A recent report by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has presented an unflattering portrayal of ongoing political and administrative practices.
The country is under pressure amid escalating global trade tensions
Govt must expedite the overhaul of public healthcare
Burglary incidents at temples are on the rise. There have been at least 23 thefts committed in different temples in Dhaka, Narayanganj and other parts of the country over the past few months. The burglars broke into places of worship and stole gold and silver ornaments and cash. Dhakeswari national temple, Baredeswari Temple and Joykali Mandir in the capital have been the main targets. The fashion of crime seems to be cases of 'simple burglary', according to the law enforcement agencies.
...
The parliament has removed a disability imposed since the British era on media and free but responsible writing. The JS passed a bill scrapping the legal provision for directly issuing arrest warrant against journalists, writers and others for writing or saying something 'defamatory'. This meets a persistently articulated demand of journalists for striking out the clauses in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that hang as a Sword of Damocles on media freedom. The government and the parliament have made a momentous gesture.
...
That Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has turned her attention to modernising the railway by 2015 strikes a responsive chord in us. Because this important state-run mass mode of transportation is in an ailing, derelict state. The impelling demand is now for expanding domestic and regional reaches of the railway.
...
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's acknowledgement of popular sentiments regarding a new airport at Arial Beel is to be appreciated. Coming as it does after an eruption of violence that left a policeman dead and scores of others injured, her statement should now help reduce the tension gripping the area. Moreover, her view that there will be a feasibility study before a new site for the proposed airport is selected is proof that the government has taken cognizance of the realities. Such a study should have been undertaken before the decision to build a new airport at Arial Beel was taken. The manner in which the Arial Beel issue was approached was flawed because of two basic reasons. In the first place, the airport-related decision took little note of the adverse impact a new airport...
The way a rape victim in a remote village of Shariatpur, far from being redressed for the abuse she was subjected to, was whipped leading to her death has left us reeling from utter shock and outrage. We have no word to condemn the crime committed by the so-called village arbitration body that gave the order to lash the girl based on a fatwa issued by a village imam. In the same breath, we cannot but express our dismay over how such a barbaric medieval drama could be enacted under the very nose of the local administration. How could they be unaware of the High Court rule that declares fatwa illegal and unconstitutional?
...
We are aghast at the news of lodging of a case by a public prosecutor on behalf of the government against the leader of the opposition Begum Khaleda Zia in connection with Monday's skirmishes between villagers and the law-enforcers in Munshiganj. What is particularly disquieting is accusing the
...
Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2011 opened at the Bangla Academy grounds on Tuesday. The event that started its journey in 1984 has hugely expanded in size, number of publications on display, in terms attracting visitors over the years. The theme of this year's fair is Rabindranath Tagore, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the poet.
...
The eruption of violence in Munshiganj that left one police officer dead and scores injured is saddening. We condemn this wanton violence. We condole the death of the police officer who was on duty and express our sympathy to the bereaved family and those who received injuries. We also commend the police who showed impressive restraint even when one of their officers was killed.
...
The departure of six experts from the committee handling the Shwadhinota Sthamba project is not only regrettable but a huge embarrassment, for the government and for the country. The embarrassment comes through the experts' decision to quit being a fall-out of certain irresponsible remarks made by the minister of state for liberation war affairs to a newspaper more than a week ago. We fully understand the sentiments of the experts, all of whom are highly respected individuals in society. For the minister to suggest that work on the project is being held up owing to the ego of these experts is actually to look away from the reality. He would have done better had he examined the bureaucratic reasons behind the delay in project implementation.
...
At least the BNP has expressed its intention of joining the parliament, and it is to be welcomed as far as it goes. What must surely be disappointing to all, particularly its supporters, is its attaching conditions for attending the House.
...
