Archive for July 20th, 2008
Sunday, July 20th, 2008Over 5,000 educational institutions were unnecessarily entitled to monthly pay order (MPO) by the last two political governments, leading to an annual loss of Tk 600 crore.A school, college or madrasa won't be eligible for MPO if there is another such institution within three kilometres in rural and one kilometre in urban areas. Besides, an institution for a population of minimum 8,000 can apply for MPO.These rules along with many others were grossly violated in the last ten years of political governments' rule, especially during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat government. Many BNP and Jamaat legislators and politicians set up ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008During the anti-graft drive over the last 17 months, around a dozen investigation reports have been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on high profile graft suspects' involvement in money laundering.But the anti-graft body has yet to act on those as the whole process of proving money laundering charges is very complex under the new law titled Money Laundering Prevention Ordinance 2008, said sources in the ACC.Despite findings convincing enough to take legal course against some ex-ministers, lawmakers and businessmen for money laundering, the ACC incorporated the assets that might have something to do with money laundering into the ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008Dhaka has lodged a “strong protest” with New Delhi against intrusion of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) into Bangladesh territory and killing of two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel at Chapainawabganj border in the early hours of Friday."The recent border incident entailed an incursion into Bangladeshi territorial waters and the killing of two BDR personnel by the BSF," the foreign ministry said in a protest note issued yesterday.Bangladesh views the BSF actions as “totally unacceptable”. It expressed the hope that “Indian authorities will take appropriate action against those responsible and ensure that such incidents do not recur,” the note said.In another ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008Shamim Iskander, younger brother of detained former premier Khaleda Zia, was sent to jail yesterday after he was arrested in connection with a case filed on charge of concealing information about his wealth in the wealth statement.The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Dhaka sent him to jail after he was produced before it at around 12 noon.Police arrested Shamim, a former flight engineer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd, as he came out of Khaleda's Shaheed Mainul Road residence in Dhaka Cantonment on Friday night.He had been visiting his ailing nephew Arafat Rahman Koko, who was released Thursday on parole.Koko left for ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar yesterday observed that local government polls cannot be held before the national elections saying it would violate the Constitution and existing laws."Holding local government elections before the parliamentary one is not permissible in the Constitution and law. According to the Constitution, the caretaker government will discharge its routine functions and assist the Election Commission to hold national polls," he said.He added the caretaker government was an interim government, which cannot make any policymaking decisions."The caretaker government can enact laws relating to polls but can't violate the Constitution. The chief election commissioner is repeatedly saying that there ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008At least nine VIP prisoners have so far appealed to the government for going abroad for treatment while many others do not appear before the court during trial proceedings of cases filed against them on grounds of being ill.Awami League (AL) chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil and BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia's youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko are already staying abroad for treatment.Those who have appealed for treatment abroad are Khaleda's eldest son and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, AL Presidium member and former minister Mohammad Nasim, former ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008Twelve mayoral candidates of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) polls during a meeting with people of the city yesterday vowed to resist crime and corruption.They took an oath holding each other's hands that they would not use or raise musclemen for winning the elections or to confront their opponents.They promised to ensure people's participation in planning and implementing development schemes, if elected. They also promised to accept defeat in the election and help the winner in the work for development of the city.They pledged that they would try to increase the use of local resources in augmenting development, hold open budget ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008The BNP high command might decide on the fate of the defiant party leaders for their participation in local government elections following High Court order on a writ petition questioning the legality of the elections before finalising voter rolls.On July 6, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Jasim Uddin Sarker, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the public interest litigation (PIL), challenging the legality of two ordinances promulgated by the government for holding the local government elections.Following the filing of the petition, the High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued a ruling upon the government and the Election Commission (EC) to explain ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008Awami League (AL) yesterday vowed to resist any poll under the state of emergency while reiterating its demand for holding the parliamentary poll before upazila elections.AL will not allow any poll under the state of emergency, it will not take part in upazila polls if held before the parliamentary election, and will also not let anyone else to participate either, said AL Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday while taking part in a nationwide token hunger strike for pressing home AL demands."Although political parties have been demanding total withdrawal of the emergency for long, the government has not been paying ...
(read more) Sunday, July 20th, 2008Sector Commanders' Forum (SCF) yesterday warned the government that there would be serious repercussions if the persons responsible for the recent assault on a freedom fighter are not brought to trial immediately.SCF, a platform of those who led the Liberation War in 11 sectors, also demanded that the caretaker administration ban Jatiya Muktijoddha Parishad, a Jamaat-e-Islami-backed organisation."Arrest the culprits or you [government] will be responsible for anything untoward that might follow," Major Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah said, speaking at a press briefing at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium.On July 11, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student ...
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