Archive for November 20th, 2006
Monday, November 20th, 2006The Awami League (AL) led 14-party combine resumes today non-stop countrywide blockade this time calling for President Iajuddin Ahmed to stand down as chief adviser as the second deadline for implementation of its 11-point demand expired last night. In significant developments yesterday, Jatiya Oikya Front comprising Liberal Democratic Front (LDP), Jatiya Oikya Mancha and Bangladesh Tariqat Federation joined forces with the AL and its allies.The same day the BNP-led four-party alliance declared that it will be in the streets today to protest the 'anarchy' of the 14-party, raising the spectre of violent confrontations. It will hold rallies and processions ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006After 20 days of taking oath, the advisers to the caretaker government (CG) are now feeling frustrated with it, saying that so far the CG has failed to create an environment suitable for a free and fair election.The transfers and postings of government officials and employees so far also failed to impress any body, they said adding that none of the transfers are related to officials who will perform election duties.They admitted that they failed to resolve the political crisis springing from the popular demand for resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz and said only the president can ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday told President Iajuddin Ahmed that he has failed to prove his neutrality as the chief adviser to the interim caretaker government but he still has time."We have given you enough time to act neutrally as the head of caretaker government," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil quoted Hasina as telling Iajuddin during her second meeting with the chief adviser.Hasina also asked Iajuddin not to take any move to declare the election schedule without reconstituting the Election Commission (EC). Otherwise, people will build up strong resistance, she said.A 14-member delegation of the AL-led 14-party alliance ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006The caretaker government's move to make the Election Commission (EC) credible has failed as its chief adviser (CA) continues to choose to ignore the majority opinion of the council of advisers and of political parties regarding reconstitution of the EC.President Iajuddin Ahmed, who assumed the office of chief adviser on October 29 in addition to his presidential responsibilities on the basis of a majority opinion of the political parties with representation in the immediate past parliament, this time around however is paying no attention to the majority opinion regarding making the EC effective.In the three-day long series of ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006The BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday staged demonstration in the capital as a showdown of strength on the eve of the 14-party's indefinite blockade that resumes today.Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir took position at Muktangon from yesterday evening and vowed to continue their sit-in at the venue until the schedule of election is announced.Earlier, four-party leaders from the rally at Muktangon threatened to launch a movement if the caretaker government does not comply with provisions of the constitution."Announce the schedule for the next election without any delay. We will accept (any move) if you do ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006Garment factory owners will stage a sit-in around Bangabhaban premises early today if the president and chief adviser (CA) to the caretaker government failed to break the current political deadlock by 4:00am. The leaders of BGMEA at a press conference yesterday afternoon said they would take legal action against the interim government if the apparel sector suffered for their failure to make a decision and restore the environment for the country's economic activities.Issuing the ultimatum, the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged the president and CA to find an acceptable solution that would save the country's ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006Police unearthed important information about a strong network of women traffickers at Fakirapool in the capital and their links with the officials of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET)."The unholy alliance is involved with a huge illegal business," said Investigation Officer (IO) Shahadat Hossain after interrogating the detained BMET officials and five of the 31 women whose travel to Lebanon was held up at Zia International Airport on Friday morning, as the BMET clearances including work permits were found to be fake.The four staff of BMET and another of Bangladesh Biman were detained following the incident for okaying the ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman yesterday filed three separate defamation suits against Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, General Secretary Abdul Jalil and Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader, accusing them of conducting 'malicious campaign' against him.After hearing the petitioner, Metropolitan Magistrate AJM Abdullah Hel Baqui, ordered judicial inquiry into all the three cases without taking the matter into direct cognisance.Enraged by the order, more than 200 BNP-backed lawyers tried to create pressure on the magistrate to issue summons upon the AL president and her two close aides, but the magistrate stuck to his order despite the chaotic ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006In a sudden move, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday banned journalists from entering its secretariat that is preparing to conduct the next parliamentary elections.A large number of journalists, who regularly visit the EC Secretariat to collect information about the preparatory work for the next election, were barred from entering the main building of the secretariat yesterday morning.Neither the EC nor any senior EC Secretariat official, however, clarified the reasons for the ban.Security personnel at the EC Secretariat told reporters that the authorities directed them not to allow any journalist to enter the secretariat.The ban on the media--unprecedented in the history ...
(read more) Monday, November 20th, 2006Commuters experienced untold sufferings yesterday as most of the city dwellers rushed to finish their last moment business before today's blockade programme but they found fewer vehicles in the streets. The city streets were crammed with heavy traffic until afternoon, but the scenario changed in the evening, when fearing vandalism by the blockade activists, many transport companies suspended their services leaving people returning from their workplaces stranded at different parts of the city.Thick crowds of people were seen walking down the city streets until 10:00pm due to lack of public bus and CNG three-wheelers. Some two thousand people were ...
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