Dhaka, 6 June : Authorities in Bangladesh have lifted a ban on popular social networking website Facebook, more than a week after the government temporarily restricted access to the site, officials said. Mango Telecom Services, a private internet service provider, Saturday reopened the site for Bangladeshi users as directed by telecom regulators, Mir Masud Kabir, the managing director of the company, told local media.
The restriction was imposed 29 May after what officials said was a section of the site out to hurt religious sentiments of some Muslims by uploading a number of controversial images on the site that go against the Muslim belief. Some members of the social networking site had organized an “Everyone Draw Mohammed Day” competition, prompting protests among Muslims who believe images of the prophet are blasphemous. The organisers said the event was meant to promote freedom of expression, but Muslims across the world expressed anger over it.After a fruitful negotiation with the Facebook authorities for removal of those controversial images, the government decided to reopen the site for the users, officials at the regulatory body said. Pakistan had also briefly banned the social networking site over the issue.
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Mamata loyalist Sovan Chatterjee to be new Kolkata Mayor
Kolkata, 6 June : Sovan Chatterjee will be the new mayor of Kolkata, the newly elected Trinamool Congress councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation decided at their first meeting Sunday in the presence of party chief Mamata Banerjee.
Sovon Chatterjee, a Mamata loyalist, chosen as mayor with lots of controversies surrounding him. Trinamool MP Kabir Suman had cast aspersions on Chatterjee's integrity. Chatterjee, a former mayor-in-council (Water) member of the Trinamool-run KMC board from 2000-2005, won from ward number 131 in Behala in the southern outskirts of the city. The 46-year-old Chatterjee has been a KMC councillor uninterruptedly for 25 years since 1985. He will be formally elected mayor in the first meeting of the councillors 16 June.
Kolkata, 6 June : Sovan Chatterjee will be the new mayor of Kolkata, the newly elected Trinamool Congress councillors of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation decided at their first meeting Sunday in the presence of party chief Mamata Banerjee.
Sovon Chatterjee, a Mamata loyalist, chosen as mayor with lots of controversies surrounding him. Trinamool MP Kabir Suman had cast aspersions on Chatterjee's integrity. Chatterjee, a former mayor-in-council (Water) member of the Trinamool-run KMC board from 2000-2005, won from ward number 131 in Behala in the southern outskirts of the city. The 46-year-old Chatterjee has been a KMC councillor uninterruptedly for 25 years since 1985. He will be formally elected mayor in the first meeting of the councillors 16 June.
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No flight has landed in Aizawl for 4days,Hundreds stranded
PTI, Aizawl, 6 June : Hundreds of passengers were stranded in Kolkata airport and at Lengpui airport here as the Air India flights from Kolkata has failed to land here for four days due to inclement weather and other technical problems.
The Kolkata-Aizawl Air India flight could not land in the Lengpui airport from Thursday to Saturday due to inclement weather and low visibility while it could not land today due to technical defects in the viewer, UK Ghosh, senior manager of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), here said. Ghosh told PTI that both the viewer and a standby suddenly did not work today and the Kolkata-Aizawl flight was diverted to Imphal as the pilot could not land only on visuals.
PTI, Aizawl, 6 June : Hundreds of passengers were stranded in Kolkata airport and at Lengpui airport here as the Air India flights from Kolkata has failed to land here for four days due to inclement weather and other technical problems.
The Kolkata-Aizawl Air India flight could not land in the Lengpui airport from Thursday to Saturday due to inclement weather and low visibility while it could not land today due to technical defects in the viewer, UK Ghosh, senior manager of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), here said. Ghosh told PTI that both the viewer and a standby suddenly did not work today and the Kolkata-Aizawl flight was diverted to Imphal as the pilot could not land only on visuals.
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Suzlon Group, West Bengal to meet on Wind Farm project
Kolkata, 6 June : Senior staffers of the Suzlon Group will soon meet state officials over a revised agreement on the eastern region’s largest wind farm project, expected to come up at Dadanpatra in East Midnapore district.Sources said that the meeting for finalising the terms of the agreement would be held on 30 June. The 40-50 MW wind farm, to come up on 700 acres of land, would cost around Rs 500 crore. “A fresh MoU is likely to be signed at a later date, A major hurdle was sorted out after West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission allowed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA)” Department of Power special secretary S P Gon Chaudhuri said. Adding that the Government has agreed to buy wind power at Rs 4 per unit.
With West Bengal having only a 3 MW windpower plant, the Suzlon project - its largest - would help scale up the renewable power target from the present 110 MW to 250 MW by 2012-13.
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ULFA leaders in Bangladesh, Myanmar to surrender : Pillai
IANS, Guwahati, 6 June : Indian Home Secretary G.K. Pillai says a number of top commanders and leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) based in Bangladesh and Myanmar are expected to surrender shortly and join the peace process.
“Some of them are senior leaders and commanders based in Bangladesh and Myanmar who have expressed their willingness to come overground,” Pilla told IANS in an interview here. Pillai was in Meghalaya on a three-day visit to review the security situation that concluded Saturday.
IANS, Guwahati, 6 June : Indian Home Secretary G.K. Pillai says a number of top commanders and leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) based in Bangladesh and Myanmar are expected to surrender shortly and join the peace process.
“Some of them are senior leaders and commanders based in Bangladesh and Myanmar who have expressed their willingness to come overground,” Pilla told IANS in an interview here. Pillai was in Meghalaya on a three-day visit to review the security situation that concluded Saturday.
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Dhaka Fashion Week postponed due to Old Dhaka's blaze
Dhaka, 6 June : Dhaka Fashion Week 2010 has been postponed in commiseration with all those who died in the unfortunate blaze at old Dhaka last Thursday night, says a press release.
The nation observes a day of mourning today, following a declaration from the government in remembrance of the victims of the tragedy. The organisers expressed their deepest sympathy and offered their prayers for all the departed souls and hoped the Almighty will give their family and loved ones the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. All the designers, models, partners and sponsors along with the organisers mourn with the nation. The date of the event will be announced later.
Dhaka, 6 June : Dhaka Fashion Week 2010 has been postponed in commiseration with all those who died in the unfortunate blaze at old Dhaka last Thursday night, says a press release.
The nation observes a day of mourning today, following a declaration from the government in remembrance of the victims of the tragedy. The organisers expressed their deepest sympathy and offered their prayers for all the departed souls and hoped the Almighty will give their family and loved ones the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss. All the designers, models, partners and sponsors along with the organisers mourn with the nation. The date of the event will be announced later.
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TMC to stay with UPA govt for full tenure: Mamata Banerjee
PTI, Kolkata, 6 June : Making it clear that Trinamool Congress would remain a "trusted" ally of UPA government for its full tenure, party chief Mamata Banerjee has kept her cards close to her chest on an alliance with Congress for the West Bengal Assembly polls, saying that "nothing is closed"."I will speak on what is happening today. I will not speak about the future. We have gone to the people when all others had left us and they (people) have supported us. When opportunity comes in the future, we will speak. Nothing is closed," Banerjee told PTI in an interview after her party's triumph in civic polls which it fought without a tie-up with the Congress.
"When the UPA-II government was formed, we as an ally made a commitment to remain in it for five years. We will stay unless we are pushed out," Banerjee said. န File Photo : AP
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Four die in Faridpur road crash on Dhaka-Khulna Highway
Faridpur, 6 June : Four people were killed and 10 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur early Sunday.
Witnesses said a Satkhira-bound bus collided with a wood-laden truck coming from opposite direction near Mashkandi area at about 5:30am(BDST), leaving 14 people injured. Passers-by rushed the injured to Faridpur Medical College Hospital where four of them were declared dead by the doctors. All the deceased and injured were the passengers of the bus.
Faridpur, 6 June : Four people were killed and 10 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur early Sunday.
Witnesses said a Satkhira-bound bus collided with a wood-laden truck coming from opposite direction near Mashkandi area at about 5:30am(BDST), leaving 14 people injured. Passers-by rushed the injured to Faridpur Medical College Hospital where four of them were declared dead by the doctors. All the deceased and injured were the passengers of the bus.
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Six killed, 20 injured on NH-31 in Jalpaiguri dist accident
Siliguri, 6 June : Six people were killed and 20 injured when a pick-up van overturned in the Seven Mile area of North Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Sunday, police said.
Police said the six victims died on the spot. Eighteen of the injured were admitted to the government-run Sliliguri Distict Hospital. The Damdin-bound vehicle that started off from Siliguri met with the accident on National Highway 31 connecting Sikkim with Kalimpong when the driver lost control of the vehicle. 'Six people have died,' said police officer Achintya Gupta.
Siliguri, 6 June : Six people were killed and 20 injured when a pick-up van overturned in the Seven Mile area of North Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Sunday, police said.
Police said the six victims died on the spot. Eighteen of the injured were admitted to the government-run Sliliguri Distict Hospital. The Damdin-bound vehicle that started off from Siliguri met with the accident on National Highway 31 connecting Sikkim with Kalimpong when the driver lost control of the vehicle. 'Six people have died,' said police officer Achintya Gupta.
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Pro-Maoist PCAPA members ransack houses in Jhargram
Kolkata, 6 June : Suspected members of a pro-Maoist tribal organisation early Sunday ransacked a few houses near Jhargram town in West Midnapore district and fired shots in the air, police said.
Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi said that members of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) were behind the incident that occurred three km from Jhargram. “PCAPA members ransacked some houses. We have unconfirmed reports that a few shots have been fired as we have recovered used cartridges from the spot,” Tripathi said. The PCAPA is considered a frontal organisation of the Maoists.
Kolkata, 6 June : Suspected members of a pro-Maoist tribal organisation early Sunday ransacked a few houses near Jhargram town in West Midnapore district and fired shots in the air, police said.
Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi said that members of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) were behind the incident that occurred three km from Jhargram. “PCAPA members ransacked some houses. We have unconfirmed reports that a few shots have been fired as we have recovered used cartridges from the spot,” Tripathi said. The PCAPA is considered a frontal organisation of the Maoists.
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Assam & Meghalaya chief ministers meet on border dispute
Guwahati, 6 June : The chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya meet in Guwahati on Saturday evening to find ways to resolve the long-pending boundary dispute between the two states.
The boundary dispute has often led to clashes, the latest one in the Langpih area on 14 May that claimed four lives. The place, claimed by both states, is 60 km west of this city. “We want a solution to the border problem once and for all. We have accordingly decided to form a committee to be jointly headed by the chief secretary of both states,” said Assam CM Tarun Gogoi after the meeting. The modalities to solve the border dispute would be framed within the next 45 days, he added.
Guwahati, 6 June : The chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya meet in Guwahati on Saturday evening to find ways to resolve the long-pending boundary dispute between the two states.
The boundary dispute has often led to clashes, the latest one in the Langpih area on 14 May that claimed four lives. The place, claimed by both states, is 60 km west of this city. “We want a solution to the border problem once and for all. We have accordingly decided to form a committee to be jointly headed by the chief secretary of both states,” said Assam CM Tarun Gogoi after the meeting. The modalities to solve the border dispute would be framed within the next 45 days, he added.
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Kolkata football clubs need to plan for I-League : Experts
Kolkata, 6 June : Another season might have ended without any success in the I-League in a trend shifting towards the Goans and the experts have warned that the officials of the city-based big clubs must start planning, otherwise Kolkata football will struggle to survive.Having begun the 2009-10 season with much fanfare, the three Kolkata teams - Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Chirag United - finished fifth, eighth and ninth respectively in the 14-team league won by Dempo. In fact, it would have been worse as East Bengal were languishing in the relegation zone before lifting themselves up on the I-League ladder towards the end.
Last season's champions Churchill Brothers finished second while first-timers Pune FC were third, a scenario that must be baffling for the die-hard Kolkata football fans with the national league title last won by East Bengal in 2003-04.
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