Tuesday, August 1st, 2006Authorities of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) in an urgent notice yesterday announced the university closed sine die following a violent student movement demanding deferment of examinations. The authorities also directed the students to vacate all the dormitories by 5:00pm yesterday 'to ensure security of life and property and to bring back a congenial atmosphere of education' on the campus.The notice came from an hour-long emergency meeting of teachers yesterday.At least 30 people were injured when the students demonstrating for deferment of examinations clashed with police on Buet campus Sunday night.Hearing the authorities' decision, angry ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 1st, 2006Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, whose membership of the parliament was cancelled by a High Court judgement in 2003 on grounds of election fraud, is continuing as a lawmaker while the tenure of the current parliament is scheduled to expire on October 27 this year, thanks to a stay order by the Supreme Court. Effectiveness of the historical judgement of the High Court (HC) passed on September 14, 2003 has ostensibly been lost due to the death of the petitioner Shudangsu Shekhor Halder, who contested against Sayedee from the parliamentary constituency of Pirojpur 1 in 2001 election. Halder died in ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 1st, 2006National Front of Teachers and Employees (NFTE), who are on indefinite strike, will barricade roads and waterways in all districts today to force the government meet their demands.NFTE's blockade will however exclude the capital. Their demands include cent per cent basic salary from the government exchequer and elimination of discrimination in providing other facilities.The NFTE, a platform of 11 teachers' and employees' organisations, will blockade road and waterways from 11:00am to noon. NFTE will also organise representatives' meetings at educational institutions from tomorrow to August 5 as part of their month long agitation programme.The leaders of NFTE will ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 1st, 2006Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed yesterday ruled out the possibility of withdrawing corruption cases against the deposed dictator HM Ershad by saying "The judiciary would follow its own course".Moudud made the remark at a press conference at Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs ministry in reply to a question about the speculation that the government reached an understanding with Ershad to withdraw the corruption cases against him if he joins the ruling alliance.Moudud termed the question a hypothetical one and said that he was unaware of any such understanding. "I do not think there was such an understanding with ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 1st, 2006Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said he will not tolerate anyone in the party ranks defying his decision on whether to join the ruling coalition. He voiced the warning at a view-exchange meeting with grassroots level leaders from Comilla, Chandpur and Brahmanbaria districts.On the issue of joining the four-party alliance, the former president said, "I only have shared my views with the BNP high-ups and it has yet to be finalised. However, I hope we will be able to reach a consensus."Many of the JP rank and file, meanwhile, said they will back the party chairman ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 1st, 2006The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has identified a huge subsidy on energy products, unrest in garment industry, power crisis and possible political instability centring the next general elections as major challenges facing the country.The ADB yesterday released Bangladesh Quarterly Economic Update that suggested the government to withdraw all kinds of energy subsidy gradually to allow the national economy and individual consumers to adapt to higher energy prices.Success in the garment sector can be reversed if social compliance issues, including labour unrest, are not addressed, says the ADB report released at a press conference at its office in the capital."Recurrence ...
(read more) Tuesday, August 1st, 2006The Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition combine yesterday decided to hold a national convention in the capital this month to give strategic directives to the district and upazila leaders.The convention would inform the leaders about the latest political situation and give them directives to further strengthen the opposition in different districts and upazilas."We have decided to hold the convention to inform them about the latest political scenario, to convey political decisions to our grassroots leaders and to strengthen the opposition combine's activities where we are yet to have an organisational shape," a senior leader told The Daily Star after a ...
(read more) Monday, July 31st, 2006Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday claimed that the government has assured him of withdrawing all corruption charges against him while the state minister for home affairs denied having any such plan 'at the moment'."They have assured me that they will have all the cases against me disposed of. I don't want to see myself in jail again and I have almost decided to join the four-party alliance," Ershad told his party leaders at a view-exchange meeting in the capital.On the other hand, State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, who along with Tarique Rahman, met Ershad on last Thursday, ...
(read more) Monday, July 31st, 2006Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition coalition's six-day road march programme ended yesterday in a ceremonial mood as thousands of demonstrators sought votes for boat, the electoral symbol of AL in the coming parliamentary election.The six-kilometre street from Aminbazar in Savar to Russel Square at Dhanmondi in the capital turned into a human sea yesterday as thousands of opposition activists kept joining the march at different spots on Mirpur Road.Waving colourful banners, festoons and placards and waving replicas of boats on rickshaws, opposition activists started marching at 5:00pm from Aminbazar area amid unprecedented security measures.As the marchers reached Russel ...
(read more) Monday, July 31st, 2006History seems to be repeating itself, unfolding events similar to those centring former autocrat Ershad in 1996 and 2001.With the election approaching fast, the deposed president is again becoming a protagonist in national politics as the major political parties look for an ally in him to consolidate their position in the upcoming election.The way things have been panning out in the last few days reminds one of the BNP's political manoeuvring to have Ershad on its side in 1996 and 2001. The party is desperate again to have him aboard the ruling coalition led by it.Branded as an autocrat by ...
(read more) 
