Archive for September 29th, 2007
Saturday, September 29th, 2007Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed has assured the United Nations of holding a free, fair and meaningful election in Bangladesh by the end of next year."We've pledged to put Bangladesh on a higher trajectory of good governance, rule of law and development," he told the plenary meeting of the 62nd UN General Assembly here Thursday afternoon.Fakhruddin said the Election Commission (EC) has announced a timeline for holding the next parliamentary election by the end of 2008."Our administration is committed to ensuring that this timeframe is achieved," he said, adding: "We are determined to hold a free, fair and meaningful elections ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed has sought the international community's support for Bangladesh to recover the ill-gotten gains from corruption remaining abroad."Democracy itself has been the victim of this corrupt culture. Politicians, businessmen and even civil servants are often the perpetrators, secured by their immunity within the system. It is imperative that we free the country from corruption," he said while delivering a lecture at Asia Society on Thursday.Fakhruddin who is here to attend to the UN General Assembly session said corruption has seriously constrained Bangladesh's true economic growth potential, and its ill effects have corroded vital public institutions.The ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007Former chief adviser to a caretaker government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman yesterday said an elected government with a greater participation of the people should formulate the right to information act.While, Law Commission Member Dr Enamul Hoque, along with other academics and rights activists, rather preferred that the law is enacted as soon as possible creating a legal basis for the people to seek information.The observations came from a discussion on 'citizen charter and right to information' organised by Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) in the LGED auditorium in the capital, in association with Manusher Jonno, Article 19, and the World Bank ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007 After establishing themselves as locals in Naikkhangchhari, illegal Rohingya people are now setting up villages in the district town and sadar, Lama and Alikadam upazilas as administration remains oblivious of their presence.Local people alleged that due to insufficient administrative initiative to check employment of illegal foreigners, the size of Rohingya inhabitation has grown bigger day by day.Lack of administrative monitoring and easy employment have encouraged Rohingya settlement in the area. They are now infiltrating and living around the district and upazila headquarters, municipality areas, different markets and riversides, the locals said.They told The Daily Star that not less ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007Awami League (AL) acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday said a movement might be launched jointly with the arch-rival BNP, but for that to happen there must be some common ground between the two parties.He made the observations in response to BNP leader Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah's recent remarks favouring a united campaign for release of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, and "for the sake of democracy".Zillur was talking to reporters at AL President Hasina's Sudha Sadan residence. He went there to meet the former premier's husband Dr Wajed Miah on the occasion of Hasina's 61st birthday.AL might unite in ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah yesterday said if allegations against the party leaders on the list of corrupt suspects are proved in the courts, the BNP will take action against them.Hannan, an adviser to detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said he thought that a good number of the 'so-called reformist leaders' would figure in the latest list of graft suspects.Talking to the reporters at his Mohakhali residence, he said, "The government has unveiled the list according to its promise, but it should have included more names of the self-styled pro-reform leaders."He added that actions should be taken ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007Malpractices by Malaysian outsourcing companies and absence of proper action by both Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur have led to a situation in which thousands of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia are leading a miserable life, returnee workers said.Unemployed or underpaid, half-fed or even unfed at times, thousands of workers from Bangladesh who paid around Tk 2.5 lakh each for going to Malaysia, once a dreamland for them, are now caught in a dilemma whether to come back home or continue to suffer there.Eleven such victims, who returned home on September 25 following six months of unemployment and repression by a Malaysian ...
(read more) Saturday, September 29th, 2007Law Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday said the government will continue the drive against corrupt businessmen, mainly the big ones, besides giving a special attention to the business community in the interest of the economy."The government is trying to exempt businessmen from the drive to give a boost to the economy, but it'll have to face criticism if it exempts those who committed large-scale corruption," he told reporters following an iftar party hosted by FBCCI at Sonargaon Hotel.The adviser was responding to a question whether the government is pursuing a double standard by announcing not to harass businessmen on one ...
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