Noah Feldman Do corporations have a right to religious liberty? The contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act has made this abstract-sounding question into the hottest constitutional issue of the day-hotter, even, than the right to privacy from government snooping. The U.S. Supreme Court has gotten into the game by agreeing to hear a case on the issue and, in the meantime, temporarily staying the law under a range of circumstances. The stage is now set for a battle that...
Welcome news Finally the International Cricket Council has agreed that no obstacle is there to hold the Asian Cricket Cup and the World T-20 Cricket Championship in Bangladesh as per schedule since the law and order situation has much improved by this time. It is expected that all the five countries who have qualified for the finals will take part in the 50 over tournament, beginning at Fatullah near Narayanganj on February 25 with the match between defending Champions Pakistan...
NEWS reports said senior trade officials of Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to raise the two-way trade between the two countries to US$500 million annually at the just-concluded Joint Trade Commission meeting from $100 million now. The delegates at the meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw city of Myanmar on January 14 and 15 also agreed to enhance bilateral trade and investment between the two countries at a time when there is a greater need for a turn around in...
EXPERTS’ findings showed that the groundwater level in the city is falling at a rate of 9.21 feet per year creating new threat to the continued supply of drinking water to city dwellers who depend on WASA’s underground supply lines. Unnayan Onneshan – a private think tank has come out with the alarming finding based on a study and blamed the indiscriminate use of groundwater and a lack of recharging measures for underground aquifers as the reasons for the steady...
Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman :We are overwhelmingly shocked to have observed the violent incidents that have been taking place one after another across the country. Recent violent attacks on vulnerable classes in different districts in the wake of general election on January 5, 2014 have obviously stunned the whole nation. Perpetrators believed to be belonging to different political agents and vested interest groups, organized the attack on the religious dissenting class torching households, temples, vandalizing properties and looting valuables, in some...
Kathleen Parker :As we evaluate the efficacy of the War on Poverty, a single, unquantifiable factor stubbornly demands attention: luck.When it comes to the fortunes of the rich and the misfortunes of the poor, we recognize the role that luck plays. Some are born lucky – either through natural gifts of appearance, athleticism, intelligence or musical talent. The really lucky ones are also born into stable, educated families with financial security and grown-up parents.Then there are the unlucky, who, whatever...
David Grobgeld :A new report from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service claims that 46 percent of Sweden’s inmates are mentally ill, that 70 percent have severe drug problems and that these problems mostly have their origins in early life. As elsewhere, Sweden’s prison population is made up of the most disenfranchised, poorest and most vulnerable elements of society. Sweden’s leading criminologist, Jerzy Sarnecki, notes this and argues that house arrest with an ankle monitor should be used in the...
Hats off to Ronaldo We congratulate Portuguese star Ronaldo for his winning the ‘footballer of the year’ award walking past Argentine Lionel Messi, French star Riberi, Sweden’s Ibrahimovech and Brazilian Neymar. Thus, Christiano Ronaldo ended the four-year dominance of Lionel Messi when he was awarded the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday. There is no doubt that it is good news for Portugal, which struggled to reach the final round of World Cup Football 2014 beginning from June...
Mohammad Simon Rahman :In most cases, despite having the knowledge of a potential disaster, we fail to realise the importance of adopting the necessary risk reduction measures and do the needful to ensure a coordinated preparedness mechanism. Some construction workers under Sylhet City Corporation have set an exception as they have taken up the challenge to build their city as an earthquake resilient metropolis. A group of trained construction workers have formed a platform namely Sylhet Mason Forum which basically...
Barrister Nazir Ahmed :The whole nation was stunned, thundered and surprised having seen the accumulation of mountainous income and wealth of ruling party’s Members of Parliament (MPs), State Ministers and Ministers. The information that came in the media was, in fact, collected from their own declared information submitted (through affidavit) to the Election Commission with their nomination papers prior to the election of 5th January 2014. These were their declared income and wealth! Media has added nothing. They themselves and...
LEAVING the controversy about the January 5 parliamentary election unresolved, the Election Commission (EC) has taken the new move to hold elections for upazila parishads soon. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rokibuddin Ahmed said, as a news item in the national dailies reported, that the elections will start across the country from February 18 to end in two phases by March 25. He said the EC has discussed the preparatory issues with officials of different ministries on Saturday and...
CHEMICAL industries still operate in the densely populated old part of the city despite the tragic fire at Nimtali three years ago which had originated from inflammable chemicals and burnt 124 persons to death, in addition to destroying other homes and businesses. The tragic incident in June 2010 caused a furor among the old city dwellers who demanded the removal of the chemical factories and warehouses at many buildings housed at Nawab Katara, Bangshal, Siddique Bazar, Babu Bazar, Islambagh and...