Archive for December 2nd, 2006
Saturday, December 2nd, 2006Shining a sudden ray of hope for ending the current political deadlock, President and Chief Adviser (CA) Iajuddin Ahmed will sit today separately with the chiefs of the two major political alliances led by Awami League (AL) and BNP, the day before 14-party's countrywide indefinite blockade is scheduled to resume.Both the political alliances informed The Daily Star last night that Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia already received invitations from the CA for meeting him and they accepted it.The crucial appointments for discussing immensely important electoral issues over tea with the president and chief adviser have been scheduled for this evening.In ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006The country's political arena faces uncertainty again as the fourth deadline of Awami League (AL) led 14-party alliance ends today with its major demands, including President Iajuddin Ahmed's resignation as the chief adviser, unmet.Leaders of the 14-party alliance yesterday said they are ready to enforce another phase of indefinite countrywide blockade from tomorrow if its demands are not fulfilled by today."We will withdraw the blockade if the president resigns from the post of chief adviser and appoints a non-partisan person as per the constitution to create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election," 14-party Coordinator Abdul Jalil said ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006We are greatly heartened by Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina's acceptance of President and Chief Adviser's invitation for a one-to-one talk this afternoon. We commend Prof. Iajuddin for the initiative and thank the BNP and AL chiefs for responding promptly to it. This should have been done on the very first day of the caretaker government. Anyway, it is better late than never.Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia are the two undisputed leaders of our country. The two parties they head are the two biggest political parties and over the last three general elections it has been proven over and over ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006The BNP high command wants the election to be held as per the schedule announced by Election Commission 'at any cost' regardless of whether any party takes part or not. However, there are differences of opinion among the senior leaders of the party over the present political situation as a few of them fear that the party might face dilemma if the election is not held on the basis of consensus among the political parties, sources said."I think it would not be a wise decision for us to go for an election without the participation of all the parties ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006Terming the present situation in Bangladesh worrying, UN special envoy Craig Jenness yesterday urged principal political parties to resolve their differences over the election through dialogue in a spirit of compromise."The gap in confidence is greater than the divide in substance...I am convinced that the principal political parties of Bangladesh, who have themselves sacrificed for democracy in the past, will be able to make the necessary compromise again," he said.Addressing a press conference at Hotel Sheraton ending his 3-day visit to Bangladesh, he said there are legitimate concerns about electoral environment and whether it will be possible to hold free ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006Functioning of the country's highest court faces a virtual halt as the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) starts boycotting the court of the chief justice (CJ) from tomorrow demanding his resignation.The aggrieved lawyers announced the programme protesting the CJ's unprecedented move on Thursday that stayed the proceedings of writ petitions filed against the president's holding the post of chief adviser of the caretaker government.While the SCBA vows to continue the boycott until Chief Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain resigns, pro-BNP lawyers have announced a rally on the Supreme Court (SC) premises tomorrow to protest Thursday's vandalism sparked off by the ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006Instead of going for an open re-tender, the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) is hurriedly arranging a restricted tender for dredging the Karnaphuli river involving the six companies which failed to win the first bid.Sources said a lobby close to the 'alternative centre of power' of the immediate past government is pushing hard to award this Tk 181 crore contract to the same Chinese company named China Harbour that was almost awarded the contract in the first tender.But the project cost of Tk 181 crore has not been approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec).China Harbour had sought ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006A total of 109 persons out of 240 diagnosed with AIDS have so far died while 874 persons have been found HIV/AIDS positive since the disease was first detected in Bangladesh, a discussion marking the World AIDS Day yesterday revealed.Although the rate of infection in Bangladesh has not increased in comparison to that in the neighbouring countries, this is not the hour to be complacent, said Maj Gen (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman, chief HIV adviser and chairman of TC-NAC.Matiur presented the keynote speech at the discussion on the current AIDS status of the world as well as Bangladesh. Different ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006Transmission of Ekushey Television (ETV) resumed yesterday after its broadcasting was stopped four years and three months ago.The channel can be watched without a satellite connection as before, the ETV authorities claimed at a press conference yesterday.The ETV has got permission to "re-broadcast" its programmes with all previous facilities, said ETV Chairman Abdus Salam.The transmission of ETV was stopped on August 29, 2002 following a Supreme Court order.Salam said they are hopeful to regain the viewers' attention by presenting quality programme and neutral and investigative news.The ETV got its permission for transmission on April 14, 2005, but the authorities could ...
(read more) Saturday, December 2nd, 2006Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday called for protecting the country's democracy, saying any alternative to democracy will not be sustainable. He said alternatives to democracy brought immense sufferings to the nation earlier.Reiterating his peace formula between the two rival camps, Yunus said, "There is no alternative to election." "The rival parties must reach an understanding for the national election."Addressing the 52nd founding anniversary of the National Press Club, Yunus said time has come for journalists to issue a wake-up call to the nation. A major role of the media is to guide the nation during crisis, he pointed ...
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