Friday, January 24, 2025

Sheikh Hasina’s acid test

Commentary Sheikh Hasina’s acid test Mahfuz Anam The first cabinet will give the clearest sign of her promised change Two recent elections have been fought on the promise of ‘change’ — Barack Obama’s in the US and Sheikh Hasina’s in Bangladesh — and both of them received resounding endorsement from the electorate and both now ... Read more

About 300 Languish in Jails After Terms

6 foreign prisoners freed, 20 more await their turn Kailash Sarkar The jail authorities have started freeing the foreign nationals languishing in Bangladeshi jails for years after serving their sentences because of diplomatic and bureaucratic tangles. They took the step after failing to repatriate them through the normal procedures. At least six foreign prisoners — ... Read more

Second Test from today

Azad Majumder. Chittagong After a spirited show in Dhaka, Bangladesh are keen to keep up the momentum when they face the visiting Sri Lanka in the second Test at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium starting today. ‘The performance in the second innings of the first Test in Dhaka, gave us a lot of confidence. We are ... Read more

Govt should realise need for rapport: BNP to cooperate for making JS effective

Staff Reporter Conceding the defeat by its rivals in the just concluded parliamentary elections, BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain yesterday said the victorious party should form the government and rule the country. Delwar, who, earlier made allegations of vote rigging said, “Let the Awami League led grand alliance form the next government as they ... Read more

AL leaders want Zillur as president

Staff Reporter Awami League (AL) general secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday said the cabinet of the coming AL government would not be consist of 40 to 50 members and it will be blended with the veterans, experience and youths merit. Jalil also informed that the party leaders and supporters want to see veteran Zillur Rahman president ... Read more

SCF looks to AL govt for war crimes trial

Bdnews24.com, Dhaka The Sector Commanders’ Forum is optimistic that a pro-independence Awami League-led government will start the legal procedures to hold war crimes trial as soon as possible. “The forum firmly believes, the Awami League-led elected government will start the legal procedure to try war ‘criminals’ and thus the nation will get rid of a ... Read more

Malaysia fast-tracks deportation of illegal migrants

Agence France-Presse . Kuala Lumpur Malaysia said Friday it is fast-tracking the deportation of illegal migrants under a pilot project that will see offenders handed a fine and a one-way ticket home — bypassing court and jail. ‘We have got more than one million people who are illegals in this country so I don’t think ... Read more

Two BCL activists arrested from DU hall

DU Correspondent Two activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League were arrested on Friday noon for their alleged involvement in Thursday’s clash between two groups of students at Ziaur Rahman hall of Dhaka University. Central leaders of the BCL, the student wing of the Awami League, provided the provost the names of Maola Baki and Ziaul Huq, ... Read more

Counterfoils of ballots found in Chandpur

Bdnews24.com . Chandpur The Chandpur police on Friday retrieved 300 abandoned ballot counterfoils from a ditch close to Chandpur Akkas Ali Government Primary School. Chandpur Sadar model police sub-inspector Monir Ahmed told bdnews24.com Jihad, a seventh-grade student of the primary school went to the school ground for playing cricket with his friends in the morning. ... Read more

Vatican divorces from Italian law

By David Willey, BBC News, Rome The Vatican City State, the world’s smallest sovereign state, has decided to divorce itself from Italian law. Vatican legal experts say there are too many laws in Italian civil and criminal codes, and that they frequently conflict with Church principles. With effect from New Year’s Day, the Pope has ... Read more

Sri Lankan troops seize rebel HQ

Sri Lanka’s military have seized control of the Tamil Tiger rebels’ de facto capital of Kilinochchi, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced. He described the taking of the northern town as an “unparalleled victory” for government forces. A pro-Tamil website confirmed the news but said the town was mostly empty as the rebel fighters had moved ... Read more

Michelle Williams’ Justin dream

Michelle Williams would love to record a duet with Justin Timberlake. The former Destiny’s Child singer admires the ‘SexyBack’ star’s hard working attitude and also his gorgeous body. She said: “I like Justin Timberlake. He is not only hot, he also has an amazing work ethic. If I met him I would ask him if ... Read more

Amy Winehouse’s secret Santa

Amy Winehouse has grown “extremely close” to a resort Father Christmas. The 25-year-old ‘Rehab’ star has reportedly formed a romantic bond with a man named Matt who worked as Santa Claus at the hotel in St. Lucia where the singer is currently on holiday. A source said: “He seems to be really easy going and ... Read more

Britney Spears’ junk habit

Britney Spears could be wrecking her comeback with junk food. The ‘Womanizer’ singer is said to be refusing to stick to the 1,200 calories-a-day diet devised for her by her managers and has regularly been bingeing on fast food. A source close to the singer told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper: “Britney’s been eating burgers and ... Read more

Jennifer Hudson’s in-law in court

Jennifer Hudson’s brother-in-law has been formally indicted on murder and home invasion charges following the killings of her mother, brother and nephew in October. William Balfour was indicted on the same four counts he was formally charged with earlier this month – three counts of first degree murder and one of home invasion – at ... Read more

Aamir is the hottest, says Asin

NDTV Correspondent New Delhi: Who is the hottest actor in the film industry? Undoubtedly it’s Amir Khan. No, it’s not a result of any survey or contest but this is Ghajini girl Asin’s verdict on who’s the hottest actor of Bollywood. When asked,”Who does she think is the hottest in Bollywood”, pat comes the reply, ... Read more

Good starts for Ctg, Barisal, Sylhet

Staff Correspondent Chittagong, Barisal and Sylhet registered victories over Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna in a low scoring opening round of the Ispahani Mirzapore Tea National Cricket League one-dayers at different venues across the country on Thursday. Chittagong v Dhaka At the BKSP, Chittagong opted to bowl first and bowled Dhaka out for 173 in 47.2 ... Read more

Johnson leads Farashganj to 3-1 win over Rahmatganj

Sports Correspondent Farashganj Sporting Club registered its fourth victory in the Citycell 2nd B. League football championship when it inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society at Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city on Thursday. Kabir Hossain pulled off the first breakthrough for Farash-ganj scoring from spot after 19 minutes to put the ... Read more

Cost of living goes up by 9.4pc in 2008: CAB

Kazi Azizul Islam The cost of living in the past year went up by 9.42 per cent with the increase in prices of essential commodities by 12.54 per cent, said a release of the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh on Thursday. While conducting a study, the CAB took into consideration the annual cost of living basing ... Read more