‘Khaleda may be released any day’

Detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia may be released any day, said communications adviser Ghulam Quader on Sunday.
Asked if the BNP chairperson would be released from special jail this week, Quader told reporters he was not in a position to specify the exact date and time.
“It’s certain that Khaleda Zia will be freed, but I [...]

Tarique’s hope for release gets a blow

Tarique’s hope for release gets a blow
Govt, ACC appeal against his bail orders; NBR sues Moudud, Pintu
Source: The Daily Star
The possibility of Tarique Rahman’s release hit a fresh snag yesterday after the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) appealed against the High Court (HC) bail orders in seven of the 13 cases filed against him.
With [...]

AL mulls agitation to force govt to drop all charges against Hasina

The Awami League (AL) may go for tougher programmes, including street agitations, in a couple of weeks to force the government to withdraw all charges against Sheikh Hasina and lift the state of emergency.
The party will also speak out against holding upazila elections ahead of the general elections at its meetings with the Election Commission [...]

Hundreds killed in hurricane, Thousands of people injured : Trail of catastrophic devastation in coastal areas

Staff Correspondent

The serious cyclonic storm hurricane SIDR lashed the coastal districts in the southwestern region of the country Thursday midnight leaving over 700 people dead and many injured, killing domestic and wild animals, damaging thousands of houses, uprooting trees and destroying crop lands and vegetable fields.

Reports on the trail of devastation were still reaching the [...]

6 killed, life paralyzed in capital

Staff Correspondent

The powerful cyclonic storm battered the capital Dhaka Thursday midnight killing at least six people damaging thousands of thatched houses and uprooting trees.

The capital plunged into darkness following disruption to the national power grid. The city people since early hours of Friday have been facing the worst situation due to severe power and water [...]

Sonali, Janata, Agrani Banks

100 pc shares to remain with governmentStaff Correspondent

100 percent ownership of state-owned Sonali Bank, Janata Bank and Agrani Bank will remain in the hands of the government even after the three financial institutions’ transformation into private limited company.

Sources said, the three public banks will start working under three public limited companies soon.
The banks have been [...]

WFP allocates emergency food to 400,000 cyclone-hit victims in southern Bangladesh

UNB, Dhaka

The United Nations World Food Programme has allocated 98 metric tons of ready food from its emergency hub to feed 400,000 victims of cyclone ‘Sidr’ in the southern Bangladesh.

WFP representative Douglas Broderick said “We’ve to move as quickly as possible to get food to the most vulnerable. People’s life and health can’t be endangered, [...]

All efforts to contain price hike frustrated

Staff CorrespondentDespite the chief adviser’s directive to monitor the prices of daily necessities, no measures are proving effective as the prices of essentials are increasing at a high rate across the country frustrating all the government and non-government efforts to contain prices.
Sufferings of the people belonging to the low and fixed income groups are mounting.
In [...]

Attempts underway to identify those involved in Aug 21 blast

Shadiul Islam Rana
The intelligence personnel have started trying to identify and unearth the main patrons and persons involved in the August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League rally and why the then BNP-led four-party alliance government had distracted the people’s attention from the deadly incident.

According to the intelligence sources, investigation is now on to [...]

Power collapse triggers chain reaction

Sharier Khan
The cyclone caused the country’s power system to collapse completely yesterday morning, triggering a knock-on effect on piped water supplies, telecommunication and filling station operations.
In addition to suffering the miseries inflicted by the lack of power and water supplies, people spent a day amid increasing tension and uncertainty.