 
|
Fakhruddin meets Gordon Brown: Smooth power transfer to elected govt stressed
BSS, London
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have pledged to work together to promote sustainable democracy and economic development and combat climate change and terrorism.
They made the pledge in a "Bangladesh-UK Joint Statement" after a meeting held at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British Prime Minister, on Tuesday night.
The two heads of government expressed satisfaction at the thriving strategic partnership of equals between Bangladesh and Britain and acknowledged the important role played by the vibrant British-Bangladeshi community in forging that partnership.  |
New discoveries will take 8 years to yield gas: 50 IOCs keen to participate in latest bidding
Staff Reporter
Gas from the new discoveries under ongoing 3rd round international block biding would take at least eight years, said Petrobangla officials at a press briefing yesterday in the capital.
"We have set eight years to complete seismic survey, exploration and development of shallow gas fields and nine years for deepwater gas fields," Petrobangla Director (PSC) Major (Retd) Muktadir Ali told reporters at the Petrobangla office.
It had seen good initial interest from international oil groups for its planned auction of offshore gas blocks, he said. |
7,500 tons rice from India on way to Ctg
UNB, Dhaka
As part of the Indian government's announcement of supplying 15,000 metric tonnes of rice to Bangladesh during March-April 2008, a commercial vessel carrying 7,500 mt rice is presently bound for Chittagong Port.
Earlier, some 5,000 mt rice was delivered to the government and the supplies were effected through eight shipments by Indian Naval vessels between December 2007 and January 2008, said an Indian High Commission release.
India announced an assistance of 40,000 mts of rice, 10,000 mts of wheat and 1,000 mts of skimmed milk powder in 2007 for relief and rehabilitation of people of Bangladesh affected by floods and other natural disasters. |
Taslima Nasrin leaves India
Agencies, New Delhi
The exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin left India for sweden claiming the conditions she has been living under in Delhi amount to "virtual house arrest" and that she has been denied urgent medical attention.
Nasrin fled Bangladesh in 1994 when a court ruled she had "deliberately and maliciously" hurt the feelings of religious Muslims. Her books remain banned in the country.
After a decade in Europe, she moved to Kolkata in 2004, where she planned to settle, but came under increasing pressure from Muslim groups' protests at her "anti-Islamic" novels and memoirs. |
Annisul elected FBCCI president: Vows to work to advance economy
Staff Reporter
Former BGMEA chief Annisul Huq has been elected president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) unopposed for the 2007-2008 term.
His rival MA Rouf Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, proposed Annisul's name to the electoral board as president of the apex trade body.
Elections for the federation's two posts of vice-president were also uncontested. The elected vice-presidents are Abul Kashem Ahmed (Chamber group) and Abu Alam Chowdhury (Association group). |
India hands over 6 horses presented to Army Chief
< |
Pak parliament elects female speaker
AFP, Islamabad
Pakistan's parliament on Wednesday elected the first female speaker in the country's 60-year history, a loyalist from the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Fahmida Mirza, 52, could play a crucial role in a looming showdown between a coalition government led by Bhutto's party and President Pervez Musharraf, whose political allies lost heavily in elections a month ago.
MPs pounded their desks in approval as the the purple-veiled former medical doctor was announced the winner with 249 votes from the 342-seat lower house of parliament, or national assembly. |
|
|
Internet Edition. March 20, 2008, Updated: Bangladesh Time 12:00 AM 
