S P O T L I G H T

Bangladesh Ex-PM arrested
Dhaka, August 25
The Bangladeshi police today arrested former Prime Minister Kazi Zafar Ahmed on his return from Australia, airport sources said, as three more died in political violence ahead of elections. He was taken into custody at the airport because of a 1997 conviction for corruption in which he was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison. AFP

Ganga poses threat
Kolkata, August 25
The Ganga river was today flowing above the danger level and rising in the North Bengal districts of Malda and Murshidabad, threatening some villages under Kaliachak and Jalangi blocks, officials said. PTI

UAE slashes call rates
Dubai, August 25
The United Arab Emirates has slashed international telephone call charges to India and 58 other countries coinciding with the silver jubilee celebrations of the country’s telecommunications provider. The new rates, which come into force in September, are dh 3.21 per minute as against the earlier dh 4.29 (one dirham is equal to Rs 12.7 ) during peak hours and 2.47 from the previous dh 3.67 during lean hours. PTI

CM blamed for firing
Lucknow, August 25
The Samajwadi Party (SP) has held Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh responsible for the police firing in Bagpat on August 22 in which three persons were killed. An 11-member inquiry committee of the party, which visited the spot told newspersons here today that the police fired on the villagers, holding their panchayat in a peaceful manner. UNI