Archive for November 17th, 2006
Friday, November 17th, 2006Politics once again seems to be on a rough chart as the chief election commissioner (CEC) met with Chief Adviser President Iajuddin Ahmed last night to discuss election schedule, dwarfing caretaker government advisers' talks with major political parties on Election Commission (EC) reconstitution.CEC MA Aziz, who met Iajuddin with his team of commissioners within hours of BNP and Jamaat's demanding for immediate announcement of polls schedule, told reporters that nothing but election preparation was on the agenda in his talks with the president.The chief adviser asked the CEC and three other election commissioners to announce the poll schedule as soon ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday asked the caretaker government to take measures to announce the election schedule without delay. "No matter who takes part in the election and who doesn't... your only duty now is to announce the schedule for the national polls," she said pointing at the caretaker government.At a view-exchange meeting with leaders and workers of Diploma Peshajibi Parishad at Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium in the city, she also said, "The election must be held within 90 days. It's not the caretaker government's job to work out who to participate in the election ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006The leaders of the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance yesterday said President and Chief Adviser of the caretaker government Iajuddin Ahmed would be responsible if election process is hampered due to his 'unconstitutional and partisan' activities."If you [president] fail to act neutrally as the chief of the caretaker government, confrontation is must and the election will be uncertain. If such a situation is created, you will be responsible," 14-party coordinator Abdul Jalil quoted his conversation at the press briefing at AL's Dhanmondi office following a meeting with Iajuddin."We have told him [chief adviser] to carry out the 11-point demand to ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006Despite stepped up security for the election commissioners, the Mohammadpur residence of Election Commissioner Mahmud Hasan Mansur came under fire yesterday morning. The commissioner was home when some unknown men shot several times at the house on 7/10, Sir Syed Ahmed Road. None suffered any injury though.Witnesses said they saw a white microbus roaming the road and its adjacent lanes around 5:45am.On finding the house after some time, the attackers fired several shots at it and sped away in the microbus, said Momen, a next door guard.No one tried to stop the vehicle, said an employee of Nabil Paribahan, located ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006Business activities at Chittagong Port could not resume fully yesterday as the operation of four vital gantry cranes remained suspended. The four Quay Gantry Crane (QGC) were installed in January this year at a cost of Tk 150 crore to accelerate the loading and unloading activities at the premier port.Suspended since November 12 for political agitation programme, operation of the gantry cranes could not resume yesterday even after postponement of the programme as Chittagong City Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury opposed the operation by private operators, sources said.Negotiation is going on to start operation of the gantry cranes, Chittagong Port ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006Chief Adviser to the Caretaker Government Iajuddin Ahmed has been under tremendous workload as huge number of files from the 10 ministries and divisions under his supervision await his approval on a daily basis.Bangabhaban sources said the condition of the chief adviser's health does not permit over work and his personal physician suggested tolerable workload for him.The chief adviser has to sign more than 500 files and letters every day.Sources said over 2,000 files from the education ministry alone have been stockpiled in the Bangabhaban awaiting the chief adviser's perusal."The education ministry every day needs signature of its minister on ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006Life in the city picked up its pace again yesterday after lumbering for four days as Awami League (AL) led 14-party combine suspended its countrywide blockade programme until next Sunday. The public and private enterprises, banks, schools and shopping malls were buzzing with activities while the usual traffic jam scenario was seen at different intersections of the city as motorised vehicles returned to the streets, which were dominated only by the rickshaws for the past few days.Businesses at the Motijheel moved on in full swing with people thronging the commercial hub of the capital.The Chittagong and Mongla seaports and ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has set five major conditions, including introduction of uniform taxpayer identification number for the Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU), for releasing the last instalment under the Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF).The IMF officials recently apprised the government of the conditions and the government has pledged to meet those, sources said."Bangladesh will receive about $110 million in the middle of next year if it meets the conditions set by the IMF," a high official of the finance ministry said.As per the IMF prescription, the government will have to introduce Uniform Taxpayer Identification (UTI) number for the LTU ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006A group of government officials deprived of promotion and posting during last five years staged a sit-in inside and in front of the establishment secretary's office yesterday to press their demand for immediate promotion.The group led by Abu Alam Shaheed, former personal secretary to then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, urged the ministry to be unbiased in promoting and posting officials."We are worried that a section of officials loyal to the immediate past government are preparing to help rig the general election and thus make the administration controversial," an official told Secretary AFM Soaliman Chowdhury.The demonstrating officials alleged that the establishment ...
(read more) Friday, November 17th, 2006The commercial banks at important business centres will remain open on Saturdays while covered vans and trucks will be allowed to move in Dhaka and Narayanganj during daytime until Sunday.Bangladesh Bank yesterday reminded the commercial banks to keep their branches open on Saturdays to facilitate foreign trade and transactions.The central bank allowed the authorised dealer banks to keep their branches open on Saturdays for a limited period through a circular issued on September 15, 2005.Bangladesh Bank had made the exemption considering the difficulties faced by the foreign trade and transactions since introduction of a two-day weekly holiday.Meanwhile, the police ...
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