Archive for January 17th, 2009
Saturday, January 17th, 2009A task force probe found that Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board's (BTTB's) mobile phone project TeleTalk incurred losses of over Tk 200 crore due to implementation delay, and blamed it on unfair practices and negligence of the then telecom minister and eight high officials of the BTTB.Implementation period of the project was 2002 to 2004 but it ended in July 2008.A bribery involving Arafat Rahman Koko, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, concerning the project had come to light earlier as foreign investigators probed Germany-based industrial giant Siemens' global bribery scandal to get projects in different countries.When Siemens' ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009Awami League's (AL) new central committee, which is likely to be elected in April this year by a long delayed national council of the party, might look much younger.Party sources said most of the incumbent members of the presidium, the highest policy making forum of the party, and some other central leaders might be dropped from the new central committee, as party President Sheikh Hasina wants to bring forward young leaders in a bid to prepare the party for the long run.Some of the old guards will likely be appointed as members of the party's advisory council to clear ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009The BNP high command plans to have young, honest and competent leaders at the helm at different levels to rejuvenate the rank and file still reeling from the trouncing in the December 29 general election.Many incumbent standing committee members and controversial leaders of the central committee might be left out of the 'new BNP', said sources close to the party chief.Some of the old guard, who are not accused of graft, might be given place in the chairperson's advisory council, added the sources.The party high-ups are also weighing the possibility of a change in the secretary general's post. ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009Japan has offered a package credit of $440 million (40 billion yen) for the development of power plants, power distribution project and bridge improvement in Bangladesh.Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso made the offer as he called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday afternoon and congratulated her on the assumption of prime minister's office.Taro Aso described the election victory of Awami League under her leadership as a significant event.Welcoming the Japanese credit offer, Hasina sought more cooperation from Tokyo in power, agriculture and communications sectors.Hasina said the tourism sector in Bangladesh will be further developed and requested the Japanese premier to encourage ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009Bangladesh went ever so close but fell just short of making history as Muttiah Muralidaran's whirlwind with the bat shattered the Tigers dream at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Sri Lanka won the mouthwatering tri-nation final by two wickets to break the hearts of a million cricket fans in the country but credit goes to the Tigers who produced one of the best one-day matches in front of an exuberant holiday crowd.In the end the locals might have left the field disheartened but as a cricket fan they will definitely remember this match for a long time. ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009BNP yesterday came up with fresh 'evidence of vote rigging and irregularities' in the recently held parliamentary election, and said these were the main reasons behind the party's polls debacle.Alleging that ballot boxes were filled with so many fake votes to manipulate the election in favour of Awami League (AL), top BNP leaders termed the poll result 'ghost result'.To substantiate the allegation, spokesperson of the party Nazrul Islam Khan gave media persons photocopies of the result sheet of polling at Kohelpur High School centre in Raninagar upazila of Naogaon-6 constituency. There were 3,768 voters at the centre but casting ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009The Awami League (AL) high command will issue a warning notice to its lawmaker Prof Abdul Quddus for receiving 80 gold replicas of boat, the party's electoral symbol, last Wednesday.The party is also planning to launch an orientation programme for its lawmakers on their dos and don'ts immediately after the inaugural session of parliament on January 25.Sources said almost all party members and the cabinet were embarrassed by the reception accorded to Natore-4 lawmaker Quddus and that many of them criticised and reprimanded him over telephone.They said a few close associates of Hasina have advised her to take tough action ...
(read more) Saturday, January 17th, 2009A US Airways plane carrying 155 people crashed Thursday into New York's Hudson River, but all aboard made a miraculous escape as the freezing waters rose around them, US officials said.The Airbus with 150 passengers and five crew lost power in both engines almost simultaneously, a highly rare event, just minutes after take-off from LaGuardia Airport outside New York City.Initial reports from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) suggested the plane's engines stopped after a collision with birds, but this was not immediately confirmed.Terrorism was ruled out.The pilot was praised for his heroism in bringing the Airbus down safely in ...
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