Siliguri, 27 August : Several low-lying areas of north Bengal in Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts were submerged Friday following heavy rainfall, which affected 5,000 people and led to a rise in the water level of the Teesta river.Following this, the administration issued 'red signal' alert along both the banks of the river. Jalpaiguri district administration sources said 'red signal' was declared over both the banks after the water level of the Teesta river rose following heavy rainfall in the hilly and plains areas. The 'red signal' warning was issued from the Jalpaiguri town down the river to the Bangladesh border.
Several areas in the Siliguri subdivision of the Darjeeling district were submerged following heavy rainfall since Thursday. Low-lying areas in Siliguri subdivision like Naxalbari, Rangapani and Nayabasti have been flooded. The people of these areas staged a protest due to poor drainage system in the area. The weatherman has predicted very heavy rainfall in isolated places of the region till Saturday. န File Photo
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Gyaneshwari mishap accused Umakant killed in encounter
IANS, Kolkata, 27 August : Maoist leader Umakanta Mahato, a prime suspect in the Gyaneshwari Express sabotage case, was killed in an encounter with joint security forces in Jhargram area of West Midnapore district early Friday, a top police official said."Umakanta Mahato has been killed sometime early morning today following an encounter in a forest area of Jhargram," West Bengal director general of police (DGP) Bhupinder Singh told IANS over the phone. Mahato was the leader of tribal body People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA), which has been blamed for causing the sabotage. The five-hour encounter that started at around 1.30am took place in the Mohanpur forest near Lodhashuli. A 9mm pistol and several rounds of ammunition have also been recovered, but Umakanto's associates managed to flee.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the Gyaneshwari case, had earlier announced a reward of Rs1 lakh for information regarding Umakanta Mahato. န Photo : PTI READ BBC STORY
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Bangladesh PM Hasina's fondness to newspaper reading
Dhaka, 27 August : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said here today that she feels discomfort whole day if she can not go through newspapers in the morning just like one feels uneasy if there is no salt in the curry.
While speaking as the chief guest at an ifter party hosted jointly by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the prime minister said mere press clippings cannot satisfy her. "I feel a unique smell and flavour in freshly received copies of newspaper" she said adding she first gives a glimpse on the newspapers she receives at the beginning of her day just after performing her `fazr' prayer.
While speaking as the chief guest at an ifter party hosted jointly by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club (JPC), the prime minister said mere press clippings cannot satisfy her. "I feel a unique smell and flavour in freshly received copies of newspaper" she said adding she first gives a glimpse on the newspapers she receives at the beginning of her day just after performing her `fazr' prayer.
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Maoists kill 3of a family in W MidnaporeKolkata, 27 August : Three members of a family were killed Friday in West Midnapore district by Maoists on suspicion that they were police informers, police said.
"We were informed that three bodies of unknown persons were lying on the road in Kolaboni forest," Superintendent of Jhargram Police district Praveen Tripathi said. "The bodies were recovered and later identified as Gopal Mantri, his son Rajib and cousin Tapan, residents of Bagjhapa in Kolaboni area in Jhargram sub-division." "Maoist posters were also recovered from the area which state that the three were given capital punishment in the peoples' court for acting as police informers," said Tripathi. The three were first beaten severely and then arrows were shot at them from very close range, police said. န File Photo
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HC verdicts on 5th, 7th amendments historic, says Hasina
BSS, Dhaka, 27 August : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today described as "historic" the High Court verdicts on the 5th and 7th amendments to the constitution saying these would pave the way for continuation of the constitutional process in the country. Sheikh Hasina made the comments while speaking before an Iftar Mahfil jointly organized by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) at Jatiya Press Club here.
The Prime Minister's comments came a day after the High Court verdict declaring the 7th amendment to the constitution illegal that had legitimized the military rule of former President H M Ershad.
The Prime Minister's comments came a day after the High Court verdict declaring the 7th amendment to the constitution illegal that had legitimized the military rule of former President H M Ershad.
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22 injured in clash between CPIM, Trinamool in S Kolkata
Kolkata, 27 August : Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) supporters clashed during Kolkata Corporation polls at Baghajatin in South 24 Parganas district today, leaving ten injured, police said.Stone pelting occurred in the clash during the elections to borough no 11 and 12 under the added area of the Kolkata Corporation, they said. Among the injured were Trinamool Congress leader Rupa Bachi and CPI(M) leader Chandana Ghosh Dastidar. All have been admitted to the SSKM hospital. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel lathi-charged the rival groups to disperse them.
The CPI(M) alleged Trinamool supporters provoked them when they were peacefully demonstrating against the "unethical way" the elections were being conducted in both the boroughs. The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, claimed that police and the CPI(M) supporters attacked them, leaving many injured.
The CPI(M) has called a bandh in the two boroughs tomorrow in wake of the violence. န Photo : PTI
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"Nazrul's works to inspire new generation in coming eras"
Dhaka, 27 August : Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman today said the essence and ideals of the works of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam would always inspire the new generations in the coming eras.
In a message on the occasion to 34th death anniversary of the National Poet, the President said creative works of the poet inspired all of us in our country's independence movement." Terming Nazrul as an endless source of inspiration, the President said Nazrul sang the song of freedom by raising his voice against tyranny, suppression and injustice.
In a message on the occasion to 34th death anniversary of the National Poet, the President said creative works of the poet inspired all of us in our country's independence movement." Terming Nazrul as an endless source of inspiration, the President said Nazrul sang the song of freedom by raising his voice against tyranny, suppression and injustice.
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Kolkata gets "Bridal Fashion Week" 
Kolkata, 27 August : After the third edition of the Kolkata Fashion Week (KFW) was cancelled earlier this year due to a feud between the organisers, the city of joy is gearing up to host its first bridal-wear week next month.With participation from some of the top-notch designers like Neeta Lulla and Vikram Phadnis, the four-day 'Kolkata Couture Fashion Week' showcasing exclusive bridal collections will be held from 9 September.
"With the wedding and festive season just around the corner, the time is ripe to hold such an event which will offer exquisite attire for all kinds of wedding ? Bengali, Marwari, Muslim, Punjabi, Sindhi and South Indian weddings," Vivek Agarwal, chief events coordinator of Idea Weavers, the organizers of the extravaganza told.
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Appejay Logistics to invest Rs 200 crore at Haldia by 2015
Kolkata, 27 August : Apeejay Infralogistics, a 50:50 joint venture between the Apeejay Surrendra Group and Britain-based Eredene Capital Plc, Thursday announced the start of two new logistics parks in Haldia in WB, and Kalinganagar, Orissa.
'So far we have invested Rs.50-60 crore for both the projects,' Karan Paul, chairman, Apeejay Surrendra Group, said here. Erdene Capital has invested in 11 projects in India. The Haldia project would take another two-and-a-half year to be completed in phases. To be built on 90 acres, the project would entail investment of Rs.75 crore in phase I, Rs.75 crore in phase II and Rs.50 crore in phase III.
Kolkata, 27 August : Apeejay Infralogistics, a 50:50 joint venture between the Apeejay Surrendra Group and Britain-based Eredene Capital Plc, Thursday announced the start of two new logistics parks in Haldia in WB, and Kalinganagar, Orissa.
'So far we have invested Rs.50-60 crore for both the projects,' Karan Paul, chairman, Apeejay Surrendra Group, said here. Erdene Capital has invested in 11 projects in India. The Haldia project would take another two-and-a-half year to be completed in phases. To be built on 90 acres, the project would entail investment of Rs.75 crore in phase I, Rs.75 crore in phase II and Rs.50 crore in phase III.
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Rain brings smile back to Rajshahi region 'Aman' farmers
UNB, Rajshahi, 27 August : Rains brought smile back to farmers of Rajshahi region where transplanted aman plants were facing ruination for want of irrigation because of load-shedding and drought.Department of Agriculture officials said some 792,950 hectares of land were targeted in the current season for aman cultivation in 8 districts of the region but only half of that was cultivated since the season started in July due to inadequate rain coupled with want of irrigation due to heavy load-shedding and voltage fluctuations. Frustrated by continuous outage farmers even threatened to renew movement for their earlier demand of 100-hour power supply free of cost for irrigation in dried up field to save their crops. But rains in the last few days in the region have reduced their anxiety to some extent and saved transplanted aman plants from ruination.
Farmer Zaidur of Ghipara village of Poba upazila told UNB that he had prepared seedbed for tilling aman on his 5 bighas of land but he could transplant the plants on only 2 bighas by irrigating water from depleting pond as frequent outage and insufficient rain made it impossible to cultivate all the land. He said he was getting worried as lengthy drought was drying up his land and killing transplanted plants on the cultivated 2 bighas of land. But he said the downpour in the last couple of days has saved his aman plants.
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