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Lawmaker attacked, Buses vandalised in Bangladesh strike 
Dhaka, Chittagong, 4 April : Islamist activists Monday attacked a lawmaker, vandalised 100 buses and set fire to a petrol pump in Chittagong port city in Bangladesh during a day-long strike called to protest the government's policy to ensure "equal status" to women.
Police picked up 135 activists and in the sporadic pitched battles, 53 people were injured. A madrassa student had died on the eve of the strike that is seen as beginning of a concerted effort by opposition parties to take on the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on a number of issues. Lawmaker R.M.A. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury escaped unhurt though four policemen were injured in the attack.
The immediate issue is the government's National Women Development Policy 2011 that the Islamist groups, joined in by main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally, Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ), say militates against the tenets of the holy Quran. The policy seeks to give "equal status" to women in Bangladesh.
IOJ chairman Mufti Fazlul Haque Amini, who gave the strike call, has contended that Islam says "woman can never be equal to man". A combative Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday asked: "Who is more powerful, Almighty Allah or Amini?" She accused Amini, the Islamists and the BNP of misleading people, insisting that the policy her government announced has been formulated "in the light of the holy Quran and Hadith (Sunnah)," UNB reported from the Cox's Bazaar. Referring to Surah Al Imran in the holy Quran, Hasina said, "Almighty Allah in this Surah declared that He is the only one, none else, who bestows honour to anyone. My question: How Amini can say he will pull me down? Is he more powerful than Allah?"
Beginning with Monday's strike, the opposition is bracing for a prolonged agitation to confront the government on several issues. န Photos : Reuters
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Dunlop lay-off notice to be withdrawn soon : Pawan RuiaPTI, Kolkata, 4 April : Dunlop India Ltd today said there was no question of closing the Shahgunj factory and the lay-off notice would be withdrawn soon without any retrenchment.
"New production planning is underway and the lay-off notice will be withdrawn soon," Group chairman Pawan K Ruia told PTI from Bangkok.
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Assam records 65 % polling in 62 assembly constituencies
"The figure is likely to cross 75 per cent as reports from remote areas are still coming in", Additional Chief Electoral Officer M C Sahu told PTI here. Deputy Election Commissioner Alok Shukla told reporters in New Delhi that polling was "very, very peaceful today. No major incident of violence has taken place". Today's poll in Assam marked the start of the democratic exercise that will also cover Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry in April and May. While Assam will have two-phased poll, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in one phase and West Bengal in six phases ending on 10 May. The vote count is scheduled for 13 May. န Photos : Chinmoy Roy, AP -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ULFA' chief Paresh Barua's mother vote in Assam electionsPTI, Jeraigaon (Assam), 4 April : Her rebel son may have issued a threat to ruling Congress candidates but ULFA 'military chief' Paresh Barua's octogenarian mother Miliki Baruah today cast her vote in the first phase of assembly polls in Assam, saying she had always faith in democracy.
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People should vote for the inevitable change in WB: Pranab Jalpaiguri, 4 April : Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today urged the people of West Bengal to vote for the 'inevitable' change while canvassing for the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls.
''Change is inevitable. I urge the people to welcome this change and vote for the Trinamool-Congress alliance,'' Mukherjee said, adding that the change alone could give a new direction to West Bengal. Pranab Babu was addressing a public meeting at Lataiguri in the Dooars where polls are slated in the first phase on 18 April.
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Indian Finance Minister blames WB for Teesta project delay Lataguri, Jalpaiguri, 4 April : Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee today criticised the West Bengal government for the inordinate delay in the implementation of the vital Teesta irrigation project for which the Centre had sanctioned Rs 701 crore.
Inspite of the Centre according it a national status and agreeing to share 90% of the total cost, the project had been hanging fire for an unusually long time, Mukherjee told a gathering of Congress workers at Lataguri.
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Tripura ranks fourth most literate state, as rate risen 87.74%
"The position of the state in literacy among all state and union territory shows Tripura 87.75 percent in fourth position after Kerala at 93.91, Lakshadweep at 92.28 and Mizoram at 91.58. After Mizoram, we are in position," said Dilip Acharjee, Director of Census Operations in the state.
Acharjee said that the Tripura, which was the 12th most literate state in the 2001 Census, has achieved the benchmark of being in the top five states with the highest literacy rate. "Literacy percentage has crossed 85 percent in the state. There is a Planning Commission provision that states which complete this 85 percent criterion will get special incentives. In India, 10 such states have attained that criteria and Tripura is one of them," he added.
Tripura had 73.66 percent literacy in 2001, and was the second-most literate state in India's northeast region after Mizoram, where the literacy rate was 88.49 percent. Acharjee also said the total illiterate population of Tripura has decreased to 395,235.
"The milestone in the 2001 Census in our state says there is a decline of illiterates from 740,658 in 2001. The numbers of illiterates in our state in 2001 were 740,658 which has declined to 395,235," he said.
The literacy rate of India went up to 74 percent nationwide for people aged seven and older, from about 65 percent in the last census. န File Photo : Parthajit Dutta
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Indian ship arrives ahead of IND navy chief Bangladesh trip
Dhaka, 4 April : The Indian Navy's INS Airavat, a tank carrier that can also be used to deliver disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, has arrived ahead of navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma's five day visit here.
The Indian-built ship is in Chittagong port and has been opened to viewing by the general public. The ship can be effectively used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions during natural calamities and can operate independently on the high seas for as long as 45 days, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency reported. Admiral Verma's 3-8 April visit is on an invitation from Bangladesh Navy chief Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed.
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Jatka Conservation Week begins today; President, PM issues messages hailing the occasion UNB, Dhaka, 3 April : The Jatka Conservation Week-2011 begin in Bangladesh today, aiming at creating awareness of preserving jatka for boosting hilsha production. The theme of the week is: “Both food and money can be available if jatka is preserved.”
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages hailing the week, which will be observed from 4-10 April.
In his message, President Zillur Rahman has sought cooperation from the private organizations, public administration and the fishermen communities in line with the government initiatives to implement the hilsha fish fries preservation activities. President in his message said: “Today’s jatka will be the favourite and big hilsha fish in future for us. The activities of jatka preservation have been taken nationally to help produce the hilsha fishes in the country.” Terming hilsha as the country’s national fish, he said hilsha has been playing an important role in the economy from time immemorial by creating employment, fulfilling protein and alleviating poverty in the country.
In another message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all concerned to come forward for increasing the production of hilsha through protecting jatka (hilsha fry). Jatka is the source of naturally produced hilsha. Availability of big hilsha depends on protection and management of jatka, she said.
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Maoists kill CPM worker at Jhargram in West Midnapore dist
Jhargram. 4 April : Suspected Maoists today shot dead a CPI(M) worker at Jhargram in West Midnapore district.
The police said 42-year-old Gagan Mahato of Birihari village, who was an employee of West Bengal government, was shot from close range when he was going to office this morning. A group of unknown gunmen stopped the vehicle he was travelling and pulled him out and killed him. He was a supporter of CPI(M) and a clerk of state irrigation department.
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At least 5 people killed and 19 injured in Natore road crash
UNB, Natore, 4 April : At least five people were killed and 19 others injured in a head-on-collision between a night coach and a truck at Lathuria on Bonpara-Hatikumrul road in Boraigram upazila early Monday. The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.
Police said the accident occurred at about 2:30am(BDST) when the Dhaka bound night couch from Jhenidah collided with the Kushtia bound truck at the point, leaving four passengers of the coach dead on the spotand 20 others injured. On information, police recovered the bodies and rescued the injured. The bodies were sent to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy. The injured were admitted to Sadar hospital, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and local clinics.
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Satyajit Ray’ Sikkim ‘premiere’ on 6April at Vajra cinema hall
Gangtok, Kolkata, 4 April : Satyajit Ray’s Sikkim is set for its “world premiere” here on Wednesday, 40 years after it was commissioned by the last ruler of the Himalayan kingdom.
The Art and Culture Trust (ACT) of Sikkim is organising the show, which will be attended by governor Balmiki Prasad Singh as the chief guest. “The purpose of the film, we believe, was to showcase Sikkim to the world. This could happen 40 years after it was made. The film will finally see the light of the day,” said ACT managing trustee and filmmaker Ugyen Chopel.The screening had been originally scheduled for 4 April to synchronise with the birth anniversary of the late Chogyal, Palden Thondup Namgyal, who had commissioned the film in 1971. However, the 48-hour bandh called by the SDF forced the organisers to postpone the show to 6 April.
The one-hour long documentary will have only one show at Vajra cinema hall at 5.30pm. Bollywood actor and director Tinu Anand who had assisted Ray in the film’s production, and cinematographer of the documentary Soumendu Ray, will be present at the show. The duo will share with the audience their experiences while making the film. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work begins on $ 255 million Bangladesh-Myanmar rail line
Dhaka, 4 April : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday opened construction work on a rail line that will connect Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh's southeastern beach resort to neighbouring Myanmar.
The $255 million project of two meter gauge lines will connect Jhilongjha with Chittagong, the principal port city on one side and on the other side, it will connect Ramu with Gundum near the Myanmarese border by December 2013.
Bangladesh has a 300 km border with Myanmar. It hopes to connect by road and rail through Myanmar with Kunmin in China.
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