Archive for September 3rd, 2006
Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Country's export trade came to a halt as most feeder vessel operators suspended their operation from yesterday following a High Court (HC) show-cause notice about imposition of congestion surcharges.No shipping company under the banner of Chittagong Feeder Trade Committee (CFTC), except the HRC--the largest Bangladeshi-owned company with 10 ships--loaded any export cargo from Chittagong Port yesterday.At the same time, no Chittagong-bound import cargo was loaded at ports in Singapore, Colombo and Klang.The stalemate is feared to deepen as both Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the CFTC remained rigid on their position.Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) sources said a ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006The power ministry has finalised a fresh summary with misleading information seeking approval of the Cabinet Purchase Committee for secretly awarding contract for the 450 MW Meghnaghat-3 power project to a novice company in violation of rules and regulations.Sources said the proposal will be sent to the committee next week for approval.The ministry and the Power Cell had tried to resist this irregular project for long but the 'alternative centre of power' of the ruling BNP, which is backing this deal, had thrown its weight behind the project to get it approved before expiry of the tenure of the ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Newly appointed Election Commissioner Mahmood Hasan Mansur yesterday denied the allegation against him of misusing the public office for personal gain while he was the post and telecommunications secretary. He also dismissed the main opposition Awami League's accusation that he has involvement with the ruling BNP.In an interview with a private television channel, the former bureaucrat said,"The government can explain the rationale behind my appointment. I think they've appointed me to the post, considering the neutrality and efficiency that I have proved in my previous services."Different national dailies yesterday ran reports where it was alleged that Hasan Mansur ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006The political parties should give explanation before a general election in case of failure to fulfil election pledges while in power, said speakers at the regional dialogue in Tangail yesterday. They suggested introduction of modern education system and bringing necessary changes in the society for ensuring good, honest and dedicated leadership.Identity card and electronic voting system will help to reduce election related corruption, they said.The speakers also demanded the provision of spending at least 10 days in every month by a member of parliament in his or her constituency.Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the discussion at Bhashani Hall ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Academics, politicians and energy experts at a roundtable yesterday said they are not against extraction of coal or foreign investment in the country, but they oppose any investment or development project that goes against national interest.They also demanded formation of an investigation committee led by a Supreme Court justice to find out the persons and organisations involved in the process of signing gas and coal mining contracts that went against national interest and the economy.The Shaptahik 2000, a Bangla weekly, organised the roundtable on 'recent incidents in Phulbari and mineral resources of Bangladesh' at the National Press Club."We are not ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006The people of Phulbari, Dinajpur, observed a 'black day' yesterday by wearing black badges and hoisting black flags protesting the August 26 carnage. Black flags were hoisted atop shops, schools, colleges, government and private residential buildings yesterday morning.District administrative officials are yet to implement the pledges they had made on August 30 during the negotiations."They [administration] are yet to formulate the three-member investigation committee even though 72 hours have already passed since the agreement was signed," said Md Mossadeque Hossain Labu, Dinajpur district convener of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port."If they notice any ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday arrested five JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh) leaders and workers who had been regrouping in Gomostapur upazila in Chapainawabganj. They are Rajshahi regional JMB commander Abdur Rahim, 40, Abdul Quayyum Bin Ikramul Haq, 23, Ziaur Rahman, 25, Abdul Jabbar, 20, of Shahebgram and Manirul Islam of Nandalalpur Biharipara in the upazila.The law enforcers also seized some jihadi books, audio cassettes, compact disks (CDs) and diaries from their possession.Rab members also held some 14 other people in different raids yesterday, including a PBCP outlaw, an imposter masquerading as Rab member and some Phensidyl smugglers.
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Rajshahi Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu yesterday said the opposition combine's conspiracy to create anarchy over Phulbari incident was thwarted. "The conspirators who tried to gain politically by creating anarchy have been let down," Minu, also a ruling BNP legislator, told reporters after returning from Phulbari, Dinajpur.Minu had led the government team in negotiations over the Phulbari crisis at Parbatipur and gave assurance to people in Phulbari on August 30 that Asia Energy would wrap up their business from Bangladesh and no open-pit mining would be allowed in the country.He said a vested quarter compared the low key Phulbari ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Three criminals were killed in "crossfire" during separate incidents of shootouts between their accomplices and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Khulna and Rangpur early yesterday.The dead were identified as Mohammad Abul Hossain, 24 and Mohammad Shamim, 23, members of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddho) of South Tootpara in Khulna and Sadek Hossain alias Pancha Dakat, a police listed robber in Rangpur.Our staff correspondent from Khulna says: Abul and Shamim died in an encounter between members of Rab-6 and the PBCP outlaws at about 2:50am on Saturday at Tootpara Barhokhalparh area under Khulna Sadar Police Station. They were arrested at ...
(read more) Sunday, September 3rd, 2006Indian Border Security Force (BSF) yesterday closed Tin Bigha Corridor preventing movement of cattle from Dahagram-Angorpota enclave to Lalmonirhat.Sources said residents of the enclave could not take their cattle to the cattle market in Patgram upazila for sale.On contact, 19 Battalion Commander of Bangladesh Rifles Lt Col Shafayet confirmed the incident and said they would call for a flag meeting today to protest against the incident.It was, however, not clear why BSF closed the corridor.
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