Archive for February 2nd, 2007
Friday, February 2nd, 2007The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to investigate the allegations of corruption against former communication minister Nazmul Huda and Tarique Rahman's close business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun."The ACC has assigned two officials to probe the allegations against Mamun that came out in various newspapers," said ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan."We have initiated a process to investigate allegations of corruption against a lot of big fish," he said but did not name anyone else except Mamun.A top ACC source, however, said Nazmul Huda is another "big fish" to be closely scrutinised. The press has run many reports on Huda's alleged ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007The controversial former lawmaker from Dhaka-10 constituency, Mosaddek Ali Falu, had a meteoric rise in fortune in the last two and a half years with his wealth in shares in different companies increasing 100 times. His annual income tripled and his land doubled.However, Falu, who had been the political secretary to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia before he became a lawmaker through a widely rigged election from Dhaka-10, could by some miracle reduce his annual expenditure despite his lavish lifestyle. What he claims to have spent in a year--Tk 3,20,000 (Tk 26,660 per month)--can hardly support a middle class family let ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Fourteen out of 22 development partners did not disburse any aid to Bangladesh in the first half of the current fiscal year, resulting in a decrease of 40 percent in foreign aid flow from the preceding year.Besides, there was no aid disbursement from a number of aid group donors due to political instability and the country's failure to bring about reforms that the donors said are necessary to curb corruption and improve governance.Bangladesh received $294.76 million in foreign aid in the first six months of the current fiscal while it was $488.55 million for the corresponding period in the ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Tarique Rahman's business partner Giasuddin Al-Mamun was arrested in the capital sometime Wednesday, laying to rest week-long rumours surrounding the high-profile capture. An intelligence official requesting not to be named told The Daily Star last night that Mamun was picked up from the city's Paltan area.Meanwhile, the joint forces did not release Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina's Assistant Personal Secretary Dr Awlad Hossain who was hauled in on Wednesday night along with two others from Dhanmondi area.Sources said the security forces held one Russell when he went to draw Tk 25 lakh from a bank in Motijheel. Later, following ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said apart from carrying out routine work, the present caretaker government would also take policy decisions. "The prime objective of this government is to improve the quality of life and for that whatever steps are needed would be taken," he said.He made the remark when asked if the caretaker government had the constitutional authority to sign an agreement with an Indian company to set up a power plant.The government on Wednesday signed a Tk 1,133 crore deal with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to build a 240 megawatt power plant within December ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called on the people to create a just and knowledge-based society, free from the influence of black money, the corrupt and the criminals."Let us build up a steely unity like those of '52 and '71, let us work together," he said at the opening ceremony of the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2007 at Bangla Academy yesterday while addressing his audience of advisers, diplomats, Bangla Academy life-members and fellows and litterateurs.He also inaugurated a sculpture titled, "Moder Gorob," in memory of the Language Movement martyrs. "Ekushey teaches us to resist repression, deprivation and inequality," ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday granted the government 11 days to submit the gazette of the amended Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for separating the judiciary from the executive. The full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by the chief justice, passed the order and adjourned the hearing until February 12.Earlier Additional Attorney General Abdur Rezak sought a two-week time for making the amendment to the CrPC. He informed the court that the ordinance to announce the amended CrPC is under process.On December 2, 1999, the Supreme Court ordered the government to implement the 12-point directive for separation of ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Handling of export and import goods at the lone public sector inland container depot (ICD) at Kamalapur in the capital came to near standstill as the three main container handling equipment remained out of order for the last couple of days.The non-functioning of handling equipment created a serious deadlock, causing stockpile of around 1,664 containers laden with export and import items at the depot.Only one straddle carrier (container lifting equipment) is working while three others broke down and remained inoperative at the depot, sources said, adding that Global Agro Trade Company (Gatco) that was appointed for container handling work ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Joint forces yesterday seized around 3.6 lakh sacks of rotten basic commodities including wheat, sugar, lentil and over 1.5 lakh sacks of fertilisers from Chittagong and Khulna.The forces also arrested eight people for involvement in food adulteration and fertiliser hoarding.The army and Rapid Action Battalion in separate operations yesterday seized over 1.5 lakh sacks of fertiliser, 1.9 lakh sacks of rotten wheat, sugar, lentil, etc. and arrested two people in Majhirghat area, our staff correspondent in Chittagong reports.A team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) led by Lt Commander Shamim raided two large warehouses, owned by AKM Monaf, in Majhirghat area ...
(read more) Friday, February 2nd, 2007Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday knocked down around 300 illegal structures along Mirpur Road and the Buriganga riverbank. During the drive, Rajuk authorities also instructed owners of restaurants, department stores and fast-food shops, including Xin Xian, Helvetia, Western Grill and Haat Bazar, along the Mirpur Road to move their business from their current locations as they have violated Rajuk's building guidelines."We intended to demolish those structures but the owners assured us, in writing, that they themselves would leave those places soon. So we left those untouched," said ASM Emdadud Dastagir, the magistrate ...
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