Cyclone-hit Bdesh gets relief from Bengal
The West Bengal government has offered 111 truckloads of rice and other relief material for the victims of recent cyclone in Bangladesh, days after the Indian envoy ruled out easing of a ban on export of cheap rice to allow supplies to Dhaka. "Being a neighbouring country we feel great attachment with Bangladesh for similarity of language,' West Bengal minister for transport, sports and youth Subhash Chakravarty said after handing over relief material to Bangladesh's food and disaster management ministry yesterday. The relief goods for the victims of the November cyclone included 1,010 tonnes of rice, 50 tonnes of wheat, 7,500 pieces of blankets, 10,000 pieces of sarees and 6,000 mosquito nets. The minister, who was accompanied by litterateurs Sunil Ganguly and Abul Bashar, actor Biswajit, Sumitra Mitra, Amar Pal and other eminent personalities, promised to construct 1,000 houses in cyclone-affected areas. The gesture came two days after Indian High Commissioner here defended New Delhi's decision to re-impose restrictions on the export of the foodgrain priced below $510 a tonne.