Archive for November 17th, 2008
Monday, November 17th, 2008Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) seized 70kg of explosives following the confessional statement of an ehsar (full time member) of the banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) whom they arrested Saturday at Mirpur in the city.They also seized 40kg of nitric acid, 150 cases of improvised grenades, a large quantity of bomb-making materials and equipment, and over 2,000 books on jihad raiding two houses in Mirpur and another house at Shanir Akhra in the capital.Rab Additional Director General Col Gulzar Uddin Ahmed said, "The JMB stockpiled the explosives and the books as they were preparing for fresh attacks and ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008Despite tremendous public demand and pressure from donor countries for holding the parliamentary poll on the announced date of December 18, it might be deferred for a few days if BNP-led alliance gives formal assurance of contesting in it on the new date without any condition, according to sources.Alliance leaders said they think their coalition will be able to take part in the election if it is held in mid-February next year, but the authorities already informed them that it could be deferred only by a few days and only if BNP confirms its participation.Top leaders of the alliance including ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008The Supreme Court yesterday stayed for one month Thursday's High Court order, which declared the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) and its activities illegal and unconstitutional.As per the SC order, Tac can now resume its functions halted for three days.As the SC order breathes life into Tac, its Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan told The Daily Star last night they would speed up their work to finish all the pending tasks before the stay expires."We've got a temporary stay on the High Court order. I'll begin hearing on appeals pending with the commission from tomorrow [Monday] as I've received some ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008The long-standing Rohingya issue is unlikely to be resolved in near future as Myanmar is not responding to Bangladesh's appeal to take the refugees back and they also don't want to go home.The entire repatriation process is stalled for over three years and the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) is urging the Bangladesh government not to send the Myanmar citizens back."They had fled from Myanmar due to persecution related matters. So now they don't want to go back. The UNCHR also doesn't want to force them," says a high UNHCR official.The whole matter is very critical, the official ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008Awami League (AL) yesterday lodged objections with the Election Commission (EC) to 20 organisations monitoring the December 18 national election and BNP to four.The parties asked the commission for disqualification of the observer bodies they do not find impartial enough.Earlier, the EC had primarily selected 138 organisations and asked the political parties to register formal objections, if any, by November 16.The opposition from AL and BNP came on the last day.After submitting the letter to EC Secretary Humayun Kabir, an AL delegation team disclosed names of the 20 organisations they do not want as election observers.However, BNP ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008Barrister Shafique Ahmed, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, favours an agenda-based meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, which he said would bring "concrete and acceptable" solutions to the existing crises."The leaders can discuss their previous mistakes, or they can discuss the election or the economy of the country. Many concrete and acceptable solutions may come out if the meeting is held on the basis of an agenda and the government should set it," he said.Barrister Shafique thinks the country would plunge into another spell of uncertainty if the parliamentary elections are deferred on grounds that a party ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008Bangladesh wants Myanmar to stay off the disputed waters while conducting oil and gas explorations until a maritime delimitation agreement is signed between the two countries.Dhaka made the statement on the first day of talks with its neighbour on the southeast yesterday.According to meeting sources, no progress was made in the opening day's expert-level negotiations at the foreign ministry.The two sides remained rigid on their stance on the methodology to be used in delimitation. While Myanmar argues for equal-distance method, Bangladesh prefers the maritime boundaries to be drawn on the basis of equity.The talks follow a stand-off between ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008Former BNP minister M Saifur Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid were released from jail yesterday on High Court bail.Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (DIG-Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique told The Daily Star that Nizami and Mojahid were released from Dhaka Central Jail at about 5:15pm while Saifur from the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at about 6:50pm.Jamaat and BNP activists gathered at the jail gate and the BSMMU to greet their leaders blocking roads, causing severe traffic jam in adjoining areas, witnesses said."It is impossible to take part ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed is to hold a meeting with the deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) of districts at his office today on law and order ahead of the December 18 parliamentary elections.He is expected to give directives to heads of district administration and police on law and order and for creating an atmosphere for the polls to be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.All DCs, who are also returning officers for the national election, and SPs have been called to the meeting at 10:00am with the chief adviser in the chair."We have been asked ...
(read more) Monday, November 17th, 2008The technical committee-level talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on maritime delimitation begins today with a view to adopt a method of demarcation.Sources said during the talks Bangladesh will press for demarcating maritime boundary between the two nations on the basis of equity. Myanmar however had earlier argued for an 'equal-distance method' of delimitation.Tension between the two neighbouring nations mounted early this month after Myanmarese warships and oil and gas exploration rigs intruded into Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal."Myanmar's trespass on Bangladesh waters is not on our agenda. We shall focus on setting a method of ...
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