Making TCB a public limited co is again on the cards

The government's plan to make the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) a public limited company is now again on the cards to reinvigorate the activities of the state-owned agency, said a senior official Thursday.He said the plan came at a...

Food inflation threatens refugee crisis

FT Syndication ServiceGENEVA: Soaring food prices and the effects of global warming threaten to drive ever more people from their homes, the head of the United Nations refugee agency warned the other day.The UNHCR said the number of refugees worldwide...

Announcement of election schedule today

Amid a state of emergency continuing in the country, the Election Commission (EC) will announce schedules for holding overdue elections to some city corporations and municipalities today (Friday), reports UNB.The reconstituted EC headed by ATM Shamsul Huda for the first...

Two pirates held in Borguna

BORGUNA, June 19(UNB): Coastguard members arrested two pirates from Munshiganj area of Patharghata Upazila Wednesday.

Squally weather may continue over coastal regions

Squally weather may continue over the North Bay and coastal regions of the country in the next 24-hours until 12pm today (Friday) due to moderate to strong monsoon and steep pressure gradient over bay, reports UNB.Weather may gradually improve afterwards,...

Bangladesh will award offshore blocks to prospective bidders

Bangladesh will award its offshore oil and gas blocks to the prospective bidders despite objections raised by neighbouring India and Myanmar, officials said."We will award our offshore gas blocks to the international oil companies (IOCs) that will come out successful...

Migration costs can be reduced thru' controlling intermediaries

Speakers at a consultation meet underscored the need for reducing international migration costs by controlling the activities of intermediaries and sub-agents. They also emphasised imparting skills to the migrants.The observations were made at a national workshop on 'Challenges and Opportunities...

Australian assistance for Bangladeshi women's training

Australia has recently given about Tk 0.65 million to "Access Toward Livelihood and Welfare Organisation (ALWO)" for its existing project on "Dress making and hand embroidery training to destitute women".With the additional fund for the second phase of this project,...

Akmal left out of Asia Cup probables

The axe has finally fallen on Kamran Akmal as Pakistan have left out the under fire wicketkeeper from the list of 20 probables announced for the Asia Cup, which begins on June 24. All the other members of the squad...

Dhaka stocks fall due to lack of buying support

Dhaka stocks fell Thursday across the board due to lack of buying support from the institutional investors amid a lower turnover.The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), however, was in the positive territory for the first hour of trading. Later, it began...

Lower rates should benefit internet users

The government deserves appreciation for the decision to reduce the bandwidth charge of submarine cable network. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) recently decided to lower the charge to minimise the cost of Internet use. So it is expected that internet...

Football money-laundering fears

Claims that football clubs and other sports team are being used as a conduit for money-laundering are to be investigated by the global watchdog on criminal fund flows.The inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has agreed to investigate whether sporting...

BPC invites photos for competition and exhibition

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) has invited pictures for its first ever photo competition and exhibition scheduled to be held from July 4-5 at Shilpakala Academy, reports UNB.The corporation, which is likely to be turned into National Tourism Authority soon, will...

Court defers hearing in MiG-29 case against Hasina to June 26

A Dhaka Court Thursday deferred charge framing proceedings against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the MiG-29 case to June 26, reports bdnews24.com.Judge Golam Mortuza Mojumder, presiding over a special court set up on the Jatiyo Songsod Bhobon premises, postponed...

Sino-US SED concludes with pact on energy, environmental protection

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, June 19 (Xinhua): China and the United States reached important agreement on energy and environmental protection as they wrapped up fourth round of strategic economic dialogue (SED), here yesterday.Both visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and US Secretary...

Dominant Russia complete last eight lineup

VIENNA, June 19 (Reuters): Russia set up a Euro 2008 quarter-final with coach Guus Hiddink's native Netherlands after a deserved 2-0 win over Sweden in Group D on Wednesday completed the lineup for the last eight.The Swedes, who only needed...

Quake reconstruction to boost China growth

Geoff Dyer in Beijing andTom Mitchell in Hong KongFT Syndication ServiceLast month's devastating Sichuan earthquake will boost China's economic growth, thanks to the billions due to be poured into reconstruction, according to a government think-tank.The State Information Centre, a research...

Three get 17 yrs RI for extortion

GAZIPUR, June 19 (UNB): A court here Wednesday sentenced three people, including a Jubo League leader, to 17 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) each in an extortion case.The convicts were identified as Rafiqul Islam alias Tablet Rafiq, Jubo League president of...

corporatewatch

10pc cash dividendPragati Life Ins: The board of directors of Pragati Life Insurance Company Limited has recommended 10 per cent cash dividend for its shareholders for the year 2007. The annual general meeting (AGM) of the company will be held...

Separate rules for construction of bldgs in Ctg

CHITTAGONG, June 19: New rules for construction of buildings in Chittagong city area have been finalised by the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) with the mandatory provision of preserving and using rain water in every house and keeping green compound in...

Biman plans to enter into hotel business

The national flag carrier -- Biman Bangladesh Airlines -- has planned to foray into hotel business aiming to utilise its prime land in the capital for the purpose and have an additional source of income, a senior official said."We've a...

PILIL MD attends ICMIF meet in Malaysia

Managing Director of Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited (PILIL) Kazi Md Mortuza Ali recently attended the Takaful network meeting of International Co-operative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) in Malaysia.Etiqa Takaful Berhad arranged the meeting, says a press release.He also visited...

Social worker goes abroad

Md Imran Hasan, a renowned social worker and Secretary General of Kamalapur Pathagar and Samajkalyan Parishad (KPSP), and member of International AIDS Society (Geneva, Switzerland) left Dhaka for Scotland Tuesday, said a press release.He will participate in the Civicus World...

SME Foundation to disburse over Tk 2.0b from next fiscal

The SME Foundation will disburse over Tk 2.0 billion from the beginning of next fiscal for development of the country's Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs)."We will start disbursing SME loans from next month," SME foundation chief Mohammad Ayub Miah told...

Taleban 'cleared from Kandahar'

A senior Afghan official says Nato and Afghan forces have cleared out Taleban militants from the outskirts of the southern city of Kandahar, reports BBC.Kandahar governor Assadullah Khalid told reporters that Taleban fighters had fled Arghandab district.He said the Taleban...

Coffee drinkers may live longer: study

LOS ANGELES, Jun 19 (Xinhua): Drinking up to six cups of coffee a day might not lead to early death but rather help the heart, especially for women, a new study has showed.The findings were published in the June 17...

Iraq launches offensive in Amara

Iraqi security forces backed by US troops have launched a major operation in Amara, southern Iraq, overnight to drive out Shia militia groups, BBC reports.So far the situation is said to be normal and no trouble is reported.Iraqi PM Nouri...

Imported Chinese goods becoming costlier

The country's importers have started feeling the heat of price escalation of Chinese products due to appreciation of Yuan against US dollar, high inflation and lobour cost."Import cost of Chinese finished products has marked more than 40 per cent rise,"...

Change in student politics

Academics, political leaders and civil-society members said Wednesday it was the time to thwart the present trend in student politics that kowtows to the agenda of the mainstream political parties, reports UNB.They said the situation should be changed for a...

Vista to launch digital satellite radio by Oct

Vista Communications, a local IT company, will launch a digital satellite radio in Bangladesh by October next for broadcasting advanced information of weather and cautionary warnings for the maritime fishing zones in remote regions.This was disclosed by the Vista Communications...