The first round of reform talks produced a wide range of agreements and disagreements
Government should prioritise reform recommendations that help with holding the election in time.
Troubling development involving fine exemptions comes to light
THE fiscal budget for 2013-14 has been unveiled. It stands at a staggering Tk2.22trillion. GDP growth rate has been set an ambitious 7.2 per cent. Getting that level of growth will require a significant surge in private investments that include foreign direct investment. To what extent that will be possible in the prevailing political climate and inadequate infrastructure remains to be seen. Increased revenue from taxation is set to rely from direct and value added tax to the tune of Tk130billion and Tk95billion from the former and latter. Any failure to achieve desired target will force the government to borrow heavily from the banking sector.
...A 12-year-old boy in Sitakunda was mercilessly caned by his teacher until the boy lost his consciousness. A photo of the young boy's back showed the horrid bloody scar marks he was left with. The teacher was beaten by locals and then arrested by law enforcers. What caused the teacher to take such a measure towards the boy? Apparently the teacher thought the 12-year old stole his mobile phone.
...THIS is our preliminary reaction to the proposed budget for the fiscal 2013-14, pending an elaborate analysis of it in the coming days. The size of the budget is around Tk 2.225 trillion, which is 16 per cent higher than the budget for the outgoing fiscal.
...SOME good news for Bangladesh apparels industry. The RMG sector has been under the radar ever since the Rana Plaza fiasco. The statement issued by UK minister for International Development that disallowing import would have disastrous consequences on development and poverty alleviation for Bangladesh has gone down well here. With labour activists hammering for a ban on import of Bangladeshi apparels to the UK, the stand by the British government is welcome news indeed.
...Their decision to join the parliamentary session is a step in the right direction in a very important way. Especially because the last budget of the incumbent government is going to be placed in this session. The opposition lawmakers' participation will hopefully make the discussion on budget lively and meaningful.
...CRICKET fans and spectators were jolted by cricketer Ashraful's baring his connivance in match fixing over a generally noteworthy 12-year career in cricket. Though we are appreciative of the fact that he came clean when grilled by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit of the International Cricket Council, we are nonetheless appalled at the sordid revelation. Here is a man who created history with his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2001 as the youngest centurion. But he no longer can claim to be a role model among younger generations, if the allegations against him are proven through an inquest.
...Three years down the line, we are perplexed and horrified to see that authorities have taken few steps to stop a recurrence of the deadly fire that engulfed Nimtoli area of old Dhaka. It claimed 123 lives and injured more than 200 others. The storage of combustible chemicals continues to be within the premises of residential buildings dotted all over Nimtoli that serves as a wholesale market for chemicals in the city.
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The urgency of police reform has again come to the fore. Particularly, the agenda of raising the state organ's professionalism has been a long felt need to be attended to.
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ISN'T it an irony? What can become of a country where the people's representatives use their high position to grab public land? And even before this well known fact was officially acknowledged by a state minister recently, we had been highlighting this issue from time to time. But of no avail.
...CAMPAIGNS for mayoral election under the four city corporations are going on in full swing. Competing candidates from rival political camps have been highlighting the areas of local development each will address, if elected. Overall, the entire activity is being conducted with energy and enthusiasm. This is all very commendable.
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