CMP directives to CNG-run autos falls flat : Commuters’ misery unresolved
Roudro Moin
All initiatives taken by the Traffic Department of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) in streamlining CNG-driven auto-rickshaws plying in the city streets has apparently gone in vain as majority of the owners did not install meters in their auto-rickshaws.
More than 44 traffic sergeants are now scrutinizing the CNG-driven auto-rickshaws in different key points of the city whether they install meters or not, according to officials at Traffic Department.
5 shanties, 3 Shops gutted At Halishahar
Staff Correspondent
Five shanties and three shops including a grocery shop were mostly burnt into ashes in an inferno that broke out at Shapla R/A in city’s Halisahar area hours before dawn
Firemen said that the fire was originated from electric short circuit in a shop owned by Abul Khayer at about 2:15 a.m. and the fire soon engulfed its adjacent two shops and five shanties.
Monthlong SME Exp ends : Women possess quality of Running successful business
Staff Correspondent
Secretary of the Ministry of Food & Disaster Management, Dr. Mohammed Ayub Miah said that the organizer of 1st Women SME Expo 07 proved that the women of our country have possessed the quality to carry out trade and commerce successfully.
“This exposition is not only educative but also a unique example for all sectors, specially those who were involved in the development process” He said.
‘I am very much impressed to see their extra organizing capacity which proved that the organizer of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry is more advanced than any other women,’ he added.
Opinion-exchange meet at Rangamati : Flawless voter enlistment for ensuring people's franchise stressed
SHANTIMOY CHAKMA, Rangamati
Flawless voter registration as well as holding of a free, fair and credible election a must to establish the rights of people's franchise, good governance and rebuilding democracy in the country, said the speakers at a view-exchanging meeting yesterday.
They said the public representatives have to play more roles in the task of voter enlistment as if no one eligible voter to be excluded from the electoral roll.
City takes deserted look
Staff Correspondent
Chittagong city has gradually been turning into desert one as Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest festival of the Muslim community, will be celebrated on Friday across the country.
Several thousand migrated Chittagonians have already left the city to celebrate the Eid with their near and dear while another bulk of migrated people are expected to leave the city by this morning.
National News
Eid-ul-Azha tomorrow
Staff Correspondent
Brisk preparations are afoot to celebrate the Holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims, in the city and elsewhere in the district on Friday (Dec 21) amidst a spirit of sacrifice and with great enthusiasm.
Chittagong city corporation, District and police administration have taken up extensive preparations for celebrating the festival smoothly and peacefully.
Law enforcers have planned constant eyeing on the wrongdoers and the seasoned criminals and willgo into hard-line from today.
18 Bangladeshis die during hajj
P View desk
Eighteen Bangladeshi pilgrims have died while performing hajj at Makkah this year, a government official said Wednesday.
Of the 18, 12 had died of heart failure, one in a road accident and two due to old age complications, religious affairs secretary Md Ataur Rahman told bdnews24.com by telephone, bdnews24.com reports from Dhaka.
The cause of death of the remaining three has not yet been confirmed.
"Of the 18, four went there through the government arrangement and the remaining 14 by private agency," Ataur said.
Navy chief sarwar calls on President
P View desk
Chief of Naval Staff Vice- Admiral Sarwar Jahan Nizam called on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban Wednesday, when navy and cyclone relief matters were discussed.
The Naval Chief informed the President about relief and post-SIDR rehabilitation activities of the Navy, UNB reports from Dhaka.
He also informed the President about Navy’s regular and development activities.
Global News
Train derails in Pakistan, 56 feared dead
AP Mehrabpur
An express train crowded with holiday travelers derailed in southern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 56 people and injuring another 150, officials said.
The train was speeding from Karachi toward Lahore when about 12 of its 16 carriages came off the rails near Mehrabpur, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of Karachi.
It was unclear what caused the accident, which left hundreds of terrified passengers to claw their way out of the mangled wreckage in total darkness.
By midmorning, rescuers had brought 56 bodies to three nearby hospitals, said Mumtaz Ali, an official from the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan's largest privately run emergency service.
Col. Abbas Malik, an army doctor, said about 150 people were injured.
Senate approves $70 billion for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan
AP, Washington
The Senate on Tuesday night passed a spending bill combining funding for 14 Cabinet departments with $70 billion (euro48.56 billion) for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By a bipartisan 76-17 vote, senators approved the massive bill, which bundles 11 annual appropriations bills funding domestic agencies and the foreign aid budget for the budget year that began Oct. 1.