BSEC backtracks on its previous decision The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission backtracking on its previous decision on Tuesday extended tenure for eight mutual funds of the Investment Corporation of Bangladesh by another year to December 31, 2014. Earlier on November 4, the BSEC had allowed ICB to convert the eight mutual funds — First ICB ... Read more
Month: December 2013
Banks asked to form body comprising risk management committee
Green Banking Banks asked to form body comprising risk management committee Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday asked scheduled banks to form a high-powered committee comprising risk management committee of directors from the board to review the banks’ environmental policies and strategies for governing the green banking activities. To this end, the BB issued a circular to ... Read more
Stocks decline for second day
Dhaka stocks declined for the second trading session on Tuesday amid technical glitch in trading with declining turnover due to investors’ deteriorating confidence in the market, market operators said. ‘We have received several complaints regarding technical problem in trading from different brokerage houses,’ said an official of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
Govt approves $85m foreign loan for 12 pvt cos
A government committee on Tuesday approved proposals of 12 private companies to take $85.5 million in loan from foreign sources. Board of Investment Scrutiny Committee for approval of Private Sector foreign borrowing, headed by Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman, approved
GP launches 3G service in Barisal
Mobile phone operator Grameenphone on Tuesday launched 3G service for its customers on commercial basis in Barisal. The inauguration programme was held at GP regional office. Barisal city mayor Md Ahsan Habib Kamal was present, said a press release. The 3G coverage are now available at Kashipur Bus Stand,
High prices of warm clothes hit poor hard
High prices of warm clothes have been putting pressure on the poor, leaving many of them to endure the bite of cold. During a visit, New Age found that, many shops, especially those on the footpaths, were open during the 83-hours BNP-led opposition blockade. Many people, mainly the low income group, thronged the footpath shops at Mohakhali, ... Read more
Major poverty elimination impossible without major land reform: study
A field level action research study report has revealed that eliminating poverty and preventing migration from rural to urban areas would be impossible without major reformation of land administration and management related laws and systems. The study was done by the Society for People’s Education, Empowerment and Development trust in association with
Dalits demand law to end discrimination against them
Dalit leaders on Monday demanded formulation of an act to end all kinds of discrimination against them in society. At a discussion on ‘duties to improve education, employment, housing, water and sanitation facilities for Dalits’, experts said though they contribute a lot, they are still deprived of their rights. Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement and
Inter-univ debate begins at JU today
A four-day inter-university debate competition begins on the Jahangirnagar University campus today. The Jahangirnagar University Debating Society is organising the competition with the financial assistance from Polar, Bangladesh. ‘The programme is being arranged marking the 42nd Victory Day of Bangladesh,’ said the JUDS general secretary, Aninda Saimum Emon,
Mystery shrouds VoIP ‘trade’ by 37 foreigners
Mystery shrouds the involvement of 37 arrested foreigners, including seven females, in unauthorised VoIP business and the illegal stay of 13 of them in the country. The 37 foreigners along with 6 Bangladeshis were arrested in possession of huge VoIP equipment during a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) drive at
6 IGW service providers face suspension
The operation of six international gateway (IGW) service providers will be suspended if they fail to pay their outstanding duties amounting to about Tk 300 crore to the BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission) by today. The companies include Mos 5, SM Communication, Firstcom and Sigma Telecom. BTRC?director Colonel Zakir Hossain told
Blockades hit rural, urban economy alike
Business and economic activities in both rural and urban areas have been badly affected by protracted blockades and political violence that paralysed transports across the country and reduced export-import trades at the main seaport. Chamber leaders of Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet said business and trades in various sectors – agriculture, manufacturing,
Stary violence marks 4th day blockade
Shipping minister Shajahan Khan on Monday said inter-district buses on all routes will be given police protection from Tuesday. The minister’s statement followed reports of vandalism and arson against state-run BRTC buses in Noakhali, Brahmanbaria and Bogra on the third day of the 83-hour transport blockade enforced by the BNP-led opposition
Govt to deploy 50,000 troops
People asked to deposit firearms At least 50,000 members of the armed forces will be deployed in the country from December 26, ahead of January 5 parliamentary polls, to maintain law and order. The soldiers to be drawn from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force will remain on duty until January 9, a ... Read more
Envoys concerned over safety of foreigners
Foreign minister briefs ASEAN, SAARC envoys Against the backdrop of escalating violence, envoys of different countries have expressed concern over the safety of their people, students and members of the diplomatic staff living in the country. This occurred when foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali briefed the envoys from SAARC and ASEAN countries on the current situation ... Read more
Huji link in 6-murder suspected
Law enforcers are yet to make any headway in the Gopibagh six murder case, but family members and RAB suspect Harkat-ul Jihad (Huji) militants involvement in the killing. Unidentified assailants murdered Lutfur Rahman, a controversial Pir, along with his son and four disciples in a house at Gopibagh in the capital on Saturday. However, three ... Read more
Hifazat postponed Motijheel rally
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh (HIB) has postponed its grand rally at Shapla Square in the city, scheduled for Tuesday, as it failed to get permission from the authorities. “Even though we made all preparations for a peaceful rally, we could not hold it as the government did not permit it,” said HIB nayeb-e-ameer and
Polls will be all right without foreign observers: CEC
The chief election commissioner, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, said on Monday that media and local observers would oversee the January 5 elections in absence of foreign observers. ‘We had invited them to observe the polls. But every organisation has its own guidelines and policy. They will decide whether they will send the observers
JP minister visits office, seeks salary & benefits
Even though water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud of the Jatiya Party (JP) has already submitted his resignation letter to his party chairman, he suddenly visited his office at the Secretariat at 12.30pm on Monday. This has exacerbated the confusion over the status of the JP ministers in the Cabinet. When officials of the ministry learnt ... Read more
Taranco submits report on Dhaka visit to UN chief
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco has submitted a report on his recent Bangladesh visit to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Taranco visited Bangladesh from December 6 to December 11 in an effort to resolve the political impasse in the country over the poll-time governance issue. A source familiar with