Archive for October 2nd, 2006
Monday, October 2nd, 2006At the planned talks with BNP, the opposition Awami League (AL) might stick to its objection to Justice KM Hasan as the caretaker government chief and MA Aziz as the chief election commissioner (CEC).Party sources also said the AL will not budge on its stance that instead of the president, the caretaker government should be in charge of the defence ministry for the sake of a free and fair election.The BNP, on the other hand, will not concede the opposition's demand for reforms in the caretaker government system.Under tremendous pressure from different quarters both at home and abroad, the ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006Although Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) kingpins Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai in their letters did not seek to appeal against death penalty, the Supreme Court (SC) registrar ordered yesterday to stay their executions considering their letters as prayer for appeal.The SC registrar accepted the letters of the two militant leaders as appeals through the jail authority in which the militants once again said it is justified to kill people for establishing Islamic rules and that the judges, who held trial under Taguti (non-Islamic) laws neglecting the Shariah, themselves deserve death.Following the SC registrar's decision, it is now certain that four ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday demanded reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), appointment of a non-partisan person as chief adviser to the caretaker government and using transparent ballot boxes during the upcoming elections.The Awami League (AL) president reiterated the demands that are parts of its electoral reforms proposal.Hasina demanded the introduction of digital voter identity cards and a voter list with photographs of the voters. She also demanded the restoration of the previous provisions in the election laws regarding duties of the law enforcers during an election by repealing the provisions introduced during the last caretaker government. ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006For installing a substandard power plant of a very small size and failing to comply with the contract, the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL) has formally blacklisted the alliance government's favourite Chinese company -- Harbin Power Engineering Company.The ERL, a subsidiary of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, incurred huge financial loss through Harbin's installation of a small three-megawatt (MW) steam turbine power plant under a contract signed during the previous Awami League (AL) government on September 23, 1999.The alliance government awarded Harbin with the contracts for the 80MW Tongi power plant and 90MW Fenchuganj plant and is set to award the 150MW Chandpur ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006The way Major General (retd) Anwarul Kabir Talukder was removed from the post of state minister for power on Friday night contradicts the constitution.With the controversy mounting over whether Talukder resigned willingly or was removed, the law minister yesterday expressed his ignorance over the matter while the Speaker said in parliament the state minister "resigned" from his post.According to the constitution, the office of a minister shall become vacant "if he resigns from office by placing his resignation in the hands of the Prime Minister for submission to the President"."The prime minister may at any time request a Minister to ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006Speaker of Parliament Jamiruddin Sircar yesterday rejected all notices from opposition lawmakers demanding discussions in the House on various issues ranging from much talked about electoral reforms to acute shortage of power supply and skyrocketing prices of essentials. The notices were submitted throughout the current session of parliament.Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party lawmakers submitted as many as 162 notices demanding discussions on different issues adjourning the scheduled business of the House.In their notices the opposition lawmakers also demanded discussions on unbridled corruption, government's failure to deliver according to its promises, rise of Islamic militancy, Phulbaria killings, August 21 ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006The largest religious festival of Bengali Hindus, Durga Puja, will end today with immersion of Durga idols all over the country including the capital.The Hindus will also celebrate Bijoya Dashami in the morning according to the lunar calendar."All Durga idols from the puja mandaps of the capital will be brought together in Palashi at 3:00pm. A colourful procession will parade through different areas of the city," Jayanta Sen Dipu, president of Mohanagar Sharbojoneen Puja Committee, told The Daily Star yesterday.“Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) picked Waiz Ghat on the bank of river Buriganga as the place from where the idols will ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006Rallies held by the ruling BNP and its coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami caused a mess in Dhaka city traffic yesterday.Both parties occupied busy thoroughfares in the morning near Paltan intersection and the North gate of Baitul Mukarram to celebrate October 1 as 'day of ballot revolution' where hundreds of party activists gathered and brought vehicular movement to a standstill for hours.The gatherings played havoc with the traffic in central Dhaka by clogging up surrounding road networks of a wide area and the situation worsened in the afternoon while the Traffic Month campaign of the metropolitan police was going on."The ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006Visiting Chief Secretary to the Treasury of the UK Stephen Timms yesterday said he is hopeful that the proposed dialogue between the secretaries general of the ruling BNP and the opposition Awami League (AL) will be successful.He expressed the optimism while talking to newsmen after calling on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at her office yesterday afternoon.Timms said he had a "very good discussions"' with the prime minister. The bilateral relations, development assistance and also the forthcoming general elections in Bangladesh were among the issues discussed.He said his country believes that the next polls in Bangladesh would be free and ...
(read more) Monday, October 2nd, 2006Expressing doubt over Awami League's (AL) sincerity in the proposed secretaries-general level dialogue, BNP leaders yesterday warned the opposition not to engage in politicking over the talks."Come with an open mind to the negotiating table to solve the problems," urged Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain at a public rally at city's Muktangan to observe yesterday as the "Vote Revolution Day". On this day, the BNP led four-party alliance swept the general election five years ago.Jubo Dal President and Women and Children's Affairs Ministry Adviser Barkatullah Bulu, acting president of Krishak Dal Mojibor Rahman, Sramik Dal Joint Secretary Bakir Hossain, among ...
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