A personal video about a career journey has spiralled into a political controversy in West Bengal, after IPS officer Dr Bushara Bano was transferred within hours of right-wing group's objecting to the Islamic greetings she used in it.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bano, a 2021-batch officer, was serving as Additional Superintendent of Police in Kharagpur when she posted a YouTube video describing her path to the civil services — from returning from Saudi Arabia to preparing for the UPSC exam. She credited Aligarh Muslim University's Residential Coaching Academy for helping her succeed.&nbsp;"After returning from Saudi Arabia, I started preparing for the UPSC examination… AMU's RCA helped me a lot," she said in the video.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-will-be-completely-different-and-very-short-if-europe-attacks-russia-warns-lavrov-1789561780082">War will be ‘completely different and very short’ if Europe attacks Russia, warns Lavrov</a>&nbsp;The video drew swift backlash from a group calling itself Hindu Legal Fund, which said it had written to West Bengal Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh objecting to Bano opening with "Assalamu Alaikum," using "Inshallah," and closing with "Jazak Allah" — instead of, it said, "Vande Mataram" or "Jai Hind."&nbsp;"A serving officer representing the Indian state should maintain neutrality and use national expressions," the group posted on X.&nbsp;Within hours, the state government transferred Bano out of Kharagpur to the post of Deputy Commandant, SAP 4th Battalion, officially citing "public interest."&nbsp;Two West Bengal Police Service officers were reshuffled in the same order. Bano declined to comment when contacted.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-military-commanders-from-us-israel-and-7-arab-nations-held-secret-meeting-on-iran-war-1789503060237">Top military commanders from US, Israel, and 7 Arab nations held secret meeting on Iran War</a>&nbsp;The transfer triggered sharp political reactions. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned what was offensive about words of blessing, arguing they reflected "patriotism... rooted in compassion, faith and goodwill — one that the bhakts will never understand."&nbsp;TMC MP Mahua Moitra called the move absurd, pointing to a Parliament inaugurated with sadhus and a sengol. "For a country whose Prime Minister inaugurated the new Parliament with a sengol and bare-chested sadhus, transferring a Muslim IPS officer for saying Assalamu Alaikum and Inshallah is ridiculous. We are a nation gone mad, poisoned with hate and bigotry. God Save India," she wrote.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-carried-out-over-350-airstrikes-on-yemen-violated-sovereignty-say-houthis-1789491294418">‘US military task force aiding Saudi Arabia forces with intel, planning support’: Official</a>&nbsp;TMC MP Sagarika Ghose posed a sharper question, asking if every Muslim officer in BJP-ruled Bengal must now undergo a "loyalty test," calling it a departure from Bengal's tradition of "civilised plurality and social harmony."&nbsp;The state government has offered no explanation beyond the formal transfer order, framing it as routine and in public interest. But the timing — hours after a complaint over an officer's choice of words in a personal video unrelated to her policing record — has made that explanation difficult to sustain but Dr Bushara Bano herself has chosen not to comment.

The transfer triggered sharp political reactions as Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned what was offensive about words of blessing. TMC MP Mahua Moitra called the move absurd, pointing to a Parliament inaugurated with sadhus and a sengol.

A personal video about a career journey has spiralled into a political controversy in West Bengal, after IPS officer Dr Bushara Bano was transferred within hours of right-wing group's objecting to the Islamic greetings she used in it. Bano, a 2021-batch officer, was serving as Additional Superintendent of Police in Kharagpur when she posted a YouTube video describing her path to the civil services — from returning from Saudi Arabia to preparing for the UPSC exam. She credited Aligarh Muslim University's Residential Coaching Academy for helping her succeed. "After returning from Saudi Arabia, I started preparing for the UPSC examination… AMU's RCA helped me a lot," she said in the video. Also Read: War will be ‘completely different and very short’ if Europe attacks Russia, warns Lavrov The video drew swift backlash from a group calling itself Hindu Legal Fund, which said it had written to West Bengal Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh objecting to Bano opening with "Assalamu Alaikum," using "Inshallah," and closing with "Jazak Allah" — instead of, it said, "Vande Mataram" or "Jai Hind." "A serving officer representing the Indian state should maintain neutrality and use national expressions," the group posted on X. Within hours, the state government transferred Bano out of Kharagpur to the post of Deputy Commandant, SAP 4th Battalion, officially citing "public interest." Two West Bengal Police Service officers were reshuffled in the same order. Bano declined to comment when contacted. Also Read: Top military commanders from US, Israel, and 7 Arab nations held secret meeting on Iran War The transfer triggered sharp political reactions. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned what was offensive about words of blessing, arguing they reflected "patriotism... rooted in compassion, faith and goodwill — one that the bhakts will never understand." TMC MP Mahua Moitra called the move absurd, pointing to a Parliament inaugurated with sadhus and a sengol. "For a country whose Prime Minister inaugurated the new Parliament with a sengol and bare-chested sadhus, transferring a Muslim IPS officer for saying Assalamu Alaikum and Inshallah is ridiculous. We are a nation gone mad, poisoned with hate and bigotry. God Save India," she wrote. Also Read: ‘US military task force aiding Saudi Arabia forces with intel, planning support’: Official TMC MP Sagarika Ghose posed a sharper question, asking if every Muslim officer in BJP-ruled Bengal must now undergo a "loyalty test," calling it a departure from Bengal's tradition of "civilised plurality and social harmony." The state government has offered no explanation beyond the formal transfer order, framing it as routine and in public interest. But the timing — hours after a complaint over an officer's choice of words in a personal video unrelated to her policing record — has made that explanation difficult to sustain but Dr Bushara Bano herself has chosen not to comment.

The transfer triggered sharp political reactions as Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned what was offensive about words of blessing. TMC MP Mahua Moitra called the move absurd, pointing to a Parliament inaugurated with sadhus and a sengol.

Opposition reacts to IPS officer’s transfer in Bengal after right-wing group objects to ‘Inshallah’ in personal video

Manipur's spiral of ethnic violence has claimed two more lives, with the killing of two Kuki women in Tamenglong district reigniting tensions between Kuki-Zo and Naga communities, and prompting an extraordinary protest from a leading Kuki civil society body.According to police, unidentified gunmen opened fire in Tamenglong on Tuesday afternoon, killing 78-year-old Phalneichong, also known as Chonga Sitlhou, while she was out collecting firewood. At the same location, 28-year-old Kimjalhing, known as Kimneo Singson, was also shot dead. She had recently completed her nursing course and had returned home to help her parents with farming.The killings came just two days after four Kuki civilians were shot dead in the neighbouring Tamenglong and Noney districts, allegedly by Naga militants.The violence did not end there. Hours after Tuesday's shooting, around 10:30 pm, armed militants attacked Chawangkining, a Naga village in Kangpokpi district, setting at least two houses on fire and exchanging gunfire with security forces stationed in the area.The two communities have traded accusations of targeted killings through August and September. On August 27, alleged Kuki armed groups had killed four Naga civilians in Kangpokpi district, which has a Kuki majority.Reacting to Tuesday's killings, the Kuki-Zo Council said the recurring attacks could no longer be seen as unconnected events. In a statement, the Council said the killings — allegedly involving the NSCN-IM and the Zeliangrong United Front (Kamson) — reflected "an escalating pattern of attacks against Kuki-Zo civilians in Manipur," adding that the "continued targeting of civilians raises serious concerns about attempts to terrorise and drive Kuki-Zo communities from their settlements."The Council has called on both the state and central governments to protect civilians, bring perpetrators to justice, and take "firm, lawful action" against armed groups targeting non-combatants.In an unprecedented mark of protest, the Kuki-Zo Council has also instructed all Kuki-Zo civil society organisations that no Kuki-Zo person killed by Naga armed groups in Manipur will be buried until further notice. The bodies of victims, the Council said, will instead be preserved in the nearest available cold-storage facility pending further directions.The development adds a new and volatile dimension to Manipur's ongoing ethnic crisis, which has largely been defined by the conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities since violence first erupted in the state in 2023.

The Kuki-Zo Council instructed that no community members killed by Naga armed groups be buried until justice is served, following the murder of two Kuki women in Tamenglong, amid escalating ethnic tensions in Manipur.

Manipur's spiral of ethnic violence has claimed two more lives, with the killing of two Kuki women in Tamenglong district reigniting tensions between Kuki-Zo and Naga communities, and prompting an extraordinary protest from a leading Kuki civil society body. According to police, unidentified gunmen opened fire in Tamenglong on Tuesday afternoon, killing 78-year-old Phalneichong, also known as Chonga Sitlhou, while she was out collecting firewood. At the same location, 28-year-old Kimjalhing, known as Kimneo Singson, was also shot dead. She had recently completed her nursing course and had returned home to help her parents with farming. The killings came just two days after four Kuki civilians were shot dead in the neighbouring Tamenglong and Noney districts, allegedly by Naga militants. The violence did not end there. Hours after Tuesday's shooting, around 10:30 pm, armed militants attacked Chawangkining, a Naga village in Kangpokpi district, setting at least two houses on fire and exchanging gunfire with security forces stationed in the area. The two communities have traded accusations of targeted killings through August and September. On August 27, alleged Kuki armed groups had killed four Naga civilians in Kangpokpi district, which has a Kuki majority. Reacting to Tuesday's killings, the Kuki-Zo Council said the recurring attacks could no longer be seen as unconnected events. In a statement, the Council said the killings — allegedly involving the NSCN-IM and the Zeliangrong United Front (Kamson) — reflected "an escalating pattern of attacks against Kuki-Zo civilians in Manipur," adding that the "continued targeting of civilians raises serious concerns about attempts to terrorise and drive Kuki-Zo communities from their settlements." The Council has called on both the state and central governments to protect civilians, bring perpetrators to justice, and take "firm, lawful action" against armed groups targeting non-combatants. In an unprecedented mark of protest, the Kuki-Zo Council has also instructed all Kuki-Zo civil society organisations that no Kuki-Zo person killed by Naga armed groups in Manipur will be buried until further notice. The bodies of victims, the Council said, will instead be preserved in the nearest available cold-storage facility pending further directions. The development adds a new and volatile dimension to Manipur's ongoing ethnic crisis, which has largely been defined by the conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities since violence first erupted in the state in 2023.

The Kuki-Zo Council instructed that no community members killed by Naga armed groups be buried until justice is served, following the murder of two Kuki women in Tamenglong, amid escalating ethnic tensions in Manipur.

‘No burial till justice’: Kuki-Zo council's chilling protest after twin killings in Manipur

The tide has turned.For decades, hilsa flowed one way, from Bangladesh's rivers straight into Bengal's markets. Now, India is sending the prized fish across the border, and Bangladesh can't get enough of it.Over the past two months, India has shipped roughly 500 tonnes of hilsa to Bangladesh, according to govt of India. Traders expect another 150-200 tonnes to cross in the coming weeks — a surge driven largely by a slump in Bangladesh's own domestic catch.Much of the fish isn't even Bengali by origin. A large share has come from Gujarat's Bharuch region, while additional consignments have moved through West Bengal's Howrah wholesale fish market, long the nerve centre of the state's fish trade. Once across the border, the hilsa finds eager buyers: fish carrying high roe content is fetching strong demand in Chattogram and Sylhet, with some roe processed further for re-export, and other portions salted and dried.Dr. Pradip Dey, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, called the export surge "a strong market signal reflecting the exceptional consumer preference, economic value and regional demand for this iconic fish." He added that for West Bengal, it's a chance to build "a knowledge-driven, sustainable and value-added Hilsa economy."But the celebration comes with a caution. Scientists are warning that rising export demand could tempt heavier fishing pressure on wild stocks already under strain. The remedy, they say, lies in enforcing existing West Bengal government gazette rules — stricter policing of juvenile catches during March-May, keeping gillnet mesh sizes above 90mm to spare undersized fish under 500g, and honouring seasonal fishing bans around Mahalaya-Kali Puja and Holi, when hilsa migrate upstream to spawn.Dr. Ranjan Kumar Manna, HoD at ICAR-CIFRI, framed conservation as forward-looking investment: "Hilsa conservation is an investment in the future of the fishery." He pointed to protecting migration corridors and salinity balance, along with breeding advances, as the foundation for "sustainable Hilsa fisheries in the Hooghly–Sundarban ecosystem."The Sundarban's Saptamukhi, Matla, Thakuran and Herobhanga rivers, meanwhile, remain thin on hilsa — a consequence, researchers say, of reduced freshwater flow altering salinity patterns, something restoration and careful dredging could help reverse.&nbsp;

India has shipped around 500 tonnes of hilsa to Bangladesh in two months as domestic catches slump, but scientists warn of pressure on wild stocks.

The tide has turned. For decades, hilsa flowed one way, from Bangladesh's rivers straight into Bengal's markets. Now, India is sending the prized fish across the border, and Bangladesh can't get enough of it. Over the past two months, India has shipped roughly 500 tonnes of hilsa to Bangladesh, according to govt of India. Traders expect another 150-200 tonnes to cross in the coming weeks — a surge driven largely by a slump in Bangladesh's own domestic catch. Much of the fish isn't even Bengali by origin. A large share has come from Gujarat's Bharuch region, while additional consignments have moved through West Bengal's Howrah wholesale fish market, long the nerve centre of the state's fish trade. Once across the border, the hilsa finds eager buyers: fish carrying high roe content is fetching strong demand in Chattogram and Sylhet, with some roe processed further for re-export, and other portions salted and dried. Dr. Pradip Dey, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, called the export surge "a strong market signal reflecting the exceptional consumer preference, economic value and regional demand for this iconic fish." He added that for West Bengal, it's a chance to build "a knowledge-driven, sustainable and value-added Hilsa economy." But the celebration comes with a caution. Scientists are warning that rising export demand could tempt heavier fishing pressure on wild stocks already under strain. The remedy, they say, lies in enforcing existing West Bengal government gazette rules — stricter policing of juvenile catches during March-May, keeping gillnet mesh sizes above 90mm to spare undersized fish under 500g, and honouring seasonal fishing bans around Mahalaya-Kali Puja and Holi, when hilsa migrate upstream to spawn. Dr. Ranjan Kumar Manna, HoD at ICAR-CIFRI, framed conservation as forward-looking investment: "Hilsa conservation is an investment in the future of the fishery." He pointed to protecting migration corridors and salinity balance, along with breeding advances, as the foundation for "sustainable Hilsa fisheries in the Hooghly–Sundarban ecosystem." The Sundarban's Saptamukhi, Matla, Thakuran and Herobhanga rivers, meanwhile, remain thin on hilsa — a consequence, researchers say, of reduced freshwater flow altering salinity patterns, something restoration and careful dredging could help reverse.

India has shipped around 500 tonnes of hilsa to Bangladesh in two months as domestic catches slump, but scientists warn of pressure on wild stocks.

Hilsa diplomacy in reverse: What's driving India's surprise fish export surge

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Tuesday sentenced seven senior leaders of the now-banned Awami League to death for crimes against humanity, holding them responsible for directing and inciting deadly violence during last year's student-led protests known as the July Uprising.&nbsp;The three-member bench, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and including Justices Md Manzurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, delivered the verdict against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader among others. All seven were tried in absentia and represented by state-appointed lawyers, as none of the accused had appeared before the tribunal.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-gets-a-blow-from-us-supreme-court-over-mail-in-voting-why-is-it-so-important-and-how-it-works-1789455581552">Trump gets a blow from US Supreme Court over mail-in voting: Why is it so important and how it works</a>&nbsp;Also sentenced were Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan.The tribunal ordered the confiscation of half the movable and immovable assets of five of the convicts, excluding Saddam and Enan, to be distributed among families of those killed and injured in the uprising.&nbsp;According to prosecutors, the accused conspired in state meetings during the movement to plan killings, with evidence drawn from audio and video recordings submitted to the tribunal. Prosecutors further alleged that Quader had directly ordered security forces to open fire on protesters, triggering indiscriminate shooting that continued until Hasina's government fell on August 5, 2024.&nbsp;Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam had earlier told the tribunal during closing arguments that all charges against the accused were proven and that they bore responsibility for the killing and injury of large numbers of people during the uprising, while defence counsel sought acquittal.&nbsp;The verdict comes roughly ten months after the same tribunal sentenced deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia over the crackdown, a ruling that drew sharp criticism from rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch over fair-trial concerns.&nbsp;The United Nations has estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed, most by security forces' gunfire, during the unrest that ultimately ended Hasina's 15-year rule. Hasina has been living in exile in India since fleeing Dhaka, and last month said she intends to return to Bangladesh in December despite the threat of imprisonment or execution.The verdict can be appealed before Bangladesh's Supreme Court.

The three-member bench, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and including Justices Md Manzurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, delivered the verdict against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader among others. 

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Tuesday sentenced seven senior leaders of the now-banned Awami League to death for crimes against humanity, holding them responsible for directing and inciting deadly violence during last year's student-led protests known as the July Uprising. The three-member bench, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and including Justices Md Manzurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, delivered the verdict against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader among others. All seven were tried in absentia and represented by state-appointed lawyers, as none of the accused had appeared before the tribunal. Also read: Trump gets a blow from US Supreme Court over mail-in voting: Why is it so important and how it works Also sentenced were Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan. The tribunal ordered the confiscation of half the movable and immovable assets of five of the convicts, excluding Saddam and Enan, to be distributed among families of those killed and injured in the uprising. According to prosecutors, the accused conspired in state meetings during the movement to plan killings, with evidence drawn from audio and video recordings submitted to the tribunal. Prosecutors further alleged that Quader had directly ordered security forces to open fire on protesters, triggering indiscriminate shooting that continued until Hasina's government fell on August 5, 2024. Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam had earlier told the tribunal during closing arguments that all charges against the accused were proven and that they bore responsibility for the killing and injury of large numbers of people during the uprising, while defence counsel sought acquittal. The verdict comes roughly ten months after the same tribunal sentenced deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia over the crackdown, a ruling that drew sharp criticism from rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch over fair-trial concerns. The United Nations has estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed, most by security forces' gunfire, during the unrest that ultimately ended Hasina's 15-year rule. Hasina has been living in exile in India since fleeing Dhaka, and last month said she intends to return to Bangladesh in December despite the threat of imprisonment or execution. The verdict can be appealed before Bangladesh's Supreme Court.

The three-member bench, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and including Justices Md Manzurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, delivered the verdict against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader among others.&nbsp;

Bangladesh war crimes tribunal sentences seven Awami League leaders to death over July Uprising crackdown

The Bharatiya Janata Party has named Hasirani Rath as its candidate for the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal, scheduled for October 6, 2026. She is the mother of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant and close aide to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on the night of May 6, 2026—just two days after the assembly election results.&nbsp;Hasirani Rath, a five-time winner of panchayat and panchayat samiti elections and a former Trinamool Congress worker who later joined the BJP along with her family when Adhikari switched parties, expressed readiness and happiness at being given the responsibility. Reports indicate she is set to file her nomination, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expected to be present. She has described Adhikari as the “guardian” of her family since her son’s death and stated she would accept any responsibility entrusted by the party leadership with full devotion.&nbsp;Chandranath Rath, a former Indian Air Force personnel from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur, served as Adhikari’s trusted executive assistant and was involved in organisational and election-related work. His killing, carried out in a planned ambush involving motorcycle-borne assailants and a blocking vehicle, sparked a major political controversy. Hasirani Rath had publicly alleged it was political revenge linked to Adhikari’s victories (including against Mamata Banerjee), while the CBI later filed a chargesheet alleging a multi-state conspiracy involving contract killers.&nbsp;The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari, who won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur (where he defeated Mamata Banerjee) and resigned from Nandigram. He had previously defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 by a narrow margin. Polling for the bypoll (along with Rejinagar) is on October 6, with counting on October 9. Nominations close around September 16.&nbsp;Rival factions of the Trinamool Congress have already named candidates: the Mamata Banerjee-led group has fielded Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), while the Ritabrata Banerjee faction has nominated Mohammad Ehetash Mul Haque (or similar). Other parties, including Congress (Milan Pradhan) and CPI (Shanti Gopal Giri), have also announced nominees. The bypoll is seen as an early test amid TMC’s internal split over the party’s name and symbol.&nbsp;Political observers note a parallel with past Nandigram contests, where “martyr’s mother” figures have been fielded. Hasirani Rath’s candidacy is expected to highlight issues of post-poll violence and political retaliation in the high-profile constituency long associated with the Adhikari family and the 2007 land movement. &nbsp;

Chandranath Rath was a former Indian Air Force personnel from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur. He served as Adhikari’s trusted executive assistant and was involved in organisational and election-related work.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has named Hasirani Rath as its candidate for the Nandigram Assembly by-election in West Bengal, scheduled for October 6, 2026. She is the mother of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant and close aide to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on the night of May 6, 2026—just two days after the assembly election results. Hasirani Rath, a five-time winner of panchayat and panchayat samiti elections and a former Trinamool Congress worker who later joined the BJP along with her family when Adhikari switched parties, expressed readiness and happiness at being given the responsibility. Reports indicate she is set to file her nomination, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expected to be present. She has described Adhikari as the “guardian” of her family since her son’s death and stated she would accept any responsibility entrusted by the party leadership with full devotion. Chandranath Rath, a former Indian Air Force personnel from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur, served as Adhikari’s trusted executive assistant and was involved in organisational and election-related work. His killing, carried out in a planned ambush involving motorcycle-borne assailants and a blocking vehicle, sparked a major political controversy. Hasirani Rath had publicly alleged it was political revenge linked to Adhikari’s victories (including against Mamata Banerjee), while the CBI later filed a chargesheet alleging a multi-state conspiracy involving contract killers. The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari, who won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, chose to retain Bhabanipur (where he defeated Mamata Banerjee) and resigned from Nandigram. He had previously defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 by a narrow margin. Polling for the bypoll (along with Rejinagar) is on October 6, with counting on October 9. Nominations close around September 16. Rival factions of the Trinamool Congress have already named candidates: the Mamata Banerjee-led group has fielded Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), while the Ritabrata Banerjee faction has nominated Mohammad Ehetash Mul Haque (or similar). Other parties, including Congress (Milan Pradhan) and CPI (Shanti Gopal Giri), have also announced nominees. The bypoll is seen as an early test amid TMC’s internal split over the party’s name and symbol. Political observers note a parallel with past Nandigram contests, where “martyr’s mother” figures have been fielded. Hasirani Rath’s candidacy is expected to highlight issues of post-poll violence and political retaliation in the high-profile constituency long associated with the Adhikari family and the 2007 land movement.

Chandranath Rath was a former Indian Air Force personnel from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur. He served as Adhikari’s trusted executive assistant and was involved in organisational and election-related work.

BJP fields Hasirani Rath, mother of slain aide Chandranath Rath, as candidate from Nandigram for October 6 bypoll

The Trinamool Congress has escalated its battle against the Ritabrata Banerjee camp by filing a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court accusing the West Bengal Assembly Speaker of sitting on disqualification pleas against rebel MLAs even as 17 of the 20 breakaway TMC MPs who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) earlier this year are now preparing to formally cross over to the BJP around Durga Puja.&nbsp;The SLP, filed by Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay, names 10 MLAs: Ritabrata Banerjee, Arup Roy, Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Akhruzzaman, Shiuli Saha, Sabina Yasmin, Biplab Mitra, Javed Khan and Rathin Ghosh.&nbsp;Party MP Kalyan Banerjee said this is only the opening move, leaving the door open for the rest of the rebel camp. “We have given you some oxygen. First, we will seek the disqualification of these 10 MLAs. If you want to return, come back,” he said.&nbsp;Banerjee also confirmed that TMC will press for a hearing on the 17th, calling the party's case strong on merit, and dismissed the rival camp's newly fielded candidate — contesting on the symbol Mamata Banerjee retained — as a betrayal from a leader few expected to turn “traitor”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tech-stocks-fall-after-ai-bosses-call-for-a-slowdown-in-reckless-progress-1789387989365">Tech stocks fall after AI bosses call for a slowdown in ‘reckless’ progress</a><h2>The parallel fight in Parliament</h2>&nbsp;The Assembly petition mirrors an earlier split in the Lok Sabha. On June 14, twenty dissident TMC MPs merged with the little-known NCPI and threw their support behind the NDA, a rebellion that has kept Bengal’s anti-defection questions alive ever since.&nbsp;Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, who confirmed the move on Monday, said the two-thirds threshold shields the group from disqualification. Three others — Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan — will not go for formal BJP membership given the political sensitivities of their constituencies, and will instead back the NDA from outside, possibly with “important responsibilities or portfolios,” Basunia said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/want-to-reset-ties-with-india-have-engagement-based-on-mutual-interests-says-bangladesh-minister-1789326034045">‘Want to reset ties with India, have engagement based on mutual interests,’ says Bangladesh minister</a>&nbsp;Banerjee, reacting to this, accused the BJP of using the group and being reluctant to actually absorb them, and suggested the party’s Muslim MPs specifically were being sidelined in the process.&nbsp;<h2>BJP keeps NCPI at arm’s length in civic polls</h2>&nbsp;With Kolkata and Howrah civic elections approaching, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has ruled out any alliance with the NCPI, saying the BJP would contest alone and aim for a two-thirds majority in both civic bodies on its own strength.&nbsp;“NCPI is an ally of NDA. In West Bengal, BJP will go alone. We will secure a two-thirds majority in the Howrah and Kolkata civic bodies on our strength,” Bhattacharya told reporters.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-ukraine-to-stop-targeting-russian-refineries-says-attacks-causing-shortage-of-diesel-1789316749492">Trump tells Ukraine to stop targeting Russian refineries, says attacks causing shortage of diesel</a>&nbsp;That contradicts NCPI's own position. Party MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said his outfit intends to contest the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls as part of the NDA, claiming senior BJP leaders had confirmed as much.&nbsp;Banerjee dismissed the credibility of the rebel MPs on this front too, pointing to Bandyopadhyay's family's electoral record and challenging the breakaway group of 20 to first win even a single councillor's seat before claiming any real mandate.&nbsp;The contradiction between the state BJP chief’s “going alone” stance and NCPI’s claim of an NDA ticket remains unresolved — much like the disqualification pleas pending before the Speaker, both in Delhi and Kolkata.

The Assembly petition of Trinamool Congress mirrors an earlier split in the Lok Sabha. On June 14, twenty dissident TMC MPs quit TMC and merged with the little-known NCPI and threw their support behind the NDA.

The Trinamool Congress has escalated its battle against the Ritabrata Banerjee camp by filing a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court accusing the West Bengal Assembly Speaker of sitting on disqualification pleas against rebel MLAs even as 17 of the 20 breakaway TMC MPs who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) earlier this year are now preparing to formally cross over to the BJP around Durga Puja. The SLP, filed by Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay, names 10 MLAs: Ritabrata Banerjee, Arup Roy, Firhad Hakim, Sandipan Saha, Akhruzzaman, Shiuli Saha, Sabina Yasmin, Biplab Mitra, Javed Khan and Rathin Ghosh. Party MP Kalyan Banerjee said this is only the opening move, leaving the door open for the rest of the rebel camp. “We have given you some oxygen. First, we will seek the disqualification of these 10 MLAs. If you want to return, come back,” he said. Banerjee also confirmed that TMC will press for a hearing on the 17th, calling the party's case strong on merit, and dismissed the rival camp's newly fielded candidate — contesting on the symbol Mamata Banerjee retained — as a betrayal from a leader few expected to turn “traitor”. Also Read: Tech stocks fall after AI bosses call for a slowdown in ‘reckless’ progress The parallel fight in Parliament The Assembly petition mirrors an earlier split in the Lok Sabha. On June 14, twenty dissident TMC MPs merged with the little-known NCPI and threw their support behind the NDA, a rebellion that has kept Bengal’s anti-defection questions alive ever since. Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, who confirmed the move on Monday, said the two-thirds threshold shields the group from disqualification. Three others — Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan — will not go for formal BJP membership given the political sensitivities of their constituencies, and will instead back the NDA from outside, possibly with “important responsibilities or portfolios,” Basunia said. Also Read: ‘Want to reset ties with India, have engagement based on mutual interests,’ says Bangladesh minister Banerjee, reacting to this, accused the BJP of using the group and being reluctant to actually absorb them, and suggested the party’s Muslim MPs specifically were being sidelined in the process. BJP keeps NCPI at arm’s length in civic polls With Kolkata and Howrah civic elections approaching, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has ruled out any alliance with the NCPI, saying the BJP would contest alone and aim for a two-thirds majority in both civic bodies on its own strength. “NCPI is an ally of NDA. In West Bengal, BJP will go alone. We will secure a two-thirds majority in the Howrah and Kolkata civic bodies on our strength,” Bhattacharya told reporters. Also Read: Trump tells Ukraine to stop targeting Russian refineries, says attacks causing shortage of diesel That contradicts NCPI's own position. Party MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said his outfit intends to contest the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls as part of the NDA, claiming senior BJP leaders had confirmed as much. Banerjee dismissed the credibility of the rebel MPs on this front too, pointing to Bandyopadhyay's family's electoral record and challenging the breakaway group of 20 to first win even a single councillor's seat before claiming any real mandate. The contradiction between the state BJP chief’s “going alone” stance and NCPI’s claim of an NDA ticket remains unresolved — much like the disqualification pleas pending before the Speaker, both in Delhi and Kolkata.

The Assembly petition of Trinamool Congress mirrors an earlier split in the Lok Sabha. On June 14, twenty dissident TMC MPs quit TMC and merged with the little-known NCPI and threw their support behind the NDA.

TMC moves Supreme Court on MLAs as majority of NCPI MPs prepare for BJP switch

Buried inside the 45-page New Delhi Declaration is a wager: that climate resilience sells better to a fractious bloc of eleven nations when it's framed as economics rather than environmentalism.&nbsp;That reading came up again and again as analysts picked through the document this week. "What is interesting about the declaration, apart from its inordinate length, is that it is profoundly multilateral," said Rathin Roy, an economic advisor and dean at GITAM School of Humanities and Social Sciences.&nbsp;He pointed out that wherever climate change appears in the text, the word "including" tends to come first.&nbsp;"So this is sustainable development, including climate. They are weaving in a broader lens." Roy also noted something missing entirely: the phrase "net zero," a staple of European climate diplomacy, doesn't appear once. "The framing is profoundly different from the way the Europeans framed the climate change problem," he said.&nbsp;The declaration takes a direct shot at the EU's carbon border tax, calling such measures "unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist." Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, called this a deliberate stance.&nbsp;&nbsp;"BRICS is determined to chart its own course on climate and energy, one that emphasizes the alignment of development and decarbonization rather than treating them as competing priorities," he said, adding that the bloc's insistence on keeping fossil fuels in the mix for developing economies "signals that these leading Global South countries intend to define the terms of their own energy transition."&nbsp;Ambassador Manjeev Puri of The Energy and Resources Institute framed the summit itself as an act of endurance. "It is important that all these nations, who may have political disagreements, have stood together in unity on the critical issues of development and sustainability," he said, citing shared pushback against unilateralism and renewed work on cross-border payments and supply chains.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/differences-should-not-become-disputes-modi-xi-stress-long-term-india-china-ties-during-bilateral-talks-1789223230359">‘Differences should not become disputes’: Modi, Xi stress long term India-China ties during bilateral talks</a>&nbsp;Disaster preparedness got specific attention. Ulka Kelkar of WRI India welcomed new voluntary principles requiring climate risk to be built into land-use planning, along with a proposed BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre. "This would be crucial to prevent maladaptation," she said, adding that BRICS nations are increasingly climate finance donors, not just recipients.&nbsp;On energy manufacturing, Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO of the National Solar Energy Federation of India, pointed to scale: BRICS nations already hold more than half the world's installed renewable capacity, he said, and a proposed Solar Photovoltaic Cooperation Roadmap "provides an important opportunity to translate this scale into deeper industrial cooperation."&nbsp;Climate researcher Archana Chaudhary summed up the shift: "It does not treat climate resilience as a standalone environmental issue. It places it inside a wider argument about economic resilience, industrial capacity, trade, finance and national policy space."&nbsp;Whether that argument survives contact with rising debt burdens and diverging national interests, analysts said, is next year's question.

The New Delhi Declaration places climate resilience within BRICS' broader economic, trade, energy and development agenda, emphasising climate action alongside industrial growth, finance and national policy priorities.

Buried inside the 45-page New Delhi Declaration is a wager: that climate resilience sells better to a fractious bloc of eleven nations when it's framed as economics rather than environmentalism. That reading came up again and again as analysts picked through the document this week. "What is interesting about the declaration, apart from its inordinate length, is that it is profoundly multilateral," said Rathin Roy, an economic advisor and dean at GITAM School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He pointed out that wherever climate change appears in the text, the word "including" tends to come first. "So this is sustainable development, including climate. They are weaving in a broader lens." Roy also noted something missing entirely: the phrase "net zero," a staple of European climate diplomacy, doesn't appear once. "The framing is profoundly different from the way the Europeans framed the climate change problem," he said. The declaration takes a direct shot at the EU's carbon border tax, calling such measures "unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist." Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, called this a deliberate stance. "BRICS is determined to chart its own course on climate and energy, one that emphasizes the alignment of development and decarbonization rather than treating them as competing priorities," he said, adding that the bloc's insistence on keeping fossil fuels in the mix for developing economies "signals that these leading Global South countries intend to define the terms of their own energy transition." Ambassador Manjeev Puri of The Energy and Resources Institute framed the summit itself as an act of endurance. "It is important that all these nations, who may have political disagreements, have stood together in unity on the critical issues of development and sustainability," he said, citing shared pushback against unilateralism and renewed work on cross-border payments and supply chains. Also Read: ‘Differences should not become disputes’: Modi, Xi stress long term India-China ties during bilateral talks Disaster preparedness got specific attention. Ulka Kelkar of WRI India welcomed new voluntary principles requiring climate risk to be built into land-use planning, along with a proposed BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre. "This would be crucial to prevent maladaptation," she said, adding that BRICS nations are increasingly climate finance donors, not just recipients. On energy manufacturing, Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO of the National Solar Energy Federation of India, pointed to scale: BRICS nations already hold more than half the world's installed renewable capacity, he said, and a proposed Solar Photovoltaic Cooperation Roadmap "provides an important opportunity to translate this scale into deeper industrial cooperation." Climate researcher Archana Chaudhary summed up the shift: "It does not treat climate resilience as a standalone environmental issue. It places it inside a wider argument about economic resilience, industrial capacity, trade, finance and national policy space." Whether that argument survives contact with rising debt burdens and diverging national interests, analysts said, is next year's question.

The New Delhi Declaration places climate resilience within BRICS' broader economic, trade, energy and development agenda, emphasising climate action alongside industrial growth, finance and national policy priorities.

BRICS stitches climate into its trade and growth agenda, experts say

Japan is looking to deepen its economic engagement with West Bengal, with Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kunimitsu Ayano meeting state Industry, Commerce and Enterprises Minister Tapas Roy in Kolkata on Friday.&nbsp;Ms. Ayano&nbsp;led a six-member delegation, including officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan’s Consul-General in Kolkata Yoshihisa Ishikawa. The discussions focused on Japanese investment, trade, renewable energy and better connectivity between Bengal and Japan.&nbsp;Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tapas Roy said, “Japan is very interested in investing in West Bengal. We discussed how we can remove the hurdles faced by Japanese companies and create a more business-friendly environment.”&nbsp;The minister said the two sides also discussed renewable and non-conventional energy, electricity tariffs and the possibility of direct air connectivity between West Bengal and Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Roy added that the state expects the engagement to translate into greater trade and investment, particularly in manufacturing and infrastructure.&nbsp;The two sides also discussed plans to mark 25 years of India-Japan diplomatic and cultural ties in 2027, with cultural programmes, performances and food showcases being considered.&nbsp;This comes two months after Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi's New Delhi visit, where Tokyo flagged eastern India — Bengal, Assam, the Northeast — as key to its Indo-Pacific strategy. Analysts see Japan eyeing the Bay of Bengal as one economic corridor linking South Asia to Southeast Asia. &nbsp;

The discussions focused on Japanese investment, trade, renewable energy and better connectivity between Bengal and Japan.

Japan is looking to deepen its economic engagement with West Bengal, with Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kunimitsu Ayano meeting state Industry, Commerce and Enterprises Minister Tapas Roy in Kolkata on Friday. Ms. Ayano led a six-member delegation, including officials from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan’s Consul-General in Kolkata Yoshihisa Ishikawa. The discussions focused on Japanese investment, trade, renewable energy and better connectivity between Bengal and Japan. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tapas Roy said, “Japan is very interested in investing in West Bengal. We discussed how we can remove the hurdles faced by Japanese companies and create a more business-friendly environment.” The minister said the two sides also discussed renewable and non-conventional energy, electricity tariffs and the possibility of direct air connectivity between West Bengal and Japan. Mr. Roy added that the state expects the engagement to translate into greater trade and investment, particularly in manufacturing and infrastructure. The two sides also discussed plans to mark 25 years of India-Japan diplomatic and cultural ties in 2027, with cultural programmes, performances and food showcases being considered. This comes two months after Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi's New Delhi visit, where Tokyo flagged eastern India — Bengal, Assam, the Northeast — as key to its Indo-Pacific strategy. Analysts see Japan eyeing the Bay of Bengal as one economic corridor linking South Asia to Southeast Asia.

The discussions focused on Japanese investment, trade, renewable energy and better connectivity between Bengal and Japan.

Tokyo Turns East: Japan Pitches Bigger Investment Push in West Bengal

BRICS arrives at its 18th summit in New Delhi with an expanded membership of 11 countries and 10 partners, together accounting for close to half the world's population and roughly 40 per cent of global GDP.&nbsp;According to a briefing by the research group Climate Trends, over the past year, India's chairship has convened more than 350 meetings across 25 cities, producing around 20 sectoral agreements on energy, agriculture and urban planning. But the same briefing flags a consistent pattern behind those numbers: the outcomes are voluntary and non-binding, and none of them is backed by a dedicated financing mechanism — a gap that becomes harder to ignore against the New Development Bank's own reported climate-lending figures, which sit below the target the bank has set for itself.&nbsp;On energy specifically, that BRICS has adopted guiding principles on energy storage and smart grids, and launched a Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, with cooperation extending to hydrogen, biofuels, critical minerals and carbon capture. The bloc's membership spans both major energy producers and consumers, alongside countries holding significant renewable-energy capacity.&nbsp;Dammu Ravi, former Secretary for Economic Affairs at India's Ministry of External Affairs, frames this as an opening for joint projects rather than parallel national ones. "No single country can do these energy projects alone," he said, citing China's capital, technology and critical-mineral capacity, India's renewable-energy investment base, Brazil's experience with flex-fuel biofuels and Russia's nuclear expertise, including small modular reactors. Combined, he said, these strengths could support what he called "gigawatt scale mega projects." He added that "political and bilateral issues" among members would still need to be resolved.&nbsp;Beyond energy generation, the briefing lists BRICS principles on community-based climate adaptation and traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, along with initiatives on regenerative agriculture, digital farming and climate-resilient logistics, and a proposed urban mobility and research network aimed at building climate and disaster risk into city planning. It characterizes all of these as cooperation and knowledge-sharing platforms rather than binding commitments.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/economic-bridges-not-barriers-pm-modi-flags-trade-barriers-seafarer-safety-at-brics-business-forum-1789132762442">‘Economic bridges, not barriers’: PM Modi flags trade barriers, seafarer safety at BRICS Business Forum</a>&nbsp;On financing, according to &nbsp;the New Development Bank's own figures, it’s authorized capital of $100 billion, against $53.4 billion subscribed and roughly $42.9 billion in cumulative approvals across 139 projects. The Bank reported climate finance stood at $8.1 billion at the end of 2024, or 23 per cent of the Bank's portfolio, with mitigation lending far outpacing adaptation.&nbsp;Ravi argues that renewable-energy models developed in India and China could be replicated in other parts of the Global South, particularly Africa, but says the missing elements are financing structures, incentives and mechanisms to reduce investment risk.&nbsp;Experts also raise a technology question that BRICS has not yet addressed: rising electricity demand from data centres tied to AI and digital agriculture initiatives, in economies where additional power generation still relies significantly on coal.&nbsp;On fossil fuels, the briefing notes that BRICS energy ministers have emphasized flexibility based on national circumstances and development priorities, and that the bloc continues to recognize a continuing role for fossil fuels alongside its just-transition language — a position it describes as consistent with the bloc's stance in prior years rather than a new shift.&nbsp;Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, described the bloc's approach as "variable geometry" — cooperation where interests overlap even amid disagreement elsewhere. "Climate change is clearly one area where this diverse group has a shared interest," he said, pointing to falling clean-energy costs and mounting climate impacts as reasons for collective action.&nbsp;The period after the summit is the real test of the chairship: whether the agreements reached this year convert into investment, technology partnerships and actual projects. With COP31 set to open in Antalya in November, &nbsp;that BRICS' positions on adaptation finance, just transition and carbon accounting could shape what a large share of the Global South brings into those negotiations.

BRICS’ expanded climate cooperation under India’s chairship has produced hundreds of meetings and sectoral agreements, but experts flag the lack of dedicated financing and binding commitments as the bloc’s key challenge in turning plans into projects.

BRICS arrives at its 18th summit in New Delhi with an expanded membership of 11 countries and 10 partners, together accounting for close to half the world's population and roughly 40 per cent of global GDP. According to a briefing by the research group Climate Trends, over the past year, India's chairship has convened more than 350 meetings across 25 cities, producing around 20 sectoral agreements on energy, agriculture and urban planning. But the same briefing flags a consistent pattern behind those numbers: the outcomes are voluntary and non-binding, and none of them is backed by a dedicated financing mechanism — a gap that becomes harder to ignore against the New Development Bank's own reported climate-lending figures, which sit below the target the bank has set for itself. On energy specifically, that BRICS has adopted guiding principles on energy storage and smart grids, and launched a Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, with cooperation extending to hydrogen, biofuels, critical minerals and carbon capture. The bloc's membership spans both major energy producers and consumers, alongside countries holding significant renewable-energy capacity. Dammu Ravi, former Secretary for Economic Affairs at India's Ministry of External Affairs, frames this as an opening for joint projects rather than parallel national ones. "No single country can do these energy projects alone," he said, citing China's capital, technology and critical-mineral capacity, India's renewable-energy investment base, Brazil's experience with flex-fuel biofuels and Russia's nuclear expertise, including small modular reactors. Combined, he said, these strengths could support what he called "gigawatt scale mega projects." He added that "political and bilateral issues" among members would still need to be resolved. Beyond energy generation, the briefing lists BRICS principles on community-based climate adaptation and traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, along with initiatives on regenerative agriculture, digital farming and climate-resilient logistics, and a proposed urban mobility and research network aimed at building climate and disaster risk into city planning. It characterizes all of these as cooperation and knowledge-sharing platforms rather than binding commitments. Also Read: ‘Economic bridges, not barriers’: PM Modi flags trade barriers, seafarer safety at BRICS Business Forum On financing, according to the New Development Bank's own figures, it’s authorized capital of $100 billion, against $53.4 billion subscribed and roughly $42.9 billion in cumulative approvals across 139 projects. The Bank reported climate finance stood at $8.1 billion at the end of 2024, or 23 per cent of the Bank's portfolio, with mitigation lending far outpacing adaptation. Ravi argues that renewable-energy models developed in India and China could be replicated in other parts of the Global South, particularly Africa, but says the missing elements are financing structures, incentives and mechanisms to reduce investment risk. Experts also raise a technology question that BRICS has not yet addressed: rising electricity demand from data centres tied to AI and digital agriculture initiatives, in economies where additional power generation still relies significantly on coal. On fossil fuels, the briefing notes that BRICS energy ministers have emphasized flexibility based on national circumstances and development priorities, and that the bloc continues to recognize a continuing role for fossil fuels alongside its just-transition language — a position it describes as consistent with the bloc's stance in prior years rather than a new shift. Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, described the bloc's approach as "variable geometry" — cooperation where interests overlap even amid disagreement elsewhere. "Climate change is clearly one area where this diverse group has a shared interest," he said, pointing to falling clean-energy costs and mounting climate impacts as reasons for collective action. The period after the summit is the real test of the chairship: whether the agreements reached this year convert into investment, technology partnerships and actual projects. With COP31 set to open in Antalya in November, that BRICS' positions on adaptation finance, just transition and carbon accounting could shape what a large share of the Global South brings into those negotiations.

BRICS’ expanded climate cooperation under India’s chairship has produced hundreds of meetings and sectoral agreements, but experts flag the lack of dedicated financing and binding commitments as the bloc’s key challenge in turning plans into projects.

BRICS built 350 meetings' worth of climate cooperation this year, almost none of it comes with money

Sumit Roy, personal aide to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, has been arrested by the West Bengal CID in the alleged government land fraud case in Salboni, West Midnapore.The arrest came hours after the Supreme Court rejected Roy’s anticipatory bail plea and vacated its August 6 order staying his arrest.CID officers picked Roy up from Abhishek Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where they had gone looking for him. The action came after the Supreme Court cleared the way for his arrest.The case concerns the alleged illegal transfer and sale of government land using forged documents. Investigators say forged title deeds have emerged in the probe. The case has been registered under provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy.Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation. He had appeared before the CID several times, including for lengthy questioning.The State had opposed further protection, arguing that Roy’s custodial interrogation was necessary.And the BJP is now turning the arrest into a larger political issue.Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar described Roy as the “ear” of a larger chain and suggested that the “head” would follow — a clear hint that Abhishek Banerjee could be next. Majumdar also alleged that Roy handled administrative matters on Banerjee’s behalf, including contacting senior government officials.The Trinamool Congress has not yet issued an official response.Since the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari took office in May, more than 100 TMC leaders, functionaries and workers have reportedly been arrested in cases involving corruption, extortion, post-poll violence, land and recruitment-related allegations, as well as older cases.For now, the focus is on Roy’s custodial questioning and what the CID uncovers in the Salboni land case. &nbsp;

Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation.

Sumit Roy, personal aide to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, has been arrested by the West Bengal CID in the alleged government land fraud case in Salboni, West Midnapore. The arrest came hours after the Supreme Court rejected Roy’s anticipatory bail plea and vacated its August 6 order staying his arrest. CID officers picked Roy up from Abhishek Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where they had gone looking for him. The action came after the Supreme Court cleared the way for his arrest. The case concerns the alleged illegal transfer and sale of government land using forged documents. Investigators say forged title deeds have emerged in the probe. The case has been registered under provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy. Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation. He had appeared before the CID several times, including for lengthy questioning. The State had opposed further protection, arguing that Roy’s custodial interrogation was necessary. And the BJP is now turning the arrest into a larger political issue. Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar described Roy as the “ear” of a larger chain and suggested that the “head” would follow — a clear hint that Abhishek Banerjee could be next. Majumdar also alleged that Roy handled administrative matters on Banerjee’s behalf, including contacting senior government officials. The Trinamool Congress has not yet issued an official response. Since the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari took office in May, more than 100 TMC leaders, functionaries and workers have reportedly been arrested in cases involving corruption, extortion, post-poll violence, land and recruitment-related allegations, as well as older cases. For now, the focus is on Roy’s custodial questioning and what the CID uncovers in the Salboni land case.

Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation.

Abhishek Banerjee’s aide arrested after SC relief ends: BJP hints ‘head’ could be next

As Ranna Puja approaches, Bengali kitchens across Kolkata and West Bengal are staring at an unusual gap on the plate — Padma and Meghna hilsa, the fish most synonymous with the festival, is simply not arriving. Markets this year are being propped up instead by Myanmar hilsa, and in a twist few saw coming, by hilsa shipped in from Gujarat, a large share of which is now being re-exported to Bangladesh itself.&nbsp;Ranna Puja is a Bengali festival, falling on September 17 this year, honoring Goddess Manasa, where elaborate cooking (often with hilsa) happens the night before, followed by a no-cooking day when the meal is eaten cold. It remains a strong tradition in rural Bengal and Kolkata's suburbs.&nbsp;Weather has kept the fish at sea. According to trade sources, as many as a dozen low-pressure systems have formed in the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh over just 51 days this monsoon. The resulting heavy rain has pushed hilsa to stay put in the saline waters of the deep sea rather than migrate toward the coast, while repeated weather-related restrictions have kept Bangladeshi fishermen from venturing into deep water at all.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-919-kolkata-hotels-receive-temporary-closure-notices-over-fire-safety-lapses-1789023488468">Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses</a><h2>The river catch has collapsed&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;With the fish reluctant to move, hilsa have largely failed to enter the freshwater stretches and estuaries of the Padma and Meghna — the very zones that produce Bangladesh's prized, high-value catch. Production this season is described as almost negligible.Bangladesh is keeping what little it has.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whatever hilsa Bangladeshi fishermen have managed to land is reportedly not even enough to satisfy domestic demand. Padma-Meghna hilsa is currently selling at record prices within Bangladesh itself, leaving little incentive — or surplus — to export.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-rolls-out-digital-spot-fines-200-for-littering-banned-plastic-public-urination-1788250267843">West Bengal rolls out digital spot fines; ₹200 for littering, banned plastic, public urination</a><h2>Indian importers came back empty-handed</h2>&nbsp;On August 17, a delegation of eight Indian importing agencies travelled to Dhaka and met Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary, the Commerce Minister, and India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi. They were told plainly: there is no fish available. Officials indicated that if supply improves, an attempt would be made to send consignments before Durga Puja — offering no comfort for Ranna Puja itself.A pattern of shrinking shipments.&nbsp;The numbers tell their own story. In 2024, Bangladesh had intended to send 4,600 metric tonnes of hilsa to India; in the end, only about 1,250 metric tonnes actually crossed over. In 2025, the situation was starker still — just 125 metric tonnes of Bangladeshi hilsa entered India, and even that arrived only on the night after Ranna Puja, coinciding with Vishwakarma Puja. Throughout that period, prices stayed well beyond the reach of middle-class households.<h2>A reversal nobody predicted</h2>&nbsp;In an ironic twist to the annual hilsa story, it is now India that is exporting to Bangladesh — a sizeable quantity of hilsa from Gujarat's waters is currently making its way across the border, even as Bengal's own festive tables go without the fish of the Padma and Meghna."This year the picture has simply flipped," says Atul Chandra Das, President of the West Bengal Hilsa Export Import Association, summing up a season in which erratic weather, restricted fishing, and Bangladesh's own shortage have combined to keep the silvery treasure off Bengali plates just when tradition demands it most.

Bengal's traditional Ranna Puja celebrations will miss out on authentic Bangladeshi Hilsa this year, as market scarcity and import restrictions leave festive menus incomplete.

As Ranna Puja approaches, Bengali kitchens across Kolkata and West Bengal are staring at an unusual gap on the plate — Padma and Meghna hilsa, the fish most synonymous with the festival, is simply not arriving. Markets this year are being propped up instead by Myanmar hilsa, and in a twist few saw coming, by hilsa shipped in from Gujarat, a large share of which is now being re-exported to Bangladesh itself. Ranna Puja is a Bengali festival, falling on September 17 this year, honoring Goddess Manasa, where elaborate cooking (often with hilsa) happens the night before, followed by a no-cooking day when the meal is eaten cold. It remains a strong tradition in rural Bengal and Kolkata's suburbs. Weather has kept the fish at sea. According to trade sources, as many as a dozen low-pressure systems have formed in the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh over just 51 days this monsoon. The resulting heavy rain has pushed hilsa to stay put in the saline waters of the deep sea rather than migrate toward the coast, while repeated weather-related restrictions have kept Bangladeshi fishermen from venturing into deep water at all. Also read: Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses The river catch has collapsed With the fish reluctant to move, hilsa have largely failed to enter the freshwater stretches and estuaries of the Padma and Meghna — the very zones that produce Bangladesh's prized, high-value catch. Production this season is described as almost negligible. Bangladesh is keeping what little it has. Whatever hilsa Bangladeshi fishermen have managed to land is reportedly not even enough to satisfy domestic demand. Padma-Meghna hilsa is currently selling at record prices within Bangladesh itself, leaving little incentive — or surplus — to export. Also read: West Bengal rolls out digital spot fines; ₹200 for littering, banned plastic, public urination Indian importers came back empty-handed On August 17, a delegation of eight Indian importing agencies travelled to Dhaka and met Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary, the Commerce Minister, and India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi. They were told plainly: there is no fish available. Officials indicated that if supply improves, an attempt would be made to send consignments before Durga Puja — offering no comfort for Ranna Puja itself. A pattern of shrinking shipments. The numbers tell their own story. In 2024, Bangladesh had intended to send 4,600 metric tonnes of hilsa to India; in the end, only about 1,250 metric tonnes actually crossed over. In 2025, the situation was starker still — just 125 metric tonnes of Bangladeshi hilsa entered India, and even that arrived only on the night after Ranna Puja, coinciding with Vishwakarma Puja. Throughout that period, prices stayed well beyond the reach of middle-class households. A reversal nobody predicted In an ironic twist to the annual hilsa story, it is now India that is exporting to Bangladesh — a sizeable quantity of hilsa from Gujarat's waters is currently making its way across the border, even as Bengal's own festive tables go without the fish of the Padma and Meghna. "This year the picture has simply flipped," says Atul Chandra Das, President of the West Bengal Hilsa Export Import Association, summing up a season in which erratic weather, restricted fishing, and Bangladesh's own shortage have combined to keep the silvery treasure off Bengali plates just when tradition demands it most.

Bengal's traditional Ranna Puja celebrations will miss out on authentic Bangladeshi Hilsa this year, as market scarcity and import restrictions leave festive menus incomplete.

Ilish missing in action: No Bangladeshi hilsa for Bengal’s Ranna puja this year

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued temporary closure notices to 919 hotels and guest houses after a citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms. Of the 960 properties inspected, only 41 passed the final compliance check.<h2>Crackdown follows deadly hotel fire</h2>The stepped-up enforcement follows the fire last month at Hotel Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, which killed at least nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals. The tragedy exposed long-standing safety gaps in the area's dense cluster of small, ageing hotels and prompted authorities to tighten inspection protocols across the city. KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey said the standards being enforced are basic and cannot be compromised, stressing that functioning fire exits are a minimum requirement for any establishment to operate.<h2>Old buildings, missing paperwork</h2>Many hotel owners in the Mirza Ghalib Street area, a neighbourhood popular with Bangladeshi visitors seeking medical treatment in Kolkata, say they are caught in a bureaucratic bind. Several properties have operated for decades, but the buildings themselves are far older, and owners who lease rather than own the premises say they cannot produce the original construction plans that fire officials are asking for. The wave of closures has reduced available rooms sharply in the area, and visitors have reported steep price increases at the handful of hotels still permitted to operate.<h2>Path to reopening</h2>The KMC, which has issued more than 3,000 hotel licences overall, says non-compliant owners can rectify deficiencies and reapply for licences on their own initiative. However, officials have drawn a firm line on residential buildings illegally converted into commercial guest houses, which will be barred permanently from relicensing due to safety risks. Around a dozen compliance review applications have been received so far, with formal hearings underway. A three-day camp has also been launched to address assessment-related grievances directly.<h2>Audits extend to shopping malls ahead of Durga Puja</h2>With Durga Puja approaching and large crowds expected at commercial hubs, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has widened its audit to major shopping malls and retail centres across several districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, and Paschim Bardhaman. Malls under review include South City, Mani Square, Forum Courtyard, City Centre 1 and 2, Acropolis, Quest Mall, Avani Riverside Mall, and Durgapur's Junction Mall, along with retail outlets such as Westside on Free School Street. Inspectors are checking firefighting equipment, evacuation routes, and safety clearances, particularly in high-footfall zones like food courts. Establishments that fail the audit face immediate operating restrictions until certified upgrades are completed.

A citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued temporary closure notices to 919 hotels and guest houses after a citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms. Of the 960 properties inspected, only 41 passed the final compliance check. Crackdown follows deadly hotel fire The stepped-up enforcement follows the fire last month at Hotel Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, which killed at least nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals. The tragedy exposed long-standing safety gaps in the area's dense cluster of small, ageing hotels and prompted authorities to tighten inspection protocols across the city. KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey said the standards being enforced are basic and cannot be compromised, stressing that functioning fire exits are a minimum requirement for any establishment to operate. Old buildings, missing paperwork Many hotel owners in the Mirza Ghalib Street area, a neighbourhood popular with Bangladeshi visitors seeking medical treatment in Kolkata, say they are caught in a bureaucratic bind. Several properties have operated for decades, but the buildings themselves are far older, and owners who lease rather than own the premises say they cannot produce the original construction plans that fire officials are asking for. The wave of closures has reduced available rooms sharply in the area, and visitors have reported steep price increases at the handful of hotels still permitted to operate. Path to reopening The KMC, which has issued more than 3,000 hotel licences overall, says non-compliant owners can rectify deficiencies and reapply for licences on their own initiative. However, officials have drawn a firm line on residential buildings illegally converted into commercial guest houses, which will be barred permanently from relicensing due to safety risks. Around a dozen compliance review applications have been received so far, with formal hearings underway. A three-day camp has also been launched to address assessment-related grievances directly. Audits extend to shopping malls ahead of Durga Puja With Durga Puja approaching and large crowds expected at commercial hubs, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has widened its audit to major shopping malls and retail centres across several districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, and Paschim Bardhaman. Malls under review include South City, Mani Square, Forum Courtyard, City Centre 1 and 2, Acropolis, Quest Mall, Avani Riverside Mall, and Durgapur's Junction Mall, along with retail outlets such as Westside on Free School Street. Inspectors are checking firefighting equipment, evacuation routes, and safety clearances, particularly in high-footfall zones like food courts. Establishments that fail the audit face immediate operating restrictions until certified upgrades are completed.

A citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms. Of the 960 properties inspected, only 41 passed the final compliance check

Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses

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