Archive for May 10th, 2008
Saturday, May 10th, 2008Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Richard A Boucher yesterday said the United States would not accept any deviation from the path to parliamentary polls by this year-end.He also observed that “good elections” are not possible amid a state of emergency and ban on political activities.Speaking at a press conference at the American Club in the city, Boucher said, “The US believes the only path forward for Bangladesh is to have an election. We won't accept any deviation from that."Replying to a query, he said he does not think there will be a military intervention in the country.Boucher ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008The long awaited charge sheet in the grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally in the capital about four years ago is now ready and is likely to be submitted this week.Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said the charge sheet is almost ready. "I don't find any reasons for not submitting it this week," he said when contacted yesterday.Investigation officer (IO) of the case Fazlul Kabir, CID assistant superintendent of police, was now giving a final look into the charges that run into several hundred pages to avoid any loopholes or information gap.A senior official of CID ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008Khandaker Delwar Hossain, chairperson-appointed secretary general of BNP, yesterday said he hopes leaders of Saifur-led faction will “learn a lesson from Gatco case”.Referring to the top two leaders of his rival group who have been included in the charge sheet in the case, he said, “They are at last realising that the government is in fact out to destroy the politicians.”Delwar, who leads the pro-Khaleda faction, was talking to reporters at his Nam flat.The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday approved the charge sheet that includes pro-reform stalwarts M Saifur Rahman and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan along with Khaleda Zia, ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008The Awami League (AL) Presidium members are still divided over the issue of freeing Sheikh Hasina before the elections.Sources in the AL said there are two factions and stances among the AL presidium members. One faction wants to take part in the elections with an aim to assume power and free Hasina afterwards while the other faction does not want to participate in any elections with Hasina detained. They want to get the AL chief freed through agitation programmes first and then think about participating in elections.The current stance of the AL Presidium, highest policy making body of the ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008A biofuels backlash has erupted in major ethanol producer the United States, as lawmakers and experts debate the merits of converting food to fuel to support America's age-old love affair with the automobile.With gasoline at record prices at US pumps, and soaring corn, rice and wheat costs sparking a global food crisis this year with deadly riots in several nations, some have questioned the wisdom of President George W. Bush's call for higher US biofuel mandates that divert US crops, like corn, to fuel production."Why are we putting food in our gas tanks instead of our stomachs?" Richard Reinwald, owner ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008Criminals continue to cheat people using uniforms, caps, handcuffs and other accessories used by law enforcers due to lack of proper mechanism for monitoring the sale of these items.They often commit crimes disguising themselves as law enforcers in the capital and other parts in the country.Terming the misuse of these items by criminals 'a matter of concern', Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Naim Ahmed told The Daily Star, “It's true that there is no restrictions on the sale of uniforms and other items used by the law enforcement agencies.”“There are chances that police uniforms and other items might be misused. ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008The Drug Administration (DA), the country's drug regulatory authority, is failing to foster and oversee the country's Tk 6,000-crore drug industry due to inadequate workforce, testing laboratories and equipment.The regulatory body is tasked with monitoring and enforcing the implementation of drug regulations in the country as well as regulating production, pricing, sales, export, import of all sorts of drugs in the country. The DA also supervises the procurement of raw and packaging materials by drug manufacturers.Although the DA is supposed to have a 214-strong workforce, it is administering the enormous task with only 174 employees as the rest of the ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008More than 600 businesses in Bogra are using nitric and other corrosive acids without any licence, contributing to rising acid violence in the district.A senior police official said due to the availability of acid, acid violence in Bogra is higher than in other districts.At least five acid-throwing cases have been filed in the last four months. Two such cases were registered in the fourth quarter of last year, said the official preferring anonymity.The deputy commissioner said the district administration will soon take action against illegal acid trade and use through mobile courts. He said the administration has already asked the ...
(read more) Saturday, May 10th, 2008Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said his party would form an alliance with like-minded parties, professional and civil society bodies to contest the next general election.The eminent jurist stressed lifting the state of emergency before the polls. He hoped that the polls would be held as per the electoral roadmap announced by the Election Commission.Dr Kamal was talking to journalists at his city residence following a presidium meeting of his party.He said the state of emergency should be lifted gradually and it should be lifted totally before the election.The former foreign minister parried most of ...
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