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The much-awaited telephone conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia took place on Saturday evening. Hasina requested her arch rival to withdraw 60-hour countrywide shutdown beginning today, and invited her to a dialogue at Ganabhaban at 6pm on Monday. Responding to the premier’s call, the opposition

The country’s eminent personalities welcomed the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for dialogue Saturday. Eminent jurist Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq in his instant reaction appreciated the telephone call. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday evening

The government has asked deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to remain alert about sabotage attempts and possible deterioration of law and order by groups with vested interest. The government has deployed law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB),

One dead in pre-hartal violence;?blasts at residences of VIPs, TV?stations Pre-hartal violence, marked by explosion of crude bombs, hurling of bombs at some residences of ministers and important persons, arson and clashes between police and opposition activists at different places in the country, left a Chattra Shibir activist dead and over 30 injured on Saturday. ... Read more

Expressing grave concern over the prevailing political instability and vandalism, the country’s leading trade bodies have urged the 18-party alliance to call off its nationwide 60-hour hartal keeping in mind the general people and national economy. They urged the political parties to resolve the political impasse through dialogue, shunning the path of confrontation

Garment factory owners are likely to submit a revised proposal to the wage board suggesting Tk 4,430 as minimum wage for workers in the face of frequent protests and criticisms by workers and civil rights groups. Garment sector leaders said that they had made a revised proposal for a 30 per cent hike in the basic ... Read more

Rain coupled with water-logging had been causing immense sufferings to people in different districts across the country since Thursday. It also caused flash flood in places and damage to crops, including Aman paddy and vegetables. Besides, rain disrupted road and river communications.

Veteran journalist Gias Kamal Chowdhury died of a pro-longed illness at the city’s Anwar Khan Modern Hospital early Saturday morning at the age of 74. Family sources said Chowdhury left behind wife, one son, two daughters and a large number of colleagues, relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Onion Tk 110 a kg Eerie political climate sparks panic buying MA Aziz usually buys five kilograms of onion at a time. But yesterday, he could afford to buy just two kg of onion at the capital’s Karwan Bazar, thanks to the rocketing prices of essentials. The prices have shot up as many people were ... Read more

O & A-level exams could be cancelled for 60-hour shutdown Four O-level and A-level exams will be cancelled if the opposition-called 60-hour-long shutdown that began this morning is continued. Examinees and teachers of different English medium schools fear the authorities in Bangladesh will be unable to hold the tests, which are taken simultaneously around the world. Talking ... Read more

Despite having a very clear-cut directive from the Prime Minister, to give extensions to the costly rental and quick-rental power plants, on “case by case” basis, the Power Division is set to give blanket extensions to all such projects. Some officials of the Power Division have started lobbying on behalf of the owners of rental ... Read more

Torrential rains have claimed as many as 48 lives in eastern India, which this month saw the worst cyclone to hit the country in over a decade. The downpour has seen rivers spill their banks in India’s eastern coastal states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, forcing thousands to flee their homes and

Washington defends drones, says strikes ‘necessary and just’ The Guardian Online The US government has defended its use of drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and other countries in front of the UN, telling a chamber full of largely critical nations that in President Obama’s view the deployment of unmanned aerial attacks against al-Qaeda targets was ... Read more

An elderly couple was hacked to death by unidentified miscreants at Munshidanga village in Faridpur sadar upazila early Saturday. The deceased were identified as Shamsu Mir, 70, a retired member of Navy and his wife Shelly Begum, 60, of the village. The couple had two daughters and a son who have been living in Dhaka. Neighbours found their ... Read more

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday threatened to enforce a 60-hour countrywide shutdown from Sunday unless the government takes initiative for discussion on polls-time caretaker administration as the countdown began for holding the parliamentary polls by January 24. Addressing a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, Khaleda, also the leader of the 18-party

Over 200 hurt as oppn activists clash with law enforcers At least seven opposition supporters were killed and over 300 injured in clashes between political activists and law enforcers across the country on Friday. Three of the deaths were reported from Chandpur, two from Cox’s Bazar and one each from Satkhira and Nilphamari. In Chandpur, three ... Read more

The presence of leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a key political component of BNP-led 18-party alliance, was noticeable during the public meeting at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital Friday afternoon. The leaders and activists of the party took position at all strategic points in and around the meeting place. They were also chanting

The ruling Awami League (AL) on Friday urged the Opposition to withdraw its non-stop hartals, scheduled to begin from Saturdaymorning across the country, and “take to the path of compromise in order to resolve the country’s prevailing political impasse”. “Come to the path of compromise and democracy,

Civil society leaders have expressed frustration over the Opposition’s hartal call, saying this might disrupt the environment for talks. Eminent jurist Barrister Rafique-ul Huq said on Friday that the door for a dialogue has not yet been closed. The two-day ultimatum given by the Opposition leader during her speech at Suhrawardy Uddyan is too little ... Read more

Information minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Friday said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will invite the Leader of the Opposition, Khaleda Zia, for fresh talks anytime now. “The Prime Minister may call the BNP chairperson anytime over telephone for a dialogue,” the minister told reporters at a workshop in Gulshan. The Awami League (AL) and the ... Read more