PM forms special cell at ministry to implement projects Staff Correspondent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday formed a special cell for the power, energy and mineral resources ministry aiming to scale up country’s power and gas production. The cell headed by the premier’s adviser HT Imam will monitor the works in the sector and implement ... Read more
News
Khaleda asks govt to take steps to stop attacks on BNP men
Staff Correspondent The Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on Thursday said that her party would join the first sitting of the first session of the ninth parliament and extend cooperation to the government as it wanted to play a constructive role as the opposition. She demanded that the government should take immediate steps to ... Read more
Israeli forces shell UN HQ in Gaza
Associated Press . Gaza City Israeli forces shelled the United Nations headquarters in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, setting fire to the compound filled with hundreds of refugees as UN chief Ban Ki-moon was in the region on a mission to end Israel’s devastating
BTV ignores BNP MPs’ oath-taking ceremony
Staff Correspondent The swearing-in of the lawmakers from BNP and allies yesterday was not aired live on Bangladesh Television. Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar said, “It is discrimination against the opposition in parliament from day one.” BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said, “This shows the public the difference between what they [AL-led grand alliance] pledge and do.” The ... Read more
Specific action taken against a bank account: Moriarty on money scandal
UNB, Dhaka US Ambassador James Moriarty yesterday said the United States can help the new government in Bangladesh consolidate democracy, as there is a lot of support in America for this country. “We will do everything we can,” he told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at the Foreign Ministry ... Read more
Reshuffle in administration
UNB, Dhaka Three secretaries have been transferred to different ministries in a reshuffle in the administration by the new government. Liberation War Affairs secretary Nasiruddin Ahmed has been transferred to Power Department, Science and ICT secretary Mohammad Wahid uz Zaman to Water Resources Ministry and Social Welfare secretary Dewan Zakir Hossain to Industries Ministry, said ... Read more
Home minister’s directive to nab extortionists
Staff Reporter Home Minister Sahara Khatun yesterday asked the law- enforcing agencies to nab the extortionists, whoever he may be, to stop overt or covert toll taking. “Whatever it is-overtly or covertly–smash the hands of extortionists,” she said responding to a reporter’s question about silent extortion across the country. Briefing reporters on law and order ... Read more
50 vehicles damaged in rampage by RMG workers
Staff Correspondent Several hundred garment factory workers Thursday evening went on the rampage in the Tejgaon Industrial Area in Dhaka, vandalised more than 50 vehicles and blocked the Tongi Diversion Road for two hours demanding
Freestyle campaign by Rajshahi mayor ignoring EC rules
Upazila Poll Freestyle campaign by Rajshahi mayor ignoring EC rules Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton has continued campaigns in favour of Awami League leaders who are contesting in the upazila elections. Such act by the mayor, who bears the status of a state minister, flouts directives from the Election Commission ... Read more
High Court fines ship breaker for violating court order
Staff Correspondent The High Court on Wednesday fined the importer and breaker of the MT Enterprise, on the Greenpeace list of hazardous ships, Tk 1 lakh for continuing with breaking the ship defying an injunction imposed by court on November 30, 2008. The High Court bench of Justice M Imman Ali and Justice M Ashfaqul ... Read more
Reactivate TCB for price control of essentials
State has right to interverne A.T. M. Nurun Nabi Onion is now selling at taka 40 per kilogram, an increase of taka four over last week’s selling rate while potato sells at taka 24 only, marking a rise of taka four in last seven days against the fall of rice price through out the country. ... Read more
45 female candidates on hectic campaign for vote in upazila polls in Sylhet
UNB, Sylhet Some 45 female candidates, who are contesting for female reserved vice chairman post in upazila elections in 12 upazilas, have been carrying out hectic campaigns to get voters’ support in the polls to be held on January 22. The 12 upazilas are Sadar, Jointapur, south Surma, Fenchuganj, Companyganj, Goainghat, Bishwanath, Balaganj, Golapganj, Bianibazar, ... Read more
Naked money-making trap in city schools: The unheard of readmission fees
Tania Sultana Renowned Schools and Colleges in the city are making brisk business in the name of readmission fee every year taking advantage of the absence of any proper monitoring by the government in this regard. Even the school authorities are increasing these fees every year in the name of session fee, development fee, examination ... Read more
BB puts private sector credit on leash
Star Business Repot In a bid to ease pressure on inflation, Bangladesh Bank (BB) yesterday fixed the target of private sector credit growth at 18.5 percent, bringing it down by 6.44 percentage points. The BB took the decision at a time when different countries have taken steps to increase credit flow amid global financial crisis. ... Read more
Dhaka, Ctg bourses see losing day
Staff Correspondent Dhaka stocks finished lower on Wednesday as investors, downcast by the recent dullness at the market, scurried to sell off their holdings, market operators said. The general index of Dhaka Stock Exchange lost 13.62 points, or 0.50 per cent, to close at 2712.66, while its blue chips index, DSE20, shed 4.20 points, or ... Read more
Fertiliser prices halved
Markdown to give Boro major boost; govt subsidy for non-urea fertilisers will now stand at Tk 2,700cr Staff Correspondent The government yesterday slashed the prices of non-urea fertilisers to almost half per kilogram to help farmers during the country’s biggest crop season, Boro. From now, farmers will be able to buy 1kg TSP (triple super ... Read more
News analysis: Siemens bribery: The whole story
Hasanuzzaman Khan A source close to the US embassy in Dhaka said they have ascertained only 3 million dollar deposited in a Singapore Bank in the account of Arafat Rahman Koko which was described as Siemens’ kickback. When asked about the 200 million dollar in kickback reportedly deposited in Koko’s name in a Singapore bank, ... Read more
Govt to sue Siemens over Koko graft
Md Hasan The government has decided to take legal actions against Siemens Bangladesh Ltd, following the international scandal of bribery and money laundering involving Germany based industrial giant Siemens, and Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The actions might include blacklisting of Siemens Bangaladesh Ltd, barring it from doing business ... Read more
Govt moves for speedy disposal of Mujib murder case
Staff Correspondent The government will take steps immediately to appoint two new judges to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for speedy disposal of the appeals in the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, said law minister Shafique Ahmed on Wednesday. ‘The Awami League government initiated the trial process in 1996. But no other government ... Read more
Dhaka condemns attacks on Gaza
Staff Correspondent Bangladesh on Wednesday strongly condemned the continued Israeli attacks on Gaza of Palestine as it entered into the 3rd week, and called for immediate halt of the attacks, which caused casualty to hundreds of Palestinians, mostly the women and children. The government of Bangladesh also urged the Israeli authorities to comply with the ... Read more