Archive for January, 2007
Tuesday, January 30th, 2007The High Court (HC) yesterday suspended conduct of all elections including the next parliamentary polls for three months and ordered the Election Commission (EC) to explain why the existing revised voter list shall not be declared illegal. The ruling came following a writ petition filed the same day by Kazi Mamnur Rashid, a constituent of Dhaka-6.Issuing a rule, the HC also directed the commission to explain why the present voter roll shall not be declared inconsistent with the provisions of Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972 and the directives passed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007In the wake of a strong media outcry against restrictions on the media and its leaders' firm resolve to defy it, the caretaker government (CG) yesterday clarified that no restrictions have been imposed on the freedom or functions of the media.The government would soon invite media representatives for discussions to reach a workable solution on the issue, according to the home ministry.Editors of some newspapers welcomed the government clarification but reiterated the demand for withdrawal of the relevant clause in the Emergency Power Rules 2007, published on January 25.Taking note of similar concerns regarding normal activities of trade unions and ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007The Bangladesh Bank yesterday cancelled 69.87 percent of the Oriental Bank's shares after its probe found that Obaidul Karim bought 'benami' shares through his family members, nominee companies and individuals in breach of the banking company laws.In a letter to the Oriental Bank's managing director, the central bank ordered the cancellation and forfeiture of the shares with immediate effect and asked the scam-tainted private bank to inform its current shareholders accordingly.The 69.87 percent shares were listed under 13 names and companies that, the BB probe found, are either members of Obaidul's family, companies owned by them or foreign nominee companies. ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007Nobel Laureate and Grameen Bank founder Prof Muhammad Yunus has criticised the existing international financial institutions for shutting out the world's poor from receiving their credit.While delivering the keynote address at the international conference to commemorate the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' form of political movement here yesterday, Prof Yunus also advocated the concept of social business to address socio-economic problems."Two-third of the world's population do not have access to the financial services of these institutions. This is a form of financial apartheid," he said.Prof Yunus said the significance of his getting the Nobel Prize for Peace was the ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007Top echelons of the police administration saw a massive reshuffle last night as the caretaker government made changes to 20 top positions including inspector general of police (IGP) and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).Meanwhile, several key positions in the army were also reshuffled.Director General (DG) of Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi was made general officer commanding (GOC) of 66 Infantry Division while GOC of 11 Infantry Division Major General Sheikh Md Manirul Islam was made the new DG of SSF, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) Commandant ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on the second day of its ongoing eviction drive yesterday demolished around 290 illegal structures on the bank of Turag river from Mohammadpur to Diabari in the capital.Around 110 of those structures were made of concrete and a large number of these belong to either local ward commissioner and film actor Monwar Hossain Dipjal or people close to him, sources said."We had demolished Dipjal's market at Barobazar earlier. But they rebuilt it," said Sharif Afzal Rahman, a BIWTA official.Local influential people violating environmental regulations by filling up parts of the river built ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007The prime job of the caretaker government (CG) is to prepare a correct and flawless voter list, and hold a free, fair and credible general election as early as possible.And the CG should not spend much time in work other than election so that its credibility and acceptability does not diminish.Expressing this view at a roundtable in the city yesterday, speakers demanded preparation of a voter list with pictures of voters to prevent forgery in polls and fake votes.Political leaders, senior lawyers, social workers, ex-army officials and former bureaucrats were among speakers at the roundtable organised by Shujan ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007Former secretary M Anisuzzaman Khan is likely to be appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) by President Iajuddin Ahmed, sources said.The President would request the acting CEC and the four other election commissioners to resign when they meet him tomorrow at the Bangabhaban, added the sources.If acting CEC Justice Mahfuzur Rahman stands down at the president's request, the other commissioners might follow his lead, the sources continued.Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim told reporters last night that the Election Commission (EC) might be reconstituted within a couple of days.The election commissioners had an emergency meeting ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007The army-led joint forces arrested 2,002 people on various charges within 24 hours preceding 6:00pm yesterday including three influential CBA leaders of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) as part of their ongoing anti-crime drive nationwide.Members of an intelligence agency raided the Rajuk Bhaban in the afternoon and hauled up Rajuk CBA leaders Gazi Mohammad Amir Khashru, Sramik Dal president, Abdul Malek Mian and Aorangajeb Siddique Nannu, also leaders of Sramik Dal. They were handed over to Motijheel police in the evening, sources said.Meanwhile, Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, industrial affairs secretary of BNP and former lawmaker, was released some time after the members ...
(read more) Tuesday, January 30th, 2007The envoys of America, Britain, India and the European Union (EU) meet Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday and discussed Bangladesh's latest political situation. US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis, UK High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty and an eight-member EU delegation, led by German Ambassador Frank Meyke, made separate courtesy call on the head of the caretaker government at his office.During the meetings, the envoys appreciated the CA's address to the nation, saying that it has "reflected the hopes and aspirations of the common people".They also held discussion on various bilateral matters and issues relating ...
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