PTI, Kolkata, 30 October : At least 18 people drowned and many went missing when an overcrowded trawler capsized in the Muriganga river near Sagar Islands in South 24 Parganas district today.
The authorities fear the toll could rise. Three trawlers were sailing to Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas from Hijli Sarif in East Midnapore district when one of them capsized. "Sixteen bodies have been found and more than 50 persons rescued while many of the bodies were swept away by swift current in the river," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Surojit Kar Purokayanstha told PTI."There is a possibility that the death toll will increase because the trawler was overcrowded," South 24 Parganas Superintendent of Police L N Meena said. န File Photos
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Mamata announces slew of Railway projects for Burdwan
Andal, 30 October : Indian Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today announced a slew of projects, including expansion of Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, for Burdwan district.
The Railways would invest Rs 92.5 crore in CLW in the first phase to ramp up its production capacity to 200 engines annually from the current 150 and the expansion work would be over by 2012, Banerjee said at a programme held at a wagon manufacturing unit in Kulti. In the second phase, Rs 134 crore would be invested to boost its capacity to 275 engines, she said, adding that the Railways had placed an order of Rs 195 crore with the company."If there is a will, there is a way. Development cannot be made with the help of guns," Banerjee said taking a dig at the Left Front government. န Photos : Niraj Modi
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Jamaat-BNP will not be allowed to exist: Sajeda Chowdhury
UNB, Narayanganj, 30 October : Jamaat-BNP, the defeated forces of liberation war, will not be allowed to exist in Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla, said ruling Awami League front ranking leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury MP here today.
Speaking as chief guest at a function in memory of Afzal Hossain, former MP of Awami League at Narayanganj club she urged the freedom fighters and progressive forces to remain united. Spitting venom against Jamaat and BNP the sharp tongued Sajeda said,”They (Jamaat-BNP) should not exist in Bangabndhu’s Sonar Bangla; they shall not be allowed to exist.”
UNB, Narayanganj, 30 October : Jamaat-BNP, the defeated forces of liberation war, will not be allowed to exist in Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla, said ruling Awami League front ranking leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury MP here today.
Speaking as chief guest at a function in memory of Afzal Hossain, former MP of Awami League at Narayanganj club she urged the freedom fighters and progressive forces to remain united. Spitting venom against Jamaat and BNP the sharp tongued Sajeda said,”They (Jamaat-BNP) should not exist in Bangabndhu’s Sonar Bangla; they shall not be allowed to exist.”
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Joint force to remain in Maoist-hit areas : Pranab Mukherjee
PTI, Nabagram, Kolkata, 30 October : Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today ruled out withdrawl of security forces from Maoist-hit areas in West Bengal as demanded by his cabinet colleague and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.“The joint forces will operate in Maoist-hit areas of West Bengal and other Maoist-hit states as long as they continue to violate law and order and keep challenging the government,” Mr. Mukherjee told reporters here in Murshidabad district at the end of a National Integration camp.
The Trinamool Congress chief has been demanding withdrawal of joint forces from Maoist-hit areas in West Bengal alleging that CPI(M) cadre were taking their help in committing atrocities on the people.
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Shillong Chamber Choir to perform for USPresident Obama
PTI, Shillong, 30 October : After holding the nation spellbound with western chorals and Hindi classics on a TV reality show, the Shillong Chamber Choir will now have a very special audience - US President Barack Obama.
The young group of singers from Shillong, dubbed as the 'rock capital of India', is scheduled to perform for the US President and his wife Michelle at President Pratibha Patil's presidential banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 8 November.
PTI, Shillong, 30 October : After holding the nation spellbound with western chorals and Hindi classics on a TV reality show, the Shillong Chamber Choir will now have a very special audience - US President Barack Obama.
The young group of singers from Shillong, dubbed as the 'rock capital of India', is scheduled to perform for the US President and his wife Michelle at President Pratibha Patil's presidential banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 8 November.
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93 Rajshahi BDR's proceedings will begin on 13 November
UNB, Rajshahi, 30 October : Trial proceedings of 93 alleged mutineers of Rajshahi 37 Rifles Battalion will begin in a special court set up at the battalion headquarters on 13 November.
The accused 93 jawans were arrested a day after filing of a treason case against them on 17 May last year for their alleged involvement in 25-26 Feb mutiny. The three-member court, led by BDR Kushtia zone Sector Commandar Col Nazrul Islam.
UNB, Rajshahi, 30 October : Trial proceedings of 93 alleged mutineers of Rajshahi 37 Rifles Battalion will begin in a special court set up at the battalion headquarters on 13 November.
The accused 93 jawans were arrested a day after filing of a treason case against them on 17 May last year for their alleged involvement in 25-26 Feb mutiny. The three-member court, led by BDR Kushtia zone Sector Commandar Col Nazrul Islam.
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Volatile supply from India may hit Bangladesh potato price
IANS, Dhaka, 30 October : A 'volatile' supply from India and a bad crop this year may lead to an increase in potato prices in Bangladesh ahead of the season approaching Bakri Eid, a media report said.
Prospects of a bad crop have sent the prices soaring by 50 percent in the last one week alone. But in this alarming situation, the main beneficiaries, at the cost of the public, are the cold storage owners and hoarders, the New Age newspaper said Saturday. 'Volatile' supply from neighbouring India has added to the uncertainty and allowed free play to cold storage owners and hoarders.'The situation has not reached that level that there is no potato, but cashing in on fears of poor supply in the next few weeks, cold storage owners and hoarders are making windfall profits,' a wholesaler in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar said.
Early harvested potatoes usually start arriving in the market at the beginning of November and that forces release of more stocks from hoarders and eventually push down the price. Market observers said a good harvest last year pushed down potato price even as cold storages had built up huge stocks.
All this is a far cry from the situation two years ago when Bangladesh had a record potato crop that necessitated exports. And while the exports were picking up, the then army chief Gen Moin U. Ahmed launched a campaign on behalf of the caretaker government and called upon the people, for whom the staple diet is rice, to change their food habits. န File Photos
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