Bus torched in city Journo,cop,lawyer among 18 burnt

DHAKA: At least 18 people including journalist, police and lawyer, sustained burn injuries as blockaders torched a passenger bus in front of Mathshya Bhaban in the capital on Thursday evening.

The incident took place around 6:15pm.

Sources said some miscreants got up and set fire to the bus by pouring petrol in the moving condition, leaving at least 16 passengers severely injured.

Conze for BNP leaders’ release

DHAKA: German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Albrecht Conze on Thursday urged the government to release five top BNP leaders.
He came up with the plea while talking to the journalists after a courtesy meeting with the newly appointed foreign minister AHA Mahmud Ali.
He told the journalists: “I urged the minister to do every thing for release of the senior BNP leaders.  Who have been in prison quite some time some of them are my friends.”

UK minister Warsi due Dec 12

DHAKA: United Kingdom’s Minister Sayeeda Warsi is scheduled to visit Dhaka on December 12.

Sources said that ahead of her visit, British High Commission to Dhaka sought schedule to authorities concerned to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali and foreign secretary Shaheedul Haque.

Meanwhile, Warsi is likely to meet various political leaders and representatives of civil society.

Ershad expels Kazi Zafar

DHAKA: Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad expelled presidium member Kazi Zafar Ahmed from the party for his alleged involvement in violating discipline.

He came up the disclosure while talking to journalists at a city hotel on Thursday noon.

Ershad said, “I have signed his suspension letter. So, he is not member of Jatiya Party from today.”

Taranco to bring UN chief’s letter

DHAKA: Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations,  is expected to visit Dhaka with two letters of UN secretary general for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Dr AK Abdul Momen, Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, confirmed the matter to banglanews.

Kuwait to send back workers

DHAKA: Bangladeshi expatriates in Kuwait will have to face extreme reality since latter’s government has decided to send back one lakh foreign workers every year.

The government has planned to send back 10 lakhs workers in next 10 years. To make a balance between population and foreign workers the government has taken the decision.

Kuwait Labour Minister Thekra Al-Rashidi came up with the assertion in parliament recently.

CEC urges AL-BNP to reach consensus

DHAKA: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed on Sunday urged the two main political parties—BNP and Awami League--to reach consensus for the greater sake of democracy of the country.
The chief election commissioner came up with the plea while talking to journalists at election commission secretariat after a meeting.

5 cocktails blasted at New Market, Pallabi

DHAKA: The miscreants blasted five cocktails at the gate of New Market and Pallabi Thana gate during the first day of 84-hour hartal called by BNP led 18-party alliance.

Witnesses said pickets blasted two cocktails in front of New Market Thana around 2:15pm and three cocktails in front of Pallabi Thana at the same time.

84-hr hartal underway 1 killed, 40 injured, 14 held

DHAKA: A man was killed and 40 others were injured in separate hartal violence in several districts across the country on Sunday, the first day of the 84-hour nonstop hartal (shutdown), called by BNP-led 18-party alliance.
Besides, law enforcers detained 14 people including office secretary of Narayanganj city BNP, general secretary of Munshiganj city Chhatra Dal and general secretary of Brahmanbaria district unit BNP from different parts of the country.

Hasina for peace, not premiership

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also ruling Awami League president, on Sunday categorically said she wants peace in the country rather than premiership.
“I do not want premiership. I want peace for the people of the country. I do not bear lot of sufferings of the people,” she said.   
The premier came up with the assertion while addressing a certificate giving ceremony in National Khatib and trained Imams’ conference, and prize giving ceremony at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the morning.

60-hr hartal underway 211 injured, 25 held nationwide

DHAKA: At least 201 people were injured in separate clashes among police, BNP-Jamaat and Awami League across the country on Tuesday, the second day of 18-party 60-hour hartal.
Besides, 25 people were held in different districts while picketing and conducting subversive act.
Hartal supporters also hurled dozens of cocktails in across the country and vandalized numbers of vehicles.

PM seeks vote for AL in Naogaon

NAOGAON: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also ruling Awami League president, on Tuesday sought vote for Awami League in the next general elections.
“Make a commitment by raising hands that you will cast vote for Awami League in the next general elections,” she said asking her audience.   
The premier came up with the plea while addressing a mass rally at Porsha Degree College in the district in the afternoon.

EC ex-project director among 3 sued

DHAKA: Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against three people, including SEMB project director Shajahan Mia, on charge of misappropriating money of the project.

Deputy Directors of the ACC Monirul Islam and Gulshan Anwar Prodhan filed the case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Thana on Tuesday afternoon.

Pilkhana carnage case verdict 152 to die, 160 get life-term

DHAKA: A special court in Dhaka on Tuesday awarded death penalty to 152 jawans for their involvement in 2009 mutiny in border force.
Besides, the court awarded life term in jail to 160 members under section 302 of the penal code and 10 years more in jail under section 382 of penal code.

The court also awarded three to 17 years imprisonment to 263 jawans for their involvement with the incident while 271 were acquitted from the charge as their involvement was not proved.
Four accused died during the trial.

BDR carnage case Pintu, Torab get life-term

FROM ALIA MADRASA GROUND: Former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and local Ward Awami League leader Torab Ali were awarded life-term imprisonment in much-talked-about BDR carnage case They also were fined Tk 500,000 each, in default, five more years to serve in the jail.Additional Metropolitan Session Judge of Special Court of Dhaka-3 at Bakshibazar Government Alia Madrasa (a makeshift court room) Dr M Akhtaruzzaman passed the verdict on Tuesday.They were found guilty of killing 57 army officials and punished under the section 302 and 109 of the penal code.