Markable

National cricket all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been banned for six months from all kinds of cricket activities.     Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan Papon made this announcement after a meeting, in this regard, on Monday afternoon.     Besides, BCB President also declared that Shakib will not be granted an NOC (No Objection Certificate) to play in overseas competitions including Indian Premier League (IPL) until the end of 2015.     “This punishment is not for a single allegation against Shakib,” BCB President Nazmul Hasan said. “This punishment is the result of a series of controversial incidents of the all-rounder. He (Shakib) was casting a negative impact on the team.  The board president also said that the country’s ace all-rounder doesn’t obey team’s code of conducts even he does not care coach or captain’s directions.    Terming the decision hard and unfortunate, Nazmul, however, also said if Shakib continue doing like that, he would be banned for life.  No contacted national cricketer of BCB can appear on any commercial activities like advertisement without permission hereafter, Nazmul Hasan also said.  Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan appeared before the board of directors of BCB, this noon.     The meeting was held in presence of Shakib to decide the course of action against him for violation of code of conduct of the BCB began at 1.00pm at BCB’s Mirpur headquarters.     On July 3, BCB had asked Shakib to return to the country immediately while he was on his way to Barbados to participate in the CPL that will run from July 11 to August 16.     BCB asked Shakib to return home as he went to play CPL without taking NOC from the board.

A total of 91.34% of students have passed in this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations. Some 142, 276 examinees have got GPA-5. A total of 1,303,331 out of 1,432,727 have passed the exams. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has formally handed over a copy of the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 10am. However, Nahid will formally announce the results through a press briefing at the secretariat around 1pm. After the announcement, students will be able to collect their results from their respected schools. Results will also be available through mobile operators’ short messaging service (SMS) and at the www.educationboardresults.gov.bd website. This year, a total of 1,432,727 students, 733,202 male and 699,525 female, appeared in the SSC examinations at 2,942 centres across the country.

The BNP leader said there was no reason for expressing joy over BJP’s victory

The BNP is not happy over the landslide victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Indian election and claims that arch-rival Awami League is also nervous.
“The people of Bangladesh are not joyous about the Indian election results,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a discussion at the National Press Club yesterday.

“The Awami League has become nervous seeing the result and is making different comments. If you are not nervous then why are you talking so much?” he said.

Fakhrul said: “Ministers of the government have been saying people of Bangladesh and the BNP are happy over BJP’s victory in the Lok Sabha election in India. Where did they see such joy?”

The BNP leader said there was no reason for expressing joy over BJP’s victory.

“Bangladesh is not only a victim to deprivation of water [in its cross-boundary rivers] but also to a multiphase expansionism – from cultural to political expansionism. And alleging India will not bring any benefit because it is working for its own interests.

“India is an independent country and is our neighbour. We expect friendly behaviour from it. It held an election in a democratic manner. We hope that the new government of India will realise the expectations of the people of Bangladesh and take initiatives to resolve outstanding problems.”

On Saturday, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said those who became joyous about the victory of the BJP were simply unintelligent.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had first congratulated Narendra Modi even before vote counting had ended, Ashraf said.

Fakhrul yesterday alleged that because of the Bangladesh government’s subservient policy, it had failed to resolve the water-sharing problems with India and even protest border killings.

Blaming the government for killing and abduction, Fakhrul said: “People raised their voices after the Narayanganj killings. Such incidents took place not only in Narayanganj but across the country in the last three years. The government has used RAB to eradicate the opposition forces from the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today laid importance on a broadcasting policy to check transmission of dirty programmes detrimental to society. As well, she underlined the importance of a policy for newspapers and online media which will embody their sense of responsibility toward society, family and country. The Prime Minister was addressing the officials of the Ministry of Information during a visit to the ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here today. Sheikh Hasina said every country has a broadcasting policy. “We also need a policy for electronic media, television and radio so that none can broadcast anything dirty and harmful to society.”

About the policy on newspapers, she said, “We don’t want to control the press. We expect that the press will be an auxiliary force of society, family and country.” “The press must have liberty, but, side by side good sense should prevail on everybody for the sake of society while disseminating news and views,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the online media is open and flourishing fast. But we should be careful about using the media for the real benefit of society. So, there should be measures to protect the society, children and youths from its assault, she said. Information Minister Hasanul Hoq Inu also spoke on the occasion. PM’s Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, PMO Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, senior officials of the ministry and chiefs of different departments under the ministry were present.

The Prime Minister said her government believes in free flow of information and has taken pragmatic steps to ensure free flow of information and freedom of thoughts and expressions. In spite of that, she said, “We, as an incumbent party, are always criticized by a section of people. However, these criticisms helped us correct ourselves, as we can judge what is right and what is wrong, she said. Sheikh Hasina said her government believes in transparency and accountability. It’s crucial for establishing the good governance. The government is very much conscious about this, she said. The Prime Minister said her government always tried to bring change in the traditional activities of the Ministry of Information concentrated in fixed areas.

Terming the present time as an age of science, technology and digitalization, she said the country and the government will have to proceed keeping pace with the time. The Information Ministry can play a big role in this regard, she said. Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had initiated measures for making the Information Ministry befitting to an independent country.

But, after the killing of Bangabandhu, the media was used as a tool of propaganda of the military dictators. The illegal power grabbers never allowed the media to work freely but used it as a machine to cling to power by spreading falsehood and misguiding people, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said so after taking office in 1996 her government opened up the electronic media for private sector though it was a very difficult task at that time.

In this regard, she pointed out the popular demand and subsequent decision of the government to give autonomy to the state run television, saying, finally it could not be possible as government officials opposed the move in fear of losing their jobs.

“Instead, we opened up the television for private sector with an objective to flourish the sector,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the private television channels now became a big area of employment, where thousands of youths, poets, artistes, writers, litterateurs, journalists, technicians and engineers have found their jobs.

Television broadcasting have undergone a revolutionary change after privatization of the television channel, she said, adding, a total of 31 television channels are now in broadcast.

In this regard, the Prime Minister mentioned the introduction of a dedicated channel for the parliament and said the next BNP government closed the transmission.

After coming to power in 2009, she said, the Awami League led government gave permission for a dedicated channel for Jatiya Sangsad following the example of other democratic countries.

The live transmission of parliament proceedings in the Sangsad television not only helped the people to directly hear the speeches of their elected representatives, but also contributed largely to correct the behaviour of some unruly members in the House, she said. “Throwing and destroying files and documents, destruction of chairs, tables and microphones and speaking in abusive language, rebuking the Speaker in filthy language in the parliament were largely controlled because of live transmission of the parliament proceedings,” she said.Sheikh Hasina said many people enjoy the Sangsad television and its contributing to flourish democracy and infuse democratic spirit into people.Stressing the need for producing good television programmes, she said, the programmes should be enjoyable to everybody in a family. We have to be careful so that no programme or information can cause any harm to society or individuals.

The Prime Minister said about 826 newspapers are now publishing in the country including 357 from Dhaka, in addition to many weeklies, monthly and periodicals.She lamented that many newspapers, when they have no sensitive news, manufacture and publish many sugarcoated news lacking authentic source or information and truth at all. It is also creating troubles in society, she said.

Sheikh Hasina urged for giving importance to radio as this media has many audience across the country.

She also underlined the importance of making films enjoyable to common people based on truth and highlighting our nations history, culture, heritage, valor and dedication.

She also laid importance on digitalization of the cinema halls outside Dhaka to facilitate people enjoying films as one of sources of limited recreation for rural people.

Pointing out the completed and ongoing projects under the ministry of information, she said, the PIB Bhaban has already been completed while steps were taken for construction of BSS building.

She said a trust fund has been constituted for journalists for their welfare and the act in this regard is now under process. She said the government has undertaken a plan for allocation of flats among the poets, journalists, artistes, writers, litterateurs and professionals on higher purchase basis.

Laying importance on making more films and programmes based on history of independence, she said we have to take steps to project our sacrifice and allow the next generations one after another to know the history.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was born under the leadership of Bangabandhu after a long struggle of 24 years to stand with a dignified position in the world comity, making it free from poverty and hunger.

“The Father of the Nation has given us that dream andideology. It’s our responsibility to materialize his dream,” shesaid adding our only goal is to reach the benefit of the independence to every house.