Dhaka  - A German parliament delegation was expected to start a five-day visit to Bangladesh Friday to renew and strengthen ties between legislators of both countries, officials said Wednesday.

The five members of the German Bundestag were from both the ruling coalition and opposition, and were scheduled to meet parliament Speaker Abdul Hamid; Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition in parliament; and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.

New Delhi, Feb 17 : The Government has taken several steps to check smuggling along Indo Bangladesh Border.

The steps are construction of border fencing and roads and flood lighting, upgradation of intelligence machinery, and introduction of modern surveillance equipments including night vision devices.

Dhaka  - At least eight people were killed and dozens others injured Tuesday as a train collided with a truck in the north-western district of Joypurhat district, Bangladeshi police said.

The accident occurred at the Khasiabari level crossing, some 280 kilometres north-west of the capital Dhaka, killing the eight victims on the spot, said inspector Noor Hossain at Joypurhat police station.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh will begin providing special legal and physiological support for poor women and children who are victims of abuse and social injustice, officials said Tuesday.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun inaugurated a new centre in Dhaka where women and children victims of trafficking, acid attacks, rape, sexual harassments or domestic violence will get support around the clock.

Dhaka  - Police have arrested two local leaders of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party on charges of committing war crimes during the country's war of independence
38 years ago, media reports said Saturday.

The arrests were the first made by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, who took office last month after promising to bring the 1971 war criminals to justice.

Karachi, Feb. 11 : Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt has vowed to improve security arrangements for the 2011 World Cup in the backdrop of International Cricket Council deciding to move the 2009 Champions Trophy out of Pakistan due to security concerns raised by various teams.

"Pakistan would improve on the existing facilities for the World Cup while the International Cricket Council (ICC) would also make security arrangements," Butt was quoted by The News, as saying.

Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will jointly host the 10th world cup 2011.