BANGLADESH VOTE :

EU affirms Bangladesh's credible poll conditions
Dhaka, 29 December : Head of the European Union election observation mission (EOM) Alexander Graf Lambdorff Monday said "conditions for a credible poll" were in Bangladesh.
After witnessing some polling stations and vote counting at Dhaka University, a satisfied Lambdorff said if the polling across the country was like that of the centres he visited, the 150 member EOM would be happy.
"I have followed the process indeed from morning to evening and our team will continue to follow even after the counting when the results will be transferred to the returning officers," Lambdorff told reporters watching vote counting at Curzon Hall at Dhaka University.
He said his team would be collecting information from the members of the EOM from across the country and make a preliminary statement on 31 December. Lambsdorff went to Shuritulla Model School centre and Ispahani High School in Keraniganj to see the transparency of the voting process.
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Strong turnout for peaceful Bangladesh election
Dhaka, 29 December : Bangladeshis voted on Monday in an election that returns the country to democracy after two years of emergency rule and tests whether it has moved beyond a history of street violence between supporters of rival parties.
Polls officially closed at 4 p.m, although officials said those still in line would be allowed to vote, and the balloting was generally peaceful. There was a festive air in the sprawling capital Dhaka. Most motor traffic had been banned for a public holiday called for the vote.
An alliance led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League has the edge in the vote for 300 parliament seats, most observers say. Others predict neither she nor rival and fellow ex-PM Begum Khaleda Zia will win an outright majority in a country where parties are based more on personality than rigid ideologies.Khaleda, said: "If the election is free and fair, Inshallah (God willing) we will win and form the next government."
Cheerful voters waited up to an hour in line to cast their ballots, while others who were finished stayed on the streets to chat. Men and women, many of the latter in brightly colored saris and head scarves, voted at separate sites.
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Locals support Andal aerotropolis with 7 Demands
Andal, 29 December : On the day of laying foundation stone of development and modernisation of Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport by WB chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Indian civil aviation minister Praful Patel, Andal residents who gave up their land for the aerotropolis project have banded together to voice their support for the project and combat any move to excavate new coal mines in the area. There is a rider though. The locals want a higher price and better compensation for their land.
Their organization, Andal Bhoomi Rakshak Ebong Krishak Sartha Roksha Committee, has raised a seven-point charter of demands which includes no permission for greenfield coal mines in the area, rechristening the project Andal Aerotropolis (from Durgapur Aerotropolis), a higher price of land and a better compensation package. The committee has already put up placards in Andal raising its demands.
Moloy Ghanti and Ananta Ghosh, two spokesperson of the committee, told Bengal News, "The villagers stand united on the aerotropolis project. We have sent a deputation to the chief minister expressing our objection to ECL's greenfield coal mines as the pollution level in the area is already quite high. But we also want better compensation and the rechristening of the airport's name as the largest portion of the land was given from Andal, We also want one "job" for land-donner familly against each six bigha lands."
The project is among Bengal's largest after the Tatas pulled the plug on the Nano plant in Singur. Burdwan DM Manish Jain told Bengal News, no one from the panel had contacted him so far and that if they wanted to discuss their demands, they should do so immediately. Recently, Raniganj Chamber of Commerce president Kanaiha Singh has written to prime minister Manmohan Singh, requesting him to lend his ear to the demands of Andal residents. "If locals don't want coal mines, the Centre should not go ahead with this plan," he said.
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Sense of joy at Bangladesh polls
Voters pleased that the system appeared smoother
Dhaka, 29 December : It may have been one of the coldest mornings of the year, but that did not stop millions of Bangladeshis from defying the elements in their millions to vote in the country's first national elections for seven years.
The overwhelming majority seemed happy to see the country return to democracy and the end of two years of emergency rule by the military backed caretaker government. The leading English language Daily Star newspaper seemed to capture the mood by describing a relaxed and happy mood among voters in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

Everywhere men and women patiently waited in separate lines before producing their ID cards to be checked against photographs on the electoral roll. Voters waited patiently to exercise their mandate
The sense of order in the voting queues was in contrast to the political turbulence Bangladesh has experienced throughout its existence of nearly four decades. The streets were deserted during the vote. There was a heavy army and police presence across the country to maintain security, with a vehicle ban in busier towns and cities.
About 31% of young voters were estimated to have cast their votes for the first time.

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300 Bangladeshi migrants missing off Andamans
Reuters, Port Blair, 28 December : Around 300 Bangladeshi migrants are feared dead after they jumped from a boat and tried to swim ashore in the Andamans, the Indian coast guard said.
A coast guard official said the force had rescued 88 people from a small boat near Little Andaman island, about 90km south of Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal, yesterday. Another 11 men were found on nearby Sandy Point island, said S.P. Sharma, the commander of the coast guard for the Andaman region, adding that about 300 men were still missing. “Around 300 of them reportedly jumped into the sea hoping to swim across to the shore,” Sharma said. “While all are feared dead or missing, search operations are still going on.”
A survivor told officials there had been 412 men, aged between 18 and 60, in the boat, which had little food or water and only a plastic sheet for a sail. Sharma said the man told police seven others had died at sea and their bodies were dumped overboard. Preliminary investigations suggested the men had left Bangladesh bound for Malaysia in six motorised boats about 45 days ago. At some point on their journey, the men had changed vessels, a coast guard statement said.
Indian Coast guard vessels are still combing the area and nearby islands are being searched for survivors.

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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Jamaat spreads rumour about rival's death
Rajshahi, 28 December : In Rajshahi-3 constituency, Jamaat-e Islami candidate Ataur Rahman and his supporters made frantic efforts in their election campaigns to prove that his rival BNP candidate Kabir Hossain is an unfit candidate, and on the last day of the campaign on Saturday, some Jamaat-Shibir activists circulated a rumour that Kabir has passed away.
Protesting the Jamaat propaganda, Kabir yesterday gave a statement to local media that he is still alive and was engaged in election activities till the end of official period of campaign. He also submitted a complaint in this regard with the Bangladesh Election Commission claiming that it is a violation of electoral code of conduct.
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CBI officer arrested who handled important case
Kolkata, 28 December : A CBI officer who had investigated the Tapasi Malik murder case in Singur was arrested on Sunday by a team of the India's premier investigative agency for allegedly taking a bribe from an accused in a murder case, CBI sources said.
Partho Sarathi Bose, DSP, Special Crime Branch of CBI, was arrested from before an electronics shop at Ultadanga in north Kolkata by a six-member CBI Anti-Corruption branch team which came from Delhi.
Bose was arrested when he was allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a person named, Avtar Singh, who is an accused in the murder of a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officer Tarun Dutta, the sources said. Singh in December this year had lodged a complaint that Bose was demanding money from him after which a trap was laid. The CBI officer's residence was also being searched.

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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Election Media Centre opens for polls coverage
Dhaka, 28 December : The Bangladesh government has opened a media centre for local and foreign journalists at Sonargaon Hotel with all necessary facilities for election coverage.
The media centre will remain open from December 28 to December. The information secretary, Jamil Osman, visited the media centre on Sunday to inspect the necessary facilities. The principal information officer, Iftekhar Hossain and other senior officials were present.
The telephone numbers of the centre are: 8140230-34 and 8140228 and fax numbers are 8140227 and 8140229.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :

No mobile phones in polling centres: EC

Dhaka, 28 December : Voters will not be permitted to take mobile phones into polling centres, the Bangladesh Election Commission said on Sunday, suggesting that though polls officials have still to confirm it mobile networks may be working on Election Day.
"None other than those approved by the commission will be allowed to carry mobile phones in the polling centres," election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain told reporters at EC Secretariat. "If anybody enters with a mobile phone it will be treated as a serious crime," he added.
However, the commissioner ducked the question on whether mobile networks would be up and running on Monday, saying an official announcement would come later.

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KMC has no alternative to overburdened Dhapa

By S. P. Gon Chaudhuri, Kolkata, 28 December : Garbage is gold. That's what the tonnes of waste that gets generated in Kolkata can actually be turned into.

The city generates a whopping 4,000 tonnes of municipal waste, which is now being dumped at Dhapa. The present site is overburdened and KMC isn't ready with an alternative. But when the civic body does decide to switch to another place, it has to be a paradigm shift in the way it views and handles waste. Simply dumping the entire garbage is neither environment-friendly, nor commercially sound.
Had a little more attention been paid to the issue, Kolkata could have gone in for landfill engineering, where garbage is disposed scientifically in a way that prevents soil and ground water contamination and enables generation of electricity through methane extraction. But given the sheer quantity of garbage generated in Kolkata, it isn't possible to adopt landfill engineering, as it requires a large tract of land, which one cannot locate near the city.

TO READ MORE CLICK >>
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Bangladesh road crash kills 24
BBC News, Tangail, 28 December : At least 24 people have been killed in Bangladesh after the lorry in which they were travelling veered off the road in thick fog, police said. Thirteen others were injured when the vehicle's driver apparently lost control and crashed into a ditch.
The accident occurred in Tangail, about 42 miles (72km) north of Dhaka. Road accidents are common in Bangladesh and are often blamed on faulty vehicles, poor driving or bad weather conditions.
Among the injured, five are in a critical condition, a police official told Reuters. Police said the lorry was travelling to Bogra from the capital, and that most of the passengers were heading home to vote in Monday's national elections.

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BDR-BSF agree to strengthen vigilance along border
Dinajpur , 28 December : Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at a flag meeting yesterday agreed to strengthen their vigilance along the border to stop smuggle of explosives and arms to Bangladesh ahead of 9th national election tomorrow.
The sector commander level flag meeting between Dinajpur sector of BDR and Raiganj sector of BSF was held at Shukandighi of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. Col Md Rezaul Kabir of BDR Dinajpur Sector led Bangladesh while Shree Sanjib Bhanot DIG of BSF Raiganj Sector led India in the meeting. Commanders of BDR and BSF of different battalions were present at the meeting.
The flag meeting also agreed to maintain biological security at the shared borders under both the sectors so that bird flu cannot spread as Indian part of the border area is witnessing severe infection area, according to the BDR official sources.
The meeting also agreed to work jointly to stop drug smuggling into Bangladesh. Raiganj sector commander ensured his all out support in this regard to drug paddling.

SAY "NO" TO WAR CRIMINALS....

Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the event ahead of the Bangladesh polls to be held on Monday. The participants standing in a long line on Dhaka Manik Mia Avenue called upon the people to say "NO" to war criminals, razakars, patrons of militants and communal forces in the parliamentary election.
Intellectuals, cultural activists and members of various women organisations attended the programme.
Photo : Syed Zakir Hossain

Former Sheffield of India's dream takes shape

Jadavpur University's aid for Howrah foundry industry
Howrah, 27 December : The foundry industry of Howrah is all set to make a turnaround with Jadavpur University's Research, Development and Innovation Centre for Foundry Cluster in Howrah coming forward to help them in attaining better productivity and superior energy management. The principal scientific adviser to the government of India, Dr R Chidambaram, inaugurated the centre yesterday.
"A university researches while an industry delivers. Both can play a complimentary role for each other. This centre would be an ideal platform for the industry-university interface. Unless that happens, there is every chance that the industry gets stuck in the beaten track and the research organization gets away from the ground reality," said Dr Chidambaram, an eminent scientist and chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC). The council has funded the centre in a major way.
The Howrah foundry cluster was the first organized modern industrial cluster in India. It was set up in British days, when Kolkata became the political and commercial capital. The history of the foundry cluster, along with the jute industry, is synonymous with the rise of British mercantile colonialism in India. The cluster used to be considered the Sheffield of India.
TO READ MORE CLICK : www.howrahnews.blogspot.com
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Ershad's motorcade convoy attacked in Rangpur
Rangpur, 27 December : The former Bangladesh president's and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad was attacked in Rangpur on Saturday morning, the attackers smashing the windows of seven to eight vehicles in the former president's convoy.
The assault was carried out around 11am, minutes after Ershad's motorcade headed for Dinajpur's Parbotipur after the end of a street rally at Badarganj. The JP chairman took refuge at the roadside residence of former state minister and Awami League leader Anisul Islam Chowdhury as the attackers shouted anti-Ershad slogans and hurled brickbats at the vehicles.
Police arrived at the spot at around 11.30am, forced the attackers to retreat and the motorcade again started for Parbotipur. A number of journalists accompanying Ershad's campaign tour were among those injured in the attack.
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Thousands trapped in snowstorm in East Sikkim
Gangtok, 26 December : A trip to the snow-laden Changu Lake turned into a nightmare for more than 3, 500 tourists including hundreds of children on Friday. They were trapped in snowstorm conditions with the temperature dipping to minus 15 degrees at a killing altitude of 13,300 feet before the army pulled them to safety.
The majority of those trapped were from Bengal. Hundreds fell ill, shivering in the icy cold as their vehicles remained stranded near Changu and Baba Mandir for hours. Clad in just jackets and scarves, the holidayers were hardly prepared, mentally or physically, to encounter a blizzard. The Indian army rescued them and took them to military camps, where warm soup and loads of blankets helped revive most of them. Many had to be admitted to the army medical units for treatment.
With the weather showing no signs of letting up, Changu Lake could remain out of bounds for tourists this week.

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Andaman remembers tsunami victims

Port Blair, 26 December : Andaman's Lt Governor Bhopinder Singh on Friday led the islanders of Andaman and Nicobar in paying homage to the victims of 2004 tsunami on the fourth anniversary of the tragedy.

As a mark of respect for the hundreds of victims, a two-minute silence was observed and an all-faith prayer meeting held here. The Air Force organised a function at its base in Car Nicobar to pay tributes to the tsunami victims. At a function held at Tsunami Memorial at Aberdeen Water Sports Complex, the Lt Governor laid a wreath and paid floral tributes to the victims. Chief Secretary Vivek Rae, MP Manoranjan Bhakta, senior officers of the administration, public representatives and others participated in the ceremony.
The day was also observed at the southern islands, the areas worst affected by the natural calamity.

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India refutes Bangladesh charge on naval ship

PTI, New Delhi, 26 December : India on Friday rubbished allegations by the Bangladesh government that an Indian naval ship had ventured into Bangladeshi waters on Thursday.
India government clarified that the vessel, owned by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, was touring block 14 and very much within Indian waters.
Bangladesh government had made the allegation on Thursday. There is no clear maritime boundary demarcation between the two countries yet. Bangladesh had earlier also asked India to stop all oil and mineral exploration activities in the region till the boundary issue is settled.

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New track to save Dooars wildlife

Jalpaiguri, 26 December : Reports of elephants getting run over by goods trains in the Dooars may soon be a thing of the past. Trains might bypass the forest completely, if the Indian railways acts upon suggestions forwarded by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways.
The committee has asked Indian Railways to lay another track beside the existing one from NJP to New Bangaigaon, and convert it into a double line. All goods trains that run through the NJP-Alipurduar junction, through the Dooars, should then be shifted to these tracks. This, the committee felt, was the only way to save wildlife, especially elephants.
The NJP-New Bangaigaon track passes through Jalpaiguri, bypassing the Dooars forest lands. The committee felt that if the line were converted into a double track, to where goods trains could be shifted, it would curb elephant deaths due to train accidents, reported every year from the Dooars.
"We have also asked them to follow the speed guideline while driving trains through the Dooars forests,The New Cooch Behar-Dhubri line will start functioning from September next year " said Railway Standing Committee chairman Basudeb Achariya, who was in Jalpaiguri to attend the 14th state conference of Central Government Workers' Coordination Committee, on Friday.
About 39 elephants have so far been killed on this track.

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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Bangladesh Boosts Security Ahead of Poll
Tight security aims at trouble-free polls
Dhaka, 26 December : The government of Bangladesh says it has stepped up security ahead of a crucial election scheduled for Monday following the arrest of two members of a banned Islamist group.Over 600,000 law enforcers will be strategically deployed across the country ahead of the election on 29 December, in the home ministry's security measures for a trouble-free vote.
The Home Affairs Advisor M.A. Matin told reporters in Dhaka that the government is increasing security nationwide. Authorities had already boosted security following threats against Ms. Zia and her main rival, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina. Capital Dhaka will get 'five-tier security' this year, The home ministry and law enforcing agencies had earlier assured that a three-tier security system, at least, would be ensured countrywide. The largest single force throughout the country will be 466,000 Ansar, in addition to 80,000 police, 50,000 armed forces, 25,000 BDR and 6,000 Rapid Action Battalion personnel.Some 284 judicial and some 715 executive magistrates have also been appointed with the power to hold summary trials.
A total of 35,216 vote centres and 177,107 voting booths will serve 81,058,698 registered voters around the country. The EC had renamed voting centres in the lead up to polls this year as 'normal' and 'critical' from the previously 'non-risky' and 'risky' categories. A total of 18 striking forces combining Navy and Coastguard will work across the coastal districts says commissioner Nayeem Ahmed.
The poll should return Bangladesh to democracy after near two years of emergency rule. The military intervened in January of 2007 to stop months of violence between supporters of the BNP and the Awami League. Those same two parties are seen as the front-runners in the upcoming poll.

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GJM calls off indefinite strike at govt offices

Darjeeling, 25 December : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership on Thursday called off the indefinite strike at WB state government and DGHC offices, sending out a positive signal to the Centre and the state government days before the tripartite talks in Delhi on 29 December.
The decision comes a day after the party announced its intention to attend the talks. But while going public with the decision to join the talks on Wednesday, GJM chief Bimal Gurung had made it clear that the strike would be on. "But we decided to call off the strike at government and DGHC offices to make the atmosphere conducive for the Delhi talks, However, NTPC, NHPC, the billing sections of the telephone and electricity departments and tax and revenue collecting offices will remain closed. These will be brought out of the purview of the strike if the talks prove to be fruitful. "Decision in this regard will be taken only after the tripartite talk yields some results," GJM press and publicity secretary Benoy Tamang told Bengal News.
As part of GJM's non-co-operation movement, all WB state government and DGHC offices have been closed since 8 December.
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Banned militant outfit JMB's 8 activists caught in raid

Gaibandha, 25 December : Gaibandha police on Thursday arrested eight more alleged activists of the banned Islamic militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahidin Bangladesh, a district police official said, just a day after arrests of three JMB suspects and a huge haul of explosives.
SM Moniruzzaman, Gaibandha police superintendent, told reporters that RAB, Detective Branch and local police jointly arrested the four, based on information from the three alleged JMB members arrested Wednesday night from Gaibandha villages. During Wednesday night's hauls, police retrieved huge quantities of bomb ingredients, electronic equipment, batteries, grenade casings, chemicals and books from the raids. Police said at least 55 grenades could be made using the seized materials. The arrestees are being quizzed at Govindaganj Police Station.
SM Moniruzzaman had said, without elaborating, that the grenades were being made possibly for some 'special mission'. Police seized books and leaflets from their houses.
On Wednesday night police picked up three suspected JMB activists from Bhatparha Gopalpur in Gaibandha and Talukkanupur and Parhakachua villages in Govindaganj.

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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Khaleda takes campaign to Jamalpur, Sherpur & Netrokona
Dhaka, 25 December : BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was out on Thursday to take her election campaign to Jamalpur, Sherpur and Netrokona.

The BNP chief will first address a public rally at Jamlpur Shahid Minar ground. She is also set to take part in gatherings at Sherpur Darogah Ali Park, Nokla High School ground and Netrokona Muktar Parha ground. She also abruptly pulled over and walked into a paddy field and talked to farmers for 10 minutes on her way to Jamalpur from Madhupur.
On her way back to Dhaka, the former prime minister is scheduled to join a number of street rallies. Khaleda, who launched her campaign on 12 December by visiting the shrines in Sylhet, will round her electioneering outside the capital off with Thursday's trip.
She exchanged Christmas greetings with the Christians early in the day at Kakrail central church on her way back home after participating in a rally in Narayanganj. She cut cake and exchanged greetings with the people of the church.
The leader of BNP led four-party alliance will address a rally at Paltan ground in Dhaka on 27 December, the last day of election campaign.

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32 Bangladeshis arrested in Tripura

Agartala, 25 December : Thirty two Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested from a brick kiln on the outskirts of the capital town here, police said today. Acting on a tip-off, police raided a brick kiln at Champamura last night and arrested the Bangladeshis who came to work as labourers, police sources said.
BSF had apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals on Monday last and handed them over to police and on the basis of the interrogation report police raided the brick field, they said. Investigations are on to ascertain whether the arrested had any kind of criminal links.
Earlier, an alert was sounded by the state Home department along the entire Indo-Bangla border and BSF was asked to intensify vigil in view of the upcoming Bangladesh elections.

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Bird Flu Outbreak Again Detected in Bangladesh
Kurigam, 25 December : Bangladeshi authorities say they have slaughtered nearly 10-thousand birds in five districts, as the country faces a fresh outbreak of the deadly avian flu virus.
An official in the Department of Fisheries and Livestock says poultry in the northern district of Kurigam have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain. The district is the fifth to report the virus since bird flu reemerged in Bangladesh in recent months.
Earlier this year, Bangladesh culled more than one million birds after authorities discovered bird flu in nearly 50 of the country's 64 districts. Bangladeshi officials say they are stepping up monitoring and preventative measures

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BANGLADESH VOTE :

Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed lauds military's role

Say military as sleepless guards of independence and sovereignty
Chittagong, 24 December : Army backed Bangladesh chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has lauded the armed forces for doing a great job by helping out the civil administration in running the affairs and mainitaining the continuacy of democracy.
They have always come forward in times of diaster and other difficult times, said Fakhruddin at a combined parade by army, navy and air forces at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiari in Chittagong on Wednesday. He termed the military as sleepless guards of independence and sovereignty.
He pointed out that military academies were set up in the country shortly after independence in 1971 to have skilled armed forces and noted that cadets from friendly countries also learn here.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
America's NDI observers arrive for polls
International community's interest for democratically-elected government
Dhaka, 24 December : A 33 member observers of Washington based National Democratic Institute arrived in the capital Wednesday to monitor the 29 December polls. The delegation is co-led by former US ambassador in Bangladesh Howard B Schaffer and a former MP of Canada Audrey McLaughlin, said a statement from the NDI's local office.
"The 33-member group includes political and civil leaders, regional and election experts, media specialists, and human rights activists from 10 countries in Asia, Europe, and North America," said the statement. "The purpose of the delegation is to demonstrate the international community's interest in Bangladesh's return to a democratically-elected government," it added.
The NDI had fielded a pre-election delegation to Dhaka from 16 November and has had long term observers in Bangladesh since 20 November to assess the political environment and preparations for the general elections, according to the statement.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
284 judicial magistrates appointed for polls
Dhaka, 23 December : The Bangladesh law ministry has appointed 284 judicial magistrates to settle cases of electoral crimes in the 29 December general election , EC officials said on Tuesday.
"On approval of the Supreme Court the law ministry has already appointed 284 judicial magistrates," EC joint secretary (law) NI Khan said. The ministry sent a letter on Tuesday to the EC, which will take decisions on the issue on Wednesday, he said.
The magistrates are empowered to dispose cases off-hand through summary trial and punish the violators, Khan said. "Meanwhile, over 700 executive magistrates have been appointed in two phases," he added.
The EC empowered some 396 administrative cadre officials and assistant commissioners (land) as executive magistrates, EC officials said.
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West Bengal CM to meet Amartya Sen on Global Economic Crisis
Kolkata, 23 Desember : WB Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will discuss the global economic crisis with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, who is in town. Inaugurating the 22nd Industrial India Trade Fair, organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with India Trade Promotion Organisation at the Milan Mela ground on Tuesday, Bhattacharjee said the crisis has had its impact on the country and West Bengal was no exception.
"I met the Reserve Bank of India Governor a few days ago and discussed the issue. The growth rate has come down to 7%. The crisis will badly hit the manufacturing and IT sectors. Amartya Sen is in the city. I have fixed an appointment to meet him. I want to discuss the issue with him," the CM said.
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No solution to Bengal's trainee teacher impasse
Kolkata, 23 December : WB Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is worried about the impasse over the Primary Teachers' Training Institutes (PTTI) students in the state. He asked school education minister Partha De in the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday whether the Centre had informed him of any development in this connection. De told him that there had been no development neither was there any denial that a solution could not be provided.
It has been more than a month since the high court derecognised the private primary teachers' training colleges that were running a one-year course flouting Central norms. The West Bengal Primary Teachers' Training Students' Union has already threatened to launch a widespread agitation all over the state if the state government failed to eke out a solution from the Centre.
The state government is seeking regularisation of 146 PTTIs in West Bengal, which have been termed illegal by the high court.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :

Call for boycott of war criminals in polls
Rajshahi, 23 December : The Rajshahi unit of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee on Tuesday formed a human chain in the city demanding that people should boycott war criminals, militancy patrons and criminals in the forthcoming polls. They urged the voters to vote for the candidates who acted for the independence of the country in 1971.

About 200 people formed the human chain at Saheb Bazar. Later they held a gathering there. The speakers said it was disgraceful for the countrymen that the war criminals were enjoying various facilities.

They wished to see a Bangladesh free of razakars, corruption, criminals and patrons of militancy. Rajshahi University professor Moloy Kumar Bhowmick, Sayed Shafiqul Alam, Prashanta Kumar Saha, professor Fazlul Haque, Kalpana Roy, Shamim Ara, Kamruzzaman and Sujit Sarker addressed the meeting.

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Haldia plant starts bio-fuel production
Haldia, 23 December : Kolkata is on the threshold of a bio-fuel revolution. Very soon, buses and diesel taxis may stop belching toxic smoke, and Kolkatans may again breathe fresh air. That is, if the government changes its policies to put this green fuel in top gear, as several countries have done.
Emami Biotech Limited has started commercial production of bio-fuel at its Haldia plant from today. The fuel of the future is not only eco-friendly but it will also save foreign exchange for the country by cutting down the need for crude oil import.

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2004 Sylhet Blast :
HUJI commander & 2 other sentenced to death
Sylhet, 23 December : Mufti Hannan the opeartion commander of Harkatul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI) and two other militants were sentenced to death on Tuesday for the 2004 grenade attack on former British high commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet.
The Sylhet divisional speedy trial tribunal judge Shamim Md Afzal also sentenced two others found guilty to life terms, special public prosecutor of the tribunal Fakhruddin Ahmad told reporters. Three policemen were killed and over 50 were injured, including the former UK envoy, in the grenade attack on 21 May, 2004, that was said to have targeted Choudhury as he was visiting the shrine of Shah Jalal in the north eastern city.
Tight security measures were taken in and outside the court premises since morning. Polile searched people and their baggage on the entrances. The accused were taken to the court from Sylhet Central Jail at around 2:17pm and the verdict was delivered at 3:30pm BDST.
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Police gun down by suspected Maoists in Purulia
Purulia, 22 December : Two policemen were killed when over 30 suspected Maoists, dressed as ordinary villagers, opened fire during a change of the guards’ shift at the construction site of a Purulia community hall today.
A jeep carrying four WB state armed police personnel had just arrived around 4.30pm to relieve their colleagues when “30-40 people”, who had merged with hundreds of others at the bazaar at Raidiberada village, struck. The daylight attack at a time the weekly haat (bazaar) was in full swing took the policemen so much by surprise that they apparently could not fire a single shot in response. Some of them had their bodies in shawls and could not free their arms in time. Two of the assailants picked up the Insas rifles of the dead and injured cops as the others in the gang provided covering fire.
District superintendent of police Rajesh Yadav said Maoists from Jharkhand, only 6km from the scene of the bloodshed, were behind the attack. “There were 30-40 of them, most of whom came on motorbikes. They took advantage of the crowded market, mingling with the villagers. When the policemen arrived at the construction site, they surrounded them and opened fire,” he said.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Reaching 'FINAL STAGE' before power handover : CA
Chittagong, 23 December : Bangladesh Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed has said the caretaker government has reached the final stage in its objective to handover power to elected representatives by holding a free, fair and acceptable election.
The CA on a visit to Chittagong Tuesday reiterated, as on previous occasions, that no negligence or bias would be tolerated by those on election duty. Speaking to government officials assigned to the general election, Fakhruddin told them to act with honesty without yielding to any pressure. He asked them to be careful so that "ill forces" including banned organisations could not carry out any violence during the election.
Pointing to the districts near the border area, he directed authorities to increase vigilance so that terrorists could not cross the border before or after the election.
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Kolkata among 4 metros to get NSG hubs
PTI, New Delhi, 22 December : Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai will soon have full-fledged units of the National Security Guard (NSG) with the Indian Government on Monday deciding to set-up regional hubs of the crack commando force in these four cities to cut its response time in future.
The idea to set up such hubs was mooted in the wake of last month's Mumbai terror attacks when NSG; which is stationed at Manesar near Gurgaon in Haryana, took over nine hours to begin its operation against the terrorists. Since Manesar does not have an airstrip, the commandos had to travel to Delhi by road and fly to Mumbai, wasting precious time.
The four regional hubs, which will also have facilities for regular training, will help the NSG in cutting its response time substantially in future. "Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai are the four places identified to establish the new NSG hubs. These hubs will be manned by the existing force of NSG as of now," director general of the elite force J K Dutt told reporters after meeting Indian home secretary Madhukar Gupta.

BANGLADESH VOTE :

55 women candidates contest 60 seats
Female vote could set a new record
Dhaka, 22 December : With as many as 29 women candidates running in more than one constituency, some 55 women are contesting in 60 seats in the forthcoming Bangladesh parliamentary poll on 29 December, the Election Commission says.
"New electoral law does not allow one person to contest in more than three constituencies," points out Bangladesh EC deputy secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed. In the past candidates could try their luck in as many as five. Sarwar also mentions that women outnumber men in voter lists this year, breaking all previous records.
The ballots of women and youth voters would be a major force in the upcoming election.The ninth Bangladesh parliamentary polls sees some 41,236,149 female voters enrolled out of 81,058,698.
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Darjeeling hills hopes for early snowfall this X-Mas
Darjeeling , 22 December : The West Bengal's Hills could enjoy snowfall this Christmas, going by the temperature recorded for the past few days.
The mercury in Darjeeling town has not crossed the 7 degree Celsius mark in two days invoking the people's anticipation of an early snowfall. Throughout Sunday, the temperature oscillated between 5 and 7 degrees with a faint hint of drizzle accompanied by the familiar chill in foggy conditions.
Although Sunday was an outing day in the hill town, most citizens preferred to stay indoors because of the severe cold. Chowrasta, the popular promenade usually buzzing with people and activities, wore a deserted look except for some enthusiastic tourists.
Many people of the town, who have their own accommodation in the plains of Siliguri and other areas, have already left to find warmth anticipating a chilly winter this time. Since most schools have already closed for the winter vacation, parents without any accommodations in the plains have left early as finding rent-ins' is a major problem in the winter season.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Playing religion card, Khaleda seeks vote to save Islam
Sylhet, 22 December : BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday played the religion card as she urged voters to save the country and Islam by voting BNP-led four-party alliance to power in the Bangladesh general elections next week.
"Save the country and Islam through voting the four-party alliance. Don't vote for those who defamed the religion," she said at an election campaign rally at Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground in the afternoon. "You'll have to pay the price if you commit any mistake in the 29 December election. The country will be saved if you vote for a patriotic power. On the other hand, the country will be insecure under the hand of those who want to sell the country off." she said.
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Police destroy poppy plants in Salar
Behrampore, 21 December : Murshidabad police at Salar have destroyed poppy plants on at least 50 bighas of land in the last two days in three different villages of Murshidabad. Sources said some criminals from Sarbastipur, Tiyan and Baidyapara villages had planned to cultivate poppy on some unused plots in the villages. Around seven days ago, they had sown poppy seeds on the plots. Acting on a tip-off, Salar police dug up the land and destroyed the seeds.
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Adequate Measures to Protect Sheikh Hasina : Matin
Dhaka, 21 December : Bangladesh home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin said on Sunday said that the government has taken necessary measures for the security of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina after a report of possible attack on her in the Indian TV channel and Web media.
According to a report run online by Indian Web media www.bengalnewz.com followed by TV channel CNN-IBN's reporting, Indian intelligence agencies have warned Bangladesh that the former premier faces an assassination threat from HUJI a banned militant group.
Bangladesh home adviser said that he had taken appropriate measures in this regard and he feels there is no threat whatsoever.The Foreign Advisor to the caretaker government in Bangladesh , Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said that security has been beefed up for Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. Adequate measures are also being taken to assure elections.
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I don't care more about my life than Bangladesh : Hasina
Tangail, 21 December : A day after reports that militants were out to assassinate her, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina said on Sunday she did not care more about her life than she does to see a a thriving Bangladesh.
"Today's newspapers have published stories on threats to my life.I want to tell you straight that I don't bow down to anyone but God and I don't care much about my own life. I only care about a thriving and developing Bangladesh." Hasina said at a rally at Tangail Shaheed Smriti Udyan.
Bengal News broke the news quoting Indian television network CNN-IBN on Saturday that Indian intelligence agencies had warned the former prime minister a team of six militants of Harkatyl-Jihad'Al-islami Bangladesh were out to kill her.
Bangladeshi News papers printed the story on Sunday.
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BIRD-FLU FEAR :
Dinajpur forest dept. worried on Kulik Sanctuary Raiganj, 21 December : The forest department in North Dinajpur is worried about the 90,000 migratory birds in the Kulik sanctuary because infected chickens might make it inside with picnickers who throng the place.
Raiganj divisional forest officer Ashis Sen said the department had been on alert since the outbreak in Assam, but with the disease confirmed in a Malda pocket 50km away, the worries have grown. "We are trying to keep the area clean. Everyday, our men are clearing droppings from beneath the trees and spraying the sanctuary with bleaching power." The biggest worry, though, is that chickens are clandestinely ferried to areas near the sanctuary by Malda traders. Picnickers bring live chickens into the forest and slaughter them, putting at risk the large population of open bill storks, cormorants and night herons.
"If there is an avian flu outbreak, it is likely that the birds will not return to the forest for many years," the forest officer said.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Hasina vows to revive Tangail handloom industry
Tangail, 21 December : Awami League president Sheikh Hasina Sunday urged the people of Tangail, promising to revive the area's dying handloom industry. She also called on voters to wrench the country from "looters' hands".
"If voted to power, we'll take necessary steps to provide special loans for weavers to help revive the dying handloom industry. Tangail will be upgraded to a cultural hotbed," Hasina told a rally at Tangail Shaheed Smriti Uddyan.
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Hotel industry in distress for Gorkhaland agitation
Rishap, 20 December : Hoteliers in Lava, Loleygaon, Rishap and Kalimpong said their business in the year's last fortnight had shrunk by almost 90 per cent because of the Gorkhaland agitation.
Hit severely during spring and autumn, the industry was hoping to cover some ground this season until the threat of another round of strikes. "We had almost cent per cent bookings, but almost all have been cancelled," Janmukti Hotel Association, Rishap president Rajeeb Sahee told Bengal News.
The GJM had initially threatened a 72-hour bandh from 23 December. Then it put off the strike till 26 December, adding to the hotels' woes. "We had started receiving bookings from 26 December. Those, too, are being scrapped now," told Sahee.
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HUJI Plans to kill Hasina:CNN-IBN
Howrah, 20 December : An Indian television network on Friday reported that Bangladesh based Islamist militants were planning to assassinate Awami League president Sheikh Hasina.
CNN-IBN's Suman Chakrabarti reported that the former Bangladesh prime minister had been warned by the Indian intelligence agencies that a six-member suicide squad of the banned Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh. The report added the HUJI team has trained under the watchful eye of a former Pakistani special forces officer named Ehetesham in a special training camp held at Kaligunj in Satkhira of Bangladesh for the last two months. The six men were personally briefed by HUJI chief Imtiaz Quddus at the end of the training, the report of Rajdeep Sardeshai's CNN-IBN Tv channel said.
A spokesperson for the Bangladesh deputy high commission in Kolkata said he was not aware of it. "We have no official comment on this issue," Kazi Moshtaque Zahir, the Press Secretary, told Bengal News.He said he came to know about the news from Bengal News on Saturday.
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Indian Museum under scanner :
CBI carried out raids the Indian Museum & 16 other places
Kolkata, 19 December : The CBI carried out raids on the Indian Museum and 16 other places spread over Kolkata and two other districts in West Bengal on Friday night as part of a probe into allegations of corruption.
Preliminary investigations suggested that some officials had shown expenditure against the purchase of security gadgets and renovation that remained only on paper. "There is a discrepancy between the gadgets purchased and the material shown on record over the past few years. Expenditure was also shown regarding renovation that was never carried out at the museum," a CBI officer said. The agency, which has been probing the charges over the past couple of years, has taken possession of some documents for further investigation.
The premises of five firms that had bagged contracts for the renovation on the basis of fake documents and disclosures were also raided. "We also searched the residences of some officials of the institution in North and South 24-Parganas. Some of these officials have assets disproportionate to their income. We have seized some paintings that we suspect to be fake but we will have to take expert opinion on that," told the official. The CBI has taken documents on the purchase of some equipment that were recommended to overhaul the security system after the theft of a Buddha idol in December 2004.
"We have found discrepancies in the purchase of some equipment and paintings. We suspect some of the employees had indulged in malpractice," the CBI officer said. Arrests are likely to be carried out soon," another CBI officer said.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
Khaleda Zia alleges media bias
Keraniganj, 19 December : BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has alleged the media are not covering the four-party alliance's election campaign fully and fairly. At a rally in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka on Friday, she also repeated claims that "a conspiracy" surrounded the coming general election.
"I've witnessed the mass upsurge during the rallies of BNP and Jamaat," said the former prime minster. "Seeing the huge crowds, a conspiracy is on to foil the election. And as part of that conspiracy, the media are not covering our rallies across the country," Khaleda claimed.
"A group of journalists are with me, working effortlessly without food and sleep to cover our rallies, but they are not seeing the results of their hard work, as television channels are not broadcasting them properly," Khaleda claimed. "The state of emergency has been withdrawn, but these television channels are still being censored."
The BNP chairperson warned the Election Commission not to engineer or hatch any plots regarding the election results.
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Khaleda pledges another bridge over Buriganga
Dhaka, 19 December : BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has pledged to build another bridge over the Buriganga river if the four-party alliance comes to power. "Everything, including gas, water, sewerage, bridge and roads, was developed during the BNP-led government," the former-PM claimed, at an election meeting in Kamrangirchar, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, on Friday afternoon.
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GJM made Baton Brigade
Darjeeling, 19 December : The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will arm its volunteers with batons so they can "break legs" if needed. "You should not harm anyone but if someone attacks you, break their legs," Morcha president Bimal Gurung said in Darjeeling today.
The party will organise a physical training camp for the army of volunteers christened Gorkhaland Personnel. The camp, from 7 January, will be held at Goke village, 35km from Darjeeling. Taking a cue from their leader, around 4,000 members of the Morcha youth wing today brought out a rally carrying batons with small Morcha flags on top. Former soldiers in the Morcha ranks will train the youths at Goke. "We will train a batch of 400 for two months. This will be an ongoing process for there are 10,000 of them," said Ramesh Allay, president of the Bhutpurba Sainik Morcha
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6000 chickens die, fear of flu spreads
Malda, 19 December : Reports of more chicken deaths from Gajole block reached the authorities in Malda town today when they were planning to wrap up the culling operation in bird flu-hit Narhatta.
Gram panchayat pradhan Sahanur Biswas said 6,000 chickens had died in Gajole. "We have two women's self-help groups, Rupali and Milan. Each member of the two groups had 350-400 birds. They were making good profit by selling the eggs. But they have lost all the chickens," he said.
The animal resource development department deputy director in Malda, Nikhil Kumar Shit, said: "We have collected blood samples from the dead birds in the Bairgachhi I gram panchayat area and have sent them to Kolkata for tests."
Bairgachhi is only 5km from Narhatta. Most poultry birds within 3km of Narhatta have been culled.
A mop-up operation was about to begin to kill "4,000-5,000 chickens that the villagers have not handed over", Malda district magistrate Sridhar Ghosh said. "Our culling teams will go on a house-to-house search for these birds."
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26 Illegal tanneries shut down in Kolkata
Kolkata, 18 December : Twenty-six illegal tanneries have been shut in Tiljala, Topsia and Tangra after the three-day drive by Kolkata and South 24-Parganas police to execute a High Court order issued a week ago to close down illegal tanneries.
The Kolkata and South 24-Parganas police had a list of 14 illegal tanneries. During the drive, police found more illegal tanneries in the area. Out of the 26 units closed so far, 11 were operating and the remaining were already in the process of shifting to other spot. The police will continue the drive on Thursday to find whether any more illegal tannery units are still functioning. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, CESC and police jointly carried out the drive. This was the third such drive to close down the illegal tannery units. Previously such drives were undertaken in 2002 and then in 2004.
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Expatriates Desk opens at ZIA International Airport
Dhaka, 18 December : Bangladesh foreign adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury opened a special desk for expatriates at the arrival lounge of Dhaka Zia International Airport on Thursday.
"The new Probashi Kallyan (expatriates' welfare) desk at the airport will assist migrant workers and expatriates with their particular queries," said the adviser. The Probashi Kallyan Desk will help migrant workers to complete their embarkation and disembarkation cards, immigration and security formalities and hand out information on remittance and other issues. It will also provide assistance in customs clearance, information on local transport and privileged citizen benefits.
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9,000 birds culled in bird-flu hit West Bengal
Malda, 18 December : Over 9,000 poultry birds have been culled in West Bengal's Malda district after the latest bird flu outbreak there but some villagers are resisting the move, officials said Thursday.
"Veterinary workers have culled 9,373 poultry birds since Tuesday at Narhatta and Satgheria villages under the English Bazar police station in Malda," District Magistrate Sridhar Ghosh told Bengal News. However, Ghosh said those involved in culling are facing some resistance from villagers, who are demanding higher compensation.
"Villagers are being paid a compensation of Rs.20-50 for each fowl and duck depending on its age. But they are demanding double the prices for grown-up chickens," DM said.
According to district sources, villagers are hiding their poultry to avoid culling. Eighteen culling teams with a total of 90 workers - wearing white protective suits, gloves and masks - Tuesday started killing and burying chickens and ducks at Narhatta and Satgheria villages in Malda.
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Rizwan case : Ashok Todi's bail plea turned down
Kolkata, 18 December : The Rizwan case played out in two courtrooms in the city on Wednesday. While Kolkata High Court turned down Ashok Todi's bail plea, the the 14th metropolitan magistrate court, Alipore, transferred the case to the city sessions court for trial. All the accused in the case will now have to appear before the city sessions chief judge on 23 December after which the date of commencement of trial will be given.
Todi, the prime accused who is now in custody, moved a bail petition in the high court on Wednesday. Justice D P Sengupta turned down the plea on the grounds that there was a possibility of tampering with evidence. He observed that Todi was an influential person and had used the police in breaking the legal marriage of Rizwan and Priyanka. Todi is not entitled to get relief under provisions of CrPC, as there is sufficient material in the case diary which implicates him for committing offences punishable under Section 306 of IPC for abetment to suicide, the judge said.
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Andamans may close controversial tourist highway
Poart Blair, 18 December : The recent deaths of eight Onge Tribesmen and another Jarawa Tribal boy, have forced the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to propose the closure of the most controversial Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) to the tourists to protect the primitive Jarawa tribe. Six years ago on 7 May, 2002 the Indian Supreme Court passed a set of landmark orders to protect the Islands ecosystem, which included the closure of ATR that runs through the two Jarawa Reserve Forest, where the tribe has been living for more than thousands years. Besides diseases, ATR brought alien food, intoxicants, and caused sexual exploitation of Jarawa Tribes and the tourists travelled through ATR just to see them and thus ‘Jarawa Tourism’ also began that resulted in further exploitation.
On 19 November, 2008 Jarawa tribesmen had attacked and killed encroaching settlers when at least one Jarawa was killed. On 8 December, 2008, 23 Onge tribesmen consumed some poisonous liquid, mistaking the chemical that was washed ashore, for alcohol. Out of the 23 tribesmen, eight died and 15 are still hospitalised.
These two incidents have caught the Andaman and Nicobar Administration by surprise.Measures to close the ATR to the tourists in the near future to protect the primitive Jarawa tribe were also discussed, an Andaman and Nicobar administration official release said. Jarawa activists and organisations working for tribal rights have been demanding for total closure of ATR since 2002 but the Administration had failed to act on the SC orders. “If the Administration is thinking to close ATR for tourists then it’s a welcome step but Administration should have closed that ATR soon after Supreme Court’s order,” Samir Acharya, Secretary of SANE (Society for Andaman and Nicobar Ecology) told Bengal News on Thursday.
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Empty Promises over Taltali Bridge
Barisal, 18 December : Construction of Taltali Bridge over the Taltali River has remained incomplete although the matter was included in the election pledges of three former lawmakers.
Former president Abdur Rahman Biswas, his son Nasim Biswas and former Barisal city mayor Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, who were elected lawmakers in three elections in the past, had promised construction of the bridge that would help establish a direct road link from Muladi, Hizla and Mehendiganj upazilas to Barisal city. Former president Abdur Rahman Biswas initiated a project and laid its foundation on 5 February, 1995.
Mojibor Rahman Sarwar, the then BCC mayor and former lawmaker, inaugurated resumption of the construction of Taltali Bridge on 16 October, 2006 by extending the project cost from Tk 1.8 crore to Tk 4.7 crore. But the process again stopped in July this year. Executive Engineer of RHD in Barisal said the authorities stopped the construction work after faults were found in the design and structure of the bridge.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
HC rulings will be minded up to 28 December
Dhaka, 18 December : Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda has said candidates will be validated in line with High Court order up to the day before election.
"Who can disregard an HC ruling?" he said Thursday, emerging from his office to be met by reporters' questions. "We have the manpower and they will work round the clock till the day before polls. If the HC rules it, then we will carry out an amendment in the ballot paper up to the last moment," said the CEC.
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BANGLADESH VOTE :
112 out of 162 polling centres vulnerable in Bandarban
Bandarban, 18 December : Of the 162 polling centres in Bandarban parliamentary seat 112 have been marked as "important" or "risky", according to police. The number of risky centres is more in Bandarban Sadar, Ali Kadam and Lama. Helicopter will have to be used for conducting election in 15 remote centres in Ramnoma, Thanchi, Roangchhari and Ali Kadam.
District election office sources said, the number of polling centres in JS-300 seat (Bandarban) has been increased to 162 this time from 156 during the last election. Though earlier choppers were used in 13 remote centres this time it would be required to go to two more centres.Officials concerned said considering lack of communication facilities and security the government and the Election Commission have been requested to arrange helicopters for transportation of the election officials and employees.
Detective Branch of district police said, of the 37 centres in Bandarban Sadar upazila 26 have been identified as risky, 18 out of 20 centres in Roangchhari, 11 out of 18 in Romnoma, 11 out of 13 in Thanchi, 26 out of 36 centres in Lama, all the 15 centres in Ali Kadam and 5 out of 23 centres in Naikkhongchhari have been marked as risky.
Bandarban's acting Police super Tutul Chakravarty said, police has marked the normal and important centres through investigation. Lack of communication, terrorism and crime prone areas, and number of voters in a centre have been considered in marking a centre as "important".
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After end of State Emergency Dhaka based Diplomats seek Better Security
Dhaka, 17 December : With an end to the state of emergency, Dhaka-based diplomats turned to the government on Wednesday to ensure "better security" ahead of the 29 December polls.
Ambassadors and high commissioners of Australia, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland met foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain at his foreign ministry office and said they were facing problems in their movements because of electioneering in city. They informed that they could not move smoothly owing to election activities in the city, particularly in Gulshan area and requested to guarantee better security measures for them before, during and after the elections.
Bangladesh foreign secretary assured diplomats that the ministry would instruct the law enforcers to make extra security arrangements for the diplomats, if necessary.
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BIRD FLU IN BENGAL
Malda culling plan goes hampered
Malda & Kolkata, 17 December : Due to the lack of co-ordination among government officials on Wednesday. Culling was hampered severely in the bird-flu affected areas of Malda.
While the target for a three-four day operation is 20,000 fowl, government teams managed to cull just 150 birds till late evening. All day the culling teams stood waiting as villagers refused to give up their birds without compensation money, which was yet to reach the district officials. At Budhia, which has seen hundreds of chickens dying over the past two days, people mobbed panchayat samiti sabhapati Akram Hossain. Hossain admitted, "There was lack of co-ordination, which delayed the culling."
By the time problems were sorted out, dusk had fallen and officials had to return from most of the villages. The culling teams reached Narhatta High School the operational headquarters around 3 pm before moving off to the villages in smaller groups. But nobody had any money. A district official confided, "We lacked the manpower and hence the delay. Tomorrow things will be in order."
In Kolkata, animal resources development (ARD) department secretary Dilip Chakraborty said, "There is no bar not even in the affected areas of Malda on eating poultry products. The usual method of eating chicken products after boiling at 70 degrees stands." The state government issued a notification on avian flu after the attack was confirmed on Monday.
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Bangladesh chief adviser thanks PRESS
Dhaka, 17 December : With emergency lifted and the ninth Jatiya Sangsad polls with handover to an elected government drawing nearer, Bangladesh chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed says the future will judge his success or failure as head of the two year interim administration.
"I've tried to work with all of my intelligence, consciousness, and wisdom. The future will judge the success or failure of my works," the chief adviser said on Wednesday. Dr.Fakhruddin was talking to journalists who paid a courtesy call at the CA's Office.
The former governor of Bangladesh Bank is planning a long vacation after handing over to the next elected government, he said, hinting the last 23 months of discharging state duties had tired him out. In a friendly meeting, Fakhruddin shook hands warmly with journalists "as if it was a farewell", said those who were present.
Fakhruddin expressed his gratitude to the press for "helping his government". "You've presented news of government activities efficiently and professionally, thereby providing a bridge between the government and the people.Since we took over, I believe the government and the press have worked with the same goal," said the head of the interim administration.
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"Army will be glad to be back in barracks" - Bangladesh Army chief
Dhaka, 16 December : Bangladesh Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed on Tuesday said the military will be happy to be back in barracks as wished by the government.
The army had come forward "in aid of civil power" on 6 December, 2006 following the caretaker government's direction, he added. "Many, especially foreign diplomats, came to me and asked whether I was going to enforce martial law, but I replied in the negative," he said, explaining the uncertain situation in the country after full emergency was imposed on 11January, 2007. "I told them the Bangladesh Army will not follow its neighbours or its predecessors," the army chief said in a TV broadcast aired Tuesday.
"There is a problem and it will be resolved politically. The caretaker government has appointed us and we've discharged the government directives. So we didn't step in," General Moeen said. The government has asked us to return, and we will be happy to be back in barracks, said the army chief.
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Bangladesh State Emergency officially ends
Dhaka, 16 December : The Bangladesh state of emergency was officially lifted from midnight Tuesday, after almost two years of restrictions on civil and political rights. The Bangladesh interim cabinet approved the Emergency Powers Repeal Ordinance,2008 on Sunday, and under it the lifting of emergency rule imposed since 11 January, 2007.
Bangladesh president gave his nod to its full withdrawal under powers of Article 141 a (1) of the constitution, said a gazette issued by the presidential office Tuesday. Emergency rule was declared on '1/11' under the formation of the Bangladesh caretaker government headed by Fakhruddin Ahmed.
Since then, the interim government withdrew emergency measures, imposed under the Emergency Powers Ordinance, in gradual steps. On 10 December, its long-awaited announcement of a full lift of emergency from 17 December onwards, ahead of the Bangladesh general election, was welcomed by political parties and the international community who saw it as a bar to a free and fair vote.
The government lifted the ban on political rallies and meetings on 12 December, to facilitate electioneering ahead of the parliamentary polls slated for 29 December. The army will be deployed across the Bangladesh from 20 December ahead of the election in line with an Election Commission directive.
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BENGAL NEWS Paying Homage to the Martyrs of 1971...
Bangladesh celebrating Victory Day
Dhaka, 16 December : Bangladesh is celebrating the 37th Victory Day on Tuesday amid calls for prosecution for war crimes of the local cohorts of Pakistan army which surrendered on 16 December, 1971 at the end of a painful nine-month war that saw the bloody birth of Bangladesh. The day's celebrations started with a 21gun salute at the Bangladesh National Memorial at Savar followed by the laying of wreaths to pay tributes to the nation's war heroes who laid down their lives for independence.
The Bengalees waged an armed struggle against the occupation of Pakistani forces on 26 March, 1971 and won the make-or-break war on 16 December. Pakistani occupation army surrendered to the joint forces of Bangladesh and India at Ramna Racecourse Maidan in Dhaka.Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed and chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed were the first to lay flowers and pay respects at the memorial on behalf of the nation. Political, socio-cultural and educational organisations are marking the occasion with daylong programmes including placing wreaths, hoisting national flag, discussions and cultural shows.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. National flag is hoisted atop buildings and other structures. Many civil society bodies and citizens have also raised the flag in respect. Government and semi-government buildings will be illuminated by night.
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37 th Victory Day : Dhaka, 16 December ::
People flock at the National Memorial in Savar celebrating the Victory Day 2008 on Tuesday.
---------------- Bangladesh Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed places floral wreaths at the National Memorial in. Photo: Mustafiz Mamun