Moments in history!
January 4, 2009
IN my world, life is simpler. My demands are less and so are my expectations. If I can put rice and some lentil before my family everyday, I will say I am thriving. But this year, this simple act was not simple enough.” Aroj Ali, a rickshawpuller in his mid forties shared his thoughts on the year that was, while manoeuvring through the empty streets at the dead of the night.
Documentary: Muktijuddher Itihash launches
December 31, 2008
CD and DVD of a documentary featuring history of the Liberation War titled ‘Muktijuddher Itihash’ has been launched at a function at a city hotel recently. Eminent educationist Prof Mustafa Nurul Islam, politician Dr Kamal Hossain, economist Dr Atiur Rahman, drama activist Prof Momtaz Uddin Ahmed, Trustee of the Liberation War Museum Dr Sarwar Ali, editor of daily Jugantor Golam Sarwar,
US, UK tried to block Bangladesh creation
November 25, 2008
The US and UK tried to persuade a top advocate of Bangladesh to help roll back the country’s liberation struggle in 1971, citing future threats from “Hindu majority India”, says a book by a former Indian diplomat. Reports Times of Idia. But Justice Abu Sayeed Choudhury, who was based in London, not only rejected the Western interventions but personally conveyed the secret American move to then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
BSTI takes project to set up modern lab in Chittagong
November 23, 2008
The regional office of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution here has taken up a Tk 100 crore project to install a modern laboratory to test standards of products. BSTI sources said at the regional office, they can test only 49 out of 152 products under their supervision due to lack of equipment. They were being compelled to send the rests of items to Dhaka for testing standards.
HC dismisses writ challenging permission as “US forces did not use BD sky”
November 18, 2008
The High Court on Monday discharged its rules rejecting a petition challenging decision of the then government permitting US armed forces to use sky of Bangladesh during its attack on Afghanistan. A Division Bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Abu Tarique passed the order following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) writ.
BD ranks 10th in CPI report ’08
September 24, 2008
Bangladesh ranked 10th position from below in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report 2008 out of 180 countries in the world, Transparency International (TI) in its global report on Tuesday said.
Earlier in 2007, Bangladesh had ranked seventh position, in 2006, third and between the year of 2001 and 2005, it was branded as the top listed corrupt country in the world.
The Berlin-based international anti-corruption organization TI yesterday disclosed the CPI 2008 simultaneously from Dhaka, London and Berlin. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) released the report at a press conference held at National Press Club. TIB Trustee Board Chairman Muzaffer Ahmed briefed the newsmen while its Executive Director Iftekaruzzaman presented the CPI report.
After launching the report TIB Chief Muzaffer Ahmed said there is no sign of significant improvement in reducing corruption in Bangladesh as its parliament remains ineffective, executive is still controlling judiciary, administrative level is untouched by the Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies and the members of civil society are not playing active role in this respect.
“If 0.1 per cent corruption is reduced, 0.5 per cent investment will be increased. We are calling upon the next elected democratic government to continue the anti-corruption drive,” Muzaffer said.
However, expressing grave concern he said if the trend of corruption in Bangladesh continues or remain unchanged, the corruption will engulf everything widely.
Although Bangladesh has moved 3 steps up from last year’s 7th to the 10th position, its score has remained nearly same, with an insignificant increase of only 0.1, the report said. Included in this year’s index were data collected until the end of July 2008, which means that CPI 2008 has been influenced by expectations for positive change under a Government that made high profile commitment to fight corruption.
The report further said the subsequent doubt about transparency and outcome of the anti-corruption drive, especially apparent failure to maintain the integrity of the legal process have contributed to the increase in score of corruption.
Our neighbouring India ranked 22th position from below in CPI report, Pakistan 14th, Nepal 16th Sri Lanka 21th, Bhutan 36th and Maldives 17th.
The results show that Bangladesh has scored 2.1 points in a scale of 0-10, and has continued to be ranked low - 10th from below, which is 147th among 180 countries included in the index this year. In the same position with the same score are 3 other countries - Kenya, Russia and Syria.
Like last year Somalia has remained at the bottom of the list implying that corruption in that country is perceived to be highest, followed by Myanmar and Iraq in the 2nd position while Haiti is in the 3rd position. Afghanistan is in the 4th position.
On the other hand, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden have been ranked at the top, each scoring 9.3, meaning that in these countries corruption is perceived to be lowest, closely followed by Singapore with 9.2, the only Asian country that has consistently been in the league of top 1 0. The only other Asian country to be among the top 20 countries is Hong Kong ranked at number 1 2 performing better than such highly developed countries as Germany, Norway UK, Japan and USA.
Source: The Bangladesh Today