A different refuge for street kids

When Chengcheng (9) bid farewell to the Baoji Street Children Relief and Protection Centre (BSCRPC) in February 2005, his guardians at the centre were sure of the orphan's readiness to face a new life. Chengcheng will go to a welfare...

Dialogue with political parties progressing

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury has said the current dialogue with the political parties is progressing satisfactorily, reports bdnews24.com.He expressed the hope that the process of dialogue would be successful with the participation of all concerned.While inaugurating a Lions Clubs...

700 bottles of Phensidyl seized

SATKHIRA, June 6 (UNB): Some 700 bottles of Phensidyl syrup were recovered in Boyarkhola area of Sadar Upazila Wednesday morning.

AL to observe historic 7th June today

Awami League will observe the historic 7th June today (Saturday) to commemorate the 6-point movement it launched 42 years back to gain full autonomy of erstwhile East Pakistan ahead of the nation's independence, reports UNB.The 6-point movement, marked by the...

Dhaka stocks trade mixed

Stock prices on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) remained mixed with the blue chip companies gaining 1.55 per cent in the week that ended Thursday against the previous week's bullish trend.The prime bourse of the country was in a gaining...

Asian banks faced with inflation dilemma

Raphael Minder, FT Syndication ServiceHONG KONG: Soaring food and energy prices are forcing Asian central banks to confront a difficult dilemma: how to restrain inflation while not derailing economic growth.Until recently, Asian central bankers have shown little inclination to take...

Two robbers lynched

FARIDPUR, June 6 (UNB): Two unidentified robbers were lynched by the angry villagers while they were fleeing after committing robbery at Naya Kanti village of Bhanga Upazila early Friday.The police and witnesses said a gang of some 16 robbers stormed...

'Asia-Pacific growth to slow down'

Economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region will slow to 3.7 per cent year-on-year this year from 4.9 percent last year, while inflation will become a bigger concern, a major regional think-tank has forecast.China will continue to drive the region's economy...

Lifeless Buriganga river

A private TV channel recently telecast a series report on the river Buriganga. The report's gist is that the river is almost dead. During cruise on this historic river, anyone will surely be confronted with foul smells resulting from massive...

Govt to unveil budget Monday

The present caretaker government will announce the national budget for fiscal 2008-09 Monday (June 9), second time in its one and a half years tenure, an official said Friday.Finance and planning adviser Mirza Azizul Islam will read out the budget...

Difficulty in forex transaction forces people to suffer in Barisal

BARISAL, June 6 (UNB): People of Barisal region, specially the patients and tourists, are facing problems for transaction of foreign currency as the authorised banks are denying to provide desired service in this regard.Bangladesh Bank (BB) sources said only seven...

Judicial capacity building

A litany of ills has made the country's judicial system one of the slowest in the world. Bangladesh has a judicial system derived mainly from an elaborate system of laws and procedures that are largely a legacy of the colonial...

Standard Bank celebrates 9th anniversary

Standard Bank Limited (SBL) observed a customers' evening on the occasion of its ninth anniversary at a city hotel recently.Chairman of the board of directors of the bank Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed was present as the chief guest while Vice Chairman...

Deep convection over Bay : Ports asked to hoist signal No 3

Deep convection is continuing over the North Bay. Squally weather is likely to affect the maritime ports, reports UNB.Maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted local cautionary signal No Three, said a Met...

People's expectation from last budget

WHEN the national budget for 2007-2008 was announced last year, the reconstituted caretaker government faced a great challenge to manage resources for development. The government received both appreciation and criticism for presenting its first budget in the absence of a...

Ronchi receives Australia call-up

Australia have summoned uncapped wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi to join their squad in the West Indies, reports BBC.The 27-year-old will provide cover for first-choice keeper Brad Haddin, who broke the ring finger of his right hand during the second Test in...

When service comes with a snarl instead of a smile

YOU might think, with the growing threat of recession and with the constant arrival of new competitors, that businesses would be trying to improve their customer service at the moment. You might think that - if you are as naive...

Dev of professional efficiency of IBBL staff to make it model bank stressed

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) executive committee Chairman Mominul Islam Patwary laid emphasis on the development of professional efficiency and quality of all staff members and officials of the bank in order to make the bank a model bank in...

Dilly-dallying in protecting the RMG sector

What things the administration has done so far in securing the country's readymade garments (RMG) sector from short and long term threats to its existence, are too little to say the last. The RMG sector faced peril even two years...

CCC plans to install energy saving lights in city streets

CHITTAGONG, June 06: Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has undertaken initiatives of installing energy saving lights instead of existing tube lights in the streets.With the commissioning of the energy saving lights, the CCC would be able to save at least Tk...

Explosives seized near Pakistan capital

ISLAMABAD, June 6 (Agencies): Pakistan authorities seized two vehicles carrying about 2,200 pounds of explosives, foiling a possible terror plot near Pakistan's capital, officials said. Senior police officer Rao Mohammed Iqbal told The Associated Press that several suspects were arrested...

Party builds palaces as classrooms collapse

Jamil Anderlini in Fuyang while Tom MitchellBEFORE the dust had settled from China's devastating earthquake residents in the disaster zone were already asking why so many schools collapsed, while most government offices seemed to survive intact.Grieving parents have voiced claims...

First private Internet gateway to start operation June 25

The first private International Internet Gateway (IIG) is set to start operation in Bangladesh from June 25, reports bdnews24.com.Chairman of Mango Teleservices Ltd A Mannan Khan told the news agency that two points-of-presence (POPs), or access points to the Internet,...

India's man in a hurry

ANIL Ambani, the Indian industrialist, was on a family holiday in a game park in South Africa earlier last month when the news came. Takeover talks had collapsed between rival billionaire entrepreneur Sunil Mittal, chairman of India's biggest mobile carrier...

Man gets life for violating teenage girl

TANGAIL, June 6 (UNB): A special court here Thursday convicted a man and awarded him life term imprisonment for violating a teenage girl.The court also fined the convict, Sohel Rana alias Russell Tk 5,000, in default, to suffer one year...

Keeping detailed information about hotel guests to be made mandatory

The government will ask the management of hotels to preserve information about local and foreign guests at least for a certain period so that suspects can be identified following any incident, said a Home Ministry official.He said the government is...

Bangladesh keep their hopes alive in SAFF Football

Bangladesh kept their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the 5th SAFF Championship alive when they came from behind to play a 2-2 draw against Afghanistan at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka Friday, reports bdnews24.com.Bangladesh, who also drew against...

Overseas workers' welfare fund spending under scrutiny

Serious questions about the use of a welfare fund raised through fees collected by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) from the Bangladeshis leaving the country to take up jobs abroad have surfaced.The size of the fund is...

EC set on 'test and trial' local polls in July

The Election Commission will declare the detailed election schedule of four city corporations and nine municipalities by June 20, in a move described as a "test and trial" prior to the national polls in December, reports bdnews24.com.Elections commissioners M Sakhawat...

Baltic states on course for hard landing

Last year Elcoteq, the Finnish electronics contract manufacturer, increased its Estonian salaries by 15 per cent but still had to bring in Hungarian workers to staff its Tallinn plant. This year Elcoteq is putting 300 of its 2,200 workers on...