Eastern University holds lecture at its Campus-2 in city

Eastern University (EU) organised a lecture on 'Media and English Language Proficiency Enhancement' at its Campus-2 auditorium in the city Wednesday.Anis Ahmed, international radio broadcaster and web editor, Voice of America, Washington, delivered his speech as the chief guest in...

Best value for money

Zakir Hossain and Kazuaki NoharaThe concept of public-private partnership (PPP) originated from the United Kingdom. In the period of the Thatcher Administration, the government there introduced PPP to improve the deficit financing and to realise the small government. It was...

After the 'trust vote' for Indian Congress

AFTER an acrimonious debate by opposition with charges of intimidation and vote buying, India's parliament reaffirmed its confidence in the Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on July 23.Two hundred and seventy-five members of the Lok Sabha voted in...

Bearish trend continues

Stock prices of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed persistent slump for the seventh straight week that ended Thursday, with lower participation of the investors.During the week, all the market barometers -- the benchmark DSE General Index (DGEN), All Shares...

World's biggest refinery to test oil bulls

On India's West coast, the world's biggest refining complex is nearly ready to begin pumping a wave of diesel fuel into the world oil market, removing one of the last near-term fundamentals supporting $100-plus crude.But unfortunately for oil consumers and...

Bangladeshi envoy in Japan awarded at Kurigram

KURIGRAM, Aug 01: Bangladeshi Ambassador in Japan and also a scholar of Chilmari Upazila in the district Major (retd) Ashraf-ud-Doula Taj was accorded special reception at Chilmari Upazila Degree College ground Wednesday.Thana Hat Bonik Samity organised the function.Major Taj as...

Tata decision unlikely to affect FDI flow: Mirza Aziz

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam Friday said Tata Group's decision not to go ahead with their US$ 3.0 billion (300 crore) investment plan in Bangladesh is unlikely to affect foreign direct investment (FDI) in other sectors of the country,...

Noakhali FA beat Arambagh KS

Noakhali Football Academy beat Arambagh KS by 2-0 goals in a 2nd phase match of the Dhaka City Corporation Pioneer Football League at the Bir Shreshtho Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium at Kamalapur in the city Friday, reports UNB.Uzzal...

The Westin in focus

The Westin Dhaka, the second Starwood five star hotel in Dhaka, is ready to celebrate its first anniversary soon. Standing tall in the heart of the city, The Westin forms a perfect choice for both business and leisure travelers to...

Talk shop over solving traffic problem will not do

The Chief Adviser (CA) Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed presided over a meeting last Tuesday that was devoted to addressing the agonizing traffic conditions in Dhaka city. The holy month of Ramadan is near and, as always, government seeks to provide some...

BDR to sell Ramadan items from August 15

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has taken all preparations to sell the Ramadan items from August 15 through its fair price outlets ahead of Ramadan to provide a bit of relief to the low and middle income group, already hard-pressed by spiraling...

Eight players win men's singles 2nd round matches

Eight players won their respective men's singles qualifying 2nd round matches of the Dhaka Open Tennis Competition that began Friday at the Ramna National Tennis Complex (NTC) in the city, reports UNB .In the 2nd round, Jamil (NTC) outplayed Moniruzzaman...

BRAC Bank empowers customers with service standard rating system

BRAC Bank Limited has launched a new service quality drive recently.In this initiative, customers will be able to rate the service and the service provider at the touch-point instantly.This initiative, called 'Moment of Truth' has been instituted at the Gulshan...

Reforms in industry, labour market stressed

CHITTAGONG, Aug 1: Speakers at a seminar here said that industrial and economic reforms should be conducted against the de-nationalisation process to meet the challenge of globalisation.The seminar was on 'Impact of Globalisation and Economic Reforms in the Industry and...

news digest

13 dead in Indian train blazeNEW DELHI, Aug 1: At least 13 people died and four were injured when fire spread quickly through a packed train in southern India early on Friday, a railway official said. "As of now 13...

UK minister says fair polls under emergency not impossible

It is very difficult but not impossible to hold free and fair elections under the state of emergency, visiting UK Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears has said, reports UNB."It is very difficult to have elections...

Poll campaign creates temporary employment for youths in Barisal

BARISAL, Aug 01 (BSS): Poll campaign for mayoral and councilor candidates has become a temporary income source for many youths and women in Barisal city as they are being offered attractive amount to woo voters.The opportunity has an apparent impact...

Preparations afoot by call centres to start operations

The owners of Call Centres, a new type of business emerging in Bangladesh, are taking necessary preparations to start their operations fully for catering to the needs of both domestic and international clients.Currently two call centres have started their operations...

McCain tries to sow doubts about Obama

Three months before Election Day, John McCain's stepped up aggression begs the question: Will voters vote for the scold?A new ad launched Wednesday suggests Democratic rival Barack Obama is nothing more than a lightweight celebrity akin to a Britney Spears...

Blatter says he was misquoted in calling Ronaldo a 'slave'

HANOI, Aug 1 (AFP): FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Friday he was misquoted in media reports citing him as calling Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo a "slave."Blatter last month called on the English club to release the Portuguese player if...

Breastfeeding can help avert huge neonatal deaths

Breastfeeding can help avert a large number of neonatal deaths and bring down the under-5 child mortality rate in Bangladesh, reports BSS.Experts made the observation at a discussion held Friday at Matuail near the city marking the inauguration of the...

Planning the use of scarce land

PLANNING to make the best possible use of land is becoming more and more important in the context of Bangladesh which has a relatively small land area compared to its huge population. The limited land available for its vast population...

'Social forestry needs revamp'

The government should revamp its present social afforestation programme with the policy and legal frameworks placing the authority to the group of forest users for its management, reports BSS.Academics, environmentalists, local community leaders and concerned government officials in a deliberation...

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka to revive JEC

COLOMBO, Aug 01 (UNB): Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to revive and reactivate Joint Economic Commission (JEC) to boost trade relations between the two South Asian countries.Identical views were expressed while Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Sri Lankan...

Sharp rise in call rate

The inter-bank call money rate ended the week with a sharp rise last week that resulted from decision of the central bank to improve market discipline, fund managers said.The market faced pressure on liquidity despite injection of fresh cash into...

Congress' tank hits empty on energy help

In a summer of nationwide anguish over fuel costs, Congress' attack on soaring gasoline prices has been full of high-octane rhetoric and low-energy results.Both parties instead have fought bitterly for weeks over who can make the best political points for...

SAARC Summit begins today

COLOMBO, Aug 1 (UNB): South Asian leaders from eight SAARC countries sit for a summit meeting here Saturday to chart a roadmap to address the challenges of soaring food and fuel prices, trade imbalances, climate change and terrorism and improve...

Two killed, 15 hurt in Faridpur road mishap

FARIDPUR, Aug 1 (UNB): A bus driver and his helper were killed and 15 people injured when a bus hit a truck, parked on the Dhaka-Khulna highway, in Shibrampur area in Sadar Upazila early Friday.Bus driver Fazlul Haque (42) and...

215 pc increase in rice import last fiscal

Rice import rose by nearly 215 per cent in quantity and 400 per cent in price in the last fiscal (2007-08) compared to the previous fiscal. But still the price has not come down in the domestic market, the central...

Hu appeals to keep politics out of games

BEIJING, August 1 (AFP): Chinese President Hu Jintao appealed Friday to keep politics out of the Olympics, trying to deflect international criticism one week before an event that has put the spotlight on Beijing's behaviour at home and abroad.The run-up...