Archive for August 9th, 2008
Saturday, August 9th, 2008The Olympic Games, costing an estimated 40 billion dollars and battered by political and environmental concerns, was declared open yesterday as China displayed its credentials as a modern, confident nation.President Hu Jintao declared the Games open at the "Bird's Nest" stadium in front of 90,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience of up to four billion."For a long time, China has dreamed of opening its doors and inviting the world's athletes to Beijing for the Olympic Games," said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee."Tonight that dream comes true. Congratulations, Beijing."Minutes later, the Olympic cauldron was lit by ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008With help from Chinese experts, Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Ltd (BCMCL) has recovered mining equipment worth $ 10 million from an underground site that was sealed off in October 2005 following emission of deadly gas there.The recovery operation launched on July 14 is the third one by the country's first mining company. Replacement cost of the equipment at present market rate is no less than $20 million, mining sources said.This pricey set of equipment will greatly help the loss-making BCMCL raise coal production and thus reduce its operational losses.“Most importantly, the operation gave us priceless lessons and experience,” said a ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008The grassroots of major political parties including Awami League and Jatiya Party have started gearing up to run in the upazila elections in October while their organisations are still opposed to any polls before the national election.In the last few days, a number of local AL and JP leaders have met the party high commands and said they want to take part in the local body polls planned to be held under the state of emergency.Sources said a section of the BNP grassroots too is preparing for the upazila polls on signals from some senior leaders.Many of ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008With major political parties uniting against holding the overdue ninth parliamentary poll under the state of emergency, and the military backed caretaker government making clear its intention of having the election under the emergency, a face off seems a strong possibility.Although most of the parties accepted the recently held elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities amid the emergency, they have been saying that the government should not plan for holding the parliamentary election under a state of emergency, considering its national significance.A political analyst and a legal expert observed that both sides must reach an understanding on ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will defend himself against impeachment by the ruling coalition, aides and allies said yesterday, as the US-backed leader mulled his options for a fightback.Musharraf met senior advisers to discuss his course of action a day after his enemies in the government announced the most serious challenge to the former general since he seized power in a 1999 military coup.The president could possibly dissolve parliament or even declare a state of emergency, further deepening the political turmoil in the nuclear-armed nation as it faces rising Islamic militancy."He is considering the options that are available. He will respond ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008Shibir cadres assaulted acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat and other teachers of Rajshahi University yesterday as they tried to talk them into lifting roadblocks they put up on Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway across from the campus.Several hundred stick-wielding Shibir men, led by their university unit president Delwar Hossain Saidee and general secretary Abdullah al-Nomani, chased the faculty members, threw stones at them and hurled abuses at the proctor, alleging that the university administration failed to ensure their security on the campus.The acting VC termed the incident regrettable.The Shibir cadres blocked the busy highway with felled trees from 11:30am for an hour ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008The long-awaited roads along the banks of Hatirjheel-Begunbari canal are likely to be open to the public by July next year.To be laid on embankments on either side of the canal, the 10-km long and 60-foot wide twin roads will start at Panthapath, and then cross Tongi Diversion Road to run till Rampura Road.Along the way, they will link the others roads in the area through three bridges.Around 1.7 kms of embankment has already been raised while the rest is expected to be built by the middle of 2009.The construction is part of a Tk 1473.58 crore Hatirjheel-Begunbari ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008The Chittagong Customs House was automated yesterday in order to increase revenue and check irregularities through enhancement of its efficiency.The operation of Import General Manifest (IGM) and Export General Manifest (EGM) module was launched under the first phase of introduction of automation at the customs house.Shipping agents, freight forwarders and stakeholders from now on will be able to submit IGM and EGM online from their offices or houses.The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) started installation of a full automation system with an initial investment of Tk 2 crore provided by the stakeholders following the signing of a memorandum ...
(read more) Saturday, August 9th, 2008Retail prices of coarse rice have started coming down in the city markets as the wholesale prices have been sliding for the last five days.The prices of battery chickens and eggs market a further rise in the kitchen markets.Traders, however, gave assurance that the prices of daily commodities would not see further hike during the month of Ramadan.Coarse rice prices came down by Tk 1-2 per kg on the retail markets in the last two days. Irri was selling at Tk 33-34 a kg yesterday, a drop from Tk 35 two days back.The prices of other rice varieties like BR-28 ...
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