Dhaka - At least one person drowned and as many as 80 went missing Thursday when a passenger ferry capsized in a Bangladeshi river near the southern district of Barisal, officials said.

The boat carrying more than 100 passengers sunk in the middle of the Kirtankhola River near Beltala, 277 kilometres south of Dhaka, when a sand-laden cargo vessel hit the back of the ferry, Rafiqul Islam, a port officer, said, quoting witnesses.

The passenger vessel, ML Happy, was on its way to Patarhat from Barisal port when the accident occurred.

Dhaka  - A German parliament delegation was expected to start a five-day visit to Bangladesh Friday to renew and strengthen ties between legislators of both countries, officials said Wednesday.

The five members of the German Bundestag were from both the ruling coalition and opposition, and were scheduled to meet parliament Speaker Abdul Hamid; Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition in parliament; and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.

New Delhi, Feb 17 : The Government has taken several steps to check smuggling along Indo Bangladesh Border.

The steps are construction of border fencing and roads and flood lighting, upgradation of intelligence machinery, and introduction of modern surveillance equipments including night vision devices.

Dhaka  - At least eight people were killed and dozens others injured Tuesday as a train collided with a truck in the north-western district of Joypurhat district, Bangladeshi police said.

The accident occurred at the Khasiabari level crossing, some 280 kilometres north-west of the capital Dhaka, killing the eight victims on the spot, said inspector Noor Hossain at Joypurhat police station.

Dhaka  - Bangladesh will begin providing special legal and physiological support for poor women and children who are victims of abuse and social injustice, officials said Tuesday.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun inaugurated a new centre in Dhaka where women and children victims of trafficking, acid attacks, rape, sexual harassments or domestic violence will get support around the clock.

Dhaka  - Police have arrested two local leaders of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party on charges of committing war crimes during the country's war of independence
38 years ago, media reports said Saturday.

The arrests were the first made by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, who took office last month after promising to bring the 1971 war criminals to justice.