Internet minders approve big rise in domain names

Internet minders voted Monday to allow virtually unlimited new domain names based on themes as varied as company brands, entertainment and political causes, in the system's biggest shake-up since it started 26 years ago.

Groups able to pay the $185,000 application can petition next year for new updates to '.com' and '.net' with web site suffixes using nearly any word in any language, including in Arabic, Chinese and other scripts, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers decided at a meeting in Singapore. 'This is the start of a whole new phase for the internet,' said Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of ICANN's board of directors. 'Unless there is a good reason to restrain it, innovation should be allowed to run free.'

ICANN's decision culminates six years of negotiations and is the biggest change to the system since '.com' made its debut in 1984. The expansion plan had been delayed largely because of concerns that new suffixes could infringe on trademarks and copyrights.

High-profile entertainment, consumer goods and financial services companies will likely be among the first to apply for their own domain name in a bid to protect their brands, experts said.

'It will allow corporations to better take control of their brands,' said Theo Hnarakis, chief executive of Melbourne IT, which manages online brands for clients such as Volvo, LEGO and GlaxoSmithKline. 'For example, .apple or .ipad would take customers right to those products.'

The surge in domains should help alleviate some of the overlap of names in the most popular suffixes, especially '.com', which has 94 million sites registered.

There are currently 290 country suffixes, such as '.jp' for Japan and '.fr' for France, which typically are restricted to groups or individuals with a presence in the countries, and 22 open names that include recent additions such as '.tel' for telecommunications.

In March, ICANN approved '.xxx' for pornography, but some porn sites have declined to adopt the suffix, fearing it will make it easier for governments to ban them. Conservative groups opposed the '.xxx' name too, arguing it could attract children to adult sites.

Analysts said they expect between 500 to 1,000 new domain names, mostly companies and products, but also cities and generic names such as .bank or .hotel. Groups have formed to back '.sport' for sporting sites, and two conservationist groups separately are seeking the right to operate an '.eco' suffix.

ICANN plans to auction off domains if multiple parties have legitimate claims. However, it expects companies will likely strike deals among themselves to avoid a public auction.

'I think we'll see much more of that going on than see auctions generating circuses,' Dengate Thrush said. 'But there is that prospect that there will be a couple of identical applicants and applications.'

The application process is arduous — the fee is $185,000 and the guidebook is 360 pages — and meant to prevent scammers from grabbing valuable domain names. ICANN will receive applications for new domains for 90 days beginning Jan. 12.

'It's a significant undertaking. We're calling it the Olympic bid,' said Adrian Kinderis, chief executive of AusRegistry International, which helps companies to register domains and manages names such as '.au' for Australia.

'But it's worth it for corporations that have suffered from things like trademark infringement, and can now carve out a niche on the internet,' Kinderis said.

ICANN said it has set aside up to $2 million to assist applicants from developing countries.

'The board's very enthusiastic about providing support for applicants from developing areas where the evaluation fee or access to technical expertise might be somewhat of a bar,' ICANN senior vice president Kurt Pritz told reporters after the meeting.

ICANN said in a statement that it will mount a global publicity campaign to raise awareness of the opportunities of new domain names.

Source : New Age

ULFA ready to announce ceasefire

The Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talks faction of ULFA is set to declare ceasefire formally to pave the way for peace talks with the Centre, reports Times of India from Guwahati on Monday.

'Our general council has decided to declare ceasefire either by the end of this month or the first week of July,' ULFA deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, who's with the Rajkhowa faction, said on Sunday.

A senior police official involved in the peace process with ULFA confirmed the announcement. 'The ceasefire declaration by ULFA is expected soon after some formalities are completed. This will be followed by signing of the suspension of operation between the government and ULFA. This may happen either in the third or fourth week of July. The ceasefire ground rules will be finalised at the same time,' he said.

The official said once ULFA signs the suspension of operation, it has to deposit all weapons in its possession. 'So far, there has not been any problem in carrying forward the peace process with the ULFA'S pro-talks faction, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. Its members have managed to keep their weapons in control. Besides, there has not been any report of misuse of arms by them,' he said.

On Saturday, ULFA'S pro-talks faction spokesman, Mrinal Hazarika, had told TOI that they would not lay down arms. However, Hazarika had made it clear that ULFA had no problem in declaring a formal ceasefire and sign the suspension of operation.

There has been an informal suspension of operation against ULFA ever since Rajkhowa and his top aides, including Raju Baruah, were held in Bangladesh and brought to India in 2009.

In February this year, an eight-member ULFA delegation, led by Rajkhowa, met the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram and home secretary GK Pillai and began the process of dialogue after three decades of insurgency. Though Rajkhowa and several top leaders of ULFA favour a negotiated settlement, the elusive military boss of the outfit, Paresh Baruah, is still opposing the peace process.

Source : New Age

BNP standing committee meets tonight

Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, also the leader of the opposition in parliament, has convened an emergency meeting of the party's top policymaking body, the national standing committee, this night.

Khaleda's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told New Age that the meeting was convened at 8:30pm at the BNP chief's Gulshan office.

The meeting follows the cabinet's approval of the recommendations made by the special committee on constitution amendment. Maruf said the latest political situation of the country would top the meeting's agenda and might determine the party's next course of action.

Senior BNP leaders, however, ruled out any possibility of the party's joining the parliament at the call of the ruling alliance and the prime minister.

Monday's cabinet meeting also endorsed the special committee's proposal for dropping the provisions for caretaker government from the constitution.

The BNP and its allies have been opposing and protesting the move and enforced two countrywide general strikes including a 36-hour one.

Source : New Age

Govt wants provision restored to allow retired HC judges to appear in SC

The government on Tuesday appealed for restoration of the constitutional provision allowing retired High Court judges to appear in the Appellate Division.

The provision was incorporated in the Fifth Amendment to the constitution through a martial law proclamation in 1977.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court posted for today the hearing in the petition moved by attorney general Mahbubey Alam seeking modification of its verdict for restoration of some provisions of the Fifth Amendment which the court had declared void.

The petition said that the provision allowing retired High Court judges to appear in the Appellate Division had been dropped from the constitution reprinted on February 10, 2011 in line with the Supreme Court verdict delivered on February 2, 2010 declaring all martial law proclamations and orders illegal, excepting those which have been condoned by the Appellate Division in public interest.

If condonation in respect of article 99(2) of the constitution is not allowed, there will be an abrupt discontinuation of the retired judges' appearance in the Appellate Division which will affect litigants, the petition pointed out. 

The petition also referred to the Appellate Division's May 11, 2011 verdict that retained some provisions, including the Supreme Court's authority over the subordinate judiciary, and Bangladeshi citizenship, made by the Fifth Amendment to the constitution, until December 31, 2012 to enable parliament to make necessary amendments to the constitution.

The Appellate Division also ordered retention of the martial law proclamation that had amended Article 6 of the constitution on Bangladeshi citizenship.

It ordered retention of the martial law proclamations that had amended Article 44 guaranteeing the right to move the High Court for protecting fundamental rights and Article 102 that had restored the authority to the High Court to pass necessary orders to enforce fundamental rights.

The martial law proclamations that had amended Article 96 making provisions for the Supreme Judicial Council for removal of judges and holders of constitutional offices and repealed Part VI-A of the constitution, which was added by the Fourth Amendment making provisions for forming a 'National Party' as the lone political party in the country, will also be retained, the court ordered.

The court passed the order in its verdict in the government's appeal seeking a review of the Appellate Division judgement delivered on February 2, 2010 upholding the High Court verdict delivered on August 29, 2005 declaring the Fifth Amendment void.

In the May 11 verdict, the Appellate Division disposed of the government's petition with a modification of the operating portion of its February 2, 2010 judgement.

Source : New Age

Court adjourned amid pandemonium

A Dhaka court on Monday adjourned the hearing in the framing of charges in a case amid a pandemonium triggered by the assault of a defence lawyer by a court peon for using a toilet reserved for prosecutors in the makeshift court set up in the Aliya Madrassah ground at Bakshibazar in capital.

The defence counsel, Hakim Khan, was pushed on the neck by the peon, Hashim Patwari, in the courtroom at about 3:25pm while the Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge,

Mohammad Jahurul Haque, was hearing the defence counsels' arguments seeking acquittal of their clients of charges of murder, arson, robbery, and other crimes committed during the February 25-26, 2009 rebellion at the BDR headquarters, now Border Guard Bangladesh, in Dhaka.

Hakim Khan at about 3:30pm went to the dais during the hearing and sought justice for his being assaulted by the peon.

A number of defence counsels also protested at the assault, triggering a furore during the proceedings.

A defence counsel told the court, 'We cannot accept such behaviour.'

Prosecution lawyer Mosharraf Hossain told the court that he would solve the problem after the court rises.

'There is pandemonium in the court and I cannot continue the proceedings,' said the judge, Mohammad Jahurul Haque.

'The proceedings are adjourned till July 5,' he told the court at about 3:35pm. 

Jahurul Haque went to his private room and Mosharraf Hossain along with Hakim Khan followed him after a few minutes.

Later, Mosharraf Hossain told reporters that the problem was 'solved' but there were marks of injuries on the neck of the victim. 

Before the incident, the court allowed defence lawyers representing 169 of the accused to argue why their clients should be absolved of the charges pressed by the prosecution. With this, 180 accused so far argued through their lawyers since May 23.

The Criminal Investigation Department of police filed two cases – one under the penal code for murder, arson, robbery, and other crimes and the other under the Explosive Substances Act for illegally taking up arms – against 850 BDR personnel and civilians.

Of the 850 accused, 826 including former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Awami League leader Torab Ali, a retired subedar, were present in the courtroom on Monday.

Three of the accused have died in the meanwhile, while 21 have been absconding.

The prosecution, after pressing the charges against the 847 accused, prayed for framing the charges in May.

During the proceedings, Aminul Islam, the counsel for Pintu, argued that his client should be discharged from case as his implication was 'politically motivated.'

He said that some of the accused had met Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, and the home minister, Sahara Khatun, separately and told them about their grievances before the mutiny.

But the prosecution has made Pintu an accused.

'It was done to save Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Sheikh Selim and some others who were informed by some BDR men that something was going to happen,' Aminul told the court.

Source : New Age

Govt tries its best to fulfil Sufia Kamal’s dream: PM

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has said her government is trying its best to fulfil the dream of poet Begum Sufia Kamal for overall advancement of the country's women.

'Despite limitations, we're trying relentlessly to improve the lot of women as they are an integral part of the country's development,' she said while speaking at a discussion at the Osmani Memorial auditorium in the city Monday.

The discussion was organised by the women and child affairs ministry in observance of the 100th birth anniversary of late Begum Sufia Kamal, a renowned poet and a pioneer of women's rights movement in Bangladesh.

The state minister for women and child affairs, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, presided over the function.

Hasina said her government had undertaken special measurers for women in all sectors so that they could make progress quickly.

She mentioned that the present government had allocated special funds to help the women entrepreneurs flourish in their ventures.

'We've also made the education for female students free up to higher secondary level and provide free books to them,' she said.

She urged all to work together for halting all sorts of repression and torture against women.

Describing the development activities undertaken for women during her government's previous tenure and also this time, the prime minister said the present government would do whatever was possible for the development of the women.

'Half of the population of the country is women. We can't think of any development bypassing the development of women.'

She urged the women to take part in the economical activities in larger numbers alongside men.

'We've taken a women development policy to establish their rights in all sector. We faced an adverse situation because of this policy.  But let me assure you, there is nothing anti-Islamic in the policy. We formulated the policy in accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah,' Hasina said.

'There is nothing in the policy that would hurt any religion,' she added.

The prime minister said political empowerment of women was essential to fulfil the dream of Begum Sufia Kamal.

She said it was the Awami League which approved the highest number of women candidates in the last general election and only two of them lost in the election.

She mentioned that during the previous tenure of the Awami League, women were appointed as judges in the High Court Division, and this time, a woman judge has been appointed in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Hasina also said the maternal leave was only three months before 1996. After assuming the office last time, the AL government increased this leave to four months and now it had been raised again to six months so that mothers could take proper care of their newborn babies.

Recalling the contributions of Sufia Kamal for women and also for the country, she said in an emotional voice that Begum Sufia Kamal was all time a great support to her. 'Both before and after 1975, I always used to go to my 'fufu' (aunt) for all sorts of support and she (Sufia Kamal) always helped me. She was very close to my father and our family.'

Later, the prime minister witnessed a colourful function.

Born in Barisal on June 20 in 1911, Sufia Kamal dedicated her life to empowering women. She received Independence Day Award, Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Deshbandhu CR Das Gold Medal, and many other national and international accolades for her contributions in literature and other fields.

Poet Begum Sufia Kamal passed away on November 20 in 1999.

Source : New Age

Charge sheet against Babar, 13 others

The police Monday submitted a supplementary charge sheet against 14 people including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and Afghan war veteran Mufti Abdul Hannan in the 2005 murder case of former finance minister SAMS Kibria.

Investigation officer of CID ASP Rafiqul Islam submitted the charge sheet in the court of senior judicial magistrate Rajib Kumer Biswas. He said he was scheduled to submit the charge sheet on May 25 but it was delayed for scrutiny by the higher authority following objection raised by the family members of Kibria. Nine of those included in the supplementary charge sheet already in custody are Lutfuzzaman Babar, Mufti Abdul Hannan and his brother Muhibbullah alias Muhibur Rahman alias Ovi, Maulana Tajuddin, Mufti Mainuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zindal and Pakistani national Abdul Aziz Butt alias Abdul Majed Butt, Shaheed Shahedul Alam Bipul, Mizanur Rahman Mithu and Syed Nayem Ahmed.

Five others absconding are Badrul Alam Mizan, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye, Mohammad Ali and Badrul.

Earlier investigation officer had submitted charge sheet against 10 persons. Fresh investigation did not find their involvement in the murder of Kibria who died in a grenade attack at Baidyer Bazar in Habiganj on January 27, 2005. But their names were not yet dropped from the list of accused because of legal binding.

Hearing on the charge sheet will start on June 24 in the speedy trial tribunal court in Sylhet.

Source : New Age

Commission not to wait for BNP: CEC

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on Monday said the Election Commission would not wait for the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party any more for finalising its proposals for election reforms including introduction of electronic voting machine.

'We have already sent two letters inviting BNP leaders to join the dialogue. We will have nothing to do if they fail to join the meeting,' Shamsul said while speaking at a workshop organised by the Commonwealth Election Working Group at a Dhaka hotel.

The commission will continue to use the electronic voting machine in different local elections, he said, adding that the EVM might not be used in the next parliamentary elections.

'But,' he said, 'there is no problem in trying it in local elections.'

About violence and the incidents of ballot snatching that have been taking place during the ongoing elections to the union parishads, the CEC said the EVM was the only remedy to such maladies.

Source : New Age

Muhith sees no reason to resign

Finance minister AMA Muhith on Monday dismissed as rubbish the opposition's demand for his resignation over the December-January stock crash.

'It's all bogus! Why should I resign at their demand? Such demands are nothing new in politics,' he said after a meeting on construction of roads and terminals in Syhet at the finance ministry.

Muhith said that the meeting had discussed about a project for construction of Badhaghat road and truck and bus terminals in Sylhet. Former energy adviser to the prime minister of BNP-led government Mahmudur Rahman at a seminar on Sunday held Muhith, commerce minister Faruk Khan and the Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman responsible for the turmoil in the share market and demanded their resignation.

BNP standing committee member MK Anwar had told the seminar that the share market money was 'plundered' at the 'instruction' of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Earlier, BNP's acting secretary general demanded Muhith's resignation accepting the responsibility of the share market crash.

At that time, Muhith gave similar reaction. 'I see no reason to resign.'

The general indexes of Dhaka and Chittagong Stock exchanges lost around 30 per cent in December-January because of nosedive in share prices.

Thousands of investors staged street demonstrations and clashed with police in protest against the slides and demanded resignation of the finance minister, Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, DSE president and Bangladesh Bank governor for their failure to stabilise the market.

Following the protests, the government suspended trading for two days at the two bourses and formed an enquiry committee which on April 7 submitted its report on the matter along with a set of observations and recommendations.

Source : New Age

Biman back on losing streak

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is back on a losing streak, four years after the national flag carrier was made a public limited company in 2007 to infuse dynamism in its operation.

According to Bangladesh Economic Review 2011 of the finance ministry the airlines incurred a loss of Tk 80.14 crore in fiscal 2009-10.

After it was made a PLC, the national carrier had bounced back earning a profit of Tk 15.58 crore in 2008-09 and Tk 5.91 crore in 2007-08.

The chairman of the board of directors of Biman, Jamal Uddin Ahmed acknowledged that the airlines had indeed incurred a loss in 2009-10, but described the figure mentioned in the Economic Review as incorrect.

He attributed the error to a mistake in the financial report of the airlines.

He said that Biman made a remarkable financial recovery in a short period after it was made a public limited company in July 2007.

He said that Biman had incurred a loss of Tk 272.10 crore in 2006-7 and 454.71 crore in 2005-6.

In early June, the civil aviation ministry asked Biman to explain, in a week, why it had incurred the loss in 2009-10.

'We asked Biman management to explain the reason for incurring the loss even after it was made a public limited company,' civil aviation minister GM Quader told New Age.

He said that the government was concerned about the state-owned airlines returning to losing streak.

'We are awaiting a reply from Biman management in this regard before taking further steps.'

Jamal listed increased fuel price and ageing fleet as the main reasons for the loss incurred in the outgoing fiscal.

'We must keep in consideration that Biman is still operating 34-year old DC-10s which consume more fuel than new aircraft,' he said.

He said that money spent on fuel accounted for nearly 60 per cent of Biman's total operational costs.

Jamal discounted the possibility of a change in the situation for Biman, because its major destinations in the Middle East are highly competitive.

 But he described the loss shown in the Economic Review as incorrect.

He said that the mistake occurred because Biman's financial report had erroneously shown that Biman owed Padma Oil Company Tk 56 crore for buying jet fuel on credit last year.

Actually, he said, Biman owed the oil company Tk 1.72 crore.

To cut down losses and overcome mismanagement and pervasive corruption, in June 2007 Biman management offered its personnel voluntary retirement reduce its manpower to around 3,000 from 6,800.

Responding to the offer, 1,876 officers and employees of the airlines resigned, with many of them complained it was done under pressure. 

It paved the way for making the airlines a PLC.

Biman carries passengers and cargo to 18 international destinations in Asia and Europe.

Now its fleet comprises two Boeing 737-800s, four DC10-30s, three Airbus A310-300s and three Fokker 28 aircraft.

Biman said it already signed a deal for buying new Boeing 777-300ER, 787-8 and 737-800 for its fleet.

Source : New Age