MAIN NEWS
Free footpaths of motorbikes for pedestrians: HC
The High Court on Monday asked the authorities to stop motorcycles on the city’s sidewalks to ensure free movement of the pedestrians. A bench of Justice Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md. Habibul Gani issued the directives after hearing two public interest litigation writ petitions. Full story
CNG stations closure for two more hours
The government has decided to suspend dispensation of gas in CNG filling stations by two more hours and keep shut two state-run fertiliser factories to divert more gas to power generation. Full story
Upazila chairmen’s pay to double
The government is set to double monthly remuneration of upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen ignoring objections from the finance ministry, officials told New Age on Monday. They said that a chairman would get Tk 20,500 a month up from Tk 10,500 and a vice chairman would get Tk 14,500 up from Tk 7,500, a month after the raise. Full story
Voters’ roll update could be delayed
Uncertainty looms over whether the Election Commission will be able to begin door-to-door visits on March 10 for update of the electoral roll. Failing to update the electoral rolls, the previous panel of election commissioners had left behind a roadmap for the task fixing tentatively March 10 to begin the update work. Full story
Women farmers deserve recognition: economists
Economists and academics on Monday demanded introduction of separate cards for the growing number of women farmers to recognize the contribution to the economy and ensure their rights. Full story
METRO
Farmers in Barisal protest at river channel blockage
Farmers and fishermen in a programme in the Barisal city on Monday protested at blocking a canal, a major source of livelihood for thousands of local people, in the name of fish farming. Full story
BUSINESS
Textile sector faces blow as India bans cotton export
The Indian government’s decision on Monday to ban cotton export will hit the Bangladesh textile sector hard, said local textile millers. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade of India on Monday said that export of cotton has been prohibited with immediate effect till further orders as the world’s second-largest exporter of the fibre moved to conserve supplies for local mills, reports Reuters. Full story
INTERNATIONAL
Russia, China step up Syria peace efforts
Russia and China, who twice blocked UN resolutions to condemn ally Syria, were Monday stepping efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, as the Red Cross was again denied access to a battered rebel district. Full story
SPORTS
BFF set for Blatter boost
FIFA president Joseph Blatter will arrive in Dhaka today on a short visit to announce FIFA’s assistance for Bangladesh under the new goal project. Full story
EDITORIAL
So much for ‘Digital Bangladesh’
ONE cannot escape the irony in the fact that on the same day that the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, said ‘Technology-based development would take Bangladesh to the highest peak’ while addressing... Full story
OP-ED
Hydraulic backfill with long-wall mining
EXTRACTION of the first slices of the Barapukuria coalmine is going to be completed by early 2012. Full story
TIMEOUT
DFP makes docu on Sultana Zaman
The film and publication department of the information ministry is making a documentary film on the life and works of eminent film actress Sultana Zaman. Full story
LETTERS
‘500MW solar electric power by 2013’
This provocative header of a news report was published on March 14 in a local English-language daily. It is frankly unbelievable. Full story
