|
Local News
Saturday, October 19,
2002
Head Lines
|
News Brief, Summary of
more than 20 leading Bangla & English Dailies, Source : News Garden |
Saturday, October 19,
2002
National
Two ruling party men picked up by
army soldiers during a massive anti-crime drive have died in Dhaka while
being interrogated, reports BBC.
Army yesterday recovered arms and ammunition from the residence of
former Awami League lawmaker Mockbul Hossain at Mohammadpur in the city.
Khulna district and city Awami League have jointly called a half-day
hartal in the city today to protest arrests of former Whip Mostafa
Rashid Shuja and other party activists by army personnel in a pre-dawn
swoop on Thursday.
Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday blamed the government for
what she said repressoin on opposition leaders and workers by calling
out army after failing to run the country.
Main opposition Awami League holds a public meeting at Paltan Maidan in
the city today denouncing "failure and inefficiency" of the
government in running the state and to protest deterioration of law and
order, price-hike of essentials, politicisation and nepotism.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Minister for Law and Justice and parliamentary
Affairs disclosed yesterday that tribunals for speedy trial would
be set up in 19 former districts headquarters. They will be separate
from the Judges courts. He also said the women-specially old and
children-who are jail for one to ten years without trial would be
released.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will finance
construction of construct 1098 portable steel bridges in Bangladesh. The
construction of these 58715-metre bridges, which will start from
2003-2004, would cost Tk 2286 crore.
Government has released Taka 50 crore as special allocation to the
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to carry out development activities in the
current fiscal through the Ministry of CHT Affairs, officials said.
Rain came down on many parts of the country yesterday in seasonal
transition to northeastern monsoon. Meteorologists said light to
moderate rain, which may continue for a day or two, will have a
beneficial effect on crops.
Top of the page
Neighbours
The federal government has assumed direct rule over India's portion of
Kashmir after state lawmakers failed to agree on a coalition following
inconclusive elections.
Pakistan's president denies American reports that his country supplied
equipment for North Korea's nuclear programme.
Pakistan's multi-party opposition alliance rejected Friday any deal to
form government with parties supporting President Pervez Musharraf,
reports AFP from Islamabad.
Benazir Bhutto has summoned top Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders to
Dubai for talks amid growing doubt at their chances of sitting in
government, party officials said.
India's right-wing Hindu leader, Bal Thackeray, who is being
investigated over calls for Hindus to form suicide squads, has insisted
his remarks were not aimed against Muslims, only against terrorists.
Police in the western Indian city of Bombay are investigating claims of
inciting hatred against Mr Thackeray, who heads the far-right Hindu
political party, the Shiv Sena.
An angry Hindu mob has set fire to shops in a village in the Indian
state of Gujarat. The incident took place 300 kilometres from the
state's commercial capital Ahmedabad in the district of Kutch
Top
of the page
International
A U.S. official said U.S.-China talks
about North Korea's nuclear program were "very useful and
productive" Friday, but refused to comment on a report that
Pakistan gave the Communist nation equipment
needed to rearm its nuclear arsenal.
A bomb exploded on a city bus packed with passengers Friday night on the
northern outskirts of the capital, killing two people including the
bomber and wounding at least 20 others -- the second attack in two days
in the Philippines. It was not immediately clear what caused the
explosion, which took place shortly after 10 p.m.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made it clear yesterday that
Britain and the United States would be prepared to take military action
against Iraq, even without a new UN resolution, if President Saddam
Hussein refuses to allow arms inspections.
Top
of the page
Sports
Bangladesh will face powerful Saudi
Arabia in their second Group B match of the AFC Under-20 Championship in
Doha, Qatar today. The game kicks off at 10:30 pm Bangladesh time.
Bangladesh are virtually out of contention having lost to India 6-0 on
Wednesday. They face Japan in their last match on October 22.
The West Indies rallied with some determined bowling to remain in
contention in the second cricket test after Indian opener Virender
Sehwag blazed a half-century earlier on the second day. Bundled out for
167 in its first innings, the West Indies bounced back to reduce India
to 190
for five after overnight showers
washed out the morning session.
Top
of the page
|
