Padma bridge tender in February
December 22, 2009
The government is expected to float an international tender for construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge next February as a high-powered coordination meeting yesterday finalised a revised estimated cost of US$ 2.4 billion for the 6.15 km bridge.
The cost almost entirely will be financed by the country’s development partners, which has gone up by one billion dollar from the initial estimate of US$ 1.4 billion.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD) informed the meeting that the Read more
No mechanism to curb misuse of govt vehicles
December 22, 2009
Govt spends Tk 35,000 a month on each car
The government does not have any central mechanism to check misuse of its transport, especially the vehicles under various projects, allowing many officials and employees to avail themselves of transport facilities round the clock which they are not entitled to.
An officer of the rank of joint secretary and above belongs to the ‘privileged group in the civil service and is entitled to 24-hour car facilities’ but those below the rank of joint secretary are not entitled to such facilities, said an official at the Read more
4 rivers declared ecologically critical
December 18, 2009
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on December 15 declared the four rivers and its foreshores, adjacent to the capital, ecologically critical to save the rivers from encroachers and pollution.
They banned dumping sewage from home, industries and other institutions, setting up industries which pollute soil, water, air and sound and any work which can change the natural character of rivers Buriganga, Turag, Read more
Farmers never say over in climate change war
December 6, 2009
Try out cope-up measures as cropping seasons shift
With the saline water from a gradually swelling sea continuously making further inroads into Bangladesh’s prime arable lands and late monsoon upsetting the cropping seasons, agronomists reckon her as a virtual climate change laboratory.
Resilient farmers however would not give up. If the pictures taken right from the fields are something to go by, Bangladeshi farmers are taking all sorts of cope-up measures — locally developed or based on scientific inventions– to fight back the global warm Read more
Extrajudicial killings go on unabated
October 5, 2009
Ninety-seven people have so far been killed in ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ by law enforcers since January 6, when the Awami League-led government assumed office, as such extrajudicial killing goes unabated with the government’s deviation from its pledges to stop such practice.
One thousand, one hundred and forty-two people have so far been killed in extrajudicial incidents since June 24, 2004, when the Rapid Action Battalion began its journey with killing people in the name of Read more
No move to change political culture
October 5, 2009
AL’s poll pledge to formulate code of conduct for political parties stays elusive
Ruling Awami League is yet to make a move to formulate a code of conduct for political parties in line with its electoral pledge to bring changes in the country’s political culture and establish good governance.
During Awami League’s nine months in office, the country’s politics seems to have regained its old look in intolerance, unlawful activities by ruling party men, lax observance of democratic practices within major political parties and parliament boycott by Read more
Over 50 canals near death
July 9, 2009
Govt’s bid to recover 26 canals from grabbers shows little success
Although over 50 affluent canals once used to flow through the capital and added to its lifeline, most of the water channels have been fully or partially choked, while the rest are under serious threat thanks to unabated encroachment.
The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) had earlier taken initiatives in line with a decision of the last caretaker government to recover 26 out of 43 canals from Read more
One killed as UP chairman shoots into crowd
June 10, 2009
A shopkeeper was killed and two more people were injured when local union parishad chairman Munir Hossain opened fire on a crowd of protesters in Loharpool area of Kamrangirchar on the outskirts of the capital Tuesday afternoon.
Witnesses said the incident took place at around 1:30pm when several hundred people of Loharpool, Ashrafabagh, Nizambagh and Matabbarbazar neighbourhoods of Kamrangirchar were staging demonstrations to press Read more
Peacekeepers not equipped properly
June 10, 2009
Army tells JS body about equipment dearth in UN missions; seeks urgent initiative
Bangladeshi troops engaged in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions face a dearth of equipment, though their work abroad earns the country around Tk 1,200 crore a year.
The crisis is acute in 19 contingents across Liberia, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Congo. At present, Bangladesh has 8,083 soldiers stationed in 11 missions in 10 countries, says a report of the army.
Titled ‘Problems confronting the army ‘, the report submitted to the parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry last Read more
BNP daydreaming about midterm polls: AL Spokesman
June 10, 2009
He urges opposition to discuss everything in parliament
Awami League spokesperson and LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday blasted the BNP’s remark ‘on midterm polls after dissolving the parliament’ terming it a daydream.
Asked about the reaction about the comment of BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain – ‘the ruling Awami League has lost people’s confidence in last five months and if they (AL) want to justify their popularity, you better arrange midterm general election’- Ashraful Islam said, “Bangladesh is not a ‘fools paradise’ that Read more