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PM defends arms purchase

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday defended the purchase of military weapons worth $1 billion from Russia for strengthening the armed forces and making them capable of safeguarding the nation’s independence and sovereignty. ‘It is futile to become a king without swords and shields,’ she said in a rebuttal to critics who questioned the efficacy of arms purchase... Full story

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Govt plans authority for food safety

The government has planned an agency to deal especially with food safety in the wake of the failure of related authorities in checking widespread adulteration of food items. The food ministry has drafted a bill proposing... Full story

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No power price hike for a year

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday requested the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission not to increase power prices for a year, a commission official told New Age. Full story

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Alternative funding if WB fails to decide in Jan: PM

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday cleared her government’s stance on the World Bank’s financing of the Padma Birdge project saying the bank would have to confirm this month whether or... Full story

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All election pledges kept: PM

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, into her final year in office, on Wednesday said that she implemented all the pledges she had made before the 2008 general elections. ‘We have implemented what we committed. Full story

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Teachers reject allowance hike

Non-government school teachers and employees enlisted for monthly pay order benefits held a sit-in Wednesday in protest against the government’s decision to increase their housing and medical allowances instead of fulfilling their demand for job nationalisation. They rejected the government decision as ‘nothing but a farce’. The government on... Full story

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Suicide bomb at Shia mosque kills 42 in Iraq

A suicide bomber made his way into a crowded Shia mosque before blowing himself up in the middle of a packed funeral on Wednesday, killing 42 people and leaving corpses scattered across the floor. Full story

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HC summons physician

The High Court has asked the physician who conducted post-mortem examination on Bishwajit Das, hacked to death by Chhatra League activists during the opposition road blockade on December 9, 2012, to appear in court today. Full story

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British PM promises referendum on Europe

The prime minister, David Cameron, promised Wednesday to give British people a choice on EU membership, sparking immediate criticism from his main European partners. In a long-awaited speech in London, Cameron vowed... Full story

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US supports trial of accused of crimes against humanity in Bangladesh

The United States supports bringing to justice those who committed crimes against humanity during the War of Independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Victoria Nuland, spokesperson of the US state department said... Full story

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WCIA finds evidence of Mobarak’s war crimes

The war crimes investigation agency has found incriminating evidence of Md Mobarak Hossain’s involvement in crimes against humanity, the coordinator of the agency said on Wednesday. Full story

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Online registration for jobseekers in weeks

Online registration of housemaids willing to work in Hong Kong begins in two or three weeks under government initiative, said officials. Hong Kong would take 50,000 or more housemaids from Bangladesh, they said. Full story

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11,758 workers selected for Malaysian jobs

The ministry of expatriate welfare and overseas employment selected 11,758 workers for employment in Malaysian through computerized lottery, officials said. They said 10,000 of the workers would be sent to Malaysia in... Full story

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Mostaque barred jail killing probe: Anisul Huq

The late president Khandaker Mostaque Ahmed told a team of the then home secretary, the inspector general of police and a deputy inspector general that there was no need for an investigation of the the killing of four leaders... Full story

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Police apologizes for failing to nab culprits

The High Court on Wednesday gave the police another 48 hours to arrest Md Monir Uddin and his accomplice who had thrown acid on Eden Girls’ College student Sharmin Akhter Aakhi on January 15. Full story

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Dhaka readies for GSP hearing before USTR

Dhaka has carried out the step recommended by the United States in connection with the assassination of labour leader Aminul Islam ahead of its crucial hearing at the office of the US Trade Representative that has... Full story

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Amputated leg found at Hatirjheel

The Ramna police found a human leg at Hatirjheel in Gabtola area in city on Wednesday afternoon. Ramna police sub-inspector Thakur Das said on information they recovered the leg, which is thought to be... Full story

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Rejoinder of MTB

The Mutual Trust Bank Limited in a rejoinder to a report headlined ‘HALLMARK-SONALI SCAM: ACC finds 9 more banks involved’ run by New Age on January 15, 2013 said the report was ‘not factually correct’. Full story

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Teacher rapes minor girl

A minor school girl was raped in Khulna City on Tuesday noon. The victim is daughter of a day labourer and student of Class III at a primary school in Sonadanga area of Khulna city. Full story

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New MP takes oath

The parliament speaker, Abdul Hamid, on Wednesday administrated oath to the newly elected lawmaker, Saifuzzaman Choudhury. The speaker administrated oath to the Awami League lawmaker elected for Chittagong 12... Full story

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