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New govt. starts with new challenges
Holiday Report
The new government of Sheikh Hasina has started its journey with some popular decisions. However, there had been some indication of the hard reality it is going to face in the coming days and also some challenges to keep things in order.
The council of ministers in its maiden meeting earlier decided to give subsidy to agricultural inputs including fertiliser, seeds and fuel to help boost farm production to make the country self-reliant in food. Accordingly, the new government has halved the prices of non-urea fertilisers ahead of the Boro season with an expectation to bring food prices down by helping farmers raise output. ..[ FULL STORY ]
Inquiry into ‘RATS' conspiracy underway
Shahriar Noori
An investigation has been going on under the guidance of the Awami League (AL) high command since the release of its president Sheikh Hasina last year from jail on parole to find out those individuals who had conspired to send her to jail.
The investigation will also determine whether the arrest was made on the singular initiative of powerful quarters or the senior leadership of Awami League had floated the idea during the regime of army-backed Caretaker Government (CG), said sources...[ FULL STORY ]
A genial Hasina harks back to Sheikh Mujib's amity
Fazle Rashid in New York
There has been a sea change in Awami League (AL) supremo and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her words are now laced with honey, and the acerbic voice is gone. She has consciously discarded her combative tone. She is now mixing firmness with conciliatory approach. She is open to discussion and has stretched her hands for a rapprochement with the principal opposition party BNP.
Whether she means business or it is just a political gimmick only future will tell...[ FULL STORY ]
Khaleda, 4-party alliance MPs sworn in
Holiday Report
Thirty-one lawmakers-elect of BNP and its allies took oath from outgoing Speaker Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar on Thursday.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was sworn in as MP on Thursday along with allies, told her party's lawmakers to play an effective role in parliament.
A meeting of the 28- member parliamentary party of the BNP (BNPPP) elected her the Leader of the Opposition in Jatiya Sangsad. She held the same position during 1996-2001 with Awami League in the treasury bench...[ FULL STORY ]
EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE
Prejudicial lawsuit against Koko is politically motivated
Shahidul Islam
One of the fundamental concepts of justice is: Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.
Much of the US justice system relating to cases with international ramifications being politically motivated, our leaders and the judiciary must handle carefully the allegations brought against Bangladesh nationals by US officials, or their organs.
We are alarmed by the fact that, despite a virtual ‘grand jury trial' in the media of Arafat Rahman Koko in recent days, an insight into the specifics of the case reveals it was much ado for nothing and the allegations are directly linked to internal political dynamics in Bangladesh and the US administration's dogged determination to control events inside our country...[ FULL STORY ]
Nepal proceeding towards a republic
Shamsuddin Ahmed
Nepal is undergoing significant changes. Maoists, who came to power through an election last year, have recently adopted a political declaration to turn the country unto a people's republic in line with China. They have started unification of left parties. Communist (Unity Centre) merged with the Maoist on Tuesday (January 13) and Masal Group was integrated few days ago. Renamed as Unified CPN (Maoist), the party now feels stronger.
Meanwhile, a Chinese team visited Kathmandu this week to discuss construction of a dry port at Larcha on Tibet border, opposite Tatopani in Nepal, at a cost of US$ 12.5 million. It is expected to reduce dependence on import through the Birganj dry port on the southern border. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) addressing a big rally in Kathmandu on January 13, marking the merger of the three parties, was highly critical of the Congress leaders and their alien masters. "People will revolt if his government is forced to quit, and capture power the next day. Nothing in the world can stop us," declared the fiery Maoist leader and called for forming a world communist front against "imperialist and expansionist forces.'"
This has undoubtedly caused worries to India and USA as well. If Dahal succeeds with his political agenda it is likely to leave an impact on the political scenario of the region...[ FULL STORY ]
EVIDENCES FROM MEDIA REPORTS
AL leaders retract pledge of rice price at Tk 10 per kg, free fertilisers
Special Correspondent
Public memory is not so short that repeatedly uttered pronouncements of political leaders will be forgotten after a week. But overwhelmed by the dramatic election victory in the December 29 general elections, some senior leaders in the ruling Awami League (AL) have, it seems, started considering that the people are either amnesiacs or blockheads. Or else they could not have so soon contradicted their election pledges that they had spelled out in front of thousands of people in so many public meetings until the 27th of last month...[ FULL STORY ]
WHO IS THE VICTIM?
Only exit from Gaza is death
Dan Lieberman
Gresham's Law briefly states "Bad money drives out good money." A corollary has: "Bad news analysis drives out good news analysis." Reports and dialogues on the events in Gaza give the impression that a mighty Hamas has wantonly attacked Israel, pulverized its southern cities with missiles and a patient Israel ran out of patience and finally retaliated.
The drama has subtext; undisclosed reasons for Israel's attack, un-stated significance of the escalated conflict, and a non-clarified future for its final denouement. Search the entire landscape and we encounter happenings beyond the horizon. Missing from the debate are the disastrous consequences to the world community due to Israel's aggressive actions.
Media references to President-elect Barack Obama's July 2008 speech during a visit to Israel in which he stated, "If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do everything to stop that, and would expect Israel to do the same thing," incorrectly inferred he was speaking in late December 2008. ..[ FULL STORY ]
Safeguarding the Constitution
M. I. Ali
There are speculations that BNP may not join the first session of the newly elected Parliament. Delwar Hossain, the BNP Secretary General, said that they will not attend the session on that day because it considers it as a ‘black day' as on that day in 1975 one-party BKSAL system was passed by the parliament. Hossain also said that unlike the Awami League in the 8th Jatiya Sangsad, BNP does not believe in boycotting the parliament.
Parliaments since 1975
In the history of modern Bangladesh there were only two parliaments where no single party or coalition enjoyed two-thirds majority. These were the 1991 BNP-led parliament and the 1996 Awami League-led parliament. All past parliaments where one party or coalition enjoyed two-thirds majority have brought amendments to benefit either a person, family or interest group...[ FULL STORY ]
Warren Buffet
K. Z. Islam
Warren Edward Buffett (born August 30, 1930) is an American investor, businessman, and philanthropist. He is one of the world's most successful investors and the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.[3] He was ranked by Forbes as the richest man in the world during the first half of 2008, with an estimated net worth of $62.0 billion. He is probably the only financier to come out with a clean image after the US financial meltdown.
In 1940, a stockbroker from the Midwest took his ten-year-old son on a trip to New York City. They dropped in at the office of Sidney Weinberg, who was trying to restore the reputation of Goldman Sachs, the investment bank that had been disgraced during the great crash of 1929. Weinberg took the time to chat to the precocious youngster, even asking the name of his favourite stock...[ FULL STORY ]
Polls hullabaloo is over, what next?
Shahabuddin Ahmad
With electioneering wound up a relative calm atmosphere prevails. The raucous noise of blaring loudspeakers, meetings, rallies, processions, chanting of slogans and polls-related TV talk shows are over. This tranquility may not last long: again there will be protests: fasting at the road sides, gherao, work stoppage, mugging, hijacking and killing people for ransom, looting, arson and political murders. These have been the manifestations of political unrest and opposition activism in the country.
We can't remember if any elections to the parliament were ever held in Bangladesh without the allegations of riggings by the political parties who aspired to go to power. After remaining in power from 1996 to 2001, the AL-led alliance alleged that the elections in 2001 were rigged as they were voted out of office. In that election the four-party alliance led by BNP bagged 210 seats (BNP - 193, Jamat-i-Islam - 17)...[ FULL STORY ]
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