Dhaka, Jan. 8 : Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed on Thursday summoned the first session of the country''s ninth Parliament on January 25 following the swearing-in of Sheikh Hasina-led Government on Tuesday.

"The order of the President has been sent to the Parliament Secretariat. The first session will begin at 3 p. m. local time on January 25," a spokesman at the presidential palace said.

The Parliament Secretariat also issued a press release in this regard.

Dhaka (Bangladesh), Jan. 7 : Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim have both been fined after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day’s play in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Ashraful has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee while Mushfiqur has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

An ICC press release said the penalties were handed down by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees on Wednesday following hearings which were held in Chittagong on Tuesday after the conclusion of the Test which Sri Lanka won by 465 runs.

Dhaka - Bangladesh's new civilian government assured Wednesday that it would work closely with neighbours to restore peace in South Asia curbing militancy and terrorism.

"We will take effective steps against militancy and terrorism in consultations with our neighbouring countries," Dr Dipu Moni, the newly appointed foreign minister of Sheikh Hasina Wazed's cabinet, told reporters on her assumption to office.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh's President Iajuddin Ahmed Tuesday appointed Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Hasina Wazed as prime minister of the country for a five-year term, officials said.

Hasina, 61, whose AL-led alliance won a crushing victory in the December 29 general elections, was sworn in as the 12th premier of the country.

It is her second term in office as prime minister.

The newly appointed premier reiterated her pledges to lower the prices of essential commodities and improve law and order on an urgent basis.

Dhaka, Jan 6 : Shiekh Hasina, the President of the Awami League Party (AL), will be sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh here today.

President Iajuddin Ahmed will appoint and administer oath of office to Hasina and her colleagues in the new council of ministers. He will also appoint and administer oath of office to the other ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers.

Hasina returns to power after spending a few months in custody on charge of murder, extortion and corruption. She has since been acquitted.

Dhaka - Police on Monday cleared Bangladesh's prime minister-in-waiting Sheikh Hasina Wazed of an extortion charge brought by a businessman eight months ago, officials said.

Police said investigators found no evidence that Hasina, the head of the Awami League, extorted 440,000 dollars from businessman Tazul Islam Faruk, who lodged the case with police in April.

"We submitted a report detailing the investigation to the court for its consideration," said a police inspector of Tejgaon police station.