Headlines

3 varieties to prevent a million tonnes of crop loss a year From The Daily Star Bangladesh is set to officially release three flood-tolerant rice varieties that would help farmers prevent up to a million tonnes of annual crop loss caused by flash floods, researches said. Officials concerned told The Daily Star that these rice ... Read more

Woes of waterlogged victims compounded as they slip out of spotlight; thousands still live on embankments, aid flow stopped From The Daily Star Lutfar Gazi doesn’t even tries to recall that disastrous day when cyclone Aila ripped through the area he lives and wrecked havoc on his life in May this year. Since then he ... Read more

JS body decides to get the troublesome job to PM for directives From The Daily Star The Land Survey Department of the land ministry has finally demarcated the capital’s 43 canals lost to grabbers and identified persons and institutions that encroached upon the water bodies. On receiving the list of canals and grabbers, the parliamentary ... Read more

From The New Nation The BIWTA authorities yesterday knocked down 30 makeshift structures and gave two-day ultimatum to sand traders for removal of sand piled on Shitalakhya river banks in Narayanganj as part of the ongoing eviction drive against the river encroachers. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Narayanganj district administration conducted the drive ... Read more

High-rise buildings being constructed occupying canals, low-lying areas The low-lying areas on the outskirts of Dhaka city and vast areas of Mohammadpur, Hajaribag and Gabtali are being grabbed by different developers for constructing high rise building posing a threat to environment. The developers and vested quarters have been grabbing lands of the Buriganga river and ... Read more

US President Barack Obama sensationally won the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday, just nine months into his term, with the jury hailing his “extraordinary” efforts in international diplomacy and to hasten nuclear disarmament. Obama said he was “humbled” by the distinction but criticism built over how the award could be given so quickly. “Only very rarely ... Read more

The LGRD and cooperatives minister, Syed Ashraful Islam, on Tuesday told the parliament it was difficult to reclaim water bodies and canals in the capital grabbed by influential quarters. In reply to a question of ruling Awami League lawmaker Kamal Ahmed Majumder, he said, ‘Despite the prime minister’s directive and the High Court order to ... Read more

AL’s poll pledge to formulate code of conduct for political parties stays elusive Ruling Awami League is yet to make a move to formulate a code of conduct for political parties in line with its electoral pledge to bring changes in the country’s political culture and establish good governance. During Awami League’s nine months in ... Read more

About 61 cars hit the already chocked streets in the capital city every day in the first seven months of the current year, giving good sales to car dealers and an uphill battle to inefficient traffic department. Official data showed 12,905 new and imported reconditioned cars were registered with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority until July ... Read more

Mega Plan for 7,000mw Power Banks pledge part of $10b financing Demand transparent bidding; govt seeks lower interest rates, long-term lending Bankers told the government Thursday though they were new in financing power projects, they were eager to provide a part of US 10 billion dollar required for implementing the power projects of around 7,000 ... Read more

Some teachers of the public universities yesterday asked the government to arrange an open public debate with their nominated five-member team on gas and coal export policy before signing any agreement with foreign companies. They addressing a press conference at Institute of Engineers in the city said export of coal and gas should not be ... Read more

The national flag carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd, plans to procure seven planes on lease in order to overcome the frequent flight schedule disruption and provide smooth service to the passengers. “We are planning to procure seven aircrafts on lease to overcome the carrier shortage,” Biman Managing Director Air Commodore (retd) Muhammad Zakiul Islam told ... Read more

Victim made to deny rape by BCL men; leaders blame journalists for tarnishing party image Kalapara police administration under influence of local leaders of the ruling party is holding back facts about the incident of abduction and gang rape of the schoolgirl on September 25 by ruling party activists. A group of 16 Chhatra League ... Read more

The six mobile phone operators in the country have at least 30 million subscribers on their roll and 35 percent of them use unregistered. SIM cards. Hardened criminals use unauthorised SIM cards in their cell phones to demand toll from their targeted persons and issue death threat for non-compliance of their demand. Businessmen, contractors and ... Read more

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha is likely to hold on October 10 the lottery for allotment of plots in four categories under the Purbachal New Town Project. ‘The next phase of the lottery may be held on October 10 at 10:00am in Osmany Memorial Hall,’ said a senior Rajuk official on Tuesday. He, however, said that ... Read more

Parliament session resumes tomorrow BNP won’t join for lack of democratic atmosphere: Khandaker Delwar BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain has said the opposition party will not join the parliament session which will resume on Sunday as the democratic atmosphere in the house is yet to be ensured. He made the this assertion while talking ... Read more

Setting the clocks an hour ahead, the daylight saving time (DST) introduced at midnight on June 19, is still on as the government is yet to decide whether the clocks will be readjusted like in the past. The DST system was introduced to reduce electricity demand of 200-250 megawatt (MW) in the evenings and to ... Read more

Bangladeshi students in Sweden demonstrated on Thursday against the extra-judicial killing in so-called crossfire back home during the UN secretary-general’s visit to Uppsala University in Sweden. Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is in Sweden for talks with Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on the upcoming climate summit in Copenhagen. Ban was invited by the Uppsala University to ... Read more

Internal discord has been rife in both the ruling Awami League and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party with senior leaders speaking out against respective party standpoints creating confusion and anguish in the rank and file. Impromptu and often unguarded statements made by some influential leaders to the media have exposed their personal grievances, rivalries ... Read more

Mayor, environmentalists decry bid to take over Dhanmondi public playground A limited company of powerful businessmen will soon take over Dhanmondi playground, earmarked in the city’s master plan as a common field, to build there a mini stadium with exclusive sports facilities much to the chagrin of local residents. Dhanmondi Club, now a limited company, ... Read more