Archive for March 16th, 2008
Sunday, March 16th, 2008The real income of people working in the agriculture, manufacturing and construction sectors decreased by 2-5 percent last year, a recent study conducted by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) revealed.People belonging to the low and middle income groups told The Daily Star that they have been forced to cut budgets for other purposes as a major chunk of their daily or monthly income is spent for purchasing food.After such expenditure, little is left for saving, they said.Former adviser to the caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan said the real situation is even worse than the study's findings since the income ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008The housing and public works ministry is at loggerheads with the Parliament Secretariat over the control of the Nam apartments and realising their increased rent from resident former lawmakers.The Parliament Secretariat has not yet responded to the several letters the ministry has sent since December last year asking it to cancel the allotments first and then issue fresh ones so that the increased rents could be realised.The secretariat, which formed a committee that recommended increasing the rents for the Nam flats in December, said the ministry does not have the authority to impose higher rent on the former MPs."MPs of ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008The government has yet to respond to the Election Commission's (EC) call for it to decide by early March whether the state of emergency would be lifted or relaxed for city corporation polls in April.Lifting of the restrictions on indoor politics across the country has not been spelled out either.The commission wanted the government to lift the countrywide curbs on indoor politics by the end of March to let the political parties resume their activities and register with the commission.Meeting the chief adviser on February 4, it asked the military-backed caretaker administration to decide by early March if the ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008The Daily Star honoured in an award ceremony yesterday, the nation's 911 highest achieving 'O' and 'A' level students, including 55 who ranked among the world's top scorers in their subjects.Attended by teachers, friends, families and specially invited guests in National Indoor Stadium in Mirpur of the capital, the ceremony awarded the outstanding students with medals and certificates of excellence amid fanfare and dance performances by several schools.The 9th Annual Daily Star Awards went to 640 O level students who achieved six or more As in two consecutive sittings in exams, and to 243 A level students who attained a ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008Prices of rice, pulses, chicken, egg and fish are increasing every day in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country for a week now, leaving people on middle and low incomes in further distress.The prices of other essentials, however, remained stable or came down slightly yesterday after witnessing a sharp rise last week.Meantime, importing rice from India has run into snags again as customs officials at Petrapole land port in India are not allowing rice consignments into Bangladesh as they are still waiting for directives from Kolkata Customs House even though the Indian commerce ministry gave the green light to exporting ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said if people of all walks of life become aware of the negative impact of corruption, it would help check corruption in the society.He was speaking before a big anti-corruption rally in the port city organised by Corruption Prevention Committee (CPC) of Chittagong.Students from more than 40 schools and colleges, and representatives from non- government organisations (NGOs), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), shop owners' associations, ward commissioners, and socio-cultural organisations participated in the procession.They carried banner, festoons and placards inscribed with anti-corruption slogans like 'We want a ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008The 11th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) on Friday adopted Dakar Declaration pledging to preserve world peace and security, face the challenges of the Muslim Ummah and ensure development of the member states.“The leaders of the Muslim countries hereby renew their pledge to preserve world peace and security… and thus to fully adhere to the United Nations' key mission in this regard as well as international legality as a rule for all without any political double standards,” said the declaration adopted on the concluding day of the two-day summit.The summit leaders reaffirmed the need for complying with ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said the commission (EC) is considering announcement of a tentative date for national elections after June as the final draft of voter list will be in their hands by then.“The date will be announced after June. We'll try and see if something can be done at that time,” the CEC told reporters as he was asked when the EC would announce the date for holding the stalled polls.The final draft of voter list will be completed by the end of June, and at that time the EC will see whether a date ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008The caretaker government is planning to reform the fertiliser distribution system to ensure its smooth supply.Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said this while speaking at the special edition of BBC Bangladesh Sanglap titled "Rural Economy" held at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital."Fertiliser marketing will be made open so that farmers can purchase their required fertiliser directly from the market," said the adviser.Zillur, also the education adviser, said the government would take initiatives to ensure that the subsidies given in fertiliser directly reach the target producers, especially small and poor cultivators.President of Bangladesh Economic ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008Sparkling eyes spoke of their dream of winning the world, as relentless applause for extraordinary achievements of around a thousand of 'O' and 'A' level students reverberated through the hall yesterday, followed by music and dance performances in Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in the capital.Recognised by The Daily Star that honoured the students at its 9th annual award presentation ceremony, the teachers and parents, who work behind the scenes for the achievements of their students and children, expressed their happiness while renewing their vow to do more for the nation builders of tomorrow."I want to invent modern medicines… and ...
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