U.S. Army sending armored convoy 1,100 miles through Europe

 Eastern Europe, here comes the cavalry.
The U.S. Army says it will soon be sending armored Stryker vehicles on a 1,100-mile convoy through six European countries to show solidarity to allies in the wake of recent Russian actions in the Ukraine and Crimea that have Eastern Europe on edge.
The move was first reported Thursday in the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. U.S. Army Europe posted the Stripes story on its website on Friday.
The convoy is "a highly visible demonstration of U.S, commitment to its NATO allies and demonstrating NATO's ability to move military forces freely across allied borders in close cooperation," U.S. Army Europe spokesman Lt. Col. Craig Childs, said in a statement, according to the Stripes report.
The troops and vehicles involved will be moving from training exercises conducted as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, the report said. They'll move through Latvia and the Czech Republic as they make their way to Vilseck, Germany, about a 40 miles drive from the Czech border.
The troops involved are from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, which are based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, and they will be accompanied by the Army's 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, which will provide aerial reconnaissance, the Stripes report said.
The move is unusual because long-distance movement of heavy military vehicles such as the 18-ton Strykers is usually done by rail.
The trek is being called a "Dragoon Ride," after the unit's nickname, the Dragoons. Troops will camp out along the route.
"For those participating in it, Dragoon Ride is a unique opportunity," Stripes quoted Childs as saying. "Soldiers and their leaders will have numerous opportunities to engage with local communities along the route, deepen their appreciation for the cultural diversity within the alliance and enhance the relationships that are essential to building and maintaining mutual admiration, respect and trust among allied militaries."
The convoy will be the latest in a series of displays the U.S. and its NATO allies have taken under Operation Atlantic Resolve, during which the U.S. "is demonstrating its continued commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine," according to the Defense Department's website.
The displays have come as close to 300 yards from the Russian border as U.S. Army Strykers participated in an independence day celebration in Nava, Estonia, last month.
Other recent actions include the Air Force's movement of 12 A-10 Thunderbolt "tankbuster" attack jets to an air base in Germany and this month the placing of hundreds of tanks and military vehicles in Latvia, where they'll soon be matched up with 3,000 troops from Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Tension with Russia extends to the air too. Adm. William Gortney, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that "this past year has marked a notable increase in Russian military assertiveness."
Russian heavy bomber aircraft flew more patrols outside Russian airspace "than in any year since the Cold War," though he did not offer a specific number. There have also been increased Russian air patrols across the coastlines of Europe.
Source CNN

Putin urges Ukraine troops to give up Debaltseve

Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged the Ukrainian government to allow its troops to surrender to rebels in the strategic town of Debaltseve.
Mr Putin also said he hoped the rebels would let any captured troops return to their families.
Fierce fighting raged throughout Tuesday in the town despite a ceasefire deal signed last week, with rebels saying they now controlled most areas.
The UN Security Council called for an immediate end to hostilities.
On Tuesday evening a resolution drafted by Russia calling on all sides to respect the deal, signed in the Belarusian capital Minsk last week, was adopted unanimously by the council.
International observers monitoring the truce have been unable to enter Debaltseve.
The town has become a key prize for rebels and government forces, as it sits on a strategic railway line linking rebel-held Donetsk and Luhansk.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko described rebel attempts to take the town as a "cynical attack" on the ceasefire.
"Today the world must stop the aggressor," Mr Poroshenko said in a statement posted on his website following a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"I call on the permanent members of the UN Security Council to prevent further violation of fundamental principles and rules of the UN and the unleashing of a full-scale war in the very centre of Europe," he said.
'Understandable' fighting 
President Putin: "There is a considerable decrease in the intensity of fighting"
Speaking on a visit to Hungary, President Putin said he hoped the ceasefire agreements would be observed by both sides.
Mr Putin said there had been a "significant reduction" in the intensity of combat since the truce came into effect over the weekend.
He said the conflict could not be solved by military means.
"I hope that the Ukrainian authorities are not going to prevent the Ukrainian soldiers from laying down their weapons," he said.
"If they aren't capable of taking that decision themselves and giving that order, then [I hope] that they won't prosecute people who want to save their lives and the lives of others."
Mr Putin added that the fighting in Debaltseve was "understandable and predictable".
He said he had warned participants in the Minsk talks that - ceasefire or no ceasefire - encircled government troops would try to break free and the rebels would try to prevent this.

Source by BBC News

Biswa Ijtema ends with Akheri Munajat

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Nasir Uddin Bulbul::Report
The 50th Biswa Ijtema concluded today with “Akheri Munajat” (concluding prayer) in the second phase on the banks of the river Turag in Tongi.
Lakhs of Muslims from home and abroad participated in the Akheri Munajat at 11 am in the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj.
Indian Islamic scholar Mawlana Saad conducted the Akheri Munajat that continued from 11:24am to 11:55am at Tongi Ijtema ground.
Devotees sought forgiveness from the Almighty Allah and divine blessings for Muslim Ummah in the concluding prayer of the 50th congregation of Muslims amid huge sufferings due to chilling weather and drizzling.
Besides, 4,574 foreign devotes from 88 countries also joined the prayers on the bank of Turag River.
Besides, hundreds of people participated in the munajat at Eidgah Maidan at Chandana intersection on Gazipur Sadar, 12 kilometers away from Ijtema ground, over mobile phone and walky-talky of police.
However, the second largest Muslim congregation after the holy Hajj began on early Friday with religious sermons delivered by Pakistani Islamic scholar Maulana Ismail Hossain Godrar after the Fajr prayers.
The devotees from the 33 districts along with hundreds of foreign devotees joined the second phase which began on Friday through delivering Amboyan amidst ongoing blockade of the BNP-led alliance.
The districts are Narayanganj, Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Manikganj, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Tangail, Jamalpur, Barisal, Netrakona, Comilla, Meherpur, Jhenidah, Mymensingh, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Kurigram, Bogra, Panchagarh, Chapainawabganj, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Thakurgaon, Pabna, Naogaon, Munshiganj, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Satkhira, Kushtia, Magura, Sunamganj, Khulna and Moulvibazar, said organizers.
The religious event includes delivering boyans (sermons) on the fundamental issues of Tabligh, prayer for the spiritual adoration, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim Ummah. All traffic movement remained suspended
on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway,
Tongi-Kaliganj road till noon. Besides, due to traffic movement halt, authorities of factories, located in Tongi and adjacent areas, declared shut their production for Sunday. Some 100 couples were married in a dowry-free mass wedding on Saturday, after Asr prayers during the second phase of Ijtema while 121 couples got married in the first phase with the consent of the bride and groom and their guardians.
A total of 17 devotees died in the two phases of the congregation in 2015. Of them, nine died in first phase while eight in second and final phase.
15 devotees of them died of cold related illness and cardiac arrest. Three others were crushed under train on their way to Ijtema ground.
A policeman died of cardiac arrest while performing duty in the second phase of Ijtema in Tongi, on outskirts of Dhaka, on Saturday night.Waj Uddin Mian, 65, (constable no-171) breathed his last at 11:20pm at Tongi hospital of the district.Tongi Thana Officer-In-Charge (OC) Ismail Hossian told The Bangladesh Today that Waj Uddin was on duty with others on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Mirerbazar area at the night. Suddenly, he fell sick around 10:30pm. Fellow lawpersons rushed him to the hospital where on-duty doctor declared him dead, the OC added.
Three Ijtema devotees were crushed under the wheels of a train in Kuril rail crossing in the city on Sunday morning.The accident took place at 8:00am on their way to Tongi to join Akheri Munajat in the second phage of Biswa Ijtema.The identity of the dead persons could not be known immediately.Dhaka Railway Thana officer-in-charge Abdul Mojid confirmed the matter toThe Bangladesh Today.

Shamitabh: Dhanush sells bus tickets, like Rajinikanth

TBT Entertainment Desk:
dhanush
While Balki is trying to keep the details of his yet-to-be released Amitabh Bachchan-Dhanush starrer under wraps, Mirror has learnt that Dhanush’s character in Shamitabh, Danish, has a striking resemblance to his father-in-law, Rajnikanth.
READ: Big B plays frustrated man in ‘Shamitabh’
A source close to the unit informed that before Danish becomes an actor, he does odd jobs to make ends meet, one of them being that of a bus conductor. “It’s no secret that Rajinikanth too started off as a bus conductor before going on to become the South supremo. Danish’s career graph also follows a pattern similar to Rajini sir’s though it never reaches the insane levels of super-stardom,” the source added.
Confirming the same, Balki told Mirror, “Yes, Dhanush does play a bus conductor in my film. His character lives around a bus-stop and picks up odd jobs, one of them being selling tickets in a bus. However, it wasn’t a conscious decision to incorporate this detail into the screenplay. It is purely incidental.”
When it was pointed out to him that the audience will draw parallels, Balki said, “Yes, I’m sure they will, and their interpretation is as good as mine!”

About 1,500MW power to be added to national grid this year


Country’s power sector is going to generate 1,436 more megawatt electricity this year as the government already took various projects to improve power generation.

According to the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry source, currently, the power generation reached to 11,265MW, which covers 68 per cent of people across the country.

He said that the present government has aimed at providing electricity to all citizens by 2021 at reasonable price.

According to a ministry source, Ashuganj 200MW Modular Power Plant, sponsored by United power, will begin commercial operation in February, while Ashuganj 225MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, jointly constructed by JV of Hyundai Engg. & Daewoo Int. Ltd., Korea in March.

It said the Meghnaghat 335MW Combined Cycle IPP (Independent Power Plant), sponsored by Summit Meghnaghat Power Company Limited would go for commercial operation to generate 335MW in April and Ashuganj 335MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, jointly constructed by Isolux Ingenieria S.A. and Samsung C&T Corporation will produce electricity from August this year, BSS reports.

Another power plant Ashuganj 450MW Combined Cycle and Bibiyana-2 341MW Combined Cycle IPP Power Plant would go for commercial operation this year, the source added.

The official said the government has given top priority to the development of the sector considering its importance in the overall development of the country and taken initiative to provide 40 lakh new connections.

He said the government has taken a coal based mega power plant project which has a capacity of generating 10,000MW of electricity.

The construction work of Bheramara 360MW Combined Cycle Power Plant completed 21.85cent, which is being constructed by Marubeni Corporation and implemented by North West Power Generation Company Ltd.

The country is now importing power from India, while talks are on for importing electricity from Nepal and Bhutan under sub-regional cooperation.
credit : Sun Online Desk

Farmers worried as fertiliser, diesel supply being disrupted



Daily Sun
Farmers are worried as supply of two major agricultural inputs — fertiliser and diesel — is being seriously disrupted in the peak Boro season due to the ongoing countrywide blockade.

The blockade is disrupting supply chain of fertilizer and diesel, hard hitting Boro cultivation this season and causing worries among the farmers across the country.


Farmers, particularly in the major Boro producing north, south and central region, are in frustration as prices of fertiliser and diesel have shot up due to supply disruption.


Mokhlesur Rahman, a farmer in Godagari of Rajshahi district told daily sun that fertiliser prices have increased as the agri input can not be transported due to the blockade.


 “Price of urea fertiliser has risen by Tk 3-4 per kg in my area and it may increase further if the ongoing rail-road-waterway blockade continues,” he said.


Arshaful, another farmer in Rangpur sadar upazila, said that fertiliser dealers have increased fertiliser price, citing the rise in the transport cost as reason during the blockade.


Urea price has increased by Tk40-50 per sack (50 kg) while non-urea TSP and DAP by Tk 3-5 per kg, many local farmers said while talking to this correspondent.


Fazlul Hoque, secretary of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association (Dhaka district), said transportation through river routes remain almost normal but it is tough on the land route.


He also mentioned that truck fare has increased to Tk 18000-20000 for carrying from Ghorashal fertiliser factory while it was only Tk 7000-8000 a few days back.


Sixteen northern districts get supply of fertiliser through Bhaghabari and Nagarbari river ports. More than 40 per cent of the country Boro crop is cultivated in these districts, he said.


Greater Jessore and Khulna regions get fertiliser supply from Jessore buffer stock, Kaliganj buffer stock in Jhenaidha and Shiromoni buffer stock in Khulna.


Country’s demand for fertilizer in January is 0.707 million tones with urea 0.428 million tonnes and the rest is non-urea including TSP, DAP and MOP, according to agriculture ministry sources.


In February, the demand for urea is 0.438 million tonnes and non -urea 0.163 million tonnes.


“Smooth supply of fertiliser in January and February is important for Boro cultivation, said Fazlul Hoque adding that the blockade will hamper cultivation if farmers do not the agri input in time.”


Supply of diesel and other fuels has almost remained suspended in the northern region and different parts of Sylhet district for the last few days due to the blockade.


Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) data shows that 1.4 million water pumps remain operative during Boro season. Of hem, 1.1 million are run by diesel and 0.3 million by electricity.


Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said that nearly 50 per cent of plantation of Boro seedlings has been completed in the current Boro season.


This year, the DAE has set target to produce 18.95 million tonnes of rice from 4.78 million hectares of land.


The country produced 19.0 million tonnes of rice in the last Boro season which was 55 per cent of the total output of 34.35 million tones, DAE sources said.

75 Jamaat-BNP men held in Gaibandha


Sun Online Desk
At least 75 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were arrested from different parts ofGaibandha early Friday.
Police said the 75 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat were arrested during the overnight drive on charge of carrying out sabotage and blocking roads and torching vehicles .
Police arrested nine activists of BNP-Jamaat from Saghata upazila, three from Fulchhari, four from Palashbari, 13 from Gobindaganj, nine from Sadullapur, 13 from Sundarganj and 18 from sadar upazila of the district.

Slum fire kills minor girl in city; 515 shanties gutted

Slum fire kills minor girl in city; 515 shanties gutted
DHAKA : A minor girl was burned to death and 515 shanties were gutted in a fire that broke out in a slum at Katasur in the city’s Mohammadpur area on Sunday morning, reports UNB.
Fatema, a three and a half-year-old daughter of Joynal, was burned alive in a shanty as she was asleep when the fire broke out.
Azizul Haque, officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station, said the fire broke out at a shanty of Battala Pulpar Basti (slum) in the area around 8:28 am and it soon engulfed the entire slum.
Asma, mother of Fatema, said she went out of their home to drop her elder daughter at her school leaving Fatema asleep in her house.
Being informed, 11 firefighting units rushed in and brought the blaze under control after two hours. They recovered the charred body of the minor girl from the shanty.

Matiur Rahman, owner of a three-storey thatched house in the slum, said the fire originated from an earthen oven of a shanty on the ground floor and soon raged through the three-storey house, burning down the 72 shanties. Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammad Hossain Khokon, general secretary of West Jafrabad Pulpar House Owners’ Association, said the fire that broke in the slum and gutted 515 shanties.
Local MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak visited the spot. He also assured them of providing necessary support from the government. He said food, blankets and clothes will be given to the victims.

4 die in Rangpur arson

Ittefaq Report




Four passengers have been burnt alive  on  a bus that was set on fire at Mithapukur in Rangpur by miscreants.
Several other passengers have been hospitalised with various degrees of burns..
The bus was heading for Dhaka from Ulipur upazila of Kurigram.  Several  passengers also received burn injuries during the arson attack and were rushed to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital.

Court issues arrest warrant against Tuhin Malik

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DHAKA,  - A court here today issued a warrant of arrest against lawyer Dr Tuhin Malik as he defied a summon ordering his personal appearance to face a defamation case for his alleged derogatory remarks on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rhaman, reports BSS.
Metropolitan Magistrate Shamsul Arefin passed the order asking Shahabagh police to submit a report on execution of the warrant by February 10.
The warrant came as Malik was obligated to appear before the court today in line with a December 9 order when the magistrate took into cognizance the defamation case.
Golam Rabbani, international affairs deputy secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) central committee, filed the case with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka on December 9.
In the case statement Rabbani alleged that Malik made derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu and the Constitution as he spoke at a discussion held in Water Lily Garden Auditorium in East London on November 30 last year.

John Abraham denies animosity with ‘good friend’ Akshay Kumar

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john-abraham-post_1375259551 (307 x 430)Entertainment Desk
Actor John Abraham has replaced Akshay Kumar in ‘Welcome Back’ and ‘Hera Pheri 3′. But he says this has not had any effect on their camaraderie.
Asked about it, John said: “When I signed ‘Welcome Back’, I called up Akshay and I gave him the news first. He was very happy and said, ‘It’s a great film to do’.”
“During ‘Hera Pheri 3′, I told him about it and he is a friend…we have worked together before. We are good friends. There is no animosity between us.”
John Abraham has replaced Akshay Kumar in ‘Welcome Back’ and ‘Hera Pheri 3′. ‘Hera Pheri 3′, to be directed by Neeraj Vora, also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty.
John was last seen in ‘Madras CafĂ©’, which was also his home production.
Asked why he took such a long break to come up with his next acting project, John said: “I act in films and I also produce films. My production house makes different kind of films, and as an actor, I enjoy certain films.”

“I loved ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Welcome’, so I’m working in the new films. It was a long break, and I am okay with long breaks.”

Hartal called in 17 districts, including Dhaka

Dhaka metropolitan city will remain out of the purview of shutdown

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of the BNP, has called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Dhaka and 16 other adjoining districts for Monday protesting the confinement of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
JCD office secretary Md Abdus Sattar Patwary told the Dhaka Tribune: "The shutdown was called in 17 districts including Dhaka." 
The hartal will begin at 6am and end at 5:30pm on Monday, he said.
However, the press release signed by the JCD leader said the hartal was enforced in 14 districts. 
The 17 districts in Dhaka Division are Dhaka, Gazipur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Madaripur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Netrokona, Rajbari, Shariatpur, Sherpur and Tangail.
The announcement of the shutdown came on top of the BNP-led 20-party alliance enforced countrywide blockade.
The ruling Awami League is scheduled to hold a rally in the city on Monday to mark the 43rd anniversary of the historic Homecoming Day of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
BNP Chairperson and 20-party alliance chief Khaleda Zia has been confined at her Gulshan office since January 3 amid the political tension ahead of January 5.
Later, she tried to go out of the office on January 5 to join the scheduled rally, but barred. Then, she announced countrywide blockade for an indefinite period.
- See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/2015/jan/11/hartal-dhaka-17-districts-monday#sthash.ue6WPO4l.dpuf

Curfew in Rangamati

Curfew in Rangamati


Tribune Online Report

The local administration has imposed curfew in Rangamati till 8am on Monday.
The prohibition was imposed from 8pm on Sunday in face of tension over inauguration of new medical college in the hill district.
Rangamati district Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Mustafa Zaman confirmed the Dhaka Tribune over phone.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu Larma) led PCJSS had been opposing the establishment of medical college in Rangamati.
On Saturday, the opening of the medical college in the hill district triggered clashes between the indigenous people and the ruling party supporters.
Tension has been prevailing in the district following the clashes.
Later, local administration imposed section 144 in Rangamati district on Saturday.
The government opened six new medical colleges in Tangail, Jamalpur, Patuakhali, Sirajganj, Manikganj and Rangamati and whiles five others in different places.

Rubel’s World Cup in limbo

  • Photo- Dhaka Tribune 

Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain (C) is led away after his bail plea was rejected 
yesterday following allegations that he went back on his promise to marry a film actress 
Photo- Dhaka Tribune  
National cricketer Rubel Hossain was yesterday ordered to go behind bars by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court. As a result, the right-arm paceman’s participation in the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand has now been thrown into serious jeopardy.
A lower court yesterday sentenced Rubel to jail until the next hearing in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Act. The order was passed after the 25-year old cricketer surrendered before the court and pleaded for bail. His plea, however, was rejected by the court.
The news came as a shock to the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the entire cricketing arena, especially with the World Cup knocking at the door. Rubel is one of 15 members of the Bangladesh squad scheduled to depart for Brisbane on January 24.
It is no surprise, therefore, that questions are now being asked as to whether the board and its panel of selectors will think of a replacement in case Rubel fails to resolve the issue before the World Cup gets underway on February 14.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury informed the media yesterday that it is too early to comment on the issue. The BCB high-up though said discussions on the issue have already been initiated.
“We are discussing the matter so it is quite early to say what we are planning to do,” said Nizamuddin.
“But, so far he has been handling the matter personally. If he fails to join the squad in time, we have a contingency plan in place.”
According to sources, another paceman Shafiul Islam, who was named as a standby by the BCB, will come in if Rubel is unavailable.
Shafiul declined to comment on the issue but said, “I believe I am ready to be a part of the team whenever the call comes.”
It all started on December 13 last year when Naznin Akter Happy, a film actress, filed a case against Rubel at Mirpur Model Thana.
She alleged that Rubel promised to marry her only to backtrack from his promise later on. She also alleged that she shared an intimate relation with the national cricketer.
The law enforcement authorities last month launched a probe after the film actress lodged a complaint against Rubel. Following the filing of the complaint, a court ordered Happy to undertake medical tests and instructed both to undergo DNA tests.
Rubel is the fifth Bangladesh sportsman to be jailed. Former national footballers Kazi Salahuddin, Golam Rabbani Helal, Anwar Hossain and Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu previously went behind bars in 1982 due to assaulting an assistant referee in a domestic game.