When Salma Zaman took her four-year-old autistic boy Tawsif to a diagnostic centre, she heard a man asking a nurse whether the test has any side effects on the “abnormal” baby. “I know my child has some problems. But when someone terms him abnormal, it is really heartbreaking,” said Salma, who attended an international conference ... Read more
Other Headlines
Metro rail project ready to roll
Loan negotiations, detailed design next month After a hiccup over a partial change in the route, the $1.7 billion metro rail project has gained momentum as its major financier Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is set to start loan negotiations with the government next month. Experts will begin an exercise next month to prepare a ... Read more
Sugar price yet to come down to govt-set level
The retail price of sugar in the capital was yet to come down on Monday to the level set by the government, while soya bean oil was being sold at the government-set price where it was available. On Monday, it was found that some retailers in the capital were selling sugar at a price higher ... Read more
Tarique asked to appear in court on Aug 8
A Dhaka court on Monday asked Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, to appear on August 8 in a money laundering case. Dhaka special judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain passed the order and said that the court would frame charges against Tarique, also senior vice-chairman of BNP, in his absence ... Read more
HRW urges India to probe border killings by BSF
The government of India should undertake a speedy, fair, and transparent criminal investigation into fresh allegations of killings, torture, and other abuses by the Border Security Force (BSF) at the border with Bangladesh, New York-based organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday. Those against whom there is credible evidence of culpability should be prosecuted ... Read more
Jamuna continues to threaten Sirajganj town
Sirajganj town protection embankment went under serious threat at Ghurka area where about a 90-metre chunk collapsed due to further rise of the river Jamuna on Sunday night. The Jamuna recorded a rise of 1cm at Bahadurabad and 3cm at Serajganj and was flowing 15cm and 6cm above its flood level at the two points ... Read more
Construction worker dies after fall in city
A construction worker died after falling from the fourth floor of an under-construction building in Bashundhara Residential Area in city’s Baridhara on Monday. Police said the worker, Mohammad Miraz, 18, fell down while setting windowpanes at building no-137 of Block-F in the residential area at around
Man killed for protesting at stalking of wife
A man was stabbed to death for protesting at stalking of his wife in front of Comilla Government College in the town Monday noon. The deceased was Nurul Islam Apple, son of Tazul Islam of Chotora area in the town. The police quoting local sources said some spoiled youths had been stalking Ayesha Akter, wife ... Read more
Dhaka rolls out red carpet for Sonia
She will attend conference on autism, receive first Bangladesh Freedom Honour for Indira Gandhi today Sonia Gandhi was given a red carpet welcome last night on her first-ever visit to Bangladesh to attend a conference on autism. She will receive the posthumous award to be given by Bangladesh to Indira Gandhi for her contributions to ... Read more
Police extortion on highways troubles drivers: minister
Shipping minister Shajahan Khan on Sunday alleged that drivers face difficulties on highways because of extortion by the police. ‘There are allegations that drivers face difficulties on highways because of extortion by the police, who file cases against them if they refuse to pay any money,’ Shajahan told the 34th meeting of the
Deals with India have to be based on equity, says Fakhrul
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday said it has no objection in signing deals based on equity and expected that the Dhaka tour of Indian Congress party leader, Sonia Gandhi, would leave a positive impact on Indo-Bangla relations. The party’s acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said his party wants fair bilateral
Bangladeshi cattle trader killed by BSF
A 32-year old Bangladeshi cattle trader Rafiqul Islam was beaten to death by the Indian Border Security Force at Burimari border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat Sunday morning. The victim hailed from the village Sologhoriya in Patgram upazila of the district. He was unarmed. The police later recovered his body from the river Saniyazan near ... Read more
No psychologists for autistic children
PM for one psychologist at every school The authorities concerned seem reluctant to appoint psychologists at the schools to help the mental development of autistic children despite a prime ministerial directive in this regard. Sources at the ministries of education and primary & mass education told The Independent on Sunday that no steps had been ... Read more
Man killed in city market fire
A fire at a kitchen market in Old Dhaka left one person burnt to death early on Sunday. Some dairy cattle were also roasted alive in the blaze, police said. Jamir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Bangshal Police Station told The New Nation that the fire broke out at Naya Bazar DIT market during the early hours ... Read more
Border haat starts journey in Kurigram amid festivity
The first ever border haat was inaugurated on Saturday at the no man’s land between Kalaichar (India) and Baliamari (Bangladesh) for trading commodities of both countries in a bid to strengthen bonds between the peoples. The Indian minister of commerce and industry, Anand Sharma, and the Bangladesh minister of
Norway toll now 92
Paradise island turned into hell with Friday shootout killing 85; Oslo blast claims 7 Norwegian police searched for more victims yesterday after a suspected right-wing zealot killed at least 92 people in a shooting spree and bomb attack that have traumatized a once-placid country. As harrowing testimony emerged from the summer camp where scores of ... Read more
The suspect
Christian fundamentalist leaning ‘to the right’ His Facebook profile says he is “conservative”, “Christian”, and “single”, interested in hunting and video games like World of Warcraft and Modern Warfare 2. Local media have identified him as Anders Behring Breivik, whose picture on his Facebook page shows a man with longish blonde hair and piercing
Days are now for fake manpower agents
Undocumented Workers in Malaysia Days are now for fake manpower agents A section of manpower agents and middlemen are making a fortune, alluring the undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia to be regularised after an amnesty granted by Malaysia for illegal foreign workers. The fraudsters have been taking the chance as the workers are not aware ... Read more
City goes short of sugar
Sugar has become scarce like gold dust in the capital but the government is yet to take any measure to ensure supply and fair price of the essential sweetener, with the month of Ramadan approaching fast. Most of the grocers in the city did no sell any sugar on Saturday, claiming that they had no ... Read more
Sonia Gandhi due tonight
Sonia Gandhi, president of India’s ruling Congress party, arrives here tonight on a 24-hour visit to attend an autism conference and receive a posthumous award on behalf of former Indian premier Indira Gandhi. Her tour holds a special significance as it takes place ahead of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official visit here on September