Even 18 days after the collapse of Rana Plaza, hundreds of family members and relatives of the missing are gathering at Savar and waiting for another “Reshma miracle.” Passing the whole day near the collapsed Rana Plaza at the Savar bus stand, some of them went to the Savar Ahurchandra High School, with the hope ... Read more
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Petrobangla inks $200m deal for MGMCL
Petrobangla, the state-owned oil, gas and mineral company, has signed a contract with Germania Corporation Limited, a Belarus-based company, to operate the Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Ltd (MGMCL), the country’s lone hard rock mine. “We signed the production and operation contract with Germania, which would cost around USD 200 million for six years,
BNP may go for tougher anti-govt campaign: Dudu
The BNP-led 18-Party Alliance may enforce tough anti-government campaigns, including hartals, demanding immediate release of their detained leaders and holding of the next general election under the supervision of a non-party caretaker government, said BNP spokesperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu. An announcement in this regard is expected to come out from a public meeting
Prosecution witness against Nizami declared ‘hostile’
The prosecution, on Sunday, examined the seventh prosecution witness against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) and declared him as “hostile” with the tribunal’s permission. Pradip Kumar Dev gave his deposition before the three-member tribunal, headed by its chairman justice ATM Fazle Kabir, as the seventh
Applications for new UK visa system go online from May 19
All visa applications to the United Kingdom will be made online in an attempt to improve the visa application process further, the British High Commission in Dhaka announced on Sunday. From May 19, all applications under the UK’s points-based system will go online, including those for dependents, with all other applications online from June 2, ... Read more
Form of govt matters little for fair elections: Dipu Moni
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni today called the type of government as a non-significant issue for credible polls as the opposition was spreading a campaign to restore the caretaker government to oversee the upcoming parliament election. “Caretaker system or any other form of government matters little unless there is an independent and strong election commission,” she ... Read more
Two bloggers granted bail
A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to two bloggers who were detained allegedly for making derogatory comments on Allah, Prophet Muhammad (SM) and Islam hurting religious sentiments through social media. The bloggers are—Subrata Adhikari Shuvo, 24, a Master’s student of Dhaka University and Russel Parvez, 36, a teacher at an English medium school.
Dialogue offer to opposition still valid: PM
Prime Minister and Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday, again urged leader of the opposition and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson, Khaleda Zia, to sit for a dialogue, shunning the “path of conspiracy”, in order to resolve the country’s prevailing political standoff. “Our offer of a dialogue to the opposition still remains valid…you may ... Read more
Women vow to resist Hefazat demands
Country’s leading women activists on Saturday urged the people to resist any move to implement the 13 point charter of the Hefazat e Islam, Bangladesh (HIB) which, they said, would destroy gender equality. They were addressing a rally of the women activists styled as ‘Protibadi Nari Samabesh’ organized by different women rights organisations. Ayesha Khanam, ... Read more
Ban Ki Moon praises Hasina’s dialogue offer
Highly praising prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her dialogue offer to the opposition to resolve the ongoing political crisis, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that this initiative by the prime minister is ‘brave and noble’. The UN Secretary General also condemned the incidents of political violence took place in the country and urged all ... Read more
HRW for neutral probe into May 5-6 violence
Human Rights Watch (HRW), on Saturday, urged the Bangladesh government to immediately set up an independent commission, to investigate the large numbers of deaths and injuries during the Hefazat-e-Islam-led protests in Dhaka, and elsewhere, on May 5 and 6. “The commission should also investigate violence that killed dozens in February, March, and April,
‘Wonder woman’ Reshma stable, doctors restrict visitors
Reshma Begum, the 23-year-old “wonder woman”, is gradually recuperating at the Savar Combined Military Hospital (CMH) after soldiers and firemen pulled her out from the rubble of Rana Plaza on Friday. She used to work in a garment factory in the collapsed building. Doctors described her condition as stable. She is in good health and ... Read more
BNP wants UN intervention over CG
The visiting UN assistant secretary general for political affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco has underscored the need for holding the next general election in Bangladesh on the basis of a national consensus. His suggestions came at a meeting with BNP chairperson and leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office in the capital on Saturday ... Read more
Demand for referendum on caretaker govt issue
Speakers at a dialogue on Saturday urged the government for arranging referendum to restore caretaker government system to save the country’s democracy, economy and industrial sectors. Dialogue-2013 to protect democracy and national economy was held in the city’s Diploma Engineers Institute with eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain in the chair. Among others,
Rana Plaza death toll hits 1111
The death toll from the disastrous Rana Plaza collapse climbed to 1111 with the recovery of 34 more bodies on Saturday. The 34 bodies were pulled out of the ruins from 6am to 6pm today (Saturday), said sources at the Army Control Room set up at Mansur Market in Savar bus stand area. The bodies ... Read more
Press note on Motijheel reflects party views instead of govt: Dudu
BNP spokesperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu has termed the government-issued press note on the Motijheel operation as worthless, saying it was nothing but a reflection of the statements that have been made by some ministers of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government. “BNP wanted to know how many bullets were used to flush out activists of Hefazat-e-Islam ... Read more
Next polls under a system similar to CG: Ershad
Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad has said the next general election will be held under a system “similar” to caretaker government and his party will participate in it. Ershad, whose party is one of the coalition partners of the Awami League-led grand alliance government, was talking to journalists at his Palli Nibash residence in the ... Read more
Bangladesh expected to sign Ticfa with US
Bangladesh is expected to sign Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) with the United States (US) soon in order to further promote and strengthen bilateral trade relationship, commerce minister said Saturday. “Top levels of both the countries have mutually agreed to ink the deal soon,” GM Quader said while speaking as the chief guest ... Read more
MKA threatens legal action against Khaleda
Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir on Saturday accused opposition leader Khaleda Zia of ordering violence through her call to the people to stand beside Hefajat-e-Islam activists during the Islamist party’s May 5 programme in the capital. “Hence, legal action will be taken against Khaleda and others, who were responsible for inciting the violence”, he said ... Read more
Idols of two temples damaged
Unidentified miscreants damaged some idols of Hindu god and goddess of two temples at Rajnagar village in Chitalmari upazila early Friday. Police said the miscreants entered the two temples breaking open the windows and picked up some idols of goddess Kali and god Ganesh in the early hours. Later, the miscreants