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RESIGNATION DRAMA
Cure is not in replacement but in foresight
M. Shahidul Islam
The fast-moving drama of resignations by four advisers on January 7 has taken the caretaker government (CG) up for another rollercoaster ride. Instead of celebrating the one-year anniversary of a regime that was supposed to stay in power for 90 days only, the 'second CG' of the current interregnum looks set to fail unless some fundamental flaws are taken care of...[ FULL STORY ]
OIL PRICE SHOCK & FALLOUT
Govt. should import low-cost crude, accept Iranian offer
Faruque Ahmed
Oil price moved upward and crossed US $100 per barrel last week in the New York stock exchange raising the growing concern about how the LDCs like Bangladesh will manage its oil import bills to be around US$3 billion at the end of the current fiscal 2007-08 as per some estimate...[ FULL STORY ]
Many smell political ambition in local govt strengthening move
Abdur Rahman Khan
The government's initiative to strengthen the local government bodies and the request for cooperation from their chairmen and members in electing "honest candidates" in the next elections have been perceived by many as manifestation of a political ambition with a long-term vision...[ FULL STORY ]
CG should look back and look forward
Mohammad Ali Sattar
The present caretaker government (CG) took over amidst turbulent circumstances on this day last year when violence and a civil war of sorts were raging. The country was never faced with such a great divide among its populace. The nation witnessed united movements many times before but that was unified violence. The loathing among the parties reached such extent that a young man was clobbered to death in broad daylight. Intense hatred was the rule of the day...[ FULL STORY ]
'THE SON ALSO RISES'
Teenage Bilawal impresses London media
Irfan Husain
IT was a scene Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's mother would have loved: a room packed with journalists, TV cameras and microphones, with the world watching and listening to every word...[ FULL STORY ]
EU SCRAPS CEILING ON CHINESE IMPORTS
Bangladesh apparels gear up
for intens competition
Asjadul Kibria
Apparel exports of Bangladesh have entered a new global competitive era from the very first day of the new year, 2008. It, however, was not unexpected. The European Union, a major destination of Bangladesh's leading exports, has scrapped the ceilings on Chinese imports with effect from January 1, 2008. This gives the Chinese exporters an opportunity to expand their market in the EU. It was in June 2005 when the EU unilaterally imposed ceilings on import of 10 categories of Chinese-origin textile and clothing products. The idea was to limit the inflow of cheaper Chinese products. Limits between 8 and 12.5 per cent growth from a specified base period had been imposed on these exports to the EU. The categories were T-shirt, pullover, men's trousers, blouse, dresses, bra, bed linen, and flax yarn...[ FULL STORY ]
ACCORD SOON ON KALADAN PROJECT
India to connect northeast with Bay of Bengal through Myanmar
Nava Thakuria in Guwahati
The Indian government has been preparing for signing an agreement soon with Myanmar on the widely talked-about Kaladan project. New Delhi has been planning to develop a port in Sittwe, the capital of northwest Myanmar province of Rakhine (previously known as Arakan). Styled the Kaladan Multimodal Project, it includes developing the Kaladan River to connect northeast India with the Bay of Bengal through a road link from Kalewa in Myanmar to Aizawl, the capital of Indian state of Mizoram. The Sittwe is nearly 400km off Aizawl...[ FULL STORY ]
GILMPSES OF THE GREAT
Elvis Presley
K. Z. Islam
Elvis Presley (1935-1977) was a king of Rock who could not cope with his "royal" status. The fame, the fan worship, the ready availability of unlimited money, women, drugs and whatever else he craved for were too much for him to handle. He wanted it all . . . and it killed him...[ FULL STORY ]
PAKISTAN SCENARIO
Beware of the anger of the people
Fakir S. Ayazuddin in Karachi
The rage of the people erupted on the death of Benazir was unbridled, savage and blind. It was ferocious in intensity but without ethnic overtones. The fury engulfed all the provinces-it was a truly national rage. Asif Zardari, even at his angriest could not match the fury of the peasant who with his tears shed more hatred on his masters than they could ever imagine...[ FULL STORY ]
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