News in Brief

Indian premier, Singaporean president greet Abdul Hamid

Diplomatic Correspondent
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam yesterday greeted the new President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid.
In a message, the Indian president expressed confidence that the two countries would make further progress towards realising the full potential of the relationship between the countries. He also wished Hamid every success in his new role of leading Bangladesh towards peace and prosperity.
The Singaporean president in a separate message also hoped for working with Hamid to further strengthen bilateral co-operation.

Road crashes kill two

Metro Desk
Two people were killed in separate road accidents in the country yesterday.
Our Chapainawabganj correspondent reports, a motorcyclist was killed when a power tiller hit his motorbike in Belal Bazar area at Gomostapur upazila in Chapainawabganj.
Khairul Alam alias Natu, 45, of the upazila, was the chairman of Choudala Union Parishad.
A Gopalganj correspondent adds, 14-year-old motorcyclist Shourabh Chowdury, son of Babul Chowdury, was killed as his motorbike hit a roadside tree after he lost control over the vehicle in Sunakur area of Sadar upazila.

KOICA workshop held

Diplomatic Correspondent
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) yesterday arranged a workshop on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh using grant assistance from the agency.
The workshop focused on issues like enhancing perceptions of NGO officials on KOICA's development support programmes, Bangladesh's domestic development issues and local situation, opinion exchange for better project implementation and exploring ways for improving partnership with the Korean NGO.
During the workshop the participants shared their own experiences in Bangladesh, said a press release. Korean Ambassador in Bangladesh Lee Yun-Young, among others, attended the workshop.

HC directs govt to take steps for protecting Bhitorgarh fort

Staff Correspondent
The High Court yesterday directed the government to take effective steps immediately to protect and maintain the archeological site of Bhitorgarh fort in Panchagarh.
The court gave the verdict after holding final hearing on a writ petition filed in June 2011 seeking its necessary directives in this regard.
Manzill Murshid, president of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, moved the petition saying that two private companies were reportedly constructing structures in the perimeter of the archeological site and its adjacent area.