ESPNcricinfo, Guangzhou, 26 November : Bangladesh's cricketers won their country its first-ever gold medal in the Asian Games by beating Afghanistan in a thrilling final in Guangzhou. In a see-saw match that attracted a crowd of 2000, 19-year-old Shabbir Rahman smashed two sixes in the penultimate over to decisively swing the match Bangladesh's way and dash Afghan hopes of a gold.A day after upsetting fancied Pakistan in the semi-finals, Afghanistan looked set for a hammering when they slid to 66 for 6 in the 13th over on choosing to bat. Youngsters Asghar Stanikzai (38*) and Shabir Noori (25) then gave Afghanistan's chances a boost with a stabilising stand that left Bangladesh needing 120 for victory.
Bangladesh almost made a mess of what should have been a straightforward chase, losing five wickets, including that of their experienced captain Mohammad Ashraful, for 75. Afghanistan were scenting another famous win but were denied by the pair of allrounder Naeem Islam, who is looking to secure a permanent spot in the Bangladesh side, and Rahman, a legspinner who was part of the squad for this year's Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. With 19 needed off the final two overs, Bangladesh were the underdogs but they clubbed 17 runs of the 19th over from offspinner Karim Sadiq, who had excellent figures of 2-0-10-2 before that, to transform the game."I had a good talk with Naeen before the 19th over and we went for it," Shabbir said. "Luckily, it came good. There was no pressure on me, but I am sure my team-mates in the dressing room were tense."
Ashraful admitted he had given up hope towards the end. "I was feeling a bit low but then Shabbir came and did the job for us," he said. "There was a bit of pressure because Afghanistan are a very good side and this was our first major final."
Cricket has been Bangladesh's most productive sporting discipline at the Asian Games so far - besides the men's gold, they have won silver in the women's competition. They have only one other medal in the Asian Games so far, a bronze in kabaddi. န Photos : AP, Reuters
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West Bengal pays tribute to 26/11's terror attack victims
Kolkata, 26 November : West Bengal today paid tributes to those killed in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai with Governor M K Narayanan laying a wreath at the police memorial in the maidan here.
The Governor led the state in paying tributes. State's DGP Naparajit Mukherjee and top city and state police officers were among those who paid homage to the 166 martyrs. Kolkata police has organised a rally from north gate of the Victoria Memorial to the citizen's park in memory of the terror victims.
Kolkata, 26 November : West Bengal today paid tributes to those killed in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai with Governor M K Narayanan laying a wreath at the police memorial in the maidan here.
The Governor led the state in paying tributes. State's DGP Naparajit Mukherjee and top city and state police officers were among those who paid homage to the 166 martyrs. Kolkata police has organised a rally from north gate of the Victoria Memorial to the citizen's park in memory of the terror victims.
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Assam CM requests PM to form tech team on dam projects
PTI, Guwahati, 26 November : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to form a technical team comprising seismologists and hydro electric project experts to examine the possible downstream effects of the mega dam project of lower Subansiri in Arunachal Pradesh.Gogoi, who called on the Prime Minister in New Delhi, said the technical team was necessary to allay fears raised by various organisations in the state of adverse downstream effects in Assam. Singh assured Gogoi that he would constitute an expert committee to allay apprehensions in the minds of the people, an official release said here.
Gogoi also requested Singh to take up with the Chinese government the issue of building of hydro-electric projects on River Tsangpo and whether it would cause water scarcity in Assam.
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India government unveils Rs 3,300 cr plan for "Naxal" dists
PTI, New Delhi, 26 November : With an aim of tackling naxalism through development, the government has unveiled a special Rs 3300 crore action plan in 60 affected tribal and backward districts across nine states.
The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) is intended to provide immediate redressal to problems of the people in tribal and backward districts in the sector like healthcare, drinking water, education and roads.
PTI, New Delhi, 26 November : With an aim of tackling naxalism through development, the government has unveiled a special Rs 3300 crore action plan in 60 affected tribal and backward districts across nine states.
The Integrated Action Plan (IAP) is intended to provide immediate redressal to problems of the people in tribal and backward districts in the sector like healthcare, drinking water, education and roads.
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WB Government's 10 % reservation for "MBC challenged"
Kolkata, 26 November : Calcutta High Court today admitted a PIL challenging West Bengal government's decision to allot an additional 10 per cent quota to Most Backward Classes (MBC).
A division bench comprising Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice Asim Roy directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit stating its position within four weeks. The petition claimed that the reservation in the garb of MBC was given to Muslim minority castes, many of which were above the prescribed criteria.
Kolkata, 26 November : Calcutta High Court today admitted a PIL challenging West Bengal government's decision to allot an additional 10 per cent quota to Most Backward Classes (MBC).
A division bench comprising Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice Asim Roy directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit stating its position within four weeks. The petition claimed that the reservation in the garb of MBC was given to Muslim minority castes, many of which were above the prescribed criteria.
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Mizoram to discontinue Bru repatriation from North Tripura
PTI, Aizawl, 26 November : The Mizoram government has decided to discontinue the ongoing repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps in North Tripura district in the wake of reported protests by anti-deportation elements.
A meeting of senior officials, chaired by state Home Minister R Lalzirliana here yesterday took the decision, even as 101 Bru families have returned to Mizoram in two phases of the repatriation since November three, home department officials today said.
PTI, Aizawl, 26 November : The Mizoram government has decided to discontinue the ongoing repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps in North Tripura district in the wake of reported protests by anti-deportation elements.
A meeting of senior officials, chaired by state Home Minister R Lalzirliana here yesterday took the decision, even as 101 Bru families have returned to Mizoram in two phases of the repatriation since November three, home department officials today said.
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Plan panel to examine states’ complaints on Finance Comi
Agartala, 26 November : Indian Planning Commission has constituted a high level committee to look into complaints that the 13th Finance Commission (2010-2015) has deprived many states like Tripura of its resources, a state minister said Friday.“The 13th Finance Commission has deprived the special category states, including northeastern states, in recommending its awards and recommendations,” Tripura Finance Minister Badal Chaudhury told reporters.
“In view of the unjustified recommendations of the TFC, the resource-starved states have been facing severe financial crisis. We are now eagerly awaiting the proposal of the Planning Commission constituted committee, formed recently,” Chaudhury said.
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Hasina requests Belgian govt to recruit skilled sailors, etc.
UNB, Brussels, 26 November : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested the Belgian government to recruit skilled sailors, and skilled manpower for IT and other related sectors from Bangladesh.
“I believe there is good scope for Belgium in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry, IT, energy and infrastructure sectors,” she said when she met Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme at his residence on Thursday evening. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said Sheikh Hasina also requested the Belgian government to import frozen fish, RMG products, bicycles, spare parts, pharmaceuticals, jute products, ceramics, and leather products in larger volume.
UNB, Brussels, 26 November : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested the Belgian government to recruit skilled sailors, and skilled manpower for IT and other related sectors from Bangladesh.
“I believe there is good scope for Belgium in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding industry, IT, energy and infrastructure sectors,” she said when she met Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme at his residence on Thursday evening. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said Sheikh Hasina also requested the Belgian government to import frozen fish, RMG products, bicycles, spare parts, pharmaceuticals, jute products, ceramics, and leather products in larger volume.
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10 poachers surrender in Assam's Kaziranga National Park
PTI, Guwahati, 26 November : Ten poachers today surrendered before forest authorities following an ultimatum served by the villagers in Assam's Kaziranga National Park.
Three fringe villages around the park, a world heritage site and home to the highly endangered one-horned rhinos, had served an ultimatum to 12 poachers who were hiding inside the forest to surrender a week back. Ten of them surrendered and deposited one .303 rifle, a nine mm pistol and 39 rounds of ammunition.
PTI, Guwahati, 26 November : Ten poachers today surrendered before forest authorities following an ultimatum served by the villagers in Assam's Kaziranga National Park.
Three fringe villages around the park, a world heritage site and home to the highly endangered one-horned rhinos, had served an ultimatum to 12 poachers who were hiding inside the forest to surrender a week back. Ten of them surrendered and deposited one .303 rifle, a nine mm pistol and 39 rounds of ammunition.
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6 nation expedition traces BrahmaputraKolkata, 26 November : A six-nation rafting-cum-trekking expedition has successfully covered 3,000 km from the source of the river Brahmaputra in Tibet to its delta in the Bay of Bengal.
The 14-member team - comprising seven Indians, one Swiss, three Czechs, a new Zealander, an American and a German - took part in the first ever exploration on foot and by using inflatable boats of the river that flows through three nations - China, India and Bangladesh. "The aim of our expedition is to focus worldwide attention on riverine ecology as also the livelihood and culture of the people living near the river banks," said Swiss team leader Andy Leeman, after reaching the city in three inflated boats alongside the 13 other members of the contingent Thursday. The team arrived here from Bangladesh after the 55-day expedition.The long journey started 1 October from the source of Brahmaputra near Mount Kailash in Tibet. In the first stage, the team passed through southern Tibet Plateau where the Yarlung Tsangpo (Sky River) has its origin in the Chemayung-Dung glacier. The river then goes past the 7,782-m Mount Namche Barwa and flows into the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon - the world's longest and deepest gorge.
The team members trekked on high altitude and rafted down some of the most punishable rapids as they covered the first phase of the expedition. In the second phase, the expedition team started their rafting on the river in Assam and reached Bangladesh as they traversed through the waters on the Bay of Bengal. န Photos : AP
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