The much-awaited 10-kilometre-long Jatrabari flyover in the capital opens to the public today over three years after its construction work began. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open the flyover at Shanir Akhra point near Dhaka-Chittagong highway at 3:00pm. She will later address an inaugural ceremony of the flyover opening at Osmani Memorial Hall, ... Read more
Month: October 2013
Overhead cables not yet removed
Tangles of Internet and television cables hanging overhead on many footpaths in the capital have not been removed yet, leaving the pedestrians to face hazards and exposed to fatal accidents. Pedestrians in different city parts have alleged negligence of the authorities concerned while the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission authorities have claimed that they launch regular ... Read more
Eid-Puja special launch service starts today
An 11-day Eid-Puja special launch service on Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route with increased fare rate starts today. There is no system of advance seat-booking for deck journey while the cabin tickets have already been sold out. Around 11 to 13 triple-deck launches will give single, double, even triple trips for the 10-day special service on the route ... Read more
Sale of cattle starts in city
Sale of sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha started on Thursday in the capital with traders in large number entering into Dhaka through various points. Two city corporations (north and south) have allowed the traders to keep the cattle in the 19 markets in October 12-16. But the traders started
Microbus drives block roads to protest at police extortion
Microbus drivers and their assistants blocked several roads in the Sylhet city for one hour on Thursday in protest at extortion. Local sources said Shah Jamal, an assistant subinspector of Dakkhin Surma police, allegedly tried to realise extortion from a microbus driver Hushiar Ali in the morning at Chandirpul Point. At one point of altercation ... Read more
World Mental Health Day celebrated at DU
Dhaka University clinical psychology department celebrated World Mental Health Day on Thursday calling for extending psychological support for the elderly people. They brought out a procession in the morning from the base of Aparajeya Bangla that ended at the National Press Club. DU pro-vice-chancellor
Repaired MV Baro Awlia again in operations
The largest state-owned passenger ship, MV Baro Awlia, has resumed operations in the coastal route Chittagong-Swandip-Hatia-Chittagong after repair and rehabilitation of the vessel by a local shipbuilding company. The Highspeed Shipbuilding and Engineering Company repaired the damaged ship owned by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation
Rough ride home
Holidaymakers brace for tailbacks at certain points on battered highways The journey home during the Eid and Puja holidays is likely to be rough and long, as a large number of highways are riddled with potholes while many others are too narrow to cope with the huge rush. Then there is the long delay at ... Read more
Jamaat, Shibir out to destroy country: PM
Accusing the opposition leader of taking falsehood as her profession, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the countrymen to beware about the return to power of BNP-Jamaat who want to lead the country towards destruction associating with the defeated forces. “If the BNP-Jamaat returns to power they
Facilities for elderly, handicapped ignored
Buildings, Transport System Facilities for elderly, handicapped ignored The government has little attention to making different public places and transport system accessible to the elderly and people with disabilities all over the country. There is no statistics of buildings which have facilities and structures for the conveniences of the elderly and people with disabilities. Shamima ... Read more
HALLMARK SCAM: Tk 1,492 crore embezzled in a day
The kingpin of the country’s biggest banking scam, Hallmark Group, has embezzled around Tk 1,492 crore from Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch of Sonali Bank by creating 804 letters of credit in a single day, according to Anti-Corruption Commission probe findings. The commission investigators said that
Crisis, RMG image push economy to volatility: WB
Impending political transition and damaged image of apparel industry are pushing the Bangladesh economy into a volatile phase, the World Bank said in its latest report on South Asian nations on Wednesday. It said that the ongoing political uncertainty and infrastructure deficits would put negative impact on investment in the country. The report styled
Labour leaders contest WB outlook on RMG
Owners, experts cautious to react Labour leaders on Thursday doubted the World Bank’s latest observation on Bangladesh’s apparel sector while trade experts and businessmen gave cautious reactions. The World Bank in its latest report released on Wednesday in Washington DC said that impending political transition and damaged image of the apparel
PM alerts RMG owners, workers to plots against the sector
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Thursday urged the garment factory owners and manufacturers to offer the workers a better pay so they could afford two square meals and work hard to increase production. ‘You [garment factory owners] lead a lavish life but what about your workers? You have to look after them [workers]. It ... Read more
Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna lifts 1m off poverty
The Bangabandhu Bridge spanning the fast flowing huge expanses of the Jamuna had lifted one million people out of poverty since its construction, leaving a positive impact on the economy at national level. It was disclosed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) last week. The bridge also contributed to a significant reduction of transport cost resulting ... Read more
2-Finger Tests on Rape Victims: HC asks govt to explain legality
The High Court on Thursday asked the authorities to explain the legality of harassing rape victims in the name of conducting ‘two-finger tests’. The controversial and demeaning two-finger test, the other name of virginity test, is carried out by physicians on the victims following their complaints.
Shipping agents threaten to stop cargo ships from Oct 23
Maritime trade could face difficult times, as the Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association (BSAA) has threatened to stop cargo ships from entering or leaving Chittagong Port from October 23. This will be in protest against alleged harassment and filing of fake cases against shipping agents and ship owners by officials of the Chittagong Customs House (CCH). ... Read more
EC set to register more parties
The Election Commission is set to register another bunch of political parties to contest in the upcoming elections. In connection with this idea, the commission, on Thursday, gave registration to the newly formed Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote, as the 40th political party in the country that could take part in the upcoming parliamentary poll. The newly ... Read more
RMG workers clash with cops, 30 hurt
An agitation by readymade garment (RMG) workers to demand outstanding wages and Eid bonus turned violent, resulting in injuries to 30 workers in a clash with police in Ashulia on Thursday. Also, the workers of three factories at Tongi, Gazipur, staged a demonstration to demand Eid bonus and to protest alleged sexual harassment of female ... Read more
4 held over ATM booth guard killing
Police arrested four people, including a young woman, from city’s Mohammadpur area on Wednesday night in connection with the killing of an ATM booth guard of Dutch Bangla Bank, reports UNB. The arrestees were identified as Meghla, Parvez, Sony, 23 and Jewel, 22. Enamul Haq, 25, a guard of an ATM booth of