The ruling Awami League (AL) would go for a massive election campaign from Sunday, in a bid to increase voter participation in the upcoming 10th parliamentary election slated for January 5. “To increase people’s participation in the coming election, we’ll form several election teams, comprising the party’s senior leaders, who will visit different constituencies across ... Read more
Month: December 2013
No observers for Jan 5 polls: EU
The European Union has said it will not send observers to monitor the January 5 elections in Bangladesh, as the necessary conditions for holding inclusive polls were not created. The spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, in a statement on Friday, said “The high representative has decided to halt for now ... Read more
Traffic in disarray during respite from blockade
People from Dhaka on their way to outlying areas suffered because of huge tailbacks on different highways on Friday. After being trapped for 72 hours during the fourth spell of blockade of road, railway and waterways, enforced by the opposition alliance, people rushed out of their houses in droves, leading to the heavy rush. Thousands of passengers ... Read more
Brick kilns posing threat to environment
The operation of brick kilns, one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, in the country continues unabated, flouting the laws as the authorities concerned have failed to address the issue properly. Under the laws, brick-fields cannot be set up within three kilometres of densely populated residential areas, commercial areas, parts of city corporation, ... Read more
Booming trade along border
Phensidyl Booming trade along border They usually go there in groups, crossing the international border, unchallenged. Some 20 makeshift houses there, just along the zero line in India, sell phensidyl, an addictive cough syrup. The houses are on the Dhorla river, opposite to Chauratari village under Moghalhat upazila, approximately nine kilometres west of Lalmonirhat town. Every day, ... Read more
Khaled Khan dies
Actor Khaled Khan died in BIRDEM Hospital in the capital Dhaka on Friday night. He was 57. The actor was admitted to hospital on Monday night for motor neuron disease he had been suffering from for about 10 years. As the news of the death spread, his colleagues, friends and members of his family rushed to the ... Read more
Gold bars worth Tk 2cr seized at Dhaka airport
The customs officials Thursday night seized four gold bars weighing four kilograms at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. They said that the gold bars worth about Tk 2 crore were found hidden inside a television set, but no arrest was made in this connection.
3-day Poush mela begins at Ramna Batamul
The season’s festivity is being celebrated in the busy city through a three day Poush Mela at the Ramna Batamul which began on Friday. The fair organsied by Poush Mela Udzapan Parisad consists of music, dance, theatre, recitations and delicious pithas sold in makeshift stalls through which the city dwellers enjoyed the festivity brought in ... Read more
Classical music festival begins at Chhayanaut
A two-day classical festival featuring classical music performances by noted and upcoming singers began at Chhayanuat auditorium on Thursday. Cultural organisation Chhayanuat has organised the festival Suddho Sangeet Utsab 1420 with a goal to popularize and spread classical music among the music enthusiasts in the country. The first day programme
Friends, family remember Mahmud-un-Nabi
A hall full of audience enjoyed the evergreen romantic songs of yesteryears of the late eminent singer Mahmud-un-Nabi in a commemorative programme at the TSC auditorium on Thursday. The programme was organised by Bishwa Kalakendra to celebrate and observe the late singer’s 77th birth anniversary and 23rd death anniversary. Mahmud-un-Nabi was born
BCB set for T20 frenzy
UCBL completes Victory Day field United Commercial Bank Limited on Friday was named the fourth team in the newly-launched Victory Day Twenty20 tournament, which is set to begin in Sylhet on Sunday. UCBL joined the fray hours after the BCB officially launched the tournament, which was supposed to be contested by clubs in the Dhaka ... Read more
Nazmul takes blame for payment fiasco
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan on Friday took the blame for the recent players’ payment issue that saw many cricketers still remaining unpaid for their participation in the Dhaka Premier League. The BCB has introduced a new payment system this year for the DPL despite their bitter experience in the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20
BOA still to begin training camp
Despite US$100,000 in its coffers, the Bangladesh Olympic Association was still unable to start the proposed training camp for 26 athletes from four different disciplines let alone giving out a date. Earlier in the first week of October, 26 athletes were chosen for a special training programme but the athletes are still in the dark ... Read more
Second division football kicks off today
East End Club will face PWD Sporting Club today in the opening match of the Kool Second Division Football League at the Bir Sreshtho Shahid Sipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalpur. 15 clubs will participate in the league, with the four top teams gaining promotion to the First Division League next year and bottom two ... Read more
Fahad beat Grigorii in World Youth Chess
Bangladeshi FIDE Master Fahad Rahman beat Ter-Saakin Grigorii of Russia in the 2nd round match – Open Under-10 group – of the World Youth Chess Championship at Al-Ain of UAE on Thursday. Fahad secured 2 points after the 2nd round match and shares the lead with 38 players. In the 3rd round match on Friday, ... Read more
Rice price remains high amid supply disruption
Milk powder price rises The price of rice continued to rise on the retail markets in the city last week despite arrival of new rice on the market as political violence, frequent blockades and hartals disrupted the supply chain across the country. Vegetable prices remained high throughout the week except Friday. The prices of vegetables decreased on ... Read more
Govt holds meeting with BAIRA
Manpower Export Govt holds meeting with BAIRA The expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry has held a meeting with the leaders of the BAIRA and discussed ways how to ensure smooth and safe manpower export against the backdrop of a downward trend in the country’s manpower export, officials and recruiters said. They said the ministry on ... Read more
Strikes take toll on weddings
Apart from taking a heavy toll on businesses and children’s education, the ongoing political turmoil is also creating great difficulties for those planning to marry, causing many couples in the capital to delay their wedding ceremonies and receptions. In the last two months, at least 70 wedding ceremonies
Girl Guides calls for empowering girls
Girl Guides in a daylong camp on Thursday stressed empowering girls through acquiring self-sufficiency and self-defence to achieve millennium development goals. The programme was held on Barisal Islamia College campus as part of the sixth camp of Girl Guides ranger-unit of the college. The camp was conducted by
Pak Taliban threaten to strike Bangladesh high commission
Dhaka asks Islamabad to ensure security Banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has threatened to attack Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad in retaliation for execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah, reports a Pakistani newspaper. The Nation, a leading Pakistani daily, released the news Thursday. Although security around Bangladesh foreign mission in Pakistan has been enhanced manifold