Tag: National

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National

After 30 years of autocracy’s demise, democracy still remains a distant dream

democracy
democracy

To the question, “how democracy is faring in Bangladesh”, a ruling party’s answer has always been “we are a global example” and that of the opposition “we are the pits”. Since we have had the same ruling party in power for the last 12 years at a stretch, the narrative of democracy’s success has been unrelenting, and whatever little voice the real opposition has been allowed, “we are the pits” story continues.

But what say “WE, the PEOPLE”? Well, to the extent we are allowed to or safely can.

One method of gauging democracy’s health would be to look at the institutions that embody it in a country like Bangladesh: the judiciary, the legislative and the executive branches of the state.

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Business

Good governance, digitalisation can charge up stock market: analysts

Good governance,
Good governance,

Good governance, digitisation, earnings growth of listed companies and supportive macro-economy are the key to a sustainable stock market, analysts said yesterday.

Their comments came in a webinar — Towards a sustainable capital market: the drivers of growth — jointly organised by Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA) and Capital Market Journalists’ Forum (CMJF).

The stock market should be healthy and properly governed because only then people will come to the market, said Prof Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, chairman of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC).

“Who will come with their hard-earned money in an ill market?”

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Education

Plan to Reopen Primary Schools: Health guidelines finalised for kids

Primary Schools
Primary Schools

Only two will be allowed to sit on each bench at classrooms after the reopening of primary schools, and everyone in those institutions — students, teachers and other staffers — will have to wear masks.

All schools will also have to ensure arrangements for hand washing and measuring body temperature.

Although it is not yet certain when schools, closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, will reopen, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has finalised a plan for the reopening, incorporating these provisions following the Covid-19 health guidelines.

The ministry yesterday asked the authorities concerned, including Directorate of Primary Education, deputy commissioners and primary education officers, to make necessary preparations in this regard, said relevant officials.

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National

Gas leak behind mosque blast

Gas leak behind mosque blast
Gas leak behind mosque blast

Death toll from Friday’s explosion in the Narayanganj mosque reached 20 last night with fire officials suspecting that the incident took place due to leak in a gas pipeline that runs beneath the mosque.

The leaking pipeline might have caused gas to accumulate inside the Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque, and a spark then probably led to the explosion, leaving at least 40 people severely burnt, the officials said.

It happened around 8:45pm at the end of Esha prayers on Friday night. The ground floor of the three-story mosque in Narayanganj Sadar was badly damaged. All the victims had got trapped on that floor. Besides, six air conditioners there were found melted, ……..

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National

Narayanganj mosque blast: relatives anxiously wait for updates on injured

Narayanganj
Narayanganj

Hundreds of people were seen waiting restlessly outside the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka this morning after the blast in a Narayanganj mosque which has claimed 12 lives so far.

The anxious family members and friends of the injured were seen desperately asking anybody who came out of the hospital about the patients. They wanted to know if their relatives were still alive.

Enamul Haque, who lives beside the mosque, is one of them. His brother-in-law, Mizanur Rahman (35), is among the injured and was being treated at the institute.

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National

Fire fear still stalks old town

Fire fear
Fire fear

The government has made little progress in relocating hazardous chemical businesses and warehouses from Old Dhaka, leaving the residents in constant fear following the two devastating fire incidents that claimed over 200 lives.

The chemical-induced Nimtoli inferno in June 2010 claimed 126 lives, prompting the government to embark on four projects as part of the relocation plan.

Ten years have passed after the tragedy, but the projects, taken at different times, are still at the preliminary stage. According to the latest update, land was either being acquired or filled in one or two projects, while the others face further uncertainty due to a dearth of fund allocation.

The only “considerable progress” over the years has been made at one front — constant revision of the primary project proposals —  which contributed to cost escalation and time extension.

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National

Assaulted UNO Wahida’s surgery successful, but condition still ‘critical’

uno Wahida Khanam
uno Wahida Khanam

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Wahida Khanam has undergone successful surgery at National Institute of Neuroscience and Hospital (NINH).

She was kept in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital and doctors will observe her for the next 24 hours, said Dr Badrul Haque, joint director of the hospital.

“The operation was successful. We cannot say anything more right now. The UNO was in critical condition and the operation was also critical. Five doctors conducted the surgery, which took 2 hours 15 minutes,” he said.

Hoping about her recovery, Dr Badrul said that they are trying their best.

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Other Sports Sports

Djokovic cruises into US Open second round

Djokovic cruises
Djokovic cruises

Center. Photo: ReutersPre-tournament favorite Novak Djokovic marched into round two of the US Open Monday as he launched his bid for a 18th Grand Slam with a straight-sets win.
The world number one dispatched unheralded Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina 6-1, 6-4,6-1 under floodlights at an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

The Serbian superstar took just 23 minutes to win the first set before laboring to a narrow victory in an hour-long second set.

With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer absent, Djokovic is looking to close the gap on them in the race for the all-time men’s singles Grand Slam record.

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North America World

As Coronavirus Reappears in Italy, Migrants Become a Target for Politicians

Coronavirus Reappears
Coronavirus Reappears

Right-wing politicians say migrants threaten Italy by bringing Covid-19 with them, even as official data shows “minimal” effect from new arrivals.

POZZALLO, Italy — As the summer vacation season draws to a close in Italy, a flare-up of Covid-19 cases is fueling a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment, even though the government says that migrants are just a small part of the problem.

Sicily’s president, Nello Musumeci, ordered the closure of all migrant centers on the island last weekend, saying it was impossible to prevent the spread of the illness at the facilities. And although a court blocked him, saying that he did not have the…

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National

Waterlogging in Dhaka: Collective failure made it perennial

Waterlogging
Waterlogging

The desire expressed by the two Dhaka city mayors to take over the responsibility of drainage management from Dhaka Wasa in a bid to end the capital’s perennial waterlogging problem has widely been regarded as a popular idea.

But experts said just changing the custodian without addressing the core issues that have failed Wasa — such as the absence of total authority of one particular body and lack of coordination with six other organisations — might also fail the two city corporations.

The idea of handing over the drainage management to city corporations came to light last month when the two mayors — Dhaka South’s Shekih Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North’s Atiqul Islam — said theywished to take over the job.

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