The US Senate has confirmed the nomination of Earl Robert Miller as the new US ambassador to Bangladesh.

After weeks of talks and intense negotiations, the BNP and three other political parties formally launched an alliance called Jatiya Oikyo Front yesterday, just months before the national election. The alliance, which also includes Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, unveiled an 11-point goals and promised to bring sweeping reforms in governance if voted to power. "We are making the call for a national unity in the interest of the nation, not for any particular political party. We expect others to join the Jatiya Oikya Front," Dr Kamal told a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club last evening.

Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday said time for discussion on the Digital Security Act is not over yet.

Jukto Front will not sit with BNP if the party does not sever ties with anti-liberation forces, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President and also Chairman of the front AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury says.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader blames BNP afresh for a massacre at the Pilkhana headquarters of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), later named as Border Guard Bangladesh.

Court's observations in the August 21 grenade attack case verdicts “exactly reflect the ruling Awami League's political speeches”, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday.

Political parties involved in the “greater national unity” process are likely to stage public rallies in the divisional headquarters from next week to mobilise public opinion in favour of their demand for holding the next general election under a nonpartisan interim government.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said it has now been proved in the country's court that BNP is a terrorist party.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith expresses his farm belief that all projections including growth would be fulfilled if the present Awami League government continues.

The High Court yesterday extended Khaleda Zia's bail in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case till October 15.

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) of Dhaka to return Nagarik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna's passport for three months so that he can go abroad for treatment.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said it will not be difficult for the government to bring Tarique Rahman, BNP's senior vice chairman who is a convict in the August 21 grenade attack cases, back to the country.

Several hundred leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies bring out a procession in Dhaka demanding capital punishment to BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in connection with August 21 grenade attack case.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader says the country’s people would never accept any ‘Jatiya Oikkya’ (national unity) with the August 21 grenade attackers.

BNP alleges that 'state-sponsored' verdicts were given in the August 21 grenade attack cases, aiming to destroy BNP in a planned way.

The BNP yesterday rejected the verdicts in the August 21 grenade attack cases alleging that those were delivered at the “behest of the government with a political motive”.

The ruling Awami League yesterday said it was neither unhappy nor fully satisfied with the verdicts in the grenade attack cases and that it would request the government to seek a stricter punishment for BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

Eighteen of the 49 convicts in the August 21 grenade attack cases are still at large and police have been able to know the whereabouts of eight of them.

Political opposition BNP rejects the August 21 grenade attack verdict delivered today, and called for weeklong demonstration starting from tomorrow.

A victim in the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on August 21, 2004, says he is unhappy with the verdict delivered by a special tribunal in two cases filed over the carnage.