Rape followed by burning
A 16-year old girl, Rozina, was raped by a man she called grandfather, Majid Talukdar, who set fire to her when she threatened to expose him publicly. Her neighbours rescued her but up to 30% of her lower body was severely burned. After a 2-month struggle to save her she died […]
Probe report says launch unfit
The probe committee formed to look into the launch disaster of Feb. 28 in which 46 people drowned found that the capacity was only for 67 people but it had 150 seats. Their report was published on Mar. 6. They found that the surveyor had given a certificate to the launch […]
Jewellers in on BRAC theft?
Up to Mar. 5 the Detective Branch recovered over 550 tolas of gold jewellery, 5 diamonds and 100 tolas of silver jewellery and arrested three masterminds of the BRAC Bank heist of early January. Jewellery shop owner Halim had bought 172 tolas of the gold from the burglars for 15 lakh […]
Death in police custody
A young man, Abul Hossain (25), was found dead in police custody in Batiaghata P.S. the evening of Mar. 8. He had been picked up with Phensidyl on a Khulna-bound bus and committed suicide in a toilet room by hanging himself on an iron window bar, police claimed. His cousin in […]
Supreme Court revokes bail
A full bench of the Supreme Court upheld the Anti-Corruption Commission’s appeal against the High Court order giving bail to the convicted prisoners, Sigma Huda and Mir Helalludin. It cancelled the HC orders, ruling that appeal courts have no jurisdiction to grant bail to those convicted by special graft courts under the […]
Saving RMGs by efficient production
Within the last few years production costs in the apparels sector have increased 35% due to minimum wage law implementation and a sharp increase in the cost of raw materials. At the same time, buyers are pressing for price reductions and new producers are entering the world market. Up to now […]
New Ctg arms case probe
A Chittagong Session Judge’s Court asked the CID to appoint a professional, efficient and honest investigative officer to do a further investigation into the sensational arms haul case of Apr. 2, 2004 and submit their report by May 5, the date of the next hearing. Ten truckloads of arms and ammunition […]
Hatirjhil structures destroyed
Rajuk workers in the presence of a magistrate and police on Mar. 5 demolished about 50 illegally built tin sheds and concrete structures on Hatirjhil Canal near Hotel Sonargaon. They had served notices and announced the eviction drive with loudspeakers a day in advance. Some complained that no alternative shelter was arranged for […]
Tortured man files case
A BCL (Chhatra League) leader of Dhaka University, Md. Abu Abbas Bhuiyan, filed a case on Mar. 5 against former state minister of home affairs, Lutfozzaman Babar, and four policemen, including a OC, for torture in custody. After Prof. Humayun Azad was attacked on Feb. 27, 2004 in front of the Bangla […]
Huge business in disc pirating
An international body represent-
ing the music recording industry has charged Bangladesh with “total neglect of enforcement of laws against audio piracy.” The rate is now 85% for domestic, 90% for regional (Indian) and 100% for international piracy.
In 2008 there are six CD/DVD pirating plants in operation, all in Dhaka. Each […]