traders pelted brick chips at each other, leaving the road littered with fractions of bricks.
Police used sound grenade, rubber bullets and teargas to bring the situation under control.
All this happened over buying sarees from the hawkers market around 3:15pm.
Traders alleged that two boys along with a woman and a child went to a shop from the market, chose three shares and wanted to leave the shop without paying the price of the saress which was Tk 60,000. They told the shopkeepers that they were from Dhaka College and had power in the city.
The four left the shop after the angry shopkeepers hurled abusive language at them.
Around 20 minutes later, some 25 Dhaka College students returned in a group with local weapons including iron rods and matches and vandalised and looted around 40 shops at the market, Haji Md Khorshed Alam, joint general secretary of market’s shop owners, told journalists.
He said around 20 traders were injured in the clash.
The four left the shop after the angry shopkeepers hurled abusive language at them.
Around 20 minutes later, some 25 Dhaka College students returned in a group with local weapons including iron rods and matches and vandalised and looted around 40 shops at the market, Haji Md Khorshed Alam, joint general secretary of market’s shop owners, told journalists.
Later, around 500 students and 1,000 traders joined in the clash. They pelted bricks chips, and chased each other during the scuffle.
Jasim Uddin, additional police commissioner (Ramna zone), told The Daily Star that they fired around 50 rounds of rubber bullets, sound grenades and tear gas canisters to bring the situation under control.
The traffic movement became normal after 5:00pm, he added.
At least seven of the injured were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment, Inspector Mozammel Haque, in-charge of DMCH police camp, told The Daily Star.

Fighting tanks, guns with bows and arrows

Ananta Yusuf

Armed only with bows and arrows, brave young indigenous fighters are resisting modern artillery; such tales of courage are usually seen in novels or movies. However, the history of Bangladesh’s bloody birth is full of such tales. We will tell you the story of the bravery and courage of Moulvibazar indigenous tea garden workers.
The wave of protests across the country during the six-point movement managed to touch the serene lives of indigenous tea garden workers as well. The proclamation of independence on March 26, 1971 and the news of mass killing spread like wildfire in the tea gardens. After March 7, workers staged agitations with bows and arrows.
On 27 March, 1971, indigenous people stood on a bridge at Kamalganj in Moulvibazar and fought the Pak army with homemade weapons. They shot arrows incessantly and many were left injured. After this incident Pakistan army faced strong resistance in every tea garden.
Around the middle of the 1971 war, Gurna Bhor, an indigenous freedom fighter, was killed at Doloi Tea Garden in Moulvibazar. Gurna Bhor was riddled with bullets when he tried to notify other freedom fighters of the Pakistani army’s location.
The indigenous tea garden workers of Moulvibazar fought for independence, fought for their land, yet 44 years after independence they still remain landless. They did not receive any state recognition and their story of valor remains unknown.
The list of martyrs runs long in the district.
Indigenous Santal, Munda, Orao and Tanti communities in Rangpur also fought for independence in 1971.
In this month of victory, it is time to show our gratitude once more to these freedom fighters.

195 Pak army men to be tried for war crimes: Minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government will take initiatives to bring the 195 Pakistani army personnel from the country and try them for war crimes in Bangladesh. Star file photo

Star Online Report

The government will take initiatives to bring the 195 Pakistani army personnel from the country and try them for war crimes in Bangladesh, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said today.
“The government would take measurers through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring those Pakistanis who had committed war crimes and put them under trial,” the minister said at a programme of Industrial Police at Sreepur of Gazipur’s Ashulia.  
The minister was replying to a query of a journalist who asked as to whether the government would be able to try those 195 Pakistani army personnel for their crimes against humanity in 1971 as per the Simla Treaty between India and Pakistan, Sharif Mahmud Apu, public relations officer of the home ministry who was accompanying the minister, told The Daily Star.
Khan received salute from 300 new members of the industrial police at the end of their training and parade. Senior police officials from Dhaka range were also present.

5 Steps to a Naturally Bigger Bust

by Rebekah Sager

In a world obsessed with curvy beauties like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Vergara, and Tyra Banks, it seems plump and perfect décolletage has become as commonplace as a headline bearing the last name Kardashian.

Today more than ever, voluptuous cleavage is the new black.
That said, some women are boosting their bust size without resorting to surgery, seeking out what are called “natural enhancement” or “natural breast enlargement” options. But is it possible to plump the girls from A’s to D’s without going under the knife?
We can’t know for certain, but we know it can’t hurt to try.

Here Are the 5 Top Cheap and Easy Ways to Get a Bigger Bust

1. If you don’t mind smelling like your local sushi restaurant, the blogosphere is currently raving about the use of Norweigian Cod Liver oil. Emily Loretta, blogger of the site Natural Breast Enhancement, went on what she called an NBE (Natural Breast Enhancement) journey, studying a variety of methods to help enhance her God-given gifts. Of the Norwegian Cod Liver oil, Loretta said, “The NCLO would give me great fullness and growth and made me grow but it always disappeared when I showered– I had to get the smell off,” she says. But I couldn’t afford anything else at the time so I stuck to it and in the end I got an inch of growth to bring me up to 34.”
2. Don’t start giggling, but one of the most zen-like methods of natural breast enlargement is “breast massage.” It’s a medically recommended component of lymphatic drainage massage and part of traditional Ayurvedic and Lomi Lomi massage. In Canada for example, breast massage is a regular option for women, as long as it is indicated in the normal course of treatment, and as long as informed consent is obtained. Beauty parlors and massage parlors, particularly in Asia, have used breast massage as a healthy form of lymphatic drainage, as well as breast growth.
But take note ladies, the standards of practice for the American Massage Therapy Association and for the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals state that breast massage may only be performed with informed, written consent of the client.
3. Onions are also said to be useful in enlarging or improving the breasts. Fresh onion juice mixed with honey and turmeric (in powder form) is said to do the trick. The mixture is used to firm drooping breasts and prevent breasts from further sagging. After the breasts have been massaged with this mixture, women are advised to wear a bra throughout the day and overnight before bathing the following day.
4. Natural breast enlargement pills, in the form of herbal supplements, could theoretically increase breast size because some of them contain herbs known to contain estrogen-like effects on the body. Estrogen causes fluid retention in the breasts and so could increase size. One popular herbal ingredient taken is Fennel seed. Fennel has been used for centuries as both food and medicine. It was used traditionally to increase the flow of breast milk in nursing women, enhance libido, and increase menstrual flow. One study found that after consuming fennel seed for 10 days, the weight of breast tissue in female rats increased.
5. You can make your breasts appear bigger, firmer and shapelier by working your pectoral muscles, a.k.a. your chest muscles. According to Livestrong, women and men should be making chest muscle exercises a regular part of their regime. Using modified push-ups, dumbbell flyes, and declined push-ups can help build muscle and lift and shape breasts.

How to Get Luscious & Lovely Lashes for a Magical Holiday Season

by Sarah Miller

Mastering your eye makeup is hard enough— we all struggle to find the perfect shadow shade, eyeliner, and most importantly, a mascara that guarantees the ‘wow’ factor.   With all this in mind, it’s crucial to find a mascara that will enhance your lashes and really make those eyes pop.  With these top five mascaras, your lashes will surely find their perfect match.
 Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
This favorite mascara conditions your lashes as it thickens and gives you the full lash look.  We’ve all dealt with those black clumps getting stuck in between our eyelashes, completing ruining the overall appearance of our eye makeup.  With a lash-doubling formula, you’ll never have to settle with anything less than perfection.  For all you ladies out there with sensitive eyes, Maybelline’s Great Lash Mascara is hypoallergenic, contact lens safe, and washable!
Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara
If you’re like me and have very little eyelashes, this favorite will surely boost your ego.  With Covergirl’s Lashblast Volume Mascara, you’ll have maxed out lashes in just one application.  After using this mascara on my own lashes for the first time, I can only say one thing—PERFECTION! LashBlast’s patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush leaves you with the ultimate big-lash look.  Who could ask for more?
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
Sometimes your bottom lashes want a little attention too—and when it comes to mascara, these lashes never seem to reach center stage.  With Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara, your bottom lashes can finally hit the spotlight.  This mascara has a brush engineered for tiny tasks along with a formula that resists smears.  Pair this mascara with any of the above favorites and see what fabulous outcome you can get!
M.A.C. Cosmetics False Lashes Waterproof
Speaking like a true MAC fan, I can vouch that this mascara will not disappoint.  With a new waterproof formula, MAC’s False Lashes mascara features 12 hours of water, tear, and humidity- proof wear.  You’ll never have to stress about your mascara smearing after a dip in the ocean or even a small set of tears!
SmartLash Eyelash Enhancer 

This physician-tested, non-irritating lash enhancement gem completely transforms your lashes. If you desire a lash line that looks thick, long and full, SmartLash is the formula for you.

How to Get Gum Off Shoes: 4 Easy Ways

by Liza Born

It’s happened to all of us at least once in our lives, and for the particularly unlucky, many times. We’re walking innocently along when we step in it.
Girls, we’re talking about gum. Icky, gooey, sticky, gum.
After shrieking, stomping, swearing, and struggling to detach our foot from the offending stretch of gum, what’s a gal to do? Check out how to get gum off shoes with these four easy steps.
1. PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut butter isn’t just delicious, it’s reliable in the fight against chewing. Use a butter knife to generously rub a glob of peanut butter over the gum. After 10 to 15 minutes (or depending on how soft the chewing gum was to start with) the gum should start to soften and become one with the peanut butter. Once this happens, scrape it off, then clean the rest of your shoe with soap and water to remove any peanut butter or gum remnants. Hooray!
2. WD-40 or Compressed Air Cans
If you don’t own a can of WD-40, buy a few— stat! WD-40 is a lifesaver for more than just squeaky drawers or doors. Spray directly on the gum until it hardens, and then scrap off the offender with a butter knife. A canister of compressed air will also work in a pinch. They contain freezing cold air which can also harden the gum and make it easier to remove.
3. FREEZER
If the gum isn’t on an expensive pair of pumps, then this method works well. Stick your shoe in a plastic bag with the gum pressed tightly against the plastic. Let it harden in the freezer for an hour or two. When you take the bag out, pull the plastic back from the shoe and the gum should peel off with the plastic. If there’s any gum remnants left over you can pick it off with a butter knife or toothpick.
Do not, we repeat, DO NOT attempt to pick it off with your hands. That’s gross and unsanitary and we know your mother taught you better.
4. ICE CUBE
If you’re strapped for time, try rubbing an ice cube over the gum for 10-20 minutes. It should freeze and turn putty-like. Follow the instructions above for sanitary removal.

Curls, Coils and Coconuts

Curls, Coils and Coconuts: How Coconut Oil is Changing the Game for Curly Haired Girls

by Rebekah Sager

Finding the right hair products for curly hair can be darn frustrating. Some products weight the hair down. Others use alcohol to hold the curls in place, which ends up leaving hair feeling like straw.
It’s not often I come across a product that offers both hold a feeling of moisture and in one. Earth’s Nectar recently debuted their new product, Coconut Curls.

COCONUT CURLS REVIEW – WHAT IS IT?

Coconut Curls an all-in-one solution for repairing, moisturizing, conditioning, and styling naturally curly hair. Lucky for me, I was recently sent a bottle to try out, and was pleasantly surprised.

WHAT MAKES EARTH’S NECTAR SUCH A GREAT BRAND?

Created by Tamika Fletcher, owner of Natural Resources Salon in Houston, Texas, what’s wonderful and unique about Earth’s Nectar is that it’s an all-natural beauty brand that boasts all sulfate, alcohol, and paraben free products–with no fillers or stripping additives. Fletcher started the line by using natural ingredients in her own kitchen—bananas, mayonnaise, and fresh herbs. She’s said her clients were her guinea pigs. Eventually, Fletcher found the winning recipes and began professionally manufacturing and selling under the name Earth’s Nectar.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH COCONUT CURLS

Last weekend, I had the time to try out the Coconut Curl, just in time for a particularly dry spell in our Southern California weather.  I added a big dollop to my hair after blow-drying and found the moisturizing cream to easily detangle, soften and smoothe away my frizz and fly-aways.
I’ve tried a lot of curly hair products over the years, and most actually feel as if they’re stripping the moisture from my hair instead of adding to it.  I was able to style my hair, and it looked a bit more shiny as well.

CONCLUSION

The best part is knowing there’s no chemicals and even though I’m adding moisture, I’m not making my hair greasy.

How to Shop for Vintage Jewelry

A Beginner’s Guide: How to Shop for Vintage Jewelry

by Mariam Jehangir

Shopping for vintage jewelry is a popular activity among jewelry lovers.
Hunting for and finding a unique piece delivers a thrill that few other shopping experiences can, yet many people who are new and unseasoned in the game are apprehensive about getting involved — and with good reason. With all the factors to consider, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and opt for buying items at a chain mall store and call it a day.
But why settle for a mass-produced, generic piece when you can have a unique item that has both stood the test of time and has a story behind it?
With a little bit of knowledge and some practice, anyone can successfully navigate the vintage jewelry scene. To learn more, we spoke with Dawn Sheppard, owner of Dawn’s Vintage Jewelry in Brookfield, CT. Here are a few things she says you should keep in mind when shopping vintage.

Vintage or antique?

Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, shoppers should know they are not the same thing. Technically vintage pieces are more than 20 years old and antiques are over 100 years old. However, these definitions are not strictly adhered to, and the stylistic period of the piece holds more weight in determining whether it’s considered vintage or antique. Items from before the Art Deco period of the 1930s are generally considered antique and those after the ‘40s are considered vintage.

Fine or costume?

When it comes to vintage jewelry, there is also another highly important distinction that must be made before you get involved. Shoppers should consider whether they want fine or costume jewelry.
In terms of vintage, fine jewelry is made of precious metals like karate gold, platinum and silver or precious to semi-precious stones like diamonds, rubies, and topaz. Costume jewelry on the other hand – which reflects the fashion of the period it was made in – is usually made with materials such as glass, plated metals, plastic and wood.

Do your research beforehand

There is nothing wrong with walking into a store and being drawn to a piece that speaks to you, but it can also be beneficial to know what you are looking for. Research the different era pieces – are you going for the nature-inspired designs of the Georgian Era, the geometric shapes of the art deco period, or the intricate etchings found in pieces from the early Victorian era? Knowing these details can make the experience all the more rewarding.
A few ways to expand your knowledge base is to dig up information online, speak with jewelry enthusiasts and collectors, and visit bookstores, libraries and museums.

Observe closely

When buying a piece, make sure you examine it closely. Although true vintage pieces (as opposed to reproductions) are generally of high quality, it is a good idea to look at the clasps and backings, as well as the weight and texture of the item before you buy. You want to be aware of any existing scratches, chips, missing pieces, discolorations, corrosion and other flaws. Sheppard also warns of green metal parts on pieces as that’s an indicator that the item has been compromised and will most likely continue to deteriorate. This can happen if the item has been placed in humid or wet conditions.
A good tip for beginners is to shop specifically at vintage stores as opposed to online, as you can look at the item in person. Additionally, the pieces in most of these stores are likely to have been pre-examined before being put up for sale, which lessens the work load for you.
If you see a damaged item that you absolutely love and still want to make a purchase on, Sheppard suggests it might work in your benefit to point it out to the seller and negotiate a lower price.
Another thing to keep in mind is certain stores and repair shops will offer to fix items that have loose parts or minor damages. Make sure if you are having repair work done to ask for the correct era stones and parts if you want to maintain the integrity of your vintage piece.

Caring for your jewelry

Congratulations, you’ve made your purchase! Now you have to maintain it so you can love it, show it off, and pass it down to your children. To keep your items in good shape, follow a basic care guide: handle the jewelry gently, store in a dry, safe and clean place, and use a soft cloth and just a little bit of glass cleaner to remove any grime. Don’t use modern jewelry cleansers, as those may ruin your piece.
With these basic tips and tricks anyone can enter the vintage jewelry shopping world with ease. With practice and time you will garner enough know-how and knowledge to shop, buy, trade and collect vintage just like the pros.