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RATS!

Bangladesh premier Begum Khaleda Zia has launched a nation-wide "kill rodents" campaign. She is offering attractive prizes to the killers, provided they produce the tails of their victims before the federal agriculture ministry. At least half a million tonne of foodgrains, enough to feed 3 million people annually, are either eaten or destroyed by mice in Bangladesh. The people have responded well to the Begum's call; 2.9 million rats were killed in a similar campaign that was tiggered off last year by the government.

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