Kolkata, 13 February : "Foreign forces" have joined hands with opposition parties in West Bengal to overthrow the Left Front government, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told a massive Left Front rally today.
Kicking off a virtual campaign for the Assembly polls due in three months, Bhattacharjee alleged that "foreign forces" along with the Congress, Trinamool Congress and Maoists had ganged up against his government. "Who is wanting ''parivartan'' (change)? You should know a group of foreign forces are behind this move and are working with Congress, Trinamool Congress and Maoists. The BJP and Jharkhand Party are also behind it," Chief Minister told the rally at the sprawling Brigade Parade Ground.He said these foreign powers had worked before and are working now in different countries to see that red flags do not flutter any more. "They are afraid of red flags. We are warning these foreign forces not to meddle into the affairs of our state."
Evidently happy at the huge turnout, Bhattacharjee said there was no alternative to Leftism and the coming election would give the direction which way West Bengal would go - towards anarchy or towards development of people. He, however, cautioned party cadres against behaving arrogantly which, he observed, had led to resentment among people. "I call upon them to correct themselves and go to the people and admit mistakes," Bhattacharjee said asking party supporters to fight to win the coming elections. န Photos : Bidhan Bhattacharjee, PTI
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Brigade rally LF's farewell meeting, says Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata, 13 February : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today described the ruling Left Front's rally at the Brigade Parade Ground here as its "farewell meeting" and said the LF government was on its way out.
The rally was the left Front's last-ditch attempt to supply oxygen to a dying entity, Banerjee said, but, she predicted, "this will prove to be a grand failure". Mamata, also the Railway Minister, is confident that this is the LF's last Brigade rally before it gets dethroned.
Kolkata, 13 February : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today described the ruling Left Front's rally at the Brigade Parade Ground here as its "farewell meeting" and said the LF government was on its way out.
The rally was the left Front's last-ditch attempt to supply oxygen to a dying entity, Banerjee said, but, she predicted, "this will prove to be a grand failure". Mamata, also the Railway Minister, is confident that this is the LF's last Brigade rally before it gets dethroned.
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DSE plunges again losing 474.77 points triggering protests
Dhaka, 13 February : Frustrated investors again took to the street staging angry protest on Sunday following sharp fall in the share prices on the first trading day of the week at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
The demonstrators brought out procession in front of the country’s premier bourse in the capital’s commercial hub Motijheel to vent their angers.
Dhaka, 13 February : Frustrated investors again took to the street staging angry protest on Sunday following sharp fall in the share prices on the first trading day of the week at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).
The demonstrators brought out procession in front of the country’s premier bourse in the capital’s commercial hub Motijheel to vent their angers.
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Normal life in Doooars & Darjeeling hills remains paralysed
Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, 13 February : Life in the Darjeeling Hills was today crippled for the fifth day of the agitation for separate Gorkhaland, but vehicles plied normally in the Dooars foothills after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called off its indefinite bandh in the plains.Tension prevailed in Kurseong of the Darjeeling Hills as the body of Nita Khawas (22), who died of bullet wounds at a Siliguri hospital yesterday after getting injured at Sikchu police firing on February 8, was taken out by GJM and cremated at Sitai, official sources said.
Besides Kurseong, where very few people other than Morcha supporters ventured out, life remained paralysed in Mirik, Kalimpong, Darjeeling town and elsewhere in the hills with all shops downing shutters and passenger vehicles staying off the road, the sources said.
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94 vehicles convoy leave in convoy from Sikkim for Siliguri
PTI, Gangtok, 13 February : A convoy of 94 vehicles left Rangpo in Sikkim for Siliguri today via National Highway 31A which passes through Darjeeling district where Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) sponsored indefinite bandh enters fifth day.
The convoy left Rangpo with police escort in view of the bandh, police said. They said for the last few days GJM picketers had only allowed Sikkim National Transport (SNT) vehicles to pass on the highway and private vehicles and taxis were plying at their own risk.
PTI, Gangtok, 13 February : A convoy of 94 vehicles left Rangpo in Sikkim for Siliguri today via National Highway 31A which passes through Darjeeling district where Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) sponsored indefinite bandh enters fifth day.
The convoy left Rangpo with police escort in view of the bandh, police said. They said for the last few days GJM picketers had only allowed Sikkim National Transport (SNT) vehicles to pass on the highway and private vehicles and taxis were plying at their own risk.
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Maximum mobile phone call rate demanded at 25 paisa/unit
Dhaka, 13 February : Citizens Rights Movement on Sunday urged the government to fix the mobile phone call rate in the country to maximum 25 paisa as well as the per unit (5 minutes) call rate for landlines at 50 paisa, with a reduction in the line rent to Tk 50.They also urged the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to cancel the licenses of those operators who are dillydallying in renewing the license as per the proposed new guidelines and to invite new international bids to give mobile phone operating licenses in Bangladesh. This demand was placed at a press conference by Citizens Rights Movement Secretary General Tushar Rahman held at the National Press Club.
He also demanded cancellation of the licenses of those operators who were fined for illegal VoIP business and for tax-evasion violating the conditions of the BTRC.
He said that the mobile phone operators in Bangladesh began their business giving minimum license fee although mobile phone operators in neighbouring India and Pakistan had to give Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 1790 crore respectively. “Mobile phone operators in these two countries are charging rational call rates, but operators in Bangladesh charge the highest rates in the world,” he added.
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NDFB militants admit killings in Assam, links small groups
PTI, Shillong, 13 February : Two top NDFB militants,arrested along with three other cadres and a sympathizer in Meghalaya, have admitted their involvement in a number of killings and blasts in Assam, besides links with smallermilitant groups, police said.
Lachit Boro alias Langana confessed to have killed 26people, including those in the serial strikes that the outfitcarried out in western Assam districts, mainly in Sonitpur,killing more than 20 people in November last year, after acadre was gunned down by security forces, a top policeofficial told PTI today.
PTI, Shillong, 13 February : Two top NDFB militants,arrested along with three other cadres and a sympathizer in Meghalaya, have admitted their involvement in a number of killings and blasts in Assam, besides links with smallermilitant groups, police said.
Lachit Boro alias Langana confessed to have killed 26people, including those in the serial strikes that the outfitcarried out in western Assam districts, mainly in Sonitpur,killing more than 20 people in November last year, after acadre was gunned down by security forces, a top policeofficial told PTI today.
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Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's security vehicle kills 2 in Assam
PTI, Mangaldoi (Assam), 13 February : Two persons were crushed to death by the security vehicle of so-called Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev here today, police said.
The mishap occurred at the weekly market area of Janaram Chowk when Ramdev's security vehicle ran over and killed two people on the spot, they said. While an agitated crowd gathered at the spot, unperturbed Ramdev, currently on a visit to the state since 7 February, moved on to attend a nearby Yoga camp under Sipahjar police station limit.
PTI, Mangaldoi (Assam), 13 February : Two persons were crushed to death by the security vehicle of so-called Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev here today, police said.
The mishap occurred at the weekly market area of Janaram Chowk when Ramdev's security vehicle ran over and killed two people on the spot, they said. While an agitated crowd gathered at the spot, unperturbed Ramdev, currently on a visit to the state since 7 February, moved on to attend a nearby Yoga camp under Sipahjar police station limit.
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Bangladesh to open embassy in Kabul soon: Zillur Rahman
Dhaka, 13 February : Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman has said that Bangladesh will soon open its embassy in Kabul to strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The President said this when newly appointed Afghan Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdul Rahim Qraz presented his credentials to him at Bangabhaban today. President Zillur expressed the hope that Bangladesh’s trade and commerce with Afghanistan would increase in the coming days.
Dhaka, 13 February : Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman has said that Bangladesh will soon open its embassy in Kabul to strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The President said this when newly appointed Afghan Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdul Rahim Qraz presented his credentials to him at Bangabhaban today. President Zillur expressed the hope that Bangladesh’s trade and commerce with Afghanistan would increase in the coming days.
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Maoists kill CPM leader at Beliabera, Jhargram sub-division
IANS, Kolkata, 13 February : A CPI(M) leader in West Midnapore district was shot dead by Maoists Sunday for acting as a police informer, police said.
"We were informed that a bullet-ridden body was lying near a forest in Beliabera village of Jhargram sub-division," Superintendent of Jhargram Police district Praveen Tripathi told IANS over phone. "The body was recovered and identified as that of Rameshwar Bag. He was a local CPI(M) leader," he added. Maoist posters, claiming responsibility for the crime, were recovered from the spot. They read that Bag was given 'capital punishment' for acting as police informer, Tripathi said.
IANS, Kolkata, 13 February : A CPI(M) leader in West Midnapore district was shot dead by Maoists Sunday for acting as a police informer, police said.
"We were informed that a bullet-ridden body was lying near a forest in Beliabera village of Jhargram sub-division," Superintendent of Jhargram Police district Praveen Tripathi told IANS over phone. "The body was recovered and identified as that of Rameshwar Bag. He was a local CPI(M) leader," he added. Maoist posters, claiming responsibility for the crime, were recovered from the spot. They read that Bag was given 'capital punishment' for acting as police informer, Tripathi said.
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Bangladesh recognizes Ship Breaking sector as "industry"
Dhaka, 13 February : The Bangladesh government has decided to recognize the ship breaking sector as an industry.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting on ship breaking and ship recycling with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office Sunday noon. According to the decision, the ship breaking sector has been placed under the Ministry of Industries, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
Dhaka, 13 February : The Bangladesh government has decided to recognize the ship breaking sector as an industry.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting on ship breaking and ship recycling with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office Sunday noon. According to the decision, the ship breaking sector has been placed under the Ministry of Industries, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
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PM inaugurates renovated Bangabandhu Stadium tomorrow
UNB, Dhaka, 13 February : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tomorrow will formally inaugurate the renovated and modernized Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS), the venue of opening ceremony of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 on 17 February.BNS’s inaugural function will be held at 10 am at the stadium. Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) been renovated and modernized at a cost of nearly Tk 35 crore. The renovation and modernization works for the new look of BNS includes ICC hospitality box, BCB hospitality box, expansion and improvement of VIP lounge, renovation of floodlight, expansion and improvement of media center with air cooler and gallery shades.
The renovation also include , installation of about 26,000 chairs in the gallery, three decorated entry gates to the stadium, VIP car parking area, installation of World Cup replica at the gate of Baitul Mukaram Mosque and installation of CCTV, and 82’ giant TV screen.
Besides the opening ceremony, Bangladesh will also host eight World Cup matches - four matches including two quarterfinals at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at city’s Mirpur and two group matches at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
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