The country’s general elections are going to take place within January 24 next year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the secretaries of different ministries and divisions on Monday. “As per the constitutional requirements, Parliament will continue for three months from October 27 this year. However, it will not go into session,” Sheikh Hasina told
Month: September 2013
Malaysia nabs 387 illegal Bangladeshis
The Malaysian Immigration Department has arrested 2,433 illegal immigrants, including 387 Bangladeshis, on the first day of its biggest ever crackdown against those entering the country illegally. Talking to newsmen, Malaysian home minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Monday that 8,105 people were checked throughout the
Convicted collaborators and war crimes convicts to be dropped from voters’ list
Persons convicted under the Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972, and convicted of crimes against humanity would be out of the national electoral race and voters’ list, the Cabinet has decided in its regular meeting on Monday. “As per the Constitution’s provisions, any person can be enlisted as a voter for the parliamentary
Water bottling company fined
A mobile court of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) Monday sealed off a jar water factory and fined two factories Tk one lakh at Jurain in the capital for supplying and marketing contaminated water in the name of pure drinking water. Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the district administration jointly conducted
Woodcutters destroy Nijhum Dwip forests
A green dot in the blue of Bay of Bengal, the southern-most island of Bangladesh, is now under threat as wood cutters are felling hundreds of trees on regular basis. According to sources, in collaboration with a section of dishonest officers and caretakers of the forest, many unscrupulous people of Bandar Tila, Char Osman, Char ... Read more
Hefajat leader held on Shapla Chattar mayhem charge
Detective Branch police arrested Mufti Mohammad Wakkas, deputy chief of Dhaka City Unit Hefazat-e Islam from Malibagh Chowdhury Para area in the city on Monday afternoon on charge of Shapla Chattar mayhem on May 5. Mufti Mohammad Wakkas, is also the general secretary of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam, which is associated with the Islami Oikkya
BNP predicts ‘tragic end’ to Hasina govt if it fails to form non-party admin
A senior BNP leader on Monday warned that the government will meet a tragic end if it failed to form a non-partisan administration to monitor the next general election. “Time is very short for the government as the fate of the country’s democracy and sovereignty will be decided within a few weeks. I urge Premier ... Read more
BNP kicks off poll campaign
Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to simultaneously continue its movement for restoration of a caretaker government and launch its election campaign for the next national poll scheduled to be held by January next year. The party will kick off its formal election campaign at a public meeting at Narsingdi on September 8. Opposition
Charges pressed for attacks on Buddhist temples, houses
No charges pressed in 12 cases The police have pressed charges against 362 people in seven of the 19 cases filed for attacks on and looting of Buddhist temples and houses in the Cox’s Bazar district headquarters and Ramu, Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas in September 2012. Although various inquiry reports quoting
Court wraps up proceedings of Pilkhana carnage case
The Special Court of Dhaka on Monday concluded formal proceedings of the Pilkhana carnage case, which was filed following bloodshed at the BDR headquarters in 2009. The formal proceedings were concluded through the cross-examination of the last prosecution witness, Abdul Kahar Akanda, by the defence lawyer.
Dhaka may sign Arms Trade Treaty
Bangladesh is considering signing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly earlier this year regulating the international trade in conventional arms. Dhaka is also contemplating to ratify the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). Bangladesh became the signatory of this convention on September 6,
JU crisis: Probe body report within 15 days
The government has formed a two-member probe committee to settle the prevailing crisis at Jahangirnagar University (JU) over a movement by a section of its teachers demanding removal of the Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Anwar Hossain. The education ministry issued a circular on Monday asking the committee to file its report within 15 days. The
7 new private univs soon
The government is set to approve seven new private universities on ‘political consideration’ at the fag end of its tenure raising the number of newly approved private universities to 25 in last two years. With the latest approvals, the number of the private universities in the country will be 78. According to officials of the education ministry, ruling ... Read more
HC asks for division for Adilur in prison
The High Court (HC) on Monday directed the jail authorities to provide division facilities to the Secretary of rights organisation Adhikar Adilur Rahman Khan in prison. In response to a writ petition, the vacation bench of the HC comprising Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Zafar Ahmed also issued a rule
ICT serves contempt notice on HRW
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) on Monday served a notice upon the New York-based human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW), asking it to explain as to why contempt charge would not be initiated against it for its report on the verdict against professor Ghulam Azam and activities of the tribunal. The three-member tribunal, headed by ... Read more
Aranyak to produce play on Rana Plaza tragedy
Aranyak Natya Dal is currently occupied with its next production Patongo Katha, depicting the Rana Plaza Tragedy in Saver. Patongo Katha will be the 52nd production of the troupe. Written by Rashid Harun and directed by Mamunur Rashid, the play will portray the heart-wrenching incidents that took place after the collapse of Rana Plaza, an ... Read more
Exhibition features Mughal Emperor Jahangir
Mughal Emperor Jahangir (1569-1627), his reign and life appeared with all its elegance and grandeur at an exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday marking the emperor’s 444th birth anniversary on August 30. Organised by Jahangir Circle,
Fishermen community’s struggle depicted in theatre
Plight and struggle of the fishermen community have been depicted in Nikhoj Mohajoner Sondhaney staged by Sushamo Natya Sampradaya on Sunday at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakla Academy. Through the tragic life of a lost fishermen community leader known as Mohajon among his fellow fishermen, Khondoker Anwarul Islam’s play presents lives and hardships, fate and ... Read more
Under-trial prisoner dies in Barisal
Family members allege police torture An under-trial prisoner of the Barisal Central Jail died at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in the city on Monday. The prisoner was identified as Jamshed Haoladar alias Jashem, 32, son of Abdul Gani Haoladar from Nathullabad area of the city and accused under narcotic control act. Family members, however, claimed the death ... Read more
Woman hands over daughter to police
A woman in Barisal city handed over her teenaged daughter to the police on Sunday for her ‘reckless’ lifestyle. The Kotwali police officer-in-charge, Shakhawat Hossain, said the mother lodged a complaint with the Barisal chief judicial magistrate court on August 29 alleging that their daughter beat them up and escaped the house with the help of ... Read more