Month: December 2013

Lowest nomination filing since 1991 The 10th parliamentary polls is witnessing the least amount of interest among politicians with less than four aspirants filing nomination forms for a constituency amid opposition’s decision to boycott, what it calls, a lopsided election. Only 1,107 candidates have field nomination forms for the elections scheduled for January 5, which ... Read more

Blockade extended to 5:00pm Thursday At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Monday as sporadic clashes and acts of arson and sabotage marked the third day of the fresh spell of the opposition-enforced rail-road-waterway blockade which has been extended by 59 hours ending at 5:00pm Thursday. Buses were burnt and railway lines ... Read more

Meet Hasina, Khaleda Country’s apparel associations on Monday met with prime minister Sheikh Hasina and submitted a memorandum to opposition leader Khaleda Zia asking them to reach a consensus and resolve the political crisis over the next general elections. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters

Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday asked the government to come to the path of consensus shunning ‘conspiracies’ and stop ‘repression’ on the opposition for the sake of peace in the country. In a press statement, Khaleda, also leader of the opposition, urged the Election Commission to postpone the election schedule for the 10th

Dhaka along with other 48 least developed countries who are the members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will push forward their five-point agenda including getting duty-free and quota free market access for their products at the 9th WTO ministerial conference in Indonesian resort island Bali. The three-day conference will begin today as the trade

Urging the two bickering political camps — Awami League-led ruling alliance and BNP-led opposition alliance — to reach a consensus, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakiuddin Ahmad on Monday said they could reschedule the election if there is an understanding. “The Election Commission will make arrangements for everything if they (govt and opposition) reach

The home ministry has asked the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to beef up security for all diplomats and at the diplomatic zone located in the city’s Gulshan area to preclude any untoward incident against the backdrop of the ongoing political impasse. For ensuring the security of diplomats and the diplomatic zone, the Prime Minister’s ... Read more

Bangladesh is facing a serious challenge because of general strikes and uncertainties associated with the upcoming election, International Monetary Fund said Sunday. The IMF said that the political uncertainties would slow down the growth. The lender was approving disbursement

Japan ambassador to Bangladesh Shiro Sadoshima on Monday echoed the concern expressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the political confrontation and recent violence in the country. Shiro in a statement said, ‘We are also deeply grieved at ever increasing violence in Bangladesh.’ He said Japan, as a long-time friend

A lot of ATM booths in the city were out of service due to insufficient funds and various technical problems recently. Banking sources said that during the nationwide strikes, bank managements were bound to stop cash deposit into ATM machines to minimise risk management factors. Talking to The Independent, Md Saiful Islam, manager of Pubali ... Read more

Uttara Apartment Project Rajuk to scrap deal with failed firm Rajuk is set to cancel this week a contract with a company of a former Awami League lawmaker, as the firm has failed to complete its share of work in the Uttara apartment project. In February, 2012, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and the Public ... Read more

The eight-year old Jamila asked her mother Mahinur Akhter to take her to her working place. As per her wish, Mahinur, 30, a domestic help, took Jamila to the place at Merul Badda where she worked as maid. Finishing her job, Mahinur was returning home in the evening along with her daughter, but a reckless bus put ... Read more

The ongoing nationwide blockade has been causing immense sufferings to the patients. The transport disruptions are causing extra sufferings to thousands of patients needing treatment in hospitals. Besides the opposition, the patients and their relatives also blamed the election commission and the government for taking no initiative for an inclusive election

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has decided to purchase 51 lakh tons of refined and crude oil for 2014, senior corporation officials said. They said that as per the decisions, the BPC will spend Tk 40,000 crore on the overall import. ‘Last week we have finalized the premium