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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Indo-Bangla talks on combating arms smuggling, trafficking etc

PTI, Dhaka, 23 September : India and Bangladesh today began a key conference of top officials of the border guards in the capital that is expected to focus on combating human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling and improving law and order in the frontier areas.
The five-day director general level conference between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) will discuss a series of issues, with particular focus on preventing trans-border smuggling and improving law and order in the frontier areas. The two border guards are expected to exchange a list of wanted criminals allegedly hiding in India and Bangladesh during the conference, sources said.
BSF director general Raman Srivastava, who arrived in Dhaka yesterday, is leading a 20-member delegation while BDR chief Mohammad Rafiqul Islam is heading the team of Bangladesh. Dhaka is expected to raise the issue of alleged killing, wounding and torture of "unarmed Bangladeshi nationals" by BSF and Indian civilians at the border, BDR sources said.
File Photos
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Ayodhya mosque ruling is deferred until next week by SC
BBC News, New Delhi, 23 September : The Supreme Court of India has delayed a ruling expected on Friday on the long-running Ayodhya dispute.
It said it was allowing a deferral until next week to allow Hindus and Muslims time to resolve the 150-year-old dispute on their own. "The court felt a last attempt should be made to resolve this amicably," lawyer Mukul Rohatgi said.
The High Court was to have ruled on who owns land where a 16th Century mosque was destroyed by Hindu mobs in 1992. READ FULL STORY

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Maoists have to be tackled politically: WB's CM Buddhadeb
Kolkata, 23 September : Admitting that the police and administration had failed to rid Maoist menace in West Bengal, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said that the Maoists have to be tackled politically.
"We will be able to deal with Maoists politically and that is the only way out," Bhattacharjee told a primary teacher's rally while stating that the administration and police had failed to counter the problem. The chief minister said he would spare no effort to deal politically with the menace which was receiving the "direct backing" of the state's main Opposition party.
"The Left Front government is determined to rid West Bengal of Maoists and there will be no looking back." Without naming the Trinamool Congress, he alleged that the main opposition party was providing direct support and patronage to the Maoists.

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Hasina for formulating new MDG for developing countries
BSS, New York, 22 September : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the international community to formulate a new MDG with specific targets for economic emancipation of developing countries, particularly the LDCs, within stipulated time frames.
"The new MDG will be the base and core of all MDGs for economic and financial emancipation of the developing world," she said while addressing the First Roundtable on Poverty, Hunger, and Gender Equality on the sidelines of 65th UN General Assembly in General Assembly Hall in the United Nations. The Prime Minister expressed her belief that once economic emancipation is achieved, social development would follow as a natural course.

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Demonstration against Rahul visit held at Dibrugarh Versity
Dibrugarh, 23 September : The Dibrugarh University Post Graduate Students Union (PGSU) demonstrated in front of the University gate prior to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit there this afternoon.
Wearing black badges and holding banners, the PGSU members accused the vice-chancellor of inviting Gandhi for an interactive session with the students without consulting them or the faculty. They also opposed the Amethi MP's visit to the University stating that it was for political reasons. The PGSU claimed that NSUI members from some colleges of the city were brought to fill up the 'empty' Ranghar Auditorium of the University due to PGSU's boycott call.
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West Bengal govt reviews Maoists 'rehabilitation package'
Kolkata, 23 September : The West Bengal government decided to release Rs 50 lakh per day for supplying rice at Rs 2 per kg and bicycles for girl students under the rehabilitation package for surrendered Maoists.
These benefits would be available to those with a family income of below Rs 24,000 annually, Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said while reviewing implementation of the rehabilitation package for the Maoists announced two months ago in Maoist-hit West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts. Ghosh said the distribution of ration cards which had progressed satisfactorily, would be completed by the month end. Additional foodgrains would be supplied through PDS along with rice at Rs 2 per kg, he said.
West Midnapore district alone had 1.45 lakh beneficiaries, while another 45,000 would be added from Bankura and Purulia districts. While a hostel each for boys and girls have come up in Ramgarh area under West Midnapore district with the help of sports and education departments, 24 other hostels would come up in the three districts, he said.

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Don't shoot innocent Bangladeshi people: Shahara to BSF
Dhaka, 23 September : Bangladesh has urged the Indian border forces to refrain from killing innocent Bangladeshi people, the home secretary has said.
Home minister Shahara Khatun made the call in a meeting with Raman Shrivastava, chief of the Indian Border Security Force, at her office on Thursday, secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told reporters after the meeting. In reply, the BSF chief assured her of stopping shooting along the border. "We are considering whether something else can be used instead of firearms," he said.
Sikder said the BSF authorities were also requested to ensure that any member of the Khashia community or other Indian nationals do not move along the border with arms. The Indians, for their part, urged Bangladesh that no one moves along the border at night. Photo : PID

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HRD Min asks AMU to hold back Murshidabad campus
PTI, Aligarh, 23 September : The Aligarh Muslim University's move to set up its outstation centres has hit a road-block with the Human Resource Development Ministry directing the University "to hold back" the opening of a centre at Murshidabad in WB.
A senior University official said the University had received a directive from the Ministry earlier this week for "postponing the opening" of the Murshidabad centre, which was scheduled for 26 September. The HRD Ministry's directive has apparently come in the wake of a long-drawn controversy over the issue. A section of members belonging to the University's Executive Council and the University Court had earlier approached the Ministry and raised serious objections to opening outstation centres. The members claimed that the opening of outstation campuses violates the constitution of the Central University.
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7elephants killed by speeding train at Binnaguri in NBengal
Jalpaiguri, Kolkata, 23 September : Seven elephants were killed and one injured when a speeding goods train hit the animals while they were crossing the railway tracks near Binnaguri in Jalpaiguri district, Forest Department sources said on Thursday.
Five elephants were killed on the spot late Wednesday night while two others succumbed to their injuries this morning, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Sunita Ghatak said. A herd of elephants was crossing the railway tracks while going from Moraghat forest to Diana forest last night, when two baby elephants got trapped on the tracks, she said. When other elephants came to the rescue of the baby elephants, a goods train which was passing through at that time hit them, killing five elephants on the spot and injuring three, the DFO said.

Movement of trains on the track which connects New Jalpaiguri with Assam was suspended till this morning as another herd of elephants was guarding the dead and injured elephants, the DFO said.
Three months ago, another elephant was run over and killed by a train near the same spot. Speeding trains often hit elephants in the area as the railway line crosses the elephant corridor, forest officials said. Railway officials have been requested a number of times to restrict the speed limit of trains plying in the area to 40-km/hr for the safety of the elephants, they said.
The Forest Department has lodged an FIR under the Wildlife Protection Act against the Railways alleging that the train was running at about 70 kmph, violating the speed restriction of 25 kmph to 40 kmph in the area.
However, state Forest Minister Ananta Roy said the Railways were not cooperating with the forest department "as it is insensitive to the issue." The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Atanu Raha said that the Railways had been time and again requested to restrict the speed of the passing trains to 20 kmph in the Elephant Corridor, but no response had been received so far. Photos : Arnab Mitra, Reuters

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Trooper detained on charges of snatching in Jhargram
IANS, Kolkata, 23 September : A security force trooper was detained by the Trinamool Congress leaders in West Midnapore district Wednesday on charges of snatching mobile phones and cash from local people, police said.
Locals alleged that Anil Kumar, a jawan of 205 battalion of the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and two other jawans allegedly snatched mobile phones and cash from people, who were standing in front of a restaurant in Jhargram. The jawans went there to take food and while coming out from the restaurant, threatened the villagers and snatched away their belongings.
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Third Person Singular Number is Bangladesh’s Oscar entry
IANS, Dhaka, 23 September : Director Mostafa Sarwar Farooki’s film ‘Third Person Singular Number’ will be Bangladesh’s entry for the 83rd Academy Awards, competing in the Best Foreign Language Film segment.
The film had its world premiere at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea in October last year. It was also screened at other notable international festivals such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Netherlands; 20th Afro-Asian-Latin Film Festival in Milan, Italy and Asia Pacific Screen Award 2010, Australia.
Inspired by Syed Manzoorul Islam’s novel, ‘Tin Parber Jibon O Kichhu Bastab Case Study’, the film is about interrelationships among a convict serving a life sentence, his wife and a singer. The Daily Star said the film poses a question: ‘Can a woman, on her own, lead a dignified life in our society?’ Photos : Courtesy

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

India President Pratibha Patil bats for empowerment of women

Kolkata, 22 September : Indian President Pratibha Patil today said empowerment of women and equitable distribution of wealth are vital for the country's progress.
"If women are empowered, the nation will become stronger," Patil said while inaugurating the platinum jubilee celebrations of Akhil Bharatiya Marwari Sammelan here.
"Economic inequality is the biggest challenge for economic growth. The benefits of economic growth should reach to all people to ensure equality in the society," Patil added.
According to the President, India is a great source of manpower, but lacks in putting efforts for training and skill development of people.
Patil also emphasised the need for incorporating "ethics" in business while acknowledging that the Indian industries have to compete with organisations of other nations to face challenges posed by globalisation. Photo : AFP

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Ayodhya : SMS, MMS banned
PTI, New Delhi, 22 September : India government on Wednesday banned bulk SMS and MMS for three days with immediate effect in view of the Ayodhya title suits verdict.
The Ministry of Communications issued the order in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The order has been issued to all mobile telecom service providers in the country for “banning all bulk SMS and MMS in all service areas with immediate effect for next 72 hours”.
The step comes two days before the verdict by the Allahabad High Court on the title suit of the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute on Friday. The government is apprehensive that some extreme elements may foment trouble by inciting communal passions after the delivery of the judgement. Photo : PTI
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5 elephants die as train hits them at Binnaguri in Jalpaiguri
PTI, Jalpaiguri, 22 September : At least five elephants were killed and three others injured today when a speeding goods train hit the animals when they were crossing railway tracks near Binnaguri in Jalpaiguri district.
"Five elephants were run over and killed on the spot. Three others were injured as the train hit the group of animals at about 11.15 pm," Subhas Chandra Ghosh, ranger of Binnaguri Wildlife range, told PTI. The elephants were going from Maraghat range forest to Diana forest, he said.
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Hasina urges world leaders to formulate effective strategy, more investment to conserve biodiversity
UNB, New York, 22 September : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday painted a bleak picture of biodiversity on the planet and urged the world leaders to formulate an effective strategy with genuine commitment and more investment to conserve it.
“Biodiversity is worsening with increasing world population, poor people, poverty and adverse impacts of climate change and mindless exploitation of natural resources…,” she told the High Level Plenary Convention on Biological Diversity at the UN Headquarters here. In her stark realism, Hasina blamed the mankind’s activities that results in massive extinction of species and destabilizing nature’s balance on the planet. “We have ruthlessly exploited nature’s bounty, upsetting the ecological balance, thereby placing our survival at risk,” she said.
Making a passionate appeal to the Convention, she said: “Let us not forget that every species has a specific role to play in our world ecological system, and that they are all connected in a mysterious, miraculous chain with the sole purpose of preserving our planet. Photo : UNB
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Two persons shot dead in political clash in East Midnapore
Tamluk, 22 September : Two persons were shot dead and five others injured today in a clash between supporters of CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress at Kanthi in East Midnapore district.
"Madhusudan Hazra, a CPI(M) supporter, and Trinamool Congress worker Niladri Maity were shot dead in the clash at Sunia village this morning," Superintendent of Police Ashok Biswas said.
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Second CPI(M) activist killed by Maoists in 3days in schools
Jhargram, Kolkata, 22 September : Again CPI(M) activist was shot dead in West Midnapore district by suspected Maoists Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The victim - Srikanto Mondal, an employee of Sebayatan Girls' High School - was shot in front of the school gate. Mandol's parents, who were with him at the time of the incident, also sustained bullet injuries and were admitted to a hospital. "The modus operandi suggests that Maoists were behind the crime," said Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi. Maoists had Tuesday threatened Mondal that he will be killed if he did not stop participating in the night patrolling and anti-Maoists movement launched by the local CPI(M) supporters.
Earlier also, several school teachers have been killed by the Maoists within the school premises - the latest being the murder of Ananta Mukherjee, CPI(M) zonal committee member and clerical staff of Silda High School. File Photo

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Railway Minister Mamata appeals for peace and harmony
Kolkata, 22 September : Indian Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today appealed for peace and harmony prior to the Ayodhya title suit verdict on 24 September.
"All Indians should keep faith in the court's verdict. We appeal to all citizens to have respect for the court's order whichever way it goes," the Trinamool Congress chief told newspersons here today.

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Assam government constitutes 'flood management team'
Guwahati, 22 September : The Assam government today set up a commission for holistic strategy for flood control and erosion management.
The 13-member flood and erosion management team was approved by the cabinet here, officials said here. The commission was formed in the wake of the flood in Barak and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries, causing substantive damages to crops and habitations in the state almost on a regular basis. The commission will be headed by N K Choudhury, former vice-chancellor of Gauhati University.

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BGMEA, BKMEA & BTMA express concern over yarn price
Dhaka, 22 September : Expressing grave concern over the recent price hike of yarn, the leaders of the BGMEA and BKMEA on Wednesday urged the leaders of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and the spinning mill owners to rein in the price hike.
At a joint emergency meeting of BGMEA and BKMEA at the BKMEA office, the woven and knit garment owners also stressed the need for a coordinated initiative for fixing the yarn price at a rational and tolerant level through a tripartite meeting among BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA. BKMEA president AKM Selim Osman and BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy, among others, attended the meeting.
The leaders of BGMEA and BKMEA apprehended that the abnormal price-hike of yarn might again make the RMG sector volatile again before the Eid-ul-Azha as then the government-announced new wage structure is scheduled to be implemented.

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Six ULFA militants nabbed in Assam's Goalpara district
PTI, Guwahati, 22 September : An ULFA camp was busted and six militants were apprehended in a joint operation by police and Army in Assam's Goalpara district today.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Army and police raided an ULFA camp atop Tarangthop Hill at Dairangsalapara area of the district, police said. The militants had, however, abandoned the camp and the security forces found some training equipment and a temporary kitchen with ration supplies.

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Bengal's Bipasha Basu to be face of Delhi Half Marathon
PTI, New Delhi, 22 September : The third edition of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, 2010, has been launched here in the capital and Bollywood's Bengali actress Bipasha Basu was introduced as the 'face of the event'.
The event, which is expected to attract the sports loving people of Delhi as well as the health and fitness freaks, will be held on 21 November. Ethiopia's long distance runner Deriba Merga, a two-time champion in 2008 and 2009, is also expected to return for an attempt at a hat-trick of titles and a shot at his own course record of 59.15, set in 2008.
While online registrations for the event has started some time back, the physical registrations opened only yesterday and will continue till 4 November, unless the running space gets full before that. About 10,000 running spaces have been reserved for the Half Marathon category. File Photo : Filmy Friday

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Kolkata's Md. Sporting cricket team leave for Bangladesh
Kolkata, 22 September : Kolkata's Mohammedan Sporting's cricket team today left for Bangladesh on an exposure trip to play four limited overs games and one Twenty20 match.
The 13-member side, led by Safi Ahmed, will play its first one-day match against a division one Dhaka side on 24 September, Mohammedan Sporting cricket secretary Moin-bin-Moksud said. The team will then take on Bangladesh Krida Shiksha Protisthan (BKSP) on 25 September, followed by matches against Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Dhaka XI on 26 and 27 September respectively.

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Heavy security blanket ahead of President's Agartala visit
PTI, Agartala, 22 September : A thick security blanket has been thrown through out in the capital town here in view of president Pratibha Patil's two-day visit from Friday, police said today.
The entire town has been divided into 11 security sectors and senior officers will supervise and monitor the security of each sectors, DIG (police control) Nepal Das said. Security at the airport is being looked after by paramilitary Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and CISF while police personnel have been deployed in the entire town. Some Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) have been kept ready and the Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to completely seal the 856km long Indo-Bangla border so that no unwanted elements can sneak into the Indian territory from across the border.
President would arrive at the Agartala airport by a special flight from Mizoram on Friday morning after which she would be given a civic reception by the Agartala Municipal Council in the evening. The function would be presided over by governor Dr DY Patil while chief minister Anik Sarkar would grace the function as the chief guest.
On Friday, she will deliver a lecture in the fourth convocation of the Tripura University and would return to Delhi later in day. File Photo
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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

PM demands immediate establishment of Climate Change Fund

UNB, New York, 21 September : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday appeared critical of world leaders for being unable to take bold actions on issues of climate change and demanded immediate establishment of ‘International Climate Change Fund’ and make it operational.
“Most of the countries like ours are resource strapped and possess frail institutional capacities to meet such crises… therefore, the demand should be focused on the urgent establishment of an `International Climate Change Fund’ and make it immediately operational as agreed to by the world community at COP 15 in Copenhagen,” she said. Hasina raised her strong voice at a meeting of South Asian leaders on Climate Vulnerability and its Impacts on the MDGs at the North Lawn Building in the UN Headquarters here.
She urged the major emitters of Green House Gases responsible for global warming and creating a turbulent world of natural disasters must quickly agree on a legally binding agreement on emission cuts for stabilizing the earthly elements soon. Referring to the International Climate Change Fund, the Prime Minister stressed that the contributions of the rich and developed world to the “Fund” would need to be generous.
“In all fairness and justice, the “Fund” should be distributed based on per capita, and the climate vulnerability index,” she said, adding that the fund must also be separate from their commitment of 0.7 percent of the GNI for the developing countries, and 0.2 percent of the GNI for the LDCs, which were reaffirmed in the Brussels Program of Action.
Hasina also urged the developed nations to agree to free transfer of green technology to the developing world. “Unless these measures are taken, it would be difficult to achieve the MDGs by 2015,” she said in categorical terms.

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India arrests Burmese fishermen for 'endangering tribes'
Subir Bhaumik, BBC News, Kolkata, 21 September : Indian coastguards have arrested more than 100 Burmese fishermen in a month for endangering aboriginal tribespeople in India's Andamans archipelago.
Some of the fishermen were caught off the North Sentinel island, where the Sentinelese tribe lives, officials say. Numbering fewer than 100 in all, the Sentinelese have always attacked those approaching the islands. Campaigners say Burmese and Indian poachers also threaten another aboriginal tribe, the Jarawa. The Jarawas have had contact with outsiders only since 1998. Only 320 Jarawas are living today. READ FULL STORY

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Director general- level BDR-BSF meeting from 22 Sept
Dhaka, 21 September : The director general-level meeting of Bangladesh and Indian border forces will begin on Wednesday.
Border forces of the countries, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) - will continue the meeting till 27 September at Peelkhana BDR headquarters, said a statement on Tuesday. A 22-member BDR delegation, led by BDR director general Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, and another 20-member BSF delegation, led by BSF director general Shri Raman Srivastava, will attend. The BSF delegation includes senior BSF headquarters officials, frontier inspectors general, home and foreign ministry officials.

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WB Chief Minister not invited by Rlys to Metro programme
Kolkata, 21 September : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has not been invited to the foundation laying ceremony of a Metro Rail project tomorrow, while invitation for the transport minister reached the state secretariat after he had left.
"I received no invitation," the chief minister said when asked if he had been invited by the Railways for the programme at Joka in adjoining South 24 Parganas district for the Joka-BBD Bagh Metro Railway project, whose foundation will be laid by President Pratibha Patil. Bhattacharjee said he also did not have any information about any of his cabinet colleagues being invited to the programme.

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Khaleda Zia's nephew Duke remanded again for two days
Dhaka, 21 September : A Dhaka court has granted two days' remand for Khaleda Zia's nephew Saiful Islam Duke in the 21 August grenade attack case.
Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court judge M Ali Hossain on Tuesday gave the order in response to a petition for seven-day remand by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). CID's special superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, did not mention any new reason for the second remand. Earlier on 26 August, Duke was remanded for four days.

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Budhadeb to lay foundation stone of "AMU Murshidabad"
Kolkata, 21 September : For the first time in its 136 years history and in a historic moment to extend its vistas to other parts of the country, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is laying the foundation stone of AMU Murshidabad Center in West Bengal on 26 September.
The Chief Minister of Bengal, Budhadeb Bhattacharjee, whose initiative and personal interventions was instrumental in removal of numerous roadblocks, will be laying the foundation stone for the Murshidabad AMU Center. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chief Guest of the function. The AMU dream project aimed at changing educational scenario of the region could not have seen the light of the day but for the keen interest and support extended by Pranab Mukherjee.
Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University whose relentless efforts have ultimately bring into reality the establishment of the state-of-the-art, educational hubs will preside over the function. The West Bengal Government has facilitated transfer of 288 acres of Farakha Barage land from Water Resources Ministery to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on September 3 this year and the Government of West Bengal and Aligarh Muslim University jointly decided to hold the Foundation Stone Ceremony at Ahiron, Murshidabad District.

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Monday, September 20, 2010

West Bengal Chief Minister demands a new land acquisition bill

IANS, Kolkata, 20 September : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Monday demanded that the central government replace the age-old Land Acquisition Act with a new legislation benefiting both agriculture and industry.
"We think a new land acquisition bill should be passed by parliament. We cannot move ahead with this old bill. This old bill should be completely changed," Bhattacharjee said after inaugurating a new building of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBDIC) here. "We want that the bill should be balanced so that both industrialisation and agriculture are benefited. We want that the poor and the displaced should also be benefited," said Bhattacharjee. Earlier, Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee expressed her reservations about the new land acquisition bill.
The Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, which seeks to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, provides for mandatory social impact assessment for any acquisition resulting in large-scale displacement. A File Cartoon

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Bangladesh joins high-profile United Nations MDG summit
BSS, New York, 20 September : Bangladesh joined a high-profile UN summit on Millennium Development Goals (MDG) with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later today expecting to reiterate her pledge towards achieving the goals in the plenary being attended by nearly 140 heads of government.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared the opening of the three-day MDG summit on the sidelines of the 65th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters this morning (9 am US time) urging the world leaders to deliver their "shared responsibility" to build a better world for generations to come.
"Our world possesses the knowledge and the resources to achieve the Millennium Development Goals," Moon told the opening that came a day after the Prime Minister received a UN award for Bangladesh's outstanding achievements in attaining the MDG, particularly in reducing child mortality, at a colourful function.
The MDG summit came 10 years after the UN general assembly had set the eight-point MDG at a session, also joined by Sheikh Hasina during the previous 1996 2001 tenure of her Awami League government. Photo : AFP

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Mamata Banerjee has 'CPI(M) phobia' disease: Biman Bose
Siliguri, 20 September : "Mamata Banerjee is suffering from CPI(M) phobia. It's a disease. She needs to consult a doctor," the CPI(M) state secretary told a press conference here. Any rail accident, whether in Delhi or Madhya Pradesh, Banerjee who is the Railway Minister, found the CPI(M) responsible, Bose said and alleged that the safety and security of the railways were in a shambles.
Asked about the West Bengal Assembly election slated next year, Bose said it would be held on time and would not be advanced.
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World’s most isolated tribe threatened by poachers in A&N
Survival International, London, 20 September : Poachers targeting rich fishing grounds in India’s Andaman Islands are endangering the world’s most isolated tribe.
More than a hundred iIllegal fishermen from Burma have been arrested in recent weeks. Fourteen were fishing off North Sentinel Island, home to the Sentinelese tribe, who attack anyone approaching their island. Members of the tribe killed two fishermen in 2006. Burmese and local Indian poachers also threaten the survival of the Jarawa tribe, who have only had contact with outsiders since 1998. An Indian poacher and a Jarawa man died in a conflict in the Jarawa’s reserve in 2008.
The Indian coast guard has announced a series of arrests of more than a hundred Burmese poachers since late August, mostly in the vicinity of the Jarawa reserve. However, local Indian poachers are rarely targeted. READ FULL STORY
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'Sidhu Kanu Gana Militia's Ajit new secretary of 'PCPA'
Kolkata, 20 September : Nearly a fortnight after the arrest of Manoj Mahato, the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities' (PCPA) has named Ajit Mahato as its new secretary.
"Ajit Mahato has been unanimously elected secretary of PCPA and from now onwards he will take the responsibility of carrying on the people's movement," PCPA spokesperson Asit Mahato told Bengal Newz from an undisclosed location. Ajit, who belongs to the 'Sidhu Kanu Gana Militia', the armed wing of the PCPA, is a central committee member of PCPA and a resident of Goaltore.

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We are going to stay in power : Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Kolkata, 20 September : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asserted that he and his party CPI(M) will remain in power in the state in future.
"We will never leave. We cannot transfer power to an irresponsible and indisciplined party and bring total darkness to the state," Bhattacharjee said apparently referring to the Trinamool Congress.

He was reacting to some media reports that he had expressed doubt at a function yesterday whether staying in power would be possible after the next Assembly elections.
The Left Front needs to stay in power so that West Bengal can surge ahead, he stated.

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125 died in road accidents in past eight months in Tripura
Agartala, 20 September : As many as 125 people died in road accidents in Tripura over the past eight months while 350 people received serious injuries, an official report said here today.
Leading public transport advocacy group of Tripura ARPAN has blamed inefficient traffic management and unprecedented increase in the number of personal vehicles, coupled with encroachment of road space for the accidents.
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CPIM leader shot dead in Silda by suspected Maoists
Jhargram, 20 September : A local CPI(M) leader was shot dead and one of his guards injured in an attack by suspected Maoists in West Midnapore district today, police said.
A group of around 10 Maoists entered the Silda High School and shot the CPI(M) leader, Ananta Mukherjee, a clerk in the school, in his head and stomach, they said, adding Mukherjee died on the spot. One of the two guards, who was with Mukherjee at the time, was shot at and injured by the youths, they said.
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Mixed response in Jhargram bandh against killing of ZCM
Jhargram, 20 September : A CPI(M)-sponsored bandh for 12 hours in Jhargram town today has met with a mixed response, C Murugan, SDO Jhargram, said.
The bandh had been called by the CPI(M) to protest against the killing of Gour Mohon Puchha, a zonal committee member of the party. He died yesterday at SSKM hospital in Kolkata after being allegedly fired at by Maoists in Jhargram town a couple of days ago.
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Top Naga leaders of 'NSCN' factions meet at Dimapur
PTI, Kohima, 20 September : In a significant development aimed at strengthening the Naga reconciliation process, NSCN-IM 'general secretary' T Muivah, his NSCN-K counterpart N Kitovi Zhimomi and NNC/FGN 'president' S Singnya met for the first time accompanied by senior leaders at Dimapur.
Hailing this, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) today described the summit of top Naga underground leaders on Saturday as 'a priceless gift'. According to FNR, signatories of the 'Covenant of Naga Reconciliation' would work out differences in the coming days.
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Stringent law in offing for BDR guards
Dhaka, 20 September : A protest by two or more border guards could be termed a mutinous act under a legislation proposed for the force that is being revamped after hundreds of troopers took part in a rebellion in February last year, leaving 71 people dead.
Punishment up to death has been prescribed for those involved in such protests or attempts to protest, Daily Star newspaper reported Monday. The proposed law is likely to be placed on the first day of its sixth session. The government has moved to introduce the new law, repealing the existing one, to restructure the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and give a new name "Border Guard Bangladesh".
Death penalty is a new provision. The existing law provided for imprisonment up to seven years and it was amended as special tribunals conducted trials of hundreds of troopers who staged the mutiny 25-26 Feb last year.

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Suspected landmine on rail tracks, train services disrupted
UNI, Midnapore, 20 September : Train services between Kharagpur-Adra route of the Kharagpur railway Division of South Eastern Railway remain suspended from this morning following discovery of a suspected landmine on the tracks near Atabandha village under Garbeta police station.
Anil Handa, Divisional Manager, South Eastern Railway, said a bomb disposal squad had been sent to the area. As many as five important trains are stranded at Kharagpur, Midnapore and Salboni railway stations following discovery of the suspected landmine.
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NRI turns heat on WBMC to cancel medicos' licences
IBNS, Kolkata, 20 September : A US-based Indian doctor, who is fighting a crusade against medicos here responsible for the death of his wife, has threatened to sue the West Bengal Medical Council of India (WBMC) if they did not immediately cancel registration of two top city doctors who were reportedly held guilty of medical negligence by the Medical Council of India (MCI).
"...in view of the findings by the MCI, I request you to take appropriate steps for immediate cancellation of the license of these two doctors who are registered with this Council. "It may be pertinent to mention that on August 7, 2009, the Hon'ble Supreme Court also found these two doctors responsible for the wrongful death of my wife,'' Dr Kunal Saha, husband of the deceased, wrote in a letter to West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) on Sunday.

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Rail scouts for Ad agency to give itself an image makeover
TOI, New Delhi, 20 September : To tide over the barrage of negative publicity after a spate of accidents, Indian Railways is set to appoint an advertising agency to boost its public image ahead of assembly elections in rail minister Mamata Banerjee's home state of West Bengal.
While "officially", railways is looking for agencies to create a new `Brand Railways' and sell the brand to earn money, the move will also help project Mamata as an efficient administrator. The railways is looking to create a brand through an aggressive advertisement campaign in the print, electronic and outdoor media space and has earmarked a substantial amount of funds for the purpose.
Many in the ministry are surprised at the timing of the move, aiming to give the 150-year-old railways a makeover. The rail ministry is evaluating the response it got to an expression of interest to appoint an agency to prepare the advertising campaign. Along with launching a brand-building campaign, the PSU also wants a media buying agency to market advertising opportunities in railway property - trains, stations, platforms and other locations. By doing so, railways wants to use its properties to raise resources and make up for increasing costs without raising passenger fare.
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Sunday, September 19, 2010

PM Hasina urges Bangladeshi expatriates invest more in country

UNB, Brussels, 19 September : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Bangladeshi expatriates to invest in a big way in various development sectors to speed up the country’s socio-economic development.
Hasina who had a 20-hour stopover here on way to New York made the call while exchanging views with Bangladeshi expatriates living in different European countries at Hotel Sheraton International Saturday evening. A large number of expatriates including Awami League leaders who came here to greet her from Britain, Belgium, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria, France, Switzerland and Germany were present.
The expatriates thanked the Prime Minister for being successful to keep prices of essentials within the reach of commoners and law and order situation stable during the Ramadan and the Eid-ul-Fitr festival. File Photo : Reuters

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Snipe at Rahul, Mamata says she not a 'seasonal flower'
PTI, Nanoor, Burdwan, 19 September : After her 'cuckoo' remarks, Trinamool Congress chief and Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee says she is not a "seasonal flower" in another apparent snipe at Rahul Gandhi.
Mamata also said she does not do politics from a "bed of gold". "Amra dumurer phool noi (We are not a seasonal flower rarely seen) that we will appear like cuckoos before elections, chirp and fly away," Mamata said yesterday without making any reference to the young AICC General Secretary but comments seen as directed at his two recent visits to West Bengal.
"The road I travel is at my finger tips. I know its characteristics. Throughout the year I am with the people. I know their problems and they know me. I understand their language," she said. File Photo : PTI

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Crackdown against illegal Myanmar immigrants launched
IANS, Aizawl, Agartala, 19 September : The Mizoram government has launched a crackdown against Myanmar nationals living in the state without documents, officials said Sunday.
“The Mizoram Armed Police in the past two days have apprehended 52 Myanmarese from Aizawl and outskirts where (they) have set up colonies,” a police spokesman said. The official said the illegal entrants would be pushed back soon to Myanmar. The number of Myanmarese living in different parts of Mizoram has now been estimated at around 50,000.

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BD Jatiya Sangsad body meets constitution experts 23 Sep
Dhaka, 19 September : The parliamentary special committee for Bangladesh constitutional amendment has set Thursday to sit with the constitution experts for their opinions and recommendations.
The meetings will start at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Suranjit Sengupta, co-chair of the committee, told reporters after holding a meeting on Sunday. The parliamentary body however cancelled the meetings fixed for 20 and 21 September. The committee held today's meeting to review the constitution and make necessary recommendations.
The committee at its third meeting on 24 August decided to hold closed-door talks on 4 September and a series of meetings on 5 and 6 September. Later, the committee cancelled the programme because of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

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Urea output suspended at AFCCL factory in Brahmanbaria
Brahmanbaria, 19 September : Urea production at Ashuganj Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited (AFCCL) remain suspended since Friday night due to technical glitch at the plant.
Managing Director of AFCCL Md Osman Gani said the authorities shut down the production after a leakage developed in its HTCC vessel. The factory that produces around 1150 metric tonnes (MT) of urea daily will be able to restart production on 21 September, the MD said.

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A'tala purified water supply project runs into rough weather
UNI, Agartala, 19 September : The project to ensure supply of purified potable water to the dwellers of Agartala has run into rough weather because of poor infrastructure and short-sighted planning of the state government.
The review of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) under CSE's 10th Media Fellowship programme has revealed that only 17% of the population of Agartala was getting access to municipal water so far. According to the Tripura Urban Development Department records, the main water source of the city has production capacity of 80 million litres a day (MLD) if the water is accessible for 16 hours and this resource is enough for the needs of the city's population up to 2011 (projected population is about 44 lakh plus), but storage of water has become a major problem now.

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PM arrives in Brussels early Sunday
BSS, Brussels, 19 September : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Brussels International Airport early Sunday on her way to New York to join the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
On her arrival at the airport at about 2:00pm (local time), Bangladesh Ambassador in Brussels Ismat Jahan and high officials of the Belgium foreign ministry received the prime minister, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told BSS by phone from the Belgian capital. Sheikh Rehana, younger sister of Hasina, her son Redwan Siddiqui Boby and daughter Ajmina Siddiqui were present at the airport.
Earlier on Saturday morning, the prime minister left Dhaka for New York to lead a Bangladesh delegation at the 65th session of the UNGA. Photo : BSS
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South Korean delegates meet arsenic victims in Chandpur
BSS, Dhaka, 19 September : A two-member delegation from the Skip A Meal Save A Life (SAMSAL) South Korea, under the leadership of Ms Kim Jin Hee, Team Manager, SAMSAL international today visited Ichhapura village under Chandpur district of Bangladesh to see the arsenic situation.
The visit took place at the invitation of the national non government organization Development Initiatives Trust (D-Trust), said a release.

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Microsec Ltd open to acquisitions, to expand retail footprint
PTI, Kolkata, 19 September : City-based Microsec Financial Services Ltd, a non-banking financial company which has received a strong response to its maiden public offer, has said it is open to acquisitions and will invest Rs 120 crore for organic growth.
"We are open to acquisitions as we are looking at organic and inorganic growth in broking and financing activities," Microsec Chairman B L Mittal told PTI. The company will invest around Rs 113 crore in loan against share activities and Rs 8 crore in subsidiary Microsec Capital to set up 200 additional retail broking branches across the country in the next two years, he said.
At present, the brokerage firm has 239 branches in the country, of which 178 are in West Bengal. The public offer through the book-building route, which opened on 17 September, has been oversubscribed 1.5 times. The price band for the IPO is Rs 113-118 and the public issue of 1,25,00,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each will close on 21 September.

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2 drug peddlers injured in BDR firing at Noorpur in Comilla
UNB, Comilla, 19 September : Two alleged drug peddlers sustained bullet injuries as Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) members fired on them at Noorpur in Comilla Sadar upazila Sunday morning.
Arbindo, company commander of 33 Rifles Battalion, Kotbari, said local drug traders confined seven BDR jawans, who were conducting an anti-narcotics drive at Noorpur, for nearly four hours since 3:45am(BDST). On information, the BDR troops, led by Subedar Karim of the battalion, launched a drive to rescue their colleagues at about 7:00am(BDST) and chased a pickup van of the drug peddlers. They seized the pickup van along with two cartons containing 200 bottles of phensydile.
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TDP contesting local polls in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
IANS, Hyderabad, 19 September : Andhra Pradesh's main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will step out of the state's borders for the first time when it contests the local body elections in Andaman and Nicobar Islands this month.

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62000 hec to be brought under Aman cultivation in Pirojpur
UNB, Pirojpur, 19 September : A scheme has been taken up to bring 62,000 hectares of land under Aman cultivation in six upazilas of the district in the current season with an output target of 1,09,392 mts.
Of the total land, 15,000 hectares will be brought under high yielding variety while the rest under local variety.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said of the total land, 10,300 hectares will be cultivated in Sadar upazila, 5,900 hectares in Kaukhali, 9,000 hectares in Nesarabad, 7,700 hectares in Nazirpur, 8,000 hectares in Bhandaria and 21,100 hectares in Mothbaria upazila.
To achieve the target DAE will distribute 565 mts high yielding seeds among the farmers while BADC will provide necessary fertilizers at fair prices.
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Congress will never bow its head in its alliance with TC : Bhunia

Kolkata, 18 September : Echoing AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Manas Bhunia today said the party would never bow its head in its alliance with the Trinamool Congress.
''We want to go with Triamool against the CPI(M). But we are not going to bow our heads, nor shall we get along (with Trinamool) at the cost of our respect,'' he told reporters. Rahul Gandhi who was on a three-day visit to the state between 14 and 16 September in connection with the membership drive for the Youth Congress, had repeatedly talked on the same issue.
In reply to a question on a section of Trinamool Congress leaders reportedly describing Rahul as a 'youngster', Mr Bhunia said the Youth leader was the 'symbol of sacrifice' as he declined a ministerial berth and instead dedicated himself to building up the organisation and build connectivity with the common people. File Photo : AFP

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Centre trying to dislodge LF govt from West Bengal : Karat
UNI, Patna, 18 September : The CPI(M) today alleged that the UPA government at the Centre was contemplating to destabilise the Left Front government in West Bengal by patronising the nexus between Maoists and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, who was here in connection with a function of the party and to discuss the strategies for the coming assembly elections in Bihar, said,'' The Maoists and the Trinamool Congress have developed a nexus and the Centre was patronising it to get political mileage.'' The Centre was doing it with the sole motive to dislodge the Left Front government in West Bengal during the Assembly elections due next year, he charged.

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Prime Minister Sk Hasina off to New York for 65th 'UNGA'
UNB, Dhaka, 18 September : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today left for New York on a ten-day overseas tour to attend the 65th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that begins on 23 September.
On her way to New York, Hasina will make a 20-hour stopover in Brussels. She will reach New York on 19 September. The premier will also attend the high level plenary meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on 20 September. The PM will attend a reception in the evening of 20 September in honour of women who will be representing their respective countries at the 65th UNGA. Hasina will attend the heads of LDCs breakfast meeting on MDGs on Sept 21, where Nepal will chair the session. The same day, Saarc heads of state will gather for a meeting on 'Climate vulnerability and its impact on MDGs'. Bangladesh is the lead sponsor of the event and the PM is expected to chair it.
The premier along with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, will also attend a reception to be hosted by US first lady Michelle Obama. Hasina will visit the new chancery of Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations on 26 September. She will formally inaugurate the chancery as she laid the foundation stone during the 64th UNGA. The PM is scheduled to deliver her UNGA address on 27 September. On 28 September, she will leave New York for Dhaka via Dubai and reach Dhaka the next day. Photo : Focus Bangla

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ITC to begin work on food factory soon in Howrah district
Food & Beverage News, Mumbai, 18 September : ITC Ltd might soon start work on its proposed integrated foods factory in Howrah district as the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) is to hand over about 18 acres of land to the company at Ulberia in Howrah on 25 September.
“WBIDC will hand over about 18 acres of land to ITC by 25 Septembe,” Dr Subrata Gupta, managing director, WBIDC, said while talking to newspersons on the sidelines of a seminar on asset reconstruction by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) in Kolkata. READ FULL STORY

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Folk singer Ajit Mahato arrested for being Maoist's linkman
IANS, Jhargram, 18 September : A folk singer, suspected of being a Maoist linkman, was arrested Saturday in West Bengals West Midnapore district, police said.
"Ajit Mahato of Golbandi village near Manikpara in Jhargram sub-division of the district was arrested for acting as Maoist informer. He was detained by the joint forces during a search operation in Manikpara area Saturday morning and arrested after interrogation," Jhargram Superintendent of Police Praveen Tripathi told IANS. "Mahato, a folk singer by profession, used to pass on the information regarding the movement of the joint forces to the Maoist leaders. He used to give shelter to them," a senior police officer said.

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14 killed, 26 injured in road accidents across Bangladesh
Dhaka, 18 September : Fourteen people were killed and 26 others injured in separate road accidents in Comilla, Tangail, Gopalganj, Brahmanbaria, Manikganj, Gaibandha Narayanganj and Laxmipur districts in Bangladesh today.

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New areas of Jamalpur, Sherpur and rajshahi dists flooded
UNB, Dhaka, 18 September : New areas of Jamalpur, Sherpur districts went under flood water on Friday as hill waters continued rolling down from across the border in India`s eastern states.
In Jamalpur, Jamuna River was flowing 14 centimeters above danger level at Bahadurabad Ghat point, Water Development Board sources told UNB in the morning. Brahmaputra recorded an alarming rise. The river rose by 16.15cm in the last two days, recording an overnight increase of 8cm engulfing fresh areas on its banks. The two premier rivers inundated hundreds of villages of 50 unions in Dewanganj, Islampur, Melandaha, Motherganj, Sharishabari, Bokshiganj and Sadar upazlas affecting about 1 lakh people and damaging standing crops on 27,292 hectares of land
In Sherpur, floods worsened in the district with continued rise of water level of Ol Brahmaputra River. WDB sources said the river swelled by 9cm at Sherpur Ferry Ghat point in the last 24 hours. Thirty-five villages of seven unions of Sadar and Sribordi upazilas went flood waters that damaged standing crops on 4,000 acres of land.
Meanwhile, river erosion due to onrush of hill water caused 43 more families homeless. In Kurigram, overall flood situation improved in the northern district as water of major rivers decreased overnight. Photo : AKM Rahaman

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