IANS, Kolkata, 23 August : The generous salary hike for Indian parliamentarians has upset the pro-Maoist tribal body Peoples’ Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA). It will observe black day on 27 and 28 August in three West Bengal districts to protest the ‘excessive expenditure’ of MPs.PCAPA spokesperson Manoj Mahato told IANS, ‘At a time when a section of workers are being denied their due wages, how could MPs be entitled to a salary of Rs.50,000 per month, in addition to expense allowances amounting to Rs.50,000?’ ‘Most of the MPs have done nothing good for the people. Even they keep for themselves a major percentage of the money allotted to them under the MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) scheme,’ said Manoj.
‘During the two-day black days’ observation, we will hoist black flags in several places across Junglemahal,’ added Manoj.
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West Bengal urban poor get Rs.400cr for house building
Kolkata, 23 August : West Bengal government has allocated Rs.400 crore this fiscal for building dwelling units or renovating the old ones for the urban poor, who did not benefit from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
A state government press release said Rs.1 lakh would be utilised for construction of each new house and Rs.60,000 for renovation of the existing ones. “The beneficiaries are not required to pay a single farthing under this scheme. They may spend additional amount of money if possible, or may contribute to the scheme by way of manual labour,” the release said.
Kolkata, 23 August : West Bengal government has allocated Rs.400 crore this fiscal for building dwelling units or renovating the old ones for the urban poor, who did not benefit from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
A state government press release said Rs.1 lakh would be utilised for construction of each new house and Rs.60,000 for renovation of the existing ones. “The beneficiaries are not required to pay a single farthing under this scheme. They may spend additional amount of money if possible, or may contribute to the scheme by way of manual labour,” the release said.
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Second farmer suicide at Ausgram-I block in Burdwan dist
PTI, Burdwan, 23 August : A farmer whose crops perished in drought committed suicide in the second such incident in the rice bowl of West Bengal's Burdwan district within a span of three days.28-year-old farmer Jitu Bagdi drank pesticide at Karatia village in Ausgram-I block on Saturday and died today at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, District Magistrate Omkar Singh Meena told PTI. The farmer's wife, Rupa, said he drank a mixture of pesticide and alcohol when family members were not at home as he could not repay a loan of Rs 35,000 to a money lender which he took for raising crops. Agriculture Development Officer of Ausgram-I, Biswajit Mondal, said "the farmer was suffering from depression due to crop failure."
The DM, however, said it seemed that the farmer committed suicide due to family problems. Earlier on Saturday, 45-year-old Yunus Sheikh of Basantapur village of Ausgram-I block committed suicide. Burdwan, along with 10 others districts in south Bengal have been declared drought-affected by the state government.
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Bangladesh allows foreign players in domestic T20 League
Dhaka, 23 August : Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has permitted the recruitment of foreign players for the country's domestic Twenty20 competition - the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. Teams will be allowed to include up to five overseas players in their squads, two of whom will be allowed to feature in the playing XI.
The tournament's inaugural version was held last year over a period of a week and involved 12 of Dhaka's best clubs. Seven out of 34 matches were telecast live and there was an attempt to introduce some glitz with cheerleaders, DJs, live performances and SMS quiz competitions. The winners took home a cheque of Tk 200,000 (US$2890).
Dhaka, 23 August : Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has permitted the recruitment of foreign players for the country's domestic Twenty20 competition - the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. Teams will be allowed to include up to five overseas players in their squads, two of whom will be allowed to feature in the playing XI.
The tournament's inaugural version was held last year over a period of a week and involved 12 of Dhaka's best clubs. Seven out of 34 matches were telecast live and there was an attempt to introduce some glitz with cheerleaders, DJs, live performances and SMS quiz competitions. The winners took home a cheque of Tk 200,000 (US$2890).
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Tata to gift state-of-the-art cancer hospital to Kolkata by '10
PTI, Kolkata, 23 August : The metropolis would have the privilege of getting a new state-of-the-art cancer hospital by this year."We hope to dedicate the Tata Cancer hospital this year", chairman of Tata Sons Ratan Tata said today. He said that the increased investments had gone in setting up the hospital at Rajarhat near the metropolis. Earlier investments earmarked for the hospital was Rs 100 crore. Tata said that West Bengal was very much a part of the group's corporate identity. In spite of little or no trade in Tata Global Beverages scrip on the Calcutta Stock Exchange, we would not go for delisting. "We do not want to forget the roots from where the company's journey started", he said.
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Six die, as Congress, CPM Workers clash in Murshidabad
Baharampore, Kolkata, 23 August : At least six people died and 20 others were injured in clashes between the Congress and the CPI(M) workers at Islampur in Murshidabad district. The ongoing clashes broke out with two political groups on Sunday.
According to IGP Surajit Kar Purakayastha, the violence took place at Ghughupara under Islampur police station over the election of a school management committee. Two groups used crude bombs and fired at each other. However, the violence is going on, Police have detained three accused for interrogation and senior police officers have been sent to the area to control the clash.
Baharampore, Kolkata, 23 August : At least six people died and 20 others were injured in clashes between the Congress and the CPI(M) workers at Islampur in Murshidabad district. The ongoing clashes broke out with two political groups on Sunday.
According to IGP Surajit Kar Purakayastha, the violence took place at Ghughupara under Islampur police station over the election of a school management committee. Two groups used crude bombs and fired at each other. However, the violence is going on, Police have detained three accused for interrogation and senior police officers have been sent to the area to control the clash.
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Bangladesh bans political street campaigns in Dhaka city
Reuters, Dhaka, 23 August : Bangladesh police on Monday imposed a ban on political campaigns in the capital ahead of a protest called by the main opposition party against cancellation of parole of Arafat Rahman, younger son of the party chief.
The protest, called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, will be followed by a countrywide protest next week, BNP leaders said.
Reuters, Dhaka, 23 August : Bangladesh police on Monday imposed a ban on political campaigns in the capital ahead of a protest called by the main opposition party against cancellation of parole of Arafat Rahman, younger son of the party chief.
The protest, called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, will be followed by a countrywide protest next week, BNP leaders said.
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Suspected anthrax outbreak in Bangladesh, 112 affected
Xinhua, Dhaka, 23 August : At least 112 people have so far fallen ill with suspected anthrax contracted from consuming meat of ill domestic animals recently in northwestern Bangladesh, health officials said Monday.
"Some 89 residents in Sirajganj district, some 134 km northwest of capital Dhaka, are suspected to be affected with anthrax after they consumed beef from sick cows recently," Ramiz Uddin Ahmed, program officer of the district's civil surgeon office, told Xinhua Monday. READ FULL STORY
Xinhua, Dhaka, 23 August : At least 112 people have so far fallen ill with suspected anthrax contracted from consuming meat of ill domestic animals recently in northwestern Bangladesh, health officials said Monday.
"Some 89 residents in Sirajganj district, some 134 km northwest of capital Dhaka, are suspected to be affected with anthrax after they consumed beef from sick cows recently," Ramiz Uddin Ahmed, program officer of the district's civil surgeon office, told Xinhua Monday. READ FULL STORY
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‘Holiday court’ to help clear backlog of cases in Tripura
IANS, Agartala, 23 August : The Guwahati High Court has decided to set up a ‘holiday court’ in Tripura to deal with the huge backlog of pending cases, a judge said here Monday.“The ‘holiday court’ would be held on the last Sunday of each month. The first such court would be held 29 August,” West Tripura district and sessions judge Gautam Debnath told IANS. “Every second Saturday has been fixed for a ‘lok adalat’ (people’s court) and the first such would be held 11 Sep,” he added. The judge said the holiday courts would settle cases relating to petty offences, motor vehicles, accidents, family disputes and societal quarrels. Tripura would be the only state amongst the eight in the northeast to hold such courts on a regular basis and on a fixed date.
The Guwahati High Court has jurisdiction over seven northeastern states and has permanent benches in some, including in Tripura. Sikkim, the eighth northereastern state, has its own high court. According to a senior official of the Tripura law department, around 77,500 cases have been pending in different courts in Tripura, including at the Agartala bench of the Guwahati High Court, where 6,320 cases were pending.
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Dhaka to Rajshahi air communication will resumes soon
BSS, Dhaka, 23 August : Air communication between Dhaka and Rajshahi is likely to resume very soon with a public-private partnership system. Galaxy Flying Academy Limited has a plan for carrying passengers side by side with training activities at Rajshahi Shah Mukhdum (R) Airport.
The flight operations from the port have been suspended since 20 February, 2007 due to shortage of passengers. After establishing the academy, the company will set up workshop for repairing airplane alongside manufacturing necessary instruments and apparatus. Galaxy will set up the workshop with assistance from CTRM, a Malaysian Aviation Company.
BSS, Dhaka, 23 August : Air communication between Dhaka and Rajshahi is likely to resume very soon with a public-private partnership system. Galaxy Flying Academy Limited has a plan for carrying passengers side by side with training activities at Rajshahi Shah Mukhdum (R) Airport.
The flight operations from the port have been suspended since 20 February, 2007 due to shortage of passengers. After establishing the academy, the company will set up workshop for repairing airplane alongside manufacturing necessary instruments and apparatus. Galaxy will set up the workshop with assistance from CTRM, a Malaysian Aviation Company.
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Dhaka University observe anniversary of student-army clash
Dhaka, 23 August : Students, teachers and employees of the University of Dhaka are observing on Monday the anniversary of the clash three years ago between students and the armed forces who were posted at the campus.Known as 'Black Day', between 20-23 August, 2007 students and teachers of Dhaka University began to protest openly against the joined armed forces following an incident between the students and army officers who were watching a match at the university's fields. Since then, every year the teachers and students observe the day commemorating that event.
The university's vice chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique is supposed to attend the discussion session to be held at TSC at 11am this morning. န News, Photo : Courtesy BD News
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Tripura mulls railway connectivity up-to Chittagong port
Agartala, 23 August : Owing to the inadequate security in hill section of Assam and slow progress in railway expansion work, the Tripura government is considering to establish railway connectivity between Udaipur (South Tripura headquarters) and Chittagong port (Bangladesh).
Officials here today said the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) had already started the tracks laying work between Udaipur and Sabroom and targeted to complete the project by 2013 while by that time Tripura has requested the Manmohan Singh government to provide fund for expansion of connectivity upto Chittagong port as an alternative cost effective route.
Agartala, 23 August : Owing to the inadequate security in hill section of Assam and slow progress in railway expansion work, the Tripura government is considering to establish railway connectivity between Udaipur (South Tripura headquarters) and Chittagong port (Bangladesh).
Officials here today said the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) had already started the tracks laying work between Udaipur and Sabroom and targeted to complete the project by 2013 while by that time Tripura has requested the Manmohan Singh government to provide fund for expansion of connectivity upto Chittagong port as an alternative cost effective route.
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Tamang murder case : GJMM protest escape of Nicol !
Darjeeling, Kolkata, 23 August : The Gorkha Janmukhti Morcha will begin an indefinite Darjeeling Hill shutdown over a demand for the return of Nicol Tamang, the prime accused in killing of Madan Tamang, the former president of the All India Gorkha League (AIGL) who escaped from police custody in Pintail village near Salbari in Darjeeling hills on Sunday.He has been in CID custody for twelve days. “We demand on behalf of the group, that within 24 hours the police must produce him (Nicol) in front of the public in the same condition as he was before his escape, otherwise, we will continue our protest. The group has already called for an indefinite strike from 1pm today,” Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, the chief spokesperson of the GJM, told Bengal Newz over phone.
“It is a conspiracy on the part of the government and it is the government which instructed the CID officials in Darjeeling to carry out the planned escape,” said Chettri. န Photo : PTI
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B'desh cabinet approves design of Elevated Expressway
Dhaka, 23 August : Bangladesh Cabinet at a meeting on Monday approved the design of the long-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) in capital Dhaka.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad informed this at a press briefing after the meeting, private news agency UNB reported. The Dhaka Elevated Expressway has been planned to improve road connectivity between the northern part of Dhaka City and the central, south and south eastern parts linking important commercial and business centers of the capital.
Dhaka, 23 August : Bangladesh Cabinet at a meeting on Monday approved the design of the long-awaited Dhaka Elevated Expressway (DEE) in capital Dhaka.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad informed this at a press briefing after the meeting, private news agency UNB reported. The Dhaka Elevated Expressway has been planned to improve road connectivity between the northern part of Dhaka City and the central, south and south eastern parts linking important commercial and business centers of the capital.
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