Bangladesh News

Land grabbers gobbling up Bhawal forest

Saturday, August 11th, 2007Bhawal forest, one of the prominent sal forests in the country, is slowly turning into an industrial and recreational zone due to encroachment on forestlands through tampering of land records and forging of other land documents. Slowly the forest, where once different wildlife including tigers, deer, bears and peafowls used to roam, is becoming occupied by different industries, picnic spots, recreation centres and auto repair workshops, already gobbling up one sixth of the forest.Local people, and industrialists and politically influential people from the capital got hold of more than 10,000 acres of forestland by the Dhaka-Mymensing highway in the ... (read more)

Onslaught of diarrhoea, pneumonia continues

Saturday, August 11th, 2007The onslaught of water-borne diseases in the capital continues with around a thousand patients checking every day into the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) alone. The number is around 500 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).A total of 840 people with cases of diarrhoea and pneumonia were admitted to the ICDDR, B in 20 hours ending at 8:00pm yesterday. Some 900 were admitted in the previous 24 hours, said Shahadat Hossain of the health research centre located at Mohakhali.According to the Directorate General of Health control room, 4,146 people contracted diarrhoea across the country in ... (read more)

Donors concerned at lack of progress

Saturday, August 11th, 2007The international community that has all along been supporting the caretaker government may reconsider its stance if there is no tangible progress in the next few months towards holding the long-stalled election as per the roadmap.Diplomats in Dhaka said they felt happy when the Election Commission (EC) unveiled the roadmap to the ninth parliamentary polls, but they are now doubtful if it would be possible to hold the election by the end of 2008.The reason for their concern is the interim administration's not being able to carry out the political and electoral reforms that are an imperative for a ... (read more)

One week’s pay too scanty to appease Ctg jute workers

Saturday, August 11th, 2007The authorities' arrangement to pay one week's wage out of the dues for eleven weeks has failed to lessen frustration of the workers of Amin Jute Mills where a series of clashes with police left one killed and over 80 injured on Thursday.Many of the depressed workers of the jute mill, the largest in the country after the closure of Adamjee Jute Mills, are now trying to go into voluntary retirement offered by the authorities earlier.At an emergency meeting after Thursday's bloody incident, the mill authorities arranged payment of one week's wage to the workers.But the workers, living in ... (read more)

‘Take independent policy to revive jute sector’

Saturday, August 11th, 2007Urging a more practical jute policy, speakers at a roundtable yesterday came down heavily on the government for its jute sector policy, terming it the "worst-ever oppressor" of jute mill workers.They urged the government to adopt a labour-friendly and independent jute policy in order to revive the jute sector and protect labourers. They demanded that the government formulate a more practical jute policy ignoring donors' suggestions.The roundtable discussion on "Formulation of a practical jute policy", decided to form an alliance between all concerned with the jute sector to'protect the sector as well as to protect interest of the workers of ... (read more)

Tk 65cr plan to help flood-hit farmers

Saturday, August 11th, 2007The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a Tk 65 crore programme to rehabilitate six to seven lakh flood-devastated farmers by providing them seeds and fertiliser free of cost, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser CS Karim yesterday said."We have already started preparing seedbeds on 500 acres of land under a Tk 1.40 crore programme so that we can provide the farmers with aman seedlings by September 15," he said while speaking at a press briefing at the conference room of Press Information Department (PID).According the latest statistics of the agriculture ministry, around 27 percent of crops and vegetables on 7,63,167 hectares ... (read more)

Khaleda wants to visit flood-hit areas at ‘her own risk’

Saturday, August 11th, 2007Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia wants to visit flood affected areas to join the relief operation at her own risk, if the government continues to be reluctant to allow her on security grounds. "The government should not bar Khaleda Zia from visiting flood affected areas as party leaders and activists will ensure her security if the government fails to do so," BNP Chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah told reporters yesterday during a news briefing in his Mohakhali residence in the capital.He said BNP will start its relief operation from today under his supervision ... (read more)