Election in 3 cities: AL wins 2, BNP 1

The ruling Awami League's mayoral candidates won big in two city corporations and the BNP contender was leading in one in July 30's battle of ballots, marred by widespread electoral irregularities. The common picture of the three cities was the ruling party supporters or activists wearing badges of boat, the electoral symbol of AL, turned up in huge number and took control of the premises, entrances and even inside of the many polling stations in a gross violation of the electoral law. The returning officers announced the results around midnight. The counts show that AL's AHM Khairuzzaman Liton secured 1,65,096 votes in Rajshahi, while Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul of BNP, the immediate-past mayor, bagged 77,700. In Sylhet, the BNP was about to retain its stronghold as party candidate Ariful Haque Chowdhury was leading by a small margin, securing 90,496 votes while Badruddin Ahmed Kamran of AL got 85,870. The Barisal city dwellers will see a new face in the mayor office as Serniabat Sadik Abdullah, son of veteran AL leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah, got 1,07,353 votes and BNP's Mujibur Rahman Sarwar 13,135.

Reckless driving takes 2 young lives

During a mad race between two buses for passengers, one of the drivers slammed on the brakes near the ramp of the Airport Road flyover adjacent to the Armed Forces Medical College in Kurmitola. While some people, mostly students, were about to get on the vehicle, the second bus came and ploughed into the crowd. To the horror of passersby, two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College were killed on the spot. At least nine others were injured after being hit or run over. Immediately after the incident around 12:30pm yesterday, students of the college went on a rampage, vandalising over 100 vehicles on the busy street in the capital. This went on for the next few days with citywide shutdown by the students.

Barapukuria Power Plant: Govt may go for coal import

The government is considering importing coal to run Barapukuria coal-based power plant in Dinajpur as supply from the country's lone coal mine, Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL), has stopped. "As an alternative, we have already considered coal import," Power Division Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus told reporters at Bidyut Bhaban in the capital after introduction of a guideline for production of renewable energy. Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, said the government could import coal to increase its stock, but it was yet to decide from where it would be imported. The 525MW Barapukuria coal-based power plant suspended its production on July 22 for an indefinite period for a lack of fuel supply, a fallout of around 1.45 lakh tonnes of coal "going missing" from the coal mine yard.

HC asked to dispose Khaleda's graft appeal by Oct

The Supreme Court on July 31 extended till October 31 for the High Court to hear and dispose the appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order following two separate petitions filed by Khaleda Zia seeking review. The Appellate Division on May 16 upheld the HC order that granted four-month bail to Khaleda in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in which she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Now, the HC bench will have to finish hearing and dispose of the appeal of Khaleda by October 31 following the Supreme Court order.