News 24 Hours

  LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam speaks to journalists at the Secretariat in the capital on Monday. LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Monday said the government will start talks with the main opposition party soon hoping that the next general election will be held with the participation of all political parties. Syed Ashraf, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said the government had already been in an internal dialogue with the opposition parties to overcome the present political crisis. The minister was talking to journalists after a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat in the capital.

  In this November 24, 2012 file photo, firefighters battle a blaze at Tazreen Fashions Ltd in Savar on the outskirts of the capital. The deadliest industrial fire in the country that killed 111 workers in Tazreen garments factory on November 24 was preplanned, said a probe report by the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). “Some factory officials had ‘ill-motive’ and they are responsible for the fire,” said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of BGMEA. The association accused several factory officials of being involved in the 'scheme' and recommended the culprits be tried. BGMEA unveiled the report at a press conference in the city.

  Khandker Mosharraf Hossain The government would start registering the names of Bangladeshis seeking jobs in Malaysia from January 13 next year, Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister, said on Monday. Registration will be done at 4,500 information and service centres at union parishad offices across the country, the minister said at a press conference at his Secretariat office in the afternoon. A database of 35,000 job seekers would be made, among them 10,000 would be sent to Malaysia at a cost of not more than Tk 40,000 per person, the minister added. Workers of Dhaka and Barisal divisions interested to go to Malaysia will have to register their names through online between January 13 and 15. Their names will be selected at random by lottery on January 16. Workers of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Sylhet divisions will be able to register their names between January 14 and 16. The names of the selected workers will be

  Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to send its team to Pakistan on security ground. Tigers were scheduled to play a T20 and a one-day international with Pakistan team on January 12 and 13 respectively. "Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has already sent a letter to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in this regard," BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon told reporters during a press briefing at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital on Monday afternoon. "The security situation of Pakistan has remained unchanged. So, considering the prevailing situation, we decided not to send Bangladesh cricket team to its January tour," Papon said. If Bangladesh had agreed for the visit, it would have been the first one by any country since armed militants attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore in 2009. Eight Pakistanis were killed and six Sri Lanka players wounded when a dozen of gunmen fired on their coach as they were being driven to the Gaddafi sta

  Former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda Former chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on Monday said election commission is strong enough to hold the next general election in free and fair manner. "There is no need to strengthen the election commission any more because it is strong enough to hold neutral polls," Huda said while addressing a seminar at Cirdap auditorium in the capital. He said, “It is vital that the government does not interfere into the activities of the election commission.” The former CEC also criticised the successive EC’s move to redraw the boundaries of constituencies ahead of the next parliamentary elections. Shushasoner Janya Nagorik (Sujon), an NGO, organised the seminar with the title “Activities of Election Commission and Citizens’ Thoughts”.

  Muggers allegedly stabbed a student of Chittagong Polytechnic Institute to death at Mehedibagh in the port city early Monday. Police detained a person for interrogation in this connection. Deceased Saidul Islam, 25, was the lead guitarist of a local band named ‘Chhuti’, reports our Chittagong correspondent quoting AKM Mohiuddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station. Saidul was returning to his CDA Colony residence around 2:30am after performing at a programme in Chittagong Club in the port city, the OC said. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body lying on a road in front of ‘Equity Fairy’ apartment near his house around 8:00am, the OC added. The body bores several stab injuries. Police later detained one of the security guards of the apartment for interrogation while another guard went into hiding after the incident, the police official said quoting security guard Shahbuddin, who took charge in the morning. The body was t

  Hillary Clinton US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was admitted to a New York hospital on Sunday with a blood clot linked to a concussion she suffered earlier this month, the State Department said in an announcement that looked sure to stir up speculation over the health of one of America's best-known political figures. Clinton, 65, has been out of the public spotlight since mid-December, when officials said she suffered a concussion after fainting due to a stomach virus. "In the course of a follow-up exam today, Secretary Clinton's doctors discovered a blood clot had formed, stemming from the concussion she sustained several weeks ago," State Department spokesman Philippe Reines said in a statement. "She is being treated with anti-coagulants and is at New York-Presbyterian Hospital so that they can monitor the medication over the next 48 hours," Reines said. "They will determine if any further action is required." US

Saudi ambassador expresses satisfaction over the verdict   Saudi official Khalaf Al Ali  A speedy trial tribunal of Dhaka on Sunday awarded death penalty to five people in Saudi Embassy official Khalaf Al Ali murder case. The condemned convicts are: Mohammad Al Amin, Saiful Islam Mamun, Rafiqul Islam Khokon, Akbar Ali Lalu and Selim Chowdhury. Khalaf, 45, an official at the consular section of the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka, was shot dead near his Gulshan house in the capital's diplomatic enclave on March 6 this year. Judge Mohammad Motahar Hossain of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 in Dhaka pronounced the verdict Sunday afternoon. Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al-Busairi and one of Khalaf brothers, Khalaf Al-Khaled, who were present at the courtroom, told reporters that they were satisfied over the verdict. Of the condemned killers, Al Amin, Mamun, Khokon and Lalu are behind the bars while Selim is on the run. The punishment of the fugitive

  In this December 9 photo, “Chhatra League activists” beat and hack a youth named Bishwajit, mistaking him for an opposition supporter in front of Victoria Park in Old Dhaka.  Another accused in Bishwajit Das murder case admitted his involvement with the killing before a magistrate in Dhaka on Sunday. In his statement, Emdadul Haque said he was an active activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League and an aspirant of president or general secretary of Jagannath University unit. Emdadul said he beat Bishwajit with an iron rod taking him for a Shibir activist as he wanted to come to limelight to get a vital post in BCL, a student body backed by the ruling Awami League. Before attaching Bishwajit, he beat up some pro-opposition lawyers and some Islami Chhatra Shibir activists near Ray Saheb Bazar area, he said while giving statement before Metropolitan Magistrate Shahriar Mahmud Adnan. Earlier on December 23, three accused -- Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, GM Rasheduzzama

  A microbus lies in wreckage after a bus smashed it killing 11 people on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi on Sunday.  At least 12 people were killed and 19 injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Narsingdi on Sunday. Police said all the deceased from Mirpur area of the capital were heading for the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet in the microbus. The accident happened at Chaitanya area in Shibpur upazila around 12:30pm when a Dhaka-bound bus of Haor Bilas Paribahan hit the microbus carrying 13 passengers, said Nazrul Islam, a sergeant of Narsingdi Highway Police. The official said eight of them died on the spot, two succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital while the rest were pronounced dead at Narsingdi District Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Ten of the deceased are: microbus driver Faruk Hossain, 30, Arif, 8, Safiullah, 65, Rafique, 40, Moyez Uddin, 42, A

  Dwellers of the capital's Dhaka University, Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas have been requested to return home by 7:00pm on December 31 to avert any untoward incidents and maintain law and order during the celebration of New Year 2013. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities on Sunday also discouraged people, who do not reside in the areas, from going there on the 31st night. Besides, a huge contingent of additional forces from police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) would be deployed at the capital's posh and diplomatic areas along with the installation of many check posts, operation of mobile courts and patrolling of the law enforcers at different strategic places of the city. DMP official sources said no gathering or rally would be allowed at any intersection or on flyovers on the New Year eve. SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT For the shake of security and maintenance of law and order, the DMP authorities have arranged a special traffic

  Justice Nizamul Huq A sector of pro-BNP and Jamaat lawyers on Sunday demanded removal of Justice Nizamul Huq from the post of High Court judge through Supreme Judicial Council. They also demanded trial of Justice Nazmul for his Skype conversation with Dr Ahmed Ziauddin, an expatriate Bangladeshi legal expert. Justice Nizamul has violated constitution and oath and committed misconduct holding Skype conversation about the trial proceedings of International Crimes Tribunal-1, said Khandker Mahbub Hossain, vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council. He was speaking at a press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium. Khandker Mahbub, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, urged the chief justice not to form any HC bench with Justice Nizamul for discharging any judicial function until the allegations against him regarding his Skype conversation are not settled. He said Justice Nizamul has to be removed from the High Court to uphold the image an

  L-R: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Dr Akbar Ali Khan Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday came down heavily on former adviser to a caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan saying that a person who failed to hold a simple election has no right to talk on the formula of interim government. “These days many persons came up with the formula of interim government. A former adviser also came up with a formula. This person while he was an adviser under President Iajuddin Ahmed failed to hold an election,” she said. The prime minister made the remarks while addressing the councilors and delegates of the party of different districts who went to Gono Bhaban today to greet Hasina on her reelection. She said: “There is no effectiveness of the formula given by a failed person. It will also fail.” Akbar Ali on Saturday suggested four proposals, including formation of an interim government comprising Awami League and BNP lawmakers, to end the political deadlock over holdi

Dhaka, Dec 29  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been named Awami League President for the 7th time in a row at the party's 19th triennial national council on Saturday. The incumbent General Secretary of the party Syed Ashraful Islam has also been reelected. The newly elected leadership will lead the Awami league for the next three years. AL Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim proposed Hasina's name for the position of President, while the party's outgoing Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif proposed Ashraf's name as GS at the party's council at Engineers Institution Auditorium. The councilors approved both and the Chairman of the party's Election Session Rahmat Ali announced the re-elections.

Ashraf retains general secretary post   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina  Sheikh Hasina was reelected president of Awami League for the seventh time while Syed Ashraful Islam retained his general secretary post in the national council of the ruling party on Saturday. Proposed by AL Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and supported by Syed Ashraf, Hasina was elected unopposed. Hasina, also the prime minister, inaugurated the 19th council of the party earlier in the day at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. Nearly 20,000 leaders and workers of Awami League from across the country had thronged the council venue much before the party chief inaugurated it. Moreover, the councillors and delegates joined the council.

This undated file photo shows the 15-storey BGMEA building on Begunbari-Hatirjheel canal on the foreground near Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. The government must demolish the illegally-constructed BGMEA building to free Begunbari canal before Hatirjheel development scheme opens to public, environmental and civic activists demanded at a demonstration on Saturday. The prime minister is expected to open the Hatirjheel-Begunbari project along with civic facilities that include Panthapath-Rampura connectivity, ring road and waterfront recreational space to public on January 2. The organisations of Citizens Rights Movement, Initiative for Peace, Sangkhubdha Nagarik Samaj and Combined Movement for Wetland Protection along with a number of other civic groups organised the demonstration in front of the 15-storey building in the capital's Karwan Bazar area. The prime minister should take initiative on demolishing the building of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and

  The victim died in the early hours of Saturday morning, a hospital official said. After fighting for life for nearly a fortnight, a medical student, who was gang-raped in New Delhi, died at a hospital in Singapore early Saturday. The 23-year-old girl died at the multi-organ speciality facility of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore at 2:15am Indian time, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting a hospital statement. The young woman, whose gang rape triggered huge revulsion and anger across the India, was admitted to the hospital Thursday morning in a critical condition. The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Kelvin Loh said they were very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4:45am local (Singapore) time. The girl’s family and officials from the High Commission of India in Singapore were by her side. The girl’s body was taken to Singapore General Hospital where some formalities are expected to be completed before her parents fly ba

  10 hurt in clash   Police pick up an activist of Hizb ut-Tahrir during a clash in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital Saturday soon. Photo: Palash Khan  Law enforcers picked up 39 activists of banned outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir after a clash with them in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Saturday. At least 10 people were injured during the clash, police said. Some 50 activists of the banned outfit tried to bring out a procession from in front of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) building near the press club at noon. But police resisted them and charged batons on the Hizb ut-Tahrir activists to disperse them that triggered the clash, Soma Rani Saha, a sub-inspector of Shahbagh Police Station.. Police picked up seven people from the spot, the SI said. A Rab team which joined police later also picked up 32 activists of Hizb ut-Tahrir from the scene, Captain Obhishek Ahmed, deputy director of legal and media wing of Rab headquarters, told The

  The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday arrested former secretary of the Bridges Division Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Superintendent Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi Mohammad Ferdous in the capital for their alleged link with Padma bridge graft. A team of the anti-graft body arrested them at Shahbagh around 1:00pm, Pronob Mukharjee, public relation officer of the ACC told The Daily Star. The arrest was made eight days after the ACC filed a case against seven persons, including Mosharraf for conspiring to commit bribery in the Padma bridge project. The anti-graft body however did not include in the case former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury. On December 17, the ACC filed the case with Banani Police Station. The other accused are: Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber; Deputy Managing Director of Engineering and Planning Consultant, a

  Internet services of state-owned BTCL remained suspended all over the country since Wednesday afternoon due to an upstream bandwidth down with Singapore Telecom (SingTel). "Total internet upstream bandwidth 2 stm 16 with SingTel line downed at 4:50pm," Mir Mohammad Morshed, director (public relations and publication) of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd told The Daily Star. However, the BTCL has already undertaken steps to reconnect with the upstream band, he said.

 Dhaka Eminent citizens at a discussion on Wednesday said democracy cannot be protected depending only on two heads of major political parties -- Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. “It won’t be good for democracy if all depend only on the two top leaders. The mid-level leaders who are elected by people have the greater responsibilities,” said eminent journalist ABM Musa. About the present worsening political situation, noted columnist Syed Abul Moksud said other top leaders of both the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP are more responsible for this than Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. Weekly Aajkal, published from New York, arranged the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club with its chief editor and publisher Zakaria Masud Ziko in the chair. The programme was addressed, among others, by senior journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Dhaka University professor Dr Asif Nazrul, and ruling party MP Golam Mowla Roni. ABM Musa

She also demands restoration of CG system   BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia speaks at a rally in Gabtoli of the capital on Wednesday.  BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday threatened to resort to hartal if the fuel prices were further increased. Khaleda was speaking at Karwan Bazar, the second venue of her five roadside rallies scheduled for today. Earlier in her first rally venue in Gabtoli, Khaleda reiterated that no parliamentary elections will be allowed to be held without the caretaker government system. During her nearly 40 minutes speech in Karwan Bazar, she also said they resorted to street agitation programme only to protest the government's misruling, looting and anarchic activities. "We have given four years time to the government, but it failed to make any development of the country," Khaleda said. "The life of people becomes unbearable and they want to get rid of this government," Khaleda added. The leader of the opposition in

ICT-2 closes arguments   Abul Kalam Azad  International Crimes Tribunal-2 may deliver the judgement on the war crimes case against expelled Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abul Kalam Azad any day as the proceedings of the case concluded on Wednesday. The tribunal however did not fix a date for the verdict. The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hasan will pronounce the verdict once it becomes fit for the pronouncement, Prosecutor Sahidur Rahman told reporters emerging from the courtroom. Azad, who went into hiding, is facing eight specific charges of crimes against humanity that he had allegedly committed during the country's Liberation War in 1971. Earlier on December 23, the tribunal started placing closing argument against Azad which ended on Wednesday. According to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, the tribunal could give its verdict after completion of argument of the prosecution and the defence.

  Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Wednesday said the primary initiatives to try the war criminals halted on August 15, 1975 after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He said the Martial Law Authority had repealed the Collaborators Act in December 31, 1975. Responding to a question on why the trial of war criminals had not taken place in the last 40 years, the minister claimed late president Gen Ziaur Rahman had stopped the process of the trial during his tenure by cancelling the Collaborators Act. The minister was speaking at a press conference at the Press Information Department to dispel the confusion created by opposition leaders over the trial on war crimes trial. Several thousands accused had been released and the operation of 73 tribunals had stopped during his tenure till 1982, Inu informed. Inu also claimed that Gen HM Ershad after assuming power had also stopped the trial process of wa

  Children celebrate Merry Christmas with Santa Claus at Sonargaon Hotel premises in the capital on Christmas day. The Christian community of the country and elsewhere in the world is celebrating Christmas on Tuesday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Christian belief, God appeared on earth through his son, Jesus Christ, on this day. Christians are offering special prayers in churches on the occasion as it is one of the most important days of the year for them. The biggest religious festival of the Christians, Christmas is a celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and humans. The celebrations started on the Christmas eve with singing carols in public places like lobbies, restaurants and lounges. The day is a public holiday. The day's celebrations also include decoration of Christmas trees with colourful lights, distribution of gifts by Santa Claus to children, family gatherings, f

BNP regrets public sufferings in advance of rally   Tariqul Islam  BNP spokesperson Tariqul Islam on Tuesday claimed that a large number of people will join the roadside rallies of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia slated for tomorrow. Khaleda is scheduled to address six roadside rallies during a mass contact campaign in the capital on Wednesday as part of her movement for the reinstatement of the caretaker government system before the next parliamentary elections. Khaleda will start Wednesday's programme by addressing a roadside rally in Gabtoli at 11:00am and then address rallies in Karwan Bazar, Dholaikhal, Jatrabari, Sabujbagh and Badda. The BNP also regretted the upcoming sufferings of the Dhaka city dwellers that they would face tomorrow due to Khaleda's rallies. The Wednesday's rally will turn into a human sea, said Tariqul, also a standing committee member of the BNP. He was addressing a press briefing in the party's central office at Nayapal

  The December 9 photo shows Bishwajit Das being beaten up by BCL activists in Old Dhaka during an opposition blockade. Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested one more person in Chapainawabganj on Monday night in connection with the gruesome murder of 24-year-old tailor Bishwajit Das. With the arrest, the total number of arrestees in the killing stood at 11. Emdadul was brought to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) media center immediately after his arrest. Emdadul Haque, was arrested from Swapnopuri Rest House in Chapainawabganj town Monday night, Gazi Rabiul Islam, assistant commissioner (media and community service) of DMP, told The Daily Star. Emdadul, who completed his Master's Degree in Philosophy from Jagannath University (JnU) recently, was identified through photographs and video footage published and aired in the media, the DMP official said. Earlier on December 23, three detained students of Jagannath University confessed to their involvement with t

  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) authorities to upgrade its standard to compete with the private television channels in the country. “BTV will have to develop its standard of programmes to compete with the private television channels,” Hasina said while inaugurating the programmes marking the completion of 48 years of BTV through video conferencing from her official residence, Gono Bhaban. Hasina said the authorities of BTV, the only terrestrial TV channel of the country, will have to give more attention to their programmes with a view to attract more viewers. “People all over the country, including in the villages, watch Bangladesh Television (BTV)… the authorities should pay more attention to upgrade the standard of its programmes,” she said adding that the state-run television channel should be well organised. The prime minister urged the BTV authorities to take further ini

At least 20 garment workers were injured as they clashed with law enforcers blocking the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on the outskirts of the capital demanding their arrears. During the clash that ensued around the noon, the incident of chases and counter-chases took place where police had to fire several rubber bullets and charge batons to disperse the agitating workers. The incident erupted around 11:00am as nearly two hundred of workers of BNS Sweater Ltd started demonstration blocking the highway for more than an hour demanding their arrears of last two months, said Ali Ahmed, deputy director of industrial police of Dhaka zone. The road communications on the highway came to a total halt following the demonstration, he said. The authorities of the factory kept the operation of the unit closed since December 15 due to lack of work order, police official added. On information police rushed to the spot and requested them to make the highway free, Ali Ahmed said. As

  Demonstrators defied a ban to protest against the gang rape. The photo is taken from A policeman who was injured during violent protests over the gang rape of a woman in the Indian capital Delhi has died in hospital. Subhash Chand Tomar, 46, was injured in clashes at the weekend in which more than 100 people, including at least 60 officers, were injured. The rape, which happened on a bus, has left the woman in a critical condition and caused outrage in India. Indian PM Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm in the city. Singh said his government would "make all possible efforts to ensure security and safety to all women". The victim continues to be on life support and in a critical condition in a city hospital, doctors say. Six people, including the bus driver, have already been arrested in connection with the incident. Tomar, a constable with the city police, was injured during the protests at India Gate in the heart of the capital on Sunday. Violence erup

  Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Hafeez unveils the T20 trophy ahead of the 1st T20 match, at Bangalore on Sunday. Pakistan is set to play its first cricket series in India for five years amid tight security. The first bilateral series between the two countries since 2007, comprising two T20 matches and three one-day internationals, begins with a T20 game in the southern city of Bangalore. Ties between the two countries' cricket authorities were hit by the 2008 Mumbai attacks, in which 175 people died. The attack was blamed on a Pakistan-based militant group. India have left veteran left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan out of the series against Pakistan. Sachin Tendulkar has retired from the 50-over format, but fellow batsman Virender Sehwag retains his ODI place. Reports say a massive security ring has been thrown up outside a stadium in Bangalore, where the match begins on Tuesday evening. Bomb squad officers, sniffer dogs

Ethnic Rakhine men hold homemade weapons as they walk in front of a house that was burnt during fighting between Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya communities in Sittwe June 10, 2012. Photo: Reuters AP, United Nations The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming positive changes in Myanmar but expressing serious concern at an upsurge of sectarian violence between Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine state. The resolution adopted by the 193-member world body late Monday urges government action to improve the situation of the Rohingya Muslim minority "and to protect all their human rights, including their right to a nationality". There is widespread resentment of the Rohingya community, whom many in Myanmar regard as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh out to steal their land. The resolution noted substantial efforts by Myanmar's government towards political reform, democratisation, national reconciliation and improvements in

  The Christian community of the country and elsewhere in the world is celebrating Christmas on Tuesday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Christian belief, God appeared on earth through his son, Jesus Christ, on this day. Christians are offering special prayers in churches on the occasion as it is one of the most important days of the year for them. The biggest religious festival of the Christians, Christmas is a celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and humans. The celebrations started on the Christmas eve with singing carols in public places like lobbies, restaurants and lounges. The day is a public holiday. The day's celebrations also include decoration of Christmas trees with colourful lights, distribution of gifts by Santa Claus to children, family gatherings, feasts and special church prayers. Security measures have been beefed up in the capital and elsewhere in the coun

Dhaka, Dec 24  The second war crimes tribunal has asked former Railway Minister Suranjit Sengupta to explain his announcement of a timeline for verdicts to hang 14 criminals. Citing a report of the daily Amar Desh of Dec 23, the court observed that the sacked minister, currently in the Cabinet without a portfolio, had said 14 marked war criminals would be hanged. Sengupta reportedly said in a public rally, "The sentences to hang them will be executed. No one will be able to stop it." The senior Awami League leader, who had to resign from his job following a cash recovery scandal, had reportedly said that the trials would be over by next year. The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal – 2, set up to expedite trials of crimes against humanity, said in its order Sengupta's statement had come to its notice wherein a "significant member" of parliament touched upon a time frame for pronouncing the verdicts. The order then said that the tribunal, hea

Dhaka, Dec 24 A Dhaka court on Monday sentenced five people to death in Ajit Karati murder case of Keraniganj. Judge A B M Sajedur Rahman of the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 also sentenced two others to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and fined then Tk 10,000 each. They will have to serve an extra year if they fail to pay the fine. The court also exempted 12 others as their link with the murder could not be established. According to Public Prosecutor Mahbubur Rahman, the death awardees are Salauddin, Monoranjan, Gopal Karati, Umesh Karati and Poran Karati. Only Umesh Karati is absconding of the death awardees. Shahidul Islam Munna and Radhakant Karati were sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment. According to reports, Ajit Karati was killed on Apr 20, 2010 in an attack by the accused over a land dispute. His brother Tapan Karati filed a murder case with the Keraniganj police the following day. Police pressed charges against 23 people two months later, and the court

  A Dhaka court on Monday placed a general manager (GM) and two deputy general managers (DGM) of Sonali Bank on a 12-day remand each in two cases filed for Hall-Mark loan scam. Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after two assistant directors of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), also the investigation officers of the cases, produced them before it with a 14-day remand prayer. Meer Mahidur Rahman, the general manager (OSD) of Sonali Bank, and its two DGMs-- Sheikh Altaf Hossain (suspended) and Shafijuddin Ahmed (suspended) -- were arrested Sunday afternoon in connection with the scam. Earlier on October 4, after two and a half months' investigation, the ACC filed 11 cases against 27 top officials of Sonali Bank and Hall-Mark Group for misappropriating over Tk 1,568 crore in depositor's money. The amount is part of the more than Tk 2,600 crore credit that the controversial group in collaboration with some bank officials

  In this December 10 photo, BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaks to newsmen after he was taken into a microbus of the Detective Branch of Police in the capital. A Dhaka court again on Monday rejected the bail petitions of BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir accused in two cases for torching vehicles during the December 9 road blockade. Judge (vacation) Md Helal Uddin of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court gave the decision after holding hearing on the bail petitions filed challenging the lower court rejection order. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on December 11 rejected Fakhrul's bail petitions and ordered the authorities concerned to send him to jail in the same cases. On December 18, Fakhrul's lawyer filed the bail petitions challenging the lower court rejection order. The two cases were filed with Paltan and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations for torching vehicles during the Dec

    The students of Islamic University (IU) blocked Kushtia-Khulna highway for two hours for the second consecutive day on Monday demanding immediate resumption of their academic activities. Nearly 1,000 students brought out a procession on the campus around 10:00am and also laid siege to the administrative building of the university for nearly one hour and padlocked it, reports our Kushtia correspondent. Later, they paraded towards the highway in front of their university and barricaded it from 11:00am, disrupting vehicular movements between south and northern region of the country. Earlier on Sunday, the students also barricaded the highway for one and a half hour over the same demand. The agitating students have been demanding for a long seeking removal of their vice-chancellor, pro-vice chancellor and treasurer for their alleged involvement in irregularities in the recruitment of the teachers and officials. The students withdrew the barricade at around 1:00

  Three people were killed and seven injured in two separate road accidents in Gazipur in the early hours of Monday. Of the victims, two died in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur while another in Sadar upazila. Raiz Uddin, a sub-inspector of Mawna Highway Police Station (proposed), said an accident occurred around 3:45am when a Dhaka-bound pick-up van carrying a family of five members crashed into a roadside tree at Beraiderchala in Sreepur after its driver lost control over the steering. Khushi Akter, 8, and her six-month-old sister Halima died on the spot, reports a correspondent from Gazipur. Khushi's father Abul Kalam, mother Anika Akter and her brother Khorshed Alam, who were injured during the accident, have been undergoing treatment at Gazipur Sadar Hospital. All the family members hailed from Bhuiyan Char of Sherpur district were travelling to Dhaka. Police seized the pick-up van while its driver managed to flee the

  (L-R) Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, GM Rasheduzzaman Shaon and Rafiqul Islam Shakil Three accused in the Bishwajit killing case on Sunday confessed to killing the 24-year old tailor on December 9. The accused are: Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, GM Rasheduzzaman Shaon and Rafiqul Islam Shakil. They gave the confessional statements before Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Erfan Ullah when Tajul Islam, an inspector of Detective Branch of police and also investigation officer of the case, produced the trio before the magistrate. Details of their statements however could not be known immediately. After recording the statements they were sent to jail. Taking Bishwajit for a pro-blockade activist during the BNP-led 18-party countrywide blockade on December 9, a group of Chhatra League activists of Jagannath University swooped on him around 9:00am on his way to work. The victim was declared dead at Mitford Hospital around 10:00am on the day.

  Sachin Tendulkar Record-breaking India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has retired from one-day international cricket. In a statement, the 39-year-old said: "I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup-winning Indian team." The 'Little Master' made his one-day debut in 1989 and collected 463 caps. He excelled in the 50-over format and became the world's top-run scorer with 18,426 at an average of 44.83, including a record 49 centuries. His last one-day international cricket game was win against Pakistan in Asia Cup on 18 March, in which he scored a half-century. His form has dipped in recent years, however, and his average in one-day cricket in 2012 fell to 31.5, a figure that was boosted by a knock of 114 in his penultimate innings against lesser lights Bangladesh which was his 100th on the international stage. Tendulkar added: "The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in r

Hearing resumes tomorrow   Abul Kalam Azad  International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday adjourned till tomorrow the recording of closing arguments in war crimes case against expelled Jamaat-e-Islami member Abul Kalam Azad. The case against Azad, popularly known as Bachchu Razakar has reached on final stage with the recording of closing arguments which started December 23. The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hasan recorded the arguments for nearly two hours starting from around 10:45am. The two other members are: Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Judge M Shahinur Islam. During today's hearing, Prosecutor Sahidur Rahman placed arguments based on the testimonies of nine prosecution witnesses. The witnesses earlier had brought four specific charges against Azad. The prosecution will place the arguments of a total of 22 witnesses against the expelled Jamaat leader during the session of recording of closing arguments in Azad case. The charges include

  Journalists will stage a sit-in in front of the home ministry on January 1 to press home their demands including the immediate arrest of the killers of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. The journalists will also hold a grand rally on January 20 in Dhaka and observe a work abstention programme from 11:00am to 2:00pm in all print media the same day. Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, president of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), announced the programme at a mass hunger strike on Sunday. The six-hour hunger strike started around 11:00am on the premises of the National Press Club in the capital. Ruhul Amin Gazi, president of another BFUJ faction, presided over the hunger strike. Sagar, news editor at the private TV station Maasranga and his wife Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were killed in the early hours of February 11 at their rented apartment in the capital's West Rajabazar. The hunger strike was jointly organised

  AMA Muhith  Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday said when the world’s leading dailies like the Guardian speak about the prospects of country’s economy then everyone becomes elated, but when the government told the same thing it did not sound good to some people. “Our character is that when the Economist, Wall Street Journal and the Guardian write something positive (about Bangladesh) then everyone become elated. But, when we speak the same thing it doesn’t sound right,” he told reporters in reply to their queries at his Secretariat office. The finance minister was talking to reporters after two separate delegations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and Institute of Cost Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) met him at his Secretariat office. Taking a swipe at a research think tank without mentioning its name, Muhith said: “Its findings are rubbish. I doubt if there is any scholar in it…. and in recent times, many newspape

  Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu speaks at a press conference in Jeddah. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that he would soon visit Myanmar as the head of a high-level delegation including OIC foreign ministers as part of efforts to stop the attacks against Rohingya Muslims, reports the Arab News. Addressing a press conference, he said the visit came in response to an invitation he received from Myanmar President Thein Sein, the Saudi Arabian newspaper said. “We have not cancelled our pre-planned visit to Myanmar but it was postponed due to insecure conditions in the country,” he told Arab News. Speaking about the upcoming OIC summit in Cairo, he said Syria, Palestine, Myanmar and Islamophobia would figure high on its agenda. “We are now in the process of making necessary preparations to make the summit successful,” the secretary-general said. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry delegation recently visited OIC h

They want to double bilateral trade by 2016   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shakes hand with her Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka on Saturday.  Bangladesh and Thailand on Saturday agreed to increase mutual cooperation in some specific areas envisaging to doubling the bilateral trade by 2016. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra acknowledged the importance of enhancing connectivity between the two nations through increased regional cooperation and developing roads and shipping infrastructures linking Bangladesh and Thailand. The two premiers en-tasked the Bangladesh-Thailand Joint Commission to discuss and make recommendations on specific areas of cooperation with a major focus on connectivity, according to a joint statement signed on Saturday on the occasion of the Thai premier’s visit to Bangladesh. The two sides recognised that the region is being increasingly used by crimin