Archive for November 5th, 2006
Sunday, November 5th, 2006 Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz has expressed his unwillingness to resign if requested by the caretaker government (CG) for reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), putting the CG in a difficult situation as regards holding a free and fair election.Aziz conveyed this to the council of advisers of the CG through one adviser who went to his residence on Thursday night to know from him whether he will resign if the council requests him, sources said.Following such negative response from the CEC, the council at a meeting yesterday at the Bangabhaban reviewed the latest political situation, found it ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006Finally, the council of advisers to the caretaker government yesterday decided to form three committees as they observed that the reshuffle of the administration and maintenance of law and order are not being done systematically."The meeting decided to form some advisers' committees by tomorrow," Adviser Mahbubul Alam, who was authorised to talk to the media, said after coming out of yesterday's meeting of the advisers.The committees will identify the key problems and make suggestions to the chief adviser on how to approach those, he added.Of the proposed committees, one will be on administration, one on law and order and ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006The BNP yesterday asked President and Chief Adviser (CA) to Caretaker Government Iajuddin Ahmed not to transfer government officials having "no direct links" with the upcoming elections."Only those who are involved with the election tasks, and thus matter in the upcoming polls, can be transferred," BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan told reporters at BNP party office at Naya Paltan after a meeting with the chief adviser."Caution should be exercised in transferring these officials," Bhuiyan advised the chief adviser, referring to the upcoming final examinations of the children of these officials.Bhuiyan led a seven-member BNP delegation that met Iajuddin Ahmed ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006Speakers in a dialogue yesterday underscored the need for an independent election commission for ensuring free and fair general elections. They said the system of caretaker government is a temporary measure and giving full power to the Election Commission (EC) separating it from the executive branch of the government is the only way out of the existing political impasse.They also observed that the present chief of the EC and other election commissioners must be removed or at least made ineffective for gaining confidence of the people before the upcoming election in 2007.They suggested formation of vigilance teams in ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment failed to explore new labour markets, while overseas employment to traditional markets like the Middle East experienced a sharp decline in the five years of BNP-led alliance rule.The ministry also failed to control recruiting agencies, which continuously involved themselves in an unholy competition in overseas recruitment process. This led to the increase in migration cost, which ultimately became a setback for promotion of manpower export.Bangladesh as a labour surplus country has ample opportunities of earning foreign exchange by sending its workforce to the developed countries under the framework of General Agreements on ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006The BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday put its weight behind the chief election commissioner (CEC) and decided to urge Chief Adviser to Caretaker Government Iajuddin Ahmed not to interfere in the Election Commission (EC)."We are drawing the chief adviser's attention to the fact that the post of chief election commissioner is a constitutional post and the incumbent CEC is performing competently and neutrally," Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid said after a meeting of the alliance at Hawa Bhaban yesterday.Opposing any move to force CEC MA Aziz to step down, Mujahid said, "The Election Commission is preparing to announce the ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday alleged that advisers Sultana Kamal and CM Shafi Sami had met Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday without the permission of the chief adviser."Only the chief adviser could give this decision and they (the two advisers) did not take his permission," Bhuiyan said adding that the council of advisers has no right to give any decision in this regard.He was speaking at a press conference at the BNP central office after a party delegation called on President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed."We demanded taking actions against the two advisers and ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006Unknown gunmen last night fired shots at former law minister Moudud Ahmed's residence in Gulshan in the capital, leaving an on-duty police constable injured.The incident took place a few minutes after Moudud and his wife had left the house to attend a dinner party.According to wounded Constable Kamrul Islam, who was posted at the main gate of the house on Gulshan Avenue near the Gulshan-2 roundabout, two youths on a motorcycle stopped on the other side of the road around 8:40pm.There are two police check-posts on both sides of the road just 15 yards off the house."The youths came through ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006The officials appointed under political considerations during the immediate past BNP-Jamaat regime are still controlling key positions of the state-run publicity organs, including Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar, even a week after the caretaker government assumed office.There has not yet been any change in the top post of the External Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), Directorate of Film and Publication (DFP), and the Principal Information Officer (PIO). All the top brass of these important state organs have been appointed politically during the regime of BNP-Jamaat-led coalition, sources said.Besides, BNP-Jamaat appointed press ...
(read more) Sunday, November 5th, 2006Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday alleged the office of the president is being controlled by "Hawa Babhan" and urged the president to show responsible attitude in running state affairs."President, you should not be influenced by Hawa Bhaban. Your office is being controlled by this bhaban…its not fair, it should be stopped," he said at a press briefing at AL's Dhanmondi office in the evening.Jalil, also the coordinator of the 14-party combine, asked BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan not to "mislead" the nation and not to put "pressure" on the president.He further urged the president to appoint ...
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