Voicing a strong resolve that Bangladesh would never compromise on the safety issues while constructing the nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday urged the local nuclear engineers and related manpower to improve management efficiency and update their knowledge. “We’ll have to develop local competence in all areas including
Month: May 2013
Foreign workers try to leave Saudi Arabia to avoid fines
Tens of thousands of foreign workers are trying to leave Saudi Arabia, after the government of the world’s No 1 oil exporter said they would be forgiven any fees or fines for visa violations such as overstaying or switching jobs. Riyadh is pursuing sweeping labour reform that would tackle domestic unemployment by pushing firms to ... Read more
US expresses concern over extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances
Washington has raised concerns with regards to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the second Bangladesh-United States Partnership Dialogue that ended in the capital on Monday. The US side also brought up the issues relating to murder
Govt fails to prepare National Peacekeeping Strategy
Though the country has been sending peacekeepers to different UN peacekeeping missions abroad for the past 25 years, the government is yet to prepare the proposed National Peacekeeping Strategy as it is entangled in red tape, sources said. In January, during the visit to Dhaka by Ameerah Haq, the UN under-secretary-general for the department of ... Read more
Tarique’s return on doc’s advice: Dudu
BNP spokesman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said on Wednesday that the party’s senior vice-chairman, Tarique Rahman, is eager to return home and he will do so when his physicians allow him. Addressing an unscheduled press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Dudu pointed out that Tarique holds a responsible post in the party. Tarique,
Qamrul sticks to comments on Khaleda sons
Terming the legal notice served on him—by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s eldest son Tarique Rahman—as a political stunt, state minister for law, advocate Qamrul Islam, on Wednesday, reiterated that what he had said was true. “If I have told a lie, it’s their duty to prove it false, and, for that, they would have to ... Read more
Ailing Babunagari released in haste
Ailing Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General Junaid Babunagari who was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of BIRDEM Hospital in a critical condition, was released on bail on Wednesday. Babunagari who was on 22-day remand in three cases in connection with the political violence that took place during Hefazat’s recent Dhaka siege programme, was hurriedly
Stray incidents mark another hartal
Stray incidents of violence marred the nationwide hartal called by the BNP-led 18-party alliance on Wednesday. Pro-hartal activists brought out processions in the capital and other parts of the country. The police arrested dozens of Opposition activists from the city
‘All should prevent violence against women’
Rashida Manjoo, a special rapporteur of the UN, on Wednesday, said that every country in the world has the responsibility to take effective steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women. She further said, “Violence against women is the most pervasive violation of human rights, which is a cause and consequence ... Read more
Plea for safe water and sanitation
Speakers at a programme on Wednesday emphasised the need to allocate equitable resources to ensure safe water and hygienic sanitation for people living in hard-to-reach areas of the country. They were addressing a project launching ceremony on “Enhancing governance and capacity of serve providers and civil society in water supply and sanitation” at the
PM reaffirms Dhaka’s commitment to global peace, security
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government is firmly committed to continuing its efforts to establish global peace and security. “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman set ‘Friendship towards all, malice towards none’ as the country’s foreign policy on the basis of which
Testimonies of four witnesses accepted by ICT-2
International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Wednesday accepted the statements of four prosecution witnesses given to the investigation officer (IO) as their depositions against BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. The three-member tribunal, headed by its chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, also denied accepting the statements of four other witnesses as
Serious consequences if labour rights not ensured: Miller
United States Congressman George Miller has warned of severe consequences if Bangladesh fails to ensure labour rights. “It is very clear that if these people (workers) do not have rights at work and if they do not have the right to turn down unsafe working conditions then Bangladesh will be stuck in the past and ... Read more
Fakhrul returns, says govt wasting time to resolve crisis
BNP acting secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the government has been wasting time to resolve the ongoing political impasse. Returning from Singapore after taking treatment, he made the comment while talking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal (Rh) International Airport. “During my stay
Contempt charge against three Jamaat leaders
International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) set June 2 to go through the video clippings containing the speeches of three Jamaat-e-Islami leaders about the trial of crimes against humanity. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Obaidul Hassan, took the decision on Wednesday following a time prayer from the defence. The three Jamaat-e-Islami leaders — acting
War crimes trial verdict execution in July-August, says Inu
Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Wedneday said that the verdicts of war crimes trial would be executed in July-August, if the apex court upheld the tribunal verdicts in the cases. The minister made the remark addressing a discussion meeting held at Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) Party office in the city. JSD organised the meeting ... Read more
Salauddin, Bulu bail pleas rejected
A Dhaka court on Wednesday rejected the bail pleas of BNP Joint Secretary Generals Barkatullah Bulu and Salahuddin Ahmed in connection with the two cases. After hearing on their bail pleas, Acting Judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Court Dr Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman passed the order. Earlier,
AC minibus, taxicab to be launched in city
Experts say city need more buses for low-income people The communications minister, Obaidul Quader, on Wednesday said air-conditioned minibuses and taxicabs would be inaugurated in Dhaka city within the next four months to meet the demand for comfortable vehicles. The minister said the ministry withdrew its restriction
Candidates pledge to free city corpn of corruption
KHULNA CITY POLLS Candidates pledge to free city corpn of corruption All the three mayoral candidates in Khulna City Corporation elections on Wednesday said they would show zero tolerance to corruption to free the local government body from all types of corrupt practices. They also pledged that they would extend all-out
Drug traders, abusers rule RU campus
Drug trade and abuse has increased alarmingly at Rajshahi University as the campus turns into a den of drug addicts and peddlers availing the long summer vacation. During the summer vacation, from April 28 to May 31, the drug lords, mainly outsiders from the adjacent areas, freely run their trade on the campus as there ... Read more