A group of senior lawyers of the Supreme Court in a joint statement yesterday strongly protested the practice of publicising statements of arrested persons bringing them before the media.(The New Ntion )   • FULL STORY

Govt yet to launch demolition drive
Illegal structures on river banks

Despite a High Court order, the government is yet to start drive to demolish illegal structures built on the banks of three rivers in and around the capital city. On January 24, the HC asked the government to launch the demolition drive on the banks of four rivers - Buriganga, Balu, Shitalakhya and Turag - within a month.(The Independent)   • FULL STORY

Stricter control to curb cellphone crimes
Under-18 persons barred from buying SIM cards; national ID numbers mandatory to subscribe mobiles

The government yesterday introduced some fresh measures tightening the registration process of SIM (subscriber identity module) and RUIM (removable user identity module) cards, following a rise in cellphone use for criminal activities.(The Daily Star)   • FULL STORY

Prime Minister unveils big defence-purchase plan
Fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, helicopters, radar, armaments to be procured for BAF

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday unveiled her government's big defence-purchase plan for procuring soon fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missile system, helicopters, air-defence radars and armaments for Bangladesh Air Force.(UNB, Dhaka)   • FULL STORY

Niko scam case against PM
HC verdict likely today

The hearing on a petition for nullifying the Niko scam case filed during the immediate-past army-backed caretaker government against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was held at the High Court Wednesday, a day after another graft case against her involving the Mig-29 fighter-plane purchase was quashed, reports UNB.   • FULL STORY

New passport issuance rules in the offing
Current passports to be valid until MRPs are fully in place

The government is going to frame new rules for introduction of Machine Readable Passports, probably from April 1, said sources in the home affairs ministry.(Newage)   • FULL STORY

Khaleda to address public meeting in Ctg Mar 27-BNP accepts AL challenge
Proof of women repression will be disclosed in time: Dr Mosharraf

BNP has accepted the challenges of Awami League and said it has proof of women repression during the present regime and it will be disclosed in time. BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said this at a press conference after ending a meeting with party's central and Chittagong divisional leaders at Nayapaltan central office on Wednesday.(TBT Report)   • FULL STORY

Speaker wants top leaders to be exemplars of MPs’ behaviour
If the top leaders are active to this end, I strongly believe that the Parliament will be more functional and dynamic, and will run smoothly

The speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Abdul Hamid, believes that the leaders of the treasury bench and the opposition should play an effective role in maintaining order in the Parliament which was plunged into pandemonium last week due to the unruly behaviour of some lawmakers from both the government and the opposition.(Newage)   • FULL STORY

Govt to ensure 24-hr movement of Angorpota-Dahagram people: PM
Housing for all by 2015 as per poll pledge

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said her government would bring Dahagram-Angarpota enclaves under electricity connection while steps would be taken to ensure round the clock movement of inhabitants living there to the mainland, reports BSS.   • FULL STORY