Low GDP growth demands political stability so as to boost investor confidence
Effective measures needed to curb crime in the capital city
Urgent measures needed to prevent a deadly outbreak
We did not agitate and politically demand electricity during the British rule. Even in the early 1950s of the last century, punkha pullers had been at work in major offices, elitist government and private residences in which, these days, we see in use multi-patterned expensive electric fans, lights, televisions, various gadgets and air conditioners which consume electricity. Although we produce a meagre quantum of electricity, we see around electric lights of high voltage and variety in the premises of elitist residences and important public and private houses which are generally extravagantly illuminated on social and national occasions. Big hotels, restaurants, clubs, institutes, bhabans, community centres etc. where miscellaneous socio-economic and political functions including...
The Election Commission's dramatic move to invite 99 political parties to a dialogue on voter-list may be well intended but is clearly ill-conceived and failure-prone....
Notwithstanding far too many disappointments to permit anything other than a cynical view of the peace process now underway between the subcontinent's two arch rivals, the joint statement issued in New Delhi last month on the conclusion of President Musharraf's cricket diplomacy promoted a measure of optimism not only about the success of composite dialogue but also for the prospects for an early resolution of such disputes as Siachen glacier or Sir Creek issue leading ultimately to the resolution even of a tricky Kashmir dispute in the light of freshly defined parameters. At least the spirits prevailing on either side reflected that. Echoing the buoyant mood of the peaceniks when President Musharraf called the current peace process 'irreversible' it carried with it a degree of...
The recent arrest of four policemen including an assistant sub-inspector with charges of extortion and snatching ornaments from employees of a jewellery house has sent shock waves across the society. At least four other cases of police criminality and subsequent arrests had been reported earlier this year....
Mr Asghar Ali Engineer's article London bombings, violence and Islam (DS -21.07.05)is very shocking . His credential as chief of Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, does not accord with his viewsà justifying London bombing overtly and covertly. Though he said, "Why do they resort to such operations in which, more often than not, they lose their lives in the prime of their youth? Is it because of their religious fanaticism? Can such operations be explained as mere acts of religious fanaticism? I think not. No psychologist will agree with such oversimplified explanation."...
The series of deadly attacks at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheik, killing at least 60 and injuring over 100, has come on the heels of a second round of bombings in London, thankfully causing far less damage. While there is no evidence as yet that the attacks are linked in any way, it seems indisputable that we are now in the middle of a concerted terror offensive....
Calling the recent London blasts "a despicable act" is understating a calumny of the worst kind. On two counts, "suicide bombing" is anti-Islamic, viz (1) Islam shuns suicide for any reason, and (2) the shedding of innocent blood is forbidden, again for any reason....
The Law Minister disclosed to The Daily Star on July 7 that the government was "pondering over introducing a law on the qualifications of judges." During the last three decades or so, there have been continuous allegations of politicisation of appointment in the higher judiciary. Enactment of a law determining the criteria for appointment of judges in the higher judiciary is therefore long overdue....
Reports carried by this newspaper over the last few days have made it amply clear that adulteration of foods has assumed menacing proportions, with big brand names and well known restaurants featuring in the list of the guilty. It is no longer an errant milkman's attempt to make some extra profit....
It is worrying news that foreign airlines have lodged more than a dozen complaints about the risk factors that, according to them, have made Zia International Airport (ZIA) unsafe for landing and take-off....
