special
Blind man wants to ‘see politics’
Dhaka, Nov 20 (UNB) – With a dream to be a voice for the disabled community in Parliament, a blind man has collected a nomination paper of Jatiya Party to contest the 11th national election slated for December 30.
BNP gets into full election mood, asks aspirants to work together
Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNB) – The BNP nomination board on Monday gave strong messages to its nomination seekers to stay united and refrain from intra-party conflicts and violence as the party wants to return to power through a credible and peaceful general election.
Festivity in the air as Rash Mela at Dublar Char nears
Khulna, Nov 19 (UNB) – Alor Kole at Dublar Char in the Sundarbans has taken a festive look with the presence of huge devotees and visitors as Rash Mela, a 3-day traditional festival of the Hindu community, is set to begin on Wednesday.
Forest Department has taken all the necessary preparations for the smooth movement of devotees while law enforcers are patrolling the area for ensuring their security, said Abu Saleh, an assistant conservator of Khulna Range.
Every year, Hindu devotees flock to Dublar Char for taking holy bath with the sunrise, aiming to have their desires fulfilled. The people of other religions also gather there to enjoy the festivity.
Dublar Char, a remote char area, gets abuzz with the presence of hundreds of boats, trawlers and launches as devotees and other visitors hire those to reach the spot. Nature-lovers also enjoy the beauty of the Sundarbans through their boat journeys during the period.
Local traders also throng here with daily essentials, fruits and sweets. Cultural programmes are also arranged on the occasion.
Bashirul Al-Mamun, an official of Sundarbans West zone Forest Department, said several mobile teams have been formed to conduct drives and maintain law and order during the festival.
The visitors are required to take permission from the authorities concerned to visit the area and pay a specific amount of fee.
The Forest Department has fixed eight routes for entering Dublar Char like the previous years.
BNP to ‘set aside 70 seats for partners’ as election bell rings
Dhaka, Nob 19 (UNB) – Keeping aside 70 seats for its two alliance partners, BNP is going to finalise its candidates for 230 seats through a four-day interview of its nomination seekers that began on Sunday.
AL set to unveil a pro-youth election manifesto
Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNB) – An Awami League sub-committee on its election manifesto, headed by its Presidium member Abdur Razzaque, will finalise its draft manifesto by Thursday, encompassing issues relating to economic growth and human resource development as its plans to return to power for the third consecutive time.
Tax Fair venue turns festive with weekend crowds
Dhaka, Nov 16 (UNB) - The Income Tax Fair wore a festive look on Friday as hundreds of taxpayers rushed to its venue here to avail themselves of various tax-related services under one roof without any hassle on the first day of the weekly holiday.
Today was the fourth day of the week-long fair as it kicked off on November 13 with Finance Minister AMA Muhith formally inaugurating it.
The enthusiastic taxpayers started gathering on the Officer's Club premises well before 9am where the fair is taking place.
Taxpayers were seen standing in a long queue from 8:30m in front of the fair entrance.
When asked, Abul Kalam Miah, a freedom fighter, said he feels comfortable to submit his tax return during the fair as there is a dedicated booth for freedom fighters. "I’ve been taking this opportunity for the last eight years and this is a very good gesture of the NBR (National Board of Revenue) towards us," he said.
Yasmin Farida Bhuiyan, in her mid-60s, said as the fair has a separate booth for the female taxpayers and the senior citizens of the country it is better for anyone to submit their income tax return or anything related to the tax to finish here.
Syed Hasan Nasir, who lives in Mohammadpur area of the city, said he avails of the opportunity to submit his tax return at the fair as he always finds solution to any problem under the single roof. "This is the best place to submit your tax return or find any tax-related problem solved," he said.
Although the number of taxpayers in the early hours of the working time at the fair venue was thin, it started jumping after 10:30am.
Abu Delowar Hossain, who came from Agargaon, emphasised the importance of bringing back the fair to its own building at Agargaon. "It’s a matter of pride as the NBR holds the fair in its own building."
The volunteers were seen proactive in maintaining the queue as some taxpayers were reluctant about maintaining discipline. "Everybody hurries to have their works done once they enter the venue, but all need to maintain the queue," a worried volunteer said.
Faridpur quilt makers get busy as winter nears
Faridpur, Oct 30 (UNB) –Quilt makers in the district are now passing busy time as its demand rises with the advent of winter.
National grid receives solar energy from shrimp enclosure for first time
Bagerhat, Nov 15 (UNB) – Solar energy, generated at a Shrimp Research Institute (SRI) in Bagerhat, is being added to the national grid for the first time in the country’s history.
Preparations afoot to repatriate 150 Rohingyas Thursday
Dhaka, Nov 13 (UNB) - Bangladesh is taking all the preparations in coordination with Myanmar to begin the first batch of Rohingya repatriation on Thursday though the ultimate success depends on "voluntariness" of their decision to return, says a senior official.
Mobile app 'VAT East' launched to ease taxpayers’ hassle
Dhaka, Nov 13 (UNB) - Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate (Dhaka East) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has introduced a mobile application called 'VAT East' to simplify VAT services for taxpayers.