Nepali probe panel trashes media report of "pilot error"

The investigation commission of Nepal castigated Kathmandu Post on August 27 hours after the newspaper ran an exclusive report that blamed the pilot of the US-Bangla plane for the crash. Citing investigation report, the newspaper claimed that pilot Abid Sultan was "mentally stressed", "sleep deprived" and "reckless". "It is a matter of disgrace to publish such sensitive matter, which is still under investigation and discussion within the commission, without validating authenticity of the news from proper authority," the Accident Investigation Commission of Nepal said in a statement. The Kathmandu Post quoting "Nepali investigators' report" said throughout the flight Capt Abid was erratic that marked a departure from his usual character, which should have immediately raised red flags.

29 quota reform activists get bail

Dhaka courts on August 20 granted bail to 41 students arrested in several cases over vandalism, attack on police and obstructing law enforcers from discharging duties during the quota reform and road safety movements. The orders came a day after 42 other students -- arrested over the road safety protest on similar charges -- secured bail. With the bail orders, all the efforts of their families to get them out of jail have paid off. It followed an advice from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Law Minister Anisul Huq. "Eid is a family celebration. So we took the issue into consideration seriously. When the bail prayers were moved, the prosecution did not oppose them. They [the students] got bail as per the law. Sheikh Hasina's government is a peoples' government," he said.

Coal import on cards to build stock

The government is going to import one lakh tonnes of coal to build a stockpile, said State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid on August 26. He told this to reporters at his Secretariat office during an exchange of greetings on the first workday after the Eid-ul-Azha. The government has taken an initiative to import coal to run Barapukuria coal-based power plant in Dinajpur as supply from the country's lone coalmine, Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL), has stopped. The 525MW Barapukuria coal-based power plant suspended production on July 22 for an indefinite period for lack of fuel supply, a fallout of around 1.45 lakh tonnes of coal "going missing" from the coalmine yard. Power supply in the country's northern region has been hampered severely as Barapukuria power plant, which depends on coal supplies from the BCMCL, was shut down.

Slump in Rawhide Price: Heavy blow to seasonal traders

Prices of rawhide of sacrificial animals crashed to a 10-year low during this Eid, dealing a heavy blow to small and seasonal traders. Stakeholders attributed the poor prices to acute fund crisis faced by rawhide merchants and traders, as tanners didn't pay them arrears before the Eid. They also mentioned non-operation of a number of tanneries at the newly established Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) as one of the major reasons. During this Eid, rawhide of a cow was sold for Tk 100-500, the lowest in the last 10 years. The price was Tk 600-800 last year, said a number of traders. Tanners have not paid arrears to rawhide merchants and small traders for the last four years on the pretext that many tanneries remained non-operational after being shifted to Savar from the capital's Hazaribagh, they pointed out.