Dhaka- The military backed interim government in Bangladesh Tuesday announced plans for hoisting the national flag at half mast at all private and state establishments this Friday to show respect to the country's founding leader Sheikh Mujib ur Rahman, who was brutally killed in 1975.

The interim authorities also decided to call a day of national mourning for Friday to recall the memory of Mujib, the founder of Bangladesh, who steered the country to independence from Pakistan in December 1971.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the names of the 15 players for Australia tour later this month. The board made three changes to the squad that took part in the Asia Cup in Pakistan.

The names of three new players are All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, wicket keeper Dhiman Ghosh and pacer Nazmul Hossain. These have replaced Musharraf Hossain Rubel, Mushfiqur Rahim and Nazimuddin.

The team will be led by Mohammad Ashraful, while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has been selected as the vice-captain.

Nazimuddin and Musharraf Hossain Rubel have been dropped because of their poor form in the Pakistan tour.

Dhaka, Aug 5 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday concluded his five-day Bangladesh visit during which he interacted with officials of the of the Grameen Bank run by the Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Younus and acquired an understanding of their micro-credit projects.

Rahul was seen off at Dhaka’s Zia International Airport by Grameen Bank Chief Younus and Indian High Commission officials, besides those of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), one of the world''s largest NGOs.

Dhaka - Candidates backed by the former ruling Awami League party were set for a thumping victory in local elections in Bangladesh, a spokesman for the national Election Commission said Tuesday.

In the limited local polls in four cities and nine towns candidates supported by the Awami League swept to victory, Election Commission sources said.

Badruddin Ahmad Kamran was elected mayor in Sylhet city in north-eastern Bangladesh, officials said.

The election, hailed as a first step to restore democracy by the army-backed national caretaker government, was the first since a state of emergency was declared in Bangladesh last year.

Dhaka - Thousands of Bangladeshi voters queued Monday in front of heavily guarded polling stations in four cities and nine towns to elect mayors in a landmark move to strengthen local governments, officials said.

The election, hailed as a first step to restore democracy by the army-backed national caretaker government, is the first since a state of emergency was declared in Bangladesh last year.

General elections, which were postponed after last year's violence, are now scheduled for December.

Voting in the four cities - Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi and Barisal - as well the nine towns started at 8 am (0200 GMT).