Archive for July 22nd, 2008
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Central and local level leaders of political parties have violated the electoral code of conduct by campaigning for candidates in the August 4 polls, says an Election Commission (EC) circular.However, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday expressed satisfaction with the overall compliance with the code of conduct.The same day the EC at a meeting decided to institute an inquiry into allegations of mayoral candidates providing false information in their affidavits. Legal actions will be taken if the allegations prove to be true, meeting sources said.Earlier on Sunday, the commission issued the circular instructing the returning ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the time is not yet ripe for fully lifting the state of emergency, as some reasons still exist “justifying its enforcement”.“We want to proceed towards complete withdrawal of the state of emergency by relaxing it in phases. Our experience will tell what needs to be done,” he told reporters at the local circuit house in response to queries about outcome of the national dialogue and current political issues.Asked about detained former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release, the CA expressed his government's intention about her release for treatment at home and ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008West Monipur in the city has been under ankle-deep water for a week following heavy downpour due to poor drainage in the area.About 10,000 people who live in the area have to make their way through this stinky, stagnant water -- which is knee deep at places -- daily running risk of various infections.Md Razu, 57, a resident of the area, said he has already acquired skin problems as he has been wading through the dirty water every day. There are many others with similar complaints, he said.Another local, Aiyub Ali, said that the locals face water logging in the ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Around 5,000 Bangladeshi workers went on an indefinite strike in Kuwait City yesterday protesting underpayment and irregular wages, and not getting other facilities promised by the Kuwaiti company they work for."The workers staged a peaceful sit-in Sunday morning but today (Monday) they are staging strike at their barracks saying that they will not join work until their company fulfils their demands," said Shahriar Kader Siddiky, labour counsellor of Bangladesh embassy in Kuwait, when contacted yesterday.The workers are placed by the company at royal palaces, hospitals, universities, oil companies and other important establishments under the ministries of education, health, oil and ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Employees of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL), former Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB), misappropriated over Tk 45 crore in three sectors involving transportation between 2000-2001 and 2007-2008.The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) taskforce, while probing corruption at the BTTB head office in Dhaka as part of its drive against institutional corruption, found that the employees indulged in corruption in dealing with transport fares, vehicle maintenance and fuel expenditure at the head office.Of the total embezzled amount, Tk 5.98 crore of transport fares of its employees was misappropriated by showing fake vouchers of journeys only between fiscal years 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 while ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008The country's rice and wheat importers have refrained from importing the food grains for the last several months, triggering a shortage in the local market as well as raising their prices, observed traders and officials concerned.The anti-graft drives that sent a chill through the country's business community and the pressure mounted on them by the government to minimise profit level also discouraged many of the importers from doing business this time around, said importers and food ministry officials.Steep rise in the prices of rice on the international markets coupled with India's refusal to export rice to Bangladesh have further inflamed ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Mayoral and councillorship hopefuls in Rajshahi City Corporation elections yesterday at a meeting with local administration raised allegations of gross code of conduct violations.Campaigning under the banners of political parties, spending of black money and intimidation by hired thugs are widespread, claimed a number of contestants.The meeting, held at Rajshahi District Council auditorium, was organised by returning officer and regional deputy election commissioner of Rajshahi.Honest, educated and competent candidates are at a disadvantage due to the authorities' indifference toward the violations of the code of conduct, said the speakers.Bribing prospective voters and intimidation and attacks targeted at opponents by ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008The government Monthly Payment Orders (MPO) to 48 educational institutions, mostly girls high schools of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurhat, have been cancelled as they had zero percent pass rate in the 2007 SSC exams.The education ministry urged Rajshahi Education Board to take stern administrative actions against these 48 institutions for failing to obtain satisfactory results.Sources in the deputy commissioners' offices said 17 institutes of Dinajpur had their MPOs cancelled, 14 in Thakurgaon and 16 in Panchagarh and one in Joypurhat.The 17 institutes of Dinajpur are Adarsha High School, Manmathapur MR Girls High School, Maddha-Magura Kathalpara High School, ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday voiced frustration over lack of quality candidates in the upcoming city corporation and municipality polls.“The Election Commission is a little bit frustrated, as the number of quality candidates is not as many as expected to be in the race,” he told reporters at the EC Secretariat.Huda said all concerned, including political parties, need to contribute to this process through fielding acceptable candidates “Those who are good candidates should also come forward to play a role in this regard,” he said.Describing the upcoming local-body elections as nonpartisan, the CEC said the country's good people ...
(read more) Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008The Council of Advisers in its first meeting here yesterday approved in principle Bangladesh Economic Zones Ordinance 2008 as well as a 12-point package for development of Sylhet region.With Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair, the meeting also endorsed finally the EPZ trade union and Industrial Relations (Amendment) Ordinance 2008.This was the third meeting of the Council of Advisers in divisional headquarters, after Rangpur and Barisal.Members of the council, cabinet secretary, CA's press secretary and secretaries concerned were present at the meeting held at Sylhet Circuit House.Briefing the media on the two-hour-long meeting from 11:00am, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar ...
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