6 killed, 20 hurt in Rangpur road accident

Rangpur, Dec 7 — At least six people have been killed and 20 injured when a bus plunged into a roadside pond at Najirerhat in Rangpur.

The bus packed with devotees was returning from Jor Ijtema, a preparation of the Tablig Jamat's Ijtema congregation at Tongi, on Wednesday, Kotwali Police Station sub-inspector Selim Haider told bdnews24.com.

Four of the deceased were identified as Asad Ali, 55, Sadek Ali, 42, and Kafil Uddin, 40, from Rangpur and Rezaul Islam, 45, from Darshana.

The injured, who were admitted to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital, said four passengers of the Rangpur-bound Chishtia Paribahan died on the spot when the driver had lost control around 5am.

Two of the injured succumbed to their injuries later, they said.

There had been 86 passengers including many on the roof, the police official said.

Police suspected that over-speeding and overloading could be the reason behind the accident.

bdnews24.com

Aging in office: US presidents often outlive peers

Chicago, Dec 7 — Judging by their "before" and "after" photographs, US presidents appear to age before our eyes, adding wrinkles and gray hair with each year in office.

But contrary to conventional wisdom, a few years in the White House do not appear to cut short the lives of US presidents, and most live longer than their peers, according to a new study released on Tuesday.

"Just because they experience what would appear to be accelerated aging outwardly, doesn't mean they will die any sooner," said S. Jay Olshansky, a demographer at the University of Illinois at Chicago, whose study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
bdnews24.com

Russian police crack down on anti-Putin protests

MOSCOW, Dec 07 - Hundreds of people took to the streets of Moscow for a second successive day on Tuesday to demand an end to Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule, defying a crackdown by tens of thousands of police reinforced by crack Interior Ministry troops.

Police said they had detained about 250 people in central Moscow when they tried to stage an unapproved rally and held about 200 more in St Petersburg, where opposition forces have also been emboldened by the prime minister's worst election setback since he took power in 1999.

After permitting the biggest opposition rally in Moscow for years on Monday evening, the police were out in large numbers. The Interior ministry said about 2,000 special troops were supporting almost 50,000 police, and some moved through the city centre in armored vehicles in a show of force.
bdnews24.com

Analysis: Solar companies to seek deep pockets in downturn

Dec 7 — Struggling solar manufacturers will likely be driven into mergers with rivals to survive a sector squeeze, a trend that could draw major Asian conglomerates deeper into the renewable energy sector.

Solar makers have seen their profit margins nearly erased this year as prices for renewable energy systems plummeted by about 40 percent and industry experts say many companies are too small to withstand the downturn on their own.

Market experts have named China's Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd (STP.N), Trina Solar Ltd (TSL.N) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd (YGE.N) as good bets to survive the current slump, as well as US-based First Solar Inc (FSLR.O) and SunPower Corp (SPWR.O) and Germany's SolarWorld AG (SWVG.DE). bdnews24.com

Abul Hossain says goodbye

Dhaka, Dec 5 — Much criticised minister Syed Abul Hossain has said goodbye to his former colleagues at the communications ministry.

Hossain was moved from the communications ministry to the newly formed information and communication technology ministry on Monday. New minister Obaidul Quader was given the communications portfolio.

The communications ministry will work with only the Roads Division and the Bridges Division as a railways ministry was carved out of the communications ministry on Sunday.

Abul Hossain's new workplace was created by splitting the science and information and communication technology ministry that same day.

He went to Railway Bhaban sometime and took leave of officials there, after coming to the Secretariat at 8am. He then drove to Sarak Bhaban and from there to Bridges Division before returning to his ministry where he attended a meeting.

The minister, known for his big smile, appeared distressed and spoke few words as he returned to his office around 11:45am.

Asked when he will join the new ministry, he simply told bdnews24.com, "Let's see when I can."

Abul Hossain was criticised, even by MPs of his own party Awami League in parliament, after several deadly accidents occurred in the middle of the year and for passenger sufferings due to the poor condition of roads and highways.

He faced criticism once again when the World Bank suspended its funds for the Padma bridge project due to allegations of corruption.

The opposition has been pointing fingers at Abul Hossain for the suspension.

bdnews24.com