Dubai, Jun 5 (AP/UNB) — Four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties to Qatar early Monday morning, further deepening a rift among Gulf Arab nations over that country’s support for Islamist groups and its relations with Iran. Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia…
Category: Politics
12 arrested in London’s night of terror; IS claims attack
London, Jun 5 (AP/UNB) — British police arrested a dozen people Sunday in a widening terrorism investigation after attackers using a van and large knives turned a balmy evening of nightlife into a bloodbath and killed seven people in the…
Concerns about some tax proposals will be adressed: PM
Amid concerns of the business community and the common people about some provisions of tax, and VAT and excise duty on the proposed budget for fiscal year (2017-18), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government will look into…
Review dismissed: Moudud asked to leave Gulshan home
Dhaka – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday dismissed two petitions seeking review against the Appellate Division verdict that scrapped BNP leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed’s possession of a house worth Tk 300 crore at holding No 159 in…
Khaleda hosts iftar for professionals
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday hosted an iftar party for the professionals and eminent personalities of the country. The programme was held at Bashundhara International Convention Centre in the city. Before the iftar, Khaleda exchanged greetings with the invited…
How G.O.P. Leaders Came to View Climate Change as Fake Science
The campaign ad appeared during the presidential contest of 2008. Rapid-fire images of belching smokestacks and melting ice sheets were followed by a soothing narrator who praised a candidate who had stood up to President George W. Bush and “sounded…
NY meet vow to defend immigrants against escalating war
By a Mazeda A Uddin New York – On May 25, over 50 people came together in the Washington Heights area of New York City for a spirited press conference and community gathering. It was a powerful mix of activists,…
A sustainable economy for the Arab World
Mahmoud Mohieldin Washington, DC – In recent decades, millions of people in the Arab world have been lifted out of extreme poverty. But progress is now at risk of slowing, or even reversing, owing to a vicious circle of economic…
International environmental criminal court needed
Phyllis Omido Nairobi – The announcement of the winners of this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize is an opportunity to celebrate activist leaders. But it is also a moment to recognize just how much courage their efforts (and those of a…
BAU female students stage demonstration for water
Mymensingh – Female students of a residential hall of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) demonstrate for water in front of Vice-Chancellor residence on Friday at noon.
Duty on bank deposits to encourage capital flight: Business
The budget proposal to hike excise duty on bank account balance may encourage capital flight, the country’s apex trade body has said in a statement. The FY2018 budget proposes to increase excise duty to Tk 800 from Tk 500 on…
It’s a cruel budget to suck people’s blood: Khaleda
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday described the proposed national budget for FY 2017-18 as a ‘cruel one’, saying the government has formulated it to suck people’s last drop of blood. “A cruel budget is a final attempt by the…
Khaleda asks EC to take proper steps for fair polls
Dhaka – BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday called upon the Election Commission (EC) to take proper steps for holding a credible general election in consultation with political parties and people. UNB news reported
Police file case against 400 over Rangamati arson attacks
Rangamati – Police have filed a case against more than 400 people on charge of arson attacks on some 100 houses in Langadu upazila following the killing of a Jubo League leader. Dulal, a sub-inspector at Langadu Police Station, filed…
Fakhrul for national unity to ensure fair polls
Dhaka, Jun 2 – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged the political parties to forge a national unity for forcing the government to hold a fair and impartial election.
Justice Lady: ISCA threatens to besiege SC
Dhaka, June 2 – Islami Shasantantra Chhatra Andolan (ISCA) has threatened to besiege the Supreme Court (SC) if the statue of Greek goddess Themis which was reinstalled in front of the SC annex building is not moved within June 13.
Rocket launchers, SMGs found in N’ganj canal
Dhaka – Police have recovered a huge arms from a canal in Narayanganj following information gleaned from a detained drug peddler.
100 houses torched in Rangamati over biker killing
Dhaka, Jun 2 – An angry mob torched over 100 houses in Langadu upazila of Rangamati on Friday over the killing of a Jubo League leader, leaving four people injured.
Foreign investors chamber for changes budget
Dhaka, Jun 2 – The Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on Friday expressed its concern over a number of proposals made in the new budget and demanded addressing their concerns with necessary amendments.
Budget to fuel production cost, inflation: CPD
Dhaka, Jun 2 – Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Friday feared a hike in production cost and consumer expenditure, and a rise in inflation in the coming fiscal year due to the proposed overall tax structure hurting the overall…
Budget ambitious but won’t hike prices: Muhith
Dhaka, Jun 2 – Claiming that the whole of the proposed budget is ‘bright’ and there is no weakness, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Friday ruled out the possibility of cancelling the decision of imposing excise duty on bank accounts.
African Commission on HR tackles sexual orientation
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has taken on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity, topics that some may have considered too “controversial” but that fall squarely within the ambit of human rights. I represented Human Rights…
EU-China summit in Brussels
Brussels – European Union leaders should publicly and privately press China’s government to end its crackdown on human rights and immediately release all detained activists, Human Rights Watch said today in a joint letter with a dozen other nongovernmental organizations.…
Climate change deal can’t be renegotiated: Europe
Berlin, Jun 2 (AP/UNB)- Top European leaders pledged Thursday to keep fighting against global warming as U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of the Paris climate accord, but they rejected his suggestion that the deal could later…
Budget aimed at making political gain: BNP
Dhaka, June 1 – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the national budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year will not be helpful for public welfare as the government has formulated it to make its ‘political gain’…
Verdict in appeal over 16th amendment decision any day
Dhaka – The hearing of the appeal filed with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the High Court order that declared illegal the 16th amendment to the Constitution ended on Thursday at about 1.15 pm.
Lack of army justice could provoke crimes in Kashmir
The Indian army’s rewarding of an officer for actions that included serious human rights violations undermines accountability and the stature of the military, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 22, 2017, Maj. Nitin Leetul Gogoi was commended for evacuating…
Mobile phones, air coolers, ups/ips to cost more
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, in the national budget for FY 2017-18, has proposed changes to duties on different essential commodities which may result in increase and decrease in their prices. While placing the budget in Parliament on Thursday, the Finance…
Uniform 15pc VAT rate for three years
Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday said a single and uniform VAT rate will be applicable for three consecutive years from the next fiscal. “This rate will be 15 percent which will remain unchanged over the next three years,” he…
Taka 4 trillion Bangladesh budget estimate placed
Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday unveiled a Tk 4,00,226 crore ambitious budget for the next fiscal year (2017-18) with a growth target of 7.4 percent, expecting to open up a new horizon for Bangladesh through some initiatives ahead of…