Agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, on Saturday, said biotechnology can play a key role in increasing agricultural production and address environmental concerns. “In the era of globalisation, biotechnology can play an important role in increasing crop productivity. It has great potential to enhance agricultural production and in the development of genetically
Month: May 2013
Tributes paid to Kazi Nazrul
People from all walks of life, including students, teachers, politicians, professionals and family members of the poet, on Saturday, offered prayers and paid tributes to national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on his 114th birth anniversary. Floral wreaths were placed at the poet’s grave at the central mosque premises of the Dhaka University. Awami League joint ... Read more
Guidelines for ministries to tackle violent situations
The government is planning to issue guidelines to all ministries and divisions on their roles during violent situations to curb untoward incidents and save public property. The home ministry has prepared a draft guideline after getting instructions from the top, sources in the ministry said. The guidelines would be sent to all ministries and divisions ... Read more
Hasina’s 1/11 remark draws flak from BNP
The BNP’s standing committee member, Rafiqul Islam Miah, on Saturday criticised the Prime Minister for saying that the consequences of 1/11 would be repeated for the Opposition leader Khaleda Zia, if the caretaker government system was restored. “Do you (Sheikh Hasina) think that you will be in heaven if Khaleda is put in jail,” he ... Read more
Amendment to water act recommended
Speakers at a roundtable on Saturday stressed the need for the removal of inconsistencies and ambiguities from the water act to ensure people’s right to water in the country. Mass hearing is required to make the law people friendly, bringing necessary amendments to it, they said. Water Rights Forum organised the roundtable titled
Dhaka allows transit for foodgrains for northeast India
Bangladesh will allow India ferry foodgrains for the mountainous northeastern states via its territory. “Initially, the Bangladesh government has agreed to transport 10,000 tonnes of foodgrains for Tripura through its territory,” Tripura Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bhanulal Saha told IANS in Agartala. “The Bangladesh government issued necessary orders
Sherpas start work to bring back Khaled’s body
The rescue operation to bring back Bangladeshi climber Mohammed Khaled Hossain alias Sajal Khaled who died while descending from Mount Everest after successfully climbing the summit started on Saturday. A 10-member Sherpa team has started from the base camp. Riaz Ahmed and Babu, two friends of Khaled, are also helping the team.
Ctg gets DEMU railcar service
Bangladesh Railway on Saturday pressed into service three DEMU railcars in Chittagong, two of them for the commuters in the port city. The third DEMU railcar would shuttle between the port city and Laksham, railway officials said.
Vested group blamed for unplanned urbanisation
An unholy alliances between a section of the politicians and businessmen is responsible for the unplanned urbanisation in the capital through grabbing land illegally, said speakers at a roundtable on Saturday. ‘The tragic incidents like collapse of ‘Rana Plaza’
Gender sensitive media reporting stressed to establish women rights
Gender-sensitive media reporting is important to free the society from gender disparity to establish rights of women, speaker said at a journalists’ meeting held in the General Public Library conference hall at Rajshahi on Saturday. They expressed the view that the professional
Concern over high tobacco consumption
Bangladesh is one of the highest tobacco using countries that has now become a matter of grave concern, speakers said at Rajshahi on Saturday. They viewed more than 4.60 crore people use tobacco products, both smoke and smokeless and 12 lakh of them are infected with various diseases like lung
Clinic vandalised over death of newborn in Sylhet
Local people vandalised a private clinic in Sylhet city on Friday night following the death of an infant allegedly due to negligence in providing treatment. The clinic authorities said that the two-month-old baby, Meem, daughter of Abdul Muhith, a resident of Barhal village of Fenchuganj upazila, was admitted
New minibus for DU staff
A new 32-seat minibus provided by prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, for the officers of Dhaka University rolled out on Saturday. The DU vice-chancellor, AAMS Arefin Siddique, inaugurated the bus at a function on his office premises.
Trader shot at, Tk 4 lakh looted
Armed miscreants looted Tk 4 lakh from a businessman after shooting at him in Sylhet city on Saturday. The victim was Nurul Islam, 38, owner of a mobile phone recharging shop at Darbazar of Companiganj upazila in the district.
Undue frequency allocation by BTRC causes Tk 840cr govt loss
CAG audit finds GP, Banglalink, Robi get frequency at lower rate The government lost Tk 840 crore in revenue as Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in 2008 allocated additional 12 MHz frequency to three mobile phone companies for 18 years with lower charges, a government audit found. The BTRC unduly allocated the 12 MHz frequency to
SME entrepreneurs demand loan rate, processing fee cut
Small and medium entrepreneurs on Saturday described their problems including higher bank interest rate and processing fees in getting SME loan from banks and requested the Bangladesh Bank to take steps for lowering the rate and fees. They also illustrated their stories of how they had
10 more RMG units shut: BGMEA
Ten more garment units — six in Dhaka and four in Chittagong — have so far been shut on safety ground, said a leader of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. Earlier, the BGMEA had shut eight garment units in Dhaka on the same ground. After the collapse of Rana Plaza at Savar on
DCCI to promote 2,000 young entrepreneurs
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry has taken an initiative to promote 2,000 new entrepreneurs selected from all the 64 districts in the country. Any new or student entrepreneurs can take part in the scheme by submitting an online application on the DCCI web site that will start from June 15 and
US congressman in city to inspect RMG factories
George Miller, a senior member of the US Congress, arrived in the city on Saturday to personally inspect RMG factories in Bangladesh, which is under microscope due to frequent disasters. The US Congressman will meet workers, victims,
Stocks return to red after 2 gaining weeks
Dhaka stocks declined last week after two weeks of gains with higher turnover as investors went for sell-offs to offset some losses. DSEX, the benchmark general index of Dhaka Stocks Exchange, lost 0.31 per cent, or 11.70 points, to close at 3,762.09 points.