Archive for June 16th, 2007
Saturday, June 16th, 2007Hill cutting in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari continues unabated despite mudslides every so often during the monsoon in a chilling reminder of the disastrous consequences that it could leave.Forest office sources said the senseless act disregarding the government prohibition poses serious threat to over three lakh human lives, ecology and biodiversity of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The department of environment banned levelling hills in 2005.Mudslides triggered by monsoons killed at least two people and injured 20 others at sadar and Lama upazilas of Bandarban district in the last three days. Besides, mudflows have caused extensive damage to many houses ...
(read more) Saturday, June 16th, 2007Allowing indoor politics seems uncertain unless political future of the two top leaders -- BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina -- is settled. Sources said policymakers of the caretaker government and pro-reform senior leaders of both the BNP and AL believe that meaningful reforms in the parties are not possible keeping the two leaders at the helm.And the government appears unwilling to lift the ban on indoor politics until there is an atmosphere for such reforms.In the prevailing situation, the Election Commission's (EC) move for massive electoral reforms including reforms in political parties to ...
(read more) Saturday, June 16th, 2007The army-backed caretaker government yesterday did not let Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina leave the country for the USA. The former prime minister termed the government move "inhuman" and a "mistake"."I wanted to go to the US to assist my pregnant daughter. But the government did not allow me to go...This is undemocratic and absolutely inhuman. I think good sense will prevail soon upon the government," Hasina said in her immediate reaction.However, expressing her firm desirer to go to the US any day, she said, "I must go to the US to assist my daughter."Sources said when contacted on ...
(read more) Saturday, June 16th, 2007Differences between BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other party leaders over the much-talked-about intra-party reforms have now turned into a serious conflict, sources said. Khaleda is worried over the activities of party leaders working for reforms while the reformists expect her to quit the top party post as, they think, she has failed to run the party in an acceptable manner. They might make a formal announcement on reforms soon.Party insiders said Khaleda also wants some reforms in the party but refuses to leave the post of chairperson under pressure. But pro-reform leaders believe she will rehabilitate corrupt party ...
(read more) Saturday, June 16th, 2007English medium students of secondary level under the government education boards are facing problems as they are yet to get this year's English version textbooks even after passing of five and a half months of the current academic year.Students of classes six to ten have to buy photocopies of old English version textbooks at much higher prices while most of the photocopied books are obscure and with missing chapters, teachers said.NCTB officials, however, said printing process of around 10 lakh books of 58 subjects for classes six to ten is now going on and the printing and binding of ...
(read more) Saturday, June 16th, 2007Outgoing US Ambassador in Dhaka Patricia A Butenis said on Thursday that she would like to see Bangladeshi democracy return to its "full fold" at the earliest, otherwise the legitimacy and legacy of the government will be jeopardised.In a parting interview, Butenis reiterated her support for the caretaker government but said she will continue to speak out against human rights violations and that the ban on politics should be lifted to allow political parties to engage in electoral reforms.Recounting her experience during the political turmoil leading up to the declaration of state of emergency on January 11, Butenis said she ...
(read more) Saturday, June 16th, 2007Dakkhin Khan police arrested Ashiyan City owner Nazrul Islam, his two employees and a Rab informant on Thursday night in the city on charges of getting a man arrested with a planted firearm.A Dhaka court yesterday remanded Nazrul Islam and three others for two days after police produced them before it with a prayer for seven days' remand for each in an arms case.The three other arrestees are Nazrul's bodyguard Abdur Rahman, Ashiyan City administrative officer Abdul Hannan and the Rab informant Manik.Sub-Inspector Ali Hossain, investigation officer (IO) of the case, said Rab members caught Mujibur Rahman of Holan village ...
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