Archive for June 8th, 2008
Sunday, June 8th, 2008In a rare budgetary move, the government yesterday approved a reduced Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Tk 25,600 crore for the next fiscal year (FY09), which is 3.39 percent less than the original ADP of the current fiscal year.The government is also looking to boost the revenue budget by nearly 40 percent in the new budget to be announced tomorrow.The ADP is usually increased in each budget from the previous year's original ADP to suggest rising development spending despite low implementation rates.The original ADP for FY08 was Tk 26,500 crore, which was later revised at Tk 22,500 crore.The approval for ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The detained chiefs of Awami League and BNP may be allowed to go abroad for medical treatment by the end of this month if they sit for the pre-polls dialogue with the government, said sources.As for further inducement for BNP chief Khaleda Zia's participation, the government is also considering to form a medical board to review if her detained son Tarique Rahman also needs treatment abroad.A government-formed medical board has already suggested that her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko should go abroad for treatment.However, both the major parties continue asserting that their leaders don't wish to go abroad and demanded ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The government is going to create a separate cadre service for primary education in a bid to improve educational standard by recruiting more meritorious individuals as officials and teachers.The primary and mass education ministry has already sent for approval a proposal to the Chief Adviser's Office to create the new cadre titled "Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS)-Primary Education" under Public Service Commission (PSC).The proposal is likely to be approved at the next meeting of the Council of Advisers, ministry sources say.Officials concerned say the cadre service is most likely to come into effect through the next circular for BCS examinations. The ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The joint forces arrested 1,631 people, including 96 in the capital, in the 24 hours until 8:00am yesterday in the ongoing anti-crime drives across the country.Of the detainees 1,080 were held on warrants, six under the Arms Act, one under the Explosive Substances Act and 521 on various other charges. Twenty of the arrested are convicts while two are listed criminals.With the latest arrests, the number of people rounded up across the country since the launch of the crackdown on May 28 stands at 16,916. The detainees include some grass-roots political leaders and activists.The law enforcers also recovered 15 ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008Renewing their demand for the unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina, Awami League central leaders yesterday threatened to wage a nonstop agitation programme if their demand is not met.They also said the party will arrange everything for her medical treatment.“Set our party chief free. We'll take care of her. Otherwise, AL will be compelled to wage a nonstop agitation programme to free our popular leader,” AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said.He was addressing a discussion arranged at the party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue marking the historic Six-Point Day.Presided over by presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, the discussion was addressed, ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The country is set for an emotional ride when the Kitply Cup tri-nation one-day cricket series kicks off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today with Bangladesh taking on Pakistan in the opening match.The only concern is that rain, a common phenomenon at this time of year, might defuse the excitement which promises to be aplenty during the weeklong meet with the involvement of India as the third team.The weather forecast for today is light to moderate rain or thundershowers, but the country's home of cricket with a developed drainage system promises its first full 50-over match under magnificent ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The government estimates that the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) will grow by 6.21 percent in the current fiscal year (FY2007-08), despite fears that economic growth might dip as much as one percentage point.Besides, inflation rate has dropped to 7.66 percent, as point-to-point inflation fell by 2.4 percentage points between March and April, Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam said yesterday.He was talking to the reporters after yesterday's National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed.The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have both said over the past year that they fear the GDP growth ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008Police are not arresting anyone without specific allegation during the ongoing special drive across the country, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said yesterday."Police are only arresting the ones who are accused in cases or have arrest warrants against them," said the police chief at the launching ceremony of official website of Chittagong range of police.He brushed aside allegations that the special drive is politically motivated, targeting political activists and violating human rights of the innocent through harassing them.Terming the special drive a part of their routine work, the IGP said recent rise in incidents of murder and ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The investigation report of the graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and his family will be submitted early next week.“The investigation into the case against Khoka and his wife, son and daughter is at the final stage. Shamsul Islam, the investigation officer (IO), will submit the memo of evidence (investigation report) early next week recommending submission of charge sheet,” a competent source told the news agency.The charge sheet in the case, subject to the approval of the ACC, will be submitted against the four, the source said.On April 2, the ACC ...
(read more) Sunday, June 8th, 2008The government plans cultivation of newly invented rice variety-- BRRI Dhan-33 -- on 40,000 hectares of land in five northern districts in the coming Aman season to fight Monga (near-famine situation).The new variety can be harvested during the Monga period, creating job opportunities for farm workers."BRRI Dhan-33 can be harvested during October 15 - November 15, agricultural labourers will get employment just at a time they find no jobs locally. Marginal farmers, who also traditionally face financial crisis due to Monga, can from now have a harvest at this time,” said Dr MA Mazid, chief of Bangladesh Rice Research ...
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