The cabinet Monday approved in principle amendment to the Anti-Corruption Commission law with a lenient provision granting logical time for self-defense to an accused in corruption case or a corruption suspect before incarcerating them. At its regular meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, the cabinet gave the approval ... Read more
Dhaka Mirror
Killer pesticides
Mindless use in Dhamrai farmlands causes death of 3 kids in a month; many others ill Excessive use of pesticides on farmlands in two villages of Dhamrai upazila caused death of at least three children last month. It also killed a number of calves, dogs and fowls. Besides, 13 more children, all aged below seven, ... Read more
Per capita income rises to $690
Growth rate decreases due to global recession, says BBS Per capita income in Bangladesh shot up to $690 this fiscal year (FY) from the previous year’s $608 demonstrating the country’s overall income significantly increased though GDP growth fell. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) calculated per capita income in the current FY, based on its estimate ... Read more
Bangladesh dropped from US watch list
Violation Of Minorities’ Rights Bangladesh dropped from US watch list The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a US Congressional panel, dropped Bangladesh from its Watch List of countries deemed to violate minorities’ right to religious freedom. The absence of measures to promote minority voting rights and the failure of the government to ... Read more
Ex-NSI director remanded for 3 days in Ctg arms haul case
A former director of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Wing Commander Mohammad Sahab Uddin, arrested on Saturday, was remanded to police for three days. The CID officials appealed to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Hannan for five days remand of the former NSI Director. But the Magistrate granted three days remand. He is now under ... Read more
SC allows BNP secy-gen to file fresh appeal
HC verdict on 5th amendment The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday granted permission to BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain and three other lawyers for filing fresh leave-to-appeal petitions within four weeks against the High Court (HC) judgement that had declared illegal the 5th amendment to the Constitution. The seven-member full bench ... Read more
47 pc of rural people live below poverty line
Around 47 percent of country’s total population in rural areas is still living below the poverty line due to absence of pragmatic policies and its implementation and lack of coordination among different development partners. This revelation was made by speakers at a roundtable discussion on ‘creating job opportunities for distressed women at village level’ at ... Read more
Fire at CNG filling station
At least two persons were injured seriously and five motor vehicles suffered damage when an oil tanker caught fire at the CNG filling station near the Metropolitan Hospital at Mohakhali yesterday evening. Muhammad Omar Faruq, officer-in-charge of Tejgaon Police Station, told the New Nation that firefighters doused the fire at around 6:30pm. The fire broke ... Read more
Two foreign aircraft lying abandoned
Cox’s Bazar Airport Two foreign aircraft lying abandoned Hired for shrimp fry transport in 2004-05, Ukraine-based owners didn’t respond to notice Cox’s Bazar Airport authorities are facing problem, as two Russian-made cargo aircraft have been lying inoperative in the airport for long. Sources said normal activities of the airport are being hampered as the planes ... Read more
Govt sets rule for public univ teachers’ study abroad
No dept will allow more than 30pc teachers abroad at a time The government has asked the authorities of all the 31 public universities not to allow more than 30 per cent of teachers of a department at a time to go abroad for higher education or for job on leave or lien. The government ... Read more
PM okays draft MoU on N-power plant with Russia
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Monday provisionally approved a draft memorandum of understanding with Russia on installation of a nuclear power plant, officials with knowledge of the matter said. Nazmul Huda Khan, science and technology secretary, told the news agency that they expected an agreement to be signed later this month when a Russian ... Read more
Bangladesh reveal T20 WC squad
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC World Twenty20 with young batting prospects Shamsur Rahman and Mohammad Mithun earning call-ups for the first time. Besides, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak made a comeback to the national team after he was banned for suspect action. Razzak was suspended in November last ... Read more
Family of Bangladeshi victim OK
Says Mexican minister Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Sunday he had visited the family of a Bangladeshi man who was one of Mexico’s 19 swine flu fatalities and found them all to be free from infection. Cordova told a news conference that the man lived with 10 relatives and friends at the same ... Read more
The city we live in: A death trap for passengers, passers-by
It was 9:30 in the morning. The busiest hour of the day. Masuma Jahan arrived at Jatrabari from Mirpur to see her ailing daughter who lives in South Jatrabari adjacent to a Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Seeing the condition of the road, she became perplexed. “The bus dropped me near the park. I crossed the Jatrabari circle ... Read more
Eviction notice on cantt residence: Third HC bench admits Khaleda’s writ: Govt won’t disturb till May 10 hearing
A third High Court (HC) bench yesterday admitted the writ petition of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia challenging the Government’s notice asking her to vacate the Dhaka Cantonment residence. The bench comprising Justice Zinnat Ara and Justice Abdul Hakim fixed next Sunday (May 10) for hearing of the petition on Attorney ... Read more
Govt prepares to ink extradition treaties with India, UK, US
Bangabandhu killers to be brought back The government is expected to sign extradition treaties with India, the UK and the USA, paving the way for handing over criminals from one signatory country to another, it was learnt yesterday. After signing of the proposed extradition treaties, the Bangladesh government will take fresh initiatives to bring back ... Read more
JS panel to probe alleged power sector graft of 7 years
A parliamentary panel on Sunday constituted a three-member subcommittee to investigate alleged corruption in the power and energy sector during the five-year tenure of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance government and a two-year regime of a military-backed administration. ‘We have assigned a committee to investigate the alleged plunder of public money in power and energy ... Read more
MPs’ unusual unity to exercise power
Empowerment in local bodies remains still unresolved MPs’ unusual unity to exercise power Conspiracy against local development: UZ Chairmen When the country’s two top political leaders-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Begum Khaleda Zia – are draggersdrawn with each other over various issues, their followers are in an unusual unity at Parliament and local ... Read more
Ex-NSI boss held
Ctg Arms Haul Case Ex-NSI boss held He allegedly played key role in arranging transport Former director (Security) of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Sahab Uddin was arrested in the capital’s Green Road yesterday for his alleged involvement in arranging transport and equipment for carrying the illegal arms and ammunition seized at CUFL jetty in Chittagong ... Read more
New policy to end discrimination in primary education
Says education policy formulation committee chief Education Policy Formulation Committee Chairman Kabir Chowdhury yesterday said the government wants to introduce a uni-track curriculum for students at least up to class five. “We would like to eliminate the existing discrimination at primary level education,” committee Chairman Kabir Chowdhury told reporters after its first meeting. On April ... Read more