The New Nation - Internet Edition

Internet Edition. April 18, 2008, Updated: Bangladesh Time 12:00 AM

Pre-dialogue parley at State Guest House: Advisers wait, BNP (Khaleda) leaders did not turn up

Staff Reporter

Pro-Khaleda BNP faction led by Khondoker Delwar Hossain was invited to pre-dialogue talks with the government through a mobile-to-mobile sms.
Adviser for Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman invited BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain late yesterday afternoon.
The meeting was scheduled to be held at the state guesthouse Meghna at 8:30pm.
However, the meeting did not take place as Khondoker Delwar requested the adviser to reschedule the meeting because they were yet to get ready to take part in it.

EC urges BNP factions to join dialogue unitedly

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked both the two factions of the BNP to unite and join the dialogue on electoral reform together.
"During the meeting with both the factions of the BNP, we have asked them to come unitedly within next two to three days. We have told them that the Commission does not want to be involved in such divisions, rather we want to sit with united BNP," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters after holding informal meetings with leaders of pro-Delwar and reformist groups of BNP at the commission office.

Food festival: Taste of Dhaka begins in city

BSS, Dhaka

The three-day traditional food festival titled 'Taste of Dhaka' began yesterday at the Kalabagan playground marking the 400th Founding Anniversary of the capital city.
Nearly 60 renowned food shops of the city with traditional items, including biriani, khichuri, kebab, bakharkhani and sweets participated in the fair. The Dhaka Mahanagar Samity with the help of Spellbound, an event management organisation, arranged the fair for the first time as part of its programme to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the old city.

Raise tax exemption limit to Tk 2 lakh: CPD suggests 30pc DA to govt staff, but tells nothing for those working in private sector

Staff Reporter

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a local think-tank, yesterday proposed the government to raise the income tax exemption limit to Tk 2,00,000 from the existing Tk 1,50,000 considering the current inflationary pressure in the economy. The minimum threshold could be kept at Tk 2,000, it suggested.
Handing over a set of proposals to Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday in view of the upcoming budget 2008-09, the CPD proposed to consider introducing a 30 per cent dearness allowance on basic salary of all government employees in view of the recent price hike of essentials.

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