Thursday, November 14, 2024

Budget proposal misunderstood

Says Muhith on money-whitening Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the black money holders will in no way be asked any question about the source of money they would invest under the amnesty proposed in the new budget. “If we ask question about the source of money, the purpose of the amnesty will not be ... Read more

Muhith thanks CG for return to democracy

Supplementary budget passed Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the immediate past caretaker government should be thanked for returning democracy to the country instead of letting the country fall into the grip of a martial law following the expiry of its tenure. He made the comment in parliament during his supplementary budget speech. The parliament ... Read more

Shahidul Alam released 6 hours after detention by BSF

Internationally renowned Bangladeshi photojournalist Dr Shahidul Alam who was detained by the Indian border guards Tuesday afternoon when he was taking photographs in Bangladesh’s Roumari frontiers in Kurigram was released after six hours’ detention. The commanding officer of the 6 Rifles Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Mizan, told New Age at 11:30pm over telephone that his troops ... Read more

Offload 49pc share of Biman to NRBs

JS body suggests A parliamentary standing committee yesterday recommended offloading 40-49 percent shares of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd onto non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to improve the financial strength of the national flag carrier and make it profitable. The parliamentary body on the civil aviation and tourism ministry also asked the Biman management to lease three Boeing-777s ... Read more

Local BNP leaders protest against members imposed by centre

Party to make changes in several district committees The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is considering some changes in the convening committees of several district units after a section of local leaders and activists staged demonstrations, demanding cancellation of the some newly formed committees. Local leaders and activists brought out processions, burnt effigies, held rallies and launched ... Read more

EC to urge speaker to expel SQ Chy from house

The Election Commission will write to the speaker to ask for cancellation of the parliamentary membership of Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker Salauddin Quader Choudhury for furnishing ‘false’ information in his affidavit to the commission as a candidate in the 2008 general elections. Election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain told reporters on Monday that the EC would ... Read more

Mendis leads Sri Lanka into semi-finals

Ajantha Mendis spun out New Zealand as Sri Lanka roared into the World Twenty20 semi-finals with an emphatic 48-run win at Trent Bridge here on Tuesday. The mystery spinner grabbed 3-9 in three overs as the Black Caps failed miserably to chase down a target of 159 in a

High inflation still offsets general wages

Higher costs of consumption, especially spiralling of food inflation in recent years, have offset the real wages of the industrial and informal sector workers in urban areas, indicate the latest official statistics. Even though the national consumption index rose almost 40 per cent over the past five years, labour leaders said there was no substantial ... Read more

Oli blamed for route chaos

He calls accusers liars A whimsical decision by former communications minister Col (retd) Oli Ahmed in choosing the entry\exit points for the proposed Asian Highway (AH) that would go through Bangladesh, has been delaying the country’s inclusion in the network, said experts. The former minister chose a mountainous route, instead of a short and more ... Read more

Govt footing eviction bill?

The government is spending huge amount from the public exchequer for its ongoing drive against river grabbers, although there is a legal option for realising the cost from the demolished property of the encroachers. Director (Port Division) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Mahabubul Alam said they have never received any

JS looks into ways to have ACC trio present before panel

The parliament secretariat is looking into ways to have the former chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission and two commissioners of the anti-graft body present before a parliamentary panel. Charged with contempt of parliament for non-compliance with a legislative summon, issued in April, the committee on public undertakings requested the speaker of Jatiya Sangsad to ensure ... Read more

The last of ‘three Ahmeds’ makes exit

Almost all key players, excepting one, behind the takeover of power on January 11, 2007 by a military-backed administration have left or been compelled to leave office with the retirement of Moeen U Ahmed as the army chief. Thus what was dubbed the ‘era of three Ahmeds’, inclusive of president Iajuddin Ahmed and chief adviser ... Read more

Moudud for trial of 1/11 masterminds

Push for arrest of Gen Moeen BNP standing committee member and former law minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MP, has demanded trial of the people behind the 1/11.  “The masterminds behind the 1/11 should bring under trial. People of Bangladesh will not forgive them and they must be punished,” he said at a discussion at the ... Read more

Submission of constitutions: EC to issue show-cause notice to political parties

The Election Commission has decided to issue show-cause notices to the registered political parties if they fail to submit their permanent constitutions by the July 25 deadline. “We want the political parties to submit their permanent constitutions to the Commission in compliance with the July 25 deadline,” Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda told ... Read more

DCC polls in Dec: CEC

Parties to explain if they fail to submit their constitutions by July 25 The Dhaka City Corporation election will be held by the end of December this year, said the chief election commissioner, ATM Shamsul Huda, on Monday. He said this in a press briefing at the Election Commission secretariat where election commissioners Sohul Hossain ... Read more

Israel’s peace term angers Arab world

But US, EU hail Netanyahu’s conditional acceptance of Palestinian state Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conditional acceptance of a Palestinian state came under fire yesterday, with the Arab world and Palestinians saying it killed chances of a peace deal. The United States, Israel’s main ally, saw the address as an important step forward and the ... Read more

No swine flu detected in Bangladesh

Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhul Huq called upon the people not to be panicky about the swine flu since no case of it has been detected as yet in the country till yesterday. “Experts have already examined 41,348 incoming people at the Zia International Airport after swine flu broke out in different countries, but no ... Read more

Child labour laws to be updated

Child labour laws to be updated Says law minister The government will update the existing labour laws to stop children doing hazardous jobs, said Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday. Since many families depend on the incomes of their children, child labour should not be stopped straightaway enacting any law, he said, adding that the government ... Read more

Sahara warns law enforcers, asks them to check crimes

Home Minister Sahara Khatun yesterday warned officials of law enforcement agencies that they would be held accountable for failing to improve law and order in the country soon. “I have ordered the law enforcement agencies to work for improving law and order immediately although they have acute shortage of manpower,” Sahara told the press after ... Read more