Wednesday, November 20, 2024

MK Anwar pushes for dialogue outside JS

BNP standing committee member MK Anwar on Sunday said the prevailing environment of the Parliament does not support the discussion of the election-time government. “We want formal dialogue to be held with the government to resolve the prevailing political impasse. There is no environment to discuss poll-time government in Parliament,” he said while addressing

Hasina becomes first Bangladeshi to receive Rotary Peace Award

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been conferred the prestigious Rotary Peace Award, for her leadership and vision, Dr Ishtiaque A Zaman, Governor of the Rotary International District 3280 said. The theme of the award this year was ‘peace through services’. “Under her leadership Bangladesh has made wonderful progress in three areas selected by the Rotary ... Read more

Muhith budget tows populist line in poll year

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, on Thursday, unveiled a Tk. 222,491 crore populist budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, in Jatiya Sangsad, by avoiding imposition of any significant tax burden and by expanding social safety net programmes. The budget, having a deficit of 4.6 per cent, eyes 7.2 per cent GDP growth for the next fiscal ... Read more

Budget in the eyes of leading economists

Prominent economist Mirza Azizul Islam has described the prevailing political uncertainty in Bangladesh as the main hurdle in achieving the goals prescribed in the budget proposals placed before Parliament on Thursday. “If the present political uncertainty is not resolved, most of the goals prescribed in the budget proposals are not likely to be achieved. We ... Read more

Permanent pay commission for govt employees

In the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2013-14, the grand alliance government has decided to form a permanent pay and service commission for the government employees. In the budget speech, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, “We significantly enhanced the pay and allowances of the government employees with effect from 2009 following the recommendations

Policy crisis plagues power sector

The Awami League-led Grand Alliance government, at first glance, seems to have obtained full marks in addressing the country’s power crisis within a short time. But is the picture actually that rosy? First, the successes. It is a fact that in 2009, the government had faced a shortfall of 2,500 MW of electricity and 800 ... Read more

Free, fair polls critical for Bangladesh: Duncan

Visiting British Minister for International Development Alan Duncan has said that it is critically important for Bangladesh’s reputation that the upcoming parliamentary elections are judged to be free, fair and credible. He made the remarks after a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office on Tuesday, according to a press release issued by ... Read more

Last budget session of 9th JS begins with new female Speaker

The budget session of Parliament began on Monday, with Opposition members, led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia, attending it after their long absence of 83 working days. But much of the euphoria over their return subsided after the Opposition lawmakers walked out of the session within two hours of joining. Earlier, the ... Read more