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HASINA TALKS NO POLITICS IN CANADA, UNCHARACTERISTICALLY
Confrontational politics lurking in the horizon?
M. Shahidul Islam in Toronto
In the 1980s, London became the epicentre of Bangladesh politics. It shifted to New York in the 1990s and made a dash toward Toronto in recent weeks. A streak of good luck did ensure my presence in all the three locations to witness first hand the tides of history changing and the nation of Bangladesh moving from one political milestone to the other...[ FULL STORY ]
SHIFTING POLITICAL INITIATIVE
4-party alliance's challenge to roadmap
Sadeq Khan
The four-party alliance, remote-controlled from special jail by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and nominally led by former Chief Whip of the BNP parliamentary party in the dissolved 8th Parliament, Khandakar Delwar Hossain, have staged a coup de grace over the Election Commission's local government election schedule, first phase. The Election Commission on June 20 announced the schedule for the elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities setting August 4 as the polling day amid a BNP-led alliance announcement to resist the polls and strong opposition by other major political parties. The announcement was accompanied by a simultaneous notification by the caretaker government relaxing the ban on outdoor politics under Emergency Powers Rules for 21 days up to the polling day in those four city corporation and nine municipal areas...[ FULL STORY ]
ECONOMIC CRISIS WILL BE TERRIBLE
Fuel price hike severely affects nation
Faruque Ahmed
Fuel price hike has triggered a crisis affecting the whole nation. Political parties, chamber leaders, business associations, professional groups, economists -- all have decried the move demanding the review of the decision made effective from July 1. They said the move will destabilise the entire economy and add miseries to the people with a staggering rise in market prices of commodities and transport fares in public and private carriers. It will also add to the production cost of factories impacting exports, besides seriously affecting agricultural production in the field...[ FULL STORY ]
THE NEPAL CONUNDRUM
Foreign involvement may deepen the crisis
Shamsuddin Ahmed
The surprise victory of Maoists in the election in Nepal has given rise to some speculations. Rabindra Nath Sharma, an elderly politician in Kathmandu, has predicted turmoil in the country leading to army take over, which would be supported by India and International community. Likewise, Wang Hong Wei, a Chinese expert on Nepal, viewed that New Delhi wants to turn Nepal into a second Bhutan or Sikkim. The election results have made Indian leaders uneasy at the prospect of spilling over the influence of the Maoist rule in Nepal to the comrades well organized in the neighbouring North-eastern states of India. Some political pundits in India as well as the BJP leaders sounding security risk have suggested the government to take 'appropriate actions' in Nepal...[ FULL STORY ]
Mayoral poll candidates show keenness
Abdur Rahman Khan
The City Corporation elections scheduled for August 4, simultaneously in Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet are gradually generating enthusiasm among the interested parties, especially the candidates and supporters at local level. It is a question of influence and power at the local level, they believe...[ FULL STORY ]
POLITICISED OVERSEAS BANGLADESHIS LAGGING BEHIND
EC's plan to grant voting right to NRBs will be damaging
Md. Anwarul Kabir
Like most people of the world, Bangladeshis have joined the world trend of human mobility across continents and countries. Bangladeshi immigrant communities in the UK, the USA, Australia and New Zealand are well-established, and are vastly contributing to our foreign exchange reserves. Perhaps accepting this reality, the interim government is seriously considering ensuring their voting right in the new context of our political realm...[ FULL STORY ]
ZOELLICK WRITES TO G-8 LEADERS
World facing man-made disaster of gruesome proportion: WB President
Fazle Rashid in New York
World Bank President Robert Zoellick in a letter to Group 0f 8 said: "What we are witnessing is not a natural disaster-a silent tsunami or a perfect storm. It is a man made catastrophe and as such must be fixed by people." The leaders of the Group 0f 8 are assembling in Japan next week to discussion the world economic situation...[ FULL STORY ]
Fuel price hike triggers people's hardship
Mohammad Ali Sattar
In the economic front the global theme of consternation is the oil price hike. The cost per barrel is leaping and is likely to hit 200 dollars mark in next five to seven years or even earlier than that. USA is the most worried stakeholder and her economists are trying to figure out the reason of the hysterical hike and its credible solution. A few of them have already come up with alternative fuel theory in next 20 years...[ FULL STORY ]
GLIMPSES OF THE GREAT
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
K. Z. Islam
On 28 April 1946, while the Congress Working Committee was still engaged in examining the British Cabinet Mission's proposals, news reached Gandhiji that the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), who was then Congress President, had written a letter to the Cabinet Mission without the knowledge of the Working Committee or himself. Humayun Kabir was the one who drafted the letter. The Maulana found similarity between his ideas of the solution of the communal problem and the ideas of the Cabinet Mission. The Maulana's solution was the maximum decentralization of power in the federal structure, with the provinces enjoying the largest measures of autonomy in all subjects, leaving the centre only with defence, foreign affairs, and communications. The Cabinet Mission found in the Maulana an ally in their difficult task...[ FULL STORY ]
Water-logging: ADB accused of creating ecological disaster in SW region
Abdur Rahman Khan
The South-western region of Bangladesh is facing a long-term ecological disaster because of continued silt accumulation of river bed and water-logging over the years. Experts fear that the situation is to worsen further during the current wet season...[ FULL STORY ]
POLITICS COILED IN CONFUSION
Awami League's game is hard to comprehend
Fazle Rashid
Bangladesh politics is coiled in confusion. It is very difficult to fathom what is going on. But upon reflexion a clear scenario emerges - Sheikh Hasina is free and in US, while Khaleda Zia is languishing in jail. Her two sons Tariq and Koko will not be able to lead normal life so long they live. They have been subjected to inhuman torture only comparable with political vengeance heard or witnessed in colonial days. It was no surprise to see Awami League's vigorous 'No' swiftly turning into 'Yes' to local body elections before the national elections. It has been Awami League's heritage: a cursory look at the party's history during the past 15 years will reveal the same - 'No' turning to 'Yes'. Awami League has always been cozy with military or quasi-military rule...[ FULL STORY ]
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