United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka The intending Hajj pilgrims will have to collect international passport to perform Hajj from this year. Hajj ministry of Saudi Arabia informed that as the system of pilgrim pass has been abolished the pilgrims will require
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BNP calls for open debate on transit
Staff correspondent Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main opposition in parliament, on Saturday demanded that the government should hold an open debate on the idea of signing an agreement with India allowing it land transit. ‘A decision on signing an agreement allowing [land] transit should be taken only after holding an open discussion,’ BNP secretary general ... Read more
Villagers beat leopard to death
Our Correspondent, Kurigram Villagers beat a leopard to death yesterday after it attacked seven people at Bagdanga village in Kurigram. Police said the wild cat attacked Serajul Islam, 45, while he was working at a paddy field in the morning. When he screamed for help, villagers rushed to the spot and chased the leopard that ... Read more
Restore healthy atmosphere to student politics: Matia
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka The agriculture minister, Matia Chowdhury, on Saturday underscored the need for restoring healthy atmosphere in student politics in the interests of the people. Recalling glorious role of student politics during the 1960’s, Matia said the current students politics had failed to fulfil the expectations of the people. The minister was ... Read more
Prospects of agro-processing industries in northern region bright
Dr Aynal Haque, BSS, Rajshahi The prospect of agro-processing industries in the northwestern region of the country is bright as the region produces adequate crops including food-grains, fruits and vegetables. Business leaders, bankers, agronomists and researchers told BSS that the region has enormous potentials for making agro- processing enterprises sustainable and profitable as it has ... Read more
Treatment eludes patients in Khagrachhari
Most clinics illegal, lack expertise Jasim Majumder, Khagrachhari At least 32 unregistered clinics and pathological laboratories have continued operating illegally in eight upazilas under Khagrachhari hill district and cashing in on patients’ plight allegedly in collusion with a section of government doctors and nurses. Of the 41 clinics in the hill district, only nine are ... Read more
Erratic weather to cause lower winter crop yields: experts
Obaidul Ghani The production of winter crops, particularly wheat and potato, could decline by 25 to 50 per cent due to erratic weather, experts fear. Persistent high temperatures at night-time are likely to cause a drastic yield deficit of winter crops like wheat, potato and lentils which need cooler weather, they said. Agricultural experts expressed ... Read more
Four die after taking spirit
Staff Reporter Four people died after reportedly taking spirit in the city yesterday. Daulat Akbar officer-in-charge of Ramna police station said four residents of Mirbagh took spirit together at Karwan Bazar after midnight and fell sick on their return home. Two of them died at their respective residences while
Recession hurts bicycle exports
Sajjadur Rahman Bicycle exports have marked a sharp drop in recent months due to the ongoing global financial meltdown that rocked the developed countries since mid-last year, said government data and industry people. Western countries, especially the European Union, are
Dhaka stocks extend losing streak
Staff Correspondent Dhaka stocks witnessed a downtrend last week for the straight third week amid volatile trading with the investors’ participation shrinking, market operators said. The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange lost 24.52 points, or 0.91 per cent, in the week to close at 2,671.06 on Thursday, while its blue chips index, DSE20, shed ... Read more
BFTI assigned to research on commodity market
The government has vested the responsibility of a research work on basic commodity market upon the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute to prepare an effective market intervention guideline. Commerce Minister Faruk Khan made this announcement at a press briefing at the institute in Dhaka yesterday. “It’s an additional responsibility for the BFTI to make research on ... Read more
More Bangladeshi products get duty-free access to South Korea
NATION BUSINESS REPORT South Korea has expanded its zero-tariff facility for Bangladeshi products from this year. Under the scheme, 34 additional Bangladeshi items including RMG, ceramic tableware and jute carpet will receive duty-free access to Korean market. South Korea has already provided duty-free treatment for many items from LDCs. However, their duty-free programme did not ... Read more
Housing fair in Ctg starts Jan 29
Staff Correspondent The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh is going to organise a three-day housing fair in the port city of Chittagong starting from January 29 with a heightened expectation of a brisk business. The announcement came at a news conference held by the real estate and housing association at the National Press ... Read more
Grameenphone launches in-flight roaming service
NATION BUSINESS REPORT Grameenphone Ltd is the 1st operator in Bangladesh to launch GSM roaming with AeroMobile. AeroMobile AS provides roaming facility onboard aircrafts, providing global coverage. It is a safe, cost effective solution allowing passengers to use their mobile phones and PDA’s whilst in flight. From now on, Grameenphone subscribers with international roaming facility ... Read more
JS rides on hope, goes into session today
* Election of speaker, deputy speaker * President’s address * Decision on 122 ordinances * Election to presidency * Defining MPs’ role in upazilas Shakhawat Liton The long awaited ninth parliament begins its journey this afternoon with the responsibility to deliver on people’s high expectations that it will put the country on the right track ... Read more
Magic of the market place
Hasnat Abdul Hye President Reagan was a great admirer and believer of the market place. Not any market in particular but market in general. He had profound trust in the operation of the market which using its ‘invisible hand,’ solved all problems of demand and supply. He further believed that if emphasis was given on ... Read more
Transfer panic seizes officials
Lobby for promotion, ‘good posting’ on Mustafizur Rahman A recent spate of transfers and postings in civil bureaucracy has caused fears and anxiety among many officials, affecting their concentration on office work. The officials, beginning from upazila nirbahi officers in field administration up to secretaries, the highest rank in bureaucracy, are in fear either of ... Read more
Six more state ministers inducted into council of ministers
Staff Correspondent The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday inducted six more junior ministers into her cabinet, taking to 38 the number of the members on the council of ministers, officials said. The president, Iajuddin Ahmed, administered oath to the new state ministers at, Bangabhaban, in the evening. The state ministers are ruling Awami League ... Read more
Shocking display of greetings at DU
DU Correspondent The Dhaka University (DU) yesterday witnessed an ignoble rat race among teachers to get to the newly appointed university officials to pay their admiration and adulation depriving students of their precious classes. Over 200 teachers rushed in a hustle and bustle towards the Registrar Building to congratulate pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Harun-or Rashid and ... Read more
Khaleda talks JS strategy with BNP MPs
Staff Correspondent BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia at a meeting with party lawmakers yesterday discussed their strategy at the inaugural session of the ninth parliament today. She also selected her party representatives in the Business Advisory Committee, Privilege Committee and Housing Committee of parliament. Held at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office, ... Read more