India keeping close watch on Bangladesh : Mukherjee

Mirzapur, Est W Bengal Oct 30 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Government was keeping a close watch on the developments in Bangladesh where violence erupted following following political instability.

''There are new developments in the neighbouring country. We are keeping a close watch on the happenings. The Prime Minister and myself are taking stock of the situation,'' he told reporters at the inauguration of 'Bharat Nirman Navoday Utsav', a multi-media public information campaign of the UPA Government here, close to the Bangladesh border.

Calling for direct involvement of the people in implementation of Government plans and programmes, Mr Mukherjee said the planners should also be aware of the basic needs of the people.

He complemented the efforts for making rural people aware of the onfoing different Government programmes in housing, road communication, electrification and supply of safe drinking water.

The five-day campaign, third in series in the state is being organised by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with a number of agencies representing Central and State Governments, NGOs, banks and self help groups.

About 40 stalls have been opened by different agencies while seminars, cultural programmes, quiz contests and rural games are being organised on the occasion.

The inaugural programme was also addressed among others by Sabha Sabhadhipati of Murshidabad Zilla Parishad Ram Dhar Mishra, Director General of DFP Dipankar Mukhopadhyay, and Deputy Director General of Press Information Bureau P K Bandopadhyay.

The External Affairs Minister, who went around the stalls, also formally inaugurated the exhibition pavilions of DFP and DAVP.

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