Monday, March 17th, 2008The Supreme Court yesterday censured government law officers, including the attorney general, for staying away from the court at the start of a case that would decide the fate of a great lot of other cases under the emergency rules.None from the Attorney General's Office was seen around when the SC resumed hearing on the government appeal against the High Court judgment that declared illegal its sanction for trying Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case under the EPR.As the truancy of the government attorneys impeded court function, the 7-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice M ...
(read more) Monday, March 17th, 2008Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed yesterday dismissed the fear of 'silent famine' in the country, saying the government has overcome the fallout of consecutive floods and a devastating cyclone."There's no famine. It's true that there has been shortfall of food grains as the country suffered consecutive natural calamities -- flooding and devastating cyclone. But we've been able to overcome the problems," he said.The army chief's assertion came on the heels of Regulatory Reforms Commission Chairman Dr Akbar Ali Khan's observation that the country is passing through a 'silent famine'.Gen Moeen was speaking at the launching of a ...
(read more) Monday, March 17th, 2008Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar hired top criminal Sanjidul Islam Emon to kill a BNP leader and pourasabha chairman of Netrakona.But Emon, who was recently deported by Indian authorities, did not kill the chairman of Madan Pourasabha, Shafiqul Islam Liton, as they were relatives, he told the CID during an eight-day remand in a case filed under section 54.He also confessed to having at least 20 firearms including an AK-47 assault rifle and links to firearm dealers. He said his associates used to carry those firearms.During the remand that ended yesterday Emon disclosed his involvement in various criminal ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008The government has yet to respond to the Election Commission's (EC) call for it to decide by early March whether the state of emergency would be lifted or relaxed for city corporation polls in April.Lifting of the restrictions on indoor politics across the country has not been spelled out either.The commission wanted the government to lift the countrywide curbs on indoor politics by the end of March to let the political parties resume their activities and register with the commission.Meeting the chief adviser on February 4, it asked the military-backed caretaker administration to decide by early March if the ...
(read more) Sunday, March 16th, 2008Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said if people of all walks of life become aware of the negative impact of corruption, it would help check corruption in the society.He was speaking before a big anti-corruption rally in the port city organised by Corruption Prevention Committee (CPC) of Chittagong.Students from more than 40 schools and colleges, and representatives from non- government organisations (NGOs), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), shop owners' associations, ward commissioners, and socio-cultural organisations participated in the procession.They carried banner, festoons and placards inscribed with anti-corruption slogans like 'We want a ...
(read more) Saturday, March 15th, 2008Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called for using the vast resources of the Muslim countries to assist the Muslim Ummah and satisfy its various needs.He made the call while addressing the general discussion of the 11th summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on the second and concluding day at King Fahd Complex.Fakhruddin said, “Many of us in the Ummah are blessed with vast resources of varied kinds. We're eager to use these in a manner to assist our peoples and satisfy their various needs. Thus OIC should be able to help device methodologies for these purposes.”He ...
(read more) Saturday, March 15th, 2008Five physicians on the seven-member medical board formed by the Square Hospitals authorities to treat detained Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina were replaced Thursday night.Sources said Dr Touhiduzzaman, Dr Sarwar Alam, Dr Shah Alam, Dr Mirza Nazimuddin and Dr MH Millat have been replaced by Dr Ruhul Hasan Jawardar, Dr Hiramani Sharma, Dr Ziaul Haque, Dr Mizanur Rahman and Dr M Akhtar Hossain.Prof Sanawar Hossain and Dr Shahil Mahmud are the other two members of the medical board that was formed Wednesday, keeping Hasina's personal physicians out.The reorganized panel, treating the Awami League president amid strict confidentiality, will ...
(read more) Saturday, March 15th, 2008Followers of Khaleda Zia-appointed BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain have started urging the party's central executive committee members not to attend any meeting held in his absence.Party insiders said the initiative was taken as a group of leaders backed by Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, an adviser to Chairperson Khaleda Zia, are planning to hold a meeting of the central executive committee to establish their supremacy in the party leadership.Pro-Delwar leaders think that the followers of Hannan might challenge the leadership of Delwar if Hannan succeeds in holding the meeting.Hannan Shah, however, said yesterday that Khandaker Delwar, who is ...
(read more) Saturday, March 15th, 2008Villagers beat two cattle thieves to death and injured five others in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district on Thursday night.The dead were identified as Mohammad Julhas, 28, and Anwar Hossain, 32. The injured are Saidur Rahman, 25, Mohammad Anwar, 25, Mobarak, 28, Shahin Mollah, 32, and Motahar Hossain, 60.Police and locals said the gang came to Sungun village on the bank of the river Shitalakkhy in a trawler and tried to steal cattle from the house of Nizamuddin.As Nizamuddin cried for help, the neighbours came out of their houses and chased the gang.When the thieves were fleeing by ...
(read more) Saturday, March 15th, 2008The condition of Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil undergoing treatment at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore since March 3 deteriorated further yesterday as his kidneys are not functioning properly.“The AL leader's kidney condition has got worse than what it was while receiving treatment at the LabAid Cardiac Hospital in Dhaka. His body has swelled as fluid got trapped in his body,” Matiur Rahman, chief cardiologist at the LabAid Cardiac Hospital, told The Daily Star last night.Jalil talked to Matiur over phone at about 6:00pm yesterday and informed him about his physical condition.The AL leader ...
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