Archive for May 7th, 2008
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and six others of receiving and offering bribe over the murder of a Bashundhara Group director.ACC Deputy Assistant Director Rupak Kumar Saha, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court in Dhaka, showing 28 people as prosecution witnesses.On receipt, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Rabbani sent the case dossier to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court for taking the charges into cognisance and begin ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Agitated workers of three garment factories yesterday went on the rampage and vandalised over 50 vehicles in Kalurghat BSCIC Industrial Area demanding an increase in their allowances.Hundreds of workers of Orchid Sweater Ltd, Global Specialised Garments Ltd (unit-1) and Savar Sweater Ltd, all conglomerates of Azim Group, took to the street for an increase in their share of piece-rate on each garment product and breakfast allowance.Witnesses said the unruly workers vandalised buses, trucks, private cars, microbuses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, mugged commuters, looted a sweetmeat and a fruit shops, and damaged windowpanes of the oven division office of Azim Group.The witnesses said ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008The revised budget of the current fiscal is likely to be increased to Tk 93,610 crore from Tk 87,137 crore due mainly to additional expenditure in relief work, interest payments and subsidies in fertiliser and petroleum products.Sources say the Finance Division has already sent accounts of revised allocation of non-development budget to different ministries. With the revised allocation, the gross expenditure of non-development budget will be increased by Tk 16,906 crore.On the other hand, the government has already reduced the development budget to Tk 22,500 crore from Tk 26,000 crore. Slow pace of development projects under the Annual Development Programme ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008The Election Commission (EC) yesterday informed the High Court (HC) through an affidavit that the much-awaited parliamentary election will be held by December this year, but it did not specify any date for the poll."In accordance with the roadmap, and in order to hold a free, fair and acceptable election within December 2008, the Election Commission will announce the date for the election in due course," the EC told the HC through an affidavit replying to a query of the court.The HC on April 30 asked the commission to inform the court through an affidavit when it will have the ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008The government yesterday banned export of all but aromatic varieties of rice for six months, till November 7.Commerce ministry in an SRO (statutory regulatory order) signed by Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, a deputy secretary, yesterday said the ban will be effective from today (Wednesday).This decision puts Bangladesh in the group countries that enforced a ban on rice export to restrain the price of the grain at home. Thailand, the largest rice exporter, Vietnam, India and Brazil already preceded Bangladesh in banning the export."The move will help ensure food security and serve the country's interest," a senior commerce ministry official said asking ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Under pressure from pre-qualified foreign power companies bidding for Bibiyana power project, the power ministry is considering some measures to make the project friendlier to them.The measures include the government giving 'partial risk guarantee' for the 450MW power project the same way it did in the past for Haripur and Meghnaghat power projects, and waving the bidders' obligation to offload 30 percent of the project's shares on the share market.Earlier last month, the Power Cell extended the deadline for submitting bids for Bibiyana 450 MW power project by a month, from June 11 to July 15, under pressure from two ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008The falling wholesale prices of rice over the last couple of weeks are yet to make any considerable impact on its retail prices.Meanwhile, crowds at fair price outlets of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in the capital are growing day-by-day following the closure of open market sale (OMS) programme of food directorate on April 30.Col Mujibul Haq, BDR commander in Dhaka, said they are selling about 650-700 tonnes of rice everyday at 75 outlets in the capital.The wholesale prices of fine rice including Miniket, BR-28 and Parija that reached the market recently came down by Tk 170-200 per maund in the ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Criminals stabbed two employees of a plastic raw material shop and snatched Tk 24.50 lakh at Lalbagh of Old Dhaka yesterday.Witnesses said a gang of six on two motorbikes ambushed four employees of Bakir Enterprise around 11:00am on Urdu Road slope just 50 yards away from Lalbagh Police Station. They employees were going to a bank on foot to deposit the money.General Manager of Bakir Enterprise Mohammad Alauddin said the muggers armed with pistols and machetes first tried to take away the money from their employee Giasuddin who had the money inside a bag.“As Giasuddin and another employee ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008The government is now looking for ways to hold talks with professional groups and civil society organisations on key national issues in parallel with formal dialogues with political parties.The quartet of advisers that coordinated the April 7-28 pre-dialogue talks had a meeting yesterday with eminent economist and former adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud at Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader's office to work out ways for such talks."Dialogue with different groups of citizens is essential. We are now discussing with experts to find ways for dialogue with the civil society," Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters after the meeting at Ghulam Quader's ...
(read more) Wednesday, May 7th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed called on President Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday and apprised him of several matters including the country's food situation and preparations for holding the general election.The president was also informed about the proposed dialogue with the political parties and various aspects of the CA's planned address to the nation, expected to be aired by the end of the second week of this month.Briefing reporters after the meeting, President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader said the chief adviser apprised the president of the present food-grain stock and Boro paddy production in the country.“The chief adviser briefed ...
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