Dhaka, 2 November : Bangladesh Commerce Minister Mohammad Faurk Khan said Bangladesh's economic ability has been enhancing as it has already achieved 4.11% growth during the last financial year while many developed nations including neighboring countries have experienced negative growth.The country's export sector has registered a 30% jump during the first quarter of the present fiscal year due to the rise in exports in the sectors including readymade garments, shipbuilding, textiles, handicrafts, leather, jute and fish, he said. The minister was addressing as the chief guest while inaugurating marketing of German-made new brand BMW Series 5 vehicles in Bangladesh at a function in a city hotel here, an official handout said.
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West Bengal government open to dialogue with Maoists
Kolkata, 2 November : For the first time since the Maoist menace surfaced in a big way in West Bengal nine years ago, the state government today said that it was open to dialogue with the Maoists.
"The government is open to dialogue with the Maoists and wants to open a channel of communication," Additional DGP (law and order) S Karpurakayastha said ten days after the abduction of police officer Partha Biswas and his friend Soumyajit Basu. Asked why the administration wanted to open talks with the Maoists after more than a week, the ADG said, "We feel this is a right time. The government is open to dialogue (with the Maoists)."
Kolkata, 2 November : For the first time since the Maoist menace surfaced in a big way in West Bengal nine years ago, the state government today said that it was open to dialogue with the Maoists.
"The government is open to dialogue with the Maoists and wants to open a channel of communication," Additional DGP (law and order) S Karpurakayastha said ten days after the abduction of police officer Partha Biswas and his friend Soumyajit Basu. Asked why the administration wanted to open talks with the Maoists after more than a week, the ADG said, "We feel this is a right time. The government is open to dialogue (with the Maoists)."
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West Bengal trawler capsize toll rises to 75, 50 still missing
Kolkata, 2 November : The death count in Saturday's trawler capsize in West Bengal rose to 75 today as rescuers fought an inclement weather to fish out more bodies while more than 50 people still remained missing.South 24 Parganas District Magistrate N S Nigam said divers and other rescue workers braved an inclement weather, caused by a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal that triggered strong winds and waves making the search operation difficult. ''With winds blowing strong to charge up waves and the sky remaining overcast reducing visibility to a poor level, the search operation is being hamstrung,'' he said.
There was no official record of exactly how many people had boarded the ill-fated trawler, which obviously was overcrowded. However, the state administration has prepared a list in consultation with the Kakdwip gram panchayats, from where the pilgrims had set out to offer prayers at shrine at Hijli. State Home Secretary G D Gautama said according to the estimate, the trawler was ferrying 220 people, including children and women. Of them, 93 either swam ashore or were rescued while about 52 still remained missing, he said. န Photo : AFP
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B'desh, Pakistan agrees to push US$1billion bilateral trade
UNB, Dhaka, 2 November : Bangladesh and Pakistan agreed to redouble efforts to achieve US$1 billion target set for bilateral trade, address market access and remove tariff barriers for export of Bangladesh products to Pakistan market.
The agreement was reached at the 5th round of Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary Level Bilateral Consultations held in Islamabad on Monday, according to a release received from Islamabad Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes led the seven-member Bangladesh delegation while Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir led the Pakistan delegation.
UNB, Dhaka, 2 November : Bangladesh and Pakistan agreed to redouble efforts to achieve US$1 billion target set for bilateral trade, address market access and remove tariff barriers for export of Bangladesh products to Pakistan market.
The agreement was reached at the 5th round of Bangladesh-Pakistan Foreign Secretary Level Bilateral Consultations held in Islamabad on Monday, according to a release received from Islamabad Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes led the seven-member Bangladesh delegation while Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir led the Pakistan delegation.
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Killers of the four national leaders must be tried: Sk Hasina
Dhaka, 2 November : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government is firm to hold the trial of the killers of the four national leaders on completion of fair investigation. “The verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case has been partially executed. Efforts are underway to track down the absconding convicts and complete the implementation of the verdict,” she said.
Hasina made the statement marking the Jail Killing Day tomorrow (Wednesday) to be observed to commemorate the assassination of Syed Nazrul Islam, Taj Uddin Ahmad, Capt M Mansur Ali and M Qamaruzzaman killed in Dhaka Central Jail on 3 November, 1975.
Dhaka, 2 November : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government is firm to hold the trial of the killers of the four national leaders on completion of fair investigation. “The verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case has been partially executed. Efforts are underway to track down the absconding convicts and complete the implementation of the verdict,” she said.
Hasina made the statement marking the Jail Killing Day tomorrow (Wednesday) to be observed to commemorate the assassination of Syed Nazrul Islam, Taj Uddin Ahmad, Capt M Mansur Ali and M Qamaruzzaman killed in Dhaka Central Jail on 3 November, 1975.
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West Bengal government felicitates 'CWG' medal winners
Kolkata, 2 November : The West Bengal government today felicitated state's medal winners in last month's were Commonwealth Games.
Those felicitated were weightlifters Rahamatulla Molla and Sukhen Dey, table tennis players Subhojit Saha, Soumyajit Ros, Mouma Das and Poulami Ghatak, swimmer Prashant Karmakar, archers Dola Bandopadhyay and Rahul Bandopadhyay and Indian hockey team goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.
Kolkata, 2 November : The West Bengal government today felicitated state's medal winners in last month's were Commonwealth Games.
Those felicitated were weightlifters Rahamatulla Molla and Sukhen Dey, table tennis players Subhojit Saha, Soumyajit Ros, Mouma Das and Poulami Ghatak, swimmer Prashant Karmakar, archers Dola Bandopadhyay and Rahul Bandopadhyay and Indian hockey team goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.
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Sk Hasina asks IUT graduates to face challenges with skills
BSS, Gazipur, 2 November : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today advised the newly graduated students of Islamic University of Technology (IUT) to face future challenges with the knowledge and skills they acquired from the university.
"You will need to overcome numerous challenges like poverty and hunger, scarcity of food and energy, climate change and natural disasters," she told the students while addressing the 24th convocation ceremony of the IUT here. The Prime Minister said, "As scientists and technical experts, you need to find innovative ways for adapting to climate change, the usage of renewable sources of energy, ensuring abundance of food for all and keeping the planet alive from the onslaught of pollution."
"You will need to overcome numerous challenges like poverty and hunger, scarcity of food and energy, climate change and natural disasters," she told the students while addressing the 24th convocation ceremony of the IUT here. The Prime Minister said, "As scientists and technical experts, you need to find innovative ways for adapting to climate change, the usage of renewable sources of energy, ensuring abundance of food for all and keeping the planet alive from the onslaught of pollution."
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Bangladesh govt changes rules to detain '71 war criminals
IANS, Dhaka, 2 November : A tribunal in Bangladesh preparing to try former Islamist militants on the charge of killing unarmed civilians during the 1971 freedom movement has amended rules to facilitate their detention.The International Crimes Tribunal Monday amended its rules of procedure to stipulate that anyone being investigated for ‘crimes against humanity’ will be considered an accused. Earlier, a person was considered an accused only if formal charges against him were submitted to the tribunal. The change facilitates the detention of seven Islamists belonging to various parties, the Daily Star said Tuesday.
Coming into the tribunal’s net will be Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a lawmaker of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) who is considered close to party chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Also in the net will be Abdul Alim, who was a minister under Zia, and BNP leader Abul Kalam Azad.
Among others targeted by the tribunal are former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Golam Azam, Jamaat leader Mir Kashem Ali and former Jamaat lawmaker Abdus Sobhan, and Abdul Hannan of the Jatiya Party, a constituent of the ruling alliance.
The Jamaat’s chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, secretary eneral Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid, assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla have already been put behind bars to face charges of ‘genocide and crimes against humanity’. န Photo : UN
Coming into the tribunal’s net will be Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a lawmaker of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) who is considered close to party chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Also in the net will be Abdul Alim, who was a minister under Zia, and BNP leader Abul Kalam Azad.
Among others targeted by the tribunal are former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Golam Azam, Jamaat leader Mir Kashem Ali and former Jamaat lawmaker Abdus Sobhan, and Abdul Hannan of the Jatiya Party, a constituent of the ruling alliance.
The Jamaat’s chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, secretary eneral Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid, assistant secretaries general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla have already been put behind bars to face charges of ‘genocide and crimes against humanity’. န Photo : UN
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World Food Programme urged to raise food aid for B'desh
Dhaka, 2 November : Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque today urged World Food Programme (WFP) to divert part of food assistance to Bangladesh from Sub-Saharan Africa.
The United Nation's WFP has recently decreased food assistance to Bangladesh and some other countries in South Asia, while increasing its supports for the poorest parts of Africa. "We need increased food assistance from the UN because the experience of 2007 and `08 showed that food security cannot be ensured even if you have enough money to buy from international markets," the minister was quoted as telling WFP country director Christa Rader when the latter called on him at his ministry office.
The United Nation's WFP has recently decreased food assistance to Bangladesh and some other countries in South Asia, while increasing its supports for the poorest parts of Africa. "We need increased food assistance from the UN because the experience of 2007 and `08 showed that food security cannot be ensured even if you have enough money to buy from international markets," the minister was quoted as telling WFP country director Christa Rader when the latter called on him at his ministry office.
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Anti-collision device in Southern Railway from 10 November
PTI, New Delhi, 2 November : After putting it through extensive trials, Railways have decided to introduce the much-talked about anti-collision device (ACD) technology in Southern Railway network from 10 November.
The clamour for introducing ACD technology by Railways had become shriller after a spate of recent train accidents in in the country recent months which claimed hundreds of lives.
PTI, New Delhi, 2 November : After putting it through extensive trials, Railways have decided to introduce the much-talked about anti-collision device (ACD) technology in Southern Railway network from 10 November.
The clamour for introducing ACD technology by Railways had become shriller after a spate of recent train accidents in in the country recent months which claimed hundreds of lives.
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Babita Ganguly arrested in Madan Tamang murder case
ANI, Darjeeling, 2 November : Babita Ganguly, one of the 30 accused in the Gorkha leader Madan Tamang murder case, was arrested here on Monday.
Ganguly, one of two members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's woman wing, was named in the chargesheet filed by Darjeeling police for the lynching of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League president. Babita was arrested from her residence. Another woman activist, Sani Sherpa, is still evading arrest. So far nine persons named in the murder had been arrested. But prime accused Nickol Tamang fled from CID custody in Siliguri on 21 August. He had been arrested in mid-August.
ANI, Darjeeling, 2 November : Babita Ganguly, one of the 30 accused in the Gorkha leader Madan Tamang murder case, was arrested here on Monday.
Ganguly, one of two members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's woman wing, was named in the chargesheet filed by Darjeeling police for the lynching of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League president. Babita was arrested from her residence. Another woman activist, Sani Sherpa, is still evading arrest. So far nine persons named in the murder had been arrested. But prime accused Nickol Tamang fled from CID custody in Siliguri on 21 August. He had been arrested in mid-August.
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16 th 'Kolkata International Film Festival' begins next week
UNI, Kolkata, 2 November : The week-long ''16th Kolkata International Film Festival'' begins here on 10 November with a bouquet of 127moviesfrom 38 countries across the globe, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee announced here last night.Addressingthe customarynews conference before the festival, one of the city's much-awaited events, Mr Bhattacherjee said this year the number of films had been reduced 'deliberately' by the organisers,keeping in mind the purpose of screening only good quality and international award winning films for the city's thousand of movie buffs.
Highlighting thedetails of thefestival that would continue till 17 November, the Chief Minister, also one of the main patrons of theannual extravaganza, saidit would begin with the screening of the famousmovie called 'Of Love and Other Demons',jointly producedin two Latin American countries -Costa Rica and Columbia-anddirected by renowned woman film makerIlda Hidalgo.Well-known cinematographer Ramananda Sengupta would formally inaugurate the festival in the presence ofrenowened film personalities like Soumitra Chatterjee, Mrinal sen and Tarun Mazumdar among others, the Chief Minister said. He said this year the entire festival had been divided into eight categories, includinga centenary tribute of famous Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Indian films, children's films, foreign films, documentary and tributes to the 150th birth aniversary of Rabindranath Tagore are among other categories. This apart a number of films would be shown underseparate categoriescalled Homage, Focus, Image and 'Look Back In Wonders' wheremovies made by world famousdirectors like Bergman, John Judah, Ala Renec, Liv Uleman, and Alfred Genoa besides those of Tarun Mazumdar would be screened. ''Satyajit Ray'sunknown but famous documentary filmon Sikkim would also be screenedonceeveryday during the festival,'' Bhattacherjee announced. A number of seminars and film workshops had also been organised during the festival, Mr Bhattacherje said adding about 15 foreign delegates werecoming to attend the festival from across the world like previous years to participate in interactive sessions with the city's film buffs. န File Photos
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