Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.
Articles by Joydeep Thakur
More politicians likely to join BJP during Amit Shah’s 2-day visit to Bengal
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, in a rally earlier this week, had sent a strong message to rebels within the party and had said that some leaders who had amassed huge wealth are now rushing to join the BJP to hide their money
Published on Jan 29, 2021 09:10 AM IST
Eye on polls, TMC forms separate cells for SC, ST and OBCs
The party had only such unit but that too remained virtually defunct till it thought of reviving it after the Lok Sabha elections; the BJP already has separate units for these communities
Updated on Jan 27, 2021 10:08 AM IST
Meet Biren Kumar Basak, from selling sarees to winning Padma Shri
Some of his clients are chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Sourav Ganguly, noted classical musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, among others.
Published on Jan 26, 2021 04:59 PM IST
Cases drop, Bengal’s Covid Warrior Club faces uncertain future
Nineteen-year-old Alamgir Sheikh, a Covid-19 survivor himself, was once a proud member of the West Bengal government’s Covid Warrior Club
Published on Jan 26, 2021 10:32 AM IST
Kolkata: GI-tagged Joynagar Moa to be delivered at your doorstep
Even though the markets of Bengal are flooded with the sweetmeat around this time of the year and almost every neighbourhood shop claims to sell the Joynagar Moa, the authenticity of the product is questionable
Published on Jan 25, 2021 11:41 AM IST
West Bengal’s winter delicacy exported for the first time since 1904
Joynagar moa obtained the GI tag in 2014 and only around 25 manufacturers from Joynagar block in South 24 Parganas district, are authorised to prepare the product
Updated on Jan 20, 2021 10:14 AM IST
Covid-19: Mamata administration questions Centre’s vaccination data
A senior official of the West Bengal government said on Saturday that that the state had set a target to vaccinate 20,700 health workers on the first day.
Published on Jan 17, 2021 03:15 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Hindustan Times, Kolkata
Vaccination hits a hurdle in Bengal as Co-WIN app develops glitches on 1st day
The app was not opening. We had to log in and log out several times. It was also too slow, said an official.
Published on Jan 16, 2021 03:16 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Kolkata
TMC’s to send crack team to secure Matua votes ahead of Shah’s Bengal visit
For the Matua community, permanent citizenship is a longstanding demand.
Updated on Jan 15, 2021 09:43 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata
Ganga Sagar Mela begins on Makar Sankranti in West Bengal
Officials said around 780,000 pilgrims had reached the island a day before Makar Sankranti on Wednesday; last year, 1.5 million pilgrims had reached by this time for the Mela
Published on Jan 14, 2021 12:18 PM IST
Calcutta HC to decide today whether Ganga Sagar Mela can be held
A division bench of Chief Justice TB Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee directed the state’s chief secretary on Friday to file an affidavit on Tuesday on the measures for the dip in view of the Covid-19 pandemic
Published on Jan 13, 2021 09:52 AM IST
Sourav Ganguly fit enough to fly plane, run marathon, his heart is strong: Dr Devi Shetty
Ganguly was rushed to the hospital on Saturday after he complained of chest pain while working out at a gym. He underwent angioplasty after three tiny blockages were detected in his coronary artery
Updated on Jan 05, 2021 04:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
Villagers turn 3 barren hillocks into dense forest in Bengal’s Purulia, wild animals make it their home
It was around 1998 that the villagers decided to restore the greenery of the area with the hope that it would put an end to the drudgery. They approached a NGO, Tagore Society for Rural Development (TSRD), which was already engaged in greening projects in the area and in Jharkhand.
Updated on Jan 03, 2021 01:22 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
TMC suffers setback after more leaders switch sides
Earlier this week, Suvendu Adhikari had hinted at a BJP rally that all his family members would be joining the saffron party soon. Three days later, his brother Soumendu joined the BJP at a rally addressed by Suvendu at Kanthi in East Midnapore. Earlier, Soumendu was removed as the civic board chief by the TMC.
Updated on Jan 02, 2021 05:21 AM IST
Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
New Covid-19 strain detected in Kolkata man after return from the UK
The Kolkata resident was among 222 passengers, who arrived on December 20 in the city on the last flight from London before the government suspended flights from the UK
Published on Dec 30, 2020 01:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
20 passengers from UK test positive for Covid-19, states begin contact tracing
At least two people tested positive for Covid-19 in Kolkata after returning from UK. Seven passengers and a crew member who arrived from the UK in an Air India flight tested positive for Covid-19 in Punjab.
Updated on Dec 22, 2020 09:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata/Chennai | Joydeep Thakur and Divya Chandrababu
2 test positive for Covid-19 in Kolkata after arriving from London
The official said that samples of the infected persons were being analysed by experts to ascertain whether it is the new Covid-19 strain that is believed to spread the infection faster.
Updated on Dec 22, 2020 02:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur | Edited by Sohini Sarkar
BJP’s Babul Supriyo says entry shouldn’t be open to all
“What my top bosses decide is a different thing but I will try my very best with all my might & honesty to ensure that NO #TMC leader who tormented, tortured (both physically & mentally) my grass root level BJP colleagues in Asansol, don’t get an entry in BJP,” union minister Babul Supriyo said in a social media post, without naming anyone.
Updated on Dec 19, 2020 08:19 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
Switching sides: ‘History is repeating itself in West Bengal,’ says opposition
On Wednesday, Banerjee had alleged that the BJP was calling up veteran leaders of her party, including the TMC’s state president, in a bid to break the party. The BJP has refuted the charges.
Updated on Dec 17, 2020 08:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur | Edited by Sparshita Saxena
Government frees up hospital beds as Covid-19 cases drop in West Bengal
While the number of active cases was 31,984 on October 15, it dropped to 29,314 on November 15. On December 14, it was at 21,384
Updated on Dec 15, 2020 07:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
BJP sets up separate cells to tap target groups ahead of Bengal polls
Central leaders, including Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda, among others, who would be camping in the state in the run-up to the elections, would meet the members of these groups
Updated on Dec 14, 2020 11:31 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
CM Mamata Banerjee concerned as Bengal govt’s potato, onion stocks deplete
In February this year, the state government had planned to purchase around one million tons of potato from farmers. The government could, however, purchase only around 42,000 tons of potato before the lockdown started.
Updated on Nov 27, 2020 11:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
Bengal assembly elections around corner, TMC desperate to brand BJP as outsider
The BJP, however, has hit back saying that the chief minister’s statements indicate she has taken for granted that West Bengal has turned into West Bangladesh, where people need to produce documents to enter the state
Updated on Nov 25, 2020 11:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
TMC desperately trying to fix chinks in armour but new ones continue to show up
Infighting in the Trinamool Congress has seemingly increased with veteran leaders attacking each other.
Published on Nov 25, 2020 10:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
Amit Shah, JP Nadda to visit Bengal almost every month
“Amit Shah and JP Nadda are expected to visit the state separately every month for at least two days till the assembly elections are over. The dates are yet to be finalised” West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.
Updated on Nov 19, 2020 07:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
Leave no booth unattended: BJP’s Bengal polls strategy aims to replicate 2019 formula
BJP hopes to clinch at least 200 of the 294 Assembly seats in Bengal in the upcoming state polls.
Updated on Nov 17, 2020 10:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
After Bihar, it is now focus Bengal and Tamil Nadu for the BJP
Preparations are afoot in these states with home minister Amit Shah visiting West Bengal earlier this month and planning a trip to Tamil Nadu on Saturday (November 21) to take stock of the party’s preparedness.
Updated on Nov 17, 2020 07:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata/Chennai | Joydeep Thakur and Divya Chandrababu
High-tension wires along elephant corridors in Bengal to be insulated
According to forest department data, at least 47 elephants have been electrocuted in West Bengal till date since 2015.
Updated on Nov 13, 2020 12:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, promises to free political prisoners do the rounds
This time, the promise to release political prisoners was made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has emerged as the primary challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government
Updated on Nov 09, 2020 03:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur
Day after Amit Shah’s visit to Bengal, TMC, BJP taunt each other
The TMC questioned the credentials of Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, who is te esecretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India while the BJP targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
Published on Nov 07, 2020 10:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Kolkata | Joydeep Thakur