BNP chairperson and leader of opposition Khaleda Zia said she would never allow Awami League-led grand alliance government to hold the next general election keeping it remain intact in power. “The next general election is a must under a non-party caretaker government oversight. The next general poll would not be allowed to hold under the ... Read more
Month: June 2013
Violence, vandalism mark hartal
At least 15 people, including policemen, were injured and vehicles vandalised in Dhaka and other parts of the country during the nationwide hartal enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday. Jamaat had called the shutdown in protest against the punishment meted out to three of its three leaders for contempt of court by the International Crimes
Petrobangla chief favouring govt RCC candidate: BNP MPs
BNP lawmakers on Monday lodged complain before the Election Commission against Petrobangla chairman Prof Hossain Mansur, accusing him of violating electoral code of conduct by providing gas connections. A seven-member parliamentary team of BNP led by party joint secretary general Mahbub Uddin Khokon, MP on Monday met with Chief Election
BNP accuses civic poll officials of supporting AL
BNP leaders tasked with coordinating the electioneering of party-backed candidates in four city civic polls on Monday alleged that the local administrations were working in a partisan manner to favour the Awami League-supported contestants. Four BNP teams, each led by a central leader, are now working in the city corporations to mobilise campaigning for
Cabinet approves draft of Bangladesh bio-diversity act
The cabinet on Monday approved in principle a draft law on ‘Bangladesh Bio-diversity Act 2013’ in order conserve the country’s bio-diversity. The weekly cabinet meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. “The main objective of the law is to ensure
Canal below rail track does not flow
It was only recently that the canal below the rail track, a public property, ran parallel to flushing rainwater. But it has ceased to flow, making it difficult to carry the rain water which often spills over during monsoon, causing water logging in the densely populated neighbourhood of Gandaria in western Dhaka. Encroachers have put ... Read more
Barisal City Corp poll: 2 mayoral candidates complain of EC bias
Two of the three mayoral candidates in the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) election alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has failed to ensure a level playing field in the poll, scheduled to be held on June 15. Questions have been raised about the role of the local EC by these candidates. Candidates and their supporters ... Read more
Criminals go on the rampage thru KEPZ
Criminals attacked Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) in Anwara upazila and vandalised its office and assaulted some employees on Monday. Witnesses said over 100 youths, allegedly led by the chairmen of nearby three union parishads, riding on motorcycles stormed into the KEPZ around 11 am and went on the rampage. They vandalised the administrative office
Govt moves fail to ease city traffic jam
The traffic tangle in the Dhaka city shows no sign of improvement, with the government initiatives going all in vain. Residents from different areas, especially Farmgate, Mirpur, Motijheel, Dhanmondi, Jatrabari, Mouchak, Moghbazar, Rampura, Badda, Mahakhali, Banglamotor,
Ariful pledges model city if voted to power
Sammilita Nagarik Jote candidate Ariful Haque Chowdhury, racing for the Sylhet City Corporation mayoral post, on Monday pledged to turn Sylhet into a model city if he was voted to power. The 18-party alliance-backed candidate made
Nat’l fruit fair begins June 16
The agriculture ministry will organise a three-day national fruit fair beginning on June 16, Department of Agricultural Extension officials said. The fruit fair is organised in the city in June every year to encourage the production and consumption of chemical-free home-grown fruits, they said.
Gold smuggler put on remand
A magistrate court on Monday remanded alleged gold smuggler for five days in police custody in connection with a case filed following the seizure of undocumented 1.4 kilograms of gold ornaments and foreign currencies. The metropolitan magistrate, Atiqur Rahman,
Ensuring rights of people with disability stressed
Members of civil society, government officials and development partners in a coordination meeting in Rangpur on Monday underscored the need for concerted efforts of all to uphold the rights of the people with disability. They said mainstreaming of the potential of the
Councillor candidate withdraws from contesting polls
Syed Humayun Kabir, an independent candidate vying for the post of a councillor in ward 14 in the Khulna City Corporation elections, has withdrawn from the electoral race in protest at what he claimed ‘distribution of black money’ by his rivals to buy votes. He made the announcement at a press conference
Trade deficit drops to $5.92b in Jul-Apr
The country’s trade deficit declined to $5.92 billion in the first 10 months of the current financial year 2012-13 from $7.53 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the FY 2011-12. The trade deficit declined by 21.38 per cent in July-April of the FY 2012-13 compared with that of a growth of 9.87 per cent ... Read more
Cabinet body okays draft PPP act
The cabinet committee on economic affairs on Monday approved the draft of Public Private Partnership Act 2013 with some observations, said cabinet officials. The decision was taken at a meeting in the secretariat which was presided over by finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.
Budget contains financing, implementation risks: DCCI
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday said that the proposed budget for the next fiscal year contained serious risks in financing and implementation. Although there are many positive elements in the proposed budget, there are also risks in achieving targeted GDP growth, revenue earnings, deficit financing,
Dhaka stocks rebound strongly
Dhaka stocks bounced back strongly on Monday as 95.45 per cent traded stocks gained on the day amid investors’ optimistic participation following a post-budget briefing by the Dhaka Stock Exchange in the previous day. DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange,
Ctg port withdraws penal rent on empty containers
Chittagong Port Authority on Monday withdrew the penal rents imposed on empty containers that had been remaining dumped at port yards causing space congestion, port officials said. CPA secretary Syed Farhad Uddin said the decision was taken at a meeting of the authority on Monday.
WB gives $34.5m for digital public procurement project
International Development Association, the soft loan window of the World Bank, will provide Bangladesh with $34.5 million more funds for boosting electronic public procurement in the country. The fund will be used to scale up the electronic procurement (e-GP) and online procurement performance monitoring in key public agencies under the ongoing