Dankuni, 28 April : Foreign powers tried to destabilise the Left Front government in West Bengal, while there were forces within the country also which tried to do the same thing, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said today.
"Foreign powers have tried to dislodge the Left Front government in the past and the conspiracy is still continuing," the chief minister told an election rally here in Hooghly district.Stating that foreign powers had made an attempt to dislodge the government by dropping arms in Purulia district on 17 December, 1995, he claimed that 'the conspiracy was continuing'.
He also said there were many forces in the country bent upon dislodging the Left Front government. The chief minister raked up Trinamool Congress' 'huge poll expenditure' and said "full bench of Election Commission has arrived in Kolkata and our views have been submitted before it. "The Trinamool Congress has been spending huge sums of money and we want to know from where it has come," he said.
Pointing out that the Trinamool used helicopters in election campaign, Bhattacharjee said "Our party is not in a position to hire helicopters for such purposes." Bhattacharjee asserted he was confident the eighth Left Front government would be a reality. န Photo : Avik Datta
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World Bank's accord to provide $1.2 Bn for Padma Bridge
UNB, Dhaka, 28 April : The World Bank will provide US$ 1.2 billion to Bangladesh as IDA loan for the construction of the 6.15-kilometer Padma Bridge connecting Maowa in Munshiganj and Shariatpur over the River Padma.A loan agreement to this effect was signed Thursday by Economic Relations Division (ERD) secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and World Bank country director Ellen Goldstein.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Planning Minister AK Khandker and Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, PM’s Finance Advisor Dr Mashiur Rahman and visiting World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala were present at the signing ceremony held on a Ro-Ro ferry ‘Language Martyr Barkat’ on midstream of the Padma.
The proposed four-lane, 22-meter wide bridge will have 41 spans. There will be approach road of 3.14 kilometers on both side of the bridge. Also Read "পদ্মা সেতু নির্মাণে ঋণচুক্তি স্বাক্ষরিত" @ BBC Bangla
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Nandigram will spearhead change in West Bengal : Mamata
Nandigram, 28 April : Nandigram, the site of anti-land acquisition movement, will spearhead change from three decades of Left Front rule in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee claimed today."Nandigram will be the turning point for change for the ouster of the CPI(M) from power after 35 years of misrule," Mamata told an election rally here in East Midnapore district.
"I've decided to begin my poll campaigning for East Midnapur from here where hundreds of people fought against the atrocities of CPI(M) cadres," Mamata Banerjee said while referring to the death of 14 persons in East Midnapore district in police firing on 14 March, 2007.
"The fight of the people of Nandigram against the injustices committed by the Left Front government is an example before the entire world. It has become an example for for fight against the forcible land acquisition," she said. န Photo : Raghunandan Mallick
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'World Bank won’t compromise on quality of Padma Bridge'
UNB, Munshiganj, 28 April : World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Thursday said in Munshiganj, the Bank would not compromise on quality in construction of the proposed multi-purpose Padma Bridge.
“We’ll not compromise with the quality in constructing the bridge,” she said reiterating that the Bank wants to see zero corruption while implementation of the Bridge.
UNB, Munshiganj, 28 April : World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Thursday said in Munshiganj, the Bank would not compromise on quality in construction of the proposed multi-purpose Padma Bridge.
“We’ll not compromise with the quality in constructing the bridge,” she said reiterating that the Bank wants to see zero corruption while implementation of the Bridge.
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CPI(M) says anti-communist forces targeting Left Front govt
UNI, New Delhi, 28 April : On a day prime accused in the Purulia arms drop case Kim Davy claimed that the entire operation to smuggle in huge quantities of arms and ammunition was carried out with the implicit approval of the top most echelons of power in India, the CPI(M) said the case is a graphic example of how various anti-communists forces have been targeting the Left Front Government of West Bengal.... READ FULL STORY @ www.westbengalelections2011.com
UNI, New Delhi, 28 April : On a day prime accused in the Purulia arms drop case Kim Davy claimed that the entire operation to smuggle in huge quantities of arms and ammunition was carried out with the implicit approval of the top most echelons of power in India, the CPI(M) said the case is a graphic example of how various anti-communists forces have been targeting the Left Front Government of West Bengal.... READ FULL STORY @ www.westbengalelections2011.com
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Gautam Deb' complaints not conclusive evidence: Quraishi
Kolkata, 28 April : Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi today said he received some fresh complaints from West Bengal Housing Minister Gautam Deb on alleged illegal money used by the Trinamool Congress in poll campaigns, but said it was not conclusive evidence.
"Gautam Deb has given me a complaint, but the documents submitted are not signed and there is no conclusive evidence," Quraishi told a press conference here.
Kolkata, 28 April : Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi today said he received some fresh complaints from West Bengal Housing Minister Gautam Deb on alleged illegal money used by the Trinamool Congress in poll campaigns, but said it was not conclusive evidence.
"Gautam Deb has given me a complaint, but the documents submitted are not signed and there is no conclusive evidence," Quraishi told a press conference here.
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Goutam appears before full bench of Election Commission
Kolkata, 28 April : West Bengal Housing minister Goutam Deb today met the full Bench of Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, with his allegation that the Trinamool Congress had used black money to fund its election campaign.Goutam Deb, who was given 10 minutes for the meeting by the EC told reporters afterwards that he had given the bank account details of a number of Trinamool Congress candidates.
Goutam said that he also drew the EC's attention to the use of helicopters by the Trinamool Congress and the claim by Wikileaks on a purported US diplomatic cable stating that the US should cultivate Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee as she could be the next chief minister of West Bengal.
He claimed that he also produced parts of burnt Trinamool Congress subscription coupons which he alleged was done to erase proof of use of black money.
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BD Constitution Talks: Intellectuals, journalists to be invited
Dhaka, 28 April : A Bangladeshi parliamentary special committee will invite eminent journalists and intellectuals for talks to have their opinion on constitutional amendments, said co-chair of the committee Suranjit Sengupta yesterday.
Suranjit, spokesman for the special committee on constitutional amendment, during a press briefing at the Parliament's Media Centre said the committee will sit with the country's senior journalists next Tuesday and with the intellectuals on Wednesday.
Dhaka, 28 April : A Bangladeshi parliamentary special committee will invite eminent journalists and intellectuals for talks to have their opinion on constitutional amendments, said co-chair of the committee Suranjit Sengupta yesterday.
Suranjit, spokesman for the special committee on constitutional amendment, during a press briefing at the Parliament's Media Centre said the committee will sit with the country's senior journalists next Tuesday and with the intellectuals on Wednesday.
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Election Commission in WB to oversee poll preparedness
Kolkata, 28 April : The full bench of the Election Commission (EC) today arrived in Kolkata to oversee the poll preparedness for the last three phases of the West Bengal assembly polls.
After reaching the city, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and the other two Election Commissioners, V.S. Sampath and H.S. Brahma met the representatives of nine registered political parties.
The bench of the Commission will meet the district administration of seven districts who are going for polls in the remaining three phases.
They will also hold meeting with the district magistrates, police superintendents, DIGs and IGs of police and divisional commissioners of the seven districts, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Burdwan, and Maoist-infested West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, which will go to polls in fourth, fifth and sixth phases.
Kolkata, 28 April : The full bench of the Election Commission (EC) today arrived in Kolkata to oversee the poll preparedness for the last three phases of the West Bengal assembly polls.
After reaching the city, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and the other two Election Commissioners, V.S. Sampath and H.S. Brahma met the representatives of nine registered political parties.
The bench of the Commission will meet the district administration of seven districts who are going for polls in the remaining three phases.
They will also hold meeting with the district magistrates, police superintendents, DIGs and IGs of police and divisional commissioners of the seven districts, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, Burdwan, and Maoist-infested West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, which will go to polls in fourth, fifth and sixth phases.
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Arunachal Pradesh govt blames Centre for a laggard NE
PTI, Itanagar, 28 April : Arunachal Pradesh today raised concern over the Centre''s alleged apathy in implementing the ''Look East'' policy aimed at boosting development in the North-East.
"The North-East is lagging behind other regions of the country because of the failure of the Centre to implement the Look East Policy in real terms," Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Chowna Mein told the 13th annual conference of the North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) here.
PTI, Itanagar, 28 April : Arunachal Pradesh today raised concern over the Centre''s alleged apathy in implementing the ''Look East'' policy aimed at boosting development in the North-East.
"The North-East is lagging behind other regions of the country because of the failure of the Centre to implement the Look East Policy in real terms," Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Chowna Mein told the 13th annual conference of the North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) here.
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Tripura Governor D Y Patil and kin booked in 'fraud case'
PTI, Pune, 28 April : The Pune rural police registered an FIR against Tripura Governor D Y Patil and kin in connection with a fraud case following direction by a local court, police said today.According to Talegaon Dabhade police, who registered the complaint filed by one Sampat Pawar on Tuesday, Patil, his wife Pushpalata and two sons-Ajinkya and Vijay, were booked under sections 420 (cheating and dishonesty inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will etc), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating)and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) of IPC.
The police move came after Wadgaon Maval court issued orders for the same.
"We are investigating the matter starting with scrutiny of the relevant documents and will proceed as per the law", Sanjay Nikam, a police inspector attached with Talegaon Dabhade police station told PTI. န File Photo
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Eight Air India flights cancelled in Kolkata NSCB Intl Airport
Kolkata, 28 April : Eight Air India (AI) flights from Kolkata airport were cancelled Thursday, putting passengers to great inconvenience, as the strike by pilots of the state-run airline entered the second day.
According to AI official, two flights to Delhi, and one each to Mumbai, Imphal, Bagdogra, Port Blair, Agartala and Dibrugarh were cancelled at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport here. However, a flight each to Delhi, Silchar, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong were operated.
Kolkata, 28 April : Eight Air India (AI) flights from Kolkata airport were cancelled Thursday, putting passengers to great inconvenience, as the strike by pilots of the state-run airline entered the second day.
According to AI official, two flights to Delhi, and one each to Mumbai, Imphal, Bagdogra, Port Blair, Agartala and Dibrugarh were cancelled at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport here. However, a flight each to Delhi, Silchar, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong were operated.
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Dhaka business body criticises MPs who can't read English
IANS, Dhaka, 28 April : Bangladesh's apex business chamber chief has criticised lawmakers who make laws, but cannot even read English.Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president A.K. Azad Wednesday also criticised lawmakers, judges and members of his own business community for engaging in corruption.
Some members of parliament even do not know the minimum level of English. What is their calibre? But they are in a position of making laws and holding the power of impeachment. Shame!
And a number of them do not know the difference between a doctor as a physician and a doctor as the holder of a PhD degree, New Age quoted him as saying at an advocacy workshop on business ethics organized by the International Business Forum of Bangladesh.
At 48.8 percent of literacy, more than half of Bangladesh's population is illiterate.
Azad also criticised judges, businessmen and government officials for corrupt practices.
Only three judges submitted their wealth statement. What about others? Why did not others submit their wealth statement, he asked.
It is very difficult to find 10 businessmen, 10 lawyers and 10 judges who maintain ethics, he observed. He suggested that ethics should be practised from the top level in all communities.
The country rates high on graft as per the rating by the Transparency International, a global watchdog against corruption.
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Unidentified militants hurled Grenade at a school in Manipur
PTI, Imphal, 28 April : Unidentified militants hurled a powerful grenade at a school premises in Imphal west district of Manipur but the device failed to explode, officials said today.
The militants lobbed the grenade inside the premises of Jim Higher Sceondary School at Sangaiporou at the outskirts of Imphal late last night, they said.
PTI, Imphal, 28 April : Unidentified militants hurled a powerful grenade at a school premises in Imphal west district of Manipur but the device failed to explode, officials said today.
The militants lobbed the grenade inside the premises of Jim Higher Sceondary School at Sangaiporou at the outskirts of Imphal late last night, they said.
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