Dhaka, 17 April : The special court formed to hold the trial of BDR mutiny on Saturday fixed 18 October for hearing on charge framing against 623 alleged mutineers of Pilkhana headquarters.In the beginning of the day's trial, a total of 623 jawans of the 13 Rifles Battalion were produced before the three-member Special Court-5. BDR Director General Maj Gen M Mainul Islam was leading the three-member court at the Darbar Hall of the BDR headquarters from where the 25-26 February mutiny was sparked.
The prosecutor during his submission specifically mentioned the roles of the accused during the mutiny. All the 623 accused directly participated in the mutiny, he claimed. Some of them were also involved in killings, hurling grenades, looting arms and ammunition, confining the family members of the mutiny victims', instigating others to take part in the mutiny, trying to destroy evidence and hiding the bodies of the slain officers in mass graves, he stated. He said 172 of 623 jawans were present at the Darbal Hall on the fateful day. န File photo
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(Left) Pompee Hazarika (M) of Guwahati, winner of Bihu Samragyee-2010 title, being kisses by Shruti Mala Medhi (R) and Jun Doley (L) of Dhemaji winner of Bihu Kuwonri-2010 title after being crowned in a Programme to celebrate Rongali Bihu. (Right) Dancers performing Bihu dance while taking part in Bihu Samragyee-2010 competition organized by Guwahati Bihu Sanmilen to celebrate Rongali Bihu, at Latasil playground in Guwahati on Saturday, night. [CLICK FOR BIG IMAGES] န Photos : Chinmoy Roy
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Users of Bangladesh mobile service in border areas warned
PTI, Shillong, 17 April : Concerned over the use of Bangladeshi mobile service in border areas, Union Minister Gurudas Kamat today said stringent action would be taken against those found using the services. "It is a matter of concern. Security agencies are monitoring the situation. Stringent action will be taken if anyone is caught," Kamat, the Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, told reporters here.
Most people use the services of Bangla Grameen Mobile Company Ltd in border areas because of poor service by BSNL.
PTI, Shillong, 17 April : Concerned over the use of Bangladeshi mobile service in border areas, Union Minister Gurudas Kamat today said stringent action would be taken against those found using the services. "It is a matter of concern. Security agencies are monitoring the situation. Stringent action will be taken if anyone is caught," Kamat, the Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, told reporters here.
Most people use the services of Bangla Grameen Mobile Company Ltd in border areas because of poor service by BSNL.
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SpiceJet to introduce Kol-Agartala flightAgartala, 17 April : Low-fare private airline SpiceJet will introduce a Kolkata-Agartala flight next month as part of its plans to gradually increase its presence in the northeast, its Chief Commercial Officer Samyukth Sridharan said Saturday.
SpiceJet, with an over 12 percent market share, has so far been operating flights only to Guwahati in the northeast. "Tripura's capital Agartala is the 19th destination in SpeceJet's route network and would be connected with a daily service from Kolkata to Guwahati 10 May," Sridharan told reporters.
"With the introduction of the flight to Agartala, SpiceJet will be operating 131 flights daily to 19 cities across India and delivering the lowest air fares with the highest consumer value," he said.
SpiceJet, with an over 12 percent market share, has so far been operating flights only to Guwahati in the northeast. "Tripura's capital Agartala is the 19th destination in SpeceJet's route network and would be connected with a daily service from Kolkata to Guwahati 10 May," Sridharan told reporters.
"With the introduction of the flight to Agartala, SpiceJet will be operating 131 flights daily to 19 cities across India and delivering the lowest air fares with the highest consumer value," he said.
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Sajeda wants Khaleda’s trial for rehabilitating war criminals
Dhaka, 17 April : Deputy Leader in Bangladesh Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury has said that opposition leader Khaleda Zia should be put on trial for rehabilitating the war criminals, Rajakars and killers of Bangabandhu in politics.
“The entire nation stands united for the trial of war of criminals,” she told a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Center marking the Mujibnagar Day today. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was scheduled to attend the discussion as chief guest, did not turn up due to indisposition.
Dhaka, 17 April : Deputy Leader in Bangladesh Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury has said that opposition leader Khaleda Zia should be put on trial for rehabilitating the war criminals, Rajakars and killers of Bangabandhu in politics.
“The entire nation stands united for the trial of war of criminals,” she told a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Center marking the Mujibnagar Day today. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was scheduled to attend the discussion as chief guest, did not turn up due to indisposition.
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Dipu Moni attends special meeting of Commonwealth MAG
UNB, Dhaka, 17 April : Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni attended a special meeting of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.The CMAG is the custodian of Commonwealth care values and principle. Bangladesh was elected to this post of the nine-member Ministerial body during the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Governments held in November last year in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago for 2010-2011, said a press release. Dr Dipu Moni gave Bangladesh views and suggestions on how to transform the CMAG from a reactive body to a usefully proactive body. The suggestions were well accepted and will be used as inputs for Secretariat to draw up a paper for approval by Ministers in the next CMAG meeting in New York in September, the release said.
The current members of the CMAG are Australia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Jamaica, Maldives, Namibia, New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago and Vanuatu.
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Development of North East a foremost priority : Prez Patil
PTI, Guwahati, 17 April : Indian President Pratibha Patil today termed North-East as "a special part of the country" and said development of the region was one of the foremost priorities of the Central government."The contribution of the North East states to the development of our country has been tremendous. I can assure you that the development of the North East region is also amongst the foremost priorities of the nation," Patil said. Stressing on the need of strengthening the transport infrastructure in the region, she said it would help creating greater connectivity within and with other parts of India.
Speaking at a conference of access to justice and socio-economic development programmes in the North Eastern region, Patil emphasised on the importance of education. "The North Eastern region has better literacy rates as compared to other parts of the country. န Photo : Chinmoy Roy
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Historic 'Mujibnagar Day' observed...Dhaka, 17 April : Bangladesh on Saturday observed the historic Mujibnagar Day commemorating the formation of the provisional government of independent Bangladesh during the War of Liberation.
After the barbaric crackdown of the Pakistan army on the unarmed Bangalees on the night following 25 March in 1971, senior leaders of Awami League congregated at Baidyanathtala in Meherpur on this day in 1971 to constitute the provisional government of independent Bangladesh. Baiddyanathtala, mainly a mango grove, was later named as Mujibnagar after ceremonial formation of the provisional government of Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu. န Photo : Wikipedia
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WB governor Mk Narayanan's North Dinajpur visit cancelled
Raiganj, 17 April : West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan who was scheduled to visit tornado devastated Raiganj district today called it off after his helicopter could not land here due to the bad weather.
The governor's secretary informed that the pilot could not land at the helipad because of low visibility and the helicopter was returning to Bagdogra in Siliguri, North Dinjpur, District Magistrate Ramanuj Chakraborty told newsmen here. The governor was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 am but his helicopter after hovering over the area for quite some time flew back, he said. It has been raining since morning in North Dinajpur.
Raiganj, 17 April : West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan who was scheduled to visit tornado devastated Raiganj district today called it off after his helicopter could not land here due to the bad weather.
The governor's secretary informed that the pilot could not land at the helipad because of low visibility and the helicopter was returning to Bagdogra in Siliguri, North Dinjpur, District Magistrate Ramanuj Chakraborty told newsmen here. The governor was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 am but his helicopter after hovering over the area for quite some time flew back, he said. It has been raining since morning in North Dinajpur.
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Two killed, 30 injured during Nor’wester in Lalmonirhat dist
UNB, Lalmonirhat, 17 April : Two people were killed and 30 others injured in lightning and wall collapse during a nor’wester that lashed the district in the morning.
The storm also damaged around 2000 thatched houses, standing IRRI, Boro crops and uprooted a large number of trees. Sources said two farmers were killed as thunderbolt struck them in Aditmari and Hatibandha upazila. The deceased were identified as Nishikanta Barman of Chandanpat village of Aditmari uapzila and Gokul Chandra Roy, of Jaorani village of Hatibandha upazila.
UNB, Lalmonirhat, 17 April : Two people were killed and 30 others injured in lightning and wall collapse during a nor’wester that lashed the district in the morning.
The storm also damaged around 2000 thatched houses, standing IRRI, Boro crops and uprooted a large number of trees. Sources said two farmers were killed as thunderbolt struck them in Aditmari and Hatibandha upazila. The deceased were identified as Nishikanta Barman of Chandanpat village of Aditmari uapzila and Gokul Chandra Roy, of Jaorani village of Hatibandha upazila.
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World wants India to grow, we must take advantage : PM
PTI, New Delhi, 17 April : The world could be having apprehensions about China’s rise but it wants India to grow and it is time to take advantage of the situation, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday.“Unlike China’s rise, which possibly gives rise to apprehensions, the world takes a benign view of India’s growth. We should take advantage of that (situation) because we don’t know how long it will last,” he said. He noted that the world is not apprehensive about India and wants it to succeed. Dr. Singh was talking to accompanying journalists while returning home after his eight-day visit to the U.S. and Brazil, where he attended the Summits of Nuclear Security, IBSA and BRIC.
He said India’s problems are at home and “we have to first tackle our own problems.” န Photo : PTI
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Gunbattle between security forces, Maoists in Bhalukbasa
Midnapore, 17 April : A fierce gun battle broke out between security forces and Maoists in Bhalukbasa jungle in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Saturday.
Police said the security force reached the jungle within the Salboni and Goaltore police limits after getting information that the rebels and CPI(M) activists exchanged fire in the area in the morning. As soon as they reached the area, the Maoists opened fire at them and an encounter soon between ensued between the two sides. Security sources have also spotted a body in the jungle, but they were not in a position to go near it, police said.
Midnapore, 17 April : A fierce gun battle broke out between security forces and Maoists in Bhalukbasa jungle in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Saturday.
Police said the security force reached the jungle within the Salboni and Goaltore police limits after getting information that the rebels and CPI(M) activists exchanged fire in the area in the morning. As soon as they reached the area, the Maoists opened fire at them and an encounter soon between ensued between the two sides. Security sources have also spotted a body in the jungle, but they were not in a position to go near it, police said.
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Bangladesh film festival begins in DelhiBSS, New Delhi, 17 April : Indian Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting CM Jatua said yesterday that Bangladesh film festival would contribute towards a better understanding of the composite ethos of Bangladesh among the people of India.
For enhancing the popularity of films from Bangladesh, the minister said, this festival should not be limited to New Delhi only. The minister was inaugurating a three-day first-ever Bangladesh Film Festival at the Siri Fort auditorium in the evening. Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A Karim also spoke. CM Jatua said festivals of similar nature could be organised across different cities enabling a wider and diverse audience to view films and correlate with the value-driven, broad-based and secular cultural fabric of Bangladesh.This is for the first time that a festival of Bangladesh films is being jointly organised by the two countries. In all, seven films - Ontorjatra, Joyjatra, Bachelor, Rupkathar Golpo, Matir Moina, Aha and Ayna - will be screened during the festival.
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