Confusion over supplying free primary textbooks has risen as a paper suppliers requested for more time.

Ratan Kumar Siddiquee, who is on special duty to supervise textbook publication, told bdnews24.com that 'Nipun Enterprise' was ordered to supply 997 tonnes paper within Nov 20.

The firm informed NCTB on Nov 24 that it will not be able to supply the required amount.

Revenue collection in the first four month of the current fiscal (2009-2010) was up by 25.74 percent, in comparison to last year.

Moreover, 109.26 percent of the revenue target was achieved.

The figures were revealed in a National Board of Revenue (NBR) press conference, by NBR chairman Nasiruddin Ahmed on Monday.

Home state minister Shamsul Haque Tuku has held opposition chief Khaleda Zia responsible for the mass-arrests around the country.

He said this on Monday following a meeting on Bishwa Ijtema Law and Order at the ministry.

Tuku alleged that Khaleda put to risk the lives of 'fresh' Juba Dal activists by calling the strike. He also said that the act was not worthy of a politician, adding that those who called the strike want to create anarchy and soil democracy.

The Appellate Division has rejected the leave to appeal petition filed by opposition leader Khaleda Zia to challenge an High Court rule that declared illegal the lease of the Dhaka cantonment residence on Shaheed Mainul Road and asked her to vacate the premises.

A regular bench of the Appellate Division headed by chief justice ABM Khairul Haque scrapped the petition around 11am on Monday.

Prince Charles has for the first time said his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, could become queen if he were to succeed his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Asked in an interview with NBC television about the possibility of Camilla becoming queen if he is crowned king, Charles said: "We'll see and I don't know if I'll -- if I'll still be alive, but that -- that could be."

BNP vice-chairman Nazmul Huda has slammed his party chief Khaleda Zia's counsels for not seeking to stay a High Court order regarding her cantonment house.

Huda also said he thought that calling a general strike on Nov 14, protesting Khaleda Zia's eviction, was a wrong decision. "It would have been better if that was called after Eid."

The nation is observing on Saturday the 11th death anniversary of eminent poet Sufia Kamal, who also played a key role in women empowerment in the country.

She was born in Barisal on June 20, 1911 and died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on November 20, 1999.

Ruling Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam has once again challenged the opposition BNP to translate its veiled threat into some concrete action.

Syed Ashraf issued the challenge when briefing television reporters after inspecting the construction work of Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover on Friday.

Agitated BNP activists have set fire to five buses in the capital as a part of their protest against the eviction of party chief Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence.

Buses were set on fire in Motijheel, Fakirapul, Mirpur and Gabtali around 2pm on Saturday after a day-long strike was called for Sunday from the party headquarters at Naya Paltan. Another bus was set on fire in Dar-Us-Salam area around 2.45pm.

Guangzhou's Asian Games opened Friday with a glitzy riverside ceremony and a flotilla of athletes as security was tightened across the city for the biggest sports event in China since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The extravaganza drew on Guangzhou's rich maritime history and indigenous Lingnan culture in a purpose-built arena nestled on a small island on the Pearl River, and decked out with a water stage, giant screens, fountains and the city's skyline behind it.

Taliban insurgents attacked the main airport and a foreign military base at Jalalabad in Afghanistan's east on Saturday, Reuters witnesses and police said, with at least three of the attackers killed.

The assault in Jalalabad came a day after a suicide car bomber attacked a convoy of Afghan and NATO-led troops on the outskirts of the capital, Kabul, signaling a possible spike in violence in the lead-up to two important international events regarding the conflict in Afghanistan.

Loud noise is very hazardous for mental and physical health, an expert has said.

Pran Gopal Dutta, vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), at a discussion on Thursday said complications due to sound pollution is increasing every day.

People suffer hearing impairment, headaches and insomnia for this reason, Dutta, who is a renowned ENT specialist, said.

The police have charged baton to disperse BNP demonstrators from Dhaka Cantonment's Jahangir Gate.

Traffic was halted for some time on the Old Airport Road due to the police action around 12.30pm on Saturday.

Prices of spices have gone up ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.

Spices like cardamom, mace and cumin have become particularly dearer, selling at 100 to 1000 a kg in the last 15 days.

According to Dulal Mia, a spice vendor in Keraniganj, 100gm cardamom is selling at Tk 150 which sold at Tk 125 two weeks ago, 100gm cumin at Tk 50 which was Tk 35 and 100gm mace at Tk 250, which was Tk 150.

Main opposition BNP has called a countrywide dawn-to-dusk general strike for Sunday to protest the eviction of chairperson Khaleda Zia from her residence in Dhaka Cantonment.

BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain called for the strike from a briefing at the party headquarters on Saturday.

A tearful BNP chief Khaleda Zia has reached her political office in Gulshan after being evicted from Dhaka Cantonment house.

Earlier, law-enforcers boarded the opposition chief on her Pajero, her press secretary said.

Maruf Kamal Khan told bdnews24.com on Saturday afternoon that the lawmen had her board the vehicle at 3:05pm but they did not say where they would be taking the opposition chief.

WAR CRIMES TRIAL

The war crimes tribunal has ordered Delwar Hossain Sayedee to be detained until Dec 29.

The International Crime Tribunal passed order on Tuesday in a case filed against the Jamaat-e-Islami leader for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

The tribunal also asked investigators to report their findings regarding the allegations within Dec 23. The court will then decide whether or not to detain him further.

Abdul Razzaq gave Pakistan welcome on-field respite with a stunning century to set up a dramatic one-wicket victory over South Africa in the second one-day international on Sunday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier confirmed suspensions on three Pakistan players over spot-fixing allegations and the team looked to be struggling as they chased a formidable target of 287.

Finance minister A M A Muhith said Bangladesh is geographically a transit country and those who deny it are fools.

Talking to reporters after attending a meeting with an International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday, the minister also vowed to give transit facilities to other countries.

Kalim Sharafee, renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and cultural revolutionary, passed away at his Baridhara residence. He was 86.

Sharafee died from old-age complications at his home around noon on Tuesday, sources close to his family confirmed to bdnews24.com.