Archive for February 13th, 2007
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Awami League (AL) yesterday cancelled the controversial five-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) over issuance of fatwas with Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM). AL also cancelled all deals, agreements and seat sharing with different political parties in the grand alliance including 14-party coalition, which had been made prior to the cancellation of January 22 parliamentary polls."We had made some deals and agreements with some parties as part of our election strategy centring the January 22 poll. Since the election was cancelled, those deals and agreements have automatically been cancelled," AL Acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star yesterday.AL General ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Former BNP lawmaker from Demra Salahuddin Ahmed surrendered before a Dhaka court while joint forces detained Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddiqui's brother Azad Siddiqui, a top criminal on police list, in Tangail yesterday.Meanwhile, seven cases were filed against former BNP lawmaker from Kushtia-2 constituency Shahidul Islam and his brother Bheramara municipality Chairman Towhidul Islam in Bheramara and Mirpur police stations in Kushtia yesterday.The joint forces also arrested Sylhet district AL General Secretary (GS) Iftekhar Hossain Shamim, Dupchanchia upazila BNP GS and municipality chairman Mohammad Jahangir Alam.Meantime, the home ministry yesterday said members of the armed forces, police ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007The volume of defaulted loans in the banking system rose by 14.78 percent to stand at Tk 20,098 crore in December 2006 from Tk 17,509 crore in December 2005. The total increase in defaulted loans is Tk 2,589 crore. The amount of defaulted loans in national commercial banks (NCB) increased 15 percent or Tk 1,479 crore while private commercial banks (PCBs) saw an increase of 23 percent or Tk 822 crore, recent statistics of the Bangladesh Bank show.Defaulted loans in development financial institutions (DFIs) rose by Tk 308 crore or 8 percent. Only foreign commercial banks (FCBs) managed to ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Around Tk 20 crore went down the drain as members of the 8th parliament did not attend the sessions in time leading to quorum crisis while the House failed to resolve audit objections involving over Tk 12,500 crore.The findings came out in a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) research into the activities of the 8th Jatiya Sangsad.Of Tk 13,154 crore audit objections concerning 15 ministries, the communications ministry alone had Tk 12,775 crore. The Public Accounts Committee (Pac) could realise only Tk 12 crore from it and left the rest for the government to deal with.TIB Research Officer Tanvir ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Prof Muhammad Yunus has suggested building a highway network connecting India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and introducing "Saarc passports" for people of the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.The Nobel laureate, now in Kolkata to receive Shera Bangali (Best Bengali) award, made the suggestion addressing a press conference yesterday. He also called for introduction of "Saarc scholarships" at the universities of the region.Replying to a question, Prof Yunus said the deadlock in Indo-Pak relations is holding back strengthening of the spirit of Saarc."The future of Saarc hinges on improved relations between India and Pakistan. As there ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007A group of eight experts recommended immediate remedial action to stop uncontrolled gas leakage from the country's biggest gas field Titas to avert a blow-out or similar disaster, a competent source said.In their primary study into the gas leakage spreading over an area of about 1,000 acres of land in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila, the experts expressed their belief that the gas leakage originated from the main Titas gas field reservoir near location number three, an area in the Sadar upazila.The study submitted on Sunday to Petrobangla noted that it seemed the leaked gas was flowing through a well path and ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday asked the government to place the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 by tomorrow to complete the legal process of separation of the judiciary from the executive. The order came after Attorney General Fida M Kamal sought time for submitting the gazette book on the amended CrPC. The apex court on February 1 ordered the government to come up with an amended CrPC within February 12.The attorney general told the court that the president has already promulgated the ordinance and it was in the press for printing. He said it would be placed before ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007Joint forces and mobile courts yesterday seized huge quantities of fake engine oil from four factories all over the country. In the capital, a mobile court raided Khokoner Mobil Ghar in Usabarir Basti in Postagola and seized more than 90 drums of fake engine oil made of burnt and contaminated lubricants along with unusable oils collected from different workshops.The court led by magistrate Rokon-ud-Dowla issued warrants against owner of the factory Isaq Mia Khokon and owner of the slum Abdul Wahab for allowing such a business.The court then raided another engine oil factory in Samad Mobil Ghar at Razabari ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007The government is likely to probe the allegations of illegal withdrawal of cash incentives from the national exchequer by some garment owners and exporters.Finance Adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam, in reply to reporters after his meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) at his office yesterday, said the government will look into such allegations.The interim administration is not aware of illegal withdrawal of cash incentives by any members of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). "But we will look into the matter when allegation arises," he said.Asked how long this incentive scheme will continue, ...
(read more) Tuesday, February 13th, 2007European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Stefan Frowein yesterday said the international community supports the government's crackdown on corrupt politicians, terming the recent arrests the "right thing" to do."We, the international community, are very much for the fight against corruption. I think this government is doing the right thing. They are doing what they have to do," said Frowein to reporters when asked for his thoughts on the crackdown on corrupt politicians.Stressing that the holding of free, fair and credible elections is the first and most important goal of the caretaker government, Frowein said, "We are asking for a timetable, ...
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