Dhaka, 4 February : Bangladesh plans to buy military hardware, including tanks, frigates, fighter planes and surface-to-air missiles, to strengthen its armed forces, a minister said Thursday.
"To modernise the armed forces, the government has decided to purchase a number of military equipments in the current fiscal year (due to end on 30 June)," Bangladesh's Planning Minister A.K. Khandaker told parliament. He said that the plan included seven tanks for the army and a range of equipment including 80 armoured personnel carriers and two helicopters for the use of Bangladeshi soldiers on United Nations peacekeeping missions abroad. For the air force, the government intends to buy a surface-to-air missile system, air defence radar, two helicopters and a squadron of fighter planes and missiles for them.A process was underway to call international tenders to purchase two maritime patrol aircraft, seven patrol craft, a survey ship and an oil tanker for the navy, the minister said. The government also has plans to procure two reconditioned frigates.
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Oldest endangered Great Andamanese tribal woman dies
PTI, Port Blair, 4 February : The oldest member of the endangered Great Andamanese tribe died in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, health officials said here today.
"85-year-old Boa Sr, who died on January 28 here, was suffering from old age health ailments for sometime. She was the oldest member of the Great Andamanese tribe," Tribal Health Deputy Director R C Kar told PTI. With the death of the woman, who lived in the Strait Island of Andaman, only 53 members of the tribe are now left, he said. According to officials, Boa was one of the few speakers of Bo, one of the 10 Great Andamanese dialectical groups.
"Most of the Great Andamanese have forgotten their mother tongue and speak in Hindi now. They have been rehabilitated in Strait Island, located north-east of Port Blair, since 1978," B N Sarkar, an anthropologist of Anthropological Survey of India, said. န Photos : Survival International
Also read : Last speaker of ancient language of Bo dies in India
BBC News, 4 February : The last speaker of an ancient language in India's Andaman Islands has died at the age of about 85, a leading linguist has told the BBC..... READ FULL STORY By Alastair Lawson
PTI, Port Blair, 4 February : The oldest member of the endangered Great Andamanese tribe died in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, health officials said here today."85-year-old Boa Sr, who died on January 28 here, was suffering from old age health ailments for sometime. She was the oldest member of the Great Andamanese tribe," Tribal Health Deputy Director R C Kar told PTI. With the death of the woman, who lived in the Strait Island of Andaman, only 53 members of the tribe are now left, he said. According to officials, Boa was one of the few speakers of Bo, one of the 10 Great Andamanese dialectical groups.
"Most of the Great Andamanese have forgotten their mother tongue and speak in Hindi now. They have been rehabilitated in Strait Island, located north-east of Port Blair, since 1978," B N Sarkar, an anthropologist of Anthropological Survey of India, said. န Photos : Survival International
Also read : Last speaker of ancient language of Bo dies in India
BBC News, 4 February : The last speaker of an ancient language in India's Andaman Islands has died at the age of about 85, a leading linguist has told the BBC..... READ FULL STORY By Alastair Lawson
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Bangladesh Nationalist Party to attend ongoing JS session
Dhaka, 4 February : Bangladesh's main opposition party BNP lawmakers on Thursday decided that they would attend the existing session of the parliament, Opposition Chief Whip Joynal Abedin Farroque said.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the BNP parliamentary party at the parliament complex, which was also attended by the MPs of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia presided over the meeting. Farroque briefed reporters after the meeting. He did not say what time they would return to the parliament.
Dhaka, 4 February : Bangladesh's main opposition party BNP lawmakers on Thursday decided that they would attend the existing session of the parliament, Opposition Chief Whip Joynal Abedin Farroque said.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the BNP parliamentary party at the parliament complex, which was also attended by the MPs of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia presided over the meeting. Farroque briefed reporters after the meeting. He did not say what time they would return to the parliament.
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CPM launches fund-raising drive for 167 War Martyrs
Kolkata, 4 February : The CPI(M) today said it has launched a fund-raising drive to assist families of 167 party activists who were allegedly killed at the hands of Trinamool Congress activists and Maoists after the Lok Sabha elections.
"Out of the 167 dead, 71 CPI(M) workers were killed in West Midnapore district alone during the period," party's politburo member and state secretary Biman Bose told reporters on the first day of its three-day central committee meeting here. To assist families of "our martyrs", CPI(M) has launched a fund-raising drive, he said, urging everyone to donate for the cause.
Kolkata, 4 February : The CPI(M) today said it has launched a fund-raising drive to assist families of 167 party activists who were allegedly killed at the hands of Trinamool Congress activists and Maoists after the Lok Sabha elections.
"Out of the 167 dead, 71 CPI(M) workers were killed in West Midnapore district alone during the period," party's politburo member and state secretary Biman Bose told reporters on the first day of its three-day central committee meeting here. To assist families of "our martyrs", CPI(M) has launched a fund-raising drive, he said, urging everyone to donate for the cause.
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9 bridal party killed in Chittagong microbus plungeChittagong, 4 February : At least nine people of a bridal party were killed when a microbus carrying them plunged into a roadside pond at Sadhur Hat area in Mirersharai upazila of Chittagong on Thursday.
Five others also sustained injuries in the accident. The accident occurred around 12:30pm(BDST) when the driver of the microbus lost his control over the steering and toppled down into the pond. The people were going to Baratakia area of the upazila to attend a bridal party.
The injured were sent to Mirersharai Upazila Health Complex. The identities of the victims could not be known immediately.
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Anthurium export help Jalpaiguri flower industry to blossom
ANI, Jalpaiguri, 4 February : West Bengal's flower industry has received a fillip thanks to the efforts of a farm in Jalpaiguri district.
ANI, Jalpaiguri, 4 February : West Bengal's flower industry has received a fillip thanks to the efforts of a farm in Jalpaiguri district. 
Anthurium flowers, which are native to South America, are being grown here. Utpal Banarjee, the owner of this farm, says the relative cooler sub-tropical climate of northeast India is suited to the flower's growth. "This flower is mainly grown in the northeast India. So in the rest of the country, you cannot grow this flower; either it is too hot or too cold, and does not have the required climate. So you see, the northeast is catering to the entire demand of the country," said Banarjee. Banarjee and 22 farmers are using artificial planting procedures to grow the flowers. Anthuriums belong to the arum (Aracae) family, which is made up of around 600 to 800 species.Anthuriums are popular for interior decoration and as cut flowers, as they can last for up to 15 days. Also known as the 'flamingo flower', the plant is characterised by large heart-shaped flower and dark green leaves. Domestic demand for anthuriums is fast picking up, with the price rising by 20% in the last two years.
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Maoist indefinite bandh to be withdrawn from 5 February
Jhargram, 4 February : The indefinite bandh in three districts of West Bengal by Maoist ally Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) will be withdrawn on 5 February.
PCPA sources said the bandh in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts which began on 1 February, will be 'relaxed' on 5 February. The bandh was launched demanding withdrawal of joint forces from the three districts after the Maoist attack on Barikul police station in Bankura district on the day. In tribal Junglemahal area, which stretches across the three districts, traffic has come to a halt as a result of the bandh. Shops and business establishments too remained closed.
Jhargram, 4 February : The indefinite bandh in three districts of West Bengal by Maoist ally Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) will be withdrawn on 5 February.
PCPA sources said the bandh in West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts which began on 1 February, will be 'relaxed' on 5 February. The bandh was launched demanding withdrawal of joint forces from the three districts after the Maoist attack on Barikul police station in Bankura district on the day. In tribal Junglemahal area, which stretches across the three districts, traffic has come to a halt as a result of the bandh. Shops and business establishments too remained closed.
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Former GNLF head Ghising says he will return to Darjeeling
Siliguri, 4 February : Gorkha National Liberation Front supremo and former Hill strongman Subhas Ghising, who was driven out from Darjeeling by the GJM, has said that he would return back to the town.
Ghising had shelved the demand for a separate Gorkhaland and settled for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council following the signing of the DGHC Agreement by the Centre, West Bengal government and the GNLF in 1988. The GNLF chief yesterday said that he would finalise plans for revival of the party before he returned to the Hills. His demand for 6th Schedule status for Darjeeling was scrapped by the Centre in August 2009.
Siliguri, 4 February : Gorkha National Liberation Front supremo and former Hill strongman Subhas Ghising, who was driven out from Darjeeling by the GJM, has said that he would return back to the town.
Ghising had shelved the demand for a separate Gorkhaland and settled for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council following the signing of the DGHC Agreement by the Centre, West Bengal government and the GNLF in 1988. The GNLF chief yesterday said that he would finalise plans for revival of the party before he returned to the Hills. His demand for 6th Schedule status for Darjeeling was scrapped by the Centre in August 2009.
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