Pulack Ghatack
The country tolerated sever economic pressure through-out the calendar year 2007 while the crises exacerbated in the last part, for the hurricane Sidr preceded by twin floods damaged crops in millions of acres of farmland in the country.Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, however, was optimistic to predict that the economy is set to [...]

Sheikh Arif Bulbon
Today is the last day of the year 2007. Six hours after sunset people around the world will say goodbye to 2007 and welcome the new-year 2008. Many startling events both national and international made the year memorable.In January, a state of emergency was declared amid violence in the election run-up. President [...]

UNB, Benapole
India in a surprised move has raised export price of rice to Bangladesh to US$ 500 per ton, equivalent to Tk 35kg, rendering the import from the neighbouring country uncertain.Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) of Indian Commerce Ministry in a notification that came into force on Sunday said no rice can be exported to [...]

Jamal Uddin Jami
Though the Dhaka University authorities and the DU teachers’ association are active in getting the detained university teachers released, very little attention is being paid to free eight incarcerated students, some fellow students alleged. Fellow students of the university are demanding the release of the detained students along with the teachers because [...]

AFP, Naudero
Benazir Bhutto’s 19-year-old son was chosen Sunday to succeed her as chairman of her opposition party, extending Pakistan’s most famous political dynasty but leaving the real power to her husband, who will serve as co-chairman.Both major opposition parties also decided to run in upcoming elections, apparently ending the threat of a wholesale boycott as [...]

Staff Reporter
Jatiya Party’s former member of parliament Anwara Begum was taken to three days’ police remand yesterday for her alleged involvement in stealing the two 1,500-year-old rare terracotta artifacts of Hindu god Vishnu from the cargo complex at Zia International Airport.At the same time, arrested former deputy secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs Mizanur [...]

UNB, Dhaka
Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda Sunday said the EC might make a provision in its draft electoral reform proposals to debar any war criminals convicted by a court from contesting elections.He reaffirmed that all the elections, starting from local to national polls, would be held as per the electoral roadmap drawn up [...]

Court Correspondent
Detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed and former state Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain were yesterday shown arrested in the graft case, filed 21 days before, in connection with alleged illegal deals with Canadian gas company Niko. ACC Assistant Director SM Saidur Rahman, Investigation Officer (IO) of the [...]

UNB, DhakaThe Council of Advisers of the caretaker government Sunday discussed elaborately the draft of a new law styled Anti-terrorism Ordinance 2007, meant for effectively dealing with acts of terrorism.After the scrutiny, the council asked the Ministry concerned to come up with the draft incorporating “more specific and clearer definition of terrorism”.
The council, examining the [...]

BBC Online
Security forces in Iraq have been placed on alert on the first anniversary of the execution of former President Saddam Hussein. His supporters are expected to gather at his power base in the city of Tikrit, and at his grave nearby. Saddam was hanged after being convicted of the killings of nearly 150 Shia [...]