Archive for October 30th, 2006
Monday, October 30th, 2006 President Iajuddin Ahmed last night assumed the office of chief adviser to the non-party caretaker government in addition to his presidential responsibilities as "major political parties failed to reach a consensus on an acceptable person for the post".The Awami League-led 14-party alliance that vehemently opposed the president's proposal on Saturday for assuming the post himself neither accepted nor rejected the new caretaker chief.An emergency meeting of the 14-party last night observed that Iajuddin's activities will decide whether they will contest the next polls or not.Before assuming the office of the caretaker government chief, the president expressed his "deep concern" over ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006Following the president's oath taking as the chief adviser to the caretaker government yesterday, the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance said they would decided about participating in the next parliamentary elections after observing the president's activities as chief of the caretaker government. The 14-party leaders said President Iajuddin Ahmed took the post violated the constitution.They, however, said it is now the responsibility of the president to make the reforms in the Election Commission (EC), and the electoral system."Rather than going with the constitutional process, the president himself assumed the charge of chief adviser to the caretaker government. He did ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006The president's being sworn in as the caretaker government chief without strictly following the provisions of the constitution has brought into question the presidency itself, said civil society members.They also observed that the president should have referred the issue to the Supreme Court or could have continued discussions with the political parties to reach a consensus before becoming the chief adviser himself.Expressing dissatisfaction with the move, the business leaders said they want to see a healthy atmosphere for business.Former caretaker government adviser Hafiz Uddin Khan said he thinks the way Iajuddin took the helm was not 'fair'."All the ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006 Six more political activists died and hundreds of others were injured yesterday as rival activists of Awami League (AL)-led 14-party coalition and BNP-led four-party alliance continued to clash violently across the country for the third consecutive day.With the killings of the six people three from Noakhali and one each from Magura, Pirojpur and Narayanganj -- the death toll rose to 20 since the eruption of clashes in the final hours of the four-party alliance government's regime.Activists of 14-party blockaded roads and highways, uprooted rail lines and set fire to trains in some places as they continued their Dhaka siege ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006A part of the controversy over the appointment of the caretaker government chief was the result of Bangabhaban's not strictly observing the constitutional provisions and could have been easily avoided if the president's office simply followed the steps laid out in the constitution.The first twist surfaced soon after former chief justice KM Hasan expressed Friday night his unwillingness to the cabinet secretary to head the caretaker government. The Bangabhaban told the press that the oath taking of Justice Hasan scheduled for Saturday had to be deferred as he was "indisposed".However, Justice Hasan's statement given to the press after his refusal ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006 An eerie calm continued to reign over the city for the second consecutive day yesterday as the political turmoil over appointment of the next caretaker government chief raged on with no immediate resolution in sight.For many of the city dwellers it was hard to come to terms with the stillness of the usually teeming Dhaka city where the mass could barely have room to breathe comfortably.The capital siege programme of the Awami League (AL) led 14-party opposition combine stepped into its second day yesterday, adding to the public anxiety.Besides, the day marked the end of Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. But millions ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006 The country's business and economic activities including export-import and functions at banks, insurance organisations and ports have remained almost suspended for the last few days due to Eid holidays and sudden eruption of political hostilities. Closed on October 23 due to Eid holidays, most of the private business houses and mills and factories are yet to resume their operation while public sector enterprises that officially opened yesterday had hardly any activities due to low attendance.As all modes of transport remained suspended, most of the workers and employees are yet to join office after the Eid holidays.Private and nationalised commercial ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006The government and private offices wore a deserted look yesterday after a three-day Eid holidays and two-day weekly holidays, as very few people turned up due to the opposition enforced Dhaka siege programme. The same atmosphere prevailed at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the headquarters of all ministries and offices of the Republic, with a very thin attendance.No minister came to the secretariat, while only a few officials were present at their offices for some hours, but left early fearing fresh street violence. Panic and tension were in the air inside the secretariat due to the presence of a huge number ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006More than one lakh extreme poor families in Monga-prone Kurigram district have been experiencing near famine situation due to scarcity of food and employment, according to district administration officials.Azizar Rahman Molla, deputy commissioner (DC) of Kurigram, said over cell phone on last Tuesday that among of 2,98000 poor families in the district, the govt distributed 1,88,500 Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) cards.He said 10kg of rice had been distributed against each card in nine upazilas of the district since last August but no further sanction has been received yet for October."Food situation in Kurigram is better this year than ...
(read more) Monday, October 30th, 2006Security personnel yesterday morning took Shafik Rehman, the editor of recently discontinued daily Jai Jai Din, to some hidden place from the airport after his failed attempt to leave the country.On Friday, the management of the daily suspended its publication for an indefinite period due to 'problems with electricity generation', and terminated 104 of its staffs, mostly journalists.The terminated staffs, who made nightlong protests outside the airport, alleged that Shafik Rehman was trying to leave the country secretly without paying their dues.Shafik had tickets of five airlines, but none of them agreed to have him on board after Emirates ...
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