Archive for September 27th, 2008
Saturday, September 27th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday assured the world leaders that his caretaker government is now focused on fulfilling the pledge to hold free and fair parliamentary polls on December 18.He expressed the hope that all political parties would participate in the elections under new laws and regulations.“Let me reiterate here that my government is completely and totally focused on fulfilling our pledge to hold free and fair parliamentary elections on December 18 as announced last week,” the CA said in a statement at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.Chief Adviser's wife Neena Ahmed, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008Nasima wishes she never dared stand up to the thugs who raped her daughter, a mentally challenged preteen. The defiance cost her dearly: they burnt her with acid.The 35-year-old mother filed a case against the rapists two years back. Ever since they kept piling pressure on her to lift it. She resisted up until the first day of this month when they avenged her persistence.Nasima's entire torso is ridged with acid burns, from neck to chest, abdomen and back. This time she does not dare seek justice."Aziz and his associates, who raped my 11-year-old daughter, threw acid on me because ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008In a bid to expand four-party alliance ahead of the parliamentary election, BNP leadership has started talking to some of their former colleagues who are leading other political parties now after leaving their old party.A BNP leader claimed that Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, known to be very critical of Tarique Rahman and Hawa Bhaban, contacted Khaleda Zia over the phone recently, and expressed his willingness to meet the BNP chief after his return from Saudi Arabia, where he currently is.The BNP leader however said it is still not clear whether Oli along with his ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008Unauthorised workshops have been converting fuel oil run motor vehicles into compressed natural gas (CNG) powered ones fitting them with cylinders that are not made for containing the specific type of gas, turning safe automobiles into vehicles of death.The substandard cylinders often are made from metal electric poles, oxygen cylinders, cylinders of fire extinguishers, and other kinds of materials not suitable for making CNG cylinders, according to officials of the Department of Explosives.Some legal conversion centres also often use similar substandard cylinders and other conversion kit parts ignoring the fatal risk factor, the officials added.They said noticing widespread use of ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008Indian troops in Assam yesterday shot dead seven suspected militants claimed to have belonged to Bangladesh-based banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad Al Islami (Huji), reported agencies.Rajesh Kalia, spokesman of the Indian defence ministry, said the operation was launched following up leads that Huji operatives were to meet near Guwahati, capital of the north-eastern Indian state.The location of the meeting was tracked down through mobile interception.Talking to The Daily Star over phone last night, Home Secretary Abdul Karim said he has heard about the Indian claims. “We'll start dealing with the matter once we are informed formally.”Quoting the Indian defence ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed Thursday said the upcoming national election will set an example for the future elections in terms of fairness and credibility.He also said his government wants to hand over power to honest and capable persons.The caretaker government chief was speaking at a press conference of US-based Bangladesh journalists at Helmsley Hotel in New York.Replying to a query, he said reforms in political parties cannot be imposed from outside. They have to be carried out through a process.However, he added, the “primary target” of reforms could be achieved through registration, which is now mandatory ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008During an iftar party yesterday Awami League (AL) declared to foreign diplomats that it is preparing to contest in the upcoming parliamentary election, and put out a call to all other political parties to follow suit."We believe, for the sake of democracy, all other political parties will also participate in the parliament election. The parliament election must be held on the announced date," said AL Acting President Zillur Rahman at the iftar gathering hosted by his party in a hotel of the capital in honour of the diplomats and heads of international agencies stationed in Dhaka.Zillur said withdrawal of ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008Kuwait has assured Bangladesh of providing necessary financial support for construction of Padma Bridge.Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nas'r Muhammad Al-Sabah gave the assurance during a bilateral meeting with Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed on the sidelines of the 63rd session of UN General Assembly at UN headquarters on Thursday.After the meeting, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim told newsman that the Kuwaiti premier told the chief adviser that his country would provide financial assistance for construction of Padma Bridge from the Kuwait FundHe requested the CA to send details of the bridge project for processing the financial ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008A criminal was killed early yesterday in "crossfire" during a shootout between his accomplices and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel in the city's Holan area under Dakshinkhan Police Station.Meanwhile, a regional leader of an outlawed party was also killed in a "shootout" between his cohorts and police at Fulbari of Damurhuda upazila in Chuadanga.The criminal was identified as Syed Mohammad Shihab, 35, leader of "Shihab Group". The outlaw was identified as Farid Hossain, 35, regional commander of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML).Rab-1 officials said they arrested Shihab at the city's Badda area around 8:00pm Thursday and following his confessional statement ...
(read more) Saturday, September 27th, 2008Shahzadi is visibly exhausted fetching three pitchers of water for her family. But she cannot rest at 11:00am. The 13-year-old must report to the tailor she works for as an apprentice.It has now been a routine work for Shahzadi. Residents of Chaitaly Road at Second Colony beside Mirpur Mazar Road has not got a drop of water from Dhaka Wasa in the last 26 days."It takes about an hour to bring a pitcher of water from Tolarbagh on foot," Shahzadi said. Her family does not afford transport costs.Rickshaw-puller Mohammad Rafique does the same thing after coming back from ...
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