EU says No poll-time observers if violence

DHAKA: The European Union would not send observers to monitor the upcoming 10th national polls if the political deadlock and nationwide violent activities continue.

William Hanna, the European Union High Commissioner in Dhaka, made the assertion while talking with journalists after a meeting with Chief election commissioner (CEC) at city’s election commission secretariat on Sunday morning.

Thai govt urges Bangkok public to stay indoors overnight

DHAKA: Thailand’s government told people in Bangkok to stay indoors on Sunday night after a day of violence in which protesters seeking to topple prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra launched attacks on state agencies.
‘After 10:00pm until 5:00am, if it is not necessary, we ask people to not leave their homes for their safety so they will not become victims of provocateurs,’ Pracha Promnok, a deputy prime minister, said in a televised address.

Sheikh Hasina acts arrogantly: BNP

Salah Uddin Ahmed

DHAKA: Opposition BNP joint secretary general Salah Uddin Ahmed on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is acting arrogantly sitting on power.

The spokesperson for the party came up with the allegation in a statement issued in the evening while 18-party 72-hour countrywide blockade was underway.

Salah Uddin said, “The nation is passing a transition period. A person has grabbed all the departments. And as a result, state anarchy has become essential.”

4 killed as New York train derails

DHAKA: Four people were reported dead on Sunday after a passenger train bound for New York`s Grand Central Station derailed in the Bronx.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority police say the train derailed near the Spuyten Duyvil station just after 7.20am.
Pictures showed five carriages lying on their side, with one inches from the Hudson river.
The derailed train was the 05:54 service from Poughkeepsie, in upstate New York, which was due to arrive at Grand Central Station in Manhattan at 07:43.

Killing in Petrol bomb attack Fakhrul among 17 sued

DHAKA: Some 17 people including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were sued in the incident of killing a man in Saturday’s petrol bomb attack in city’s Malibagh area.

Ramna than Sub-Inspector Jahurul Haque filed the case with the thana on Saturday night accusing 17 people.

Export growth falls by 13% in 2-yr

DHAKA: The earnings in the export sector, which has major contribution to the county’s economy, decreased as the export growth suffered a significant fall by 13.41 percent in last two years.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh, the growth of exports in October of 2011-12 fiscalwas 15.44 per cent which stands 2.13 percent in the same month of 2013-14.
The current fiscal year’s growth is 6.23 percent lower than the target fixed for 2013-14 fiscal due to ongoing political crisis in the country.
In October of 2013-14 fiscal, the earnings from the export stood at US$ 226 crore against the target of US$ 221.9 crore.
The garment and plastic industries are the top export earners of the country. But the matter of the sorrow is that the earnings couldn’t meet the goal on account of political unrest.

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.