 
|
Turnout low as violence, confusion mar Pak poll: Clear winner unlikely
Agencies, Islamabad
Fearful of violence and deterred by confusion at polling stations, Pakistanis voted Monday in parliamentary elections that may fail to produce clear winners and could result in protracted post-election political skirmishing.
A number of clashes among polling officials and voters resulted in 10 people killed and 70 injured, according to Pakistani television channels.
Voter turnout was low; in the North-West Frontier Province, which abuts the lawless tribal areas, turnout was only 20 percent, according to election officials.  |
Most watched poll: 10,000 observers in Pakistan Agencies
There is deep concern in London about the future of Pakistan.
This arises not just from the fear that unrest in the tribal areas on the Afghan frontier adds to the influence of the Taleban in Afghanistan, but from the links between Pakistan and terrorism in Britain.
Recently, the former deputy head of Britain's MI6 secret service, Nigel Inkster, who is now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, highlighted British fears when he publicly named pro-Taleban commander Baitullah Mehsud, who comes from South Waziristan in Pakistan, as "public enemy number one". |
Thousands of mourners throng Shaheed Minar: 50 hurt in police action: Manna laid to rest in Tangail
Staff Reporter
Over 50 fans of film-star Manna were injured in clashes with police. They tried to get in the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) compound to have a last glimpse of their favourite hero yesterday morning.
Witnesses said Manna's body was taken to the FDC premises at about 10:30am by an ambulance of the United Hospital where he died Sunday of cardiac arrest, in a rather filmy scene as he himself drove in the hospital with his sudden heart ailment.
Thousands of fans of the popular actor in Dhalywood, in an emotional outburst, began pushing and shoving to get in the FDC premises to see his body and pay him their last respect. |
40 pc poultry farms face closure Half a million workers jobless
Sheikh Arif Bulbon
The spread of deadly bird flu in the country has forced the closure of 40 per cent of the poultry farms and left half a million poultry workers jobless, said officials of the Bangladesh Poultry Association.
The virus was still 'under control,' although it has spread to 43 out of the country's 64 districts, forcing authorities to slaughter some 800,000 birds, said the Livestock officials.
Abdul Baki, Principal Scientific Officer of the Livestock Department, said, "It is a natural disaster like cyclone or floods. |
Reformists’ terms for BNP merger Shahidul Islam
The reformist factions of the BNP set a precondition for the reunification of the immediate-past ruling party as top leader of the anti-reform group party Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain did not respond to their unity call by placing a set of conditionality that foiled the unity move, insiders said yesterday.
In retaliation, leaders of the reformist after a recent meeting set three preconditions for the unity with the other faction. |
Muktarpur Bridge opens: Construction of Padma Bridge to begin in next fiscal: CA
BSS, Munshiganj
Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday formally opened the long-cherished 6th Bangladesh- China Friendship Bridge (Mukterpur Bridge) to traffic over the river Dhaleshwari about 30 kilometres south of the capital.
The two-lane bridge linked Munshiganj with Dhaka city directly by road as well as Narayanganj.
In his inaugural speech, Dr Fakhruddin said the construction of Mukterpur Bridge has brought Munshiganj nearer to Dhaka. He directed the authorities concerned to complete construction of the alternative road network in short time to reduce Munshiganj-Dhaka distance so that local people can reap benefit of the bridge. |
Bangladesh emerges as new ship exporting country: Ananda Shipyard receives $150m export order
Staff Reporter
Bangladesh has emerged as new ship exporting country following building of two ships for Denmark and receiving export order of US$150 million by the Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd, a ceremony to mark the occasion was told yesterday expressing hope to earn US$10 billion by next ten years from this sector.
"This is a historic event. Please treat the success of shipbuilding sector as the emergence of Bangladesh as a ship exporting country," Chairman of Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd Dr Abdullahel Bari told the ceremony at a city hotel. |
|
|
Internet Edition. February 19, 2008, Updated: Bangladesh Time 12:00 AM 
