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Iconic status of Hasina, Khaleda
stems the tide of reforms
M.I. Ali
The top agenda of the principals of 1/11 is to bring about a change in the autocratic and dynastic character of the two major political parties who dominate the country's politics. The government's chosen way to effect this change seems to be removing the two paramount ladies who enjoy and exercise a total dictatorial authority over their parties to make way for new democratic leadership to take over. This idea has been enthusiastically endorsed by some of the lesser politicians who have taken upon themselves the task of democratising their parties. The administration, despite the ban on political activities, is allowing them to do whatever is politically necessary to implement their reform plans... [ FULL STORY ]
Avowed destination and hurdles
High prices, power sector, crimes
reduce govt.'s popularity
A.K. Faezul Huq
I am sure, the day Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed took over as head of the interim government, i.e., on 11th January 2007, he must have immediately set the prime goal of his government without any confusion whatsoever. But after six months of incumbency, when we speak of those set goals, the eventual destination of this government, achievements, and failures, the balance sheet that unfolds in front of us, unfortunately tilts the other way round or, shall we say, 'unfavourable', in just one word. Not that Dr. Fakhruddin's government is without any achievement(s) within this short period of time, but unfortunately two things clearly upsets everyone... [ FULL STORY ]
Reformists in advantage
after Hasina's arrest
Sadeq Khan
Gossip columnists in the vernacular media these days have no dearth of subjects on which they may let their imagination fly. Readers hungry for news, views, scandals, and lampoons also have the privilege these days of shuffling through hundreds of mini-magazines and impromptu broadsheets, some of which do not even care to have a printer's line... [ FULL STORY ]
Khaleda protests Hasina's arrest
Foes turn friends in distress
Special Correspondent
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was arrested on Monday in an extortion case. Speculation is rife about the arrest of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, whose son Tarique Rahman is already in jail custody on corruption charges. The two ladies ruled the country alternatively for one and a half decades but had never been even on speaking terms. It is no wonder that the adverse situation has brought the two archrivals closer. Khaleda has been critical of the way Hasina was arrested and demanded her immediate release... [ FULL STORY ]
Jute coming back into vogue
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Jute is regaining its lost glory. Production of more than 60 lakh bales of jute is projected this year. Farmers are getting incentive price. Although the state-owned mills are faltering, most of the private jute mills are operating well. Entrepreneurs have set up around 10 small factories in northern districts providing job opportunities to monga-prone peasants. Scores of truckloads of jute and jute goods are exported across the border every day... [ FULL STORY ]
AL chief in lonely confinement
Mohammed Ali Sattar
"...(T)his is not a good thing you are doing. I will soon come out free...and then none will be spared...not even you..." (The Daily Star of July 17, 2007). These were possibly the last words of Sheikh Hasina before she was taken away by the security forces from her Sudha Sadan residence on July 16 last...[ FULL STORY ]
Martyr Sector Commander Nazmul
not yet recognised
Holiday Desk
Ishrat Jahan (Shuravi) and Naoreen Sabah (Shiuli), daughters of Shaheed Major Najmul Haque, Sector 7 Commander in the Liberation War, in a wtitten statement appealed to the Caretaker Government for due rcognition and honour of their martyred father... [ FULL STORY ]
Glimpses of the Great
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
K Z Islam
When Stanley Wolpert came to Dhaka sometime in 1997 to be commissioned to write Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's biography he addressed a seminar where he stated that during the first Prime Ministership of Benazir Bhutto, Wolpert was commissioned to write Zulfi Bhutto's biography. Halfway through the biography Benazir had lost her job. So Wolpert instead of writing a hagiography decided to write a candid life story of Zulfi. Since I saw Omar Qureshi's name mentioned as Zulfi's roommate in UCLA Berkeley I asked Omar about all the womanizing mentioned about Zulfi. Omar confessed that he had given Stanley all the information for which he got into serious trouble when Benazir came back for her second term... [ FULL STORY ]
NEWS NOTES FROM THE US
Fazle Rashid
Bush on the move to repair US image
President Bush is set to repair the badly bruised international image of the United States and that of his own due to his faulty Iraq policy. Bush has promised to use the remaining period of his presidency in promoting peace in the Middle East at the heart of which will be an independent Palestinian state. He has already convened a summit meeting of the major countries involved in the peace process. The summit will be held in the coming fall (September)... [ FULL STORY ]
Inhuman administrative mayhem
Hindutva: Violent Saffronazis'
vile communal agenda
Professor I. K. Shukla
Even in the states where Congress or other political combines rule, the spread of the feral and obscene cult, Hindutva, is becoming a major threat to India's national stability and social peace. Historically, national treason has been the ID, as communal terrorism the signature, of Hindutva. No one without avowing treason as his creed can be a votary of Hindutva. No one without pledging life-long commitment to terrorism can be trusted by the Black Caps as a genuine fascist... [ FULL STORY ]
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