President draws govt attention to food prices, anti-graft fight, trial of war criminals Staff Correspondent President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday termed the new Jatiya Sangsad a “parliament for change” and said poverty alleviation, elimination of corruption and terrorism, trial of war criminals and establishment of good governance would be
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EC’s final tally betrays reality
UPAZILA POLLS EC’s final tally betrays reality Khadimul Islam The upazila elections, held on January 22 amidst violence, intimidation, assaults and harassment of election officials, capture of polling centres and stuffing and snatching of ballot boxes, saw more than 71 per cent voter turnout, according to the Election Commission’s final tally. Academics, election observers, election ... Read more
EC takes hard-line against irregularities in UZ polls
Defeated candidates lodge complaints against ruling party men EC takes hard-line against irregularities in UZ polls Staff Correspondent The EC has taken a hard line against the irregularities that took place during third upazilla polls on January 22 and commission would take action against the candidates for allegedly violating the code of conduct during elections. ... Read more
Hamid, Shawkat elected Speaker, Deputy Speaker
Staff Reporter The ninth parliament had a formal start yesterday unanimously electing Advocate Abdul Hamid Speaker and Col (retd) Shawkat Ali Deputy Speaker to preside over the House. The Parliament elected Adv Hamid for the top office on a formal proposal from Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, seconded by Whip Shagufta Yasmin Emily. The deputy speaker’s ... Read more
BNP, allies stage walkout
Staff correspondent The lawmakers of the BNP-led main opposition in the ninth parliament in the opening session on Sunday staged a walkout before the speech of the president, Iajuddin Ahmed, accusing him of breaching his oath of office. ‘The president breached his oath of office by not arranging elections within 90 days of the assumption ... Read more
122 ordinances placed in JS
Staff correspondent The 122 ordinances promulgated in two years of the interim government of Fakhruddin Ahmed were placed for discussion in the parliament in its opening session on Sunday. The law minister, Shafique Ahmed, placed the ordinances in a single motion and the speaker, Abdul Hamid, read out the list of ordinances. According to the ... Read more
3 investigations find 3 different reasons
Railway Break-ins 3 investigations find 3 different reasons Staff Correspondent Three probe committees that investigated the recent break-ins at Rail Bhaban in Dhaka and a railway office in Chittagong came up with three different conclusions. However, all the reports said no important files went missing. The probe committee formed by Bangladesh Railway yesterday filed its ... Read more
Major shake-up in administration
7 promoted to secretary rank Staff Correspondent The government yesterday brought major changes in the civil administration, promoting seven officers to the rank of secretary and making one secretary and two additional secretaries the officer-on-special-duty (OSD). The government also gave postings to a number of officers who were made OSD by the BNP-led four-party government ... Read more
RMG sector likely to grow despite global meltdown
Chttagong Correspondent Experts on the apparel product quality and industrial productivity here at a seminar yesterday speculated further growth of the country’s readymade garment (RMG) industry when the biggest economies of the world were hard hit by ongoing economic slowdown. They said that the local apparel exporters would benefit from the consumer’s delight in the ... Read more
MK Anwar says: Ruling party didn’t give us offer for Dy Speaker
Staff Reporter BNP Vice Chairman MK Anwar said yesterday the ruling Awami Legue did not give them any offer for the post of Deputy Speaker of the 9 th Jatiya Sangsad. “They promised to give us deputy speaker. But the post has been allocated to the ruling party’s nominee without the consultation with our party,” ... Read more
Heavy fog disrapts flights, road, river communication
Taib Ahmed Dense fog with cold continued to disrupt normal life widely across the country on Sunday as the sun has remained shrouded since Thursday affecting the river, road and air transports. At least 28 people were injured in accidents involving launches in the River Shitalakhya in Narayanganj Saturday night and trucks in
Petrobangla approval likely in a week: Chevron to re-evaluate Bibiyana gas field
UNB, Dhaka Chevron will conduct a reevaluation of the Bibiyana gas field to delineate its latest reserve position. According to state-owned hydrocarbon corporation Petrobangla, an approval will be given in this regard to the US-based international oil company (IOC) within this week. The move for reevaluation came amid a debate over the level of gas ... Read more
Unlocking of 298 frozen bank accounts uncertain sine die
Staff Correspondent Unlocking of 298 frozen bank accounts becomes uncertain as the government has retracted its decision of opening those accounts immediately. Yesterday Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit said “The decision of opening the frozen accounts is likely to be delayed due to legal complications.” Merit of each case needs to be examined to ... Read more
Hajj pilgrims need int’l passport from this year
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
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