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28 new faces; JP plays dual role, only 2 tiny parties solely on opposition bench Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who was sworn in as prime minister yesterday, formed her council of ministers by inducting lawmakers of four other parties into her cabinet. In the 49-member council of ministers, she included the chiefs of the ... Read more

After taking oath as the prime minister for the third time, Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that she would never bow to any national or international pressures regarding the just-concluded parliamentary polls. “You know well that Sheikh Hasina does not succumb to any pressure whether it is

The BNP yesterday said that Awami League has started its journey towards authoritarianism by abandoning all norms and morality of the democracy. “The country has been thrown into darkness again in a planned manner. The pro-democratic and independent minded people of the country would never recognize and accept it as a legitimate

Former President and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has been appointed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s special envoy with the rank and status of a cabinet minister. The Cabinet Division yesterday issued a gazette notification in this regards. According to sources, guests present at the oath taking ceremony started laughing at

At least 35 former ministers and state ministers of the previous Grand Alliance government have failed to secure berths in the new cabinet of Sheikh Hasina. The ministers and state ministers have been dropped from the cabinet because of their alleged poor performance and controversial roles. The influential ministers axed from

Some AL leaders who were ministers previously but were not included in the immediate past government have been made ministers in the new cabinet.Among them, Amir Hossain Amu has been made the industries minister, Tofail Ahmed the commerce minister and Mohammad Nasim has been made the health minister. Amu and Tofail were

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has picked up some new faces with clean image in her cabinet as ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers. Advocate Anisul Huq, AKM Mozammel huq, Asaduzzaman Noor, Emaj Uddin, Sayedul Huq, Syed Mohsin Ali, Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu and

Four former advisers to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have retained their positions in the new government. HT Imam, Moshiur Rahman, Gowher Rizvi and Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique were appointed as advisers to the prime minister yesterday. The Cabinet Division in a gazette notification said they were appointed with the rank and status of

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh phoned Sheikh Hasina last evening and congratulated her on assuming office as prime minister of Bangladesh. He wished her and the people of Bangladesh all success in the endeavour to strengthen democratic institutions in Bangladesh, according to a press release of the

The European Union (EU) expects Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s new government to make a talks offer to the BNP to reach an agreement for holding an inclusive, transparent and credible election. “Now that there is a new government, the EU expects that it will make an offer of dialogue to the BNP, in order to ... Read more

Stray incidents of violence marked the countrywide blockade, enforced by the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance, on Sunday. The blockade, which resumed at 6am on Sunday, after a two-day break, will continue till 6am on Monday as the 18-Party Alliance has postponed its protest programme after this period until further

The local patrons of 37 foreigners, who were arrested on charges of illegally running Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) business at Uttara area in the city, wanted to use them to siphon off people’s money through forged credit cards in Bangladesh, RAB sources said. On December 22, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-1 conducted ... Read more

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will launch an investigation into the wealth and assets of some ministers and MPs of the previous government. The decision was taken at a meeting on Sunday, a senior ACC official said. The official said former ministers and MPs, who contested the January 5 general

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why it will not be directed to take steps against those responsible for selling essential medicines at excessive prices, reports UNB. An HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the rule in

Mail Online Alexander the Great built a legendary empire before his untimely and mysterious death at the age of just 32 in 323 BC. Some historians argued his death was due to natural causes, while others maintained he was secretly murdered at a celebratory banquet. Now, an Otago University scientist may have unravelled the case some

The government plan to include opposition Jatiya Party lawmakers in the cabinet contradicts an observation of the High Court that terms such inclusion immoral and violation of democratic norms. One Delwar Hossain had filed a writ petition with the High Court in 2006, challenging the legality of picking up ministers from the opposition, to form ... Read more

Having notched up a majority in the 10th general election held on January 5, the Awami League-led 14-party alliance will form the new cabinet with an at least 40-member council of ministers on Sunday. President Md Abdul Hamid will administer the oath at the Bangabhaban at 3.30pm, military secretary to the President, Maj.-Gen. Fakhruddin Ahmed, ... Read more

A former chief adviser of a caretaker government and a former chief justice Muhammad Habibur Rhaman passed away at United Hospital in the capital at about 9: 50pm yesterday. He was 85. Rahman, a language veteran, was taken to the hospital at about 9:00pm after he became severely ill with a headache. Later, doctors declared ... Read more

New govt has no legitimacy: BNP mgir has made the announcement of postponing the blockade,” party assistant office secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim said in a statement. He said the alliance will announce fresh programmes soon. Earlier in the day, Alamgir in a statement said, “The non-stop nationwide blockade of the 18-party alliance will resume at 6am Sunday ... Read more

Gazette names Rawshan as Leader of the Opposition M Ershad, as the Leader of the Opposition of the 10th parliament. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath of Ershad, who was elected an MP from Rangpur-3 constituency in January 5 polls. The oath taking ceremony took place at the Speaker’s room in parliament amid an unusual secrecy, ... Read more