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'P.S.C. WITH I.O.Cs RAISE NATION'S LIABILITY
Double hike of CNG exacerbates people's hardship
Faruque Ahmed
The Caretaker Government (CG) has abruptly doubled the price of compressed natural gas (CNG) last week and contemplating increasing the price of other petroleum products. The decision came as a big shock to the people and although the CG said the price hike would remain limited to three-wheelers, taxicabs and private cars. But the reality is bus owners too have also seized upon the opportunity and immediately raised the price of tickets at least by 20 to 25 per cent saying the CNG price hike affects them as well...[ FULL STORY ]
NEVER MIND GEN. MOEEN'S DENIALS
People see it as Army dominated government
Sadeq Khan
A sense of drift has gripped the nation. In public comments, the army chief General Moeen U. Ahmed repeatedly argued that the military is not running the country, officers in uniform sit in the caretaker cabinet, and the administration, including the military units assisting it, is taking orders from the Chief Adviser. But public perception, and indeed common experience, belies that argument...[ FULL STORY ]
Food crisis is unlikely to end soon
Fazle Rashid
This scribe in a piece appearing in Holiday on January 11 had warned about Bangladesh facing a severe food shortage. The entire South Asia nay the whole world would face a shortage of wheat and rice at an affordable price...[ FULL STORY ]
TOTAL MILITARY RULE OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT?
Political options are limited for CG
Abdur Rahman Khan
After concluding pre-dialogue talks, the interim government is now set to initiate formal dialogue with the political parties. However, the dialogue, likely to begin by the second week of this month, possibly will be unpleasant for the two major political parties -- Awami League and BNP -- who have set a pre condition for the release of their respective party chief, Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, for joining the dialogue...[ FULL STORY ]
CAN DIALOGUE FACILITATE EXIT STRATEGY?
Weak politics, strong civil-military bureaucracy in the offing?
Amanullah Kabir
Can a credible election be possible when this Caretaker Government (CG), unlike its predecessors, is more committed to implement its own political programme rather than hold free and fair polls? Controversial issues like reforms in political parties, restructuring of party leadership, 'minus two' formula, trial of politicians, disintegration of political institutions, local elections before the national polls are part of its political programme...[ FULL STORY ]
Democracy, presidential election and the lobby-I
Dr. Habib Siddiqui
Democracy is becoming a joke these days. This assertion is not true just for failed and illiberal democracies like Zimbabwe and Palestine but also for matured and yet imperfect, liberal democracies like France, the UK and the USA...[ FULL STORY ]
AHMEDINIJAD MEETS MUSHARRAF
Clears hurdles for Iran-Pak-India gas pipeline
Jonaid Iqbal in Islamabad
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinijad during a brief stop over at Islamabad on way to Colombo and New Delhi made two significant gestures to help Pakistan come out of the energy crisis it has been facing since the past two years...[ FULL STORY ]
US PRESIDENTIAL POLLS
Obama distancing himself from his ex-pastor
Moinuddin Naser in New York
Presidential forerunner Barack Obama is facing turbulent time as his ex-pastor, in a series of speeches including a press conference at National Press Club criticized the US government and in his language the "white racist". Reverend Jerimiah Wright came with his speech when Obama is facing a tough time about his primary. He will face Hillary in Indiana next Tuesday...[ FULL STORY ]
GLIMPSES OF GREAT
Ho Chi Minh
K. Z. Islam
"Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh!"...[ FULL STORY ]
Amitabh Bachchan lends his voice to UNEP tree campaign
Satwant Kaur in Bangkok
The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Brand Ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan, planted a tree at a tree planting ceremony jointly organized by UNEP, UNESCAP and the Indian Embassy with IIFA in the premises of the UN building in Bangkok Wednesday. This is the first time that Bachchan, an icon in the Indian film industry with fans who span the globe, visited the UN premises. He was joined by Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and Latha Reddy, the Indian Ambassador to Thailand...[ FULL STORY ]
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