Tagore a beacon for B'desh, India'

Tagore a beacon for B'desh, India'

Planning Minister A K Khandker has said Bangladesh will never forget the overwhelming support of the government and people of India during the Liberation War in 1971.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Bangladesh-India joint celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore in New Delhi on Saturday.

Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh presided over the ceremony.

Khandker recalled the unstinted support provided by the then prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, to the liberation war of Bangladesh.

"The courage, the spirit of sacrifice, the spirit of the people of India, particularly the visionary leadership of Indira Gandhi, who announced her recognition of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign nation even before the war ended, can perhaps never be fully reciprocated by the people of Bangladesh," said Khandker, who himself had a leading role in the Liberation War.

The planning minister, who represented the Bangladesh government, was the chief guest in the inaugural ceremony in Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

He said Tagore would always remain a beacon for both Bangladesh and India.

Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law, Sonia Gandhi, who now heads both the Indian National Congress as well as the ruling United Progressive Alliance, was the guest of honour.

The inaugural ceremony started with performances by Rabindra Sangeet maestros Rezwana Choudhury Bonna (Barisha Dhara Majhe….) and Dwijen Choudhury (Tumi Je Surer Agun….).

They were joined by eminent Hindustani classical music vocalist Madhup Mudgal, who presented a Jadi Tor Dak Sune …. in Hindi.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the joint celebrations of the Nobel laureate poet's 150th birth anniversary in Dhaka on Thursday.

Indian vice-president M Hamid Ansari was the chief guest on the occasion at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

During Hasina's visit to New Delhi in Jan 2010, India and Bangladesh agreed to jointly celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore, who penned the national anthem of both the countries.

The opening ceremony of the year-long commemoration will be held in Dhaka until Sunday and in Delhi until Monday.

Khandker said Bangladesh-India joint celebration of Tagore's 150th birth anniversary was a significant event, which underscored the cultural and social bond shared by the two neighbours.

He said the two countries shared a history of struggle against colonialism and exploitation. The two nations also share faith in democracy and secular values, he added.

The planning minister said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had drawn inspiration from Tagore to lead the downtrodden of the then East Pakistan in the Liberation War.

He said it was from Tagore that Bangabandhu had got the concept of 'Sonar Bangla', which the latter had dreamt to create for his people.

Recalling Tagore's message for peace, harmony and universal brotherhood, Khandker stressed building institutions for research on the life and works of Tagore.

Referring to Tagore's message of peace and harmony, he said: "We, in Bangladesh, firmly believe that for our region to develop and achieve peace, prosperity and stability, it must be free from the scourge of terrorism and extremism."

"To this end, the government of Sheikh Hasina has launched an uncompromising fight against terrorism, extremism and militancy.

She has also assured India that Bangladesh will not allow its soil
to be used by elements working against the interests of any country," added Khandker, who led a delegation of MPs, artistes and senior officials from Bangladesh to India to attend the inaugural ceremony of joint celebrations in Delhi.

Obama pays tribute to unit in Laden raid

Obama pays tribute to unit in Laden raid

President Barack Obama, basking in US public approval for the killing of Osama bin Laden, flew to a military base in Kentucky on Friday to thank special forces who carried out the deadly raid and led a rally filled with cheering troops.

With his poll numbers up and even Republican critics congratulating him for the bin Laden operation, Obama paid tribute to the elite military team in a secrecy-shrouded meeting at Fort Campbell five days after announcing the al Qaeda leader was dead.

Commandos who conducted the assault on bin Laden's compound in Pakistan gave Obama first-hand accounts of what happened, and he awarded them the highest presidential honour a military unit can receive, a US official said.

"It was a chance for me to say on behalf of all Americans and people around the world: Job well done," Obama told a jubilant audience of soldiers just returned from tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Obama said "justice for Osama bin Laden" showed his Afghanistan war strategy was working and he repeated his pledge to start withdrawing troops from the country this summer.

Obama's visit, just a day after attending a sombre wreath-laying ceremony at the Ground Zero site of the Sep 11, 2001, attacks in New York, came as questions grew about initial US details of the airborne assault on bin Laden's hide-out.

US acknowledgment that bin Laden was unarmed when shot in the head -- as well as the sea burial of his body, a rare practice in Islam -- has drawn criticism in the Muslim world and Europe, where some warn of a backlash against the West.

But most Americans regard the secretive special operations unit that killed bin Laden -- the mastermind of the September 11 hijack-plane attacks on the United States -- as national heroes, and Obama came to thank some of them personally.

Soldiers gathered in a giant aircraft hangar festooned with American flags and a band belting out rock 'n' roll tunes. A huge "Job well done!" banner hung from the wall.

The strike team for the bin Laden operation included SEAL commandos who underwent weeks of intensive training for the nighttime assault on bin Laden's high-walled compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

'NIGHT STALKERS'

The sprawling Kentucky base is home to the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, a unit nicknamed the "Night Stalkers" and whose helicopter pilots were reported to have flown the mission.

Obama's meeting with special forces operatives was held privately to protect the secretive nature of their work.

Secrecy was so tight that journalists travelling with Obama were removed from his motorcade and not even allowed to see the exterior of the special operations centre where the meeting took place.

Obama is already reaping dividends from bin Laden's death, with most recent polls showing his job approval rating jumping above 50 percent since the raid.

But the boost could be short-lived as voters focus again on the struggling economy, lingering unemployment and high gasoline prices -- top public concerns considered crucial to Obama's re-election chances next year.

The killing of bin Laden will make it easier for Obama, however, to fend off criticism he is weak on national security, charges that Republicans have deployed effectively against Democrats for decades.

Although Obama has cautioned against triumphalism over bin Laden's death, even his political opponents seem willing to let him savour it.

"This has been an extraordinary week for our nation," he told the troops. "The terrorist leader who struck our nation on Sep 11 will never threaten our nation again." But he warned that "this continues to be a very tough fight."

White House spokesman Jay Carney insisted earlier that Obama was not "gloating" about bin Laden's demise and was mindful the war against al Qaeda was far from over.

Al Qaeda confirmed on Friday that bin Laden was dead and vowed to mount more attacks on the West.

Obama's visit was also a chance to try to rally support for the war effort in Afghanistan while reassuring Americans about his commitment to his long-standing pledge to start withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan in July.

With the demise of the man who came to symbolize Islamist militancy, Obama is already facing pressure from some lawmakers to speed up the US exit from an unpopular war 10 years after Washington helped topple Afghanistan's Taliban for sheltering bin Laden and al Qaeda after the Sept 11 attacks.

But US officials have insisted that while seriously weakened by the loss of bin Laden, al Qaeda remains a dangerous force and it is time to step up efforts to crush it.

Zuckerberg at Facebook data center

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise

appearance Friday night in Prineville, Ore., at a community party for the grand opening of his company`s new data center.

He told a crowd of about 300 people that building the data center "is a massive step up for us from the leased space that we`ve been operating out of before."

Facebook says the custom-built data center uses 38 percent less energy to do the same work as the company`s existing facilities.

Servers inside data centers are the backbone of Internet services such as Facebook. They store and transmit billions of status updates, links and photos used by the social networking site`s members.

Experts assure: Japan’s nuclear explosion not to affect Bangladesh

Experts in Bangladesh Saturday opined the country would not be affected from the recent nuclear disaster in Japan, which crippled at least four reactors in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and threw hundreds of people into radiation danger.

The nuclear experts came up with such assurance at a seminar titled ‘Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and its Effect in Bangladesh’ at the National Press Club, organized by Bangladesh Science Writers and Journalists Forum.

They informed that the radiation has spread in Japan following Fukushima nuclear reactor explosion on March 11 under the impact of earthquake and tsunami.

The detrimental effects from the explosions will last for decades. But Japan has been trying to overcome damages.

The nuclear experts also told the seminar that the radiation from the explosion would not reach Bangladesh or Indian Subcontinent as those are not neighbours of Japan.

Besides, food items are not directly imported to Bangladesh from Japan. But, speakers at the seminar cautioned, the government has to be alert to avert radiation risks.

The speakers, however, told the seminar that it is necessary to set up nuclear power plant to face power crisis.

A written speech of Hajime Hikino, secretary-general of the Japanese Association of Science and Technology, was also read out at the seminar.

He suggested in writing that Bangladeshi journalists take training in science and media to create separate cell in this regard.

Shane Warne announces IPL retirement

Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne has said that the ongoing season of the IPL will be his last one as a player. He is likely to be associated with Rajasthan as a coach or advisor in the future.

"Yes this is my last year playing IPL - please come down and support RR last 2 home games v chennai & Bangalore ! We need your help !!!!", Warne wrote on the social networking site Twitter. He confirmed that this meant he would not play any more professional cricket matches after this IPL. "A big thank you to everyone that has helped me - supported me through all the ups and downs - hope you have enjoyed watching me play," he added.

Warne captained Rajasthan to victory in the inaugural season of the IPL but the franchise`s fortunes slumped in the next two seasons. He has played 52 games for Rajasthan so far picking up 56 wickets at an average of 24.66. Rajasthan are currently fourth in the points table in this edition and Warne called on Rajasthan`s fans to support them in their last two home games.

"We have a spirit in the squad similar to IPL 1 - it would be great to leave on a high - I`m proud of the way we have developed young players," Warne wrote. Australia allrounder Shane Watson, who plays under Warne in the IPL, told ESPNcricinfo in an interview that Warne was keen to leave the game on a winning note, whenever that happened.

"I think he`s very motivated," Watson said. "After last year the way things panned out for Rajasthan, I think he`s very motivated to make sure that whenever he leaves the game he leaves in a really good place. Warney`s bowling unbelievably well and has been since the start of the tournament. There`s only really one person who`s ever been consistently able to do it as a legspinner and he`s bowling absolutely beautifully."

Warne has been the face of the franchise and it is likely he will continue to be associated with them in some way. "Re next year, who knows what or if I will be involved in IPL re mentor / coaching - am focused on doing best for RR this year - see u at ground," Warne tweeted.