Bangladesh News

5 lakh-strong security to guard UZ polls

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 The government has decided to deploy over 500,000 security personnel across the country to ensure peaceful holding of elections in 481 upazila parishads on January 22. Sources said the home ministry has already laid out a security plan for the polls and members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), coastguard, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) will fan out as mobile and striking forces across the country from January 16 as per the arrangement. The Election Commission (EC) has already decided not to deploy members of the armed forces in the upazila polls, which will be the first election under the ... (read more)

Govt starts with good fertiliser stock

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 The new government has started its journey with a favourable stock of fertiliser to meet the demands of farmers in Boro season while experts have suggested making urea available in the market instead of distributing it through a controlled system. “We have arrangement for over 13 lakh tonnes of urea against an estimated demand for 12 lakh tonnes in Boro season. We are hopeful that there will be no shortage of fertiliser,” Mokhlesur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), told The Daily Star yesterday. He said the current stock of urea is 5.13 lakh tonnes while about four lakh tonnes ... (read more)

Fertiliser supply to be ensured

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 New Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday gave indication of reducing diesel price and ensuring supply of fertiliser to the farmers to help them during the current Boro season. She said an announcement about diesel price might come soon from the prime minister. "We do not want the farmers to suffer from a shortage of fertiliser and cannot let it happen," she told journalists on her first day in office. The agriculture minister said the present government's first priority will be to bring down the prices of essentials. "If any government sincerely wants to check the price hike of essentials, it is possible. We had ... (read more)

Govt to fight terror with neighbours

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 Bangladesh will hold talks with neighbouring countries to work out effective measures to fight militancy and terrorism for ensuring peace and stability in South Asia, said newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni yesterday. Dipu Moni, the country's first woman foreign minister, made the remark at her office while replying to a query from journalists about the anti-terrorism Joint Task Force in South Asia proposed by Sheikh Hasina. "Militancy and terrorism are not limited to geographical boundary. For that reason, we will take effective steps to fight it in consultation with our neighbouring countries as we want peace and stability in the ... (read more)

Extortion, extremism to be stamped out

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 Newly appointed Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun yesterday vowed to establish rule of law in the country by rooting out terrorism, extremism and extortion from the society. The country's first female home minister believes that terrorism and extremism cannot be eliminated only by suing criminals and putting them behind the bars. “We will have to identify the sources of terrorism, extremism and extortion. And if we can take effective steps to root those out Bangladesh will not be lagging behind,” she told reporters on her first day in office. Replying to a query, Sahara warned the law enforcing agencies to remain careful ... (read more)

Admin to be freed of politicisation

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 The new government will free the administration from politicisation to fulfil the expectations of the people, said LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday. "We will put an end to politicisation of all institutions including the judiciary, Public Service Commission and Election Commission to make the administration efficient," Ashraf told journalists at the Secretariat. On his first day in office, Ashraf also expressed his desire to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country through socio-economic development. The minister also said they would work to root out corruption and bring the corrupt people to book. Ashraf said their major three challenges are ... (read more)

First task is to fulfil hopes of people

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government's first task is to fulfil people's hopes and aspirations. "A huge responsibility is bestowed on us and we shall try our best to meet people's expectations," Hasina, also the president of Awami League, told reporters in her immediate reaction after swearing in as the head of the government. She said they will have to improve the law and order situation and bring the prices of essentials within the purchasing capacity of the common people so that they can lead a better life. The AL chief said they will ensure smooth supply of ... (read more)

Hasina emerges with a change

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 The new prime minister of the country, Sheikh Hasina, returns to power after seven years with a new vision of change as pledged by her party Awami League (AL). Overcoming the uncertainty that gripped her political career following the 1/11/2007 regime change, she rebounded with a landslide victory in the parliamentary poll held at the very end of last year, which was also her party's biggest electoral success under her leadership. Stepping out of jail after over 11 months in detention, the AL chief started preparing for the ballots without wasting time. Her charter for change, which includes building of ... (read more)

New govt starts with healthy food stock

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 Although the current foreign currency reserve can be a reason for a slight discomfort of the Awami League-led grand alliance government, it will very likely be nothing major as the new regime is starting with a pretty healthy food stock. A Bangladesh Bank high official said there is no fear of pressure on the foreign currency reserve as the prospect of food production in the country is good and pressure on food import is low. Yesterday the foreign currency reserve was 5.32 billion dollars, which is, according to the present import trend, equal to the import bill for two and a half ... (read more)

Small and fresh

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 The small cabinet with fresh faces is something very rare in the arena of the political culture of the country, which has created a space for new leadership and political reforms, civil society members and educationists said. Keeping most of the stalwarts out of the cabinet is the primary sign that Awami League (AL) truly wants a change, but incorporation of different party leaders into the cabinet made it a big challenge whether it will be able to work as a team, they said in reaction to the formation of the new cabinet yesterday evening. They also said the success of the ... (read more)