Archive for August 3rd, 2008
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008Against the backdrop of food and fuel insecurity and threat of both terrorism and climate change, South Asian leaders yesterday promised effective cooperation in all potential fields to fight hunger and achieve faster economic growth to improve the lifestyle of their people.The pledges were made at the 15th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) that began at the magnificent Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall here amidst extraordinary security bulwark.Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bangladesh caretaker government's Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinlay, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed has proposed adopting a clear roadmap for Saarc to fight out poverty and hunger and attain accelerated economic growth to ensure socioeconomic progress for some 1.5 billion people in South Asia.”South Asia is home to almost half of the world's poor. Global economic slowdown, soaring oil and food prices and growing threats of climate change are driving the destitute of the region even further below the poverty line,” he noted in his statement at the inaugural session of the 15th Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008Campaigns for tomorrow's elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities were wrapped up by midnight yesterday with preparations almost completed for holding the polls in a peaceful atmosphere.All four cities -- Barisal, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi -- were rocking with last-minute hectic campaigns last night. The candidates and their supporters brought out numerous processions and held rallies throughout the day, turning the cities into carnivals of electioneering.An atmosphere of jubilation was evident in the city corporation areas and in Naohata, Dupchanchia, Chuadanga, Sreepur, Manikganj, Fulbaria, Shariatpur, Gopalganj and Sitakundu municipality areas as candidates were making door-to-door visits since early ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008It's either forests, or nothing. This is how one can define livelihoods in the hill tracts.As we travelled from one hill to another, one pourasava to the other, one territory to another in Khagrachhari and Rangamati, we found that the people are highly dependent on forest resources.They are clearing hills after hills without any regards for forestry or wildlife and engaging in Jhum cultivation. They have no other means for survival too. And when you have no options, you turn to the immediate next thing you have--the forests.And these people have been climbing up and up and deeper and deeper ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008Even though the electorate expect a clear stance on the militancy issue from the mayoral candidates of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), the candidates, however, avoided talking about it fearing it would affect their vote tally.The election campaigns ended yesterday midnight ahead of the start of polling at 8:00am August 4.Campaign sources said the candidate supported by the Awami League AHM Khairuzzaman Liton believes it is better not to talk about the militancy issue at the local government election since he expects to draw large number of votes from BNP-Jamaat supporters. These votes could swing if he talks too ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008The government plan of action for dealing with the climate change will focus on building the country's capacity to meet the challenges from shifts in global weather patterns over the next 20-25 years.The 10-year action plan, which will be placed at a global conference in London next month, will also aim to have a climate resilient development pathway based on low carbon emission.A draft of the plan was discussed at a national workshop in the city yesterday.Food and Disaster Management Adviser AMM Shawkat Ali inaugurated the day-long event organised by the environment ministry to seek expert opinions on ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008South Asian leaders yesterday demanded strong action to stop terrorism spreading like "wildfire" as a regional summit opened here dominated by heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.Terrorism is the most "menacing" challenge faced by the eight-country region, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai warned the opening session of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc)'s two-day summit.Terrorism in the region has "institutional support," particularly in Pakistan, Karzai told the meeting, being held in the Sri Lankan capital under unprecedented security with nearly 20,000 police and troops deployed to guard delegates.“It is time we all realise that the pursuit of narrow ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008Another 118 deported Bangladeshi workers arrived in Dhaka yesterday from Kuwait, raising their total number to 464.Immigration wing of Zia International Airport told The Daily Star last night that 85 of yesterday's deportees reached Dhaka on a Kuwait Airways flight while the others on a Gulf Air flight.On Friday night, the Kuwaiti authorities sent back 66 workers to Bangladesh on an Emirates Airways flight.Hundreds of Bangladeshi workers fear deportation from the Middle Eastern country on charge of 'violating local laws'.On July 30, the Kuwaiti authorities started deporting foreign workers, mostly Bangladeshis, who went on strike in the Gulf country ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008The main fight in tomorrow's city corporation mayoral election in Khulna will be between Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Moniruzzaman Moni although there are four other candidates contesting the poll.Jatiya Party and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh have extended support to Khaleque but sources said his votes might get divided between two other candidates--Awami League (AL) leader advocate Enayet Ali and Communist Party leader advocate Firoze Ahmed.Local Jamaat-e-Islami and rival BNP faction have meanwhile extended their full support to BNP leader and acting mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Moni, which has put him in an advantageous position.Khulna turned into a city of processions ...
(read more) Sunday, August 3rd, 2008A photo finish in the mayoral race is likely between Awami League (AL)-backed Shawkat Hossain Hiron and expelled BNP leader Ahsan Habib Kamal in the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) election on August 4.However, voters say that the number of votes four-party-backed Ebayedul Haque Chan bags will actually dictate the outcome of the race. Voters and supporters of Hiron and Kamal predict that if Chan gets votes over 20,000 then it will help Hiron win.The major political parties are split into groups over endorsing mayoral candidates.A faction of the BNP-led alliance and a section of Ershad-led Jatiya Party (JP) endorsed ...
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