Intense traffic congestion feared Before the capital’s shimmering shopping malls to turn buzzing with shoppers, its footpaths wore a busy look with small traders and hawkers occupying footpaths even two-days ahead of Ramadan. It is a common scene in the capital that footpaths turn too much crowded occupied by small traders and hawkers during Ramadan, ... Read more
Month: July 2011
Gold price crosses Tk 50,000 mark
The Bangladesh Jewellers’ Association on Friday further increased the gold price by Tk 1,166 per vori (11.66 gram) to Tk 50,721 only 10 days after setting the price at Tk 49,555. Jewellers in the capital said the continued price spiral of gold on the global market and depreciation of taka against dollar compelled them to ... Read more
BRAC Bank launches credit card for online forex payment
BRAC Bank has launched a special credit card for online foreign exchange payment for specific business purposes such as domain purchase, server hosting and software licence purchase for IT businesspeople. The ‘BASIS-BRAC Bank co-branded credit card’ will be issued only to the members of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). The VISA card ... Read more
Stocks end the week in red
Stocks returned to the red as trading sessions advanced toward the close last week, ending a five-week gaining streak. Profit-taking pushed down market indices. The benchmark general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DGEN, capped the week at 6,587, declining 73 points or 1.10 percent. The yardstick of the premier bourse gained 884 points or 15.15 ... Read more
Apple, Samsung overtake Nokia in smartphone market
Apple and Samsung both sold more smartphones than Nokia in the second quarter, although Nokia still sold most phones overall, market researcher Strategy Analytics said Friday. Nokia’s smartphone sales have plunged since its February announcement that its future smartphones will run Microsoft’s Windows Phone instead of its own Symbian OS: In the second quarter, it
Mushfique saves Tigers blushes
A resilient knock of 64 by Mushfiqur Rahim gave some respectability to Bangladesh’s innings as they were all out for 188 in their first inning against Zimbabwe Board XI in Harare on Saturday. Mushfique’s knock came after a familiar top-order batting collapse saw Bangladesh reeling at 35 for five after skipper Sakib al Hasan won ... Read more
New policy to promote tourism industry
The Nepali government has brought new tourism policy to promote tourism industry, The Himalayan Times reports. Addressing a press meeting, Minister for Tourism and Civial Aviation Hisila Yami said the ministry is planning a curriculum regarding tourism and the development of a separate Tourism University. “European arrivals are declining due to the global financial crisis ... Read more
Facebook, Twitter & generation obsessed
Facebook and Twitter have created a generation obsessed with themselves, who have short attention spans and a childlike desire for constant feedback on their lives, a top scientist believes, reports Daily Mail. Repeated exposure to social networking sites leaves users with an ‘identity crisis’, wanting attention in the manner of a toddler saying: ‘Look at ... Read more
Mahamaya lake-a tourist spot spoiled
Security in one of country’s most preferred tourist spots under threat Chittagong: Mahamaya, the second largest man-made lake in the port city, is fast becoming prey to human greed and negligence. Thwarted by pollution and land-grabbers, it is slowly getting girdled by shanties that have robbed the lake of its pristine beauty. Besides, heavy vehicles ... Read more
Central bank under political pressure
Intense lobbying for approval to 15 new banks Bangladesh Bank has been under pressure from politicians to give approval for at least 15 new banks, finance ministry officials say. Some ministers, Awami League lawmakers and business groups close to the ruling alliance are lobbying government high-ups for permission to set up new
Promising singer Abid, his friend drown in sea
Close up-1 singer Abid Shahriar and one of his colleagues drowned in the sea at Cox’s Bazar yesterday evening. Abid, 26, a known face in the country’s music arena through the talent hunt show, and the other dead, Mostakim, 27, were in the beach city on a two-day tour with a team from advertising agency ... Read more
2 policemen suspended
Torture of DU Student 2 policemen suspended Mother visits Kadar at hospital Two police officers were suspended yesterday over their involvement in torturing Dhaka University student Abdul Kadar in custody. They are Sub-inspector Alam Badsha and Assistant Sub-inspector Shahidur Rahman of Khilgaon Police Station in the capital
Muggers lurk on city streets as Ramadan nears
Incidents of mugging have increased alarmingly in the city with organised gangs of snatchers on the prowl to make quick bucks ahead of Ramadan. According to sources in the police, incidents of mugging are taking place in the city streets even in broad daylight as the police have seemingly concentrated more on tackling the opposition’s ... Read more
Expressway faces delay
Work now starts in March next year due to row over land acquisition, lack of financing Despite highest political commitment, the government could not launch the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project on schedule as it could not complete acquisition of required land, while the project contractor could not arrange necessary financing. Construction of the Tk 8,703-crore ... Read more
India’s home minister in town
India’s home affairs minister Palaniappan Chidambaram arrived in Dhaka on Friday night on a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Bangladesh home minister, Sahara Khatun, officials said. Sahara received Chidambaram at Shahjalal International Airport about 10:55pm, an airport official told New Age. The Indian home minister will hold talks with Sahara this morning, ... Read more
Intelligence agencies ran all CGs: Ashraf
Mymensingh: Awami League (AL) General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has said all the past caretaker governments (CGs) were the governments run by intelligence agencies. In fact, he said, the military government ruled the country in the name of caretaker administration. Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, was addressing a rally of AL activists at the local ... Read more
HSC Results: Dhaka College falls behind
Less-qualified teachers, students’ criminal activities blamed Dhaka College, one of the renowned educational institutions in the country, has drastically been falling behind other colleges in terms of the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination. Meanwhile, educationists blamed the appointment of less-qualified teachers on political consideration and the students’ engagement in violent and criminal ... Read more
Some Indian films to be shown after 45-year ban
Theatre owners want import, local film industry wants ban Some Indian movies will be released commercially in cinema halls throughout the country for the first time since 1965. Three Indian Bangla movies will be screened immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr, with nine Hindi movies to be released shortly afterwards
Scientists discover antibody to fight flu
The first antibody which can fight all types of the influenza A virus has been discovered, researchers claim. Experiments on flu-infected mice, published in Science Express, showed the antibody could be used as an “emergency treatment”. It is hoped the development will lead to a “universal vaccine” — currently a new jab has to be ... Read more
Bangladesh best in South Asia
Bangladesh delivered the best performance among all the South Asian countries who all bowed out in the second round of World Cup pre-qualifiers. The SAFF semi-finalists are the only nation in the region to post a win in the second round, though it came a little too late as they lost 4-2 on aggregate to