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Destination of Khaleda
and Hasina unknown
Samsuddin Ahmed
Chain of destiny are taking Awami League President Sheikh Hasina where she herself is not certain. Everything is set for her leaving the country tonight (Friday, June 15) for the USA, ostensibly to be with her daughter who is expecting her third baby shortly. But, "I'm not sure if the government will permit me to leave the country," she told reporters on Wednesday... [ FULL STORY ]
Civil society living in ivory towers
New party shall require
grassroots support
M Anwarul Kabir
Poor governance by the two major parties since the fall of autocratic regime in 1990 has instilled in the mind of some members of the civil society the quest for a 'third force' with a view to introducing good governance in the country. The civil society under the umbrella of CPD and a section of the media have been campaigning for honest and efficient candidates for the national election since 2006... [ FULL STORY ]
Budget deemed a document of courage
Sadeq Khan
Those disturbed by a feeling of drift of the ship of the state under an extended caretaker regime have been gratified by the grip of the finance adviser over economic realities facing the nation as reflected in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2007-08. Indeed, the hefty budget, characterised as "overambitious" by some leaders of opinion, civil society stalwarts and economist association elders, is a pleasant surprise to the average citizen who is depressed by the daily revelations of political scandals in newspapers... [ FULL STORY ]
Politics moving towards reforms
Clean politicians to form new party
Abdur Rahman Khan
The politics in Bangladesh is moving towards reform and the scenario appears to be clear by now under the present military-backed interim government. As the government is planning to allow indoor politics from last week of this month, the political reforms will have to take a shape by this week. To that end, the major political parties, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Awami League have already started dialogue within the organisation to reform their parties staving off the corrupt elements and restoring a collective leadership... [ FULL STORY ]
New polarisation
Defectors defy AL, BNP bosses
A. K. Faezul Huq
The BNP and the Awami League, the two largest political parties of the country, notwithstanding their vast following, are in dire trouble today. While the entire political arena is rife with weird rumours of their splitting up soon or the chances of a major breakup in their ranks, many of their senior leaders have already been found speaking out openly against the policies of their 'supremos' ? directly or through oblique references. Such renegade leaders in the making have been found issuing statements to the press regularly and talking to the media for hours together, informing the countrymen at large, of what should and should not have been done in the past and what ought to be done now by their top most leaders... [ FULL STORY ]
"Global Corruption Report 2007"
Indian legal system in the dock
Praful Bidwai in New Delhi
The reputation of India's judiciary, considered overbearing and democratically unaccountable by many, has taken a knock with the publication of a report by Transparency International (TI) called the "Global Corruption Report 2007"...[ FULL STORY ]
Sino-Indian ties improving
Fazle Rashid in New York
The Holiday in its June 1 issue reported an eruption of diplomatic row between China and India over visit of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to China for training. One hundred and seven IAS personnel were to visit China. China granted visas to 106 of them but denied the same to one who belonged to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims is a Chinese territory... [ FULL STORY ]
Glimpses of the Great
Steve Jobs
K Z Islam
In the past six years Apple, with its Ipod player and iTunes service Steve Jobs has come to lead the digital music industry. On June 29th Apple will enter an ever bigger market when it launches a new mobile phone called iPhone. Steve Job's success in this transformation so far, and the expectation of a new phase thanks to the iPhone, explain why Apple, one decade after nearly collapsing, is now worth more than US$ 100 billion and is to be included in the America's blue-chips elite, the S&P 100 index... [ FULL STORY ]
THE BOTTOM LINE
Taher Quddus
An electronic media person walked up to me and asked: "What is your reaction about the budget?" He had put his hand held microphone on my face... [ FULL STORY ]
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