Dhaka, 3 March : Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus challenged the legality on Thursday of a Bangladeshi government order dismissing him as the head of the microfinance bank he founded.Nine members of Grameen Bank’s board of directors backed Dr Yunus, an outspoken government critic, by filing a separate petition to the High Court, his lawyer Sara Hossain said. The court was to hold a hearing on both petitions later Thursday.
Bangladesh’s central bank ordered Dr Yunus out of the bank on Wednesday, arguing that the 70-year-old had violated a law that makes retirement at age 60 mandatory. Grameen said it was exempt from the rule and Mr. Yunus would remain in his post.
The government owns a 25% stake in the bank, which gives small loans to the poor. The remainder of the bank is owned by its borrowers.
The demand for Dr Yunus’ removal as Grameen’s managing director caps a string of problems, including an apparently politically motivated defamation trial and accusations of an unauthorised bank transfer 15 years ago.
The move to oust Md Yunus from Grameen has sparked criticism from many US backed foreign donors. (With AP inputs) န Photo : Reuters
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Govt finance to construct Railway line between WB, TripuraUNI, New Delhi, 3 March : In order to facilitate rail connectivity between West Bengal and Tripura via Bangladesh, India Government is financing the construction of a railway line on the missing link between Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala, Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa said today.
Muniyappa said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the time frame for the implementation of the project is dependent on acceptance of the proposed alignment by Bangladesh authorities and availability of land required for the project.
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Rahal urges Malaysia to help Bangladesh's health sectorUNB, Dhaka, 3 March : Bangladesh Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque on Thursday urged Malaysia to extend its all-out support to Bangladesh to help develop the country’s health sector.
“Malaysia is very friendly and helpful country of Bangladesh. Exchanging ideas and knowledge in medical sector, Malaysia can help us,” he said at the inaugural session of a two-day exhibition in the capital in the morning. The Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia arranged the program titled ‘Malaysia Healthcare Seminar and Exhibition Dhaka 2011’ at Sheraton Hotel.
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List of rebel camps handed over to BDR: BSF DG SrivastavAgartala, 3 March : The BSF has given Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) a list of camps of Indian rebel groups in the neighbouring country and will discuss about the issue of presence of insurgents leaders of the northeast there, Director General of the force Raman Srivastav said today.
"We have given them the list of Indian insurgents camps including the banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) in Bangladesh and the names of insurgent leaders who are still using the soil of the country. They (BDR) are working on it," Srivastav told reporters here.
"They (BDR) also have given lists of some elements who are using Indian soil. We will discuss the matters in the DG level meeting in Delhi which will be begin on 8 March.
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"Work unitedly to free Bangladesh from stigma of illiteracy"UNB, Dhaka, 3 March : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the people to work unitedly to free the nation from the stigma of illiteracy and poverty.
She also said that conspiracy by the anti-liberation forces is still on to foil the nation’s endeavor towards development and prosperity.
“But I am sure, the conspirators will be failed and the patriotic people will win like 1971 liberation war,” she said while addressing a seminar marking the historic 7 March Speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust arranged the seminar titled “ Time-winning Speech of 7 March is an endless inspiration for the nation,” held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the morning. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the president of the trust chaired the seminar.
She said even after 40 years of independence, Bangladesh still could not attain cent percent literacy rate and eradicate poverty. “If we can march forward taking lessons from the 7 March speech, we can attain our cherished goals,” she said.
Hasina said she is ready to make any sacrifice to attain economic emancipation of the nation. The Prime Minister was highly critical of the previous governments for “distorting” true history of the liberation war.
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Tripura Government asks 28 per cent hike in annual planAgartala, 3 March : Tripura government has asked for a hike of 28% in plan allocation for 2011-12 to manage the strain financial condition of the state in current fiscal.
Official sources here today said the state government has already send the demand to the Planning Commission and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's meeting with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia was rescheduled and would now be held at the end of this month. The meeting was scheduled tomorrow but because of budget session of the state assembly, it was cancelled off and the next date has not yet been finalised,'' officials said.
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