Archive for May 25th, 2008
Sunday, May 25th, 2008Denying any wrongdoing in awarding the coalmine deal, detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia yesterday told the investigator of the Barapukuria graft case that she had just acted as per law, procedures and the decision of the purchase committee.“I acted following law, procedures and the decision of the purchase committee. I did it and anybody else would have done the same. People in my place would do the same in future,” she was quoted by her lawyer Shimul Biswas as telling the investigating officer of the graft case filed against her.Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Monirul Haque, the investigation officer ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008The home ministry has suggested forming a Cabinet Committee on National Security, a National Security Council (NSC) and a Joint Intelligence Unit to counter terrorist threats in a coordinated way.Its proposal on Counter Terrorism Strategy in Bangladesh, submitted to different ministries for their feedback, also suggested creation of a Central Inter-agency Counter Terrorism Coordination Cell to coordinate and monitor activities of counter-terrorism cells in all intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The proposal includes an organogram on this cell."The structures of these proposed bodies will be decided following opinions given by the ministries," said a home ministry source.The ministries are ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008Concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the participation of the three largest political parties in the ongoing dialogue, the government has started unofficial negotiations to persuade them into the much-hyped pre-poll talks.Sources in the Awami League (AL) and BNP told The Daily Star that they had been contacted separately through unofficial channels to find ways to bring them to the dialogue.But both the government and the political parties did not disclose the details of any possible deal between the two sides.The efforts came as the success of the dialogue, which enters second day today, hangs in the balance with the AL, ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008At least one person was killed and 20 others were injured in yet another explosion of a gas cylinder of a CNG-run microbus yesterday in Panchabati area of Narayanganj.The deceased was identified as Bakul Chandra Mandal, 40, a worker who was walking past the parked microbus.A fireball from the explosion fell on a nearby garments factory igniting it too and burning valuables worth about Tk 10 lakh, claimed the proprietor of the factory.Another 10 to 12 nearby shops were also damaged due to the explosion.Ten of the injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), three ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008Tangail correspondent of The Daily Star was beaten up by jail guards yesterday while working on a report on harassment of visitors and corruption at the local prison.Mirza Shakil, the reporter, was admitted to hospital with severe injuries in the chest, back and neck.Witnesses said he went to the jail at around noon. After an hour at the entrance, he saw prison guards harassing visitors for refusing to give them bribe. He took photographs of the incident.As he called Jailer Nazrul Islam on his mobile phone for comment about what he had just seen first-hand, he hung ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008The caretaker government has moved to form the much-anticipated Local Government Commission (LGC), in an effort to free local government administrations from absolute subjugation to central government's whims."We have started the process of forming the commission and hope it will be formed as soon as possible," LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal told The Daily Star yesterday.He said his ministry is now looking for an office for the LGC.President Iajuddin Ahmed on May 11 promulgated an ordinance regarding formation of the LGC with provisions designed to strengthen local government institutions, and to make them dynamic and accountable to the people.The ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008Construction of a new road through Tejgaon old airport in parallel to Rokeya Sarani begins next week to ease traffic congestion on the stretch between Mohakhali flyover and Mirpur.Starting from near the Prime Minister's relief depot at Elenbari, the road will end at Agargaon linking Rokeya Sarani and Mirpur Road.People from Mirpur, Shyamali, Kalyanpur and Mohammadpur areas will be able to take the link road saving at least 20 minutes to go to Mohakhali, Gulshan, Zia International Airport and Uttara.At present, commuters have no alternative to using Bijoy Sarani that remains clogged with traffic throughout rush hours.Speaking at ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008Killings by professional killers and muggers marked a sharp rise over the last week in the capital with 14 such incidents recorded with different police stations.Out of the 14, nine were killed within a span of only two days -- on last Thursday and Friday. Three of the victims were killed during muggings.According police records, the total number of killings that took place in the city last month was 25 while the figure was 24 in March.The recent rise in killings has prompted Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to launch a special month-long drive throughout the metropolis."We have started ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the government is determined to deal with strong hand any ill attempt of destroying trees and forests.He said zero tolerance has been ensured in all spheres of forest administration to check corruption.“Enemies of trees are enemies of nature, enemies of mankind,” he said, adding that the protector will not be allowed to plunder country's forest resources.The head of the caretaker government was inaugurating the three-month-long National Tree Plantation Campaign 2008 at a function, organised by the Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment and Forest, at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.The theme of this ...
(read more) Sunday, May 25th, 2008BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said that the caretaker government wants to stay in power for a long period without holding the parliamentary election.“As per the constitution, the caretaker government's only responsibility is to assist the Election Commission (EC) in holding a free and fair general election within 90 days, but this government seems to be hanging on to power through various schemes,” he alleged.The BNP chairperson-appointed party secretary general told these during a meeting with the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders of 80's at his Nam flat.Delwar also alleged that a conspiracy is going on ...
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