BANGLADESH

Bangladesher ki obostha/oboshta?

Hey,
Bangladesh ekhon khub-e valo ache. jehetu sorbokaler sorbosreshtho Tottabodhayok sorker ekhon desh porichalonay. tobe aar kotodin ei obostha thakbe janina. karon, kew kew naki abar sei bebosha shuru korte jachche.

shujug o shomoy shob shomoy ashe na. jara aage shujug peyeche tara jayga mato ache. aar jara payni tara ekhon matte nambe. maathe neme tather ektai uddeshow thakbe aaro shukowshole agano.

miserable days

32 jobseekers end up in KL camp
Pass miserable days with hardly any water, food
Unb, Dhaka


At least 32 Bangladeshi workers are facing acute water and food crises for last five days at a camp near Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

They were sent to the camp on arrival on June 18 as nobody showed up for them at the airport.

No representative from the Malaysian agency Swas Link or the Bangladeshi recruiting agency Shikha Trade International (RL-328) went to the airport to see them, alleged the relatives of the stranded people.

When worried relations contacted the local agency, they claimed that they have been providing all kinds of assistance, including food and water, to the stranded.

But the fact is that the workers are already fasting as they have run out of food and water.

One of the workers, who flew to Kula Lumpur spending Tk 1,80,000, told UNB over the phone that they did not even know what their fault is.

"We've already run out of food, water and money: if nobody comes for our rescue, we'll not survive in the depot as we don't have money to buy food," he said.

Another worker said, "After waiting for more than 10 months after giving them money, the recruiting agency has now sent us to a hell where nobody helps us out.”

Hint:
http://www.thedailystar.net
Security to be upped during local govt polls
Staff Correspondent


Police will beef up security steps ahead of the local elections scheduled for August 4.

“Holding the local body polls is a government decision and we'll stick to it and prepare ourselves accordingly,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad told reporters yesterday after a meeting with LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal at the latter's office.

Asked to comment on the possibility of a confrontation following the four-party alliance's threat to resist the polls, he said, “We don't see any such possibility yet.”

Expressing satisfaction over existing law and order in the country, the IGP said that police would take up a three-phase security plan for period before, during and after the elections.

Appropriate security measures will be put in place 15 to 20 days before the polls day and follow-up steps will be taken on the basis of intelligence reports and effectiveness of the primary measures taken, the IGP explained.

“Although the local body elections are non-political, we will be taking extra measures,” he added.
Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW


Monday, June 23, 2008 07:05 AM GMT+06:00

City Polls Candidates
Personal details to be on EC website
Staff Correspondent


Commission (EC) ensure public access to information about candidates in the August 4 polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities.

Applicants seeking candidacy must submit affidavits of personal information to returning officers (RO) during filing of the applications including details of their wealth, sources of income, backgrounds, and records of criminal cases if any existed in the past, officials in the EC Secretariat said adding that voters will have access to those information.

The EC will post the personal information of the selected candidates on its website for public viewing after July 13, the deadline for withdrawing candidacies, senior officials in the EC Secretariat said.

All contesting candidates will have to submit their election expenditure reports to the ROs within 30 days of the polling day.

The ROs will preserve all documents pertaining to the polls in their offices or in any other appropriate place, and the documents will be accessible to public for a year in exchange for a certain amount of fees. People will also be able to obtain copies of the poll expenditure reports submitted by the candidates.

The EC officials said the new system will help voters in making informed decisions about who they will vote into their local government offices.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda on Friday, while announcing the election schedule for the four city corporations and nine municipalities, said the new election rules will encourage honest and competent people to contest in the polls.

The new laws also allow appeals challenging selections of candidates as well as rejections of applicants. The appellate authorities will settle the appeals, but those have to be filed within two days of the selections or rejections.

The immediate past electoral laws allowed appeals only against rejections.

The EC officials said similar provisions for public access to information about candidates might also be incorporated in the rules for polls to union and upazila parishads.

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) demolishes an illegal structure near Rampura Bridge in the city yesterday as part of the Hatirjheel canal development project. Photo: STAR
Monday, June 23, 2008 07:09 AM GMT+06:00

Print Friendly Version
Metropolitan
Haj orientation from June 26


Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) will arrange a three-day orientation camp for interested persons who wish to perform haj, says a press release.

The orientation will be started on June 26 at Dhaka Ahsania Mission Bhaban auditorium.

Interested persons are requested to contact with Md Ismail Mia (01552-410049; 01711-825057) and Ahsanul Karim (01720-336095) for registration.

NEW COUNTRY

Print Friendly Version
Letters
A new Bangladesh
M A Quader, Dhaka

In 1971, a new country was created and in the past 36 years its people have struggled to build a prosperous society.

With so much uncertainly, its people, from all walks of life, dispersed around the world. In early 2007, a change took place and now it is time for everyone to come home. It is now time for Bangladesh to take its place on the world stage.

The government is headed by Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed. His associates and heads of various government organisations have committed themselves to bringing about positive changes. These individuals are working to improve the environment, the educational system and other social programmes.

After 16 months of their continuous hard work, the government has effected visible changes in the way Bangladesh is run. These changes, promoted aggressively, have produced the desired results.

In all emerging countries, corruption has always proved to be a stumbling block to prosperity. This situation is changing in Bangladesh. There is a renewed hope among the ordinary citizens. There is a sense of a re-energized Bangladesh, poised to become a new 'Asian Tiger.'

It is my considered opinion that there are lots of people wanting to and waiting to invest money in Bangladesh but they are holding themselves back until a better business environment is created. That time has arrived.

To their credit, the present government has attempted to address the issue of maximizing food production in response to the food shortages that are occurring in Bangladesh, and around the world. We must encourage the government.

Bangladesh can succeed if it follows the path of strong and efficient operating management and fiscal efficiency while continuing to support the policies that have been implemented. With these measures in place, Bangladesh can take its place on the world stage as the newest 'Asian Tiger'.