Today Dhaka and World

China pledges help in N-power project
Three agreements signed at talks
Unb, Beijing
China will provide special preferential treatment for access of some Bangladeshi products to its market to reduce the prevailing trade imbalance between the two countries and cooperate in paving the way for implementation of the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant.


BNP asks EC to invite its allies to dialogue
Staff Correspondent
Demanding lifting of the state of emergency and holding of the parliamentary election ahead of any other poll, BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday urged the caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC) to invite all of its components to the anticipated dialogue.


BB moves to make farm loan mandatory
It will ask all banks to disburse loans to buck up the sector
Star Business Report
Bangladesh Bank (BB) will make disbursement of agriculture loans among farmers mandatory for all banks, including the foreign ones, to ease farming activities in the country.


Strong tidal surge swamps the coast
Over 100 fishermen missing, thousands marooned; depression formed in North Bay
Star Report
Over a hundred fishermen went missing when their trawlers capsized in rough waters caused by depression in North Bay Monday night.


Hasina, Selim get bail in Ajam J case
Staff Correspondent
The High Court (HC) yesterday granted three months' ad interim bail to Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina and her cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim in the extortion case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury.


AL working on poll alliance
Most parties in possible combine uncomfortable about JP
Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) yesterday said it is working to forge a grand electoral alliance to face the BNP-Jamaat coalition in the parliamentary election planned for December.


Restive politics to jolt economy badly
ADB fears in its 2008 update
Star Business Report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said any political disruption in the run-up to the parliamentary polls and its outcome will pose a major risk to the economy.


Street watch goes up for safe Eid shopping
Kailash Sarkar
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have stepped up street patrols and intelligence activities to ensure security for Eid shoppers in the capital.


Sipahibagh-meradia Area
Roads uncared for 6
Roads risky even for walking
Helemul Alam
The school van drops off Mitu, a Viqarunnisa Noon School student, at Sipahibagh, about a mile from her residence in Bhuiyanpara.


IMED Findings
DUTP works plagued by poor coordination
Rejaul Karim Byron
Lack of coordination between agencies concerned became so acute in Dhaka Urban Transport Project (DUTP) that parts of newly-constructed roads had to be dug to install sewerage, gas and telephone lines spoiling large amount of public money.


TAILBACK TALE 1
VIP gridlock avenue
Shariful Islam
The stretch of the VIP road from Shahbagh to Jahangir Gate has apparently lost its status taking into account the persisting traffic congestion on the thoroughfare all day long.


Work unitedly for restoration of democracy
Hasina asks AL men
Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon her party leaders to work unitedly for the restoration of democracy in the country and to make the "2020 vision" successful.


Hasina-Khaleda Consensus will benefit Bangladesh
Says Saudi envoy
Unb, Dhaka
Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al-Bosiari yesterday said any consensus reached by former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina on national issues would be beneficial to the people of Bangladesh.


Banks asked to provide info on ex-minister Azad, 15 others
Staff Correspondent
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday asked all commercial banks to provide account information of 16 people including former state minister Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad, former power secretary Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and former FDC managing director Mohammad Musa.


6 political leaders get HC bail
Staff Correspondent
Eight people including six political leaders yesterday secured ad-interim bail for three months from the High Court (HC) in separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and National Board of Revenue (NBR). Following separate petitions filed by the accused, a vacation bench of the HC comprising Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Mamnoon Rahman stayed case-proceedings against them for the same period.


Voter List
Special step taken to enrol Khaleda, other left-out VIPs
Unb, Dhaka
The Election Commission (EC) is making a special arrangement to register former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other VIPs, left out during the nationwide voter-listing drive, as voters.


Sea Boundary
Talks on river channel issue continues
Staff Correspondent
No progress was made in the second day of Bangladesh-India Maritime Delimitation Talks as the delegations decided to continue their talks on the third day on the same Hariabhanga channel issue.


Koko's parole extended
Staff Correspondent
The government yesterday extended the parole of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko by a month.


Warrants from fake court saw 3 arrested
Court Correspondent
They did not commit the crime yet they were arrested upon fake warrants issued by a fake court in connection with a case filed with Motijheel Police Station in May this year.


Edn Instts
New law on cards to deal with sexual harassment
Staff Correspondent
The government is preparing a special act, which is expected to be enacted at all educational institutes of the country within the next two months to prevent sexual harassment.


7 more utility service men confess to graft
Staff Correspondent
The Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) yesterday heard seven more government officials from Dhaka Power Distribution Company, former Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority, and Titas Gas who claimed to own ill-gotten wealth worth Tk 13 lakh only.


Obaidul Qader to go to India for treatment
Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Obaidul Qader will go to New Delhi for treatment within a couple of days as a medical board at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) advised his treatment abroad.


No question of pressure
Hossain Zillur on Khaleda-Hasina meet
Staff Correspondent
Backtracking from his previous comments on putting pressure to make the chiefs of Awami League and BNP -- Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia -- sit together for talks, Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the question of any pressure on them from the government side does not arise.


Eid Rush For Home
Steps taken to ensure safe river journey
Unb, Dhaka
Shipping Adviser Major General (retd) MA Matin has asked the authorities concerned to ensure smooth and safe journey of passengers on river vessels before and after Eid.


Industrialist Murder
Cops yet to find motive
Staff Correspondent
Police are yet to find out the motive behind the murder of industrialist Mohammad Abdus Salam Babu who was shot dead in broad daylight near his office in Kakrail yesterday.


US-led Offensives
Pakistan orders its troops to retaliate
15 killed in military raids
Agencies, Islamabad/khar
Pakistan's military has ordered its forces to open fire if US troops launch another air or ground raid across the Afghan border, an army spokesman said Tuesday.


Tamil Tigers kill 22 soldiers
President vows to capture rebel headquarters by year-end
Afp, Colombo
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has ruled out a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers and said troops were on track to capture the rebels' political capital by the end of the year.


US joint chief of staff in Pakistan
Afp, Washington
Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, arrived in Pakistan on an unannounced visit yesterday to discuss operations underway on the Afghanistan frontier with Pakistan's leaders, the Pentagon said.