Archive for March 16th, 2007
Friday, March 16th, 2007AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, condemned to death for killing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family, was arrested in the United States Tuesday, report agencies.He left the country soon after Awami League (AL) came to power in 1996. He was tried in absentia and two years later, along with some other ex-army personnel, was convicted of assassination of the country's founding father.Led by Sheikh Hasina, one of Bangabandhu's two surviving daughters, the then government took measures for extradition of the killers, but could not finish the job during its tenure. The process to bring them back froze after ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007Ten private satellite television channels, all owned or backed by leading BNP figures including former ministers, received their licences at lightning speed during the last BNP-led government's rule, taking advantage of weak government regulations.The events were in marked contrast to the long and arduous procedure applicants such as Channel i and Ekushey Television (ETV) had to undergo before the BNP-led coalition came to power.Sources said buyers are now scrambling to purchase these potentially highly profitable channels that were opened during the last BNP-led coalition government, while at least another 80 applications for TV licences are languishing at the information ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007An inter-ministerial meeting yesterday finalised a proposal defining hoarding and setting storing time for nine essential goods at the levels of import, wholesale and retailing.The government will issue administrative orders by March 20 in this regard, meeting sources said.The meeting held at the commerce ministry was chaired by Additional Commerce Secretary Golam Mostakim and attended by representatives of home, law and food ministries, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and other trading agencies.The essentials for which the storing time is set, are -- paddy, rice, wheat, lentil, sugar, edible oil, onion, milk powder and baby ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the AL, if voted to power, would legitimise the activities of the present caretaker government as it has earned the confidence and appreciation of the people. She said the government should hold the polls while this confidence and respect is there.Hasina made these remarks while replying to reporters' queries at Zia International Airport before leaving for the United States early yesterday.UNB adds: Sheikh Hasina said it would be good for the caretaker government and the country if Parliamentary election was held as early as possible to save democracy."Delaying election in a ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called for intensifying Saarc efforts to promote the South Asia region as a common tourist hub."South Asia has a rich history... it has been a melting pot of diverse cultures since time immemorial. We are home to all of the world's great religions... Saarc should increase its efforts to promote the region as a common tourist destination," he said while opening the Saarc Car Rally-2007.The chief adviser said the car rally is taking place at an important juncture of our progress towards deeper regional integration.The last Saarc summit in Dhaka had resolved that the ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007The government yesterday asked seven private television channels to immediately stop broadcasting for their alleged faulty inception.An official order said the TV channels were airing their programme without permission and no objection certificate from the Ministry of Information.The channels are STV US, Channel S, Rupashi Bangla, Falguni Music, TV-5, Bijoy TV and My TV.Operation of any television channel comes under the broadcasting policy laid down in the Rules of Business 1996, the order said.As per schedule-1 of the Rules of Business 1996, the policy is under the authority of the Ministry of Information."So, it is compulsory to take permission from ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007Defence lawyers of detained BNP Senior Secretary General Tarique Rahman yesterday sought bail from a Dhaka court in connection with the general diary (GD) filed with Kafrul Police Station for his alleged involvement with corruption.Meantime, Tarique was given a one-month detention order on Wednesday as per direction of the home ministry to prevent him from indulging in corruption and other activities, sources said.Judge Momin Ullah of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court fixed April 4 for hearing on the issue with lower court record.The bail petition was filed with the higher court against rejection order of the lower court on ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will launch a survey on March 29 to gather financial information about the Dhaka city dwellers, seeking to bring more people under the tax net.It has already formed eight teams for the job. Each team will have three tax inspectors.Similar surveys will be carried out down to the thana-level across the country. In the first phase, the teams will go from door to door in the capital and collect information about a person's income, assets and lifestyle in a prescribed form.Business entities in the alleyways will also be surveyed.Those who already have ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will file cases against six top corruption suspects on Sunday, ACC Commissioner Abul Hassan Manzoor Mannan said in a press briefing yesterday.The ACC commissioner, however, declined to go public with the names at the moment."I cannot disclose the names as another commissioner is currently reviewing the draft First Information Reports (FIRs) that would be submitted to the police stations," he noted.Mannan, however, described the nature of the allegations against the six. "We found inconsistencies between their wealth statements and their identified sources of income," he said.The wealth statements submitted by them indicate that they ...
(read more) Friday, March 16th, 2007The highly controversial 320 upazila/thana election officers, appointed in 2005 through the Public Service Commission (PSC), will have to appear in an examination next month to prove their ability to do the job. "We have formally asked the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) under the University of Dhaka to prepare questions and hold the examination," Election Commission (EC) Secretary Humayun Kabir told reporters yesterday.The EC has decided to examine efficiency of the election officers as their appointment was mired in controversy, the secretary said. "The commission will decide the fate of those who will not qualify in the examination." ...
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