Muhith ready to discuss single VAT rate with businesses

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Wednesday there remains a scope to discuss the government's decision on the single rate of VAT with the businesses. He said the government would hold talks with the businesses on their tax proposals for the...

BNP\\\'s Salahuddin Ahmed picked up

BNP joint-secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed was picked up by members of law enforcing agencies from a house at Uttara at around 10:00 pm Tuesday, said a press statement issued by the party's standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday....

Photo: A number of taxicabs for hire lying idle

Prayer Timings

Changing the goalposts

The ramifications of Bangladesh's win over England extends beyond the immediate euphoria and the Lions' exit from cricket's World Cup. Even as crystal ball gazing began as to the changes that may be brought to the game in time for...

Khaleda will be arrested soon, says Hasina

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday BNP chief Khaleda Zia will be arrested as soon as the warrants reach Gulshan Police Station, reports UNB. Her office will also be searched, she added. She said this while responding to supplementary...

Jubo Dal, Shibir men ‘killed’ as ‘blockade’ drags on

A Jubo Dal activist and a Shibir activist were allegedly killed by the law-enforcers on Wednesday, as the 20-party alliance's non-stop countrywide blockade passed its 65th day along with 48-hour shutdown amid stray incidents of arson, blasts and arrests. A...

Avijit murder evidence handed over to FBI

Evidence related to the murder of Avijit Roy has been given to the FBI, reports agencies. The samples which were collected from the spot will examined at the Federal Bureau of Investigation laboratory for DNA test. Joint Commissioner of Detective...

Tender troubles continue as e-GP remains distant dream

Many public offices are yet to adopt e-GP or electronic government procurement under the Public Procurement Act 2006, undermining the move for making the tendering process transparent and trouble-free. Officials concerned consider the latest gunfight at Bidyut Bhaban as a...

Photo: A workshop on commercial mediation

Govt moves to raise fines to stop GSP certificate forgery

The government is going to raise the penalty for any kind of forgery of GSP certificates in a move to prevent the trade offence which casts negative impacts on the country's image and the export facility, too, officials said. Presently,...

Corruption hindering women empowerment: TIB

Women are more victims of corruption than men in the country's five service sectors, which is working as an impediment to women empowerment here, a survey of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed on Wednesday. The TIB household survey included five...

Steps taken for security of expats in Libya

The government initiated necessary steps to ensure security of Bangladeshis working in Libya in the wake of the latest abduction of two countrymen there, said expatriate welfare minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday. The government sought necessary supports and cooperation...

Cabinet body okays projects worth Tk 31.87b

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Purchase gave approval to seven projects on Wednesday at a total cost of over Tk 31.87 billion that include development of national database centre project at a cost of Tk 11.99 billion with...

Manna not tortured in police custody: DB

Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch of Police Monirul Islam Wednesday denied the allegation of Nagorik  Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna's family that he was tortured in police custody, reports UNB. "Manna was taken to hospital as he fell sick. His...

Five to die, 3 get life

A Dhaka court sentenced Wednesday five persons to death and three others to life term for killing a man in 1999, report agencies. The convicts-Dulal alias Anu, Belal, Sharif Mahmud Hossain alias Panna, Amzad Hossain and Waliullah Khan alias Bulbul-...

Photo: Newly elected office bearers of the Chittagong taxes bar association

Ex-RAB men produced before court sans handcuffs

NARAYANGANJ, Mar 11 (UNB): The prosecution raised objection on Wednesday before the court as police produced three dismissed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials without handcuffs ignoring the Jail Code in the sensational seven-murder case amid tight security. The three accused...

US mission trying to arrange Kerry visit

The American embassy here continued efforts to arrange a visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Bangladesh, said Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat. "We have continued encouraging the US State Secretary to include Bangladesh in his visit plan,"...

Come forward to help resolve political impasse

Pro-BNP cultural activists at a discussion called upon all the cultural personalities on Wednesday to come forward to help overcome the ongoing political impasse and re-establish a democratic system in the country. They were also critical about the attitude of...

BCL forms body to probe clash over DPDC tender

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) formed on Wednesday a two-member probe committee to look into the incident of clash and gunfight between two groups of people over submission of tender bids of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), reports UNB. The committee...

10 AL MPs submit memo to Khaleda to stop blockade

A team of 10 ruling party MPs, including four physician lawmakers, submitted on Wednesday a memorandum to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office demanding withdrawal of hartal and blockade, reports UNB. The delegation, led by former health minister Dr AFM...

‘No petrol bomb attackers to go unpunished’

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Advocate Anisul Haque told the Jatiya Sangsad that the vested quarter involved in the killing of innocent people in the name of movement would be brought under justice, reports BSS. "The men who are...

Govt, opposition vying for foreign support

CHITTAGONG, Mar 11 (UNB): Ameer of Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi said on Wednesday both the government and the major opposition party are engaged in an unruly competition to take support from 'foreign powers' in their bid to gain...

Photo: Bigyan Andolon Mancha

Social Safety Strategy to cover all age groups

With a view to ensuring a wider social safety net and thus alleviating poverty further, the government has chalked out a long-term Social Safety Net Strategy covering the people of all ages, including children, women and elderly ones, report agencies....

‘BD makes progress in women empowerment index’

State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique, MP said on Wednesday Bangladesh made remarkable improvement in the index of empowerment of women, thanks to the government support. Addressing a seminar as chief guest, she said apart from the country's...

Women jobseekers\\\' enlistment under govt database still poor

So far 855 women jobseekers got themselves enlisted under government database in Dhaka division during seven days of launching of the programme, according to Dhaka manpower bureau office. Following a deal with Saudi Arabia to send domestic helps and also...

World Kidney Day today

The 10th World Kidney Day will be observed in the country today (Thursday) elsewhere across the world for raising awareness about kidney diseases, report agencies. This observance, taking place on the second Thursday of every March since 2006, was established...

Nepal to continue receiving military training from BD

Nepal has expressed its interest to continue training courses in future for their army personnel at the international standard training military institutes of Bangladesh, report agencies. Visiting Nepalese Army chief General Gaurav Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana conveyed the desire when...