A major slugfest erupted on Thursday over BJP MP Chandan Mitra’s demand for stripping nobel laureate Amartya Sen of the Bharat Ratna award and the economist offering to return it if Atal Bihari Vajpayee asks him to do so. While BJP steered clear of the controversy, Congress waded into it with an attack saying it ... Read more
Month: July 2013
EC urges major parties to settle poll-time govt issue
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed on Thursday said that it would be convenient for the commission to hold elections if the two big political parties come to a compromise under which system of government the parliamentary polls would be held. “The two big political parties –Awami League and BNP- will have to reach ... Read more
Prosecution seeks Mir Quasem trial
A designated prosecutor on Thursday made his submission before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 seeking to start trial of detained Mir Quasem Ali, a policymaker of Jamaat-e-Islami, for his alleged crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, 42 years ago. “This is a very fit case as the prosecution has sufficient documents and oral evidence against
Tribunal takes cognisance of Azhar’s allegations
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Thursday took cognisance of the charges against Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam. The tribunal set August 18 as the date for hearing the charges against the Jamaat leader. The three-member tribunal, headed by its chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir,
No plan to supply gas to Ctg zone: Petrobangla
Petrobangla, the state-owned oil and gas company, has not made any plans to supply energy to Chittagong, the country’s commercial zone, although the authorities knew beforehand that production of natural gas from the Sangu gas field can cease any moment. “No, we do not have any other alternative sources for
Five peers set an example
They began their acting career in the same time in the late 1980s. All of these five contemporary actors are still dominating the small screen industry acting and directing plays. But, they never acted together in any production. This is for the first time that Azizul Hakim, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Zahid Hasan, Tauquir Ahmed and Mahfuz ... Read more
Theatre features age-old debate on art
The age-old debate on the concept of art— whether art is for art’s sake or for life — has been depicted in Ratan Siddiqui’s play Half Akhrai through the historic clash between a guru and his disciple set against the backdrop of the 19th-century India. The play was staged by drama department of Bangladesh Udichi ... Read more
Half London’s small theatres insecure about future
Almost half of London’s small theatres feel ‘insecure’ about their financial future and a third fear their venues could be sold, a study has found, reports BBC online. The London Assembly study spoke to 55 theatres with a capacity no greater than 300 seats. More than 85% of them said they lacked rehearsal space and ... Read more
Bus cos do not go by govt fare chart
Transport operators in the capital have increased fares for long-distance routes during the Eid-ul-Fitr rush, flouting a government directive. The private bus companies start selling advance tickets for Eid today. Employees of different transport companies at Gabtoli
5 restaurants in city fined Tk 7 lakh for substandard foods
A mobile court on Thursday fined five restaurants of Moghbazar and Mouchak areas Tk 7 lakh on charge of producing and selling substandard food items. Dhaka district administration and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution jointly conducted the mobile court led by executive magistrate Abeda Ansari.
ZFA distributes 40 sewing machines
The Zakat Foundation of America, a US-based charity organisation, recently distributed 40 sewing machines among poor women of Hajaribag slum who participated in its training programme. The foundation also distributed food packages and new clothes among 100 poor families as Eid gifts.
Workshop on women’s land right held
The participants in a daylong workshop on Thursday demanded unitary and equity-based inheritance and family laws to secure land rights of women. They demanded effective strategies and programmes for advancing women’s land rights as a key to rural poverty reduction by empowering women and enacting
PIB organises workshop for journalists
The Press Institute of Bangladesh organised a training workshop on ‘reporting related to digital Bangladesh’ in Khulna city on Thursday. The daylong training workshop, held at the circuit house, was organised in cooperation with Access to Information Project of the prime minister’s office and the
KCC places budget
The Khulna City Corporation on Thursday announced its Tk 345.4 crore budget for the 2013-14 financial year. Ajmol Ahmed Tapon, who is carrying out the temporary charge as the city mayor, presented the proposed annual budget at a press conference held at KCC auditorium.
200 parrots recovered in city
A total of 200 parrots were seized from Abdullahpur of Uttara in the capital on Thursday. Dhaka Wildlife Crime Control Unit of the Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Department seized the 200 Basonti Latkan Tota in a drive conducted near the Abdullahpur bus stand. They also arrested the salesman, said a forest department
Lower pvt sector credit growth set eyeing lower GDP growth
MONETARY POLICY FOR JULY-DECEMBER Lower pvt sector credit growth set eyeing lower GDP growth The Bangladesh Bank in its new monetary policy statement for July-December of the current fiscal year on Thursday reduced the target of private sector credit growth, projecting a GDP growth of 6.2 per cent for the fiscal year, much below the ... Read more
BB gave priority to elections in framing MPS: economists
Economists and experts on Thursday said that the Bangladesh Bank had given priority to the next national elections when framing the monetary policy statement for the first six months of the fiscal year 2013-14. Dhaka University economics department chairman
NBR, BTRC, telcos to form body for consensus
TAX DISPUTESA NBR, BTRC, telcos to form body for consensus After weeklong negotiations, the National Board of Revenue and the mobile phone operators on Thursday agreed to resolve the long-standing tax disputes, especially the SIM replacement tax, before the 3G auction scheduled for September 2, operators and NBR officials said. Leaders of the Association of ... Read more
Stock investors react negatively to monetary policy
Dhaka stocks on Thursday declined sharply after a steep rise in the previous session as the investors reacted negatively to the monetary policy announced by the Bangladesh Bank on the day. The benchmark general index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, finished at 3,979.19 points, shedding 2.38 per cent or 97.30 points on Thursday after
Mozena discusses GSP action plan with BGMEA leaders
US ambassador Dan W Mozena on Thursday discussed with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association global sustainability compact, accord on fire and building safety in Bangladesh and the up coming GSP review hearing. ‘We have discussed the follow-up of the GSP action plan