Dhaka, 14 June : China Monday proposed to give assistance to Bangladesh for building the deep seaport in Chittagong and installing the country's first space satellite, report agencies.
Beijing also agreed to quickly disburse its assistance for Pagla Water Treatment Plant and Shahjalal Fertiliser Factory. The agreement came at the official talks between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinpeng at the PM's office in the afternoon. Later, Bangladesh and China signed an agreement on economic cooperation, under which Beijing will provide 40 million yuan as grant.Chinese Vice Minister for Commerce Chan Jian and Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides. The Chinese vice president and Bangladesh premier witnessed the signing ceremony. During the hour-long talks the two leaders agreed to boost cooperation in political, economic and cultural fronts. န Photos : AFP, PID
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India govt sending troops to end Manipur tribals blockade
New Delhi, 14 June : The Indian government is sending federal paramilitary troops to the north-eastern state of Manipur to lift a blockade by tribal groups.The two-month blockade of main roads has led to severe shortages of food and medical supplies and soaring prices. Naga tribal groups oppose a government decision preventing Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah from visiting his birthplace in the troubled state. Naga rebels have been campaigning for decades for a separate homeland.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has finally met protest leaders to hear their concerns. His involvement may be a last attempt to resolve things peacefully, our correspondent reports, before troops are instructed to lift the blockade - by force if necessary.
Home Secretary GK Pillai said the authorities would begin sending troops from Tuesday. "We shall see to it that food supplies reach Manipur," he told the AFP news agency.
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Haldia Petrochemicals interested to source naphtha from IOC’s Paradip refineryKolkata, 14 June : Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd is considering to source almost all its feedstock naphtha requirement from Indian Oil Corp’s Paradip refinery. Production is estimated to commence at Paradip in two years. The proposal is at an initial stage, and will be followed by a round of discussions and a feasibility study as the materialization of such an arrangement will require laying of a dedicated 330 km pipeline from the refinery to the petrochemical complex in Haldia by IOC.
In 2008, in a bid to cope with a financial crunch, IOC had divided the Paradip refinery and petrochemical project, wherein the petrochem project was put on hold and IOC decided to proceed with the first phase 15 mln ton refinery to be commissioned in March 2012. At its recent board meeting, IOC revived its plans for the petrochemical project, as the PSU’s financial prospects improve. An outlay of Rs 22,300 crore has been earmarked for the planned a 1 mln tpa petrochemical plant.
In 2008, in a bid to cope with a financial crunch, IOC had divided the Paradip refinery and petrochemical project, wherein the petrochem project was put on hold and IOC decided to proceed with the first phase 15 mln ton refinery to be commissioned in March 2012. At its recent board meeting, IOC revived its plans for the petrochemical project, as the PSU’s financial prospects improve. An outlay of Rs 22,300 crore has been earmarked for the planned a 1 mln tpa petrochemical plant.
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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrives in Bangladesh
Xinhua, Dhaka, 14 June : Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh on Monday, kicking off his official visit to Bangladesh.Xi made the visit as a guest of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed. Xi's tour is the first visit of a Chinese vice president to the southern Asian country. Bangladesh is the first leg of Xi's four-nation trip, and he will also visit Laos, New Zealand and Australia. Xi was warmly received at the airport by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni.
In a written speech delivered at the airport upon arrival, Xi said he wishes to "take this opportunity to pay tribute and extend best wishes to the Bangladeshi government and people." "China and Bangladesh are close and friendly neighbors," said the vice president, adding that the China-Bangladesh friendly relationship and cooperation have enjoyed continuous growth over the 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations... READ FULL STORY န Photo : AFP
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In Tripura the rank 1st state, blood donation is a movement
Sujit Chakraborty, Agartala, 14 June : What started as a bid to save the life of his friend, turned into a cause for Nanigopal Ghosh, who has donated blood 71 times since then. And he isn’t the only regular donor in Tripura, which last year ranked first in voluntary blood donation.
“When I was a student at Maharaja Bir Bikram College here in 1971, one of my closest friends met with an accident and required blood. We went to the hospital, but there was no blood of his group in the hospital’s blood bank,” Ghosh told. “Inspired by a doctor, I had given my blood to save my friend. Since then I have given blood 71 times,” Ghosh said. The teacher-turned-social activist said: “I have learnt that I can give blood twice a year and this blood can save precious lives.”Ghosh isn’t the only one in the state who has been doing that regularly. Voluntary blood donation in Tripura has become a movement of sorts with people from all walks of life coming forward for the good cause.
According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Tripura was ranked first in the country in voluntary blood donation (VBD) last year.
According to NACO and other government statistics for 2009, only five states - Tripura (95.3%), Tamil Nadu (91.9%), West Bengal (85.1%), Punjab (84.9%) and Maharashtra (84.8%) - have the distinction of the total collection being above 80 percent as against a national average of 55 to 60 percent.
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Maoists again kill two in West Midnapore and Bankura dist
Kolkata, 14 June : Suspected Maoists Monday killed two people, including a CPI(M) supporter, in West Midnapore and Bankura districts, police said.
An unidentified man was shot dead at Nayagram in West Midnapore district by Maoists, who claimed he was a police spy. 'Maoist posters were found at the spot,' Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said. The posters claimed that the man was a police informer who pretended to be mentally challenged, police sources said.
Another body was found by the police at Bhursadanga near Barikul police station in Bankura. The victim was identified as Sunil Karmakar, a resident of Belpahari in West Midnapore district.
Kolkata, 14 June : Suspected Maoists Monday killed two people, including a CPI(M) supporter, in West Midnapore and Bankura districts, police said.
An unidentified man was shot dead at Nayagram in West Midnapore district by Maoists, who claimed he was a police spy. 'Maoist posters were found at the spot,' Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said. The posters claimed that the man was a police informer who pretended to be mentally challenged, police sources said.
Another body was found by the police at Bhursadanga near Barikul police station in Bankura. The victim was identified as Sunil Karmakar, a resident of Belpahari in West Midnapore district.
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End row over maritime boundary, Bangladesh tells India
Dhaka, 14 June : Bangladesh is open to "an amicable settlement" of its maritime boundary disputes with India and Myanmar though it has sought UN involvement, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni has said.
"We have kept open options for an amicable settlement through bilateral discussions of the maritime boundary disputes with India and Myanmar," the minister said Sunday. The three countries have made overlapping claims because of the funnel-like coastline. The upper reaches of the Bay of Bengal are coveted by all three for exploration of hydrocarbons. An international tribunal formed under the UN aegis for speedy resolution of disputes over maritime boundaries has called Bangladesh and India to Germany to discuss arbitration procedures.
Dhaka, 14 June : Bangladesh is open to "an amicable settlement" of its maritime boundary disputes with India and Myanmar though it has sought UN involvement, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni has said.
"We have kept open options for an amicable settlement through bilateral discussions of the maritime boundary disputes with India and Myanmar," the minister said Sunday. The three countries have made overlapping claims because of the funnel-like coastline. The upper reaches of the Bay of Bengal are coveted by all three for exploration of hydrocarbons. An international tribunal formed under the UN aegis for speedy resolution of disputes over maritime boundaries has called Bangladesh and India to Germany to discuss arbitration procedures.
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UGC probe committee visits Tagore's Visva Bharati Varsity
Santiniketan, 14 June : The probe committee set up by the UGC to investigate the alleged corruption charges against vice-chancellor of Visva Bharati university and some other officials yesterday visited the varsity.The probe committee led by Sabyasachi Bhattachrya, chairman of ICCHR and other members talked to university officials and asked for documents. They also met leaders of various associations of teachers and non-teaching staff of the varsity. Later talking to reporters, Bhattacharya expressed hope that the probe committee would be able to complete its investigation by July end if it gets all the documents.
In October last year, the university employees and teachers went on strike demanding CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption charges against the vice-chancellor Rajat Roy. The strike was withdrawn after prime minister Manmohan Singh assured that an impartial inquiry would be conducted.
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PM calls for poor nations' unity to deal with climate change
Dhaka, 14 June : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday opened the Asia Conference of the Global Climate Change Alliance, calling upon the most vulnerable countries to forge greater unity to establish their rights in the international forums.
Addressing the inaugural session at Hotel Sheraton in the morning, she urged the developed economies to provide adaptation fund and technical assistance for the climate-victim countries soon to tackle the climate calamities. High-level representatives including ministers and diplomats from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Yemen are attending the two-day conference, arranged with an expectation to promote dialogue and exchanges to ensure practical cooperation on climate change.
Dhaka, 14 June : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday opened the Asia Conference of the Global Climate Change Alliance, calling upon the most vulnerable countries to forge greater unity to establish their rights in the international forums.
Addressing the inaugural session at Hotel Sheraton in the morning, she urged the developed economies to provide adaptation fund and technical assistance for the climate-victim countries soon to tackle the climate calamities. High-level representatives including ministers and diplomats from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Yemen are attending the two-day conference, arranged with an expectation to promote dialogue and exchanges to ensure practical cooperation on climate change.
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