Politics
BNP’s procession Saturday seeking Khaleda’s release
As part of the party’s countrywide demonstration programme, BNP will take out a procession in the capital on Saturday demanding its Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from jail.
Fakhrul slams govt for ‘repressive acts’
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the ‘repressive acts by the government have defeated that of Pakistani occupation forces’.
Manna calls for one-point movement to oust government
Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Tuesday urged all political parties to wage a one-point movement to oust the incumbent government.
7,000 head teacher’s posts vacant in govt pry schools: Jr Minister
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Tuesday told Parliament that more than 7,000 posts of head teachers are vacant in government primary schools across the country.
BRTC’s 49pc share to be offloaded in capital market; bill passed
The ‘Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation Bill, 2020’ was passed in Parliament on Tuesday, paving the way for offloading 49 percent share of the corporation in the capital market.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader moved the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote.
According to the proposed law, the government will own 51 percent shares while 49 percent will be offloaded for the public.
The bill was placed to update an ordinance promulgated in 1961 keeping a provision to offload the shares of BRTC in the capital market.
The authorised capital of the BRTC will be Tk 1,000 crore which will be divided into 100 crore general shares with Tk 10 base price. The authorised capital of the corporation under the existing law is only Tk 6 crore.
The paid-up capital of the corporation is Tk 3 crore in the existing law. Its amount has not been fixed in the proposed law as the BRTC annual general meeting or special general meeting will fix the amount of the paid-up capital but it cannot exceed the amount of the authorised capital.
There will be a 23-member board of directors instead of the existing 11-member one. These directors will come from Local Government Division, Cabinet Division, Finance Division, Road Transport and Highways Division, Public Security Division, Shipping Ministry, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, Roads and Highways Department, representatives from the shareholders and one member from every administrative division.
If the amount of shares of the public is from 20 percent to 34 percent of the paid-up capital, then there will be one director from the shareholders while the number will be two if the share of the public is from 34 percent to 49 percent.
The board of directors will at least hold four meetings in a year.
In the bill, a new provision has been incorporated among the functions of the BRTC that it will render transport services during emergency situation like hartal (strike), blockade, transport strike, emergency condition, national disaster, Biswa Ijtema, freedom fighters’ rally and in the case of emergency need of the state.
The corporation can form one and more companies taking prior permission from the government.
All senior citizens to receive old-age allowance by 2025: Minister
The government has a plan to bring the country’s all senior citizens under old-age allowance in phases by 2025, Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed told Parliament on Tuesday.
BNP policymakers undecided over joining by-polls to 3 JS seats
BNP policymakers on Monday sat in a meeting to decide the party’s participation in the upcoming by-polls to three parliamentary seats in Dhaka, Bagerhat and Gaibandha, but could not finalise it.
BNP accuses finance minister of ‘shattering’ economy
BNP on Monday alleged that Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has ruined the country’s economy by creating a scope for ruling party leaders to indulge in ‘widespread plundering of public money’.
Winning Under-19 Cricket Team ‘great gift’ for nation: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday described the clinching of the ICC Under-19 World Cup trophy by Bangladesh Under-19 Cricket Team as the ‘great gift’ for the nation in the Mujib Borsho (Mujib Year).
BNP briefs diplomats about Dhaka city vote ‘frauds’
BNP on Sunday briefed some foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka about what it said vote ‘fraud s’ and various ‘irregularities’ committed by the ruling Awami League in the recently-held elections to Dhaka south and north city corporations.