Little confidence in future of Afghanistan in 2014
A medley of vast conflicts and far-reaching consequences, there’s very little confidence in in future of Afghanistan these days. Karzai, the only president the Afghans have known since the Taliban were driven out, is keen to lose the backing of the American military and close the open checkbook that ensures salaries and benefits for the Afghan army and police forces. Instead, he is insisting on the US supporting a peace deal with the Taliban. The recent Loya Jirga of almost 2500 tribal leaders also supported the US alliance but Karzai is betting the promise of 2014 in signing an accord with the Taliban, which according to him might bring more peace to the nation than a deal with the US military.
This is the year that will deter...
Bangladesh ahead of India, Pakistan on acid attack laws
Bangladesh is one of the first countries to legislate on acid attacks with the enactment of the Acid Control Act in 2002 while the Supreme Court of India directed earlier this week to all States and Union Territories to put in place draft rules to regulate the sale of acid by this fiscal-end has once again brought to light India’s sluggishness in addressing acid crime.
In fact, India has long lagged behind first Bangladesh and then Pakistan in spec...
In fact, India has long lagged behind first Bangladesh and then Pakistan in spec...
Businesses to bring white flag procession on Dec 15
Leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said, if the deadlock political is not resolved immediately, they would bring out white flag procession across the country on December 15.
Sounding a note of caution, they said, they would take to the streets together with their workers if the country’ s prevailing political crisis is not resolved within next five days.
The warning came on Saturday from a ‘ human-chain’ protesting for a political consensus to end the current crisis.
Five-day ultimatum to end political crisis, threaten businesses
Country’s key business leaders have threatened the political parties a tougher movement if the ongoing political impasse will not be solved within the next five days.
“If the political parties can’t reach a consensus within the next five days to solve the current political deadlock, the businesspeople and workers will be forced to take to the streets,” said M Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
He made the remarks in a human chain arranged by BGMEA along with the leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) in front...
Bank credit to rickshaw-pullers, betel-nut traders planned
Bangladesh Bank (BB) has decided to use a part of its Tk 200 crore refinancing scheme formed to provide credit to ‘Tk 10’ account holders. Rickshaw-pullers, betel-nut and bidi traders, tea-stall owners, cobblers or hawkers will have access to this credit, thanks to the central bank’s financial inclusion initiative.
“The rate of interest will be at 6 percent and an individual will be able to take maximum Tk 40,000 as loan” , said a senior officer of the central bank .
