[boost] compiling Boost boost_1_45_0 regex with icu (redhat).

Greetings. I am trying to compile boost regex with icu. The icu library is placed in a non-standard place, so I have set the appropriate environment variable. However everytime I run bjam, console output (amongst many thing) says - has_icu builds : no I have invoked bjam with -sBOOST_HAS_ICU=1. No luck picking icu. I have invoked bjam with -sICU_PATH=/home/xxx/yyy, and no luck either. OTOH, if I go to the subdirectory : libs/regex/build and do 'make -f gcc.mak' It builds with -DBOOST_HAVE_ICU=1 and with the right icu include directory in the compile line. I am new to compiling boost, and would love to find out what is going on. And how can I rectify it. Thanks, CD.