Bangladesh News

Duty withdrawn on capital machinery for export plants

Friday, June 29th, 2007President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday approved the budget for fiscal year 2007-08 without imposing the duties proposed on computer accessories, mobile phone sets, and export-oriented capital machinery."Most of the changes relate to customs duties. There are a few changes regarding VAT and income tax," Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam said. He declined to elaborate on the changes but said he would explain those at a press conference Saturday.Accompanied by Finance Secretary Mohammad Tareq and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Badiur Rahman, he went to the Bangabhaban yesterday afternoon for the president's nod to the financial plan.Now that no parliament is ... (read more)

Govt to sue some former ministers, MPs for fraud

Friday, June 29th, 2007The military-backed caretaker government is going to sue several former ministers and lawmakers for cheating the government institutions to make staggering fortunes. The move came hot on the heels of the first ever anti-graft crackdown against institutionalised corruption in government agencies, starting with the decades old Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk).Tasked with massive anti-corruption drive against high profile corruption suspects since February, the national taskforces have already gathered evidence against at least eight ex-lawmakers of the BNP for obtaining elusive plots from the Rajuk by providing fake declarations."We are going to file cases under the Section 420 against the ... (read more)

Dhaka canals exist only in documents

Friday, June 29th, 2007All the open natural canals in the capital's southern part from the Buriganga to Bangla Motor area have disappeared for the "development" of the city over the years although many of them still exist in government records.According to the records, in the area there are at least eight canals--Dholai canal, Narinda canal, Segunbagicha canal, Arambagh canal, Gopibagh canal, Paribagh canal, Kathalbagan canal and Dhanmondi canal. But these canals now exist only in the memory of elderly city dwellers.The Water and Sewerage Authorities (Wasa) and the Dhaka City Corporation have robbed these canals for constructing roads and box culverts in the ... (read more)

Tigers slumped

Friday, June 29th, 2007After fighting boldly on the previous day, Bangladesh lost their last five wickets in less than half an hour on the fourth morning to suffer their biggest defeat against Sri Lanka -- by an innings and 234 runs -- in the first Test of the three-match series at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground yesterday.Left-arm pacer Lasith Malinga and man-of-the-match Muttiah Muralidaran took only 4.4 overs to wrap up Bangladesh's second innings, which collapsed at 254.Sri Lanka continued their domination over the Tigers by winning all eight Tests by big margins including five innings victories.Having won nine out of their ... (read more)

Sheikh Selim gets parole as mother dies

Friday, June 29th, 2007Asia Khatun, mother of detained Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, died of old age complications at ZH Shikdar Medical College Hospital in the capital yesterday. She was 89. Following the death of Asia, elder sister of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the caretaker government released Selim on parole in the evening as family members submitted a petition seeking his bail so that he could attend his mother's janaza and burial.After Asia's death at about 12:40pm, her nephew Awami League President Sheikh Hasina rushed to Selim's Banani residence where the deceased's body was taken.A numbers of AL leaders ... (read more)

Khaleda yet to receive copy of BNP reforms

Friday, June 29th, 2007BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is greatly annoyed with the party's reformists, is yet to receive the copy of the 15-point reform proposal that apparently aimed to dislodge her, as the cantonment authorities did not allow the person who carrying the document to her. BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan along with a good number of top ranking party leaders on June 25 announced the reform proposal for the party and over 100 ex-lawmakers of the party supported Bhuiyan's move.A highly placed source close to Khaleda Zia told The Daily Star yesterday that she is very angry with the ... (read more)

EC ready to sit with parties to talk reform

Friday, June 29th, 2007Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) is ready to talk with the political parties about the draft proposals for electoral reforms despite the ban on indoor politics.Speaking to reporters at his office, he said the commission will invite the political parties as soon as the ban goes.Meanwhile, Jatiya Party (Nilu) Chairman Shawkat Hossain Nilu and his colleagues met the election commissioners yesterday afternoon.It was for the first time that any political party has a talk with EC about the proposals for changes in the electoral laws.Earlier on Wednesday, Election Commissioner Brig Gen ... (read more)