First phase of Biswa Ijtema begins

The annual Biswa Ijtema, billed as the largest annual Islamic event only after the hajj pilgrimage, began on Friday at Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka amid tight security.  The World Congregation of Muslims, that shuns politics and is being held in two phases like the previous year, kicked off in the morning on the sandy bank of the Turag River.   The first phase will run through to Jan 15 and the second one from Jan 20 to Jan 22, during which the faithful pray and listen to religious scholars. It was launched by Tablig Jamaat, a non-political group that urges people to follow Islam in their daily lives. 

13 killed in Bandarban road crash

A bus carrying more than 40 passengers crashed into a ravine amid thick fog in Bandarban, leaving at least 13 people including some holidaymakers dead on Saturday, officials said.

Twenty nine others survived the morning accident at Shilijhiri area, officer-in-charge of Thanchi police station Niyamat Hossain told bdnews24.com.

The Bandarban-bound bus from Thanchi fell into the gorge around 7:30am when its driver lost control apparently because of poor visibility, he said.

Many of the survivors were being treated at Bandarban Sadar Hospital, he said.

Police, army and border guards joined the rescue operation but heavy fog hampered their initial effort, Niyamat said.

Earlier, Thanchi upazila acting officer of women affairs Emran Hossain had told bdnews24.com that the death toll was 16 but police later lowered the figure to 13.

Thanchi upazila Awami League president Uhalaching Marma, her daughters, her employee, two employees of NGO Caritas and bus driver Shubhash Barua were among the dead, he said.

Sundarban has not selected of seven wonders of nature

The Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest in the world & Bangladesh. Sundarban has failed to secure a place in the list of seven wonders of nature.
A short-term list circulated on the website of the New Seven Wonders Foundation, hours after the voting ended on Nov 11, did not include the largest mangrove forest “Sundarban”.

The list marks South America’s Amazon, Halong Bay of Vietnam, Iguazu Falls of Argentina and Brazil, Jeju Island of South Korea, Komodo of Indonesia, Puerto Princesa Underground River of the Philippines and Table Mountain of Africa as the new seven natural wonders.

However, the list is not final as the organisation’s website has said that the poll is being verified again and that the final winners would be declared in an official ceremony in the first quarter of 2012.

Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exam circular in 'few days'

The circular for a special Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination for freedom fighters' dependents, women and indigenous people will be issued in few days, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) has said. 

A BPSC statement on Wednesday said the draft of the circular for the special BCS examination had been approved in a full meeting of the commission. The professional- and technical-cadre posts for freedom fighters' dependents, women and tribal that were left unfilled during the 28th and 29th BCS examinations will be filled through the exclusive BCS examination. As many as 810 and 792 posts were left vacant in the 28th and 29th BCS examinations, respectively, due to lack of suitable candidates in freedom fighters' dependents, women, tribal and professional categories. The statement suggested the candidates concerned under the categories to make preparations to apply for the examination. BPSC examinations controller (cadre) A E M Nesar Uddin on Sep 25 told bdnews24.com that 1,400 people would be appointed to the technical and professional cadre posts through the special BCS examination. Before this, in 2000, 23rd Special BCS Examination was held for freedom fighters' dependants. Nesar Uddin said the public administration ministry recommended recruiting technical manpower on the vacant posts of the 28th and 29th BCS examinations through a special BCS examination, after consulting BPSC and the law ministry. The age limit for the candidates of categories has been fixed 32 years. The 33rd general BCS examination circular would be published in January 2012. 

Koyra people are going to leave the cyclone "Aila"

There is hardly any let-up in saline water rendering the cyclone Alia-hit people of Koyara upazila in Khulna homeless, even after the reconstruction of the dam protecting the area. The influential people in the locality are deliberately cutting into some places of the dam to install pipes for irrigating saline water into their fields meant for Shrimp cultivation.

 The people of Koyra are again seized with apprehension that a slight crack to the dam would be tomorrow’s crisis and render them homeless once again. Farmers also can not grow crops for ultra-saline water. The dam came under a series of repeated reconstruction at a huge public expenditure.

 Recently in one of the erosion stricken areas, Katkata, some local influential people were found cutting into dams in a broad day light, which was repaired by the government few days ago.

 While visiting Padmapukur areas of Koyara upazila under 14/1 no. polder of Water Development Board (WDB) that repaired the damaged parts of the dam recently with the help of World Food Programme (WFP), this correspondent found at least 100 pipes installed in the embankment to bring in salty water from the nearby river.

 On the other hand, the recently completed Pobna closer of Koyara can again be damaged adding to people’s woes, as shrimp cultivators have started cutting into dams.

 At least 90 places of the recently repaired 13/14-2 no polder at Koyara, adjacent of Podna closer, have been dug for bringing in water to the lands for shrimp farming.

 This correspondent also found several cracks in the dam adjacent to the areas where pipes have been installed.