Archive for June 13th, 2008
Friday, June 13th, 2008The government has initiated a move to relax some major provisions of the emergency power rules (EPR), especially the ones concerning bail in corruption cases.After rounds of discussions with anti-corruption watchdogs over the last few weeks, it yesterday formed an experts' committee to review in particular section 15 that deals with graft-related charges.The amended emergency rules would benefit many of around 200 high profile corruption suspects, observed officials involved in the anti-corruption drive.These are stringent laws with restrictions on bail, and many of them are interlinked in a way that if one provides some room, others block that, said sources ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed party men to remain united at any cost and strengthen the organisation for the upcoming parliamentary polls.The former premier, who was released temporarily on Wednesday, also said she would return to the country as soon as her treatment in the USA completes.Hasina left Dhaka on a British Airways flight at about 8:25am yesterday."She [Hasina] has directed us to work together in a well organised manner for the next parliamentary election," AL acting President Zillur Rahman told The Daily Star after seeing Hasina off at the Zia International Airport (ZIA).Zillur, however, said no ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008Reiterating her wish to stay in the country, detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday asked the government to send her two detained sons abroad for treatment without delay.Speaking to reporters after hearing proceedings in Niko graft case, she said, “I have told you before that I'm not going anywhere. I have been in the country and will continue to be here. The condition of my sons however is very bad, and I ask the government to send them abroad without wasting time.”Khaleda, also former prime minister, was produced before the Special Court-9 on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises at 10:10am ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced former communications minister barrister Nazmul Huda to 12 years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) and acquitted his wife advocate Sigma Huda on all charges in an extortion case.Meantime, Beximco Holdings Ltd chairman Sohel F Rahman, vice chairman Salman F Rahman, former managing director of Arab Bangladesh Bank Ltd CM Koyes Sami and seven other people were cleared of Tk 191.39 crore misappropriation charges.Judge Mohammad Abu Mohsin at the Fifth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court returned the verdict in presence of the Huda couple, saying charges against Nazmul were proved beyond doubt.The court also fined him Tk 50,000, ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008Government advisers yesterday said they will not waste time while making decisions about the release of detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her two sons after taking the "crucial step forward" to release Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina."We are coordinating everything. There is no scope to waste time. Highest efforts are being made," Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters about the release of Khaleda and her sons.Zillur said the government is considering the legal and humanitarian aspects before making any decision regarding the release of Khaleda and her two sons.He was speaking to reporters after meeting ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008Villagers beat eight robbers to death while another was shot dead during a gun battle with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel at Bias Adimpur of Shingra upazila in Natore early yesterday.All nine of them were in their 20's and seven of them were identified. They are: Al Amin of Bias, Yunus of Durgapur, Helal of Sukash in Shingra upazila, Saiful and Vaina of Paota village, Yadul of Langolmara and Abdul Barik of Dighoria in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj.Rab quoting locals said the gang was engaged in criminal activities including robberies and killings.The incident occurred around 1:30am when the gang ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008The High Court (HC) has been experiencing a shortage of judges, as no new judge has been appointed to that division of the Supreme Court (SC) for about four years, while during the same period 11 judges either retired or were promoted to the Appellate Division.Legal experts said the number of pending cases in the HC has been rising exponentially due to the shortage of judges, causing undue sufferings for litigants.The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) leaders however said they requested new Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin to take steps for appointing more judges to the HC for ...
(read more) Friday, June 13th, 2008Secretariat of the Election Commission (EC) is yet to gain full financial and administrative autonomy as it is still being operated under the office of the chief adviser.Three months ago, on March 9, President Iajuddin Ahmed promulgated an ordinance that paved the way for setting up an independent secretariat for the EC with the status of a division.However, the cabinet division of the government has yet to complete the necessary amendment of rules of business that stands in the way of separating the EC secretariat from the prime minister's office (PMO), now the office of the chief adviser, said sources ...
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