NLD ask for security for Suu Kyi’s proposed tour

An alms offering ceremony was held in Mandalay on Monday by the National League for Democracy (NLD) on the 8th anniversary of the Depayin massacre in which scores of party members were killed and injured.The ceremony, held at west Khinmakan Monastery, was attended by about 150 members including Mandalay Division NLD branch chairman Thein Dan, Sagaing Division chairman Bar Bar and central women’s executive committee members who offered alms to 18 monks.

‘The monks performed religious rites for the monks, students and youths who were killed in Depayin incident. The NLD youth members released fish in a pond and offered gold flakes to the Mahamyatmuni Buddha image’, NLD member Myint Maw told Mizzima.NLD central leaders May Win Myint, Khin Htay Kywe, Phyu Phyu Thin, Nai Nai, Myo Nyunt, and Maung Maung Gyi were also present.

The infamous Depayin incident occurred on May 30, 2003. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi narrowly escaped a mob which included members of the precursor organization of the Union Solidarity and Development Party. Most of the slain NLD members were from Mandalay and Sagaing divisions.‘In previous years, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) harassed us every year when we planned to perform this alms ceremony’, said NLD member Myint Maw. ‘They came to the same monastery and offered alms to the monks in parallel with us as soon as they heard about our plan. But this year, they didn’t harass us’.

The death of Tin Maung Oo of Mandalay (southwest), San Myint (Mandalay northwest) and Thein Toe Aye (Mandalay southwest) were confirmed, but as many as 80 other deaths could not be confirmed, NLD Mandalay Division Information Department In-charge Myo Naing told Mizzima.

‘Those three who led the Mandalay group were killed on the spot on that day’, he said. ‘We can confirm their deaths. We found the mob was still beating them even while we were crossing Kyi village. So more deaths might have taken place in that village and also some students from Monywa might have been killed on that day. We couldn’t confirm their deaths. Many of them were in the convoy with their motorcycles but we could not collect the death and casualty reports’, Myo Naing said.The attack occurred on a convoy led by General-Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice Chairman Tin Oo, who were on an organizational tour in upper Burma in 2003. The mob attacked the convoy near Kyi village in Depayin Township in Sagaing Division.

The NLD requested the authorities to take action against the mob, but no arrests or charges have been filed, NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo told Mizzima.

‘Truth must be exposed, justice should be done’, he said. ‘The necessary probe should be performed on this case. Then we can draw good lessons following an investigation. We could give some sort of closure to those who were killed and attacked in this pre-meditated massacre’.

Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to start another tour of the country within a few months, a move which has raised concerns among NLD officials. Tin Oo said that the NLD would ask for security from the authorities.

‘They speak about good governance and clean government. A good and clean government must protect every citizen. We will meet and ask for security and protection’, he said.

Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo were put under house arrest following the massacre and some NLD party members were arrested and imprisoned.

Blast in Pak kills 8

A powerful explosion ripped through a market in Bajaur tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Saturday, killing eight persons, including two anti-Taliban tribal elders, and injuring 12 others.The nature of the blast, which occurred at Pashat bazar in Bajaur region at 10.50 am, could not immediately be ascertained.
Malik Mian Jan and Malik Tahsin Khan, two tribal elders who played a key role in leading an anti-Taliban 'lashkar' or militia, were among those killed by the blast, officials said.The injured were taken to hospitals in Khar, the main town of the region located 65 km from Pashat.Officials said three of the wounded were in a serious condition.
The Pashat market was closed following the attack.
Security forces cordoned off the site of the blast and launched a search operation.
The blast targeted Malik Mian Jan's hotel, where he was meeting other tribal elders, witnesses said.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast.The Taliban have killed dozens of pro-government tribesmen and members of anti-militant militias in the tribal belt over the past few years.One of the first anti-Taliban militias in Bajaur Agency was formed in Salarzai sub-division, of which Pashat is a part.Leaders of the anti-Taliban militias had been threatened by the Taliban, local residents said.Bajaur Agency, which borders Afghanistan, was a stronghold of Taliban militants till they were expelled by security forces in 2008-09.

Developing Managerial Skill for Entrepreneurship in North Eastern Region

Developing Managerial Skill for Entrepreneurship in North Eastern Region
The Ministry of Development of North East Region, DoNER has sponsored a Programme Developing Managerial Skill for Entrepreneurship. The Programme will be conducted by Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong through its Centre for Development of North Eastern Region (CEDNER). The Ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs.79.15 lacs for this programme for training 60 youth from the Region. The Course will deal with developing managerial skills among the new generation of entrepreneurs of the region. The program is supported under the Technical assistance and Capacity Building Scheme administer by the DoNER Ministry.

The DoNER Ministry and the North Eastern Council has collaborated with the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong to offer a range of short term skill development programmes encompassing the different areas of Management, Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Hospitality, among many others, from this financial year onwards. This partnership is a result of the initiative of the Union Minister of DoNER and Chairman, NEC, Shri B.K. Handique, who has been pursuing the agenda of involving the premier institutes in the North Eastern Region like IIM, IIT and Tata Institute of Social Sciences in the process of nurturing the human resources in the region. Shri Handique said that the Ministry has a larger roadmap to continuously train youths from the Region with a focus on increasing their employability. The institutes like IIM, IIT and TISS are well positioned to cater to the training needs of the Region in addition to their regular courses. We have requested them to develop such courses and we have been able to make considerable headway in designing some, the Minister added. He said that the DoNER Ministry and NEC will sponsor these courses.

Earlier, DoNER Ministry had announced a one and a half months programme in association with IIT Guwahati to train 30 Engineers from Assam Irrigation Department on Mitigation of River Bank Erosion. The programme will be entirely funded by the Ministry and will be conducted by the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati.

Ministry of Railways Issues Notification for Extending Concession to Orthopaedically Handicapped/Paraplegic in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Trains

Ministry of Railways Issues Notification for Extending Concession to Orthopaedically Handicapped/Paraplegic Persons in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Trains

The New Facility to be Effective from 1st June, 2011
Ministry of Railways has issued a notification for extending the concession in Rail fares admissible to Orthopaedically/paraplegic persons in Rajdhani/Shatadbi trains also. This comes as a follow up to the announcement made in Railways Minister’s Budget speech for 2011-12 on 25th February, 2011.

Accordingly, Orthopaedically handicapped/paraplegic persons who cannot travel without the assistance of escort are eligible for 25 per cent concession in 3-AC & AC Chair Car in all inclusive fares of Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. The same concession will also be admissible to one escort accompanying the concerned handicapped person.

There is no change in other terms and conditions.

The concession will be effective on tickets purchased on or after 01.06.2011. In case of tickets already issued for travel on & after 01.06.2011 refund or difference of fares will not be admissible.

Political prisoners on hunger strike

Nearly 30 political prisoners, including seven women and three Buddhist Monks, are staging hunger strikes to demand better prison conditions.Today, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 7 of the political prisoners who have been on a hunger strike in Insein Prison have been placed in solitary confinement in military dog cells, which are small cells where dogs are usually kept and notorious for brutal torture and extreme punishment.

AAPP has also learnt that the other political prisoners who have been on hunger strike may be transferred to remote prisons as a punishment.

On 16 May, Burma’s new ruler, Thein Sein, announced that all prisoners would have their sentences reduced by one year, and that those on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This was designed to avoid releasing senior opposition leaders, many of whom were given sentences of 65 years or more after the pro-democracy uprising in 2007. One political prisoner is serving a 104 year sentence.
There had been speculation that there would be a mass prisoner amnesty, which happens regularly in Burma. However, Thein Sein is increasingly showing himself to be as or more hard-line than former dictator Than Shwe. In the first few months of becoming dictator, Than Shwe first acknowledged that there were political prisoners, and then released 427 political prisoners. Thein Sein’s government denies political prisoners even exist.
You can take action to help free political prisoners here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/political-prisoners-action
Campaign successes such as the release of the prisoners in India depend on you. We receive no government funding and most of our income is from individual supporters like you. Please support our work to free political prisoners, in addition to taking action, with a donation here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/donate/donate-now
Many thanks for your support.
Anna
Burma Campaign UK

Lightning strikes claim 10 lives in B’desh

At least 10 people including two children were killed and 16 others injured on Monday morning in lightning strikes in two Bangladeshi districts.A local official from Chapainawabganj district said eight people including two children, were killed and three others injured in lightning.

Another official from Pabna district said two farmers were killed and 13 others injured in thunderbolt. All the lightning victims were admitted to local hospitals.
At least 16 people were killed and a score others injured by lightning in a tropical storm in seven districts of Bangladesh in May last year.

11th Conference to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad

India to host 11th Conference to the Convention on Biological Diversitynd

2011-05-24 06:01:11 - India is hosting the eleventh Conference of the Parties (CoP-11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting of the Parties (CoP/MoP-6) to the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety to be held on 1-19 October, 2012.in Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh:India

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and Convention on Biological Diversity organized one-day Stakeholders’ Consultations and Launch of the UNDB for Asia and Pacific in New Delhi today. The event was presided over by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Environment and Forests. Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD Secretariat based in Montreal also attended the event. The Vice-Minister
of Environment, Japan representing the CoP-10 presidency, Ministers of Environment from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan participated. Ambassadors / High Commissioners of Delhi based Missions also attended the event. Other participants included representatives of Central Government Ministries / Departments, State Governments, National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, Universities, specialized agencies, UN bodies, International organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and Industry.

The period 2011-2020 has been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the UN Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) to raise awareness about the importance of and threats to biodiversity. The Decade coincides with the duration of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 adopted by CoP-10 to the CBD held in Nagoya, Japan in October, 2010. It contains 20 targets to help achieve the three objectives of the CBD and the Millennium Development Goals.

CoP-11 to be held in India would be the first CoP in the UNDB. The year 2012 when CoP-11 would be held is also significant because that would be the year of 40th anniversary of Stockholm Conference, 20th anniversary of Rio Earth Summit (Rio + 20) and 10th anniversary of Johannesburg Summit. The event provides India with an opportunity to consolidate, scale up and showcase our initiatives and strengths on biodiversity.

The important components of the event included special sessions devoted to engagement with different categories of stakeholder’s namely civil society, UN and donor agencies, State Biodiversity Boards and Business community. During the formal launch of the UNDB for Asia and Pacific, the Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh unveil the logo and slogan for CoP-11, which has been developed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. A video developed by the CBD Secretariat for the UNDB including a message UN Secretary General Mr Ban ki Moon and a video developed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests ‘Incredible India and Incredible Biodiversity’ were screened. This was followed by Kuchipudi dance performance on Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita (Nature Protects if She is Protected).

Vijay seventh Indian shooter to qualify for London Olympics

Vijay Kumar became the seventh Indian shooter to qualify for next year's London Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event of the ongoing ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, USA.The 25-year-old Indian missed the gold by a whisker to German Christian Reitz, an Olympic bronze medallist from the Beijing edition, who won the match with an overall score of 29 hits.

Vijay joins rifle shooters Ronjan Sodhi, Gagan Narang, Hari Om Singh and Sanjeev Rajput, and fellow pistol shooters Rahi Sarnobat and Annu Raj Singh to clinch a quota place for the London Olympics.More than 600 athletes coming from 70 countries are participating in the third ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup stage of the year.

Tune Hotels Kicks off

Tune Hotels Kicks off RM2/Rp20.000 Sale
Guests save more with Add-on Packages and Removal of Admin Fee
PETALING JAYA, 21 May 2011 – From Monday, Tune Hotels rooms will go on sale from as low as RM2 for hotels in Malaysia and from Rp20,000 for their Indonesian hotels, giving further value to travelers after announcing their Comfort and Plus Packages and No Admin Fee earlier this year.

Karen Thong, General Manager - Marketing & Corporate Communications of Tune Hotels said “We’re delighted to announce our latest promotion in line with our promise of Great Value, Great Savings. Guests can further save 20% if they purchase their add-ons such as towel & toiletries and air condition credits known as the Comfort Package or 30% for television and in-room wifi named the Plus Package allowing guests to spend more on their shopping or what have you during their travels.”

The booking period is from 1200hrs (Malaysian time) on Monday, 23 May till 2359hrs (Malaysian time) on Friday, 3 June 2011, with the stay period from 1 March – 31 May 2012 available exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com. The promotional rates are available on first come first served basis and are subject to availability.

China asks Pak to mend its fences with India

A media report in Islamabad said, China has asked Pakistan to mend its fences with all its neighbours, including India. Beijing expressed concern over terrorists still flourishing in centres on Pakistani soil.The message from the Chinese leadership was conveyed during Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to China that ended yesterday.The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying, the Chinese leadership asked Islamabad to make efforts for the "removal of irritants with Washington and New Delhi.The Chinese leadership expressed regret that terrorists were flourishing in various centres and Pakistan had yet to take an effective action to remove such centres. It added that this was an obvious reference about madrasas.

Land Acquisition Civil society deliberation

Gandhi Peace Foundation meet on Tuesday May 24, 5 - 8.30 pm. Focus: Noida - Greater Noida Land Acquisition. Amendments to Land Acquisition Act of 1874:
Gandhi Peace Foundation meet on Tuesday May 24, 5.30 - 8.30 pm.
Tea - Soft Drink at 5 pm.
Follow up of Sept 19, 2011 - Theme then: 'Kisano ka Hak'
Focus: Noida - Greater Noida Land Acquisition. Amendments to Land Acquisition Act of 1894 Kindly reserve above time in your calendar, as this will be a Landmark brainstorming cum policy event, to which you are cordially invited.

Vyavastha Parivartan Gathbandan, Dehat Morcha, Kisan Shangharh Samiti,
2011 'Do Bigha Zamin Movement' - latter a follow thru by NNFI

Oommen Chandy sworn in as Kerala CM

Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.Along with Chandy, six floor leaders of the UDF coalition were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor R S Gavai at the lawns of the Raj Bhavan.
The UDF unseated CPI(M)-led LDF by securing a thin majority of 72 seats in the 140-member House after 13th April Assembly polls.

Those sworn in as ministers were P K Kunhalikutty (IUML), K M Mani (Kerala Congress-M), K P Mohanan (SJD), T M Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (RSP-B).The ministry will be expanded on 23rd May with the induction of nine Congress nominees, three representatives of IUML and one more from Kerala Congress (Mani).

Chandy's predecessor and CPI (M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal were among those who attended the ceremony.A large number of people from different parts of the state turned up to witness the swearing-in.Chandy is becoming Chief Minister for the second time after an interim term in 2004-06.The UDF had on Tuesday wrapped up an agreement with its partners on sharing the ministerial berths and portfolios.

Quit Office, Devegowda Tells CM, Speaker

Quit Office, Devegowda Tells CM, Speaker


Bangalore, May 17 (PTI) Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda today demanded the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah in view of the Supreme Court verdict quashing disqualification of 16 MLAs, including 11 BJP rebels.

The JDS supremo said after the Supreme Court passed "strictures" against the Speaker, he had no moral right to continue in office.

He said the apex court in its order had also referred to "how the Chief Minister used the Speaker" to manipulate the Vote of Confidence on October 11 last year to save his government and demanded that he too quit office.

In this background, the ruling BJP should elect a new legislative party leader, Devegowda sai

Politburo introspection meeting of CPI ( M )

CPI-M politburo introspection meets in New Delhi today to discuss poll debacle in West Bengal. The meet will initiate the process of analysing the reasons behind the party’s defeat. While the party lost power in West Bengal after a continuous 34-year-rule, it failed to lead its Left Democratic Front (LDF) to victory in Kerala although it won 45 seats by itself to emerge as the largest single party formation in the new 140-member Assembly. AIR correspondent quoting party sources reports, after its near-complete rout in West Bengal, the CPI-M state secretary and Left Front Chairman Biman Bose's role is expected to come under special scrutiny in the process of a thorough analysis of the Assembly poll results.
The CPI too will hold its high-level meetings to analyse the poll results and the overall performance of the Left Front, beginning with a Central Secretariat meeting on Wednesday. CPI general secretary A B Bardhan yesterday speaking to AIR has described the drubbing of the Left in West Bengal as a defining moment. Mr Bardhan has also cautioned its leaders to remain a Communist but not a dogmatic. The veteran leader also advised the Left to be prepared to have a long stint in the opposition benches and be a constructive, responsible opposition.

Kevin Rudd in Thailand meet Burmese HR Organization

Kevin Rudd former PM now MP of OZ tweets that 'Spent this morning with representatives of Burmese human rights organisations here in Thailand." Further adds in social networking site,'Big challenge is some half million displaced Burmese on both sides of border. Conditions often atrocious, incl. human trafficking.'Kevin writes,'Also been speaking with Thai Foreign Minister on Burmese regime’s human rights performance post Aung San Suu Kyi release.' KRudd

IIFCL Net increased by 138 percent

IIFCL Net increased by 138 percent
Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc-New Delhi; India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)has reported a y-oy growth of 138%of its net profit during the year ended 31 March 2011.net Profit of the company for the year ended stood at rs 228.44 Cr compared to Rs 95.91 Cr.Total income for the year registered a growth of 23% led by increase in interest income from lending operations.Income from the lending operations posted a growth of 66% over the corresponding period last year. IIFCL has NIL NPAs on its balance sheets as on 31 March 2011. The sanctions conveyed by the company registered a stellar growth of 30% as at the end of year ended the cumulative gross sanctions to rs 31,778 Cr to 176 infra projects involving a total project cost of rs 2,70,921 Cr. Recognizing the need for bringing about innovative financing approaches to meet the infra financing gap,the company is currently evolving a framework for undertaking Credit Enhancement of bonds issued by infrastructure developers.Thus credit enhancements by IIFCL to project bonds will improve their rating and will assist the infra developers to have eligible instrument for investment by insurance company and pension funds.
IIFCL shall be funded through long-term debt raised from the open market. This debt can be any or all of the following:Rupee debt raised from the market through suitable instruments created for the purpose; the IIFCL would ordinarily raise debt of maturity of 10 years and beyond.Debt from bilateral or multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.Foreign currency debt, including through external commercial borrowings raised with prior approval of the Government. The IIFCL would raise funds as and when required, for on lending, in consultation with the Department of Economic Affairs. The magnitude of funds raised would be determined by demand from viable infrastructure projects.To the extent of any mismatch between the raising of funds and their disbursement, surplus funds would be invested in marketable government securities.

AirAsia introduces two new booking features

AirAsia introduces two new booking features

SEPANG, 12 May 2011 – AirAsia’s guests can now breeze through their flight booking process with the introduction of two new booking features on both its web and mobile platforms for AirAsia members – the ‘Family & Friends List’ and ‘1-Click Card’. Both features are available from 13 May onwards.

The ‘Family & Friends List’ enables guests to store up to ten guests’ information in their AirAsia member account. No more rush for guests to key in their family and friends’ details or panic when someone’s date of birth is missing, as it will all be available conveniently in the ‘Family & Friends List’ when guests log in to www.airasia.com.

AirAsia members are also able to save their credit card details securely in the ‘1-Click Card’ feature. Guests can further speed up their booking process as all they need is a click to complete their payment with this new feature.

Guests can sign up to be AirAsia members by visiting www.airasia.com and click on ‘Sign Up’ at the Member Login section. Apart from the two new features, AirAsia members are able to facilitate their own ‘Manage My Booking’, where they can change or update flights, travelers’ details, retrieve flight itineraries, select preferred seats, Supersize check-in baggage and pre-book meals at discounted prices as compared to purchasing at the counter or on board, and other value for money add-ons.

For added convenience, guests will be able to locate and check all their flight bookings in one page when logged in as an AirAsia member. AirAsia members are also able to check their refund status and track lost baggage conveniently online as well.

For more information and real time updates on AirAsia’s latest promotions as well as activities across the globe, follow AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

5th Meeting of the Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge to Groundwate

Recharge to Groundwater Concludes with many Suggestions
The 5th meeting of the Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge to Ground Water concluded here today under the Chairmanship of Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister for Water Resources. Organized by the Ministry of Water Resources at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, the meeting was attended by eminent NGOs, VOs and Principal Secretaries of the State Governments, besides senior officers from the Ministry of Water Resources and Organizations attached to it. Shri Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Water Resources, was also present.

Addressing the meeting, Shri Salman Khurshid emphasized the importance of an integrated approach to Ground Water management and said effective recharge of Ground Water is crucial to ensuring a continuous and sustainable water supply. He suggested that future meetings of the Council should be held in a place where a successful Ground Water Recharge project is running – whether by Governmental effort or by individual/organizational initiative so as to highlight the practicality of the suggestions being given by experts on Ground Water Recharge.

Shri Khurshid and Shri Pala also released two publications, brought out by the Central Ground Water Board, on the occasion: ‘Ground Water scenario in major cities of India’ and ‘Rain Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge’.

Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge to Ground Water was constituted on 17th April, 2006 with the objectives to identify priority areas and area- specific technologies for Artificial Recharge in coordination with various Central /State organizations, NGOs, Industries / Stakeholders etc., along with creation of awareness, education, capacity building, funding strategies and periodic review of actions taken by the Centre and States.

The agenda for the 5th meeting of the Council focused on Ground Water management in urban areas, studies required in areas on diminishing ground water quality, aquifers of coastal areas, inter-layered aquifers containing good and poor quality water and aquifers vulnerable to pollution. A number of Members of the Council raised the issue of encroachment/disappearance of the water bodies in urban areas and wanted a coordinated approach by the Centre and the States to tackle this menace which is jeopardizing the water safety in the urban areas. The Advisory Council has given a number of suggestions for better and sustainable management of Ground Water resources, including widening the scope of the Council from merely ‘Artificial Recharge’ to the entire gamut of ‘Recharge’.

PGTI Feeder Tour event Madhuban Meadows Golf Course Karnal

Karnal, Haryana, May 10, 2011: Praveen Kumar Bhadana of Noida shot a magnificent six under 63 to seize the lead in round one of the PGTI Feeder Tour event being held at the Madhuban Meadows Golf Course in Karnal. Bhadana’s opening round effort helped him set a new course record for a single round at the par-69 Madhuban Meadows course. The previous course record of five under 64 was jointly held by Suleman Ali, Dinesh Kumar and Arshdeep Tiwana.Manoj Kumar and Kapil Kumar are tied second at five under 64.

Praveen Kumar Bhadana had a slow start as he made pars on the first five holes. He then turned it on with four straight birdies from the sixth through the ninth thanks to some brilliant ball-striking and consistent putting. The 26-year-old continued his good run on the back nine making three more birdies besides his only bogey of the day on the 15th.

Praveen said, “I was striking it well today and therefore set up a number of birdie opportunities. The birdie on the 11th was special because I pulled my drive to the left on that particular hole and then made an excellent recovery thanks to a 30 feet putt. It’s important to play well around the green on this course. One needs to be a little creative and react according to the situation, especially on the approach shots, in order to perform well at this venue.”
Manoj Kumar of Lucknow made two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys on his way to a score of 65 that placed him joint second along with Kapil Kumar of Delhi. Kapil fired an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in his opening round.

Maniram Sharma of Karnal is tied 29th as he shot an even par 69.
Ravinder Chandila of Faridabad fired a hole-in-one on the fourth during his opening round of eight over 77. He used a nine-iron on the 130-yard fourth hole. Chandila is currently placed 87th.Earlier in the day, the inaugural tee-off was done amidst much fanfare by Mr. V N Rai, Director, BSF Academy.

Bangladesh committed to fight terrorism

Bangladesh has assured India that its territory will not be allowed to be used by elements working against the interests of any country.

Addressing a programme to commemorate the 150th year of Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary in New Delhi on Saturday, Planning Minister of Bangladesh A K Khandekar said his countrymen cannot forget India's support to their freedom struggle.

Khandekar, a retired Air Vice Marshal, who had also participated in the 1971 war for the freedom of Bangladesh said, "The spontaneous support that we received from the government and the people of India can never be forgotten by the people of Bangladesh."

"The courage, the spirit of sacrifice, the spirit of the people of India particularly the visionary leadership of Indira Gandhi (the then Indian Prime Minister), 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," he said Khandekar said this part of Bangladesh's history should also be celebrated jointly with India.

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 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." Khandekar said the joint celebrations of Tagore's commemoration is a significant event that underscores the cultural and social bond shared by the two countries.He said the two countries shared a history of struggle against colonisation and exploitation.