Tarakeswar, 25 April : Railway minister Mamata Banerjee has defended the expenditure in advertisments for organising railway programmes and pilloried the CPI(M) for trying to make an issue out of it."We have every right to advertise. You (CPI-M) publish advertisements without doing any work. You are angry with us because we work," Banerjee said at the inauguration of a new railway line between this pilgrim town and Talpur in Hooghly district. She said Indian Railways had taken up a large number of projects, many of which had been completed and that was why the railway published its success stories through advertisements. Banerjee said the Left Front government had published advertisements in newspapers claiming successful implementation of projects which were far from complete.
"We are part and parcel of the UPA and will keep on working. If necessary I will provide clarifications on the expenses," she said at the function on Sunday. The project had been started during Banerjee's earlier stint as railway minister in the NDA government. She said when she took over the Railways again in 2009 she learnt that it had made little progress.
Blaming the CPI(M) for not getting the project completed, she said, "You were part of UPA-I. Why didn't you exert pressure to get the project completed? Just because you have not done anything, do you expect me to do the same? You cannot stop me from working." န Photo : Sanjay Bhaduri
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Malaysian trade delegation arrives in Bangladesh, Monday
Dhaka, 25 April : A high-profile Malaysian trade delegation arrives in Dhaka Monday to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
Officials said the delegation comprising members of the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB) will call on communications minister and meet leaders of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh during their three-day visit. They said the delegation members will study the possibility of investment in the country’s roads, rail and highways, including expressways, real estate and telecom sectors, the officials added.
“We expect investment proposals in telecom service sector, elevated expressway, highway operation including toll plaza,” said Momtazul Islam, secretary of Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).
Dhaka, 25 April : A high-profile Malaysian trade delegation arrives in Dhaka Monday to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh.Officials said the delegation comprising members of the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB) will call on communications minister and meet leaders of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh during their three-day visit. They said the delegation members will study the possibility of investment in the country’s roads, rail and highways, including expressways, real estate and telecom sectors, the officials added.
“We expect investment proposals in telecom service sector, elevated expressway, highway operation including toll plaza,” said Momtazul Islam, secretary of Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI).
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Maoist bandh call : Rajdhanis to run at reduced speed
PTI, New Delhi, 25 April : In the wake of a two-day bandh call given by Maoists in three states from tomorrow, Railways have decided to restrict speed of flagship Rajdhani express besides cancelling and diverting some other trains passing through or originating out of these states.
The left-wing extremists have called a shutdown in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand on 26 and 27 April. During these period, all the Rajdhani express trains passing through Bihar and Jharkhand will run at a restricted speed of 75 kmph during night hours instead of their original speed of 110-120 kmph, said sources in Railways.
PTI, New Delhi, 25 April : In the wake of a two-day bandh call given by Maoists in three states from tomorrow, Railways have decided to restrict speed of flagship Rajdhani express besides cancelling and diverting some other trains passing through or originating out of these states.
The left-wing extremists have called a shutdown in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand on 26 and 27 April. During these period, all the Rajdhani express trains passing through Bihar and Jharkhand will run at a restricted speed of 75 kmph during night hours instead of their original speed of 110-120 kmph, said sources in Railways.
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2 CPIM leaders killed by Maoists in Bankura & Midnapore
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IANS, Kolkata, 25 April : Two CPI(M) leaders were killed by Maoists in Bankura and West Midnapore districts on Sunday, police said.A police officer said the body of Parmeshwar Murmu was found near his house in the Ranibandh Police station area. Murmu, a member of CPI(M)’s Jamagoria local committee, was abducted by a group of armed Maoists Saturday night from his house. The body of another CPI(M) leader Sisuranjan Mahato, who was taken captive from his house at Dhangasole village of West Midnapore district Saturday night, was also found at Mirgan close to Salboni police station. "Around 10 Maoists barged into Mahato’s house last night and took him away. His body, with multiple injury marks, was found four km away at Mirgan today" said another police officer.
The Maoists have been active in the state’s three western districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore.
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Three killed after being hit by Haldibari Express in Siliguri
Siliguri, 25 April : Three motorcycle-borne persons were killed after being hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing at Sahudangi Canal Mor near here, this afternoon, police said.
The three, all in their early 20s, were on their way to Chelibari Mor when they were hit by the New Jalpaiguri-bound Haldibari Express. Two of them were flung into a canal, police said, adding one came below the wheels of the speeding train.
Siliguri, 25 April : Three motorcycle-borne persons were killed after being hit by a train at an unmanned railway crossing at Sahudangi Canal Mor near here, this afternoon, police said.
The three, all in their early 20s, were on their way to Chelibari Mor when they were hit by the New Jalpaiguri-bound Haldibari Express. Two of them were flung into a canal, police said, adding one came below the wheels of the speeding train.
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Charges against war crime suspects in May : BD Law Min
Dhaka, 25 April : Charges will be pressed within May against some identified persons allegedly involved in the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, Bangladesh Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said on Sunday.The minister also said the probe team collected data and information about some perpetrators of crimes against humanity. He said this to reporters at the secretariat after an inter-ministerial meeting on coordination between the investigation and prosecution teams dealing with the war crimes trial. A three-member international war crimes tribunal was formed along with a seven-member investigation agency and 12-member prosecution team on 25 March for trying the crimes against humanity. The law minister, however, did not disclose the names of the persons against whom the charges will be pressed.
He said investigation will continue against other war criminal suspects after submitting charge sheets against the identified persons. A list of criminals will be published through a notification after the investigation, Shafique added.
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West Bengal government regularises 75,000 + teachers
Kolkata, 25 April : At least 75,000 part-time schoolteachers in West Bengal will now have a permanent job with the state deciding to create a new education board. The proposed board will come into effect on 1 July.
These teachers, appointed under the panchayat department’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), will now have a renewable five-year contract instead of the annual contract. They will also get a 35 per cent salary hike. “The SSA teachers have been made permanent. All schools under the new board will have a different status,” state Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Anisur Rahman told Bengal Newz today.
Kolkata, 25 April : At least 75,000 part-time schoolteachers in West Bengal will now have a permanent job with the state deciding to create a new education board. The proposed board will come into effect on 1 July.
These teachers, appointed under the panchayat department’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), will now have a renewable five-year contract instead of the annual contract. They will also get a 35 per cent salary hike. “The SSA teachers have been made permanent. All schools under the new board will have a different status,” state Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Anisur Rahman told Bengal Newz today.
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Powerful grenade found at Manipur govet official' residence
PTI, Imphal, 25 April : Suspected militants placed a powerful grenade this morning at the residence of a Manipur government official.
Sources said family members of executive engineer of irrigation department Keisam Roni found the grenade at around 5.30 am at their complex at Tera area in Imphal West district. Family members immediately reported the matter to the police whose bomb experts defused it, sources said.
PTI, Imphal, 25 April : Suspected militants placed a powerful grenade this morning at the residence of a Manipur government official.
Sources said family members of executive engineer of irrigation department Keisam Roni found the grenade at around 5.30 am at their complex at Tera area in Imphal West district. Family members immediately reported the matter to the police whose bomb experts defused it, sources said.
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At least 9 killed as thunderstorm hits many parts of Assam
PTI, Guwahati, 25 April : At least Nine persons were killed and 50 injured as thunderstorm lashed many parts of Assam. 
Two persons died at Vetapara area here when their thatched house collapse in the storm last night. Heavy rain and thunderstorm uprooted trees and electric poles as traffic on most parts of the national highway came to a halt for more than two hours from 8 pm last night. According to official sources, five persons in Sonitpur, Darrang and Goalpara died when they were hit by lighting. The worst affected districts include Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Dhubri, Goalpara, Nalbari and Barpeta, they said.More than 50 people were injured in the thunderstorm that continued for more than two hours in various parts of the state. The main city was thrown out of gear as the main roads were filled with water due to heavy rain and uprooted trees blocked many roads. န Photos : Chinmoy Roy
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Two killed as storm lashes different parts of Khagrachhari
Rangamati, 25 April : Two people were killed by lightning during a nor'wester that swept over different parts of Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachhari Sunday morning.
The deceased were identified as Jahangir Alam, son of Md Shariat Ullah of Ghatpara and Rokeya Begum, wife of Abdul Kuddus of Lamkapara of the upazila, reports our Khagrachhari correspondent. Witnesses said the storm lashed the upazila at about 7:30am.(BDST)
Rangamati, 25 April : Two people were killed by lightning during a nor'wester that swept over different parts of Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachhari Sunday morning.
The deceased were identified as Jahangir Alam, son of Md Shariat Ullah of Ghatpara and Rokeya Begum, wife of Abdul Kuddus of Lamkapara of the upazila, reports our Khagrachhari correspondent. Witnesses said the storm lashed the upazila at about 7:30am.(BDST)
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2cr still drink arsenic-laced water in Bangladesh : Unicef
BSS, Dhaka, 25 April : About two crore people are still drinking arsenic-contaminated water in Bangladesh, while only 53 percent of its population has access to improved sanitation facilities.
However, the practice of open defecation has been significantly reduced to 7 per cent from 33 per cent in 1990, Unicef said here yesterday on the occasion of the first annual high-level meeting of a new global partnership, Sanitation and Water for All, that began in Washington the same day. It also said at least 2.5 billion cases of diarrhoea occur in children under five years of age every year in the world and an estimated 1.5 million children die from it annually."Huge savings in health care costs and gains in productive days can be realized by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene - amounting to some 2% to over 7% of gross domestic product, depending on the region," the UNICEF said in a release issued simultaneously from Washington and Dhaka.
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