Staff Correspondent With a commitment to presenting healthy entertainment, thoughts and ensuring objectivity and professionalism, Desh TV, a new private satellite channel, went on air yesterday coinciding with the celebration of the 38th Independence Day. Through a different and exceptional programme in front of the Shikha Chirantan (Eternal Flames) at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan
News
Rod prices 20pc up
Sajjadur Rahman A hike in scrap metal prices in local markets has pushed the prices of mild steel (MS) rod by 20 percent in a span of two months. The price of 40-grade MS rod is now selling at Tk 47,000-49,000 a tonne against Tk 37,000-38,000 two months ago, while the 60-grade category has soared ... Read more
Paragon set to grow organic tea
Sohel Parvez Paragon Agro, a concern of Paragon Group, plans to cultivate organic tea, aiming to exploit the growing consumer demand for the product in domestic and global markets. “Everybody demands organic food. That is why we are preparing to organically grow tea. We are now readying our garden to accomplish the mission,” said Moshiur ... Read more
Nation celebrates 39th Independence Day today
Staff Correspondent Political parties and different cultural organisations have taken various programmes to celebrate the 39th Independence and National Day today and pay homage to the valiant sons of the soil who laid down their lives to free the country from Pakistani colonial rule. Different political parties including the ruling party Awami League and main ... Read more
London NGO about to open 2 more dens
Militants in Bhola found more equipped, trained than JMB, says investigators Star Report The London-based NGO Green Crescent, which runs the madrasa-cum-orphanage in Bhola that turned out to be a mini-ordnance factory Tuesday, had plans to set up two more training centres for militants in Doulatkhan and Lalmohan upazilas of the district. Rapid Action Battalion ... Read more
PM unwraps IT plan
10,000 programmers a year; IT curriculum must in SSC level by 2013, in primary 2021; opens digital expo Staff Correspondent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government will do whatever necessary to create 10,000 information technology (IT) programmers every year. The government will introduce compulsory IT curriculum at secondary school level by 2013 and ... Read more
BDR’s trustworthiness shattered, says DG
6 BDR rebels make confessional statements Staff Correspondent The director-general of Bangladesh Rifles said on Wednesday that last month’s rebellion in the Pilkhana had not only caused the untimely death of many talented officers but also destroyed the paramilitary force’s trustworthiness. ‘The mutiny has not only caused the murder of many talented officers but has ... Read more
Tk 1,100cr spending of CAAB under scanner
JS body blasts it for sketchy bookkeeping; 4 sub-committees to check graft in jute, textile mills Staff Correspondent The parliamentary standing committee on public undertakings yesterday blasted the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) for alleged anomalies in its accounts of expenditure of Tk 1,100 crore in last eight years. “It is clear that accounts ... Read more
Govt starts formal work to try war criminals
Reviewing International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973 Staff Correspondent The government has started its formal work to try the war criminals, who were allegedly involved in the genocide during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. Against the backdrop of the unanimous decision, passed in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) in the ongoing session of the ninth Parliament, ... Read more
Militancy is not a critical challenge for Bangladesh yet: Moni
Leaves for KL to discuss labour issue BSS, Dhaka Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Wednesday said, militancy or terrorism was not a critical challenge for Bangladesh’s image abroad yet as she called it an issue worldwide concern. “I don’t think it is a critical challenge for Bangladesh’s image yet,” she told newsmen in her ... Read more
Another BDR soldier commits suicide
Staff Correspondent . Sylhet A Bangladesh Rifles soldier reportedly committed suicide in the Sylhet sector headquarters in Akhalia area of the city on Wednesday. The deceased, Waliullah Sheikh, 23, a soldier of 38 Rifles battalion under the Sylhet sector headquarters, came from village Bhandertek under Batiyaghata upazila in Khulna. Police recovered the body hanging from ... Read more
Workers meet tragic end of their lives due to lack of occupational safety
1,793 workers killed, 2,684 injured in 2008 Staff Correspondent Around 1,793 workers and day labours of different sectors throughout the country were killed and around 2,684 were injured last year at their respective workplaces due to absence of adequate occupational safety and negligence of authorities concerned. This was disclosed by participants at a discussion meeting ... Read more
End of an era
British Airways set to exit from Bangladesh Sohel Parvez British Airways (BA) is set to bring down the curtain on Bangladesh next week, ending an era of direct Dhaka-London flights. Travellers are expected to pass more hours on their ways to Europe and North and South Americas. The airline will say goodbye to Dhaka by ... Read more
Rubber producers eye export market
Shakhawat Hossain The state-owned rubber producer has sought approval from the higher authorities to export its products in a move that has been hailed by private sector as well because it will open a new chapter to the local rubber growers. ‘We have sought permission from the forest ministry to export rubber,’ said Bangladesh Forest ... Read more
Cabinet moves to protect biodiversity of haors
Pilgrims will have to pay Tk 2,20,550 to perform Hajj Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday ordered the authorities concerned to cancel the leasing licences of any haor if its lessee was found catching fish or pumping out water from it. The order was issued at the meeting of the cabinet held ... Read more
Regular fire drill in public, private buildings stressed
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka Participants in a roundtable on Monday called for conducting regular fire drill in all the public and private buildings as well as educational institutions to create awareness of fire. They made the call at the roundtable titled ‘Fire Incidents at Multi-storied buildings: related thoughts’ at the National Press
Netherlands to give Euro 5M for BRAC University
BSS, Dhaka The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) will give euro 5 million (approximately Taka 50.4 crore) to support to the Institute for Educational Development (IED) of BRAC university for over five years under the Netherlands Development Programme. An agreement to this effect was signed here on Monday between the Netherlands Ambassador ... Read more
Move to construct high rise at RDA market protested
Our Correspondent . Rajshahi Businessmen at the RDA Market in Rajshahi city staged a demonstration on Monday, demanding withdrawal of the decision to build a multi-storied building in the market. The agitating businessmen brought out a procession in the city to press for their demand. The procession was followed by a rally in front of ... Read more
3 more army families receive PM’s cheques
BSS, Dhaka Three more families of army officers killed on February 25-26 Peelkhana carnage received cheques of Taka 10 lakh each and letters of compassion from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A delegation on behalf of the Prime Minister led by Chief Whip Abdus Shaheed went to the houses of the army families and handed over ... Read more
FBCCI urges govt: Turn blind eye to black money if tycoons buy bond
Staff Reporter The government will go for a wide extension of the tax-net in the upcoming budget for 2009-10 fiscal year, as it will have to concentrate on internal resources, in view of a slowdown in foreign aid flow in the wake of the global recession. National Board of Revenue Chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid said ... Read more