The General Officer Commanding of 14 Corps, Lt. General S.K. Singh, briefed Mubeen about the high altitude conditions that the Indian soldiers face in the area as they guard the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Siachen glacier, considered to be the highest battlefield in the world, bordering Pakistan controlled Kashmir.
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Border Disputes : Indo-Bangla jt working group meets soon
Kolkata, Dhaka, 16 March : Delegations from Bangladesh and India will soon sit at a Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) meeting to resolve border disputes in line with Mujib-Indira Land Boundary Agreement 1974.Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni said this in parliament yesterday, but did not specify probable date for the meeting. Home Minister Sahara Khatun said BSF killed 68 Bangladeshi nationals since 2009, of which 14 were killed this year. "Efforts to stop killing at border areas are underway. Besides, talks through diplomatic channels are also in progress," Sahara said.
India has proposed for a four-day meeting of Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) from 17 March to resolve water sharing of the Teesta.
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Shah Rukh Khan’s filmy peace offer to WB Fire minister !!Kolkata, 16 March : Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan seems to have doused the West Bengal Fire Services Minister’s ire by offering to act in a Bengali film with him.
Khan made the offer in the wake of the minister, Pratim Chatterjee, having lodged an FIR on Monday against Khan’s IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders and the Cricket Association of Bengal for allowing spectators on a temporary enclosure at the Eden Gardens that has yet to get a No Objection Certificate from the state’s fire department. “SRK told me he wants to act in a Bengali movie sometime soon. He asked me to talk to producers and directors in Tollywood. He even asked me to be part of it,” gushed Chatterjee, a minor actor who has performed in 19 Bengali films, mostly as the villain’s or heroine’s father.
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Gorkha J Morcha demands setting up of a regional council 
ANI, Darjeeling, 16 March : The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on Tuesday proposed the central government to establish a regional council till Gorkhaland state is created.The council, which would be called ‘Gorkhaland Regional Authority’, or ‘Darjeeling and Doars Regional Authority’, will be an interim set-up, which, according to the GJM, is a step forward for the separation of Gorkhaland. GJM chief Bimal Gurung had submitted a secret proposal for the same to the federal Home (Interior) Minister.
“In our Preamble, we have included 102 departments for our council. But the state government has given from their part 54 departments in the interim council and that too with the authority of the state,” said Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri, GJMM spokesperson. န Map Courtesy : Telegraph
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1,900 Mizo refugees' camps destroyed in Tripura fireIANS, Agartala, 16 March : Around 1,900 tribal refugees, who were living in north Tripura for the past 13 years after they fled from neighbouring Mizoram following ethnic trouble, became homeless after their makeshift camps were gutted in a major fire, officials said Tuesday.
"About 371 tribal refugee families comprising 1,855 men, women and children have been shifted to nearby areas after their temporary huts made of bamboo and hemp at Hamshapara in northern Tripura were reduced to ashes by the fire that broke out late Monday night," Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dilip Chakma told IANS by phone. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
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Charge framing hearing against 310 BDR mutineers on 9/5 
Dhaka, 16 March : A special court set up at BDR Darbar Hall on Tuesday fixed 9 May for the hearing on charge framing against 310 alleged mutineers of 36 Rifles Battalion of Dhaka sector.The Special Court-5, led by BDR Director General Maj Gen Mainul Islam, adjourned the proceedings of the case, filed for the 25-26 February mutiny at its Pilkhana headquarters, till 10:00am on 9 May.
Earlier on Monday, the court accepted a fresh mutiny case against the 310 BDR jawans and ordered to produce all of them before it on Tuesday.
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Indian Oil Corp to shut Haldia crude unit in Jun-Jul: Source
Reuters, New Delhi, 16 March : State-run Indian Oil Corp plans to shut a 72,000 barrels per day crude unit at its Haldia refinery in eastern India for about 25 days in June-July, a company source said on Monday.
IOC recently raised the capacity of its Haldia refinery by 25 percent to 150,000 barrels per day (bpd). Besides the crude unit, the firm also plans to shut vacuum distillation unit (VDU) and a catalytic reformer for about 25 to 30 days in June-July... READ FULL STORY
Reuters, New Delhi, 16 March : State-run Indian Oil Corp plans to shut a 72,000 barrels per day crude unit at its Haldia refinery in eastern India for about 25 days in June-July, a company source said on Monday.
IOC recently raised the capacity of its Haldia refinery by 25 percent to 150,000 barrels per day (bpd). Besides the crude unit, the firm also plans to shut vacuum distillation unit (VDU) and a catalytic reformer for about 25 to 30 days in June-July... READ FULL STORY
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Hasina seeks Thai help to set up food processing industries
UNB, Dhaka, 16 March : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday requested Thailand to help Bangladesh for setting up food processing industries in the country.She made the plea when the outgoing Thai Ambassador to Dhaka Chaermpol Thanchitt called on her at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The prime minister said Thailand is expert in food processing sector and their expertise could be useful for Bangladesh. Bangladesh and Thailand have friendly relations, she said adding that the bilateral relations between the two countries will be further strengthened in future.
Hasina also expressed the hope that Thailand would accept more export from Bangladesh. Ambassador Thanchitt thanked the prime minister for her cooperation during his stay in Bangladesh. Press secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad briefed the reporters after the meeting.
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2 NDFB separatists outlaweds gunned down in Assam
IANS, Guwahati, 16 March : Two separatists of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were killed Tuesday in a shootout with security forces in Assam, officials said.
A police spokesperson said the incident took place at Majuli village in Darrang district, about 120 km north of Assam's main city Guwahati. 'Based on specific intelligence that NDFB militants were taking shelter in a house, we conducted a raid and soon there was an encounter,' a police officer said. A large cache of weapons and explosives, including two AK series rifles, detonators and grenades, were recovered from the dead rebels.
IANS, Guwahati, 16 March : Two separatists of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were killed Tuesday in a shootout with security forces in Assam, officials said.
A police spokesperson said the incident took place at Majuli village in Darrang district, about 120 km north of Assam's main city Guwahati. 'Based on specific intelligence that NDFB militants were taking shelter in a house, we conducted a raid and soon there was an encounter,' a police officer said. A large cache of weapons and explosives, including two AK series rifles, detonators and grenades, were recovered from the dead rebels.
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CAB requests withdrawal of FIR, WB fire dept adamant
Kolkata, 16 March : The controversy surrounding the alleged flouting of fire safety norms at a temporary gallery at Eden Gardens during a IPL match refused to die down with the Bengal cricket board today requesting withdrawal of an FIR against it and the government remaining adamant.Maintaining that the Cricket Association of Bengal was not responsible for the gallery's safety as it was designed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the PWD had given a no- objection certificate, CAB Joint Secretary Biswarup De said "We request withdrawal of the FIR."
Fire Services Minister Pratim Chatterjee said he had rejected CAB's request to withdraw the FIR filed with the Maidan police station for violating fire safety regulations during Sunday's match between Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers. Chatterjee said the FIR would not be withdrawn till the temporary structure was dismantled by April one.
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Top PCPA leader NanigopalGoswami arrested in Midnapore
Midnapore, 16 March : In another setback to the Maoist-backed Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities, one of its top leaders, Nanigopal Goswami was today arrested from West Midnapore district.
Goswami, who is next only to Sidhu Soren, who took over the leadership after the arrest of PCPA Convenor, Chhatradhar Mahato on 26 September 2009 by the CID, was arrested from Bankathi village in Goaltore area along with nine others, police sources said.
Midnapore, 16 March : In another setback to the Maoist-backed Peoples Committee against Police Atrocities, one of its top leaders, Nanigopal Goswami was today arrested from West Midnapore district.
Goswami, who is next only to Sidhu Soren, who took over the leadership after the arrest of PCPA Convenor, Chhatradhar Mahato on 26 September 2009 by the CID, was arrested from Bankathi village in Goaltore area along with nine others, police sources said.
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Maoist suffer another blow, Kishenji aide nabbed in J'khand
PTI, Jamshedpur, 16 March : Maoists received a blow today when a hardcore Maoist, a close aide of Kishenji and allegedly involved in the blowing up of a train track, was arrested in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, barely a fortnight after another top leader was nabbed.
Marshal Topno, who is the second prized catch after the arrest of Venkateswar Reddy alias Dipak on 2 March, was nabbed when police was carrying out a combing operation in Maoist-hit Posaita area, superintendent of police Akhilesh Kumar Jha said. Topno is alleged to be among those involved in blowing up of rail tracks, resulting in derailment of several coaches of the 322-up Tata-Bilaspur passenger on 19 November that left two people dead.
PTI, Jamshedpur, 16 March : Maoists received a blow today when a hardcore Maoist, a close aide of Kishenji and allegedly involved in the blowing up of a train track, was arrested in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, barely a fortnight after another top leader was nabbed.
Marshal Topno, who is the second prized catch after the arrest of Venkateswar Reddy alias Dipak on 2 March, was nabbed when police was carrying out a combing operation in Maoist-hit Posaita area, superintendent of police Akhilesh Kumar Jha said. Topno is alleged to be among those involved in blowing up of rail tracks, resulting in derailment of several coaches of the 322-up Tata-Bilaspur passenger on 19 November that left two people dead.
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Bangladesh's vessel workers begin strike for new pay scale
Dhaka, 16 March : Bangladesh's water transport workers began a countrywide work stoppage for an indefinite period early Tuesday morning, to press home their 22-point charter of demands including a new pay scale.The passengers have been facing immense sufferings due to river transport strike. The workers called the strike after a marathon tripartite meeting among the government, the workers and the owners failed to reach a consensus on Monday. Shah Alam, vice-president of the workers' association Noujan Shramik Federation, told reporters no new scale was declared since July 2008 despite repeated calls by the workers.
Alam added that the government and the owners, if wanted, could solve and take steps easily on the matter.
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Orphaned baby elephant finds a home at Assam State Zoo
Guwahati, 16 March : Guwahati Zoo is looking after a baby elephant, whose mother was killed recently by a speeding train.
The two-week old calf has been keeping the authorities busy at the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden. The zookeepers are feeding the calf with lactogen milk and are taking extensive care to save the young one from catching any infection. A team of veterinary doctors is deputed to keep a watch on the calf's health round the clock.
Guwahati, 16 March : Guwahati Zoo is looking after a baby elephant, whose mother was killed recently by a speeding train.
The two-week old calf has been keeping the authorities busy at the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden. The zookeepers are feeding the calf with lactogen milk and are taking extensive care to save the young one from catching any infection. A team of veterinary doctors is deputed to keep a watch on the calf's health round the clock.
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Border Security Force to remove border post from B'desh
UNB, Sylhet, 16 March : The Indian Border Security Force yesterday came up with a commitment to remove their newly set up 'border post' inside Bangladesh territory and 'sub-post' on Naljuri border in Jaintapur in Sylhet.They made the fresh commitment at a battalion commander-level flag meeting with Bangladesh Rifles at Tamabil international check post, BDR officials said. The BSF set up the 'border post' 120 yards inside Bangladesh territory and the 'sub-post' on the Zero Line nearby days ago. Earlier on Sunday, the BDR and BSF traded gunfire for around three hours as the latter crossed Jaintapur border and shot at Bangladesh nationals. Fifteen people were injured in the BSF firing.
At the flag meeting yesterday evening, the BDR strongly protested the BSF excesses and asked them to remain in their own territory in line with the decisions taken in September last year.
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