Kolkata, 31 July : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today alleged that unable to fight her politically, CPI(M) has hatched a conspiracy to eliminate her and discussed forming a suicide squad for that !"CPI(M) and some other political parties which have vested interests- I am not speaking about all parties have held a meeting and hatched a conspiracy to eliminate me. Such a meeting was held, you can inquire," Banerjee told reporters here. She charged that at the meeting CPI(M) discussed forming a suicide squad to eliminiate her and that whatever money was required would be paid. Banerjee claimed she had information of this and thought that West Bengal government had it too.
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Bangladesh garment protests spreadAFP, Dhaka, 31 July : Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets Saturday in a bid to subdue garment workers who rioted for a second day in protest against low pay as unrest spread to areas outside Dhaka, police said.
Workers fought pitched street battles with riot police in the manufacturing hub of Ashulia, north of Dhaka, as union officials rejected a government-backed pay hike as "insultingly low." "Over 20,000 workers walked off the job and many clashed with police, hurling stones and rocks. We fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse them," police inspector Nasir Ahmed told AFP.The unrest came as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told "workers to accept the pay hike and return to work," threatening tough action against those who disobeyed her orders.
Rioters also burnt tyres, blocked a key road linking Dhaka with northern Bangladesh, attacked factories and forced police to run for cover, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. The factories have announced a shutdown in response and "violence has ebbed but the situation is still tense," Ahmed said.
The protests are in response to the government's announcement Tuesday that the minimum monthly wage for garment workers would rise by 80 percent to 3,000 taka (43 dollars) from 1,662 taka - the lowest industry salary worldwide. န Photos : AFP, AP
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Hasina blames opposition to provoke chaos in RMG sector
UNB, Dhaka, 31 July : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the opposition of instigating garment workers to create instability in the country.
The Prime Minister urged the people not to pay any heed to “provocation” by any vested quarter, and continue their work for the country’s development. “They (the opposition) are provoking the garment workers to create chaos with an evil design to gain political benefit out of it,” she said while inaugurating the National Service Programme in Gopalganj district through tele-conference from Ganobhaban on Saturday afternoon.
UNB, Dhaka, 31 July : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the opposition of instigating garment workers to create instability in the country.
The Prime Minister urged the people not to pay any heed to “provocation” by any vested quarter, and continue their work for the country’s development. “They (the opposition) are provoking the garment workers to create chaos with an evil design to gain political benefit out of it,” she said while inaugurating the National Service Programme in Gopalganj district through tele-conference from Ganobhaban on Saturday afternoon.
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Security beefed up in Assam before 'Independence Day'
PTI, Rangiya, 31 July : Security has been beefed up in lower Assam ahead of Independence Day following intelligence reports that NDFB and ULFA militants would carry out subversive activities. The militants have brought in huge quantities of RDX and other explosives in the region, official sources said quoting the reports.
The explosives were suspected to have been brought to Guwahati, Goalpara or South Kamrup and search operations have been intensified in these areas. Security measures have been intensified in sensitive areas, particularly railway tracks, stations, bus depots, oil refineries and other vital installations.
PTI, Rangiya, 31 July : Security has been beefed up in lower Assam ahead of Independence Day following intelligence reports that NDFB and ULFA militants would carry out subversive activities. The militants have brought in huge quantities of RDX and other explosives in the region, official sources said quoting the reports.
The explosives were suspected to have been brought to Guwahati, Goalpara or South Kamrup and search operations have been intensified in these areas. Security measures have been intensified in sensitive areas, particularly railway tracks, stations, bus depots, oil refineries and other vital installations.
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India’s biggest Travel & Tourism Fair, TTF opens in Kolkata
Kolkata, 31 July : India’s biggest travel mart- The Travel and Tourism Fair or TTF- opened at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here with over 300 participants from across India and seven countries.The three-day Fair was inaugurated by West Bengal Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee. Continuing the trend of more and more international destinations now looking at Kolkata and Eastern India as an important market, Cambodia and Korea are participating in TTF Kolkata for the first time, as Featured Countries.
Other countries that are represented in TTF Kolkata are Bhutan, China, Dubai (UAE), Egypt, and Nepal. This is a clear indication about the growth of Kolkata’s importance as an outbound market, in addition to it being one of India’s biggest markets of domestic tourists. West Bengal Tourism is the host state of TTF Kolkata.
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Assam gets ninth 'Armed Forces Tribunal' in country
PTI, Guwahati, 31 July : The regional bench of Armed Forces Tribunal was inaugurated here today by Tribunal Chairman Justice A K Mathur to address the grievances of the armed forces personnel.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mathur said the tribunal, the ninth in the country, would ensure that army personnel receive justice at the earliest. "The tribunal will help in quicker disposal of cases and will give easy accessibility for armed forces personnel," he said.
PTI, Guwahati, 31 July : The regional bench of Armed Forces Tribunal was inaugurated here today by Tribunal Chairman Justice A K Mathur to address the grievances of the armed forces personnel.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mathur said the tribunal, the ninth in the country, would ensure that army personnel receive justice at the earliest. "The tribunal will help in quicker disposal of cases and will give easy accessibility for armed forces personnel," he said.
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Bangladesh Law Minister hints banning Jamaat politics
UNB, Dhaka, 31 July : Bangladesh Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed Saturday gave a broad hint at banning the politics of Jamaat but hastened to add that the Election Commission will decide whether or not it would cancel registration of any religion-based political party.
“The EC is a constitutional body and it will uphold the supremacy of the Constitution,” he told reporters at CIRDAP when asked whether Jamaat politics will be banned or not.
UNB, Dhaka, 31 July : Bangladesh Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed Saturday gave a broad hint at banning the politics of Jamaat but hastened to add that the Election Commission will decide whether or not it would cancel registration of any religion-based political party.
“The EC is a constitutional body and it will uphold the supremacy of the Constitution,” he told reporters at CIRDAP when asked whether Jamaat politics will be banned or not.
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Two NLFT insurgents surrender in North Tripura district
PTI, Agartala, 31 July : Two insurgents of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) surrendered to police in North Tripura district after fleeing from the NLFT's base camp in Chittagong Hill Tract, police sources said today.
The insurgents identified as Falgunjoy Tripura and Parjoy Tripura sureendered to the officer-in-charge of Kanchanpur in North Tripura district yesterday, police said. The duo did not deposit any arm or ammunition.
PTI, Agartala, 31 July : Two insurgents of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) surrendered to police in North Tripura district after fleeing from the NLFT's base camp in Chittagong Hill Tract, police sources said today.
The insurgents identified as Falgunjoy Tripura and Parjoy Tripura sureendered to the officer-in-charge of Kanchanpur in North Tripura district yesterday, police said. The duo did not deposit any arm or ammunition.
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Successful kidney transplantation in Dhaka MC Hospital
Dhaka, 31 July : The doctors successfully transplanted the kidney of a youth free of cost for the fist time in the history of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).The operation was conducted by a team of expert surgeons of the Urology Department of DMCH and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) under the supervision of Nephrology Department of the DMC, a press release said. The Anesthesiology Department of BSMMU and DMCH cooperated to conduct the operation. The kidney receiver Jubair, 23 and his brother kidney donor Sohel were normal under the observation of Nephrology Department of DMCH after operation, which took place on 25 July.
Dr Md Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, head of Nephrology department of DMCH said they conducted a successful operation of kidney transplantation.
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Andaman Islands to get modern sports infrastructure : LG
UNI, Port Blair, 31 July : Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Bhopinder Singh has asserted that the remote islands would be getting as many as three major sports installations very soon.Referring to the steps being taken for creation of sports infrastructure facilities in the islands, he said concerted efforts are being made for the promotion of sports in a big way. ''In tune with this, construction of a full-fledged International standard football stadium with the help of AIFF and FIFA is under progress at JNRM complex of Andaman and Nicobar islands,'' the Lt Governor said addressing the felicitation ceremony organised by the Department of SAC to honour the sportspersons of the islands who have won medals at national level during the year 2008-09, at Port Blair on Friday evening.
He said a modern sports complex is also coming up at remote Car Nicobar. Plans are also affot to develop similar sports complex at Mayabunder Island of North Andaman, he said. Underscoring the need for developing sports culture in the islands, he said efforts will be made to form sports academy in different places in the islands.
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Revenue min Bhumidhar Barman to be in charge of Assam
Guwahati, 31 July : Assam revenue minister Bhumidar Barman will be in charge of the state till Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi returned to the state after heart surgery in Mumbai.
Gogoi was scheduled to undergo a bypass heart surgery and aortic valve replacement at Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai on 4 August, the sources said.
Guwahati, 31 July : Assam revenue minister Bhumidar Barman will be in charge of the state till Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi returned to the state after heart surgery in Mumbai.
Gogoi was scheduled to undergo a bypass heart surgery and aortic valve replacement at Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai on 4 August, the sources said.
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Santu Larma seeks special governing system in CHT area
BSS, Rangamati, 31 July : Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhiprio Larma alias Santu Larma called upon the government to introduce a special governing system in the CHT region by amending the constitution.
He said a 'different reality' would surely emerge in the region, if the High Court (HC) verdict scrapping the CHT Council Act is upheld by the Supreme Court. Therefore, the government would have to take initiatives to amend the constitution to make the CHT Council Act and CHT District Council Act effective.
BSS, Rangamati, 31 July : Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhiprio Larma alias Santu Larma called upon the government to introduce a special governing system in the CHT region by amending the constitution.
He said a 'different reality' would surely emerge in the region, if the High Court (HC) verdict scrapping the CHT Council Act is upheld by the Supreme Court. Therefore, the government would have to take initiatives to amend the constitution to make the CHT Council Act and CHT District Council Act effective.
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Poor facilities washing away Cherrapunjee's tourism luck
IANS, Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya), 31 July : Dotted with waterfalls cascading over deep gorges, this town - renamed Sohra - is famous the world over as the wettest place on earth due to its magical rains. But lack of facilities have prompted some to dub it as a "third class tourist destination".
"Cherrapunjee is a third class tourist destination. I feel tourists visiting Cherrapunjee are being cheated," H.T. Sangliana, vice chairman of the National Minority Commission, told IANS. Cherrapunjee is based on the edge of a plateau on the southern slopes in the East Khasi Hills district. Located 1,290 metres above sea level and 56 km from state capital Shillong, it is known to receive the highest rainfall in the world.This town records an average rainfall of 12,000 mm a year, with the maximum occurring over the southern slopes of the Khasi Hills. The highest recorded total annual rainfall was 24,555 mm in 1974.
Heavy rains have created rare bio-diverse vegetation here and made the town a high point of tourism in the state. But infrastructure for tourists are woefully lacking. The town has just 25 rooms for visitors and poor toilet facilities. Sangliana, MP, a former Indian Police Service officer, said the road leading to Cherrapunjee is in an awful condition.
"It's awful. There are no proper public toilets and very few hotels. There is no afforestation and no flower beds. Tourists are being cheated, they come for something and are getting nothing," Sangliania added. Tourism Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh disagreed with the criticism.
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