UNB, Dhaka, 31 December : Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted all, including the countrymen, on the occasion of New Year 2011.In a message, President Zillur Rahman said the importance of English New Year is essential as the use of English calendar in our daily and national life is inseparable. In another messages, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the last year will remain ever shining in our national life regarding socio-economic development, establishment of rule of law, achievement of development in ICT sector and inspiration of nation to the spirit of great Liberation War.
Both the President and Prime Minister hoped that the New Year would bring welfare, happiness, progress and peace for all of us.
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100WB tourists stranded in Himachal Pradesh due to snow
IANS, Shimla, 31 December : Over 100 tourists, mostly from West Bengal, have been stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district after roads were closed due to heavy snowfall, an official said here Friday.
All of the tourists are fine but there is an acute shortage of food and necessary items. "Around 100 tourists have been stranded at Kalpa town since yesterday as most of the road links have been closed due to heavy snowfall," a government official posted at Rekong Peo, the district headquarters town, told IANS over phone. He said the area recorded more than five feet of snow in the past two days. "There is an acute shortage of food. There is no electricity and the communication system has been badly hit," he added. The picturesque Kalpa, some 25 km from state capital Shimla, is frequently visited by tourists.Reports said around 20 tourists are also stranded in the Sangla Valley in the district due to massive snow. The Met department said the entire belt in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu and Chamba districts witnessed heavy snowfall since Thursday morning. န Photos : AP
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Rwanda govt to deport 64 trafficked Bangladeshis victims
France24, 31 December : Rwandan authorities are working with counterparts in Dhaka to deport 64 Bangladeshi victims of human trafficking, after the arrest in Kigali of their suspected trafficker, police said Friday.
Abdul Sattar Miah was arrested on Monday night in a hotel in the capital, in possession of the passports of his presumed victims, police spokesman Eric Kayiranga told AFP.... READ FULL STORY
France24, 31 December : Rwandan authorities are working with counterparts in Dhaka to deport 64 Bangladeshi victims of human trafficking, after the arrest in Kigali of their suspected trafficker, police said Friday.
Abdul Sattar Miah was arrested on Monday night in a hotel in the capital, in possession of the passports of his presumed victims, police spokesman Eric Kayiranga told AFP.... READ FULL STORY
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Bangladesh now 3rd largest exporter of apparel, clothing accessories to USAUNB, Dhaka, 31 December : Bangladesh’s export of apparel and clothing accessories to the US market has overtaken that of its competitors Indonesia and Mexico in the recent months.
Until August 2010, Bangladesh was the 5th largest apparel exporter to the USA after China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico. But in the month of September 2010, Bangladesh with its monthly exports of $358 million overtook Mexico, which exported $325 million to US market.
On October, 2010 Bangladesh overtook another competitor Indonesia - $374 million from Bangladesh compared to $365 million form Indonesia.
Now only China and Vietnam lie ahead of Bangladesh as far as RMG export to USA is concerned, said a message received here.
According to the analysis of the Commerce Wing of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, Bangladesh exported about $1.44 billion worth of RMG products to USA during July-October, 2010 period, registering growth of 20.37 percent compared to the same period of previous year.
Comparable growth rate of China was 21.15 percent, Vietnam was 17.26 percent, Indonesia was 16.17 percent and Mexico was 3.495 percent and India was 13.25 percent.
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11 taken ill after cylinder bursts in Ice-making factory
Kolkata, 31 December : Eleven workers fell ill after inhaling toxic ammonia gas that leaked following a cylinder burst in an ice-making factory at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district Friday, police said.
"The incident happened this evening when the victims were working in the factory. The cylinder burst suddenly and 11 workers were taken ill due to the poisonous gas," district police superintendent Rahul Srivastav said. All the victims were admitted to the Barrackpore sub-divisional hospital.
A police source said though emergency rescue teams had reached the spot, they were waiting for gas masks.
Kolkata, 31 December : Eleven workers fell ill after inhaling toxic ammonia gas that leaked following a cylinder burst in an ice-making factory at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district Friday, police said.
"The incident happened this evening when the victims were working in the factory. The cylinder burst suddenly and 11 workers were taken ill due to the poisonous gas," district police superintendent Rahul Srivastav said. All the victims were admitted to the Barrackpore sub-divisional hospital.
A police source said though emergency rescue teams had reached the spot, they were waiting for gas masks.
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Forest rangers capture wild elephant calf in Jalpaiguri dist
ANI, Jalpaiguri, 31 December : Forest Rangers of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary captured a two-year-old male elephant calf from the vicinity of Madarihat village in Jalpaiguri District.
The elephant calf was residing in and around the village located near the sanctuary for the last 13 days. The elephant calf had got detached from its herd few days back and later the herd probably refused its re-entry. Consequently, it returned to the village where the people began treating the elephant calf like a family member.
ANI, Jalpaiguri, 31 December : Forest Rangers of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary captured a two-year-old male elephant calf from the vicinity of Madarihat village in Jalpaiguri District.
The elephant calf was residing in and around the village located near the sanctuary for the last 13 days. The elephant calf had got detached from its herd few days back and later the herd probably refused its re-entry. Consequently, it returned to the village where the people began treating the elephant calf like a family member.
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All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to captain Bangladesh in 2011
Dhaka, 31 December : All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will captain Bangladesh in 2011, the country's cricket board, has confirmed, also installing opening batsman Tamim Iqbal as his vice-captain. 
Shakib has captained the Tigers whenever fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza has been unavailable due to injury, which has been most of 2010 and all of the end of the 2009, when Shakib was able to lead Bangladesh to an historic overseas Test and One-Day International series win against the West Indies. "The BCB wishes the two leading lights of Bangladesh cricket a very successful New Year and hopes their partnership would inspire the team to greater heights," a statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed.Shakib will therefore lead the side during their World Cup campaign, which kicks off against India on 19th February in Dhaka. Bangladesh are co-hosting the tournament along with India and Sri Lanka. Shakib, who has played 21 Tests, 102 One-Day Internationals and 14 Twenty20 Internationals, has captained his country on 45 occasions, winning 18 of those matches in all.
Left-handed opener Tamim enjoyed a fine year in 2010, memorably scoring two centuries in Test matches in England and leading the way at the top of the order as Bangladesh beat New Zealand and Zimbabwe in ODI series at home. န File Photos : AP
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