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HAZARDS, INSTABILITY LURK IN SOUTH ASIA
Is Bangladesh ready to meet emerging challenges?
M. Shahidul Islam
The South Asian geopolitical and economic landscapes are fast slipping into anarchy and Bangladesh may find itself caught napping as it seems not quite prepared to face the emerging challenges. Combined with the pre-election political uncertainties, the Caretaker Government (CG) might soon be overwhelmed by a host of geopolitical challenges from without, and economic and political challenges from within...[ FULL STORY ]
SAARC Food Bank plans to achieve food autarky in South Asia
Faruque Ahmed
The governing body of the SAARC Food Bank met for the first time in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo last week to work out a modality of operation. The meeting was convened following the formation of the governing body last month in the light of the decision of the South Asian regional group leaders in its Colombo summit...[ FULL STORY ]
Bangladesh now better prepared to manage disasters
Abdur Rahman Khan
Bangladesh, a disaster-prone country that is affected almost every year by some form of natural disasters, is now better prepared against natural calamities, say experts. The country is currently ranked as the most climate-vulnerable country in the world. The intergovernmental panel on climate change projects that climate change is likely to increase both the frequency and intensity of cyclone in the Bay of Bengal and alter the depth and spatial extent of flooding in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basins. Added to this risk are the likely consequences of sea level rise, which could cause economic losses of an unprecedented magnitude in low-lying Bangladesh...[ FULL STORY ]
Obama reinforces his lead
Moinuddin Naser in New York
After the third and final debate Barack Obama has further solidified his lead, while instantly the independent voters responded positively towards democratic campaign. However, in the last debate Senator John McCain repeatedly tried to put Senator Barack Obama on the defensive on Wednesday in the debate of the marathon presidential race, accusing him of seeking to raise taxes, associating with a former terrorist and engaging in an unmatched barrage of negative campaigning...[ FULL STORY ]
Obama, McCain debate on US economy, uncertain future
A. H. Jaffor Ullah in New Orleans
Many Americans were psyched up for the third presidential debate that was slated for the evening of October 15. The Hofstra University located at Hempstead, Long Island, NY, was the venue for the historic event, which was moderated by CBS's veteran newsperson, Bob Schieffer...[ FULL STORY ]
Fresh bloodbath feared in Gujarat following biased Nanavati report
Shamsuddin Ahmed
When Assam and Orissa are in rage of communal violence, Nanavati Commission report on 2002 Godhra train fire has raised fears among the Muslims of the Indian state of Gujarat of a fresh bloodbath.
The report published last month belied the truth and diametrically opposed to the findings of the earlier Justice Banerjee Commission. Basing evidence of 100 witnesses Justice Nanavati said: "A crowd of about 1000 Muslims shouted "set the train on fire and kill the Hindus ...instigating slogans were also made over loudspeakers from a nearby mosque to attack the Hindus...[ FULL STORY ]
Bandwagon is set to roll for December polls
Sadeq Khan
The political bandwagon appears to be steadily moving towards general election in December. The project for preparing "faultless" electoral rolls with photographs of all enlisted voters has been successfully completed. A delegation of Bangladesh Army, which assisted the Election Commission in implementing the voter list project, handed over the printed electoral rolls to the EC on October 14. The Bangladesh Army would also very soon finalise the national identity data, checked and rechecked by biometric matching, and hand over to the Election Commission the electronic database, which is larger than that of France's 7.3 crore voters...[ FULL STORY ]
Dhaka appears unruffled at global economic meltdown!
Fazle Rashid in New York
One country where global economic meltdown has not inspired anxieties in the upper reaches of the administration is Bangladesh. The Deputy Governor of the Bangladesh Bank exuded confidence and categorically allayed the fear that the economic tempest now raging in the US, Europe and Asia will have any impact on Bangladesh, one of the poorest nations in the world...[ FULL STORY ]
Angry small US bankers reject
bailout plan
Moinuddin Naser in New York
The small investors in US money market feared that the federal government's intervention in the financial market to stop its further recession will ultimately lead to nationalisation of the financial institutions. They fear that if the bailout money is used by the financial institutions that will give enormous leverage at the hand of the government to control the financial institutions ending their era of independent entity...[ FULL STORY ]
GLIMPSES OF THE GREAT
V P Menon
K. Z. Islam
There is no doubt that V.P. Menon (Vapal Pangunni Menon, (1894-1966) played a role far more important than any other Indian official did for the British Government in the transfer of power in India in 1947. Menon has left two most important publications. The Transfer of Power in India is a remarkably calm and impartial review of the events leading to the partition and independence. The Integration of the Indian States is a colourful tragi-comic story of the end of the princely system in India...[ FULL STORY ]
WHY C.A.A.B. DOESN'T CANCEL LEASE AGREEMENT?
5-star, 3-star hotels and club project at
ZIA in limbo
Shahabuddin Ahmad
Three consecutive governments - the AL, the BNP and the military-backed Caretaker Government (CG) - have remained utterly neglectful regarding the above-named projects during the last eight years.
These projects, located at the entry of the Zia Int'l Airport (ZIA), supposed to spread over an area of 149 acres of government land, were conceived in the year 2000 when the AL government was in power. After that BNP came to power and ruled for five years. Then came the military-backed CG which is still in office. But there is little progress in the implementation of the projects which is estimated to cost US$ 130 million...[ FULL STORY ]
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