Rashidul Hasan from Chatkhil, Noakhali Despite today’s polls in Noakhali-1 constituency, all seemed quiet yesterday in Noakhola village of Chatkhil upazila, the birthplace of late Nurul Islam, a candidate of grand alliance for the constituency for the December 29 polls whose mysterious death led to the deferment of the polls. While visiting the village, there ... Read more
Dhaka Mirror
BNP man killed in Ctg; 25 hurt in Natore
Post-polls Violence BNP man killed in Ctg; 25 hurt in Natore Star Report A pro-BNP labourer was killed in Chittagong city Saturday night while at least 25 people were injured in a clash between the supporters of Awami League (AL) and BNP in Lalpur upazila of Natore yesterday. Our correspondent in Chittagong reports: Labourer Khokan ... Read more
Decision on diesel price, fertilizer subsidy today: Motia
UNB, Dhaka Agriculture Minister Motia Chowdhury on Sunday said the government would decide on Monday about reduction of diesel price and increase in subsidy on fertilizers as part of measures envisaged for boosting food production. “The government has already decided in principle. Everyone will be informed after meetings at ministry and expert levels. We’ll reach ... Read more
Polls to be suspended if voters unable to cast vote freely: CEC
Staff Correspondent The chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, on Sunday directed the returning officers for upazila elections to suspend the balloting in any centre if law and order of the polling stations deteriorate or voters cannot cast their vote freely. ‘I asked the returning officers to suspend the polls of the centres where voters ... Read more
Half the planet may be hit by food crisis by 2100: study
Agence France-Presse . Washington Half of the world’s population could face food shortages by the end of this century due to climate change, a new study warned Thursday. According to researchers, there is a 90 per cent probability that by 2100 the minimum temperatures in the tropics and sub-tropical regions will be higher than the ... Read more
Corruption deepens crisis in power, energy sectors: Experts
Staff Correspondent Energy experts have demanded of the new government to realise their charter of demands – including formulation of coal policy, cancellation of anti-national interest treaty like that with Asia Energy and imposing restriction on gas-coal exporting through enacting specific law. Their demands also include: setting up a new ministry or directorate titled ‘Sea ... Read more
Banks to set up more ATMs as demand surges
Staff Correspondent Cash Link Bangladesh, a company formed by a group of banks and Euronet Worldwide, has decided to set up 855 Automated Teller Machines (ATM) across the country in the next two years, officials said. “We will set up 350 ATMs in 2009 and 505 in 2010,” Syed Masodul Bari, Head of IT of ... Read more
Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe today
Sports Reporter Mighty Sri Lanka will take on confident and spirited Zimbabwe today in the second match of the Grameenphone Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The match starts at 9.00 AM. Earlier. Zimbabwe defeated Bangladesh in the opening match of the tournament by 38 runs at the same venue on January ... Read more
Southern heroines sizzle in Bollywood
By Abdulla Mahmood Until not too long ago, every failed Bollywood actress would pack her bags for the South Indian film industry, where she would attempt to establish herself as the undisputed queen of her chosen cinema – Tamil, Telegu,
Stealing beauty
By Manjusha Radhakrishnan A few months ago, when Parvathy Omanakuttan, Miss India World 2008, jetted into Dubai for a fashion show, we were impressed by her lack of airs and graces. Her willingness to pose patiently while a photographer struggled to compose a flattering picture in a poorly-lit hotel lobby and her offer of an ... Read more
Beauty queen eyes Bollywood roles
IANS New Delhi: She has been recently crowned Miss Tourism International and is looking forward to a career in Bollywood. But it has been a tough journey for Manasvi Mamgai, who worked 16 hours a day to get where she has. “People believe that modelling is fun and does not require any hard work, but ... Read more
Ex-Biman officials want jobs back
Staff Correspondent Around 1000 ex-Biman officials, who lost their jobs under a voluntary retirement scheme in 2007, staged demonstration at the national airlines’ headquarters, Balaka, in Dhaka Saturday for getting
Fertiliser carrying cost rises as Baghabari port idle
Poor navigability in Jamuna keeps vessels away Golam Mostafa Jibon, back from Nagorbarighat Baghabari port has been virtually lying idle for weeks as cargo vessels and barges with huge quantity of fertiliser, rice and fuel are not arriving there due to problem of navigability and dispute between
Tourism booms on quiet politics
Sayeda Akter The number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country grew significantly in 2008, thanks to a relatively stable political situation, said industry people. According to statistics of civil aviation and tourism ministry, a total of 3.50 lakh foreign tourists visited Bangladesh until October 2008, which was a sharp rise from 2.65 lakh in ... Read more
Govt to streamline SOEs to reduce subsidies
Asif Showkat The government has taken an initiative to streamline the loss-making state-owned enterprises to reduce the subsidies doled out to them through its fiscal policy, official sources said. ‘The finance ministry will want to reduce subsidy that is given to the loss-making SOEs as the money will be diverted to the country’s productive sectors,’ ... Read more
DSE stock prices fall last week
Staff Correspondent Dhaka stocks dropped last week due to a profit-taking selling pressure from investors after a two-week bull run, market operators said. The daily average turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange, however, went up by 6.11 per cent to Tk 407.39 crore from the previous week’s Tk 383.93 crore. The DSE general index lost ... Read more
Govt plans large-scale admin reshuffle
Strong lobbying on for good positions Staff Correspondent The government plans large-scale reshuffle in bureaucracy with some bureaucrats at various levels in a hectic lobbying for good positions. Some officials, especially the beneficiaries of the BNP-led government, are in fear either of being dumped as officers on special duty or being forced into retirement as ... Read more
Gaza-blitz on
UN chief disappointed at Israel offensives; 15 militants, 22 civilians killed in fighting, airstrikes Ap, Afp, Gaza City Israeli forces pounded rocket-launching sites and smuggling tunnels in Gaza yesterday and planes dropped leaflets warning of an escalation in attacks, as Palestinian militants fired at least 10 more
Hasina asks partymen to stay above personal interests
No more politics of vengeance Unb, Dhaka Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged her party men to forget personal interests and devote themselves to the service of the common people who overwhelmingly voted Awami League to power. “This is not the time for reckoning what we have got and what we haven’t…The main consideration is ... Read more
BCL men violate Hasina’s instruction
DU Correspondent Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the associate organization of Awami League (AL), have been engaging in clashes, capturing university dormitories and vandalizing student’s assets across the country in violation of AL president Sheikh Hasina’s instructions. After the landslide victory of AL-led grand alliance on Dec 29 election, Sheikh Hasina asked BCL leaders ... Read more