Dhaka, 2 January : Cricket fans clashed with police in Dhaka in the rush to buy tickets for the 2011 World Cup to be held in the sub-continent next month. The tickets went on sale on Sunday at 80 branches of the private City Bank and the state-owned Agrani Bank after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made 15,000 per-match available for the public.The fans, reportedly, were angered after being told that only 500 tickets would be sold per branch as a result of the strict scrutiny over buyers' identification papers. A few fans and a photographer are known to have suffered minor injuries in the protests.
"They raised slogans and held demonstrations. We dispersed the protesters and maintained calm," police inspector Shah Alam told AFP. Bangladesh will be hosting eight matches during the competition. (With AFP inputs) န Photos : Reuters, AP
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Trinamool's language in Chidamabaram' letter: Buddhadeb
PTI, Howrah, 2 January : Adopting a more aggressive posture on the letter controversy, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today questioned how Home Minister P Chidambaram used "Trinamool Congress' language" in his missive but remained silent on the party's link with the Maoists."Suddenly, Chidambaramji has written me a letter. I was surprised to see the language (in his letter). He has used the used the word 'harmad' (hired killers) which TMC uses while referring to CPI(M) workers. "Chidambaramji is an educated person. But he has used the uncivilized language of Trinamool Congress while writing the letter," Bhattacharjee told a public meeting at Dhulagarh.
He lashed out at opposition Trinamool saying wherever there is unrest and violence in the state, it supports the perpetrators. "When there is trouble in the Hills (Darjeeling) Trinamool supports those behind it. It has literally brought the Maoists into the state," he said. န Tv Grab Photo
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Crack in Congress: Pranab unhappy with Manmohans offer
Kolkata, 2 January : The logjam between Congress led UPA government and Opposition parties over JPC/PAC probe in 2G spectrum scam is no longer a new issue. But this time it created differences in Congress itself as Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that he is not happy with PM's decision.Mukherjee on Sunday, expressed that he is not convinced with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's decision of appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the investigation in 2G spectrum scandal. During Congress' plenary meeting in New Delhi, the Prime Minister stated, "I have nothing to hide from the public and as a proof of my bonafides, I intend to write to the chairman of the PAC that I shall be happy to appear before the PAC if it chooses to ask me to do so."
In response to the PM's offer to appear before the PAC, the finance minister also claimed that Singh should not appear before any committee as he (PM) is responsible to Parliament. "It is not correct to say that government did not take steps against corruption. We have already ordered a probe (PAC) into 2G controversy," stated Pranab. န Photo : PTI
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Dhaka Stocks Exchange open New Year's trading "upward"
BSS, Dhaka, 2 January : Dhaka stocks opened the first trading session of the New Year 2011 upward when a positive regulatory measure came into effect to help increase cash flow to the market.
The benchmark index surged by around 60 points in half an hour of the beginning of the trading session, but closed 14.17 points or 0.17 percent higher at 8304.58 after experiencing ups and downs throughout the day.
The benchmark index surged by around 60 points in half an hour of the beginning of the trading session, but closed 14.17 points or 0.17 percent higher at 8304.58 after experiencing ups and downs throughout the day.
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Not aware if China building dam on Brahamaputra : Shinde
PTI, Agartala, 2 January : India today said it was not aware about any dam being constructed on the upper reach of Brahmapurtra by China."I have not been communicated by any quarter that China was constructing dam on Brahmaputra. So there is no point to react to it," Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told journalists here. Shinde was reacting to reports in a section of media that China was constructing a dam on the upper reach of Brahmaputra in Tibet and diverting water. Earlier addressing a seminar 'Opportunities in Power Sector', the minister said the Centre was positively considering the Tripura government's request for connecting a power transmission line from Tripura to Bangladesh.
Shinde also laid the foundation of a 52 mw power project at Ramchandranagara near here. He also meet Tripura Governor D Y Patil and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. န Photo : Parthajit Dutta
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PM concerned over high price of commodities in Intl market
UNB, Dhaka, 2 January : Bangladesh government is concerned over high price of edible oil, fuel oil, food grains, fertilizer and other commodities in the international markets.A high level meeting presided over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office today reviewed the trend in the international markets, especially prices of those items Bangladesh needs to import. The meeting over PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam said it reviewed the market trend and discussed government subsidy on electricity, energy and agriculture sectors. It observed that prices of edible oil, fuels, food grains and agriculture and other commodities are much higher than in domestic market. Prices of essentials are much lower in Bangladesh compared with even in the neighbouring countries..
For example, price of coarse variety of rice India is equal to Tk 40km compared to Tk 32 in Bangladesh. It was also said at the meeting that amount of subsidy being given by the present government on various sectors is increasing day by day due to high price of essentials at the international markets. Despite the high prices at international markets, the meeting reiterated the government’s strong commitment to ensure easy and comfortable living of the common men.
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Three Maoists arrested at Lakxmanpur in W Midnapore dist
Kolkata, 2 January : Three Maoists were arrested from West Midnapore district Sunday, police said. "We arrested the three today from Lakxmanpur area of the district," said Manoj Verma, superintendent of police, West Midnapore.
Acting on a tip-off, the security forces raided the village and arrested Mangal Mahato, Gopal Mahato and Jagadish Mahato.
Kolkata, 2 January : Three Maoists were arrested from West Midnapore district Sunday, police said. "We arrested the three today from Lakxmanpur area of the district," said Manoj Verma, superintendent of police, West Midnapore.
Acting on a tip-off, the security forces raided the village and arrested Mangal Mahato, Gopal Mahato and Jagadish Mahato.
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Protests planned in US against B'desh's War Crimes Trial !
Dhaka, 2 January : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami plans to stage protests in the US, Britain and some Middle East nations against the impending trial of its top brass accused of war crimes during the 1971 freedom movement !
The party plans to use its supporters and "other like-minded organizations" in these countries, The Daily Star said Sunday. The Jamaat has so far failed to find support among its other Islamist allies, as also the principal ally and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for the protests planned at home. Thanks to the "stern" approach of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government that is pushing for the trial, the Jamaats rank and file has begun to work under different banners and names, a report said quoting unnamed party officials.
Dhaka, 2 January : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami plans to stage protests in the US, Britain and some Middle East nations against the impending trial of its top brass accused of war crimes during the 1971 freedom movement !
The party plans to use its supporters and "other like-minded organizations" in these countries, The Daily Star said Sunday. The Jamaat has so far failed to find support among its other Islamist allies, as also the principal ally and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for the protests planned at home. Thanks to the "stern" approach of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government that is pushing for the trial, the Jamaats rank and file has begun to work under different banners and names, a report said quoting unnamed party officials.
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Bangladesh team arrives to review "Feni Bridge" alignment
Agartala, 2 January : A seven member secretary level delegation of Bangladesh has arrived here to finalise alignment and structural specification to build 150 metres bridge on Feni River dividing India and Bangladesh in South Tripura.
The team would visit Srimantapur Land Custom station in West Tripura and at evening they went for Sabroom. The team was included the chief of surface transport, railway, external affairs, public works and commerce ministry and they would be accompanied by senior officials of Tripura govt in the survey work. The joint team would finalise the alignment tomorrow after detail study of area, officials said.
Agartala, 2 January : A seven member secretary level delegation of Bangladesh has arrived here to finalise alignment and structural specification to build 150 metres bridge on Feni River dividing India and Bangladesh in South Tripura.
The team would visit Srimantapur Land Custom station in West Tripura and at evening they went for Sabroom. The team was included the chief of surface transport, railway, external affairs, public works and commerce ministry and they would be accompanied by senior officials of Tripura govt in the survey work. The joint team would finalise the alignment tomorrow after detail study of area, officials said.
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Darjeeling and Sikkim hills enveloped in snow on New Year
IBNS , Darjeeling, Gangtok, 2 January : Heavy snowfalls have covered up large parts of the eastern Himalayan states and parts of neighbouring Bhutan and Nepal, heralding the first day of 2011 with mercury plummeting to minus eight degrees.
The snowfall, the first of this region, since midnight Friday covered up roads at some places under 30 inches. Reports reaching from different regions said that Sandakphu, Phalut, Sree-Khola, and the Tigers hills have been covered by snow, Lodama Police station in-charge Dilip Das said. Darjeeling, also fondly known as the Queen of the Hills, had been experiencing freezing cold condition for past five days. But latest snow fall and rains in the lower region since Friday night dipped mercury to -8 in some of the areas around Sandakpu and Phalut. Local people came out in large number to greet the season's first snow, which occurs sometime at end of Dec or Jan.However, usual fun is missing in the hills of Darjeeling as the tourists have deserted following constant threats of bandh by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), demanding a separate Gorkhaland state. Snowfall has been reported from upper regions of Sikkim. Rains also were reported from the Terai, the Dooars and Siliguri forcing the people to remain indoor. န Photos : Courtesy
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