Archive for March 30th, 2008
Sunday, March 30th, 2008Due to massive project cost escalation and low coal production, Barapukuria coal mine has incurred a loss of Tk 128 crore since it started production two years back, according to a Petrobangla source.The mine will continue to incur losses for around six years even if it maintains a healthy coal production rate and the government maintains a coal sales rate of $70 per tonne.According to the mining company's report, it incurred a loss of Tk 52 crore in fiscal 2005-06 and Tk 77 crore in 2006-07."But it will not incur losses forever," said the source. "According to a proposal, ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008The Truth and Accountability Commission will have the power to hold closed-door hearings on corruption or corrupt practices in certain cases, although there will be provision of public hearings.The draft of the proposed law, "Voluntary Disclosure Ordinance, 2008" says the Commission may hold such hearings if there is a "likelihood" that an open hearing will result in harming the person concerned.The Commission may also hold such a hearing on appeal of the person who has made the voluntary disclosure before it.Though someone taking the advantage of voluntary disclosure will not have to serve in jail, they will be awarded up ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008India increased minimum price for export of non-basmati rice to $1,000 per tonne from $650 but food ministry officials believe this move would not have any major impact on Bangladesh.Meanwhile, the Indian team negotiating rice price with Bangladesh officials left for India yesterday, finally offering the export price of per tonne of rice at $430 at government level.The Indian team also asked the Bangladesh authorities to inform the Indian side about their decision on import of four lakh tonnes of rice from India by this month.An Indian commerce ministry notification signed by its additional secretary IK Gujral fixed the new ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008The under construction 37-storey City Centre at Motijheel has developed cracks in its ground floor walls, prompting police yesterday to evacuate people who live or work in the building and the adjacent ones.The cracks in a front sidewall were first noticed about one and a half months ago. Suddenly, they started widening yesterday afternoon, causing panic in the commercial hub. Besides, a side wall has curved in precariously, security guards and construction workers told The Daily Star.Later in the afternoon, police marked the site with yellow tape and closed off the road between Shapla Chattar (roundabout) and Dainik Bangla ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008The government will supply 15 percent of the country's requirement of rice next month through various safety net programmes amid continued price escalation.Food Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman yesterday told The Daily Star that the government would inject around 2.8 lakh tonnes of rice into the market through these programmes.According to Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPM) statistics, the annual demand for rice in the country is 2.55 crore tonnes with the monthly requirement being 21.25 lakh tonnes.The overall food situation and distribution programme were reviewed at a high level meeting yesterday at the food ministry with the food secretary in ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the objective of the electoral reforms undertaken by his caretaker government is to curb undue influence of money-muscle and misuse of authority in the forthcoming election.He told Asian media personalities that primary goal of the caretaker government is to hold a free, fair, transparent and credible election by the end of 2008.Fakhruddin said his government believes in freedom of press, as the press builds the bridge between the people and the government.The head of the caretaker government made the remarks while exchanging views with a delegation of Asia News Network (ANN) at the ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008The proposed Right to Information (RTI) Act must protect government whistle blowers and government officials must change their mindset accommodating the new law in their daily activities in order to make it effective, said India's Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Wajahat Habibullah.In an interview with The Daily Star, Habibullah said the government must put in place all institutional mechanisms before the RTI takes effect and raise public awareness to have an effective law from the start.He said there are no clauses in the Indian RTI to protect government whistle blowers and "we have been using our own influence". "Your law can ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008Government Railway Police (GRP) yesterday arrested five people in connection with the theft of 3,510 metal clips of train lines in the capital Friday and one of them admitted to police his involvement in the act.Railway officials and investigators suspect involvement of low-level serving and retired railway staffers in the theft which put at least 17 trains at risk of serious accidents."It would not have been possible to steal such a large number of metal clips of around 1.5 kilometres of track without their [current and retired railway workers] involvement," said a top railway official seeking anonymity.Police investigators ...
(read more) Sunday, March 30th, 2008Bangladesh Awami League (AL) will stage a daylong mass hunger strike across the country next month to press for its five-point demand that includes announcement of election schedule and release of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.The decision came from a daylong meeting of Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) held at the party's Dhanmondi office with Acting President Zillur Rahman in the chair.The three other demands are: Bringing down high prices of essentials, trial of war criminals, and improving the law and order.Briefing reporters after the meeting, Acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam declared the mass hunger strike, saying ...
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