Time for 'river view' university

In a city of concrete jungle, developers with the idea of "river view" and "lake view" housing projects are making good business though most of them don't have government approval.Now a 'river view' private university is going to join them as Uttara University has erected a signboard on the floodplain of the Turag. The signboard stands in knee- or waist-deep water seven months a year.Amid encroachment by housing estates, private universities and refuelling stations, the tiny Turag, the major flood flow system of the capital from north to south, is being choked and reduced every day.The river is mentioned on the papers of Water Development Board to be 218 metres in width at Mirpur point. However, years of grabbing has reduced it to less than 18 metres in width in many places. Locals say some government officials have bought a vast swath by the river and filled it up for a housing project called Pratyasha Housing. Different other housing companies are now filling up the river elsewhere. Uttara University has projected to buy around 20 bighas of land in Kamarpara village just beside the Tongi-Ashulia Highway and already registered 11 bighas.This area is identified as the sub-flood flow zone in the Dhaka master plan, most of which has already been filled up as the government authorities keep a blind eye.There is a specific law in effect -- the Open Space and Natural Water Body Conservation Act, 2000 -- which prohibits change of characteristics of any wetland.Contacted, Dr Azizur Rahma, vice-chancellor of Uttara University, said: "Nobody is obeying the law; why are you asking me only? We are not different from others. "Besides, the government has no right to prohibit me from developing my land," he added. "We have checked the land documents several times and are sure all our land is legal."He added they wanted to be very 'clean' as they are going to set up a university in that wetland."We haven't taken any government land or encroached on any river," he claimed.According to the law, it is prohibited to change any natural land in the capital and all municipalities for conservation of all playgrounds, open space, parks and natural reservoirs.If anyone violates the law, they should suffer five years in prison and may also be fined up to Tk 50,000. Unfortunately, the law is hardly enforced, apparently encouraging the encroachers to repeat their offence again and again.

Defaulting Huawei forgiven

The new BTCL authority in a sudden move waived a penalty imposed earlier on Chinese telecom vendor Huawei Technologies for their failure to supply five power generators required for a next generation telecom network project.Although the Tk 14.86 lakh penalty is nothing in terms of an amount to the Chinese telecom giant, BTCL's soft corner for Huawei however makes the move questionable, as the penalty had been imposed in line with the deal signed between the two companies.The penalty waiver was granted by the newly appointed BTCL Managing Director SM Khabiruzzaman, as no penalty imposed on any vendor can be waived without the managing director's consent. BTCL sources said the issue of the waiver was not even discussed in any meeting of the company's board of directors.In a letter issued on April 12 this year to Huawei, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) said the company itself is now taking steps to procure the five diesel engine generators, which according to the deal Huawei was supposed to supply. And on top of that no penalty will be imposed on Huawei for its failure to supply the generators on time, the letter added. In September 2008, BTCL issued a show cause notice to Huawei asking it to explain why the Chinese company should not be penalised, to which Huawei failed to respond satisfactorily, prompting the BTCL authority to impose the Tk 14.86 lakh penalty.Talking to The Daily Star, a former BTCL official said the decision of imposing the penalty on Huawei was taken as the Chinese company had repeatedly failed to supply the generators. He said the penalty was imposed in line with the signed agreement, to recover liquidity damage incurred by BTCL.New BTCL Managing Director SM Khabiruzzaman however told The Daily Star that there had been no decision of imposing a penalty on Huawei. He said now BTCL will buy the generators itself, after getting back the procurement money from Huawei.Ashok Kumar Mondal, director (procurement) of BTCL, said penalties are usually imposed on vendors who fail to supply equipment within a project timeframe. In case of Huawei no delay has happened yet, he added.The generators are required for BTCL's project titled 'Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of IP-based NGN TAX in Dhaka, Khulna, Kushtia, Barisal and Sylhet on a turn-key basis'. Huawei and BTTB, the predecessor of BTCL, had signed a $2.42 million deal in December 2006 for the project which was supposed to be completed by May 2007. But the project still remains incomplete as Huawei failed to supply five French-made SDMO diesel engine generators, one of the major requirements of the project.The anomalies in the equipment supply part of the deal between BTCL and Huawei was first uncovered through an investigation by a taskforce of the now-defunct National Coordination Committee on Corruption and Serious Crimes (NCC) under the immediate past caretaker government, which also found involvement of some BTCL officials in the irregularities including repeatedly changing clauses of the deal agreement.According to the deal, Huawei was supposed to install French-made SDMO brand diesel generators. But changes were brought to the agreement allowing the Chinese company to supply Spanish-made PRAMAC generators through a local vendor Rahimafrooz, as Huawei had claimed that the French manufacturer of the SDMO generators had been acquired by another company which had stopped manufacturing the specific type of generators, according to the NCC taskforce report.Huawei somehow persuaded BTTB high-ups to amend the deal the two companies had signed, so the Chinese company could supply PRAMAC generators, the report added.The investigation report also said BTCL, which was BTTB back then, however denied receiving any PRAMAC generator, claiming that bringing such changes in the specifications of the equipment to be supplied, is not allowed under the Public Procurement Rules (PPR).The Billing of Quantity (BOQ) Committee also repeatedly denied accepting Huawei's proposal to amend the deal, the investigation report added. But the taskforce report includes a document dated December 24, 2007, which shows that BTTB's erstwhile chairman M Moudud Chowdhury, and erstwhile director (planning and development) M Shamsul Alam agreed to amend the deal.Meantime, Huawei 'secretly' signed a deal with Rahimafrooz for supplying the low-priced PRAMAC generators, the task force report said. Huawei, however, even failed to supply those Spanish-made PRAMAC generators on time. According to another letter issued by the erstwhile project director of the then BTTB on December 24, 2008, BTTB had changed relevant clauses of the contract in order to accommodate the Chinese contractor's change of mind about which kind of generators it would supply."We understand that action should be taken against the contractor within the purview of the contract," the letter added in light of Huawei's failure to supply even the generators of the changed category.Talking to The Daily Star recently, Ansar Uddin, managing director of Electro Mechanical Service Ltd, the local agent for SDMO brand generators in Bangladesh, said it is true that the company which used to manufacture SDMOs, was acquired by another company, but supply of that brand of generators never stopped even for a day. He said SDMO brand generators are still being sold in Bangladesh. Huawei however claims that it received a regret letter from SDMO's local agent, which said the required generators were not in supply. But, Ansar Uddin emphatically contradicted Huawei's claim saying, "I am the person to issue that kind of a letter. But as far as my knowledge goes, I never issued any kind of regret letter." HUAWEI'S VERSION Thong Poh Wah, Vice Director (PR) Asia Pacific Marketing of Huawei Technologies, told The Daily Star that his company was unable to provide the French-made SDMO diesel engine generators because the manufacturing company had been acquired by another company, which subsequently stopped manufacturing SDMO generators of the specifications mentioned in the contract. "Such information was not made available to us during the time of bidding as this bidding was re-tendered several times for more than one year. So that we proposed BTCL the new brand of DEG [diesel engine generator] with better specification as per the contract, once we got such information," Wah said in a written statement.However, BTCL was taking too long a time to decide on the issue, Wah said adding, when Huawei proposed to substitute with PRAMAC diesel engine generators, BTCL decided to procure the generators on its own instead.The decision was reflected in the inclusion of an additional provision in the agreement, Wah went on saying, Huawei did not fail to supply the PRAMAC generators, rather it refrained from supplying those because BTCL had decided to make the procurement itself.

Fit-again 7-yr-old pushed into coma

With a minor fracture in his hand, Sanjoy was admitted into a local clinic of Faridpur sadar upazila but a moment's careless treatment of a nurse put the seven-year-old boy's life in peril.Sanjoy, a nursery student and son of Jibon Kundu of Pachhchar Bazar at Shibchar in Madaripur, fractured one of his arms as he bumped into a tree branch while playing on May 5. After he was taken to the Faridpur Sadar Hospital the on duty doctor bandaged his hand.As his injury got worse the same doctor referred him to the Desh Clinic on May 11 where he underwent a minor operation the same day, said Sanjoy's uncle Shankar Kunda.He was supposed to return to his normal life but instead he is now fighting for his life in the city's Apollo Hospital.Before he was discharged from the clinic the on duty nurse of the postoperative ward was supposed to administer him an antibiotic injection as per the doctor's directive."As soon as the nurse pushed the injection the boy lapsed into unconsciousness," Shankar told The Daily Star."After he became unconscious we got anxious and called the doctor immediately. We collected the ampoule and showed it to the doctor," he said.“The doctor said it happened due to reaction of the medicine and advised us to take Sanjoy to Dhaka immediately,” he added.In a state of confusion Sanjoy's family members went over to several doctors with the ampoule to ascertain what really had gone wrong and came to know that he was given anaesthesia."We rushed Sanjoy to Apollo Hospital the same day and since then he has remained unconscious for 11 days in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital," Shankar said.Wishing anonymity one of the doctors who is treating the boy at the Apollo Hospital told The Daily Star on Friday over cellphone that functions of the brain and other parts of his body had collapsed.“Only his heart is functioning and we are trying our level best,” he said adding that they did not know why this had happened.The child was unconscious and his condition was very critical when he was admitted to the hospital, he added.Talking to The Daily Star correspondent, Dr Anadi Mondol who operated on the boy's hand said the operation was done successfully in the evening of May 11.Anadi, an orthopaedic physician of Faridpur Sadar Hospital who practises in the Desh Clinic as consultant also said the boy was completely all right and he talked with everyone and even had his breakfast at the clinic. "I saw them making preparation to leave the hospital," he said adding that he had prescribed for an antibiotic injection before the boy was discharged. But the nurse mistakenly injected anaesthetic sending the boy to an unconscious state. Conceding the fact Helal Bari Babul, owner of the Desh Clinic, told The Daily Star that they would take action against the nurse, Lipi."We are negotiating with the victim's family members to come to a settlement," he said.

Govt to check if bribe money used for JMB

The government will soon form a probe committee to investigate whether the money given by Siemens as bribe was used to fund the banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). "A probe committee would be formed in a week to investigate irregularities including the Siemens scam in the telecommunications sector during the tenure of BNP-led alliance government," Post and Telecommunications minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu told reporters yesterday after a discussion.Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Association organised the discussion at the city's Sonargaon Hotel to observe the World Telecommunications Day-2009. The probe committee will also investigate alleged irregularities and corruption during the previous BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government. The minister's announcement coincided with a feature run by a US-based news service site 'Frontline' indicating that former post and telecommunications minister Aminul Haque, allegedly involved in the Siemens scam, had a link to JMB responsible for a series of bomb blasts across the country on August 16, 2005.The report, however, said that there was no evidence to prove that the bribe offered by Siemens went to the JMB fund.Earlier Aminul was sentenced to 31 years in prison in 2007 for aiding and abetting JMB.The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on March 17 sued Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former premier Khaleda Zia for laundering money he had illegally taken from Siemens, a German industrial giant, a Chinese company and other sources in exchange for helping them get government contracts.The former prime minister's son received at least $1,80,000 (Tk 1.26 crore) as bribe in September 2005 for helping Siemens Bangladesh to win the contract to set up mobile network for state-run operator TeleTalk, according to sources.

BDR man dies of 'liver cirrhosis'

A Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) jawan died of 'liver cirrhosis' at BDR hospital yesterday.The dead was identified as Subedar Sheikh Habibur Rahman of 18 Rifles Battalion in Rangamati, says a BDR press release.Habibur was admitted to Combined Military Hospital, Chittagong on October 20 last year with liver ailment. After two-days of initial tests he was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) through the hospital at BDR headquarters on October 22 and was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.Meantime, he received treatment from medical experts in both BDR hospital and DMCH, the release said.As his condition deteriorated, he was later admitted to BDR hospital on May 12 this year. He died yesterday while undergoing treatment at the hospital. The body of the deceased was sent to his village home at Depulia in Barisal Sadar, the release added.The government on Thursday formed a three-member committee headed by a deputy secretary of the home ministry to investigate the causes of suicide and other unnatural deaths of BDR jawans after the mutiny at the Pilkhana BDR headquarters.

Haji Selim grapples with legal blitz

Settles 17 cases through 'mutual understanding'; 120 cases still pending

Former Awami League lawmaker Haji Mohammad Selim, who is facing a staggering 120 cases on various charges, has filed petitions for withdrawal of 65 of them, the highest number of appeals filed by an individual.Selim's counsel Pran Nath told The Daily Star that on Selim's directive he is preparing to file petitions for withdrawal of the remaining cases. "In a couple of days, I will file petitions for withdrawal of another 20 cases," he said.He said the AL leader faces 120 cases while another 17 cases were disposed of through "mutual understanding" between the plaintiffs and the defendant.Officials at the Dhaka district magistrate's office said over 1,500 petitions have been filed since the government declared that it would withdraw cases filed with "political motives".The charges Selim is facing include murder, attempt to murder, extortion, theft, holding unlawful assembly, and obstructing police from discharge duties. Most of the 65 cases Selim has appealed for withdrawal were filed during the tenure of the last BNP-led alliance government.Selim, who was elected MP on AL ticket in the June 12, 1996 election in Lalbagh constituency, allegedly patronised building up of a cadre group and if he is acquitted of the large number of charges, it will exceed the previous record.Former BNP lawmaker of Lalbagh constituency Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu, political rival of Selim, was given acquittal in 76 lawsuits during the BNP-led alliance government's rule, sources at the metropolitan public prosecutor's office said.Selim, also joint secretary general of Dhaka city unit of AL, was sent to jail on Wednesday after he surrendered before a Dhaka court in connection with a corruption case in which he was convicted for 13 years' imprisonment in absentia.Selim was once the ward commissioner of Lalbagh area from BNP but he left the party after being deprived of nomination and joined the AL prior to the June 12, 1996 parliamentary elections.He lost the October 2001 parliamentary election to Pintu.Of the 65 cases, Selim faces three cases for killing, seven for theft, one for extortion, 10 for attempting to murder, 28 for holding unlawful assembly and damaging vehicles, nine for obstructing the work of the police and seven for keeping illegal arms.The cases were filed under the law and order disruption act, Special Powers Act, arms and explosive substances act, company act, Anti-Corruption Commission Act and the penal code with different police stations.Terming the cases "fake" in his petitions filed with the Dhaka district magistrate, Haji Selim said the cases were filed against him and his political colleagues with political motives to harass them."The government has decided to withdraw false cases with political motives. Following the government's decision, the cases filed against me and my political colleagues need to be withdrawn," Selim said in his petitions.The Dhaka district magistrate has been sending the petitions to Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu for his opinion. Abdullah Abu is scrutinising the petitions and returning them to the district magistrate's office, which will forward the opinions to the home ministry.The government has already formed a high-powered committee to review the petitions for withdrawal of the cases after receiving them from the home ministry. After scrutiny, the metropolitan public prosecutor will file petitions with the courts concerned, seeking permission for withdrawal of the cases.

Zahidul Islam alias 'Boma Mizan', detained explosives expert of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), have told investigators that an 'act

The government is taking steps to try Pakistani war criminals of 1971 in absentia and the trial would be completed within the tenure of the present government, said Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday. He was speaking at Bangladesh Sanglap organised by BBC Bangla Service at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital. "We are committed to trying the war criminals within the tenure of our government ensuring that the trial procedures meet international standard," said Shafique. "We might not be able to try the Pakistani war criminals bringing them to Bangladesh but we are taking steps to try them in absentia," he said. The law minister said the government has asked the authorities concerned to investigate the deaths in crossfire. BNP leader and former minister barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia said all political parties in the country are now demanding the trial of war criminals. But if the issue is left unsettled, any quarter might cash in on it to woo voters.Commenting on militancy the law minister said the government is determined to root out militancy from the country and has already passed two acts to this effect. He said militancy spread fast in the country as religion-based politics was allowed through the Fifth Amendment in the constitution. "A political party, which is also a key component of the four-party alliance, said militancy cannot be eliminated from the country without their support. It indicates that they are also involved in militant activities," the law minister said. Ain o Salish Kendra Director Md Nur Khan said the government needs to intensify its efforts to root out militancy from the country. He suggested forming a national committee comprised of representatives from political parties, media and research organisations to fight militancy. Amena Mohsin, professor at the international relations department of Dhaka University, said the government is showing positive signs in combating militancy. Mithila Farzana of BBC moderated the dialogue on the country's current issues.

Key JMB man hiding across Rajshahi border

supplies explosive materials, confesses 'Boma' Mizan

Zahidul Islam alias 'Boma Mizan', detained explosives expert of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), have told investigators that an 'active member' of the militant outfit, who is hiding in India for long, sends explosive substances to JMB.JMB collects most of the explosive and other materials from local market, but those not available in the country are collected from India and sent to JMB by the absconding operative, investigators grilling Mizan quoted him as saying. "The JMB active member is hiding at a place in India near Rajshahi border in the guise of a cloth trader," an interrogator told The Daily Star yesterday quoting Mizan.He however declined to disclose the JMB opertaive's name and exact address in India.Mizan, now on a seven-day remand, is being quizzed at the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell in connection with the recovery of arms, explosives and explosive substances from two houses that Mizan had hired. His remand expires today, and police might produce him before court to seek further remand.The JMB explosoves expert also admitted that he had visited twice his fellow operative's residence in India for organisational activities -- first a couple of years back and then six months ago, the investigator said seeking anonymity."Like him, many other JMB members also visit the absconding operative in India," Mizan was quoted as saying."JMB used to collect power gel and detonators from India as those are available there," said a top official of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) wishing anonymity. He mentioned that those are widely used in India for razing hills. Mizan also said 'Bhagne' Shahid alias Nazmul, who is JMB commander of northern region of the country, might operate a 'mini munitions factory' like the ones at East Monipur in the city, which Rab busted on May 15. He however could not give the location of the factory.Nazmul was trained by Mizan in explosives. Another investigator said, " Mizan hinted at some persons who are playing significant role in JMB activities but he is yet to give their whereabouts." JMB used to pay him around Tk 30,000 a month -- Tk 1,200 for food, Tk 11,000 for house rent, Tk 15,000 as pocket money and for organisational activities and Tk 2,000 for clothing, the interrogator said.

Padma devours town protection embankment

A portion of the town protection embankment in Faridpur was devoured by the Padma yesterday well before the start of monsoon.About 60 meters of the embankment at Dhalar intersection in Decreer Char union under Sadar upazila of the district washed away, creating panic among the town dwellers.The erosion started at around 10 in the morning. At noon it took a serious turn and around 60 metre basement with boulders and sand bags went down the river.Faridpur Water Development Board (WDB) officials rushed to the spot where protection work was done just a week ago. Rafiq Ullah, executive engineer of the WDB, said swinging current of the river hit the embankment relentlessly causing serious erosion. The embankment was erected under a project in 2004-2005 fiscal year. But it is the first incident of such erosion, he said.We have already started dumping GO textile bags and CC blocks, he added."We hope to protect the town from possible devastation", he said. But locals alleged that the erosion stared before the monsoon as the standard of the recently done 'maintenance work' was not up to the mark.

Elderly man murdered

Police recovered body of an elderly man from a water body at Dinonathpur Friday evening. Police said, Abed Ali,60, of Dinonathpur village under Sadar Upazila went to a field near the water body in the morning for grazing cows. But locals found his body in the evening floating in water with marks of injuries. Sub Inspector Jamal Uddin of Sadar Police Station said, they are yet to ascertain the reason behind his death. Wife of the deceased filed a murder case.

Bridge collapse snaps road links for 9 days

Traffic movement on Pekua-Moghnama-Baniachhara Road in coastal upazila Pekua has remained suspended since May 15 when the 130-metre 'alternative bridge' across the Kataphari River collapsed under the pressure of a salt-laden truck.As road connection in the area remains cut, supply of huge quantity of locally produced salt, fish and other essentials to other parts of the country has remained stopped and about three lakh people of Kutubdia, Chakoria and Pekua uapzilas are suffering. Officials concerned could not say when the bridge will reopen.“On May 12, I bought 11 tonnes of salt from local farmers to supply it to Dhaka but I could not send it as the bridge collapsed. If it rains the salt will be damaged,” said trader Anwar Hossain of Katafari village.“About 5,000 people are now crossing the river using a risky bamboo bridge every day. The upazila administration is trying to build a temporary wooden bridge to mitigate people's sufferings,” Pekua Upazila Parishad Chairman Shafayat Aziz said.Roads and Highways Department (RHD) engineer in Chakoria upazila, Abdur Rashid said letter has been sent to the higher authorities seeking allocation for starting repair work of the bridge.The repair work cannot be started without allocation of funds, Cox's Bazar Zone RHD Executive Engineer Abdul Halim said. Meanwhile, little progress has been made about construction of a permanent bridge on Kataphari River after about 50 per cent of the work was done till December 2006, sources concerned said.

Bashar gets ICL NOC, submits to BCB today

Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar will submit his ICL no objection certificate (NOC) to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today to facilitate his comeback to the mainstream."I got the NOC from ICL [Indian Cricket League] authority and submit it to BCB tomorrow [Sunday]. Hope everything will be clear for me after submitting this certificate. I am looking forward to starting afresh," expected Bashar.The 36-year-old former skipper was the first to come forward to take the opportunity of "amnesty" announced by BCB for the players associated with the unapproved ICL.No other player has yet followed his footsteps and Bashar questioned whether the other rebels could understand what the future held for them."It's now clear that there is no problem from the ICL as they are ready to release any player. I don't know whether other players could realise the situation. But I wish they did," he said.BCB has decided to allow Bangladeshi cricketers under contract with the ICL to participate in domestic cricket subject to the termination of their contracts by June 15 this year.

Gilchrist in full flow

It was once said of Brian Lara's batting that the opposing captain's only hope was to place his fielders in the gaps. Roughly the same thought would have gone through Virender Sehwag's mind as he watched his bowlers being taken apart, brilliantly and brutally, by Adam Gilchrist . To reduce a Gilchrist knock to statistics is a crime but one number last night tells a story: There were five dot balls in his 85. Just five. Within 17 balls, by when he had reached his fifty, he had killed the game and knocked out Delhi, the strongest team in the competition.Gilchrist in full flow has to be one of the most pleasing sights in cricket. There is not a single ugly shot; the smooth arc of the bat swing and the clean hitting is what you take away. Through his career he has done the improbable - made happy both the purists and those who seek instant gratification.Tonight, he exhibited his best, which was lapped up by a strong Centurion crowd. The white ball kept flying everywhere but the shot of the day was the one that never left the ground. He leaned forward to time a full length delivery from Ashish Nehra and it raced away through wide mid-off. Not that any of the other shots, barring a drag-pull, were anything but gorgeous.The thing that most catches the eye is his extension of the arms. Where the traditional batsmen stop their arm-swing, Gilchrist's arms go cleanly through the line of the ball. You can only marvel at the absence of any self-doubt that allows him to play like that.For, rest assured, any self-doubt in the mind would inevitably raise questions. What if the ball cuts away fractionally? What if it keeps slightly low or higher than what one expected? What if the length is fractionally shorter or fuller than what one thought? What if the pace is slower than anticipated? This is where it gets fascinating. Gilchrist has admitted that he is a very sensitive type prone to doubting himself in life; you can only gasp at the transformation when he has bat in hand. He is not a Keith Miller; with Miller or Sobers or Richards, the batting seemed a logical extension of their personality. Not so with Gilchrist. Perhaps it's the release from himself that he seeks while at the crease.Gilchrist himself put it eloquently after the game. "All I have asked my team in the tournament is to make whatever is happening in that moment [while you are in middle] the most important moment in your life. The next delivery is the most important thing in your life because there is nothing else going around at that moment."Nothing else but the sound of nerves shredding among the Delhi bowlers as they ran in. Yet you couldn't blame them. There weren't too many bad balls in the conventional sense; just a couple of full tosses, nothing wide or too short or too full. Even the two full tosses came at the free hits. The pressure to bowl the yorker or the unhittable ball must have eventually strangled them.Only high-quality spin could have saved the day, as it did the other when Ramesh Powar bowled a magical ball to dismiss Gilchrist. Pace plays to his strength; to force the error, you have to make the adrenalin rush to his head by slowing it up and making him go after it. Delhi, though, didn't dare use Amit Mishra during the Powerplays. It was their only chance but Sehwag didn't want to take that risk. Perhaps it's a trick he missed; there's no guarantee it would have been effective - he could have disappeared for plenty - but given the seamers were so shell-shocked they didn't try a single slower one, that's the only thing he could have done.Spare a thought, though, for Delhi. They were the strongest team in the competition, comfortably ahead in the league table and winning nearly everything in sight, but came undone in the semi-final. Gautam Gambhir and David Warner couldn't deliver when it mattered; nor could their quality seamers produce the one special ball that could have made the difference. They couldn't raise their game under pressure.Their innings started off like Sri Lanka's game against India in the 1996 World Cup semi-final. Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana fell as soon as they arrived at the crease then; today Gambhir and Warner went early. Aravinda de Silva played one of the best innings in World Cup history to turn things around for them, then. Sehwag looked like he was on his way to reprise that knock but couldn't survive the strategy break. That killed the momentum and the innings, despite Tillakaratne Dilshan's efforts, fell short of a matchwinning total.But when Gilchrist is such a mood, who can say what is a match-winning total? There is no shame in losing to a dazzling act like this. It doesn't happen every day. Or could it? We have to wait for the final to find out whether Gilchrist has more fuel left in his tank.

Tigers off to England

Bangladesh cricket team left here for England yesterday, reiterating that they have targeted defending champions India to fulfil their dream of making the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20.Banking on their batting depth, the Tigers believe that it is not an impossible task to beat high-flying India as it's a T20 game, so that there will be no need to wait for the second group match against Ireland."It's a Twenty20 game where you can get knocked out anytime. But realistically we should be in the Super Eights. We can even make it to the semifinals because nothing is impossible in this format of the game. We will definitely try against India before the Ireland game," said Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons while talking with the reporters at the Zia International Airport.The Australian pointed out his side's batting depth to make a mark in the second version of the tournament."We have batting depth in the team. Just look, Mushi [Mushfiqur Rahim] is batting at number six and he is followed by Riyad [Mahmudullah] and Mash [Mashrafe Bin Mortaza] and this is very important," he added.Captain Mohammad Ashraful, who along with his deputy Mashrafe, leaves today to join the team in England and believes that nothing is impossible in Twenty20 cricket."The beauty of the T20 format is that you can win the match against India and lose a game against Ireland. It's always risky to tag someone favourites or minnows in this format of the game. We can even make it to the last four if we can beat India in the first game," said Ashraful, who returned home on Friday after a fruitless IPL trip in South Africa.The Bangladesh skipper said that they might have lacked match practice before the World Cup because of one-match appearance in the IPL, but informed that they had been very much in practice."It was frustrating not to play too many matches there [in the IPL], but I did have a very good time as it gave me the opportunity to come across so many world stars. I learnt many things from this trip which I believe would be very helpful for me," he said.Bangladesh will definitely be looking to number one all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to make their dream come true as the young man already made him a key performer for the Tigers."In Twenty20 game, any side can win the match. We have nothing to lose. The June 6 match [against India] may be ours if we can put up our best performance," said a confident Shakib before departure.He was however not ready to focus on the past success. "We upset India in the 2007 World Cup but in a one-day match. This time we will play in a totally different format. We have to perform to our best if we want to beat the inform team," he added.Bangladesh, who have been pitted in Group A along with India and Ireland, will be based in Wormsley until the end of this month. Bangladesh have additional practice matches lined up against New Zealand at Wormsley on May 26 and against the Netherlands on May 28. They then face Scotland on May 29.Their official practice games are against Australia on June 1 and Sri Lanka the next day at Nottingham.

শ্রীঘই আমাদের ওয়েব সাইট বাংলায় প্রকাশিত হতে যাচ্ছে।

এই ওয়েব সাইটটি শ্রীঘই বাংলায় প্রকাশিত হবে। আমি নতুন আরেকটি ওয়েব সাইট খুলছি। ওয়েব সাইটটি লাভ ষ্টোরি নিয়ে হবে। আপনি আপনার ভালোবাসার কথা আমাকে ই-মেইলের মাধ্যমে পাঠাতে পারেন। প্রয়োজনে আপনার নাম পরিচয় গোপন রাখা হবে। সাথে আপনার মোবাইল নাম্বার দিতে হবে। কাজেই দেরী না করে এক্ষনি আপনার ভালোবাসার কথা আমার কাছে পাঠান।