News in Brief

Pranab greets President Abdul Hamid
Diplomatic Correspondent

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated new Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid.
“I take this opportunity to reiterate the high importance that India attaches to its relations with Bangladesh and our commitment to developing these further in all areas of mutual interest,” Pranab said in a message yesterday.
He said this recalling his meeting with Hamid during his visit to Bangladesh last month.

Ctg-Bankok flight soon: Thai envoy
Staff Correspondent, Ctg

Thai Ambassador to Bangladesh Madhurapochana Ittarong yesterday said necessary steps are being taken to start Chittagong-Bankok flight within few months.
She was addressing a meeting with the directors of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at its office in Chittagong city
CCCI President Mahbubul Alam also spoke, said a press release.

14-party's mourning procession today
Staff Correspondent

Ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance will bring out a procession today to mourn the death in Rana Plaza building collapse in Savar.
The procession will start at 4:00pm from the south gate of Baitul Mokarram National Mosque and end at Suhrawardy Udyan's Sikha Chiranton after parading different city streets.
The decision came at a meeting at AL central office in the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue yesterday with AL Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim in the chair.

BNP's hartal in Sylhet city called off
Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

BNP Sylhet city unit yesterday withdrew tomorrow's hartal called in the city to press home their demand for tracing the missing leader M Ilias Ali.
At a meeting, the decision was made as the party's countrywide procession programme with black flags has also been scheduled for Tuesday and BNP-led 18-party alliance has called another hartal for May 2, said BNP Sylhet city President MA Haque.
However, BNP Sylhet district unit will observe the dawn to dusk hartal today to stress the same demand.