Archive for January 29th, 2009
Thursday, January 29th, 2009In protest at the rearranged seating arrangements, the BNP-led opposition lawmakers yesterday walked out of parliament shortly after the House returned from a two-day recess.They also accused Speaker Abdul Hamid of partisanship."It's not the ruling party, it's the speaker who has allotted us only four front-row seats. We are anxious about the future of parliament under him," BNP leader MK Anwar told reporters after the walkout."We are disappointed with the way he conducted himself today. Even though we are a small opposition, he doesn't seem to tolerate us.“In the circumstances, it will be tough for us to ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government would not hesitate to take the stringent measures to curb militancy in the country."I have already directed all ministries and the authorities concerned to find out the militants' patrons, financers and sources of illegal arms and ammunitions to root out militancy," Hasina, also the leader of the House, said in her first question-answer session in the ninth parliament.It was the previous Awami League government that introduced the prime minister's question-answer session in the seventh parliament amending the rules of procedure.Terming militancy a major problem in the country, the premier ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009The government has moved to expedite the introduction of machine-readable passports (MRP) as an international deadline for its implementation ends April next year.In a bid to implement a Tk 350 crore project for MRP and machine-readable visas (MRV) within this year, the government already finalised almost all necessary procedures to appoint a consultant firm.An international tender will also be floated soon to start the implementation of the project, said officials at the home ministry.The home ministry needs Tk 7 crore to appoint the consultant firm HJP Consulting. Based in Paderborn, Germany, HJP is an international firm of consultants specialised ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009The caretaker government on December 22 approved an ordinance amending the Telecom Act, 2001 bypassing the telecoms ministry and in contradiction with existing laws, making BTRC extraordinarily powerful.The approval appears surprising as earlier that month the finance ministry rejected BTRC's proposal to amend the Act to make it more powerful and financially independent.The finance ministry observed that many of the proposals violate the constitution.The ordinance gives Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) authority to call law enforces for any reason and any time to arrest persons violating the Act without warrant. It also says in dealing with telecoms related crimes, ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009It was tough to recognise the building as a government office at first sight. There was no reception or guard but only a gardener who confirmed it as the headquarters of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).Covered with smoke from burning weeds on the yard, the office building called Kalatan on Hare Road looked deserted during a visit last week. The view was almost same inside, where two of the three staffs on the ground floor of the two-storey office were absent.The commission had to shift its office to Lalmatia yesterday as Kalatan is meant for a minister's residence. Its officials ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is likely to allow reactivation of 45 out of 309 frozen bank accounts primarily after deducting the tax evaded by the account holders and 10 per cent fine.Sources said the NBR will give directives to the tax commissioners concerned after having discussions with government high-ups on the matter.During the tenure of the immediate past caretaker government, 335 accounts of both Awami League and BNP leaders and businessmen were frozen. Of those, 26 accounts were reactivated at different times.NBR is seeking guidelines from the government high-ups on the rest 309 accounts.Anti-corruption task ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009The parliament yesterday constituted a 15-member special committee to scrutinise ordinances to be tabled as bills and make recommendation on those till the formation of standing committees on different ministries.Meanwhile, the Business Advisory Committee (Bac) at a meeting decided that the inaugural session would continue till February 26.The legislature sits today at 4.45 pm and will have a 20-hours discussion on thanks-giving motion on the president's speech.On behalf of the Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina, Chief Whip Abdus Shahid proposed the formation of the special committee and it was accepted in voice vote.The committee was comprised ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she is not in favour of banning the student politics in the country's educational institutions but she said students' approach should be positive and constructive.“I myself was involved in the student politics. I find nothing wrong with the student politics. But their (students') approach should be positive and constructive,” Hasina told Foreign Secretary of Germany Reinhard Silberberg when he called on her at the Prime Minister's Office.Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed this to the newsmen after the meeting.Press secretary Azad said the prime minister stressed the need for ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to start dissolving party's district units from next week in consultation with upazila level leaders to revamp the organisation that faced a huge debacle in the last national polls.Party insiders said a series of meetings between the party chairperson and upazila level leaders is likely to start next week and top leaders of district units may also be asked to be present at those meetings.The party high command has already collected reports on the activities of district committees which will also be placed before the party chairperson prior to holding meetings with field ...
(read more) Thursday, January 29th, 2009The government will formulate the National Education Policy within three to four months based on the Qudrat-e-Khuda Education Commission report of 1974.Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said this at a meeting with 30 renowned academicians at the secretariat yesterday.He said the entire education system from primary to tertiary level would be re-designed according to the education policy."There is no need to form a new education commission. Considering recommendations from the academicians, we have decided to prepare a National Education Policy based on the Qudrat-e-Khuda Commission's report," the education minister said.He hoped that government will able to complete the education policy ...
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