Staff Reporter
Twenty-two foreign countries, the European Commission and the United Nations have so far pledged US$ 200 million for the cyclone Sidr-affected victims of Bangladesh.The countries and development partners which have pledged and provided aid in cash and kind for the cyclone victims are: Saudi Arabia ($102.763m), Japan ($18.47m), USA ($13.64m), Kuwait ($10m), UK ($10m), [...]

Staff ReporterBNP Secretary General Khandkar Delwar Hossain yesterday reacted sharply against the Chief Election Commissioner’s comment on his party constitution, saying determination of the constitution of political parties was beyond the jurisdiction of the Election Commission.Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda at a dialogue with the Workers Party on political and electoral reforms [...]

Staff ReporterThe technology currently being used can make forecast of cyclone track, wind speed, landfall and flood level in the rivers, but for disaster preparedness and emergency response, the extent of such havoc forecasting in the coastal belt still lags behind.Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) model can make this forecast. A seminar held at the [...]

Staff Reporter
Donor countries are actively considering the government’s request for 500,000 tons of food assistance to recoup food shortage caused by the cyclone SIDR.British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and European Commission Head of the Delegation Ambassador Dr Stefan Frowein have separately assured Bangladesh in this regard.Addressing a view-exchange meeting with journalists at his residence yesterday [...]

Barisal Correspondent
US military helicopters and Bangladesh Air Force planes yesterday dropped food, water and medicine to tens of thousands of people along the country’s devastated coast.Though the relief supplies and aid pledges have poured into the country from around the globe, it has been slow in reaching the survivors, partly because many of them are [...]

Staff ReporterAnti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said the future shape of Bangladesh would depend on the quality of leadership not only in politics but also in other spheres, including the economy.“The future will depend on how the new leadership would tread the path of politics keeping them transparent and [...]

Court Correspondent
Senior Special Judge of Dhaka yesterday fixed December 3 for charge hearing of the extortion case filed against former Prime Minister detained Sheikh Hasina and her cousin former Minister detained Sheikh Selim.Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina and other accused Sheikh Selim were not produced before the court yesterday. While Sheikh Rehana was allegedly involved [...]

Staff ReporterDr Jean-Jacques Lauture, Counsellor and Head of Governance, Economic Cooperation and Education Section of the European Commission, said micro and small enterprises can help provide new employment, income opportunities and also alleviate poverty in the country.Some 6,000 poor and disadvantaged workers would get benefit of the project for Sustainable Livelihood for Poor Producers (SLIPP) [...]

BSS, DhakaAdviser for Land, Law and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday emphasised the need for making proper use of land to meet growing needs of the large population of the country.He said, proper and planned use of land across the country including the coastal belts is very much essential for the economic development, balancing eco-system [...]

Staff Reporter Bangladesh Capital Market needs to undergo reforms to meet international standards and establish guidelines for participants in the securities business, said the ADB Country Director Hua Du.“Deficiency in financial disclosure, weak corporate governance and lack of investors confidence in fixed-income securities, are among the major constraints, deterring the growth of a vibrant capital [...]