At least ten people, including two Chhatra League activists, were killed and over 100 others injured during the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal, called by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Sunday, in protest of the execution of its leader Abdul Quader Mollah. Four people died in Lalamonirhat, three in Joypurhat, and one each in Laxmipur, Sylhet and Narayanganj.
Month: December 2013
A long way to go
42 years of independence Even though the country has made achievements in different socio-economic sectors, the aspirations of the people to ensure fundamental rights have not yet been fulfilled even after 42 years of independence, leading jurists, right activist and members of the civil society said. Talking to The Independent, they expressed serious concern over the
Non-stop oppn agitation likely from tomorrow
To step up pressure on the government to hold the general election under a non-party poll-time interim administration, the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance has planned a non-stop agitation, including road-rail-waterway blockade and hartal programme, from Tuesday, party insiders said. A leader close to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said an all-party
Goodbye Madiba
Laid to rest at childhood village With military pomp and traditional rituals, South Africa buried Nelson Mandela yesterday, the end of an exceptional journey for the prisoner turned president who transformed the nation. Mandela was laid to rest in his childhood village of Qunu. Tribal leaders clad in animal skins joined
AL plans to hit back opposition
The ruling Awami League is taking a massive preparation to face the countrywide violence and attack on its leaders and workers by BNP-Jamaat activists. To stave off the opposition anarchy, the party has already asked its leaders and workers to forge resistance along with the law enforcing agency
Hold credible election
US congressmen urge Hasina, Khaleda for negotiations Six influential Democrat and Republican members of the US House of Representatives have written separately to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia to engage in direct negotiations immediately to ensure that the upcoming elections are free, fair and viewed as credible by the Bangladeshi people, ... Read more
EU envoys ‘won’t attend’ Victory Day programmes
European Union (EU) ambassadors in Bangladesh are not attending Monday’s Victory Day programmes organised by the government, sources concerned told The Independent on Sunday night. The envoys cited that ‘their own coordination meeting’ coincided with the Victory Day programmes. According to government officials, the EU ambassadors ‘will
Elevated expressway work to begin in Feb
Communication Minister Obaidul Quader said Sunday all withstanding issues over starting the Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) project have been settled, and its field-level construction work would begin in early February. “There has been confusion over beginning of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project for long. It’s now over. Though it’s late,
2 held with gold, currency at Dhaka, Ctg airports
Customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport seized 1 gold worth about Tk 1 crore and arrested a passenger on Sunday. Sources at the airport said Shahidullah, 55, came to Dhaka from Dubai by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight in the morning. When he was trying to come out of the customs lounge through the ... Read more
Couple killed in road accident
A couple, injured in a road accident on Saturday, died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital early Sunday. The deceased were identified as Abdur Rashid Sarker, 50, general secretary of Nalitabari upazila unit Krishak Dal, and his wife Harbala Begum, 45, of village Kapashia in the upazila. Police said Abdur Rashid along with his two wives was going ... Read more
2 held with gold, currency at Dhaka, Ctg airports
Customs officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport seized 1 gold worth about Tk 1 crore and arrested a passenger on Sunday. Sources at the airport said Shahidullah, 55, came to Dhaka from Dubai by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight in the morning. When he was trying to come out of the customs lounge through the ... Read more
Policeman ‘killed by wife’ in capital
A policeman was allegedly killed by his wife in their Purba Monipur residence in the capital’s Mirpur on Saturday. Police recovered the body of Humayan Kabir, 34, assistant sub-inspector of Shah Ali police Station, from his room early yesterday. Police also arrested Kabir’s wife Rahima Sultana Rumi, 27, a nurse. Kabir was injected with poison,
Jellyfish our ancestors?
It’s long been thought we evolved from sea sponges, but new genetic research suggests that jellyfish-style creatures may have kicked off the human race. While trying to fill the gaps in the genome sequence of the comb jelly, a gelatinous sea creature similar to a jellyfish, researchers discovered it was related
Victory Day today
The nation would celebrate the 43rd Victory Day on Monday to pay homage to the sons of the soil whose supreme sacrifice brought Independence on this day in 1971. The day is a public holiday. The day will be celebrated across the country and Bangladesh’s missions abroad will pay glowing tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur ... Read more
Remembering the choir of freedom
Celebrating The 43rd Victory Day Remembering the choir of freedom Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha, a travelling troupe of singers and musicians, played a significant role in boosting the freedom fighters’ spirit at the camps during the war of independence in 1971. In addition to performing live at the freedom fighters’ camps, the troupe also ... Read more
TV programmes are stereotypical: experts
TV channels broadcast stereotypical programmes on the Victory Day, which sometimes do not depict the depth of the war, observe viewers, cultural activists and freedom fighters. Most of the special teleplays aired on the Victory Day fail to portray the authentic picture of the war they observe. The viewers don’t find any
Food for thought for nat’l selectors
The just-concluded Challenge Cup Twenty20 series provided the national selectors some food for thought ahead of the busy international schedule with some experienced players pushing for a comeback in a few unsettled positions. Opening batsman Imrul Kayes showed he
WC trophy celebration begins
The Bangladesh Football Federation held a rally on Sunday to kick off the celebration of the arrival of the FIFA World Cup trophy which is due this week. BFF president Kazi Salahuddin led the rally that started from the Bangladesh Football Federation House and ended at the Bangabandhu
Iranian Akbar returns for Abahani
Abahani Limited’s newly-recruited Iranian coach Akbar Ali will arrive in Dhaka on December 20 to take charge of the Dhanmondi-based club ahead of the seventh edition of the domestic football league, scheduled to get underway from December 27. Abahani, who were ousted by Sheikh Jamal
BB cuts interest on export dev fund loan
UNREST IMPACT ON RMG SECTOR BB cuts interest on export dev fund loan Bangladesh Bank on Sunday cut interest on loans taken from export development fund by one percentage point to 1.50 per cent in a bid to give incentive to the exporters as ongoing political unrest is hindering their business severely. The BB took the ... Read more