Urging the leader of the Opposition, Khaleda Zia, to return to Parliament, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday reiterated that the next general elections will be held in such a manner that the democratic process will continue in the country. “I will ask the Opposition leader to come to Parliament
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Indigenous species of fish die
At least 28 species of indigenous fish have gone extinct and five out of 650 bird species in the country have disappeared in the recent past due to environment pollution and human encroachment. The department of fisheries also identified 28 extinct species of indigenous fish. Of the remaining 260 fish varieties, 10 per cent are ... Read more
Efforts to improve communications prove futile in polls year: Quader
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said, many initiatives and coordinated efforts to provide better communications has proved futile because there are some challenges that are difficult to overcome at the fag end of the government. “Reckless driving and irresponsible way of crossing
BNP blames govt for reluctance to hold talks
The BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, alleged on Thursday that fresh talks between the Opposition and the government over election-time interim government has not yet been held due to the latter’s “reluctant attitude” to take any such step. “Our party chairperson Khaleda Zia has expressed her intention to sit across the table
Saudi Amnesty: 1 lakh expatriates get consular service
Since the declaration of the amnesty, Bangladesh missions in Riyadh and Jeddah have so far extended consular services to over one lakh Bangladesh nationals. Following general amnesty declared by the government of Saudi Arabia for illegally working or residing, Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh and Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah have been working round
33 million Internet users in Bangladesh
The number of Internet users in the country touched the 33.43 million mark at the end of April this year, according to a senior official of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). About 95 per cent of them use the Internet through mobile phones, while the rest use broadband Internet from Internet Service Providers (ISP), ... Read more
EC not to deploy Army during upcoming City Corpn polls
The Election Commission has no plans to deploy the Army during the City Corporation elections, announced chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmadon Thursday. “I did not find anything wrong in terms of the law and order situation in 4-city areas; it is satisfactory. There is no ground for deploying the army during the City
Businessman tortured, forced to pay over Tk 1cr to DB police
The commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has been asked by the authorities to probe into the alleged incident of realising Taka one crore five lakh from a businessman after torturing him by Mollah Nazrul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB ) of police. Talking to The Independent Inspector General of Police Hasan ... Read more
EU Parliamentarians to Dipu: Ensure building codes in RMG
Members of European Parliament (MEP) have underscored the need for putting in place the required health and safety measures and ensure adherence to the building code. During an interaction with Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Thursday, the MEPs referred to the two resolutions adopted by the Parliament this year on Bangladesh RMG industry and ... Read more
Ershad appears before court
Jatiya Party chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad on Thursday appeared before a Dhaka court in connection with the murder case of Major General MA Monjoor in 1981. Ershad, the former President of the country, was the number one accused in Monjoor murder case. The arguments of the case were going on at the first additional district
BNP’s memo to Speaker Release of MK Anwar, Bulu demanded
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday requested Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury to take necessary steps to free the detained opposition MPs– MK Anwar and Barkatullah Bulu so that they could take part in the forthcoming session of parliament. A five-member parliamentary delegation of BNP, led by opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farruque,
ACC to submit chargesheets in 48 cases Certificate Forgery
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to submit charge-sheets in 48 cases filed for the forgery of SSC certificates of Comilla Education Board. The commission at a meeting recently approved separate proposals made by the investigation officers in this regard, ACC Public Relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told the news agency on Thursday.
Nuclear energy only option for low-cost electricity: Experts
Experts have observed that nuclear energy is the only option to produce cheaper electricity, although some developed countries have put a check on power generation from nuclear plants. Nuclear power is a low-cost option to generate electricity from a nuclear reactor that uses renewable energy or even coal. “This key information is an important
No compromise with safety: Hasina
Voicing a strong resolve that Bangladesh would never compromise on the safety issues while constructing the nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday urged the local nuclear engineers and related manpower to improve management efficiency and update their knowledge. “We’ll have to develop local competence in all areas including
Foreign workers try to leave Saudi Arabia to avoid fines
Tens of thousands of foreign workers are trying to leave Saudi Arabia, after the government of the world’s No 1 oil exporter said they would be forgiven any fees or fines for visa violations such as overstaying or switching jobs. Riyadh is pursuing sweeping labour reform that would tackle domestic unemployment by pushing firms to ... Read more
US expresses concern over extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances
Washington has raised concerns with regards to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the second Bangladesh-United States Partnership Dialogue that ended in the capital on Monday. The US side also brought up the issues relating to murder
Govt fails to prepare National Peacekeeping Strategy
Though the country has been sending peacekeepers to different UN peacekeeping missions abroad for the past 25 years, the government is yet to prepare the proposed National Peacekeeping Strategy as it is entangled in red tape, sources said. In January, during the visit to Dhaka by Ameerah Haq, the UN under-secretary-general for the department of ... Read more
Tarique’s return on doc’s advice: Dudu
BNP spokesman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said on Wednesday that the party’s senior vice-chairman, Tarique Rahman, is eager to return home and he will do so when his physicians allow him. Addressing an unscheduled press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Dudu pointed out that Tarique holds a responsible post in the party. Tarique,
Qamrul sticks to comments on Khaleda sons
Terming the legal notice served on him—by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s eldest son Tarique Rahman—as a political stunt, state minister for law, advocate Qamrul Islam, on Wednesday, reiterated that what he had said was true. “If I have told a lie, it’s their duty to prove it false, and, for that, they would have to ... Read more
Ailing Babunagari released in haste
Ailing Hefazat-e-Islam Secretary General Junaid Babunagari who was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of BIRDEM Hospital in a critical condition, was released on bail on Wednesday. Babunagari who was on 22-day remand in three cases in connection with the political violence that took place during Hefazat’s recent Dhaka siege programme, was hurriedly