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The Awami League-led government had no plans to ban all religion-based political parties, its Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said on Sunday.

He told Parliament, �We will take measures against Jamaat-e-Islami. Those who still defy existence of Bangladesh, who don�t believe in three million martyrs, a process to ban them is underway. They will be banned.�

�But we won�t ban any other political parties,� he said.

The call to ban Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh�s independence from Pakistan in 1971, has become intense during the ongoing movement at Shahbagh, which initially had begun early this month demanding death penalty for all convicted war criminals.

Many including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several other ministers of the government supported the call.

But the government is yet to outline how the Jamaat will be outlawed.

At an unscheduled discussion in Parliament on Sunday, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim disclosed the plans to ban the rightwing party that allegedly espouses violence by using the Islamic religion.
The leftist parties want all religion-based political parties disallowed to pursue politics.

Selim urged the religion-based parties not to do anything anti-public.

Referring to the violence caused by Jamaat and its student affiliate Islami Chhatra Shibir, he said, �The party is using Islam to carry out terrorism and militant activities.�

He also held Jamaat and Shibir responsible for the murder of blogger and Shahbagh movement activist Ahmed Rajib Haider. �The outcome of this murder�s investigation will be made public.�

The Awami League MP demanded legal measures against pro-BNP Amar Desh and pro-Jamaat Naya Diganta, claiming the Bengali dailies ran reports on Rajib�s blog after planting false information there.

�There were no writings against religion on Rajib�s blog before Feb 15. Jamaat and Shibir did that after his murder. They instigated the people by hurting their religious sentiments. They had done the same in Ramu.�

He told Parliament that the BNP defamed Islam and Prophet Muhammad by supporting Jamaat, its key ally.

�BNP and Jamaat are connected by the same thread. They are backing all Jamaat activities. There is no difference between BNP and Jamaat.�

Joining the discussion, Awami League Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed said, �This is the right time to ban Jamaat. It does not make any difference if Jamaat is banned, or not. But meaningful action is needed now to purge the country of chaos.�

He said Jamaat and Shibir were running propagandas and conspiring to create instability in the country. �This Jamaat had legalised rape and murder during the war [of independence].�

�They still don�t acknowledge independence of the country. The way Pakistani occupation force used religion that time, Ziaur Rahman had also given the chance [to them].�

Continued Tofail, �We must beware of those whose capital is religion and who want to confuse devout Muslims.�

The discussion had begun earlier with Subid Ali Bhuiyan�s remarks who said, �Islam is religion of peace. But using it, a quarter has become desperate.�

�You have seen Friday�s mayhem. Who are these people? Those who can tear the national flag apart, destroy Shaheed Minar and set prayer mats on fire - how can they protect Islam?� he wondered.

Independent MP Fazlul Azim said, �There is a democratic rule in the country. But the current situation of the country is worrying. The government has its responsibility, it also has the power.�

He said, �[They] are playing with fire by hurting religious sentiments. This situation must be firmly tackled. The evil clique which is rising must now be strictly dealt with.�

Azim also urged all the political parties to find a solution through discussion.

Strikers absent from streets

Activists from 12 small parties were barely present during Sunday�s shutdown called against the Shahbagh movement despite support from Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP.

Anti-shutdown processions were visible all over Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, during the daylong nationwide strike on Sunday, as supporters of the parties, who announced the protest programme against police obstruction, were conspicuous by their absence.

Some thousands were seen marching the streets of Dhaka as the procession from Shahbagh ended at the site of the protest, now christened �Prajanma Chattar�, after going past the Dainik Bangla intersection.

However long-route buses did not depart from cities but trains, flights and launches regulated according to schedule.

But some buses were seen leaving for Mymensingh from Mohakhali bus terminal.

Fewer private cars were seen in Dhaka, but buses, human haulers, auto-rickshaws were seen plying.

Long route buses were not seen leaving from Syedabaad and Gaabtoli terminal until noon. A couple of buses started off after that.

Most of the day�s violence took place in Manikganj�s Singair upazila where four people were killed when strike supporters clashed with police and local people during the nationwide whole-day strike called by the small parties, police said.

But Shah Ahmadullah Aslam, chief of �Khelafat Andolon� one of the member organisations of the 12 small parties, claimed the number of casualties was five.

As many as 160 were injured by bullets and more than 500 have been arrested, he claimed in a press conference.

Meanwhile, �Khelafat Majlish� another member of the 12 small parties, claimed in a press note the number of casualties at Singair is seven.

It has called a dawn-to-dusk strike in Manikganj for Monday and protests across the nation.

On Friday, anti-Shahbagh mob clashed with police in several areas of Bangladesh after noon prayers. Police said it was orchestrated by the Jamaat-e-Islami.

After the hours-long mayhem, the small parties had called the shutdown alleging obstruction to their Friday programmes.

The organisers of Shahbagh�s �Ganajagaran Mancha� urged the people to hit the streets in protest against the shutdown.

Several processions against the shutdown were taken out in several parts of the capital. An anti-shutdown procession kicked off in the morning from Shahbagh, which went past Matsha Bhaban, Press Club, Paltan, Dainik Bangla before finally ending at the site of the protest.

Police were deployed at all key points throughout Dhaka.

There were no pickets out in the main streets of the capital but a few people torched a human hauler in Dhalpur of Dhaka�s Jatrabari around 7:15am and fled, said Jatrabari Police Station Sub-Inspector Emranul Islam.

He told bdnews24.com, �The human hauler (Leguna) was parked on the side of a street. Suddenly a few appeared and fled after setting fire to it.�

The locals doused the fire by themselves, Fire Service Control Room official Brojen Sarkar said.

Police chased and foiled a procession the activists tried to take out at Dholaiparh�s Shyampur area.

A few people have also been arrested, Jatrabari OC Abul Kalam Azad said.

There were sporadic blasts in the capital which police blamed on the shutdown activists.

Several hand bombs exploded in Purana Paltan, Fakirapool DIT Extension Road and in front of the Press Club a few minutes after the anti-shutdown procession from Shahbagh�s �Ganajagaran Mancha� passed by.

Police conducted a raid moments after a hand bomb exploded in Purana Paltan. Supporters of the shutdown tried to take out a procession there but police dispersed them by firing blank shots.

At the same time, two hand bombs were detonated at Fakirapool DIT Extension Road. Motijheel Police arrested 19 people after a search in that area.

�Hand bombs were hurled from several tall buildings around the area to unleash terror. We held some people from adjoining areas for questioning as soon as we heard the news�, OC Mohammad Hedayettuzzaman of Motijheel Police has said.

Motijheel Police later informed that the number of arrestees from that area was 19.

Two hand bombs also exploded in the road near Press Club and the Secretariat. No-one was injured in these blasts.

After Sunday�s shutdown came to an end, Ahmadullah Ashraf, a leader for Khelafat Andolon, said there were seven parties which enforced the strike, not twelve.

�We are not at one with the 12 parties. Seven parties had called the strike.�

The parties are � Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Islami Oikya Jote, Khelafot Majlish, Khelafat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Jamiat-ul-Ulama-i-Islam, Islami Ain Bastobayon Committee o Ulama Committee.

Compensations were offered to the families of the people who died in Manikganj. Khelafot Andolon demanded punishment for those responsible for firing bullets.

Ahmadullah Aslam also demanded that all who were being held including Khelafot Andolon�s Secretary General Jafrullah Khan be unconditionally released.

They criticised several media outlets and proposed that they change their �atheistic mentalities�.

� If the Prothom Alo, Daily Star, Kaler Kontho, Ekattor and Somoy do not change their atheistic ways, we will announce a call to reject products by Transcom Group, Meghna Group, City Group and Bashundhara Group�, the Khelafor leader threatened.

Khelafot Andolon also claimed that they and Jamaat-e-Islami do not match in ideals.

About the support from Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP for Sunday�s nationwide shutdown, Aslam said, �We have no relations with them. We cannot turn them away if they provide moral support. Even the Communist Party can provide support,� said Ahmadullah Aslam.

Mahmudur slams �anti-Islam campaigners�

Acting Editor of Bangla daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman has termed the youngsters demonstrating in Shahbagh demanding execution of all the convicted war criminals as �anti-Islam campaigners�

�The so-called �Shahbagh youths� are provoking terrorism. They�re running a negative campaign against Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PUBH),� he told a press conference at the newspaper office Saturday evening.

Mahmudur called the press conference hours after five cases were filed against him at Shahbagh and Ramna police stations for instigating militancy and fanaticism, and spreading falsehood to create anarchy across the country.

The Bangla daily has been allegedly publishing reports criticising the Shahbagh movement that entered its 19th day Saturday.

The cases were filed a day after the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir attacked law enforcers and journalists, burned the national flag and vandalised Shaheed Minars to counter the mass demand for capital punishment to 1971 war criminals.

Demonstrators at Shahbagh�s �Projonmo Chattar�, who returned to the protest venue immediately after the start of Friday�s mayhem, demanded arrest of Mahmudur Rahman in 24 hours.

Amar Desh and some other newspapers and television channels have allegedly been running write-ups insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), claiming that they were published by the Shahbagh activists on blogs and websites.

Mahmudur said, �The High Court has already issued a ruling asking the government to shut down anti-Islam community blogs and arrest the offenders. But, instead of taking any measures against them, the government has been providing them protection of gunmen. It�s the government that is provoking militancy and speaking profane language ... the government is the instigator.�

Criticising the Shahbagh mass agitation, he said, �The government is provoking terrorism and militancy through the fascists in Shahbagh. What the Shahbagh demonstrators are doing with sub-judice (war crimes) cases is an act of contempt against an independent judicial system.�

The Bangla daily Acting Editor continued, �Contempt of court cases are filed so frequently without proper reasons. Then why doesn�t it amount to contempt of court when demand of execution (of war criminal suspects) is raised from Shahbagh over a sub-judice issue?�

Mahmudur further said he was not worried about filing of cases by police or the ultimatum of the Shahbagh �Ganajagaran Mancha�.

�Threatening me with filing of cases wouldn�t work. It doesn�t worry me. Neither Amar Desh newspaper�s position nor mine against the instigators of terrorism and anti-religion campaign will ever change.�

He also expressed apprehensions of his arrest and said that he was ready for that.

�I�ve been informed that some lawsuits have been filed against me. Some say the number is four or five, while others say it is 20 and that I could be arrested. I�m in my office ... let police come and arrest me. I�m ready...�

Protesters vow to prevent Sunday shutdown

Thousands of demonstrators at Shahbagh are in high spirits, chanting slogans and taking a vow to prevent the shutdown called for Sunday as they prepare to resist the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Islami Chhatra Shibir.

The �Prajanmo Chattar� became much more alive Saturday evening after the protesters returned from a rally at the �Rayerbazar Mass Killing Ground� in the afternoon. They took an oath at the rally not to return home until the anti-liberation forces and people who use religion for business are resisted and their demand for awarding death penalty to all the convicted war criminals are met.

Shahbagh turned into a sea of humanity, with people from all walks of life starting to gather there since the morning. The venue finally got its usual face back in the evening with slogans filling the air.

The people carrying national flags reaffirmed their vow not to return home unless their demands are met.

Spokesperson of the movement�s main stage �Ganajagarn Mancha�, Imran H Sarker around 10pm announced that their protests would continue.

He said they would not return home until the demands, including capital punishment to all war criminals and ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, were met.

Sarker urged the people of the country to reject the countrywide dawn-to-dusk shutdown of the 12 Islamist and Like-minded Parties for Sunday.

�Take to the streets rejecting their shutdown. Bring out mass processions within 8am [Sunday] and prove that the people don�t approve of this shutdown.�

The crowd supported his call with slogans.

He demanded arrest of Acting Editor of Bangla daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman for running write-ups insulting Islam. �I demand of the government, arrest him as soon as possible, or else we will be forced to give tougher agitation calls.�

He also asked hawkers and agents of newspapers to stop selling the newspapers, which run news reports that could hurt religious sentiments.

Activists of several Islamist parties -- the anti-Shahbagh demonstrators -- had unleashed a wave of mayhem across the country including capital Dhaka after Friday�s Juma prayers. Four people were killed and many more injured as the �Islamists� fought pitched battles with police.

They attacked the Ganajagaran Manchas in several districts where demonstrators had been protesting over the past several days. The protesters also attacked Shaheed Minars in Sylhet and Feni.

Police said the Jamaat was behind these atrocious attacks. Home Minister MK Alamgir also expressed similar views.

The Islamist platforms also called a nationwide shutdown for Sunday protesting what they said �attacks on demonstrators demanding punishment to the �atheist� bloggers of the Shahbagh movement�.

However, a day after the countrywide attacks, tens of thousands of people started gathering at the Rayerbazar Mass Killing Ground from Saturday noon to join the rally there and the oath-taking programme.

The rally was the first programme organised by the Shahbagh protesters outside the Shahbagh venue - now christened �Prajanmo Chattar�.

The two-hour programme that started around 3.30pm kicked off with the recitation of national anthem. Leaders of several student organisations also addressed the programme.

They took oath to resist Sunday�s nationwide dawn-to-dusk strike and prevent Shibir and Jamaat, which opposed Bangladesh�s independence during 1971 Liberation War.

Sarker administered the oath at 5:20pm. Waving the national flag, people from a broad spectrum of society also vowed not to return home until the demands are met.

The Shahbagh movement, which began Feb 5, rolled into Day 19 Saturday, with a huge number of students from different schools, colleges and universities joining the protest, along with many more.

Demonstrators at Shahbagh had announced Thursday to end their non-stop sit-in protest. But after Friday�s attack by the �Islamists�, they returned to Shahbagh and announced to hold continuous demonstrations there.

The mass signature campaign programme is also going on at the �Prajanma Chattar� as thousands are expressing their support to the call of the protesters.\

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The tribunal also noted that some of the applications had been earlier disposed of.
Jamaat�s Rajshahi Divn shutdown Tue
The decision was announced through a media statement issued by the party�s Rajshahi division coordinator Prof Rafiqul Islam on Monday.
BNP speaks for agitating teachers
Aman Ullah Aman also pledged to meet the demand if BNP was voted to power.
Indian army chief threatens Pakistan
General Bikram Singh's remarks come amid mounting public anger in India after Delhi accused Pakistani soldiers of
News Corp to grab Sky Deutschland
The move comes as media conglomerate News Corp separates its publishing and entertainment assets into two
BCB to discuss BPL payment issues
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has called a meeting on Monday in order to solve the payment issues of foreign players
iPhone 5 Europe's biggest data consumer
Users of Apple's iPhone 5, launched in September 2012, have the most voracious appetite for data in Europe,
Ferdous, Joya best actors of 2011
Matinee idol of yesteryears, Abdur Razzak, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, said an official handout.
All 13 fire victims Bangladeshis
The 12th victim has been named Shaheen Khan, son of late Abdur Satter Khan of Dhonpotti of Matlab in Chandpur
Record-setting Barca march on
Rampant unbeaten leaders Barcelona ended the first half of the La Liga season with a record 55 out of a possible

Opposition out to foil democracy: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that the opposition was trying to disrupt the democratic process and the ongoing trial of the alleged war criminals
2592 pass BCS exams
�The results can be accessed through the commission�s website (www.bpsc.gov.bd) after 3:30 pm,� said PSC Public Relations Officer Meer Mosharraf Hossain.
Haque named Acting Foreign Secretary
Haque took over from, Mostafa Kamal, who was officiating at Acting Secretary after Mohamed Mijarul Quayes left for his new role in London.
PM address to nation on Friday
Her speech would be broadcast on state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Bater (Radio) at 7pm, Prime Minister�s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
Govt joins NGOs to promote safe abortion
Dr Kazi Golam Rasul, Senior Director at Marie Stopes Bangladesh, told bdnews24.com that they would help women who want to get rid of their pregnancies do it �at the right place, at the right time and in the right hand.�
Minister blames owners for water transport impasse
�The owners did not pay heed to the government�s call for negotiations on various demands raised by the workers,� he told bdnews24.com.
Justice Nizamul Huq returns to HC bench
He sat at room no. 6 of the Annex Building of the High Court around 10:45am.
There were 16 cases on the day�s cause list. The Bar Council members who came to his court for hearing on the cases welcomed him on his return.
Cops pepper-spray teachers� demo
The teachers had started a fast-unto-death programme there after being driven away from the National Press Club earlier in the day in a similar fashion. They are demonstrating
Decision on transport fare hike next week
�The meeting of the costing committee formed on transport fare hike will be held next week. The decision on refixing the fare will be made public after the meeting,� Quader told reporters after a meeting at the Rail Bhaban on Thursday.
ICT hears second plea against Prosecutor
Jamaat-e-Islami guru Ghulam Azam�s defence prayed that the application be heard along with the one filed by BNP MP Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, since both sought the same ends.
Overnight flights at SIA to offset losses
Flights will take off and land at the airport throughout Tuesday night to cover up for delays in the schedule and to fix the services at the airport which descended into chaos after the
Nirmal Sen dead
January 08-His family said he died at around 6.30 pm on Tuesday at a hospital in Dhaka of septicemia, a lung infection that spread into his blood stream.
Goldstein �optimistic of WB financing�
The World Bank�s Bangladesh Country Director said on Tuesday she remains �optimistic� about the global lender financing the Padma bridge project.
Bhola judge refused bail
The bench of justices Qamrul Islam Siddiqui and Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain issued a rule instead, asking the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka why the judge will
HC extends stay order on DCC polls for 3 more months
The High Court bench comprising justices Naima Haider and Jafar Ahmed passed the order following a petition submitted by Advocate Manzill Murshid.
Be ready for more complex peacekeeping'
A senior UN official on Tuesday called upon countries like Bangladesh that contribute troops in peacekeeping missions 'to be aware of the changing
Hire more from Bangladesh: Khaleda to Saudi Speaker
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia urged Saudi Arabian Assembly Speaker on Tuesday to recruit more workers from Bangladesh.
ACC press charges against 7 Oriental Bank officials
The Anti Corruption Commission on Tuesday pressed charges against seven former officials of erstwhile Oriental Bank (now ICB Islami Bank) for misappropriating funds.
Hasina inaugurates gas field
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the Shahjadpur-Sundalpur gas field, the first of the several development projects she will be inaugurating Tuesday.
Biman staff call off strike
The indefinite strike at Biman, Bangladesh�s state carrier, was called off after seven hours when the Civil Aviation Minister assured the employees that their demands will be met.
Amar Desh, Sangram retract Ka�aba news
Dhaka, Jan 08 -Storms of protests on Facebook and in blogs have forced two Bangladeshi dailies to remove reports claiming that Imams at the Ka�aba in Saudi Arabia staged a
One more held over Savar rape case
Abul Kalam, 30, was arrested in Singair Bazaar in Manikganj district.
Left parties set to call Jan16 strike
Dhaka, Jan 8- After a countrywide daylong shutdown enforced by the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance, the Ganatantrik Bam Morcha, a combine of left parties, is set to call a
Govt to nationalise primary schools
The government has decided to nationalise 26,193 non-government primary schools across Bangladesh.
False case u/s 211
Though there is provision to take step against a false case under section 211 of BPC, sometimes, there is no visible effect.

Overnight flights at SIA to offset losses
Flights will take off and land at the airport throughout Tuesday night to cover up for delays in the schedule and to fix the services at the airport which descended into chaos after the strike began early Tuesday, the statement said.
Nirmal Sen dead
January 08-His family said he died at around 6.30 pm on Tuesday at a hospital in Dhaka of septicemia, a lung infection that spread into his blood stream.
Within minutes, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled in a message her long association with the departed communist leader Sen in the anti-autocracy movement.
Goldstein �optimistic of WB financing�
The World Bank�s Bangladesh Country Director said on Tuesday she remains �optimistic� about the global lender financing the Padma bridge project.
Ellen Goldstein said there have been talks with other financers of the infrastructure project. �I remain optimistic that the World Bank will finance this project,� she said.
Polls in due time: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the 10th national elections will be held when it is due and in a neutral manner.
�[The national] election will be organised on due time. All elections under the the Awami League-led government have been free and fair. No one could question [the neutrality],� she said at a Noakhali rally..
Bhola judge refused bail
The bench of justices Qamrul Islam Siddiqui and Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain issued a rule instead, asking the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka why the judge will not be given bail and gave him two weeks to respond.
HC extends stay order on DCC polls for 3 more months
The High Court bench comprising justices Naima Haider and Jafar Ahmed passed the order following a petition submitted by Advocate Manzill Murshid.
The High Court on April 16 last year had issued a stay order for three months against initiatives by the Election Commission to hold elections to the divided Dhaka City Corporation.
Be ready for more complex peacekeeping'
A senior UN official on Tuesday called upon countries like Bangladesh that contribute troops in peacekeeping missions 'to be aware of the changing scenario' of peacekeeping as she said the task was getting 'more complex now'.
Hire more from Bangladesh: Khaleda to Saudi Speaker
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia urged Saudi Arabian Assembly Speaker on Tuesday to recruit more workers from Bangladesh.
Khaleda made the request to the visiting Speaker Abdullah Bin Mohammad Bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh when he paid a visit to the BNP leader at her Gulshan residence.
ACC press charges against 7 Oriental Bank officials
The Anti Corruption Commission on Tuesday pressed charges against seven former officials of erstwhile Oriental Bank (now ICB Islami Bank) for misappropriating funds.
Hasina inaugurates gas field
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the Shahjadpur-Sundalpur gas field, the first of the several development projects she will be inaugurating Tuesday.
Biman staff call off strike
The indefinite strike at Biman, Bangladesh�s state carrier, was called off after seven hours when the Civil Aviation Minister assured the employees that their demands will be met.
Amar Desh, Sangram retract Ka�aba news
Dhaka, Jan 08 -Storms of protests on Facebook and in blogs have forced two Bangladeshi dailies to remove reports claiming that Imams at the Ka�aba in Saudi Arabia staged a human-chain demonstration against the war crimes trial.
One more held over Savar rape case
Abul Kalam, 30, was arrested in Singair Bazaar in Manikganj district.
Police have so far arrested six people for their alleged involvement in the rape of the 18-year old girl and taking her obscene photographs for making a video film.
Left parties set to call Jan16 strike
Dhaka, Jan 8- After a countrywide daylong shutdown enforced by the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance, the Ganatantrik Bam Morcha, a combine of left parties, is set to call a half-day general strike for Jan 16 over the recent fuel oil price hike
Govt denies role in Rafiqul killing
Junior Home Minister Shamsul Hoque Tuku has blamed the BNP for running an �unfounded� campaign holding the government responsible for the assasination of its leader Rafiqul Islam Majumder.
Govt to nationalise primary schools
The government has decided to nationalise 26,193 non-government primary schools across Bangladesh.
Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Ameen says Sheikh Hasina will make an announcement to this effect on Wednesday from a rally of the non-government primary school teachers in Dhaka�s National Parade Square.
False case u/s 211
Though there is provision to take step against a false case under section 211 of BPC, sometimes, there is no visible effect. Hence, leaders of opposition face many false cases for being in the opposition. There are provisions to report a false case when it is deemed as false in investigation. The police officer should make a report to the magistrate about the false matter.

'Now Padma bridge work will begin'
Dhaka, Dec 17 -Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Monday stressed that the obstacles to begin Padma bridge's construction work were removed through suing seven people for their alleged

Tazreen owner's punishment suggested
Dhaka, Dec 17 - The investigation team formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended suing 10 officials of Tazreen Fashions Ltd including its owner Delwar Hossain for the fire that burned 111

'Observe shutdown for Jamaat ban'
Dhaka, Dec 17 - Communist Party of Bangladesh and Socialist Party of Bangladesh on Monday called on the non-communal people of Bangladesh to observe Tuesday's countrywide shutdown to mount pressure

'They have desire, but no courage'
Dhaka, Dec 17 - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the people to speak up against the ongoing 'conspiracy' to hinder the political process.

BNP chief's Dhaka road rally Dec 26
Dhaka, Dec 17 - After a week of countrywide road blockades and shutdowns, BNP chief Khaleda Zia is all set hit the streets of Dhaka again to push her party's demand for a non-partisan neutral caretaker government.
Identify Skype account hackers : Justice Kabir
Dhaka, Dec 17 - The new chairman of the first war crimes tribunal has asked the government to probe the identity of those urged to lift trade barriers
New Delhi, Dec 17 - Bangladesh envoy to India Tariq A Karim wants Delhi to ease restrictions to boost bilateral trade and stop treating his country "like Pakistan under fire over SI death
Dhaka, Dec 17 - The family of Narayanganj police Sub-Inspector Mohammad Shahjahan, who died on Monday four days after being severely injured in an explosion, has pointed the finger at two officers of the Port Police Station.

Strikers absent from streets

Mahmudur slams �anti-Islam campaigners�

Protesters vow to prevent Sunday shutdown

Candle of hope lit across Bangladesh The protesters converged on the heart of the capital announced a �Jagaran Samabesh�, or Uprising Rally, for Friday, to roll out the next agitation programmes to press for execution of all war criminals, including Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla

Panel screens new ICT bill Mohammad Fazle Rabbi Mia, chief of the Ministry of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, submitted a report on the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2013.

Shibir attack victim dies hibir men attacked Zafar, 36, the liftman of Agrani Bank head office in Motijheel, during Wednesday�s violence. He died in the Green Life

BSS lost Tk 125 mln Replying to a written query from reserve seat MP AN Mahfuza Khatun Baby Maudud, the minister said the government-run news agency earned a total of Tk 15 million but spent over Tk

Martial law ordinances being revived The Cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the draft for placing it in Parliament for its passage as a law. Cabinet Secretary Mohammed Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed journalists about the Cabinet decision.

Candle of hope lit across Bangladesh
The protesters converged on the heart of the capital announced a �Jagaran Samabesh�, or Uprising Rally, for Friday, to roll out the next agitation programmes to press for execution of all war criminals, including Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla

Panel screens new ICT bill
Mohammad Fazle Rabbi Mia, chief of the Ministry of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, submitted a report on the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2013.

Shibir attack victim dies
hibir men attacked Zafar, 36, the liftman of Agrani Bank head office in Motijheel, during Wednesday�s violence. He died in the Green Life

BSS lost Tk 125 mln
Replying to a written query from reserve seat MP AN Mahfuza Khatun Baby Maudud, the minister said the government-run news agency earned a total of Tk 15 million but spent over Tk

Martial law ordinances being revived
The Cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the draft for placing it in Parliament for its passage as a law.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammed Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed journalists about the Cabinet decision.