Archive for July 21st, 2008
Monday, July 21st, 2008Loan defaulters will not get any opportunity of becoming eligible to contest in the upcoming upazila and parliamentary polls by rescheduling their loans, although the new electoral laws allow them to become eligible by rescheduling the loans within specific timeframes before submissions of applications for candidacies.They will be deprived of the opportunity since the timeframes provided by the new electoral laws for taking advantage of it are already over for the upcoming elections, as the laws are being promulgated too late.Loan defaulters were allowed to contest in elections in the past through rescheduling of loans anytime prior to the dates ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008The caretaker government's move to infuse dynamism, accountability and transparency into the public administration has hardly seen any progress since the initiative was taken a year ago.This has frustrated many including a few civil bureaucrats who have been in favour of reforms in the civil administration. They said like many other initiatives this may also end up in rhetoric.Formed in July last year with an objective of giving concrete directives for reforms in the administration and guidelines for posting and transfer, the chief adviser-led cabinet committee on administrative reforms and good governance has so far managed to hold just one ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday stayed for one month the High Court (HC) judgment that declared illegal and void the Muslim Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Amendment Ordinance 2008 promulgated by the president.Upon a government petition, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice MA Matin passed the order, also asking the government to file a regular appeal with the SC against the HC verdict within this period.The ordinance promulgated by the president empowers deputy commissioners to recruit kazis (official marriage registrars).Six kazis including Pirzada Syed Hazee Shariatullah, kazi of Moghbazar in Dhaka and president of Bangladesh Muslim Marriage Registration and Kazi ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008Shamim Iskander, a former flight engineer of Biman and brother of ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia, made a fortune taking commissions on lease and maintenance of aircraft and purchase of spare parts, said airline sources.He is one of those blamed for the huge losses incurred by the national flag carrier that had almost gone bankrupt during the BNP-led four-party alliance rule, said several former and incumbent officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.Arrested by the joint forces on July 18, Shamim is listed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as a graft suspect.Talking to The Daily Star, some of his former colleagues in ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008A division bench of the High Court (HC) yesterday felt embarrassed to hear a writ filed by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and former industries minister Motiur Rahman Nizami challenging legality of the Gatco corruption case.The HC bench of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed was set for hearing the writ yesterday.As Barrister Abdur Razzak started submission before the court, member of the bench Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed felt embarrassed.Nizami's counsels said the writ would now be sent to the chief justice for decision.Lawyers present in the court told newspersons the HC bench felt embarrassed following some recent news ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008The border security forces of Bangladesh and India begin a four-day negotiation in Kolkata today amid persistent killings of Bangladeshis by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) that sparked military tension along the entire frontier area.Five Bangladeshis, including two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) jawans were killed by BSF since early Friday with the latest killing taking place at Benapole border early yesterday.Both sides deployed reinforcements at all frontier posts keeping their forces alert, while shooting and killing by BSF continued, worsening the already volatile border tension between the two neighbouring countries.The deputy director general (DDG) level meet between BDR and BSF is ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008Despite the emergency measures taken by the government, including excavation and cleaning of canals in the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) dam area, to check severe waterlogging, the region looks set to suffer from water logging for some time more.Indiscriminate fish farming and encroachment of canals are contributing to the continual waterlogging in the area.About 20 lakh residents of the DND dam have to live with the risk as the authorities concerned fail to take long-term measures to improve the situation.Local people blame the continual growth of fishing farms in the area, including Matuail, Dakkhinpara, Muslimnagar, Mogolpara and Medical Road, for the waterlogging. ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008Shushashoner Janney Nagorik (Shujan) yesterday said the information provided to the Election Commission (EC) by the candidates contesting the city corporation polls was highly inconsistent and inadequate.At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in the city, Shujan demanded the EC crosscheck the information and cancel candidacy of the ones who provided incorrect and incomplete information in their affidavit forms submitted to the EC.Shujan accused the EC of not making public the candidates' income tax information and sources of probable electoral expenses. It also blamed the EC for taking no action against candidates who have been violating electoral ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008Awami League president Sheikh Hasina yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of MiG-29 corruption case against her.Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh filed the petition with the HC bench of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed.Sheikh Hasina also a former prime minister petitioned the court for quashing the proceedings of the case.Her counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed said the case was filed with mala fide intentions to politically harass his client."Sheikh Hasina was not involved in any corruption. When she was the prime minister she gave her consent to the decision ...
(read more) Monday, July 21st, 2008A mobile court fined three traders Tk 1.10 lakh on different charges at Ovoymitra Ghat and Khatunganj in the port city yesterday.The court led by Magistrate Zakir Hossain fined Mohammad Matin, owner of Matin Factory at Khatunganj, Tk 50000 for mixing husk with chili powder and spices.The court seized six sacks of chili powder and spice from the factory and destroyed them at Roufabad area, sources said.In another drive, the court fined Afaz Ullah Khan, owner of Shankha Brand Mustard Oil Factory of Ovoymitra Ghat, Tk 40000 for producing oil in an unhygienic environment, mixing white sesame and not labeling ...
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