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…
Selima Ahmad, Founder and President, BWCCI : An allocation of Tk1 billion should be kept in the upcoming national budget for the country’s women entrepreneurs. Women in the country are moving forward with their contributions to different sectors. They are also doing great as entrepreneurs. With the sign of a little cooperation, more women will be…
Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Former Vice-Chancellor, Dhaka University : The government needs to have a close look on the country’s banking sector. The banks have to be brought under a unified policy. Increasing loan default coupled with loan scams is pushing the sector towards a crisis. Even the investors are feeling insecure over the issue….
Abrar Hussain: US First Lady Melania Trump will reportedly skip this week’s G7 summit in Canada and does not also plan to attend the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with North Korea, according to a statement by the White House on Sunday. The wife of US President Donald Trump attended the G7 meeting in Italy…