A high-powered delegation of the European Union (EU) will arrive in Dhaka any moment to assess the challenges to holding the 10th parliamentary election, and to inspect the pre-election environment and Election Commission’s (EC) measures to implement the electoral codes. “A pre-assessment team will arrive in Dhaka to examine the election environment. Although
Month: December 2013
India vows to ‘restore dignity’ of diplomat stripped in US
India vowed Wednesday to bring one of its diplomats home at any price after her arrest in New York, as she told how she broke down in tears after being stripped and cavity-searched. As a leading daily hailed the government for “taking on Uncle Sam”, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid pledged to “restore the dignity” of ... Read more
Govt to ensure safety of vehicles during blockade
Shipping and War of Liberation Affairs Minister Shahjahan Khan on Wednesday said the government will give protection to all vehicles that will ply on highways from Friday defying the opposition blockade programme. “We have decided to operate all types of transport, including the long-distance buses, from Friday during the opposition’s hartal and blockade
Murder suspect of construction workers killed in ‘gunfight’ with police
One of the suspects of Tuesday’s killing of two construction workers at Badda was killed in a shootout with police in the capital’s Rampura area on Wednesday afternoon. Police said Mohammad Sohag, 26, received bullet wounds during an exchange of gunshots and succumbed to his injuries at Orthopaedic Hospital
Bangladeshi among 53 to be deported from S’pore
Singapore plans to deport 53 people and issue warnings to about 200 more for their involvement in the city-state’s worst riot in more than 40 years this month, which shocked a nation that prides itself on its safety and orderliness. Another 28 face criminal charges for the riot, which broke out earlier this month in ... Read more
Mozena talks embassy security with FM
Dan Mozena, the United States Ambassador to Dhaka, held a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Wednesday to discuss issues with regards to the security of the US embassy as well its personnel. During the meeting the US envoy had voiced his deep concern over the security of the embassy and its staffs ... Read more
EC seeks help from Army, BGB, police
The Election Commission (EC) has sought support from the Army, BGB and police to transport electoral equipment across the country as it felt that the regular surveillance of law enforcement agency is not adequate to ensure safety for transporting poll-related papers and equipment. Following the recent sporadic violence, triggered by the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance’s
CNG stations incur Tk 7cr loss a day
Upset at the ongoing political turmoil that has taken its heavy toll on their business, the country’s the CNG refueling station owners on Wednesday a placed 3-point demand to survive, reports UNB. Their demands are rescheduling due payment against bank loan by at least one year without charging interest and taking interest in the block ... Read more
Fire at city’s Gausia market
A fire broke out at a shop in the capital’s Gausia Super Market on Wednesday night. Mohammad Ali, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence told the Independent that the fire broke out at a shop located on the third floor of the market around 8:30pm. Getting the information, five units, one from Palashi Station ... Read more
The war has made me stronger
Ferdousy Priyabhashini tells New Age Eminent sculptor Ferdousy Priyabhashini is a victim of the brutality of Pakistani army and its local collaborators during the war of independence in 1971. She was abducted from her house in Khulna in May 1971 when she worked at the Crescent Jute Mills in Khalishpur and was captivated at a ... Read more
Queenie makes return to Eden
Artist Nasima Khanam Queenie is displaying 31 prints in her first ever printmaking solo exhibition titled Return to Eden at the Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. In the sixth solo of the romantic artist, Queenie depicts the harmonious relation between man and nature. All the 31 prints depict
Dipon makes film on Mathin’s myth
Popular small screen director Dipankar Dipon will make his debut film on the myth of the popular tourist venue on the Teknaf coast named Mathin-er Kup. The film titled 1929-Ekti Prem Gantha feature the tragic love story of a Marma woman Mathin and a Kolkata-based actor named Dhiraj during his visit in the coastal area in ... Read more
Fans catch rare glimpse of trophy
Thousands of football fans ignored the political turmoil to gather at hotel Radisson Water Garden on Wednesday to get a glimpse of the FIFA World Cup trophy, which has been put on display by the Bangladesh Football Federation. The BFF brought the trophy in association with Coca Cola, a co-sponsor of the World Cup, on Tuesday ... Read more
Clubs salvage BCB T20 plan
The Bangladesh Cricket Board invited top clubs of the Dhaka Premier League to play in a Twenty20 tournament after it failed to woo the corporate houses amid political chaos, officials said on Wednesday. The BCB had planned to organise the tournament on franchisee-basis from December 22 to 31 and had invited some reputed corporate houses, but ... Read more
Telcos seek security from govt for infrastructure
POLITICAL UNREST Telcos seek security from govt for infrastructure The telecom operators have sought security of countywide network infrastructure from the government to continue their operation safely amid the ongoing political violence across the country. The Association of Mobile Telephone Operators of Bangladesh in a letter on December 15 to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission expressed
Turmoil strikes blow to trade through Ctg port
Frequent strikes and blockades have struck a big blow to the export and import business through the Chittagong port as the container delivery service has tumbled amid the programmes called by the opposition political parties. Officials concerned and business leaders said ships were departing from the port, loading export cargoes below their capacity.
BGMEA opposes EU Accord’s proposal
INCLUSION IN ADVISORY BODY BGMEA opposes EU Accord’s proposal The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has opposed the EU Accord’s proposal of inclusion of a BGMEA representative in its advisory committee and demanded that the trade body be included in the steering committee of the platform of EU retailers and buyers. Officials of EU Accord ... Read more
BB relaxes rescheduling policy for SME loan
Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday relaxed SME loan classification and rescheduling policy as such loans disbursed by scheduled banks would be turned into defaulting condition due to the country’s existing political turmoil. To this end, the BB issued a circular to managing directors and chief executive officers of all banks saying that they (banks) should consider
New move soon to divest govt stakes in share market, says Muhith
Finance minister AMA Muhith on Wednesday said there will be new announcement to off-load government stakes in the local and multinational companies in the share market. He said this after a meeting with the officials of Dhaka Stock Exchange at his office. The finance minister said decision of off-loading of
Banks to remain open on Friday
The branches of all scheduled banks will remain open on Friday as they are facing a problem to conduct their regular banking operation in the recent working days due to blockade programmes called by the opposition alliance. Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday asked scheduled banks to keep all their branches open on Friday. To this end,