Archive for September 10th, 2006
Sunday, September 10th, 2006The last session of parliament beginning today might see an intense face-off between the ruling alliance and opposition Awami League (AL) on electoral reforms while outside the possibility of a dialogue on the issue diminishes fast. Lawmakers from both the ruling four-party alliance and AL are bracing themselves for one last chance to counter each other in the 8th Jatiya Sangsad (JS).The BNP and its allies will boast of the government's success in about five years and set out an argument against the proposals for reforms.On the other hand, the AL lawmakers, who will join the session tomorrow, plan ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006The government has decided to lay the foundation stone of 5.5-kilometre long Padma bridge at Maowa-Jajira point in the first week of the next month although the fund for the bridge construction is yet to be mobilised.While the physical construction of the country's longest bridge over the mighty river Padma is scheduled to start in 2008, the government has planned the early foundation laying in view of the electorates ahead of the next general elections, sources said.The Ministry of Communications is preparing to lay the foundation stone on the basis of assurance of necessary fund by a consortium of ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz yesterday brushed aside the National Democratic Institute (NDI) delegation's concern over controversy on the voter list and uncertainty about all the political parties' participation in the next parliamentary election. "They [NDI] might have concern and tension. It's their personal affairs. We have nothing to say in this regard as there is nothing to be worried about," MA Aziz told reporters after a meeting with the visiting NDI delegation at his office.At a meeting with the CEC and three other election commissioners, the Washington based NDI delegation discussed the prevailing situation in connection with ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006A new political alliance comprising the Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL), Unity for Political Reforms (UPR), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Shafiq) and Bangladesh Labour Party was launched yesterday.Led by KSJL President Kader Siddiqui and UPR Coordinator ASM Abdur Rob, the "Juktafront" expects to include other parties and people and discussions are on to this end.Announcing the floating of the alliance at the Jatiya Press Club, the Juktafront leaders said the front has been created to protect the greater interest of the nation like the Juktafront in 1954, which was established under the leadership of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, Maulana Abdul Hamid ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006Speakers at the regional dialogue in Narayanganj yesterday observed that much of the reforms in the Election Commission (EC) and electoral system can be carried out during the tenure of the next caretaker government.As the civil society raised voice for bringing reforms, major political parties will also accept the decisions taken by the caretaker government in this regard, they pointed out.The speakers further said politicians often become hostages to bureaucrats who actually run the government and indulge in various corruptions.The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the event in collaboration with The Daily Star, the Prothom Alo and Channel i. ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006The Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition alliance enforces countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal today to protest police atrocities on the opposition leaders and activists during their Election Commission (EC) Secretariat siege programme on September 6.The opposition combine has also announced programme of laying siege to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on September 12 to compel the government to accept reforms in the caretaker government system and the EC.On September 6, the opposition camp attempted to besiege the EC Secretariat to press the same demand.To thwart their attempt, riot police indiscriminately clubbed senior opposition leaders, lawmakers and the activists of the opposition ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said his party has not yet decided to join the ruling BNP-led four-party alliance. "Time has not come yet to join any alliance," Ershad told newsmen at Zia International Airport on his return from Saudi Arabia after a 13-day stay there for medical check-up and treatment.The JP Chairman denied having any pressure to join the ruling alliance and said he had no talks about joining the ruling four-party alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid during his stay in Saudi Arabia.Meanwhile, the deposed president told newsmen after a meeting with ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006Jatiya Party (JP) legislator Golam Mohammad Quader along with a number of like-minded political colleagues began the groundwork to form a new political party in Rangpur and its adjoining districts.GM Quader, younger brother of JP Chairman HM Ershad, formed two committees -- one in Rangpur and another in Lalmonirhat -- during his recent five-day visit to the northern districts.Even though the committees were named Election Committee, he said the committees would be the core unit of the future party.While talking to The Daily Star yesterday at his Rangpur home, Quader said, "We will form committees like these in ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006The holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune, was observed across the country on Friday night with due solemnity and religious fervour.Muslim devotees offered special prayers throughout the night, seeking divine blessings for peace and happiness for themselves and for the Muslim Ummah.They recited from the holy Quran, held milad mehfil, visited the graves of their near and dear ones and prayed to the almighty for the eternal peace of the departed souls.They also distributed sweets and homemade foods among the poor, the neighbours, friends and relatives.President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh ...
(read more) Sunday, September 10th, 2006Relatives buried their dead yesterday after three bombs outside a mosque and graveyard killed 31 people and injured nearly 300 in the latest sectarian attack to shake India. The blasts targeted Muslim worshippers leaving the mosque in the religiously-divided town of Malegaon in western India, the scene of previous clashes between Hindus and Muslims.The dead included eight children and six women caught by the three "crude" devices that were attached to bicycles, police said. Nearly half of the 297 injured were children, the state government said.Forensic experts had collected some material from the scene but it was too ...
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