Headlines

The negligence and corruption by some officials of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) have led to the unplanned growth of the mega city Dhaka, alleged the city dwellers. There are widespread allegations that RAJUK gives permission for construction of buildings illegally in exchange of money without considering their future consequences, putting the capital into a deplorable ... Read more

About 350 people living dangerously in a 3-storey structure; pay Tk 1,200 a month for each room From the middle of a three-storey bamboo structure, Shoma looks out across the road at a wide view of the flowing Buriganga. Newly wed to a rickshaw-puller from Manikganj, she has just moved into her home. Her “window”, ... Read more

Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival of the Muslims, was celebrated with due religious fervour across the country on Saturday. Most of the people left for their village homes braving the huge rush on the road to celebrate Eid with their family after the month of fasting of Ramadan. Rain hampered Eid celebrations in many areas Eid ... Read more

All roads leading to the three inter-district bus terminals, Kamalpur railway station and Sadarghat launch terminal in the capital experienced long tailback on Wednesday as thousands of people headed home with Eid holiday beginning on Friday. Congestion tailed back from Sadarghat till the Purana Paltan crossing in the morning while vehicles near the bus terminals ... Read more

A three-day public holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr at the weekend has this time disappointed many of the people who leave the capital for Eid celebrations with families. Although Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival of the Muslims, is likely to fall on either Friday or Saturday depending on the sighting of the moon, the government ... Read more

Water bus, an alternative transport for the people of the capital, has started its journey to give city dwellers relief to some extent from unbearable traffic congestion. Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday inaugurated the water bus services with a capacity of carrying 35 passengers every trip from Gabtoli to Sadarghat after a pause of one and ... Read more

The cabinet has approved construction of an elevated expressway proposed by the communications ministry to address traffic congestion in the capital. The two-year project worth Tk 140 billion was approved in a weekly meeting of the policymakers headed by prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday. Following the meeting, her spokesperson Abul Kalam Azad told journalists ... Read more

One never used its ETP, another does not have wastewater tank The Department of Environment in a drive fined two factories Tk 77 lakh yesterday for discharging untreated liquid waste in canals flowing to the Meghna river. Sycotex Dyeing, an export-oriented textile mill, had set up an effluent treatment plant but never used it. The ... Read more

Bangabandhu Bridge Cracks not repaired in 5yrs Experts fear this may reduce bridge’s lifespan, load carrying capacity The lifespan and load carrying capacity of the country’s longest Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge are being compromised, as successive governments failed in the last five years to repair cracks formed on it, according to experts and government officials, reports ... Read more

Govt announces new wage structure The government announced on Thursday a revised wage structure, unanimously recommended by the tripartite Minimum Wage Board, for the apparel industry workers. The workers, however, have to wait at least for three months to get the new wages as the employers took the time while signing the wage agreement on ... Read more

Average pass percentage 71.82; 25,512 secure GPA-5 The results of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations 2010 show a significant rise in the number of students passed and GPA-5 achievers. The percentage of students passed this year’s HSC exams under eight education boards stands at 71.82 with 25,512 GPA-5 (Grade Point Average) scorers. A ... Read more

The cleansing drive in the River Buriganga has proved futile as the authorities concerned failed to stop discharge by active polluting sources which are still dumping 25,000 tonnes of untreated wastes and 60,000 cubic metres of toxic chemicals into the river everyday, reports NewAge. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority began its much-vaunted Buriganga cleansing ... Read more

Mukteshwari leased to fish farmers with ruling party links since 1980 The Daily Star The land ministry may soon lease out a 125.69-acre stretch of the Mukteshwari river by showing it “stagnant”. The lease, now awaiting final approval at the ministry, is based on recommendations from the Jessore district administration, said sources in the local ... Read more

Grieving Mandela misses ceremony Africa’s first football World Cup began with an explosion of colour and emotion in a ceremony in Johannesburg’s Soccer City Friday, but blighted by the absence of a heartbroken Nelson Mandela. Fans wept openly as five planes swept over the stadium and the iconic township of Soweto before 1,500 performers piled ... Read more

The government yesterday decided to demolish all high-risk buildings in Dhaka city. The high-powered Inter-ministerial Disaster Management Coordination Committee also decided in a meeting to constitute a task force, headed by the Housing and Public Works Ministry, to identify all buildings with high risk of collapse, reports The New Nation. After the meeting, Food and ... Read more

Ban follows arrest of man over ‘cartoon’ of Hasina, Khaleda; members of popular social network angrily react to govt decision Regulators yesterday “temporarily” blocked access to Facebook, a popular social networking site. The decision came after the arrest of a youth for uploading satiric images of some politicians, including the prime minister and the leader ... Read more

Unarmed forest guards in West Zone fail to stop armed gangs of robbers, illegal loggers, poachers From The Daily Star Equipped with only sticks, the forest guards of the West Division of the Sundarbans have been engaged in a war against armed robbers, poachers and illegal loggers for the last five years. The government withdrew ... Read more

It is common knowledge that hilsa fish can survive only in rivers. But researchers at Chandpur Fisheries Research Institute have now taken steps to farm the hilsa in ponds. They captured some hilsa fry under special arrangements and released them into ponds. Chief Scientific Officer of the institute Dr Anisur Rahman is leading the research. ... Read more

Most of 250 official websites mock PM’s vision for change While the government dreams of a “Digital Bangladesh” by 2021, most of the 250 official websites sampled in recent weeks contained outdated information, dead links and “web page under construction” signs. The sports ministry website, for instance, features the “current news” about a triumphant return ... Read more

The historic May Day will be observed today in the country as elsewhere in the world with a renewed pledge to protect the rights of workers and create a labour-friendly working atmosphere. The day is observed across the world every year since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of workers at the Hay Market in the ... Read more