Extensive security for sixth phase West Bengal assembly polls

Kolkata, 9 May : Election Commission has made extensive security arrangement for the 14 Maoist-affected seats, spread over three districts, for the sixth and final phase of West Bengal Assembly election on 10 May.
"Based on reports from intelligence and other agencies, we have prepared our strategy. We have worked out a security system and made it fool-proof," State's Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta told reporters here yesterday.
Besides 41 companies of Central forces permanently deployed in the three districts - Bankura, West Midnapore and Purulia - to tackle Maoists, 607 more companies of central forces coupled with a huge number of state forces will be deployed for the polls, EC officials said.
"Roughly there will be a deployment of one lakh state and central forces to man 26,57,434 electors going to vote in 3534 polling stations in the three districts," they said.
About 48,000 Central forces jawans would be manning more than 3000 polling booths, while about 2000 more, besides 125 companies of state police and personnel of the state armed police, would be distributed outside to take charge of the law and order situation.The inter-state borders with Jharkhand and Orissa have been sealed, while the governments of both states have been alerted against cross border movement of people and arms.The Election Commission has identified all the polling booths as highly sensitive. န File Photo : AFP

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Bangladesh govt seeks duty-free access to USA's market
BSS, Washington, Dhaka, 9 May : Bangladesh needs duty-free access to the US market and the US Congress has an important role to play in this regard, Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Akramul Qader told Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) in Washington.

"The Congress should also renew the US GSP facilities in its present form," he said at a meeting with Congressman Camp, who is also the Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representative, according to a message received here. Ambassador Qader informed that GSP expired in December 2010 and requested Congressman Camp for its renewal by the US Congress without any amendment in order for Bangladesh to get full benefits in exporting all items covered by the facilities under GSP.
Pointing out the importance of duty-free market access in USA for readymade garments in order to alleviate poverty, and empowering women and citing the fact of expiry of the market access bill named New Partnership for TRADE Development (NPTDA) Act 2009,' he also requested the congressman to consider reintroduction of a similar bill in the new congress.
In response, the Congressman Camp assured the ambassador of working on the issues, especially on GSP renewal, in consideration of protecting Bangladesh interest. He, however, requested Bangladesh to extend support for successful completion of ongoing Doha round talks. Counselor (Commerce) of Bangladesh Embassy Md Shafiqul Islam and officials of Ways and Means Committee were present at the meeting.

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Party workers slog and remain unsung during WB elections

Kolkata, 9 May : Come elections, they are heard from morning till evening offering rosy promises, picking holes in past performances and soliciting people's favour, sometimes earning silent approval or scornful glances.
They are the foot soldiers of political parties without whom a party cannot hope to win an election, even in this age of publicity - both electronic and print.
Mostly these humble party workers are unsung and remain in the sidelines.
One such worker is Tapesh Majumdar of Trinamool Congress who tavels through streets and lanes all days shouting slogans into the loudspeaker seeking support for his party.
"We are the frontline soldiers of our party. Nothing more, nothing less. The party candidate rests on our shoulders during election," says Majumdar.
Majumdar's contention is vetted by Twisampati Roy, an activist of the CPI(M).
Their affiliations are different and so are their beliefs, but their routine is similar. န File Photo : AFP

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WZ B'desh Rail to implement two big new rail line projects

BSS, Rajshahi, 9 May : The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway is going to implement two big new rail line construction projects at an estimated cost of Taka 2084.19 crore.
In addition to construction of 141-kilometer new line, 85- kilometer existing rail line would be rehabilitated under the projects in Rajbari, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Natore and Pabna districts. The projects are construction of 63-kilometer Kasiani- Gopalganj-Tungipara new line, rehabilitation of 85-kilometer Kalukhali-Bhatiapara line and construction of 78.4-kilometer new railway line from Ishwardi to Dhalerchar via Pabna.

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Rabindranath's works being converted into 'Braille' format
BN Facebook Desk : Visually-challenged children will now be able to read classics of literary giants like Rabindranath Tagore as the books are now being converted into Braille format.
Chennai-based Third Eye Charitable Trust plans to transcribe literary works, including those of Tagore, into Braille by tying up with publishing houses like Scholastic India, Penguin and Tulika Publishers...... READ FULL REPORT

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Meghalaya celebrates 150 th birth anniversary of Kobiguru

UNI, Shillong, 9 May : To celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, a four-day long 'Tagore Utsav' has started in Brookside complex here.
The festival is organised by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Shillong and Department of Arts and Culture, Meghalaya in collaboration with Tagore Sesquicentenary Birth Celebration Committee (TSBCC). Addressing the gathering, Meghalaya Governor R S Mooshahary said yesterday, ''Tagore's creativity is spread in different spheres, be it spirituality, literary, songs, dances, dramas, humanity, philosophy and much more.'' ''I do not think there is any individual who has been able to read the entire works of Tagore,'' the governor said, stressing upon the need to have a Rabindra Bhavan here.
''Tagore is a great son of the universe and one must try and understand the significance of Tagore utsav,'' Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister BM Lanong said. He said, ''Only recently, I have come to know that Tagore has written national anthems of two countries - India and Bangladesh,'' and recited few stanzas from the Gitanjali for which Tagore won the Nobel Prize in 1913.
Later in the evening, John Gualbert Soanes, a graded artiste of AIR and Panchali Dhar, a renowned Kolkata-based singer presented a solo song. Dona Ganguly, a renowned dancer from Kolkata and wife of former Indian cricket team captain Saurav Ganguly, presented the famous dance drama of the Nobel Laureate with her troupe. န File Photo

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995 rounds of bullet recovered in Sherpur district, Two held
UNB, Sherpur, 9 May : Bangladesh Police in a driver seized 995 rounds of bullet from an abandoned pond at Bakakura village in Jhenigati upazila this morning.
SP Anisur Rahman said on secret information a DB police team conducted the drive at around 6:30 am(BDST) and recovered the huge number of bullets from the pond near the house of Ali Hossain. Police detained Ali Hossain and his associate Ashraful Haque of the village for interrogation.

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Mahmood was different from his contemporaries: Bapi Lahiri

PTI, New Delhi, 9 May : In the era of legendary singers like Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna De and Mukesh, Talat Mahmood is one singer who found a place for himself with his unique style of singing.
Remembering the singer, who died on 9 May, 1998 at the age of 74, composer Bappi Lahiri told PTI Bhasha, "Talat Mahmood was a great singer. He had Mukesh, Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi as his competitors but still he managed to gain recognition. He was different from the others."

Born in Lucknow on 24 February, 1924, Mahmood was fond of music since his childhood. His father Manzoor Mahmood never wanted him to step into the world of films but it eventually happened.
Composer Anil Biswas gave him his first break with a chance to sing in the film ''Arzoo''. Mahmood went on to sing in a number of films in his long career including ''Taxi Driver'', ''Madhosh'' and gained a huge fan following over the years. He was highly appreciated by the audience for his unique voice.
Like every star in Bollywood, Mahmood also had his ups and downs. There was a time when composers neglected him because a few of his songs didn''t do well.
However, Mahmood''s fans did not forget him and he regained his fame. He is considered one of those who gave a different stature to ghazals in Indian cinema. He also received the Padma Bhushan in 1992.
"Talat was a great friend of my father, I always wanted to work with him but unfortunately couldn''t. I have met him on several occasions," Lahiri said.
Mahmood also tried his hands in acting and found success. Appearing in movies like ''Raftar'' and ''Diwali Ki Raat'', he co-starred with famous actresses like Madhu Bala, Nootan and Mala Sinha.

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