Jute workers oppose privatisation drive
About 50,000 workers in nine state-owned Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC) factories in the Khulna-Jessore industrial belt staged protests on July 7 and 8 against the government’s plans to privatise the corporation. Workers have threatened to resume the campaign after the end of the Eid-ul-Fitr Muslim religious festival, on July 27.
On July 7, workers laid siege to the administrative offices of the nine factories. On July 8, they blocked the railway and highways from Khulna to Jessore for hours, holding demonstrations and rallies. Their protests followed a July 6 strike by private sector jute mill workers, demanding payment of wage arrears and the reopening of closed factories.
![]()
Japan trade deficit surges to record on weak exports
Japan’s trade deficit ballooned to a record in the first half of the year as exports fell further in June, data showed today, ramping up pressure on the central bank to unveil fresh measures to boost the economy.
The figures come days after the government cut its fiscal year growth forecasts, blaming weak exports and a jump in imports as well as the negative impact of an April sales tax hike on consumer spending and business confidence.
Japan has seen widening trade deficits since the Fukushima nuclear crisis in March 2011 forced it to switch off its atomic reactors and turn to pricey fossil fuel imports to plug the energy gap.

Nepal gears up for SAARC summit
After a political impasse over a new constitution caused a delay, Kathmandu is finally preparing to host the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Summit in November.
"The SAARC Summit is a major foreign policy event. Since this is also related to the country's image and prestige, we have been working to make this event a grand success," Dinesh Bhattarai , Koirala's foreign relations adviser, told Khabar South Asia.
Concerned ministries now are taking steps to get the capital ready for the gathering of the regional b...
Concerned ministries now are taking steps to get the capital ready for the gathering of the regional b...
UN warns of Israel Gaza ‘war crimes’
UN Human Rights boss Navi Pillay says Israel's military actions in Gaza "could amount to war crimes"
The UN's top human rights official has condemned Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip, saying that war crimes may have been committed.
Navi Pillay told an emergency debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Israel's military offensive had not done enough to protect civilians.
She also condemned Hamas for "indiscriminate attacks" on Israel.
Israel launched its offensive on 8 July with the declared objective ...
Navi Pillay told an emergency debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Israel's military offensive had not done enough to protect civilians.
She also condemned Hamas for "indiscriminate attacks" on Israel.
Israel launched its offensive on 8 July with the declared objective ...
Police hailed for professionalism in UN peacekeeping ops
UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous on Wednesday praised the members of Bangladesh Police for their capacity building, professionalism, sincerity and courage in discharging duties during peacekeeping missions in various war-ravaged countries across the globe.
The praise came when Ladsous made a courtesy call on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandker at the Police Headquarters, reports UNB.
The visiting United Nations Under-Secretary General for Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) said Bangladesh is the highest police contributing country in UN pe...
The praise came when Ladsous made a courtesy call on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandker at the Police Headquarters, reports UNB.
The visiting United Nations Under-Secretary General for Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) said Bangladesh is the highest police contributing country in UN pe...
GP’s revenue up 7.8pc
Bangladesh’s biggest mobile phone operator Grameenphone (GP) Tuesday reported a 7.8 percent increase in revenues for the first half of 2014 compared with that in the same period last year.
The company, which is listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange in Bangladesh, said that the revenue was 51.1 billion taka (1 U.S. dollar equals to 78 taka) for January-June period of 2014.
Service revenue grew by 7.5 percent year on year along with 14. 3 percent year on year growth in device and other revenues, said the company in a statement, Xinhua reports.
It said the growth ...
Service revenue grew by 7.5 percent year on year along with 14. 3 percent year on year growth in device and other revenues, said the company in a statement, Xinhua reports.
It said the growth ...


















