Archive for October 1st, 2006
Sunday, October 1st, 2006The ruling BNP and opposition Awami League (AL) might begin today or tomorrow the long-awaited dialogue to break the current political stalemate over reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems.AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday called BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and said he was ready for the dialogue.Earlier on Friday, Bhuiyan, also LGRD and cooperatives minister, made a phone call to his opposition counterpart and gave a formal proposal for talks to settle the reforms issue.In separate press briefings the same day, both the leaders said they would talk again over telephone to set the time and ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006Five years from now, the BNP-led four party alliance won a landslide victory in the eighth parliamentary election riding on a number of pledges, including ensuring good governance, but in reality the situation has worsened during the alliance rule.In addition to deteriorating law and order and unbridled corruption in the last five years, skyrocketing prices of essentials and acute shortage of power have made life difficult for the countrymen.Infuriated by severe power crisis, people have staged violent demonstrations in the capital and other parts of the country demanding uninterrupted supply of power. Kansat of Chapainawabganj even saw 20 people killed ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006At least 50 people including 10 policemen and three journalists were injured during a series of clashes between the law enforcers and garment workers at Uttara in the capital yesterday when the workers went on a rampage demanding wage increase, bonus and arrears.The workers attacked Uttara Police Station, damaged around a dozen vehicles including seven police vans parked inside and a makeshift police camp. Police fired several rounds of rubber bullet and 35 teargas canisters to disperse the marauding garment workers.During the four and a half hours demonstration, the aggrieved workers vandalised two markets, as many banks, wayside restaurants and ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006The exit of the state minister Anwarul Kabir Talukder will hardly help improve the acute power crisis as the problem lies elsewhere in the government, said a number of top officials of the sector yesterday. "Since coming to power in October 2001, the alliance government has been following an unwritten policy to award power contracts to favoured parties in violation of rules and regulation," said an official. "This has driven away genuine power companies and repressed efficient officials," he added.A number of power experts also alleged that the removal of the second power minister within four months Friday has nothing ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday blamed the opposition for resorting to destructive activities, making electricity an issue.She once again said her party wants dialogue and it will take place if the opposition comes up.The prime minister said the next general election will be held in time according to the constitution. If the election is not held in time, there will be a constitutional vacuum, she warned.Addressing a public meeting at Dewanganj government High School ground, the prime minister said Awami League (AL) did nothing to improve power situation during its rule.She made a fresh pledge that if the BNP-led ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006Violent and persistent agitation protesting erratic power supply continued across the country yesterday.At least 15 people were injured in a clash between the police and locals at Daudkandi in Comilla as a mob attacked local Palli Bidyut office while in Khulna, several hundred people besieged a power supply station on Friday night protesting frequent power outages.Meanwhile in Barisal, Power Development Board (PDB) sent letters to all puja mandaps in the city yesterday conveying its incapability to supply extra power during puja nights that shocked and created resentment among the Hindus.Several hundred people at Daudkandi outraged by erratic power supply and ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006Corruption and poor infrastructure are the number one and two factors that pulled down Bangladesh in the global competitiveness index (GCI) in 2006. On the other hand, inefficient bureaucracy, policy instability, lack of access to finance, inadequately educated workforce and inflation are still 'lead determining factors' in business environment.These were revealed in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2006-2007and the Centre for Policy Dialogue's (CPD) Bangladesh Business Environment Study 2006 launched in Dhaka yesterday.Crime and theft that was the fifth determining factor in 2005 became eighth in 2006."In 2006, corruption is the most important determining ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina yesterday blamed Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for power crisis across the country as she holds the portfolio of the power ministry."Two state ministers for power have so far been removed. How could they be blamed for the mess in the power sector when the prime minister herself is in charge of the power ministry?" she questioned.Hasina was addressing a meeting organised to welcome two former bureaucrats and two others to the Awami League (AL) at its Dhanmondi office.Former secretary Azharul Islam, former tax commissioner Chowdhury Khalequzzaman, former MP from Barisal's Mehendiganj constituency Maidul Islam, and ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006Three days of downpour coupled with the overflowing Kapotakkha river have left over 30,000 people in 16 villages of Tala upazila marooned for two weeks.The road link between Satkhira and Khulna snapped yesterday as the Satkhira-Khulna highway in Noapara of Tala upazila went under two to four feet of water.People living in the area continue to suffer as 1436 dwellings were either destroyed or partially damaged by rising water. Around 354 families have taken shelter either on the sides of high roads or educational institutions in the area.The water remains stagnant as the silted Kapotakkha cannot deal with the ...
(read more) Sunday, October 1st, 2006The Hindu devotees across the country will observe the Mahanabami at Puja Mandaps today amid due religious fervour and festivity.Bhog (offering) of delicious food and fruits will be made to Devi Durga, the goddess of supreme power, and later distributed among the devotees.Meanwhile, thousands of ardent believers performed Kumari Puja yesterday on the Mahaastami of the five-day long Durga Puja. A girl aged between six and 12, symbolising the Kumari (virgin) form of Durga, is worshipped in front of the idol of the goddess as a living replica of her on this day.The devotees knelt down in front of the ...
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