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Posts published in “Bangladesh”

EC invites BNP, other parties to dialogue:

Report in The Daily Star, Nov 02, 2023The Election Commission has written to the BNP and other registered political parties, inviting them to take part in talks that will be held on November 4, said sources. The commission will inform the parties about its election preparations and also listen to their recommendations, according to EC officials. However, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam yesterday refused to make any comment when a reporter asked him whether the EC…

Visa postponement for Bangladeshis: Visa misuse prompts Oman take the decision

by Raheed Ejaz in Prothom Alo, Nov 2, 2023Dhaka: At least 300,000 workers have gone to Oman from Bangladesh in the last two years. But the employment situation for the expatriate workers in the Middle Eastern country is not in a good state now. As many Bangladeshis who went there spending several lakhs of taka are not getting suitable work, they are forced to take up jobs that are deemed illegal. In this context, Oman…

US keeping eye on polls environment:

Report in The Daily Star, Nov 02, 2023The US State Department said dialogue is crucial for free and fair elections in Bangladesh and that it is closely monitoring the electoral environment. “We do believe that dialogue is important to achieving those goals [free and fair elections],” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a regular press briefing in Washington yesterday. He added the US is closely monitoring Bangladesh’s environment leading up to January’s election and…

Three-day blockade: AL dominant on Dhaka streets

Report in The Daily Star, Nov 02, 2023Awami League and its affiliate organisations were more prominent on Dhaka streets yesterday, the second day of the three-day nationwide blockade called by BNP, its allies, and Jamaat-e-Islami. Leaders and activists of the ruling party took positions at different spots around the capital, held brief rallies, and brought out processions wielding bamboo sticks. The AL activists were seen taking possession at places, including AL central office on Bangabandhu…

Political Uncertainty: A bad situation turns worse for the poor

by Rafiul Islam in The Daily Star, Nov 1, 2023Babul Matbar managed to sell only half a kilogramme of apples during the hartal enforced by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday — a significant drop from his usual daily sales of 15 to 25 kg. Despite this setback, he arrived at the Gabtoli Bus Terminal yesterday morning, the first day of the three-day countrywide blockade, hoping he would sell some apples and send money to his…

Oman suspends new visas for Bangladeshis

report in The Daily Star, Nov 1, 2023Oman has suspended the issuance of visas across all categories for Bangladeshis from Tuesday, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has said. The ROP confirmed the suspension of “visa conversions” for expatriates arriving in Oman on tourist and visit visas, reports Times of Oman today. Previously, expatriates entering the country on visit visas could convert their status to employment visas. However, they will now be required to leave the…

Will resist if BNP tries to foil polls:

Report in The Daily Star, Oct 31, 2023The ruling Awami League-led alliance yesterday vowed to resist BNP if the party tries to foil the national polls, slated for early January. They also urged the opposition to participate in the election shunning the path of movement. The 14-party alliance yesterday held a rally at AL headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue protesting BNP’s attack on police, journalists, chief justice’s residence and torching police boxes and ambulances on Saturday.…

Two Canadian cops testify in Niko graft case:

Report in The Daily Star, Oct 31, 2023Two officials of Royal Canadian Mounted Police yesterday narrated before a Dhaka court how some people, including a former Bangladeshi minister received bribes from Niko, a Canadian Oil and Gas Exploration Company, to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to the company. The witnesses were earlier summoned, asking them to appear before it yesterday in connection with the Niko graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia…

Two Canadian cops testify in Niko graft case:

Report in The Daily Star, Oct 31, 2023Two officials of Royal Canadian Mounted Police yesterday narrated before a Dhaka court how some people, including a former Bangladeshi minister received bribes from Niko, a Canadian Oil and Gas Exploration Company, to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to the company. The witnesses were earlier summoned, asking them to appear before it yesterday in connection with the Niko graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia…

AL ‘upbeat’ after BNP’s Saturday ‘setback’:

By Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee in The Daily Star, Oct 30, 2023The way the events unfolded on Saturday has given the Awami League rank and file a confidence boost, claim leaders of the ruling party. They said the kind of momentum BNP tried to gather with its grand rally did not come to pass, and it has “hurt the morale of the party activists”. The violence that took place that day was mostly between BNP and…

BNP plans tougher anti-govt movement:

By Mohammad Al-Masum Molla in The Daily Star, Oct 30, 2023After enforcing its first nationwide hartal in eight years, BNP yesterday called a three-day rail, road, and waterways blockade across the country from Tuesday to Thursday. The opposition party will enforce the blockade to protest the killings of its activists in police action and the arrests of party leaders and supporters, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, over the last two days. BNP Senior…