Extortion by a section of police from trucks and covered vans carrying merchandise on highways and in the capital has become rampant before the Eid-ul-Fitr, allege traders and transport workers. Drivers of goods-carrying trucks alleged that it was like going through hell on highways because of harassment by the police for money. The police stop the trucks at different points […]

The Rapid Action Battalion is lobbying for its separation from the Bangladesh Police as an independent law enforcement agency under either the Prime Minister’s Office or the home ministry, the officials said. The battalion, said to be the elite force, has recently sent its proposal in this direction to the Prime Minister’s Office, seeking its separation from the police. ‘This […]

Dhaka city unit of the ruling Awami League is yet to get any committee even in seven months inside the latest council session, while the party high command has initiated a move to split the unit into two causing frustration and resentment among the leaders and activists. The city unit leaders and activist are now demanding that a new committee […]

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said the party’s senior-vice chairman Tarique Rahman’s health had improved remarkably and he would return from the UK ‘very soon’. Fakhrul made the remarks at the Shahjalal International Airport on his return after attending a seminar in London. Fakhrul declined comments on the verdicts delivered against Jamaat-e-Islami leaders […]

The work of the 8.25 kilometre Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover has been almost suspended six months after the start of its construction because of faulty design, said officials. Experts and consultants said that the project cost, estimated at Tk 772.7 crore, could increase due to the delay and initiatives to redesign the flyover while commuters’ sufferings continued because of congestions on the road […]

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Friday said BNP would jeopardize the country’s independence and sovereignty by creating a new Hawa Bhaban if it comes to power again. In the past, she said, BNP was indulged in unbridled corruption, terrorism and looting by opening Hawa Bhaban. ‘If BNP comes to power again, it would destroy the country’s independence and sovereignty […]

Tens of thousands of Islamists poured onto Egypt’s streets on Friday demanding the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, despite warnings by the military of a crackdown on violent protests. The rallies come a day after Morsi’s army-installed successor Adly Mansour vowed to fight for stability against opponents he accused of wanting to plunge the crisis-hit country ‘into the unknown’. […]

The Election Commission has drafted electoral code of conduct for candidates and political parties in parliamentary elections assuming the polls would be held under the present government, said EC officials. The commission had formed a three-member committee headed by EC deputy secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed to draft a set of recommendations to amend the rules. The committee last week submitted […]

Australia announced Friday that boatpeople will no longer be resettled in the country, unveiling a hardline policy to curb people smuggling that will see all unauthorised arrivals sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea. ‘From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee,’ said prime minister Kevin […]

Indian Border Security Force once again shot dead a Bangladeshi at Narayanjot-Panditpara border in Panchagarah district early on Friday. The latest killing took place when Bangladesh-India joint working group was holding meeting in New Delhi to discuss border killings, mutual security and other bilateral issues, officials said. The deceased, Jahangir Alam, 31, son of Samiul Haque from Natunbandar village of […]