IANS, Dhaka, 17 February : The 2011 Cricket World Cup was declared open by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday amid thunderous applause at a colourful ceremony at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.Hasina hoped the World Cup will strengthen the ties between the cricketing countries. “I congratulate the cricket loving public for their great enthusiasm and cooperation to make this event a grand success,” she said.
Paying tributes to her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina recalled how he steered the famous language movement. She also extended her thanks to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for selecting Bangladesh as one of the hosts.
She then declared the tournament open and placed her palm on a scanner setting off series of breathtaking fireworks. ICC President Sharad Pawar called it a “historic” day and said this is one of the World Cup championships, which will always be remembered.Earlier, the spectacular opening ceremony began with the Bangladesh national anthem 'Amar Shonar Bangla', composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. After the national anthem and the welcome song, the mascot “Stumpy” entered the stadium on a cycle rickshaw, followed by the captains of 14 competing nations on decorated cycle rickshaws.
The two-hour, 15-minute-long ceremony will see around 3,500 performers putting up a colourful depiction of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi culture, complete with song sequences by well-known artists like Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, Indian singer Sonu Nigam and Bangladesh-based Runa Laila. န Photos : AFP (CLICK For More Photos)
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Petrobangla proposed for CNG price hike by 48.65 percent
Dhaka, 17 February : Bangladesh's state owned Petrobangla has formally proposed for increasing the CNG price by 48.65 per cent to Tk 24.90 from Tk 16.75 per cubic metre .
The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) was last increased to Tk 16.75 from Tk 8.50 per cubic metre in April 2008. "The government has decided to increase the CNG price to reduce its subsidy on the sector," said Petrobangla chairman Hossain Mansur on Thursday.
Dhaka, 17 February : Bangladesh's state owned Petrobangla has formally proposed for increasing the CNG price by 48.65 per cent to Tk 24.90 from Tk 16.75 per cubic metre .
The price of compressed natural gas (CNG) was last increased to Tk 16.75 from Tk 8.50 per cubic metre in April 2008. "The government has decided to increase the CNG price to reduce its subsidy on the sector," said Petrobangla chairman Hossain Mansur on Thursday.
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Tribal group calls for indefinite bandh in N-Bengal's Dooars
Jalpaiguri, 17 February : The GJM’s bid to take out a march to Sipchu in this district in protest against the 8 February firing on its activists was foiled by police today even as a tribal group began an indefinite bandh in Dooars area of West Bengal to oppose Gorkhaland.
The bandh by Adivasi Vikas Parishad began in the Dooars area even as the strike in Darjeeling entered its tenth day. About 250 GJM activists during the day began a padayatra from Sankosh to Sipchu, the scene of police firing on the outfit’s activists last week which claimed three lives.
Jalpaiguri, 17 February : The GJM’s bid to take out a march to Sipchu in this district in protest against the 8 February firing on its activists was foiled by police today even as a tribal group began an indefinite bandh in Dooars area of West Bengal to oppose Gorkhaland.
The bandh by Adivasi Vikas Parishad began in the Dooars area even as the strike in Darjeeling entered its tenth day. About 250 GJM activists during the day began a padayatra from Sankosh to Sipchu, the scene of police firing on the outfit’s activists last week which claimed three lives.
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8,600 chickens culled in Rajshahi distRajshahi, 17 February : About 8,600 chickens in a farm here have been culled following the detection of bird flu.
The chickens of 'Shahi Poultry Farm' at Dingadoba Ghoshpara in the city were dumped after the culling on Wednesday night.
The owner of the farm Abul Kashem said that the chickens started dying a few days ago. He later informed the livestock officers about the incident.
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Assam police take 3 Asam based Maoist leaders on remand
PTI, Rourkela, 17 February : Three top Assam-based Maoist leaders, who were arrested by Rourkela police on Saturday from Saranda forest, were today taken on transit remand by the Assam police for further interrogation.
A team of Assam police and IB had visited this city and found some vital clues, linking their activities with the banned outfit of the ULFA group. Rourkela police had arrested Aditya Borah and two of his aids - Trithraj Orang and Asik Sabar alias Ajaya - besides seizing arms, explosives and Maoist literatures.
PTI, Rourkela, 17 February : Three top Assam-based Maoist leaders, who were arrested by Rourkela police on Saturday from Saranda forest, were today taken on transit remand by the Assam police for further interrogation.
A team of Assam police and IB had visited this city and found some vital clues, linking their activities with the banned outfit of the ULFA group. Rourkela police had arrested Aditya Borah and two of his aids - Trithraj Orang and Asik Sabar alias Ajaya - besides seizing arms, explosives and Maoist literatures.
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Sophisticated ATC tower for Agartala airport by AA of India
Agartala, 17 February : The 38th ‘Automation Air Traffic Control Tower’ of the country would be installed at Agartala airport as the best air traffic control tower in the Northeast region.R K Singla, the Regional Executive Director (Northeast) of Airport Authority of India (AAI) laid the foundation stone of the control tower project at the Agartala airport premises on Tuesday. Later, in the programme Singla said, the AAI has plan to convert the Agartala airport into an international airport in coming days.
Giving details of the infrastructural development activities in the airport, Singla said, a total of Rs 9.67 crore would be utilized for setting up of Automation Control Tower and the project would be completed within next 8 to 9 months. The control tower would be equipped with most sophisticated technologies of air traffic with RADAR, which will be the latest in the region, said Singla. He also said that another project work of Rs 80 crore is in the operational stage for improvement of aircraft operation and passenger services.
At present, about 30 to 32 aircrafts arrive and depart from Agartala airport which also increased the passenger number along with 34 percent hike in cargo services during the period of last four years, said Singla.
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