News 24 Hours

A Tk 9 billion ‘re-financing scheme’ has been planned to prop up the flagging capital market with the government nearing the end of its term.

1 / 1 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announces Bangladesh will take part in the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

DHAKA: The parliamentary standing committee on home ministry has recommended modernizing Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and increasing the number of Battalion and personnel. The recommendation came from the 47th meeting of the parliamentary committee at parliament building on Wednesday. The parliamentary committee said RAB should be modernized through constructing permanent offices, training and other supports.

DHAKA: Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Wedneday categorically said the verdicts of war crimes trial would be executed by in July-August. The information minister came with the assertion while addressing a discussion meeting held at Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) Party office in the city in the afternoon. The lawmaker said, “No conspiracy of Khaleda Zia will be fruitful against the trial of war criminals. The verdict will be executed after completing legal procedures.”

DHAKA: The government has appointed two high officials as administrators for Dhaka (South) and Dhaka (North) city corporations. The new administrators are Additional Secretary of Local Government Department KM Mozammel Haque and Additional Secretary Ashok Madhob Roy of same department.

Shamim Reza. Star file photo A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Tuesday seeking its directive on the government to form a judicial commission to probe the allegation of police torture on Narayanganj’s Shamim Reza that led to his death. Twenty-six-year old Shamim died in police custody in Narayanganj on May 22. Victim’s father Haji Alauddin filed the petition.

Market buildings blaze in Narayanganj city on Tuesday. Photo: Focus Bangla At least 30 tailor outfitters and shops were gutted and five people, including a firefighter, injured when a fire swept through a market in Narayanganj city early Tuesday. The fire originated around 5:00am on the ground floor of two-storey Sher-e-Bangla Market, our Narayanganj correspondent reported quoting locals and Fire Service and Civil Defence officials. Nine firefighting units from Haziganj, Mondalpara and Demra fire services rushed to the spot and doused the fire after one and a half hours of frantic efforts, KM Saiful Islam, deputy director of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, told The Daily Star.

Unidentified miscreants hurled three crude bombs at Foreign Minister Dipu Moni’s residence in the capital Tuesday morning. None, including the minister’s husband and their two children, who were at home during the attack, were not hurt, Manirul Islam Kabir, the public relations officer of the foreign ministry, told The Daily Star. The minister, who was on way to Brussels, made a stopover in London when the news of explosions reached her over phone, he added. “The bombs were hurled at 5:15am at the rooftop of the minister’s 37 Eskaton Garden Road residence,” Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station, told The Daily Star confirming the attack.

RANGAMATI: Four different organizations have called daylong hartal in three hill districts for Thursday protesting approved amendment of land law for resolving land disputes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The organizations also termed the amendment self-destructive and anti-state. General Secretary of Parbatya Jubo Front Shahjahan Alam made the hartal announcement in a press release on Tuesday afternoon.

DHAKA: The National Economic Council (NEC), the government’s highest economic policy-making body, approved a Tk 73,984 crore revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the current FY 2013-14. The approval came from a meeting held in the NEC conference room with chairperson of the NEC and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Tuesday.

DHAKA: The dawn-to-dusk hartal, called by opposition BNP and its wings, was observed in 10 districts on Tuesday amid stray incidents of violence. The districts were Comilla, Joypurhat, Laxmipur, Kishoreganj, Feni, Rajbari, Tangail, Narsingdi, Faridpur and Madaripur. Hartal supporters brought out procession and vandalized vehicles in most of the districts, and exploded cocktails.

DHAKA: Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan, lawyer of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, on Monday categorically said warrant against Tarique Rahman by Interpol is “ineffective”. The adviser to BNP Chairperson came up with the observation in a press conference held at Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Bhaban in the noon. He said, “There is no legal rights to use Interpol to arrest any political person and there is no example to arrest any political person by using Interpol.” The government is trying to conduct propaganda about this just fearing the popularity of Tarique.

DHAKA: Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has urged the authorities concerned to enlist all export-oriented products to USA under generalize system of preference (GSP) privilege. FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin came up with the plea in a discussion meeting with 30-member US delegation at FBCCI Bhaban in the city on Monday.  The FBCCI president also urged the delegation to give preferential market access for all exportable Bangladeshi products, including readymade garments, pharmaceuticals and green technologies.

DHAKA: Five people were killed on Sunday night when a crane fell upon some curious people while it was being used to rescue a truck in Jurain of the city. Two of the deceased were identified as Tarek Hasan, 8, son of Abdur Rashid, resident of Jurain rail gate area and Shafiqul Islam, 27, son of Hazi Oliwallah of Munshiganj. Source said that the crane fell upon people when it was being used to rescue a truck near Shyampur Thana at around 09:00pm, leaving three people dead on the spot.

DHAKA: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by opposition BNP is underway in Bogra and Sirajganj districts Monday. BNP called hartal protesting arrest warrant against party’s senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman. Earlier on Sunday, a Dhaka court issued arrest warrant against BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman in a graft case.

DHAKA: A Dhaka Court Sunday issued arrest warrant against BNP senior vice chairman Tarrique Rahman in a graft case. It also allowed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take help from Interpol in this connection. Acting Judge of Dhaka-3 Special Court Mozammel Haque passed the order in response to a petition of the ACC.

DHAKA: Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday categorically said new pay commission would be formed during the tenure of the incumbent government. The finance minister came up with the disclosure while talking to journalists after a meeting of Cabinet Purchase Committee at secretariat. He told the journalists: “The earlier government formed a pay commission and I will also form a new pay commission.”

Rickshaws and buses are seen plying the street in the capital’s Motijheel commercial area Sunday morning during BNP-led 18-party alliance enforced hartal (shutdown). Photo: Palash Khan In a bid to keep people off the streets, pickets blasted crude bombs and carried out vandalism in different parts of the capital on Sunday during the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance-called countrywide daylong hartal . The opposition combined enforced the shutdown demanding restoration of the caretaker government system, unconditional release of its leaders and protesting a “ban” on rallies. Violence has been reported from Panthapath, Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Rampura, and Shahbagh areas.

DHAKA: The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal of opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance is underway amid stray incidents of violence Sunday. The alliance has called hartal protesting ban on holding rally, public meeting and demanding immediate release of all opposition leaders, restoration of caretaker government system and ousting government.  Additional law enforcers have been deployed in different points of the capital to avert any untoward situation.

NARAYANGANJ: At least 10 leaders and activists of BNP and Chhatra Dal, including two joint conveners of metropolitan JCD, were injured as they engaged in a clash with police in the district in early hours of hartal on Sunday. The clash erupted around 6:00am as the law enforcers obstructed Chhatradal’s attempt of vandalizing and setting fire to several vehicles.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has once again urged the opposition BNP to join the Parliament and place their demands about how to conduct the forthcoming national election. The invitation comes on Saturday, two days after the 18-Party alliance which the BNP leads, asked for talks to accept a caretaker administration. “Attend Parliament and say what you want,” Hasina said in a meeting with ruling Awami League’s Kishoreganj district unit. The opposition has been staying away from the Parliament demanding restoration of the now annulled caretaker provision.

DHAKA: Main opposition BNP-led 18-party alliance will observe a countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Sunday. BNP chairperson’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu made the announcement in a press conference at its Nayapaltan central office on Friday noon. He said, “The alliance will observe the shutdown for protesting ban on holding rally, public meeting and

Amid an international outcry and promises by retailers to improve worker safety, Bangladesh is struggling to conduct even a crude assessment of the country’s garment factories, reported Bloomberg. To appreciate the Sisyphean task, spend a day with Mohammed Helal Ahmed, a 42-year-old-civil engineer in the Dhaka city government, as he struggles through cursory factory inspections. His day starts with a decrepit government car that breaks down and a list of misspelled factory names with partial addresses. Factory owners deny him entry to their buildings and stall for time. He encounters blocked fire exits, roofs sagging under heavy water tanks, and former apartment buildings that have been joined haphazardly. Workers whisper about cracks in walls, only to be shushed by security guards.

At least 17 children were burned to death in eastern Pakistan on Saturday when a faulty gas cylinder exploded on the bus taking them to school, police said. Police officer Mohammed Rasheed said seven children were also injured in the explosion on the outskirts of the city of Gujrat. “This is a very sad incident. According to our information, at least 17 children were burned to death,” he said. “The school bus caught fire after the blast. We have transported all the victims to a nearby hospital.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has referred to the failure of past neutral caretaker government to renew her resolve to never ‘walk that way’ to safeguard democracy.

Amnesty International's 2012 annual report pulled up Bangladesh for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, even as it notes incidents of political and communal violence, violence against women, workers protests, and issues of indigenous people’s rights and death penalty.

Ready-made garment owners association, BGMEA, on Thursday filed a petition appealing against the High Court ruling to demolish its office building at Hatirjheel on grounds of being constructed illegally.

1 / 1 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has referred to the failure of past neutral caretaker government to renew her resolve to never ‘walk that way’ to safeguard democracy.

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically said interference-free democracy is needed for overall development of the country. The premier came up with the observation while addressing a function arranged on the occasion of celebration of 40 years of receiving Julio-Curie peace medal by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

DHAKA: Finally the government has taken decision to bring back the body of Sajal Khaled, who died while descending after conquering Mount Everest on May 20. A message from the government high official said this on Thursday. Khaled’s family also confirmed the matter and they would disclose details about it in the evening. On Friday, a rescue team would start its journey to bring deceased Khaled body. Khaled along with another from South Korea died on Mount Everest as hundreds flock to the world’s highest peak during good weather, Nepalese tourism officials said on May 21. Both died in their tent a few hours after successfully climbing the summit. They were attempting the climb without supplementary oxygen and died on his way down the mountain.

This April 24 photo shows locals gathering near the collapsed Rana Plaza. Total 2,438 survivors were rescued and 1,127 bodies pulled out from the wreckage. Use of substandard materials and violation of building code resulted in the catastrophic collapse of nine-storey Rana Plaza in Savar, killing at least 1,127 people and hurting thousands more, according to a home ministry investigation. A five-member body tasked with probing the April 24 collapse came up with a conclusion that vibrations from the heavy machineries on the top floor garment factories damaged the compaction of Rana Plaza.

The bodies of two shootout victims are seen lying. Photo: TV grab Two suspected criminals were killed in a “shootout” between their cohorts and the members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in the capital’s Uttara area early Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Jahirul Islam, 28, and Saju Akand, 25. They were members of an armed gang, said Cap Avisheikh Ahmed, deputy director of Legal and Media Wing of Rab headquarters.

Syed Mohammad Qaisar. Star file photo A tribunal in Dhaka, dealing with the war crimes cases, rejected the bail petition of Syed Mohammad Qaisar, a leader of the Peace Committee in Habiganj, on Wednesday. International Crimes Tribunal-2 led by Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order after a hearing on Qaisar’s bail petition.

DHAKA: US Ambassador to Dhaka Dan W Mozena said Bangladesh needs no interference of United Nations or any other country for holding dialogue to resolve political crisis as its condition is not worse than that of 2006 or 2007. He came up with the observation while talking to journalists in a press briefing at American Center on Wednesday morning. Dan W Mozena said everybody wants a fair election…so no third party or new formula is needed to resolve the political crisis.

DHAKA: The death of over 800 people in the collapse of Rana Plaza, a building with garment factories in Bangladesh, spurred widespread outrage over working conditions in offshore factories. In the search for blame, many commentators point to the absence of building codes, lack of workplace safety rules, and the greed of US corporations. Many of the solutions proposed are around paying people more to manufacture in the USA. But however well intentioned the ideas are, this is not the best use of one of the most productive workforces in the world. The true solution, we think, lies in understanding the changed nature of modern supply chains and identifying new business models better suited for managing them.

DHAKA: The members of law enforcement detained 12 leaders of Ganotantrik Bam Morcha from Mirpur in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. Police source said they were held while trying to stage a rally in the area without any prior permission. The detained leaders include Jonayed Saky, Saiful Haq and Harun Mahmud.

SYLHET: Miscreants chopped a college student to death in the district on broad day-light on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Parvez Ahmed, a third-year student of Economics Department of MC College and son of Mozammel Ali of Jalalabad Thana. Sources said miscreants chopped Parvez randomly by getting down him from an auto-rickshaw in front of Pathantuli Dipakkhikh High School in the town arounf 4:00pm, leaving him injured critically.

BHOLA: At least three people were killed and 50 others injured in a road accident in Khoyrad area under Charfashion upazila of the district on Wednesday evening. Two of the deceased were identified as Mihir Babu, 30, of Borhanuddin upazila and Abrahim, 35, of Sadar upazila. Witnesses said a passenger bus plunged into a roadside pond in the area when its driver lost control over steering, leaving three dead on the spot and 50 others injured.

LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam addresses a press briefing at Awami League office in Dhanmondi in the capital on Sunday. Photo: Focus Bangla The government has banned all kinds of demonstrations, including meetings and processions, across the country for the next one month. Home Minister MK Alamgir and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam have provided varying explanations for the restriction. Alamgir says the ban has been imposed to maintain law and order and prevent subversive acts while Ashraf says it is for the sake of smooth relief and rehabilitation activities in the Cyclone Mahasen-ravaged districts.

The telecom regulator has withdrawn the cap on speed of uploading contents on the Internet on Sunday, four days into slapping it as a means to track down illegal use of voice over internet protocol (VoIP). A BTRC official said the regulator directed the international internet gateways (IIG) to slash the upload speed by 75 percent on May 15. The IIGs are responsible to supply internet bandwidth to the internet service providers (ISP). ISPs including the mobile or Wimax operators reach the bandwidth to the end users. But the regulator directed to shrink the upload speed up to 90 percent for some hours, said the BTRC official.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will fight against the government ban on rally and procession, a senior leader of the party said on Sunday. Commenting that the ban “will affect the country more if compared to the impact of introduction of Baksal in 1975″, BNP Standing Committee Member MK Anwar said, “We will fight against the decision on the streets and will settle the problem.”

  DHAKA: For the sake of smooth rehabilitation and relief activities in post-Mahasen period, the government imposed one-month ban on all kinds of political rallies, processions across the country. LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam, also general secretary of Awami League, made the disclosure on Sunday.

  DHAKA: The High Court on Sunday directed the government to take necessary steps to bar Delwar Hossain, owner of the Tazreen Fashion, from leaving the country for abroad. An HC bench comprising Justice kazi Rezaul Haq and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order. The court also summoned him on May 30 and asked Home Ministry’s probe body to submit report.

Three front organisations of BNP have called an eight-hour long hartal (shutdown) in Rangpur division for Monday demanding withdrawal of “false cases” against their three leaders and their immediate release. Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Juba Dal, student and youth bodies of the main opposition BNP, and Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, a front organisation of BNP, are the three organisation that have called the shutdown, reported our Rangpur correspondent. The shutdown will continue from 6:00am to 2:00pm in all eight districts of the division. Roich Ahmed, president of Rangpur district unit of Jubo Dal, and Jahir Alam Nayan, JCD

A leader of Democratic Youth Forum (DYF), youth front of United People’s Democratic Front, was shot dead in Matiranga upazila of Khagrachhari early Saturday. Panchashan Tripura, 28, was the president of DYF Matiranga upazila unit, reports our Khagrachhari correspondent. DYF President of Khagrachhari district unit Nicholas Chakma blamed the cadres of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS-MN Larma faction) for the killing. Denying the allegation, Assistant Press and Information Secretary of PCJSS Sajib Chakma said none of his party men were involved in the killing.

Locals put barricade on Dhaka-Bagerhat highway at Atmari intersection in the Rupsha upazila in Khulna Saturday morning protesting the killing of Khan Zahid Hossain (inset), a local AL leader of Bagerhat. Photo: Star Unidentified miscreants shot dead a local Awami League leader of Bagerhat and his driver in Rupsha upazila of Khulna Saturday morning. Protesting the killings, locals blockaded Dhaka-Bagerhat highway at Atmari intersection in the upazila in the morning, halting transport movement for over an hour.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Star file photo Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged the BNP lawmakers to return to parliament for discussions on current political issues instead of joining merely to save their membership. According to the constitution, the next general election will be held under an interim government, the PM said while addressing a view exchange meeting with the party’s grassroots level leaders from Chapainawabganj district at her official residence Gono Bhaban. “So come to the House and talk over the issue,” Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, said.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni shakes hands with US Secretary of State John Kerry during a meeting in Washington DC on Friday. Photo: US State Department US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday urged Bangladesh government for quick passage of labour law amendment. He also stressed the need for rapid progress on fire and building safety inspection issues. Kerry made the call during a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in Washington DC, according to a media note issued by the US Department of State . During the meeting, Kerry expressed condolence over the Rana Plaza collapse tragedy which cost 1,127 lives.

After 83 days of absence, BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed on Friday said his party was willing to attend the forthcoming parliament sessions.

India has not yet informed Bangladesh about the arrest or conviction of Sukhoranjan Bali , a witness in the Delwar Hussein Sayedee’s case who is said to have been lodged in Kolkata’s Dumdum Central Jail.

DHAKA: The 32nd Homecoming Day of Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is being celebrated across the country on Friday in a festive mood. Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies are celebrating the day by placing floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 32 Dhanmondhi at 7am and distribution of foods among the inmates of orphanages at 1:30pm.    Besides, Dhaka City Awami League is set to organise a discussion to be followed by milad and doa mahfil at its Bangabandhu Avenue office at 4:00pm. AL leaders will meet party president Sheikh Hasina and exchange greetings at Gono Bhaban at 7:00pm. Chattra league, however, organized a discussion at Dhaka University’s TSC auditorium in the morning marking the day.

DHAKA: Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu categorically said Bangladesh is no more backward now as it has joined Information Technology Revolution. He came up with the observation while addressing an award giving ceremony to meritorious student of Commerce College on Friday morning. Inu claimed if Bangladesh didn’t enter into Information Technology Revolution highway it would lag behind in development.