Kolkata, 8 May : Campaigning for the sixth and final phase of West Bengal Assembly elections, covering 14 seats in the Maoist-affected Junglemahal area spread over West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts, came to an end today.26,57,436 voters will decide the fate of 97 candidates in this phase on 10 May.
Of the constituencies going to polls, the highest number of seven seats are in West Midnapore district, followed by four in Purulia and three in Bankura district.
Prominent candidates in this phase are CPI(M)'s Susanta Ghosh, the controversial minister in Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's government contesting from Garbeta and his main rival Hema Chowbey of the Congress whose election rally was addressed by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
Jailed PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato, who floated an unrecognised political party called 'Durniti Santras O Samrajyabad Birodhi Ganatantrik Mancha', is contesting as an Independent from the Jharagram seat. န Photos : A Basu
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Dhaka Stock Exchange's fall sparks protests by investors
Dhaka, 8 May : Hundreds of angry retail investors have taken to the streets in front of the Dhaka Stock Exchange as its benchmark index suffered the highest single-day fall since 11 April.
The DSE general index slipped 287.93 points on Sunday. On 11 April, the DSE index shed 293 points, the third highest single-day fall. On 10 January, trading on the Dhaka Stock Exchange was shut after it fell by 660 points, or 9.25 percent, in less than an hour, the biggest one-day fall in its 55-year history.
The DSE general index slipped 287.93 points on Sunday. On 11 April, the DSE index shed 293 points, the third highest single-day fall. On 10 January, trading on the Dhaka Stock Exchange was shut after it fell by 660 points, or 9.25 percent, in less than an hour, the biggest one-day fall in its 55-year history.
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Tallest flag tower to come up in TripuraAgartala, 8 May : Tripura would soon have distinction to hoist the Tri-colour from the highest level as Lok Sabha member from Haryana and industrialist Naveen Jindal, also known as 'flagman of India' has selected the state for the purpose.
Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) has appreciated the proposal of Flag Foundation of India (FFI) and announced that the city would hoist 72 X 48-foot size national tri-colour from the 206-foot height tower.AMC chairperson Prafullajit Sinha said, "When the project would be completed, the flag hoisted from the capital of Tripura will have the distinction to hoist the Tri Color from the highest level." He said the state's unique geography had prompted Mr Jindal to initiate the proposal and Agartala happened to be the only capital of any Indian state located on international border - with Bangladesh.
The FFI under the aegis of Jindal would construct the infrastructure of unique flag tower, which would also be decorated with illuminations, said Dr Sinha adding that the AMC had chosen two spots in the eastern part of the city for the tower to be built.
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EC asks poll authorities to ready counting halls by Tuesday
PTI, New Delhi, 8 May : Gearing up for the counting of votes in the Assembly polls in five states on 13 May, the Election Commission has directed authorities to ensure that the counting halls are ready by Tuesday.
A three-tier cordoning system should also be put in place to guard the counting premises to ensure a trouble-free exercise, which will decide the fate of several political heavyweights in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, the Commission said.... READ FULL STORY @ www.westbengalelections2011.com
PTI, New Delhi, 8 May : Gearing up for the counting of votes in the Assembly polls in five states on 13 May, the Election Commission has directed authorities to ensure that the counting halls are ready by Tuesday.
A three-tier cordoning system should also be put in place to guard the counting premises to ensure a trouble-free exercise, which will decide the fate of several political heavyweights in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, the Commission said.... READ FULL STORY @ www.westbengalelections2011.com
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Don’t quiz us anymore : Jamaat leaders Nizami, Sayedee
Dhaka, 8 May : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami and Delwar Hossain Sayedee on Sunday pleaded for not interrogating them in connection with war crimes charges anymore.
The detained Jamaat leaders moved two petitions to the International Crimes Tribunal in this regard through their counsels Tajul Islam and Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin.
Dhaka, 8 May : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami and Delwar Hossain Sayedee on Sunday pleaded for not interrogating them in connection with war crimes charges anymore.
The detained Jamaat leaders moved two petitions to the International Crimes Tribunal in this regard through their counsels Tajul Islam and Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin.
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Muhammad Yunus fears political influence over "Grameen"
AP, Dhaka, 8 May : Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus says he is worried about the future of the pioneering microlending bank he founded now that Bangladesh's government has successfully ousted him as its head.Dr Yunus indicated he fears the government may seek to influence Grameen Bank's governing structure and its lending policies, which could destabilize the agency.
In a statement late Saturday, the prominant government critic said he feels there is a "growing doubt" over the government's role in civil society.
The country's highest court recently upheld a government decision to remove him as head of Grameen, ending decades of leadership at the bank he set up to lend money to the poor. The bank currently has about 9 million borrowers.
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Nordic agro-fisheries delegation to visit B'desh tomorrow
BSS, Dhaka, 8 May : The first-ever joint business delegation of Denmark and Norway is due to arrive in the city tomorrow to pay a four- day visit to Bangladesh, in order to find potential partners to enhance trade and commerce.
The 13-member delegation- 10 from Denmark and three from Norway- is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Embassy of Denmark, said a press release of the embassy today. "Denmark has been active in Bangladeshi agriculture since the very beginning in 1971, and we are very proud to invite Danish and Norwegian companies to see the progress Bangladesh has made in this area," said Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Svend Olling.
The 13-member delegation- 10 from Denmark and three from Norway- is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Embassy of Denmark, said a press release of the embassy today. "Denmark has been active in Bangladeshi agriculture since the very beginning in 1971, and we are very proud to invite Danish and Norwegian companies to see the progress Bangladesh has made in this area," said Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Svend Olling.
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Review report at B'desh 'Jatiya Sangsad' opening session
Dhaka, 8 May : The special committee on charter review will present its report with recommendations on the opening day of the ninth session of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad.
Committee co-chairman Suranjit Sengupta said this on Sunday after a meeting of the review panel. The meeting was held after the committee's series of meetings with political parties, judges, eminent personalities and the editors of national dailies. The ninth session of parliament will begin on 22 May.
Committee co-chairman Suranjit Sengupta said this on Sunday after a meeting of the review panel. The meeting was held after the committee's series of meetings with political parties, judges, eminent personalities and the editors of national dailies. The ninth session of parliament will begin on 22 May.
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India govt to supply 250 MW power to Bangladesh by 2013
PTI, New Delhi, 8 May : Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday said India is likely to start supplying 250 MW power to Bangladesh by 2013."Work on the transmission line to connect (the two countries) for supply of the 250 MW power promised by India is proceeding apace. We expect power to flow by 2013," Mukherjee told 11 Bangladeshi journalists who called on him here.
Aimed at cementing the bilateral ties, the two countries had agreed to cooperate in areas like security, power, border haats and connectivity during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit in January 2010.
Mukherjee further said that the soft credit of USD 1 billion extended to Bangladesh would be utilised for building infrastructure in the neighbouring country including supply of buses, railway coaches and locomotives, railway infrastructure, upgrading standards and dredging among others.
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Confederation of Indian Industry to help BGMEA's designs
BSS, Dhaka, 8 May : Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a leading business body, will provide Bangladesh with necessary support for further improvement of fashion design and technology in its multi-billion dollar readymade garment industry.
A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between the CII and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in its conference room here today. Special Adviser of Tata International Ltd Syamol Gupta, who is leading a 24- member delegation, and acting President of BGMEA M Siddiqur Rahman signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between the CII and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in its conference room here today. Special Adviser of Tata International Ltd Syamol Gupta, who is leading a 24- member delegation, and acting President of BGMEA M Siddiqur Rahman signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
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Royal Bengal kills fisherman in Bangladesh's Sundarbans
UNB, Khulna, 8 May : A fisherman was killed and another injured in separate tiger attacks Saturday evening in Nolia area of Sundarbans in Dakope upazila, Khulna.
The deceased was identified as Faruk Gazi of Nolia village in the upazila. Forest officials said Faruk went to the Shibsha river for catching fish. Suddenly, a tiger swooped on him and dragged him into the deep forest. Later, his body was recovered by the fellow fishermen.
In another incident, Monindra Kumar of Shogna village in Dumuria upazila, came under tiger attack while fishing in the same river. Later, other fishermen rescued him in critical condition and admitted him to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
UNB, Khulna, 8 May : A fisherman was killed and another injured in separate tiger attacks Saturday evening in Nolia area of Sundarbans in Dakope upazila, Khulna.
The deceased was identified as Faruk Gazi of Nolia village in the upazila. Forest officials said Faruk went to the Shibsha river for catching fish. Suddenly, a tiger swooped on him and dragged him into the deep forest. Later, his body was recovered by the fellow fishermen.
In another incident, Monindra Kumar of Shogna village in Dumuria upazila, came under tiger attack while fishing in the same river. Later, other fishermen rescued him in critical condition and admitted him to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
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Cultivation of Binadhan-8 in salty southern coastal dists stressed to yield more 40 lakh mts paddyUNB, Satkhira, 8 May : Cultivation of Binadhan-8, a high yielding variety paddy, in 10 lakh hectares salted land in Bangladesh's southern coastal districts will produce 40 lakh metric tons more paddy in a year..
Innovated by Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agricultural (BINA), the salt-resistant paddy seeds brought smile back to the farmers of vast salted land in coastal district Satkhira. Binadhan-8 yielded 6.5 tons to 8 tons per hectare in Satkhira in the boro season this year.
Agriculture officers as well as farmers said use of Binadhan-8 has proved boon for growers in different upazilas of the district affected by saline water. Successful harvesting of Binadhan-8 has created new momentum in the district. BINA researchers said that farmers can harvest the crop within 127 days of sowing the seeds on the briny lands.This type of paddy is salt resistant and it can grow in 8-10 deci-cimen/meter brackish land in coastal belt. Some 30/40 lakh mts of paddy can be produced in 10 lakh hectares salted land using the HYV seeds which will help ensure food security in the country, they affirmed.
Dr M A Satter, Direcore General of BINA advocated bringing all salt affected land of the country under Binadhan-8 cultivation. He said using Binadhan-8 in land will help Bangladesh attain food autarky. He along with other officials and agriculture scientists made the observation at a function, titled `Field Day` organized to mark success of BINA-8 farming at the Nuclear Agriculture Research Center in Binerpota, Satkhira, on Saturday.
At the function beaming farmers said they sowed the Binadhan-8 paddy and reaped rich harvest in short time. The growers said they produced 20 maunds of Bina paddy per bigha land, double the quantity yielded by other paddy per bigha in salted land of coastal belt districts. The innovator of the Binadhan-8 Dr Mirza Mofazzel Islam said changing climate is fast affecting Bangladesh as salinity in southern districts is increasing day by day due to climate change effect.
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