Besides Ganguly, eminent historian Dr Irfan Habib, artist Prof K G Subramanyam and Assamese litterateur and journalist Homen Borgohain were honoured with the degrees at a ceremony held at the University. The degrees were presented by the University's Vice Chancellor Prof Tapadir Bhattacharjee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ekushey book fair beginsDhaka, 1 February : The month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair has got underway at the Bangla Academy premises.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, prime minister Sheikh Hasina urged the writers and publishers to make sure that genuine history is written in books. Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen spoke as the special guest at the ceremony,
The prime minister said she had skipped visiting her daughter and granddaughter in Canada and came home from London to attend the ceremony. "I really want to come to the fair, but there is no normal way. I can only make official visits," she said, referring to the limitations imposed by the protocol associated with public office. Hasina urged writers and publishers to offer new, creative books to the readers. "Ensure that the young generation knows the real history. Books inspire the conscience and enrich knowledge."
She envisioned Bangladesh as a nation of non-communal ideals. "We have faced great odds in moving towards those ideals. But we haven't quit." National professor Kabir Chowdhury, information minister Abul Kalam Azad, state minister Promod Mankin and Bangla Academy director general Dr Shamsuzzaman Khan, among others, spoke at the function.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Indian NE states request ban on pre-paid mobiles
PTI, New Delhi, 1 February : The Centre today said it is considering requests from chief ministers of three north eastern states, seeking ban on pre-paid mobile phone services in their states as they felt it as a threat to security and hindrance to law and order.Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram said the chief ministers placed their requests to ban pre-paid mobile services in their respective states at a conference on internal security here. He, however, did not specify the states.
Pre-paid mobile services had been temporarily banned in Jammu and Kashmir after the authorities allegedly found that the verification process of the subscribers were not proper. However, the service was restored later after the service providers assured full compliance of the government order on verification of subscribers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tripura govt. demands enhancement of 'border security'
UNI, Agartala, 1 February : Tripura government has demanded to strengthen border security along Bangladesh while urging the Centre for early completion of fencing work to prevent cross border movement in the state.
Officials here today said following yesterdays attack on fencing workers in the eastern border of Tripura which left one person dead and another injured, the state administration had reiterated the issue once again. According to a report, the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) had been running few more hide-outs in Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) of Bangladesh and operated subversive activities in the state.
UNI, Agartala, 1 February : Tripura government has demanded to strengthen border security along Bangladesh while urging the Centre for early completion of fencing work to prevent cross border movement in the state.
Officials here today said following yesterdays attack on fencing workers in the eastern border of Tripura which left one person dead and another injured, the state administration had reiterated the issue once again. According to a report, the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) had been running few more hide-outs in Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) of Bangladesh and operated subversive activities in the state.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antique idols recovered at Khoribari on India-Nepal border
Siliguri, 1 February : West Bengal police have recovered five antique idols from Buraganj under Khoribari police station of Darjeeling district, officials said today.
Two idols of Lord Buddha and three others of Hindu gods and goddesses were recovered following a raid yesterday police said. A probe is being conducted. However, no arrest has been made so far, the police added. Smugglers are suspected to have used the route from North Bengal to smuggle the idols to Nepal through the Siliguri border.
Siliguri, 1 February : West Bengal police have recovered five antique idols from Buraganj under Khoribari police station of Darjeeling district, officials said today.
Two idols of Lord Buddha and three others of Hindu gods and goddesses were recovered following a raid yesterday police said. A probe is being conducted. However, no arrest has been made so far, the police added. Smugglers are suspected to have used the route from North Bengal to smuggle the idols to Nepal through the Siliguri border.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidence in Burdwan' coal belt area,10 houses damaged
Durgapur, Kolkata, 1 February : At least 10 houses in the coal belt region of Burdwan district were damaged after a 300 sq km area subsided early Tuesday, officials said.
"Ten houses subsided by 10-12 feet in Sripur and Chatimdanga village of Jhamuria near Assansol. Around 80 families located in the area were partially affected," said Eastern Coal Limited (ECL) area manager T.K. Gorai. "Because of illegal mining, the area has become subsidence-prone. We have repeatedly urged the district police administration to take necessary measures to stop illegal mining, but nothing has been done," Gorai said. Burdwan District Magistrate Onkar Singh Meena said: "We have asked the ECL authorities to submit a detailed report regarding the subsidence."
Durgapur, Kolkata, 1 February : At least 10 houses in the coal belt region of Burdwan district were damaged after a 300 sq km area subsided early Tuesday, officials said.
"Ten houses subsided by 10-12 feet in Sripur and Chatimdanga village of Jhamuria near Assansol. Around 80 families located in the area were partially affected," said Eastern Coal Limited (ECL) area manager T.K. Gorai. "Because of illegal mining, the area has become subsidence-prone. We have repeatedly urged the district police administration to take necessary measures to stop illegal mining, but nothing has been done," Gorai said. Burdwan District Magistrate Onkar Singh Meena said: "We have asked the ECL authorities to submit a detailed report regarding the subsidence."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sri Lankan board ex-chief urges Pawar to reconsider Eden
IANS, New Delhi, 1 February : Sri Lankan cricket board's former president Thilanga Sumathipala has requested International Cricket Council (ICC) president Sharad Pawar to reconsider Kolkata's Eden Gardens stadium as the venue of the World Cup match between India and England.In a letter to Pawar, Sumathipala, who was the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president during the 1996 World Cup, said: "The chief organising committee of the ICC must make every endeavour to make play possible at the Eden Gardens rather than finding a way not to play. We Sri Lankans are willing to put 100 percent support behind the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and request the ICC to reconsider its decision."
"We Sri Lankans have some great memories of the support that we got during the difficult times in 1996 when Australia and West Indies refused to come to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. It was then that India and Pakistan showed their solidarity by forming a Pilcom XI to show how safe Sri Lanka was to play cricket. Playing at Eden Gardens is the pride for any Indian and international cricketer," he said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indian Coast Guard to get 30 new helicopters : ICG's DG
New Delhi, 1 February : To augment the Indian Coast Guard's capabilities, the government has given its nod for procuring 30 new medium and heavy-lift helicopters for the maritime security force.
In addition to the 30 choppers, four new indigenously made Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and eight surveillance helicopters will be acquired by the force. The surveillance choppers will be leased from foreign companies. "The Government has sanctioned 30 more new helicopters and that acquisition process is on...The choppers will be acquired through a global tender by us in next four-five years," ICG Director General Vice Admiral Anil Chopra said here yesterday.
New Delhi, 1 February : To augment the Indian Coast Guard's capabilities, the government has given its nod for procuring 30 new medium and heavy-lift helicopters for the maritime security force.
In addition to the 30 choppers, four new indigenously made Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and eight surveillance helicopters will be acquired by the force. The surveillance choppers will be leased from foreign companies. "The Government has sanctioned 30 more new helicopters and that acquisition process is on...The choppers will be acquired through a global tender by us in next four-five years," ICG Director General Vice Admiral Anil Chopra said here yesterday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vote-on-account submitted in Assam Assembly by Govt.
PTI, Guwahati, 1 February : Assam government today submitted the vote-on-account for 2011-12 at the State Assembly seeking Rs 11.741 crore, with the term of the present assembly expiring soon.
Submitting the vote-on-account, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the demand for grants was for four months from April one, 2011 to 31 July, 2011. He said the government's policy was to restart the all-round development process and achieve a growth rate of at least 7.5 per cent as compared to around 2.5% prevailing prior to 2000-01.
PTI, Guwahati, 1 February : Assam government today submitted the vote-on-account for 2011-12 at the State Assembly seeking Rs 11.741 crore, with the term of the present assembly expiring soon.
Submitting the vote-on-account, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the demand for grants was for four months from April one, 2011 to 31 July, 2011. He said the government's policy was to restart the all-round development process and achieve a growth rate of at least 7.5 per cent as compared to around 2.5% prevailing prior to 2000-01.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eight Bangladeshis booked under Indian "Foreigners Act"
PTI, Shillong, 1 February : Eight Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended from Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya and booked under the Foreigners Act, police said today.
Sahaf Uddin (42), Md Sahah Alom (18), Nizam Uddin (18), Samsual Islam (21), Amdad Haque (20), Hason Ahmed (19), Abdur Rohim (19) and Tohim Uddin (20) were caught yesterday from the coal-rich Khliehriat area. They claimed to be daily labourers in the coal mines, but failed to produce valid documents, police said.
PTI, Shillong, 1 February : Eight Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended from Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya and booked under the Foreigners Act, police said today.
Sahaf Uddin (42), Md Sahah Alom (18), Nizam Uddin (18), Samsual Islam (21), Amdad Haque (20), Hason Ahmed (19), Abdur Rohim (19) and Tohim Uddin (20) were caught yesterday from the coal-rich Khliehriat area. They claimed to be daily labourers in the coal mines, but failed to produce valid documents, police said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Govt fines on polluting environment spark clash in Barisal
Barisal, 1 February : At least 22 people, including four policemen have been injured in a clash in Barisal over penalising for polluting environment.
The clash erupted around 2pm(BDST) on Tuesday after the Department of Environment (DoE) fined 15 buses for not having documents in a special drive in Kashipur area of the city on Dhaka-Barisal highway. Transport owners and workers suspended bus operations in all the internal routes of the district from 2pm(BDST) following the incident. However, long-distance buses including from Barisal are in operation.
The clash erupted around 2pm(BDST) on Tuesday after the Department of Environment (DoE) fined 15 buses for not having documents in a special drive in Kashipur area of the city on Dhaka-Barisal highway. Transport owners and workers suspended bus operations in all the internal routes of the district from 2pm(BDST) following the incident. However, long-distance buses including from Barisal are in operation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tripura Forest Dwellers Act amending request turned down
Agartala, 1 February : The Centre has turned down Tripura government’s request to amend the Forest Dwellers Rights Act 2006 to provide land to non-tribals traditionally living in forest areas of the State.
According to the new Forest Dwellers Act, the people who have been living in forests for more than 75 years can get land allotment, but “we have demanded an amendment to the Act for giving pattas to non-tribals living in forest areas for over 25 years,” Tripura Forest Minister Jitendra Chowdhury said.“Around 1,18,770 indigenous people were given official pattas after scrutiny of papers only two non-indigenous people could be given official pattas among the 35,310 applicants,” he said.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early this month to amend the Act, but it was turned down, saying it could not be amended now.
“Non-availability of land records of non-tribals is a major hurdle for giving pattas to them, but many of their records were misplaced due to displacement of people during the riot in 1980,” an official said.
The non-tribal people were invited by erstwhile tribal kings for wetland cultivation in the state from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and were given pattas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.bengalnewz.com-----
