BSS, Dhaka, 11 June : Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Xianyi said his country awaited Bangladesh proposal for Beijing's assistance for the planned deep sea port in the Bay of Bengal while Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping was set to arrive here on a two day tour next week."It's a big project in which China wants to contribute," the envoy told a press briefing at the embassy convened to outline the first ever visit to Bangladesh by a Chinese vice president coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Dhaka-Beijing ties two months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's maiden China tour. Zhang Xianyi said Bangladesh could not exploit the business potentials of its crucial geographic location for want of a "bigger port" while "if you have a bigger port, the cost of operations will also be reduced".
Beijing earlier expressed its keen willingness to support construction of the proposed deep sea port in Bangladesh which is to be used by the East as well as the South Asian neighbours.
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HC approves sale of Dgp's MAMC properties to consortiumI Stock Analyst, Kolkata, 11 June : The Calcutta High Court on Friday approved the sale of the closed facility of the Durgapur-based Mining and Allied Machineries Corporation (MAMC) to a consortium of BEML, Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for a total sum of Rs 100 crore. The sale was approved through open bidding.
According to a CIL official, following the order, the consortium has deposited Rs 18.75 crore with the court as earnest money. The balance Rs 81.25 crore will be deposited with the official liquidator within a month.... READ FULL STORY
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Gyaneswari Express accused Mahatos handed over to CBIJhargram, 11 June : CBI today took into its custody two accused of the Gyaneswari Express disaster that left 148 people dead on 28 May in West Midnapore dist.
The process of handover was approved by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sheikh Mohammed Rezza here following a petition by CBI, which will now take over probe of the disaster from CID. On 3 and 7 June, CID arrested Khagen Mahato and Samir Mahato in connection with the mishap. On the other hand, the court granted the CBI prayer to produce the accused on 17 June.
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West Bengal ruling Left Front to celebrate 33year in power 
Kolkata, 11 June : Amid increasing doubts about its ability to retain power in next year's assembly polls, West Bengal's ruling Left Front has decided to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of its uninterrupted reign in the state on 21 June.The main programme, to be attended by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, his ministerial colleagues and senior Left Front leaders, will be held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in central Kolkata. 'Left Front workers from Kolkata and adjoining districts will attend the function,' front chairman Biman Bose told reporters here. The present political situation and programmes of the government will be discussed at the function. Similar functions will be held in 15 districts.
The Left Front government assumed office 21 June, 1977, with Jyoti basu as the chief minister. Basu resigned due to old age and indisposition in November 2000 and was succeeded by Bhattacharjee.
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Stop futures trading in food to control prices : Tripura govt
Agartala, 11 June : The CPI(M) led Left Front government in Tripura Friday urged the central government stop futures trading in food commodities to control the rising prices of essential goods.Presenting the state budget for 2010-2011 in the assembly, Finance Minister Badal Chaudhury also sought extension of irrigation facilities, building up of buffer stocks in food deficit areas, providing adequate fertiliser subsidy, strengthening public distribution system and containing transportation costs. 'For bringing down the abnormal rise of prices, it is essential to boost production of food grains and essential commodities,' he added.
Blaming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) central government for 'bringing a number of legislations and take several measures to curtail the autonomy of the states', he also noted that in the union budget, the food subsidy has been reduced by over Rs.400 crore despite the Congress' commitment to enact a food security legislation.
The minister presented a tax-free Rs.6,693 crore budget with a deficit of Rs.186 crore for the current fiscal.
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Seven trekkers from West Bengal rescued in Uttarakhand
Kolkata, 11 June : A team of seven West Bengal-based trekkers and two sherpas have been rescued near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, state secretariat officials said today.Early today, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said five of the trekkers have been rescued and were being brought back. Later, state government officials announced that the entire team has been rescued. Goutam Biswas, Goutam Ghosh, Subrata Ghosh, Sachin Ghosh, Mrinal Kanti Ghosh, Sujit Manna and Ramchandra from Howrah had had left for Kedarnath on 28 May.
While returning from Maoli pass, 15 km from Kedarnath, they came under a blizzard and all contact was lost with them. Ramchandra somehow managed to return to a safer place and contacted the ITBP which in turn informed the Uttarakhand administration.
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Sikkim cut off from West Bengal due to landslide in NH-31
Siliguri, 11 June : The Himalayan state of Sikkim was cut off from West Bengal after landslides blocked National Highway 31 A in Darjeeling district Friday.
The landslide occurred at Hatisura under Kurseong police station around noon as big boulders accompanied by mud came down the hills blocking the highway, considered the lifeline of Sikkim. Alongside Sikkim, the Kalimpong sub-division of the district has also been cut off from the rest of the state. A large number of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway, police said. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel were engaged in clearing the highway.
Siliguri, 11 June : The Himalayan state of Sikkim was cut off from West Bengal after landslides blocked National Highway 31 A in Darjeeling district Friday.
The landslide occurred at Hatisura under Kurseong police station around noon as big boulders accompanied by mud came down the hills blocking the highway, considered the lifeline of Sikkim. Alongside Sikkim, the Kalimpong sub-division of the district has also been cut off from the rest of the state. A large number of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway, police said. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel were engaged in clearing the highway.
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Fake currency racket busted in Kolkata, four men arrested
Kolkata, 11 June : Four people, including two Nepalis, were arrested Friday for being allegedly involved in a fake currency racket and counterfeit notes with a face value of Rs.47.18 lakh were recovered, police said, hinting at a Pakistani link to the racket.Acting on a tip-off, Special Task Force officials arrested Upendra Chowdhury and Kumar Gautam of Nepal and Nausad Khan and Jafar Ali Khan of Bihar from 6 Chowringhee Lane near New Market. Fake Indian currency in the denomination of Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 were seized from them, said STF chief Rajiv Kumar. The four were caught from a shop in New Market and the fake notes were recovered later. They came to the city to hand over the consignment to another party in the business heart of the city, said Kumar.
He added that the needle of suspicion was pointing towards Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
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Time for course correction in West Bengal govt, says CPI
PTI, Hyderabad, 11 June : Holding the "wrong" industrialisation and other policies of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government responsible for the defeat of Left Front in the recent West Bengal civic polls, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan today said they need to be reconsidered.
"What is very clear is that some of the policies which the (Bengal) Government pursued did not find favour with the people. Industrialisation has to take place. But in the name of industrialisation, you cannot take away fertile agriculture land," he said at a 'Meet the Press' organised here by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
PTI, Hyderabad, 11 June : Holding the "wrong" industrialisation and other policies of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government responsible for the defeat of Left Front in the recent West Bengal civic polls, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan today said they need to be reconsidered.
"What is very clear is that some of the policies which the (Bengal) Government pursued did not find favour with the people. Industrialisation has to take place. But in the name of industrialisation, you cannot take away fertile agriculture land," he said at a 'Meet the Press' organised here by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
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WB Govt to take steps to deal with corporal punishment
Kolkata, 11 June : The West Bengal government today said it plans to set up an authority to deal with the issue of corporal punishment to students following an outcry over the alleged caning of a city school student that led him to commit suicide.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the suicide by Class VIII student Rouvanjit Rawla of the La Martiniere for Boys School in February, state school education minister Partha De said that there should be an appropriate body under the Right to Education Act to deal with such cases. The minister, however, did not specify any time frame for setting up the body, saying "we plan to set up the authority soon".
Kolkata, 11 June : The West Bengal government today said it plans to set up an authority to deal with the issue of corporal punishment to students following an outcry over the alleged caning of a city school student that led him to commit suicide.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the suicide by Class VIII student Rouvanjit Rawla of the La Martiniere for Boys School in February, state school education minister Partha De said that there should be an appropriate body under the Right to Education Act to deal with such cases. The minister, however, did not specify any time frame for setting up the body, saying "we plan to set up the authority soon".
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Kolkata' cybercafes put on alert in view of national security
Kolkata, 11 June : The police have decided to tighten surveillance at cybercafes in view of the increasing threat to national security.An order from Commissioner of Police Gautam Mohan Chakraborty, issued on 8 June, said all cybercafes should preserve the activity sever log records for at least six months. Plus, the cafe owners should maintain a register containing the name, address, telephone number and identity proof of every visitor in his handwriting, The order also directed cybercafe owners to inform the police if the activity of any visitor appears suspicious. Records should be maintained about specific computers used by the person.
The order, published in Kolkata Police Gazette, said criminals, anti-socials and anti-national elements are using cybercafes to mislead the security and investigating agencies.
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60,000 people marooned in Bianibazar UZ due to flashflood
UNB, Bianibazar (Sylhet), 11 June : Some 60,000 people have been marooned in Bianibazar upazila due to flashflood caused by incessant rain and onrush of hill waters from across the border.
Surma and Kushiara rivers are flowing above the danger level. Most portion of Sylhet-Bianibazar regional highway went under water due to the flashflood, disrupting communications between the upazila and other parts of the district. UNO Subrata Kumer Dey said 138 primary schools in the upazila have been announced as shelter centers. About 300 families have already taken shelter in the primary schools.
UNB, Bianibazar (Sylhet), 11 June : Some 60,000 people have been marooned in Bianibazar upazila due to flashflood caused by incessant rain and onrush of hill waters from across the border.
Surma and Kushiara rivers are flowing above the danger level. Most portion of Sylhet-Bianibazar regional highway went under water due to the flashflood, disrupting communications between the upazila and other parts of the district. UNO Subrata Kumer Dey said 138 primary schools in the upazila have been announced as shelter centers. About 300 families have already taken shelter in the primary schools.
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Anti-Malaria month observance at Bambooflat in Andaman
Port Blair, 11 June : In connection with the observance of Anti Malaria Month, a meeting was organized yesterday at CHC, Bambooflat in which the Up-Pradhan, Stewartgunj, Panchayat, Nooke Raju was the chief guest. Speaking of the occasion, he appealed to the general public to extend their cooperation to the Health Department for prevention and control of Malaria.
The Medical Officer, IC, CHC Bambooflat, Dr. Rekha and the District Malaria Officer, SK Sur, Dr. BP Saha, Dy. Director (Malaria), Dr. (Ms) Sithal also spoke on Malaria and its preventive measures. Leaflets and posters were distributed to the participant who attended the programme, a communication received here said.
Port Blair, 11 June : In connection with the observance of Anti Malaria Month, a meeting was organized yesterday at CHC, Bambooflat in which the Up-Pradhan, Stewartgunj, Panchayat, Nooke Raju was the chief guest. Speaking of the occasion, he appealed to the general public to extend their cooperation to the Health Department for prevention and control of Malaria.
The Medical Officer, IC, CHC Bambooflat, Dr. Rekha and the District Malaria Officer, SK Sur, Dr. BP Saha, Dy. Director (Malaria), Dr. (Ms) Sithal also spoke on Malaria and its preventive measures. Leaflets and posters were distributed to the participant who attended the programme, a communication received here said.
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World Bank pledges to help Sundarbans R'y Bengal Tigers
Dhaka, 11 June : World Bank pledges to financially back projects to save Bengal Tiger. The World Bank has pledged to the aid Bangladesh and India in the protection of the world’s remaining Royal Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans. World Bank will provide full financial backing.Bangladesh's state minister for Environment and Forests Hasan Muhmud said that after a meeting with the World Bank country director Ellen Goldstein on the “Global Tiger Initiation” project the World Bank has agreed to provide full financial backing. This tiger protection project is one of 13 projects that are currently being assisted by the World Bank.
A recent WWF led study suggests that Royal Bengal tigers could go extinct by the end of the century due to climate change and associated rising sea levels. The speed at which sea levels are projected to rise is likely to outpace the ability of the tiger to adapt.
A recent WWF led study suggests that Royal Bengal tigers could go extinct by the end of the century due to climate change and associated rising sea levels. The speed at which sea levels are projected to rise is likely to outpace the ability of the tiger to adapt.
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Kolkata's Dola Banerjee finishes 4th in World Cup Archery
Kolkata, 11 June : Olympian Dola Banerjee missed a bronze medal by a whisker and finished fourth in the women's recurve event of the World Cup Archery (Stage II) in Antalya, Turkey today.
Dola lost to Victoriya Koval of Ukraine by six points to two in the semifinals in the morning. In the bronze medal play-off, she was beaten by Ksenia Perova of Russia 7-1, according to information received here.
Kolkata, 11 June : Olympian Dola Banerjee missed a bronze medal by a whisker and finished fourth in the women's recurve event of the World Cup Archery (Stage II) in Antalya, Turkey today.
Dola lost to Victoriya Koval of Ukraine by six points to two in the semifinals in the morning. In the bronze medal play-off, she was beaten by Ksenia Perova of Russia 7-1, according to information received here.
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