Bangladesh News Archives

“I wanted to make him understand how effective a tool microcredit is in helping the poor people, particularly the poor women, to take control of their own lives and pull themselves out of the problems and benefit the children”

PARIS: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Monday unveiled a deal between his pioneering Grameen bank and French group Veolia Environment to provide clean water to poor rural communities in Bangladesh. via South Asian Media Net

DHAKA: Bangladesh team at a country-showcasing event at the United Nations on Wednesday called for more investment in ICT sector by global investors. via South Asian Media Net

DHAKA: Experts at a sharing meeting in the city said though Bangladesh is on the verge of substantial threat of natural disaster like earthquake, it is never prioritised in disaster management. via South Asian Media Net

Former prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina appeared before a graft court on Sunday soon after being released from hospital, officials said. via Boston.com

“I knew we had hardly any troops outside Dhaka and it was problematic for public surrender... But had it been better to be in safety and make him surrender in his office? No. I wanted him to face the people.”

Dhaka: The Pakistani general whose surrender signalled the liberation of Bangladesh, did so, much against his wishes, "before the people of Dhaka", says the Indian officer who organised in 1971 modern history's ... via Sify

“We could not bring the war criminals to book so far, but this government can take this initiative”

Bikolpadhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday sought apology for their failure to try the war criminals while he was part of the government. via The Daily Star

BSS, Dhaka Adviser for Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Friday said expatriate welfare desks would be introduced at Chittagong and Sylhet airports ... via The New Nation

ONE way to understand Bangladesh today after 37 years of her independence is to look at it as an interesting paradox. via The Daily Star

“We will also free you although a few of your party leaders do not want your release.”

DHAKA: BNP leaders loyal to detained Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday urged party leaders and workers to get ready to make any sacrifice to free Khaleda and her two sons. via South Asian Media Net

“I feel proud of visiting Bangladesh on its 37th anniversary of the Independence and National Day”

Former chief of staff of the eastern command of the Indian army Lt Gen JFR Jacob yesterday expressed his pleasure of being invited by the Bangladesh government to witness the Independence and National Day ... via The Daily Star

NEW DELHI: An Indian delegation, including 10 veterans of Bangladesh's Liberation War, arrived in Dhaka Tuesday to attend the Independence Day programmes, an army officer said. via South Asian Media Net

DHAKA: Different organisations have taken up elaborate programmes to mark the black-night of March 25, 1971 when Pakistani army started indiscriminate killing of innocent people in Bangladesh. via South Asian Media Net

“We have decided to accept the offer and hope a final agreement will be signed by the end of June or early July”

Bangladesh's privately-owned GMG Airlines expects to complete a deal with plane maker Boeing to buy six new aircraft worth more than $900 million in the next few months, GMG's chairman said on Monday. via WTNZ-TV Knoxville

Bangladesh News.Net Tuesday 25th March, 2008 Thousands of security forces were mobilized in the bustling capital Dhaka as a high alert was sounded across Bangladesh ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. via Bangladesh News

Bangladesh celebrated 37 years of independence Wednesday with ceremonies and military parades, as protesters urged the government to prosecute those who collaborated with Pakistan during the war of independence.

Just after midnight, war veterans, victims' families and supporters across Bangladesh switched off their lights for a minute of remembrance for the millions of Bangladeshis killed in the 1971 war and to demand the punishment of war criminals and collaborators.

Thousands also gathered at the Shahid Minar, a memorial for soldiers in downtown Dhaka, lighting candles and shouting for war criminals to be prosecuted. Read more

“A code of conduct for the next ruling and opposition parties might be drawn up to do away with the practices like parliament boycott, hartal (strike) and violence-filled street agitations”

"A code of conduct for the next ruling and opposition parties might be drawn up to do away with the practices like parliament boycott, hartal and violence-filled street agitations," the adviser told the ... via Gulf Times

Bangladesh News.Net Monday 24th March, 2008 A Dhaka court sentenced three members of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh for the 2005 explosions that killed eight people and injured 40. via Bangladesh News

“About 307 passengers and crew on board the aircraft were safely evacuated through emergency exits of the aircraft.”

The Saudi Arabian Airlines' Boeing-747 on the south taxiway of Zia International Airport after it suffered an engine fire while landing yesterday afternoon. via The Daily Star

Staff Reporter Experts at a seminar in the city said mindset is our main obstacle to the development in the country. via The New Nation

Licences for the country's first-ever telephone call centres are soon to be issued, holding out the prospect that Bangladesh will soon join the billion dollar global business

Former lawmakers from BNP, Awami League and Jatiya Party residing in NAM flats made it clear yesterday that they are not leaving the flats under pressure from any quarter. Addressing a joint press conference at NAM Bhaban at Manik Mia Avenue in the city they also vowed to resist any conspiracy to protect the image of Parliament and its property.

“We have already done two trial runs and found no problems. Let's start the service; we can address problems if they come up”

Bangladesh and Indian authorities have said they expected the Dhaka-Kolkata direct train service to be launched on April 14, coinciding with the Bengali New Year 'Pahela Baishakh'. "We are aiming to start the ... via Hindustan Times

“Khaleda Zia's and Sheikh Hasina's only crime is that they head the two major political parties of the country”

One hundred and eighteen former BNP lawmakers including a number of leaders of pro-Saifur faction of Bangladesh Nationalist Party yesterday demanded that former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina be ... via Asia News Network

A tropical storm killed at least five villagers Saturday in northeastern Bangladesh, an official said. via PR-inside.com

“A total of 10,000 members of the Armed Forces and 18,000 civilians have been working for preparing the voter list and national ID cards across the country”

Work of preparing voter-list with photographs and National ID cards going on in fullswing under the supervision of the army. via The New Nation

“It is not just an environmental issue, it is a developmental one.”

DHAKA: Dhaka will host the first country-specific conference on climate change next week where the government, donors and experts will thrash out a plan to campaign for mitigation and adaptation methods and ... via South Asian Media Net

Dhaka, March 21: At least nine people were killed after being struck by lightning during seasonal storms which battered hundreds of villages in southern and central Bangladesh, reports said Friday. via Newkerala.com

“If everything goes well, the train will start running on Poila Baishakh (the first day in the month of Baishakah, Bengali New Year's Day)”

Dhaka, March 21 : The long-awaited Dhaka-Kolkata train service may begin on Bengali New Year's Day mid-April, as the two south Asian neighbours are set to sign a supplementary deal here Sunday on the ... via Newkerala.com

“The Indian Deputy Chief spent some time with the Navy Chief and discussed different matters of professional interest”

UNB, Dhaka Navy Chief Vice-Admiral Raman P Suthan Thursday paid a courtesy call on Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam at the Naval Headquarters at Banani in the city. via The New Nation

“Bangladeshi people are in charge of shaping their own destiny... 'The diplomatic agents concerned are urged to take note of this fact, and act in consonance with these sentiments.”

Bangladesh News.Net Friday 21st March, 2008 Bangladesh is irked by meetings Western diplomats here are having with politicians and comments on the political situation in the country. via Bangladesh News

“The names cannot be disclosed until the report is finalised after proper examination.”

The Anti-Corruption Commission is moving forward with a plan to clamp down on corruption in fertiliser sector and it is currently collecting relevant information in this regard from all over the country. via The Daily Star

“However, Bangladeshis, who have struggled hard for their independence, seek to guard their sense of sovereignty with zeal and pride”

Government authorities took exception to public remarks of some foreign diplomats that a section of the media has perceived to be "interference in Bangladesh''s internal affairs", reports UNB. via News from Bangladesh

“The coins unearthed in Wari-Bateshwar were of imperial and Janapada series. On the basis of the silver punch-marked coins it can be said that it was a Mahajanapada”

Archaeologists have excavated pre-Mauryan silver punch-marked coins dating back to 600 BC to 400 BC in Wari-Bateshwar in Bangladesh, which has revealed that the region was one of the earliest kingdoms in the ... via AndhraNews

DHAKA: Rocketing food prices are eating into the real wages of workers more alarmingly than stated in official statistics, indicates the trend of household income and expenditures. via South Asian Media Net

“Zionist spy and agent of the Jews.”

Dr. Richard L. Benkin, USA DHAKA At approximately 7:00pm,Dhaka time, members of Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion stormed the office of anti-jihadist Muslim journalist,SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY.A ... via News from Bangladesh

“The roads and bridges, due to their present conditions, cannot bear the loads of such heavy equipment”

Bangladesh should grant transit facilities to India through the Chittagong sea port as it will "significantly" improve the country's economy and reduce dependence on foreign aid, Indian High Commissioner Pinak ... via Deccan Herald

“For the release of Sheikh Hasina, Awami League has taken a decision to announce agitation programmes, then we will see who are with us”

DHAKA: Key leaders of different political parties yesterday strongly demanded that the caretaker government reinstates democracy in the country as soon as possible through holding a free, fair and credible ... via South Asian Media Net

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have agreed that Bangladesh and Britain would enter into a new strategic partnership based on shared values and vibrant economic ties. via The Daily Star

“We don't know the exact reasons, but buyers who went away previously are coming back to Bangladesh. May be it's because Bangladesh is giving the best deals and the port is functioning better than before”

The sliding garment exports to Germany, the second biggest export market of Bangladesh, is gradually recovering from late last year, says Holger Fraider, deputy head of the mission, German Embassy in Dhaka. via The Daily Star

“You cannot do a lot in containing prices due to the international prices”

UNB, Dhaka Economists yesterday recommended the government to raise income tax exemption limit, strengthen social protection in the new budget and take more diplomatic initiatives to ensure rice import to ... via The New Nation

“Another 2,500 tonnes of rice is expected to arrive in the country through Darshana land port today. This is the beginning of import of 1 lakh tonnes of rice from India as per the earlier agreement between the two governments”

A total of 2,500 tonnes of rice at a cost of $399 per tonne arrived in Bangladesh from India yesterday, said Food Director Ilahi Dad Khan after a meeting with the visiting Indian delegation. via The Daily Star

“More than half of the voter list has been prepared, election rules and regulations are at the final stage and we're going to have a free, fair and credible election”

UNB, London Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has said the main motto of his administration is to hold free and acceptable parliamentary polls by the set deadline as no one wants to return to the nightmarish ... via The New Nation

“We'll do our best to increase assistance to Bangladesh at this point”

UNB, Dhaka A visiting senior official from the United Nations Sunday assured Bangladesh of its best efforts to increase food aid, as the prices of food grains continued to go up in the country hitting the poor ... via The New Nation

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed arrived in London yesterday on a three-day official visit after attending the 11th summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar of Senegal. via The Daily Star

“We have some localised problems in Ghorashal but we certainly do not have any supply problem in Sylhet”

DHAKA: A shortfall in gas supply coupled with rising demand for power with the arrival of warmer weather is causing daily official load shedding of 400MW-500MW. According to Power Development Board , problems ... via South Asian Media Net

Dhaka, March 15 : The Bangladeshi national airways Biman Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding Saturday for the purchase of eight aircraft worth $1.26 billion from Boeing. via Newkerala.com

“These structures confirm that there was a civilization before the Pala Dynasty”

Archaeologists have found two ancient brick-built structures at the Paharpur world heritage site in Bangladesh, which they believe belonged to a period even earlier than the sites known time - the Pala Era. via AndhraNews

“You have two ministers of state (MoS) in the ministry of external affairs. You need one more MoS, for Bangladesh”

From correspondents in Delhi, India, 10:02 PM IST Saying India was obsessed with Pakistan, a former foreign secretary of Bangladesh has urged New Delhi to appoint a junior foreign minister to deal exclusively ... via India eNews

“I think gamblers are trying to catch fishes in troubled water.”

Share prices of Z category low-profile issues jumped on Wednesday although stock market closed down for the second consecutive day. via The Independent

“We might have an argument on different grounds and during the hearing in the High Court we'll try to cover the points based on which Appellate Division has cancelled verdict on Hasina”

The Supreme Court yesterday cancelled the High Court verdict that declared illegal issuance of the Anti-Corruption Commission notice asking former premier and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina to submit her ... via The Daily Star

The Advisers' Committee on Public Purchase yesterday approved two tender proposals for the import of 20,000 metric tons of non-boiled rice from Myanmar as part of the government's bid to control soaring rice ... via The Daily Star

“Sidr and flooding damaged the major tourist spots of the country, resulting in drop in revenue”

Visitors crowd a stall at the three-day tourism fair titled 5th Dhaka Travel Mart in the capital yesterday. via The Daily Star

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi company, M/s Agrani Complex Ltd is going to set up a 50MW Power Plant in Comilla Export Processing Zone in order to solve the power crisis in the EPZ area and its surroundings. via South Asian Media Net

The US Department of State in its annual report "Human Rights Practices 2007" on Bangladesh reveals that human rights record worsened in the country as the state of emergency continued to be in effect with ... via The Daily Star

“It is going to be a challenging tour for our spin bowlers to bowl in India. Bowling in India can only make me a better player. Hopefully, I can go there and win some matches for my country.”

DHAKA: South Africa's tour of Bangladesh is ideal preparation for the forthcoming Test series in India, off-spinner Paul Harris said on Tuesday. via Daily Times

“We don't want to enter that saturated and small market; we want to do our core business and that is operating international flights.”

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited will not operate any domestic flight except on Sylhet and Chittagong routes as the national flag carrier is eyeing to establish itself as a world-class airliner. via The Daily Star

“They said they would sell their gas to India and China but cannot export gas to Bangladesh at the moment. Myanmar would consider selling gas to Bangladesh only after new discoveries are made”

Myanmar has rejected a request to sell gas to Bangladesh to help the country meet its growing energy crisis, saying India and China are its top priorities. via The Daily Star

DHAKA: The High Court on Monday asked the government and the Dhaka City Corporation to explain in seven days why the allotment of 25 acres of land in Suhrawardy Udyan to the Dhaka Club for a golf course would ... via South Asian Media Net

The airline's chairman, Mahbub Jamil, today held a press conference at Bangladesh's Ministry of Civil Aviation in which he announced that the airline would order four 777-300ERs and four 787-8s with first ... via Flight Global

DHAKA: Women leaders and legal experts on Saturday welcomed the Election Commission's proposal for ensuring 33 per cent of women's representation in all committees of the political parties, and said the country ... via South Asian Media Net

UNB, Dhaka The probe-committee findings on the August 20-22 incidents of violence at Dhaka University will be made public as the council of advisors of the caretaker government Sunday approved a proposal for ... via The New Nation

“Airbus will make a presentation within the next 10 days”

National carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines said on Monday it agreed to buy eight Boeing aircraft worth nearly USD$1.3 billion as it looks to modernize its small fleet and fight off competition from local ... via Airwise

DHAKA: Detained Awami League president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina may be hearing-impaired if not provided proper treatment within a day or two, her personal physician Dr Pran Gopal Dutta said after ... via South Asian Media Net

“During the meeting of the two army chiefs, the Bangladesh army chief of staff recalled with respect India's cooperation and sacrifice during the country war of independence and expressed his gratitude”

DHAKA: The army headquarters on Saturday termed false and fabricated some media reports and an editorial that the army chief during his India visit had stated that Bangladesh would show respects to the martyred ... via South Asian Media Net

“The problem persists mainly in the dry season when farmers irrigate their cropland”

Groundwater-based irrigation system is experiencing difficulties in different parts of the country as shallow aquifer level is getting out of reach due to fast depletion of groundwater table. via The Daily Star

“During a political government's rule, there is a tendency of giving higher allocations to areas represented by powerful ministers or policymakers. As a result, a large part of the country remains deprived of minimum development allocations”

DHAKA: The cabinet yesterday approved in principle an ordinance that will end disproportionately high allocation of funds for constituencies of powerful politicians and compel the government to clearly state ... via South Asian Media Net

“We are keeping a close watch on this network across the country. Investigations are continuing”

West Bengal Police are tracking a fake currency racket operating out of Bangladesh for channelling funds to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba to carry out subversive activities across India. via India Gazette

“We will organize the conference in collaboration with the British donor agency Department for International Development ( DFID)”

Bangladesh News.Net Friday 7th March, 2008 Dhaka, March 8 Bangladesh has planned to organize an international conference in London in May to draw attention of the world community on the climate change that ... via Bangladesh News

“Newborns in the community may also benefit -- however, this has not yet been studied”

Applying sunflower seed oil or Aquaphor to the skin of very premature neonates in hospital settings reduces mortality, according to results of a study from Bangladesh. via Scientific American

“The torture was meted out to him is not only inhuman but also against all principles and justice”

UNB, Dhaka Bangladesh Nationalist Party yesterday alleged that the Government arrested and kept detained its senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman "purely with political motives" as no allegation ... via The New Nation

“Since then, HUJI-B has been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and abroad”

The United States said it had designated a Bangladeshi Islamist group, Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami, as a "terrorist" organization, subjecting it to U.S. financial sanctions. via KOOL 108

The viral encephalitis caused by Nipah Virus claimed 5 lives in Bangladesh in the last two days in the country's western Rajbari district and adjoining Faridpur district, officials said here on Sunday. via People's Daily

“I did not know there was this dangerous terrorist on the loose. I don't speak English so I did not pay attention to the posters.”

'I did not know there was this dangerous terrorist on the loose. I don't speak English so I did not pay attention to the posters,' said Mr Iqbal. via The Straits Times

“Diabetes has spread in the world like an epidemic and developing countries are the worst victims of this disease. An estimated 6 million people in Bangladesh now have diabetes.”

Bangladeshi scientists recently invented an herbal tea that would help insulin-dependent diabetic patients reduce their insulin intake, leading English newspaper the Daily Star reported Thursday. via People's Daily Online

Several houses of Dakkhin Geedari village of Gaibandha district were damaged as norwesters lashed the country in early hours of Tuesday. via The New Nation

“Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister, will be questioned Thursday at the makeshift jail. The exact timing of questioning has not yet been fixed”

UNB, Dhaka Detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will be quizzed Thursday in connection with the Niko graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against her and four others. via The New Nation

HuJI was supplying grenades to Lashkar for attacks in India Agencies Dhaka, Mar 3: Banned Bangladeshi militant outfit Harkat-ul Jihad-e-Islami used to supply grenades to Pakistan-based Laskar-e-Toiba to carry ... via Central Chronicle

“Prior permission will have to be taken from proper authorities informing them about the specific time, date and place of any procession or meeting for election campaigns”

DHAKA: Candidates contesting in city corporation polls will not be allowed to bring out campaign processions or hold rallies unless they take prior permissions from the authorities, according to a draft ... via South Asian Media Net

Bangladesh News.Net Tuesday 4th March, 2008 The 'medico-political' standoff between Bangladesh's caretaker government and the politicians it has detained on corruption charges is showing signs of abatement. via Bangladesh News

“He said it's the age of globalisation and garment sector plays an important role in the process. We should make products of world standard. Without quality products it's impossible to survive in the international market.”

DHAKA: Bangladesh has achieved three per cent of the total garment market in the world that earns about Tk 63,000 crore per year. via South Asian Media Net

“I personally don't think that we need any technical or chemical test to ascertain the authenticity of these artefacts.”

Artefact connoisseur AKM Zakaria looks at pictures of Vajrasattva, an idol on display at the National Museum yesterday