The Security and Exchange Commission on Wednesday announced the stock market stimulus package which included some immediate steps to the relief of mostly institutional inventors and pledges for some special schemes for non-institutional investors. The commission chair, M Khairul Hossain, in the afternoon announced a number of steps
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Poor English downs projects
Finds planning ministry report on implementation of donor-funded schemes Guess what slows down the implementation of donor-funded projects in Bangladesh? Lack of money? No. It is the officials’ poor skill in communicating in English with foreign donors. This weakness has been identified in a report by the Implementation, Monitoring and
Over 1,000 wait in death row
Over one thousand people, sentenced to death by trial courts over the years, are languishing in the country’s 67 jails due to delay in disposing of their appeals, say prison officials. According to an official in the Supreme Court registrar’s office, as of October 5, 2011, 560 appeals involving death sentences were pending with
Farmers in the doldrums
Farming cost soars, sale prices of produce fall Farmers across the country are going to face a tough time in the coming Boro season from December to May due to repeated increases of diesel price, a possible hike in power tariff and low prices of rice, potato and jute that have already caused them losses ... Read more
Life lived in the dark
Since the rescue of a mentally challenged mother and her twenty-month-old daughter from a flat in the city’s Segunbagicha on Sunday, many more mysterious stories have been coming to light regarding her family. Police rescued 35-year old Ajmeri Supti alias Jessie and her minor girl in a state of near death caused by a lack ... Read more
Beware of mugging by fake law enforcers
Police appear helpless to prevent such crimes, ask people to be brave Posing as law enforcers, different gangs continue to mug people in the capital as the authorities are yet to find effective ways to prevent such crimes. Police high-ups suggest that people act with courage and ask for the identities of anybody claiming themselves ... Read more
Tipai Dam will spell disaster: Rights group
Leaders of International Farakka Committee, a rights group, on Tuesday voiced deep concern at the singing of a deal by India with two companies to construct the proposed Tipaimukh Dam on the River Barak at the upstream of Bangladesh’s River Meghna. In a joint statement, they said the deal singing by keeping the government and ... Read more
Bangladesh doing well among LDCs
States Unctad report Bangladesh has done better than many other least developed countries (LDCs) in terms of overall development scenario, particularly in economic vulnerability category, according to LDC Report 2011 released yesterday by Unctad. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) unveiled the report at its office on behalf of the
13pc power tariff hike at retail level likely
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Berc) yesterday recommended that the retail tariff of electricity of the Power Development Board (PDB) be increased by 12.86 percent, against a proposal of 21 percent. The average retail tariff is now Tk 4.35 per unit (each kilowatt hour). During a public hearing at the Berc office in Karwan Bazar, the ... Read more
500 shanties burnt in Dhaka
At least 10 people were injured and about 500 shanties were burnt in a fire that broke out at a slam at Rayerbazar in Dhaka on Thursday. Fire fighters put out the flames with the help of the local people in two hours and a half. The slum dwellers said that the fire had originated ... Read more
Civil society united against DCC split
Members of civil society on Thursday observed that splitting Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) would not ensure better civic services rather it would serve the political interests of the ruling Awami League. The observation came at a round-table discussion on “Division of Dhaka City Corporation and Relevant Thought,” which was organised by Sushashoner Jonne Nagorik (Sujan) ... Read more
Potato growers, traders face huge losses
Despite investing huge money and putting in hard labour, thousands of potato farmers and traders across the country have to bear huge financial losses as there is a shortage of storage facilities. Though they have been facing the problem for the past few years, the government has apparently taken no step to resolve the crisis. ... Read more
UN ready to help in holding credible polls
The visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that if the political leaders of the country want, the UN is ready to provide technical and logistic supports to hold Bangladesh’s next general election in a credible and transparent manner. Responding to a question whether the UN will mediate between the government and the
Declaration for survival
Climate-hit countries critical of inaction of rich nations, vow to fight the fallout together The worst hit climate vulnerable countries have emphasised developing their own capacities to fight the effects of climate change instead of sitting idle and waiting for assistance from developed countries. The determination was expressed at the end of a two-day Climate ... Read more
A welcome divorce
Girl responds to dowry demand on wedding day Farzana Yasmin, who caused waves throughout the country last Friday by repudiating her husband right at the wedding after her in-laws demanded dowry, has said she wants everyone to take lessons from the incident. “Dowry has become a cancer of society,” she told BBC Bangla Service yesterday. ... Read more
Chaos over bus fares
No govt decision yet, but operators charge commuters higher Ignoring the government’s directive, many bus operators have already started charging extra fares following the latest fuel price hike. Passengers yesterday alleged that the operators are charging them higher fares inconsistent with the rate of oil price rises. The launch owners, though, are pushing for an ... Read more
UN chief in Dhaka
Addresses int’l climate change conference today UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Dhaka last night on a three-day tour of Bangladesh during which he will address a climate change conference, visit an institute for UN peacekeepers and rural health clinics for women and children. Ban is leading a 24-member delegation on the first stop ... Read more
Risks of social unrest growing
Experts tell int’l conference Climate change is causing political, economic and social instability exacerbating insecurity for the people of the poorest countries, said representatives and activists of climate vulnerable countries yesterday. There is no time to sit idle and wait for assistance from the developed countries, they said emphasising on quick actions by vulnerable countries
UNFPA worried at high rate of early marriage
Its executive directors tells media The UN Population Fund has expressed concern over the high rate of early marriage in Bangladesh, saying this increases child and maternal mortality rates, contributes to population growth, and creates social problems like gender-based violence. “When young girls are married off at early ages, they are not allowed to develop ... Read more
‘Total collapse’ if illegal driving licences cancelled: BRTA
The chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority has warned the High Court that the road transport system would become ‘paralysed’, causing a ‘total collapse’ of the food and essentials supply chain, if it decided to cancel the tens of thousands of driving licences that the authority admits it has given ‘on easy terms’ in ... Read more