Purulia, 11 April : The CPI(Maoist) today warned of more Dantewada-type attacks on security forces if the Centre carried on with the anti-Maoist offensive even as it expressed sympathy for the families of the 76 jawans killed and offered compensation.In a letter faxed to media houses here, the banned organisation said it would carry out more attacks similar to Dantewada and asked the security forces not to take part in operations directed against it. "Else the consequences will be bad for them," the letter warned. Maoists also expressed sympathy for the aggrieved families of the deceased and said it was ready to compensate them ! "We also want people to come out and offer financial aid to them."
The Maoists also asked people to support their fight and stop acting as 'informers' to the security forces.
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Leopard shot dead by police constable in Jalpaiguri districtJalpaiguri, 11 April : A leopard, which injured 13 people, including a police constable and a forest official, was shot dead by police at Sikaripara village under Ranaghat police station of Jalpaiguri district today.
Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), North Bengal, V K Sudh said 12 villagers were injured by the feline. The animal was killed by the police in self defence when it also injured a constable who was leading the rescue operation, informed North Bengal IG Kundanlal Tamta.
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UN to provide all assistance to Bangladesh in conducting war crimes trial : RenataUNB, Dhaka, 11 AprIL : The United Nations, if requested for, would provide all possible assistance to Bangladesh in conducting the war crimes trial.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Bangladesh Renata Lok-Dessallien said this when she made a farewell call on Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday morning, said a Foreign Ministry press release. They also discussed issues related to strengthening of relevant institutions which are critical for upholding the values of democracy and accountability.
The Foreign Minister said that the people of Bangladesh have proved, time and again, that they would not accept anything less than democratic governance in Bangladesh. န Photo : PID
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Bangladesh Prime Minister to Visit Tripura in September
IANS, Agartala, 11 April : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Tripura in September to boost trade and economic relations between the northeast region and India’s closest neighbour, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said here Sunday.
‘I invited Sheikh Hasina when she visited New Delhi in January and again last month during my visit to Bangladesh to attend Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day celebrations. We have received a formal communique from Bangladesh about her visit to Tripura,’ Sarkar told IANS. ‘On behalf of Tripura, a huge ceremonial reception would be given to Bangladesh premier during the visit,’ Sarkar added.
IANS, Agartala, 11 April : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Tripura in September to boost trade and economic relations between the northeast region and India’s closest neighbour, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said here Sunday.
‘I invited Sheikh Hasina when she visited New Delhi in January and again last month during my visit to Bangladesh to attend Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day celebrations. We have received a formal communique from Bangladesh about her visit to Tripura,’ Sarkar told IANS. ‘On behalf of Tripura, a huge ceremonial reception would be given to Bangladesh premier during the visit,’ Sarkar added.
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Pahela Baishakh without Hilsha beckons for middle-class gourmandsUNB, Dhaka, 11 April : The middle class gourmand Bangalis cannot imagine tasting ‘Panta-Illish,’ the most popular dish of 'Pahela Baishakh', due to skyrocketing price of Hilsha ahead of the prime cultural event of the Bangali nation.
Our correspondents from Patuakhali, Bhola and Pirojpur have tried to find the reason behind the high price of Hilsa on the eve of 'Pahela Baishakh'. General Secretary of Mohipur-Alipur fish trader association at Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali district, Golam Mostafa told UNB that the main reason behind high price of Hilsha is inadequate supply against increasing demand before celebration of 'Pahela Baishakh'.
But the price is not affordable to the middle class as per kg Hilsha is selling between Tk 1000 to 1500 at the upazila bazaar. The medium size of Hilsha weighing 450gm to 850gm is selling at Tk 600 to 950. Fish traders said that the price of all sorts of fish large or medium weighing more than one and a half kilo might go beyond Tk 2000 per KG on Pahela Baishakh.
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ULFA to hold talks if New Delhi is sincere : Citizens Forum
Guwahati, 11 April : The newly floated Citizens Forum in Assam on Sunday claimed the top leadership of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), including its elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, would come for peace talks if New Delhi was sincere in holding such negotiations.
The eleven-member forum of writers, former police officials, academics, and rights activists, was formed last week to help broker peace between the ULFA and the government. "We have got some informal feelers from the ULFA leadership that if the government was sincere, then even Paresh Baruah would not object to such negotiations taking place," Hiren Gohain, the forum's convener, told journalists here.
Guwahati, 11 April : The newly floated Citizens Forum in Assam on Sunday claimed the top leadership of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), including its elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, would come for peace talks if New Delhi was sincere in holding such negotiations.
The eleven-member forum of writers, former police officials, academics, and rights activists, was formed last week to help broker peace between the ULFA and the government. "We have got some informal feelers from the ULFA leadership that if the government was sincere, then even Paresh Baruah would not object to such negotiations taking place," Hiren Gohain, the forum's convener, told journalists here.
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Bangladesh police prevent Jamaat's meeting in Chittagong
Chittagong, 11 April : Bangladesh police refused to allow the Jamaat–e-Islami to hold ea public meeting in Chittagong on Sunday. It also was prevented from holding a meeting at its own party offices.Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed was scheduled to attend a public meeting in the port city's Safa Arcade Community Centre at 3pm(BDST). Jamaat said they were prevented from holding the meeting even after they had taken permission from the authorities.
The Jamaat leaders attempted to hold another meeting in the party's metropolitan office, which is located 50 yards away from the meeting venue, but the police also stopped that meeting taking place as well. About 200 Jamaat leaders and activists had gathered there. Police personnel were deployed in front of the community centre after the Muktijoddha-Chhatra-Janata announced that they would prevent Mojaheed from attending the meeting.
Jamaat MP Hamidur Rahman Azad told reporters that it would not be good for the country if the Jammat were not allowed to hold meetings. There are allegations of war crimes against a number of Jamaat leaders.
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Five Myanmarese nationals held in Tripura, police said
Agartala, 11 April : Five Myanmarese nationals were arrested in this Tripura capital after they sneaked into the northeastern state from Bangladesh, police said Sunday.
Acting on a tip-off, the Tripura police detained the five members of a Myanmarese family at the Agartala railway station Saturday night after they illegally crossed over to western Tripura from Bangladesh and attempted to leave for Guwahati in Assam by train.
Agartala, 11 April : Five Myanmarese nationals were arrested in this Tripura capital after they sneaked into the northeastern state from Bangladesh, police said Sunday.
Acting on a tip-off, the Tripura police detained the five members of a Myanmarese family at the Agartala railway station Saturday night after they illegally crossed over to western Tripura from Bangladesh and attempted to leave for Guwahati in Assam by train.
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Food fest to mark "Poila Boishakh"IBNS, Kolkata, 11 April : A popular city restaurant known for Bengali food, 6 Ballygunge Place, launched a two-week Bengali food festival as part of Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) celebrations from Friday.
The restaurant authorities announced the food fest on Thursday. Bengali band Cactus and actress Pallavi Chatterjee, who were present on the occasion, said they were delighted to get this opportunity to celebrate Bengali cuisine. Aninda Palit of 6 Ballygunge Place said, "Footfalls in our restaurant go up tremendously during the Durga Puja and Poila Boishakh. It's very clear when the Bengali people love going out to eat. This festival is to celebrate that spirit of the Bengali New Year. Every year we organise a buffet on the day of Poila Boishakh, which is usually around the 15 April, but this year we decided to extend the festivities with this two-week long feast."
The food festival, which would take place during 9-21 April, will see traditional cuisines of West Bengal and Bangladesh and add to the Poila Boishakh fervour giving people a chance to celebrate their culture, he said. "Food from Epar Bangla (West Bengal) and Opaar Bangla (Bangladesh) have very distinct flavours, yet their similarities are quite visible," Chef Susanta Sengupta said. According to the chef, visitors would get to sample some intricate Bengali delicacies that are fading away from the Bengali cuisine. "Dishes like Tetul Pata Ellish and Puti Machher Kawra Bhaja, once highly popular, very rarely cooked at our homes today," he said."Apart from the 14-day-long festival, on D-Day that is 15 April, our guests can feast on the extensive buffet for Rs 525," he added.
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