Sofian Khan: Finance Minister AMA Muhith will set the mega budget of some Tk 468,200 crore in Parliament for the fiscal year 18-19 on Thursday amid the fast approaching national election. Muhith is about to set a rare example by placing the 10th consecutive budget of the current government. This is going to be his…
Abrar Hussain: Spea-kers at a seminar in the capital yesterday urged the government to submit its observations and documents related to the Rohingyas crisis to the International Criminal Court (ICC) within the given timeframe and assist ICC in mounting pressure on Myanmar on this issue. The seminar, titled “Accountability: ICC and the Rohingya Crisis”, was jointly…
Shafiul Alam, Senior Communications Consultant, DIMAPPP, CPTU : Since its introduction in 2011 to conduct public procurement online, the electronic government procurement (e-GP) till date witnessed an exponential growth. “The reason behind such a growth is acceptance by private sector tenderers and government procuring entities because they wanted a system in tendering process which is free…
Abrar Hussain: Bangladesh’s telecom authority has announced that from June 8-11 landlines and internet will be turned off in Dhaka’s commercial hub, Motijheel. Bangladesh telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) cited the reason to be “transferring the existing underground lines” in a press release issued yesterday.Motijheel is currently undergoing major infrastructural development works for the metro rail…
Khalequzzaman, General Secretary, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal : An instrumental element stays absent while implementing financial allocation and preparing budget for the country’s development. The involvement of the masses is ignored in the preparation and even their opinions are neither considered nor asked. Due to the absence of fairness and accountability, most people remain unaware of the…
Sabah Mannan: A Dhaka court yesterday extended bail for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable Trust graft case till June 28. The order was passed by Dhaka-5 Special Judge Court’s Judge Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman who also withdrew a production warrant issued against Khaleda, reports The Independent. Khaleda’s lawyer Sanaullah Miah said she could not appear…
Md. Shamsul Islam, Executive Editor, Our Time : As a media-critic turned journalist, I find it quite difficult to objectively assess the role of the media in the ongoing drive against drugs and the extrajudicial killings associated with it. Following some classic quotes on freedom of expression, our expectations to the media always remain sky-high….
Raj Abrar: Awami League candidate Habibun Nahar has been elected MP from Bagerhat-3 constituency as there were no other contenders for the by-election. Returning officer Md Nuruzzaman Talukder declared her MP yesterday morning, reports UNB. She had submitted her nomination paper on May 24 as the lone candidate. Earlier on May 21, Awami League picked…
Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed, Law Research Officer, BILIA. She is an Advocate of the Supreme Court : The real estate business has not been going well for the last couple of years due to disproportionate price of flat and registration cost. The National budget 2015-16 imposed Value Added Tax (VAT) on apartment price including cost of…
Sofian Khan: A six-member committee was formed by the Cabinet for further reviewing the Bangladesh Tariff Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2018 draft during a regular weekly cabinet meeting with Principal Secretary to Prime Minister’s Office as its convener yesterday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. “The draft law was placed before the cabinet today…