|
Politics dangling between
hope and despair
K. Faezul Huq
The nation as a whole seems to be passing through a spell of tension. There is total confusion all around as far as the political parties and their leaders are concerned. Businessmen and traders of all classes are also confused due to the queer policies of the present administration, which has neither given any satisfaction to the consumers nor satisfied the people on the other side of the fence. The present-day policy has, in fact, failed to contain the prices of essentials until now without providing any special relief to any section of the society, except the big, black money holders. And the finance and planning adviser, in his utter spell of wisdom, claimed that the prices of essentials had not soared!... [ FULL STORY ]
Washington shows justice
shouldn’t be heartless
Fazle Rashid in New York
President Bush spared Lewis Libby Scooter, former chief of staff of Vice-President Dick Cheney, the ignominy of serving a 30-month jail sentence, saying, “I respect the jury’s verdict,” but adding that the 30-month prison term was excessive. Libby was framed for perjury and obstruction of justice in the Central Intelligence Agency leak case... [ FULL STORY ]
Suspected corrupt leaders
jostle to regain power
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Followers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina sound excited. They rejoiced when Khaleda hit back at the reformists in BNP, throwing a veiled challenge. Hasina, in her turn, launched a broadside against the armed forces, accusing the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence of breaking up the major political parties and promoting the floating of new ones, a move that would isolate her. Matia Chowdhury, a close associate of Hasina, came up quickly with the statement that democratic politics in the country was unthinkable without the leadership of Khaleda and Hasina... [ FULL STORY ]
Six months of emergency
Parties yet to fathom their tasks
Sadeq Khan
Six months have passed since the proclamation of the state of emergency on January 11. The Emergency Powers Rules 2007 were promulgated on January 10. Under the rules, provocative activities, including meeting, gathering, procession, rally, blockade, strike, lockout, and other functions of the political parties, trade unions, clubs or associations, remain suspended until further order or until the emergency is revoked. Certain constitutional guarantees of fundamental civic rights have for the time being been suspended. Beyond those the writ jurisdiction of the High Court remains operative. The media has also been left alone to function freely, although with a notice to mind its steps and respect the state of emergency. The violence of the highly polarised and vengeful partisan politics generally ceased with the proclamation of emergency. Normalcy and security of civic life and economic activities were restored... [ FULL STORY ]
US naval ship Nimitz’s port call
India practises close military ties
with US, professes non-alignment
Praful Bidwai in New Delhi
The port call of a United States nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Chennai in southern India has provoked strong protests from a spectrum of political parties, trade unions, peace groups and environmentalists... [ FULL STORY ]
Dhaka-Kolkata train link
Why not similar service with NE India?
Special Correspondent
In all probability Dhaka-Kolkata train service will be opened sometime in September. Bangladesh should take up the matter of similar direct communication with Gawahati and Tripura in the east. That will improve the relationship through trade, exchange of visits by business people, cultural teams and people in general. Bangladesh and the seven sister states of India are less known to each other. Direct communication facilities will help improve relationship...[ FULL STORY ]
Glimpses of the Great
H. S. Suhrawardy
K Z Islam
When Suhrawardy went to the UK as Pakistan’s Prime Minister he was asked by the press, “And what do you think about Pakistan leaving the Commonwealth?” “Oh no! We are not thinking of leaving the Commonwealth when such a young and beautiful Queen is at the head of it,” said he with a twinkle in his eye and won the heart of the press... [ FULL STORY ]
Indian newsmen raise voices
for fellow Myanmar scribe
Nava Thakuria in Guwahati
The notorious press censorship in Burma may witness severe criticism on and off from western media organizations, but this time a group of Indian journalists has come out to protest against the anti-media attitude of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (of Myanmar). The union of journalists from Manipur, a Northeastern state bordering Myanmar had recently made a historic step expressing solidarity with the detained Burmese journalists inside the South East Asian country. The focus of the cohesion was U Win Tin, who had been under detention for the last 18 years in a Myanmar prison... [ FULL STORY ]
WB Report
Bangladesh still a backslider
in abating graft!
Fazle Rashid in New York
The World Bank, itself mired in governance scandal, in a recently-released report has placed Bangladesh among the nations who have regressed in combating corruption. It is quite clear that the report has not taken into consideration the last six months’ account. Among the backsliders are Bangladesh, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Pakistan. The countries which have made significant gains [progress] in their anti-graft drives are Indonesia, Colombia, Turkey, and Afghanistan... [ FULL STORY ]
|
