Archive for March 21st, 2007
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007Proceedings in the historic Bangabandhu Murder Case may resume any time after about six long years, as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) now has enough judges eligible to hear the case. The SC requirement of three judges to form a bench could be met with High Court (HC) Judge M Hassan Ameen's elevation to the Appellate Division yesterday.Former special public prosecutor of the case Anisul Haque, whose appointment was cancelled after the legal procedure froze, yesterday said currently, there seems to be no legal roadblocks."It only needs an initiative to have the case back on the ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007Visiting Commonwealth Secretary General Donald C Mckinnon yesterday said the opportunity has come for the caretaker government to carry out fundamental and institutional reforms in the electoral process. The C'wealth executive chief made the remark when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed at his office.The chief adviser informed the secretary general that reforms are being carried out for holding a free, fair and credible election so honest and competent persons can participate in the election.About the next general election, the chief adviser said: "The Election Commission has been reconstituted and is already functioning to hold ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007The country's booming housing sector has hit a huge snag as flat and land plot sales plummeted following the government's move to collect information about the buyers' sources of income.The sales of flats and plots dropped by 50 percent at the latest fair of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) compared to the last fair in 2005, Tanveerul Haque Probal, REHAB general secretary, yesterday said."Fear and uneasiness have affected potential buyers of apartments and flats because of the move initiated by different government agencies as part of the ongoing anti-corruption drive," Probal said at a press conference organised ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007Giant-killers Bangladesh are counting on their teenagers to deliver yet again when they clash with experienced Sri Lanka in their second World Cup match here on Wednesday.Teenagers Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim played key roles in Bangladesh's shock five-wicket victory over 1983 champions India in the previous game here on Saturday, slamming impressive half-centuries.Just one win was enough to raise Bangladesh's hopes of qualifying for the next Super Eight stage from Group B. In their last game, they will take on first-timers Bermuda who lost to Sri Lanka by 243 runs in their first match.Sri Lanka have ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007The premier non-governmental research organisation, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has identified five major areas to strengthen agriculture cooperation among the South Asian countries. Although the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) is committed to cooperation in agricultural development, there has been a little progress, CPD observed.Agricultural development strategies should be implemented through public, private, and NGO participation rather than through public agencies only, it suggested.The identified areas of cooperation are, agricultural research and development, technology exchange, capacity building, harmonisation of standards policies and laws, and participation in World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations on agriculture.The areas ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007A devastating forest fire swept through Chandpai range near Nangli Forest Office in the Sundarbans destroying trees and animal habitat in almost 250 acres of the jungle on Monday. The fire started around 4:00pm Monday and was eventually brought under control around 11:30pm with the help of forest guards and local people.The fire-affected area is under the east wing of Sundarbans Forest Division of Dakop upazila in Bagerhat district.The origin of the fire could not be known but sources in the forest division said the fire could have started from a small fire which bawalis (honey collectors) make to ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain why the detention of BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman should not be declared illegal and without lawful authority.After hearing a criminal miscellaneous petition filed by his wife Dr Jubaida Rahman challenging the legality of the detention of her husband, a division bench comprising Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah and Justice Mohammad Emdadul Haque issued the rule, which is returnable within 10 days.The law enforcers arrested Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, from her cantonment residence on March 8. He was produced ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007A suspected military commander of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned Islamist outfit, Mostafizur Rahman Shahin, disclosed today that about 5,000 paid cadres are still active across the country.Shahin made the confession during interrogation under a five-day remand.Earlier on Thursday, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Shahin at his home in Pabna.During the interrogation, he also revealed that the JMB cadres are paid monthly remuneration, police sources said.Shahin was quoted to have told the interrogators that the money for them comes from foreign countries, including the USA and Saudi Arabia, sent by some Bangladeshi expatriates.He was today produced ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007The indigenous community of Madhupur continued their agitation yesterday demanding investigation of the questionable death of one of their leaders allegedly in the custody of the joint forces.The deceased leader Chalesh Risil Sangma was buried at his village Maguntinagar yesterday. His wife Sandha Simsang submitted a petition to Madhupur police station in the morning holding some local forest department officials and an officer of the joint forces responsible for the death of her husband.Hundreds of indigenous people including women and children crowded Chalesh's house yesterday wearing black ribbons.Local indigenous leaders told The Daily Star that black flags will be hoisted ...
(read more) Wednesday, March 21st, 2007New Zealand recovered from the first-over loss of Lou Vincent to take the match against outsiders Kenya by the scruff of the neck in St Lucia yesterday.Captain Stephen Fleming (60) and Ross Taylor (85) bounced back from the failures against England with an array of boundaries, as the Kenyan bowlers were put under pressure, until Fleming gifted his wicket with a run out.At the end of 41st over, the Kiwis were 249 for three with Scott Styris batting on 47 and Craig McMillan keeping him company with 30.Kenya made the perfect start after deciding to bowl as Vincent's poor beginning ...
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