AL office gutted in Netrakona

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

NETRAKONA

Mohonganj upazila unit Awami League (AL) offices, three godowns of jute were gutted in a devastating fire in Patpatti area under Mohongon upazila headquarters of Netrakona district on Sunday.

Sources said the fire had originated from an electric short circuit in a shop and engulfed the adjacent area soon.

On information, fire fighters from Mohonganj Fire Service Station went to the spot and doused the fire.

The affected people claimed that the loss caused by fire could go up to Tk three crore.

Rajshahi div eyes bumper Aush yield this season

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

NAOGAON

Farmers of Rajshahi division are expecting a bumper yield of Aush paddy this season due to favourable weather conditions and necessary support from the local agriculture offices.

According to the divisional agriculture office, 1,94,150 hectares of land was brought under Aush cultivation this season. Farmers are expected to produce 4,62,000 tonnes of paddy in the division this year.

As such, 47,300 hectares of land was cultivated in Naogaon district, 11,892 in Natore, 38,712 in Rajshahi, 45,980 in Chapainawabganj, 22,461 in Pabna, 6,305 in Sirajganj, 21,400 in Bogra and 100 hectares in Joypurhat district.

Talking to daily sun, Hamidul Islam of Gorgram village under Adomdighi upazila in Bogra district, said, he had cultivated the paddy on four bighas of land.

“I am also expecting a bumper harvest this year from my cropland,” he said.

Delwar Hossain, a farmer of Pakoria village under Mohonpur upazila in Rajshahi district, said, “I have grown Aush on one acre of land. I am expecting a bumper harvest this year. Likewise, many farmers here are hopeful of harvesting the crop abundantly.”

S.M Nurozzaman Mondol, deputy director of Naogaon, DAE, said, “Favourable weather conditions, adequate supply of necessary fertilisers and pesticides, helped the farmers grow the crop successfully this year.”

When contacted, Rajshahi Divisional Additional director Bikas Endo Mondol said, “Rajshahi Krishi Development Bank (RKB) and other non-government organizations supplied adequate agricultural loan to the farmers. Seeds worth Tk6,36,26,746 and fertilizer will also be distributed among the cultivator in the district.”

MoneyGram announces various promotions

Daily sun, 10 September 2012

As a commercial partner of the ICC World Twenty20, MoneyGram, a leading global money-transfer company, announced various promotions in Bangladesh leading up to the ICC T20 tournament, which starts on September 18.

Three customers who receive a valid MoneyGram transaction at any MoneyGram agent location in Bangladesh between August 20 and September 20 will automatically be entered for a draw to win two all expense paid tickets to Sri Lanka. Customers are also eligible to receive the following prizes- Mobile handsets for 40 winners who receive a MoneyGram money transfer in Bangladesh between August 20 and September 20. Bat designed key chains for customers who receive a MoneyGram money transfer in Bangladesh between September 18th to October 7th.

“Cricket fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and cricket matches bring friends and family together to cheer on their favorite players and teams,” said Harsh Lambah, senior regional director of South Asia for MoneyGram.

Broad denies England in World T20 spin

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

CHESTER-LE-STREET: Stuart Broad insisted England could cope with the spin-friendly pitches they will face when defending their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka after a thumping loss to South Africa.

England are heading to Sri Lanka without Kevin Pietersen, man of the tournament when they won the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean two years ago. —AFP

Bangladesh ride on Sui nu Pru Strike

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

Bangladesh kept their semifinal hopes of the 2nd SAFF Women’s Championship alive with a solitary goal win over Bhutan at the Ceylon Rugby and Football Club ground, Colombo, on Sunday.

Midfielder Suinu Pru Marma scored the all important goal in the 17th minute of the match.

In the first match of the day India beat hosts Sri Lanka to seal a semifinal spot. Bangladesh who lost to India 3-0 will face Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Sri Lanka defeated Bhutan 4-0 in the opening day.

Chess Olympiad Men’s team beats Bosnia & Herzegovina

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

Bangladesh men’s team beat Bosnia & Herzegovina while the women’s team drew with Turkmenistan in the 40th World Chess Olympiad held Expro Center Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday.

In the last round game men’s won against Bosnia & Herzegovina by 2.5-1.5 points.

GM Ziaur Rahman beat GM Boian Kurajica, Abdullah Al Rakib drew with GM Emir Dizdarevic, GM Enamul Hossain drew with IM Dalibor Stojanovic, GM Niaz Murshed drew with IM Bosko Tomic. Men’s team earned 14 match points and 26 games points.

In the women’s section Bangladesh Women team drew with Turkmenistan by 2-2 points. Sharmin Sultana Shirin won against WFM Bahar Hallaeva and WIM Rani Hamid won against Akur Islaeva. WFM Zakia Sultana lost to WFM Gozal Atabaeva and Nazrana Khan Eva lost to Ogulgerek Atabaeva. Bangladesh Women team earned 12 match points and 24.5 Games points.

BCB XI humbled by T&T

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

A four-wicket defeat of Bangladesh Cricket Board XI against Trinidad & Tobago in their last T20 match in the Trinidad Quadrangular T20 at Port of Spain on Sunday, punched the Tigers down to the second place in the tournament. The defeat allowed ICC associate Afghanistan top the table and clinch the title of the four-nation T20 tourney.

Batting first, unbeaten 31 runs by Nasir Hossaim and another 30 runs by opening batsman Tamim Iqbal helped BCB XI post 124 runs on the score board losing nine wickets.

Sherwin Ganga and Dave Mohammed shared three wicket each for T&T.

In reply, the Bangladeshi bowers did start brilliantly dismissing five T&T wickets with only 12 runs on the board. However the way the hosts came back into the match left all jaws open. Unbeaten 51 runs by Yannick Ottley and allrounder Ganga’s unbeaten 40 runs aided the side to recover and chase the target down with four wickets and three balls to spare.

Left arm spinner Abdur Razzak bagged three wickets while seamer Shafiul Islam picked three for BCB XI.

Bangladesh winning their previous two matches leveled them with Afghanistan who also won two of their matches. The Bangladesh national side, which is the squad for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 2012, played in as BCB XI in the tournament, knew the consequences of a defeat against T&T.

A win could have grabbed them the title but a defeat placed them as equal to Afghanistan. And in head-to-head, Afghanistan was ahead of the Tigers in regards of run rate.

Bangladesh will now head to Sri Lanka for their ICC Twenty20 World Cup mission. The Tigers will first stop at Colombo for their warm-up matches against Zimbabwe on September 17 and Ireland on September 17 and then head to Kandy, their World Cup venue.

SA eves seal series

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

A dominant bowling by the South African national women’s team left hosts Bangladesh stunned with a seven-wicket defeat as the visitors clinched the ODI series by 2-1 margin at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Batting first, Bangladesh were bowled out for only 60 runs in 24.1 overs and the tourists chased down the target in 20.4 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Bangladesh skipper Salma Khatun won the toss and opted to bat first. But the opening duo, Ayesha Rahman and Sharmin Akhter, departing by the second over, gave the locals a shaky start to the match that they wanted to win at any cost. The early dismissals built pressure on an inexperienced Bangladesh side which left the batting line-up exhausted and no partnerships could manage the side only 60 runs on the score board to defend.

“We are not used to play under pressure but I think we did a fair job in our last two matches.The more we play in the international arena, the more we improve. And most of the players are still young which is also a problem. Its not that we are unable to bat it’s just that we are not performing when are needed to,” said Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun at the post-match conference.

South African pacer, Shabnim Ismail was the wrecker in chief behind Bangladesh’s batting debacle. The 23-year old from Cape Town was brilliant in breaking down the Bangladeshi middle-order after her colleagues got the early break through. Shabnim bowled five overs, picked four wickets and conceded 10 runs only.

Later, South Africa chased down the target in 20 overs losing three wickets. Opening batter Trisha Chetty scored unbeaten 30 runs while number three batter Susan Benade added another 21 to propel their side to the victory and seal the series by .

The ODI series win by the Proteas has been the first in the sub-continent.

“It is the first series win by the South African side in the sub-continent. We are very with the win as it is nit that east to play under the condition here. The team will be proud of how they performed in the last few days,” said South African skipper Mignon du Preez.

“The win was not a walk in the park. The Bangladesh team played really well for the past few days and there stages when they put up some pressure on us. Today, unfortunately they dropped few catches and in cricket as they say, catches win matches. Today was the day when we managed to get hold of every chances that we got and I think that was the only difference,” Preez added.

The sides will now face each other in three match Twenty20 series staring from September 11. All the three matches will be played at Mirpur.

BFF Academy to start end of October

BFF vice president Badal Roy, second from the left, speaks at a press conference at the BFF House on Sunday.

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

Bangladesh Football Federation hopes to start its Sylhet-based Football Academy at the end of October.

Chairman of BFF’s Development Committee Badal Roy looked forward to wrap up the selection program of U-14 and U-18 booter’s at the end of the October and start the academy in a press conference held at the BFF House on Sunday.

The first level of their talent hunt program (U-14 and U-18) had already been started at Panchari Upazila in Khagrachari district from September first and will take place through out the country respectively.

The program will run in four steps/Levels. First level starts from Upazila level where five players will chosen for second level from both age group. Second stage will take place in District Level from 20-28 September and third in Division Level from 1-10 October. Fourth or final is National level where total 120 players, 60 from both age group, will be called in the trial from 20-28 October. Finally 60 players will be selected from the trial and will get the opportunity enter Sylhet BKSP for long time training.

“Our coaches are following the FIFA instruction for selecting booters.

FIFA will send a coaching staff for the final selection for the academy” said Badal.

BFF Vice President Arif Khan Joy also hoped the program, in its introduction, will help to find out new stars in Bangladesh Football. “This is the first time BFF has started talent hunting. I hope new players will come out through the program.” said Joy.

SA Games set for unpredicted delay

Daily Sun, 10 September 2012

SA Games, the biggest sports extravaganza of the South Asian countries, is all but destined to get at least one year deferment due to the conflict between the Indian Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association.

Col. (Rtd) Waliullah, the CEO of Bangladesh Olympic Association, admitted the state of affairs. “We are in uncertainty about the games as India has not been finalizing the date, “we cant start our training programs as without any final date the government is not disbursing any money for the training programs,” said Waliullah.

He also pointed out the latest unofficial developments regarding the issue. “The South Asian Olympic Committee has not been able to sit in a meeting in the recent past, a meeting would have provided the opportunity to get a clear picture” said the BOA CEO.The South Asian Games, formerly known as South Asian Federation Games, is a multi-sport event held every two years among athletes from eight South Asian countries.

Meanwhile Pakistan English daily ‘The News’ a few days back reported that India would decide by September 15 whether it could host the South Asian Games.

“Indian Olympic Association (IOA) told the member countries during the London Olympics that they would decide by September 15 whether they could host the South Asian Games,” POA secretary Khalid Mehmood was quoted by the paper.

Khalid also said that if India fails to get to the point of conclusion to host the event Nepal will be the host.

Indian sports ministry has said India will not be able to host the Games before the second half of 2014 due to assembly elections in Delhi in 2013 and general elections in the first half of 2014. A senior sports ministry official on condition of anonymity told DNA that “there is no way that our stance could be changed because of the sheer reason that the decision of not hosting the Games in 2013 has been taken after due consultation with every concerned ministry and the PMO”.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) however wrote to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to re-consider the government’s decision to reschedule the hosting of the South Asian Games in Delhi to late 2014.

India hosted the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, a $6-billion event but the after the conclusion allegation of massive corruption rocked the IOA.

Sports Minister Ajay Maken said it was difficult for the government to trust the IOA after the corruption charges surrounding the Commonwealth Games. “”It is not possible to trust the IOA and they do not seem competent to hold another big Gamea where hundreds of millions of rupees will be spent again.” Maken told Reuters.

With all the proceedings moving slow it is almost sure the next edition of SA Games will take another year to see light.