Himu's Window

Trial of 3 JMB patrons: two witnesses quoted militants to have revealing their leaders     A Rajshahi trial court June 25 recorded depositions of two witnesses in the case for aiding and abetting the JMB militants against former BNP stalwarts Barrister Aminul Haq, Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu and Nadim Mostafa.   The witnesses -- plaintiff Ayub Ali Pramanik, a victim of brutalities by Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) militants at Bagmara and his neighbour Abbas Ali told the court that militants including Bangla Bhai mentioned the BNP lawmakers as their patrons during their operations.   They claimed, they saw Bangla Bhai, Jalil Amin, Murshid having talks and directions from the BNP bigwigs frequently over cell phones during torture and extortion of Ayub.   Ayub of Polashi village said, armed militants waylaid him near his home and started beating up on April 7 morning in 2004. They demanded Tk 1 lakh toll.   When de...

A Chapainawabganj trial court on June 20 sent former BNP lawmaker and villain of Kansat tragedy Shahjahan Mia and two other his cohorts to jail after they surrendered before it over an extortion case.   Two other accused in the extortion case, filed by one Panaullah on April 23 for extorting him of Tk 75,000, are – Aynal Haq and Shafikul Islam.   Tight security measurers were taken in and around the court sensing their surrender.   Shahjahn and his associates went to the court at around 11.30am and they were taken to jail after one hour.   The court directed the district jail authority to arrange Shahjahan's stay in jail in accordance with jail code when his lawyers appealed for his division.   The surrender occurred on the first day of beginning of the trial in the extortion case.   The district and sessions judge Hrishikesh Saha fixed the charge framing date as quickly as today, as trial of the case was included under the emer...

Ayub's case for abetting militants Charges framed against Aminul, Nadim and Dulu   Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi   A judge court on June 17 framed charges against 30 persons including former BNP minister Barrister Aminul Haq, ex-deputy minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu and ex-lawmaker Nadim Mostafa in the case for abetting JMB militants at Bagmara in Rajshahi.   Trial in the case, filed by torture-victim Ayub Ali Pramanik on April 1, will begin on June 24. The trial is to be completed within 45 days as the case was included for trial under the special power act of 2007.   The charges framed in absentia of Barrister Aminul and Nadim Mostafa (who were hiding since joint forces launched countrywide drive against corrupt politicians) and 14 other militants. They did not surrender despite repeated notices, court sources said.    Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu who surrendered on February 20 and 13 JMB accused militants were present on...

Militant suspect held for planting bombs at Ruet Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday held a militant suspect who confessed to planting seven powerful bombs at Ruet (Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology) in the name of Jadid Al Qaeda in last one month. He was identified as Abul Hossain Tutul, 24, son of Abdul Karim of Kajla area under Motihar Police Station in the city. Rab picked Tutul from his shop 'Messrs Karim Hardware' near the Ruet main gate. In Rab interrogation, Tutul confessed that he himself had planted all the seven bombs at Ruet in the name of Jadid Al Qaeda only to create panic among the locals. In a press release Rab said Tutul made the confession under 'extensive' interrogation which is still on to find out his links with Jadid Al Qaeda or Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh. Talking to The Daily Star, Rajshahi Rab Director Lt Col Shamsuzzaman Khan said, "It is difficult to believe that Tutul manufactured and planted the pow...

Prof Taher murder: Salehi among 6 others charged Mon, 18 Jun 2007, 13:04:00   Six persons, including Shibir leader Salehi and Rajshahi University teacher Dr Mohiuddin, have been charged with the murder of Professor S Taher Ahmed. Judge of the Public Safety Disruption Prevention Tribunal Jahangir Alam Mollah passed the orders indicting them after arguments submitted by defense lawyers. Deposition by witnesses in the sensational case of killing the RU teacher will begin on July 3. Prof Taher, a teacher of Geology and Mining department of the university, was killed on February 3,2005. His body was dumped in the manhole behind his Rajshahi University campus residence.   After the recovery of his decomposed body, police arrested caretaker of the house Jahangir and his relative Nazmul as suspects.   Police said they named the names of Dr Mohiuddin, also a teacher of the Geology and Mining department, and president of the RU unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir Mahb...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/15/d70615061782.htm     Rajshahi BNP leader Altaf arrested Police arrested Rajshahi BNP Vice President Altaf Hossain, a close associate of detained Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, from Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in the city yesterday. Altaf was arrested by Boalia police at around 1:00pm under section 16 (2) of the emergency ordinance. Police said Altaf was the 22nd among the listed criminals of the city, an accused in 3 cases and 4 general diaries lodged with Boalia Police Station, including shooting present District BNP President Azizur Rahman during a meeting in 2005. A prayer seeking one-month detention against him was sent to concerned authorities, said the police. Sources said Altaf raked in huge wealth since he was close to Minu over the last 10 years, despite the fact that he was only a vegetable seller at Shaheb Bazar. He amassed a huge amount of money after he was made a member of Rajshahi Development Authority's gov...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/15/d70615012313.htm     Bomb planted by Jadid found in Rajshahi True to their earlier declaration, the newly emerged Jadid Al Qaeda yesterday planted another powerful bomb on the campus of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) evading tight security. After a tip-off, Motihar police rushed to the campus and recovered the bomb planted in front of the Ruet main gate. Later, bomb experts of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) defused it. RMP bomb expert Alamgir Hossain said the recovered bomb was similar to five others found earlier on the campus. The first bomb was found on May 22. On the next day, police recovered a sawed off rifle and a bomb from Students' Union Office of Shaheed Selim Hall. On May 24, police recovered two more bombs and found an aluminium sheet carrying a message that Jadid Al Qaeda would plant a total of six bombs on the Ruet campus. On June 2, the joint forces found another bomb a...

Former BNP lawmaker Nadim Mostafa and his wife Nurun Nahar Parul were sued at a Natore court yesterday for misappropriation of Tk 10.5 lakh and issuing fake bank cheque.   A brick-kiln owner Ali Hossain in Natore lodged the case with first court of first class magistrate Arif Pasha.   The magistrate asked Natore Sadar police to investigate into the matter.   Ali Hossain alleged that Nadim Mostafa, also a contractor bought bricks worth Tk 12.5 lakh from him in 2004 and 2005 on plea that he was awarded with a work in the town.   Mostafa paid him off Tk 2 lakh, but he was harassing Ali for a long time.   Following insistence, Mostafa gave Ali a Basic Bank cheque paying off Tk 5 lakh and the cheque was dishonoured.   On March 17 last, Mostafa denied again to pay off fully, Ali alleged.   Nadim Mostafa, accused in two case for patronising militants and several other extortion cases was enjoying anticipatory bail, said police...

Detained ex-BNP deputy minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu surprisingly enjoyed mobile phone facility and rare chances to exchange views with fellow men in Natore while he was being taken to Rajshahi from Dhaka central Jail on Monday night.   Natore police lodged a case against 25 to 30 unnamed BNP activists for illegally meeting Dulu and chanting slogans violating emergency rules.   But, Rajshahi police who are responsible for Dulu's transportation expressed their ignorance.   Dulu was taken to Rajshahi by a microbus. It was for the first time he was taken to Natore since he was surrendered in Dhaka on February 20.   During his travel, Dulu's vehicle was stopped thrice in Natore town and he stayed there for over 10 minutes.   Dulu who was surrounded by a Havildar and four constables were seen using a mobile phone inside the vehicle, said witnesses and police.   His vehicle, hired by Rajshahi police entered into the town, d...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/11/d70611011610.htm     Mayor Minu freed on bail Rajshahi Mayor and ex-BNP lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Minu was freed yesterday afternoon after the district and sessions judge granted him bail. Minu along with two other BNP leaders were sent to jail on Wednesday in connection with an extortion case. The two others-- Nazrul Huda, vice-president of Rajshahi district BNP, and Shafikul Haque Milon, former general secretary of Rajshahi city BNP-- were also freed at the same time. Minu with his wife Salma Shahadat left the jail premises on one of his friend's private car at around 5:45pm. Minu's elder brothers Hafizur Rahman Laki and Kashem Rizvi Ganu, ward commissioners including Mohammad Masud, Anjumand Ara and Rozi Parvin were present at the jail gate. But the mayor did not talk with a...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/11/d70611012517.htm   IGP talks tough against corrupt policemen Inspector General of Police (IGP) Noor Mohammad yesterday sought cooperation from the people in developing good policing and urged them to be watchful of police activities. "Protest instantly or inform us if you see any policeman doing anything wrong or unfair... Speak up loud against anything bad they do... Today's problem was created due to keeping mum over the years," he said while addressing a meeting with civil society members at Rajshahi deputy inspector general's conference room. "A corrupt policeman, whatever position he may hold, will lose his job and land in jail and such elements cannot save themselves from the punishment by lobbying," the IGP said. "We want to get rid of the 100-year-old coloni...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/10/d70610011611.htm     Patronising Militants Sedition case against Minu kept waiting A sedition complaint against Mizanur Rahman Minu, detained Rajshahi city mayor, for patronising militants still hangs in the balance even after two months as police authorities await home ministry's approval for it to be accepted as a case. On April 8, advocate Moazzem Hossain from Mollahpara, Rajshahi lodged the complaint with Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi against four people including Rajshahi city mayor and former BNP lawmaker Minu, former telecommunications minister barrister Aminul Huq, former Rajshahi deputy commissioner (DC) Aziz Hasan and then Rajshahi superintendent of police (SP) Masud Miah (dismissed in 2006). The complainant accused the four of taking part in subversive activities as well as...

  http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/10/d70610013021.htm   Derailment of goods train disrupts rail communication Rail communication of northern region with other parts of the country has disrupted since Friday night after a goods train derailed at Ahsanganj in Naogaon. The locomotive and seven other loaded wagons slipped the track at around 11:20pm when the Shantahar-bound train was entering the Ahsanganj Rail Station. The accident occurred as the driver fell asleep and the train ran ignoring signals to stop outside the station, said Akhtaruzzaman, chief operations superintendent of western railway. Two relief trains and cranes from Pakshey and Lalmonirhat stations started rescue operation at about 4:45am yesterday and four derailed wagons have been pulled off as of 4:00pm, railway officials said. The rescue operation was greatly hampered following torrential rain in the afternoon. Besides, the heavy wagons, each weighing over 90 tons, also added to the re...

A Rajshahi metropolitan magistrate (MM) court yesterday sent former BNP lawmaker and Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu and two other local BNP leaders to jail after they surrendered before it following a High Court order over an extortion case.   Two other accused are – Rajshahi district BNP vice president Nazrul Huda and former city BNP general secretary Shafikul Haque Milon.   The court of first class metropolitan magistrate Jonendranath Sarkar also rejected their bail petitions at around 12pm in the extortion case filed by one Shamsul Islam Khan with Rajpara police station in the city.   The court directed Rajshahi Central Jail authority to arrange Minu's stay in jail in accordance with jail code when his lawyers appealed for his division.   Tight security measurers were taken in and around the court sensing Minu's surrender.   Listed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as one of the corrupt people, Minu h...

HC stayed Rajshahi public safety tribunal order favouring Galib   The high court (HC) yesterday stayed for three months the Rajshahi court order that asked an organisation named Tawhid Trust to hand over its 5-storied building at Kajla in the city to the detained militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib.   HC bench comprising of justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Ashfakul Islam passed the rule, said the defense lawyers' certified statement faxed to Rajshahi last evening.   The HC bench also called for case documents from Rajshahi court after Tawhid Trust authority appealed to the bench challenging the cower court order.   Lawyers Hasan Feroj Siddik and Fazle Rabbi pleaded the case for the petitioners.   The petitioners Tawhid Trust chairman Abdus Salam, secretary general (SG) SM Mahmud Alam, assistant SG Rezaul Karim and their lawyers condemned the tribunal judgment to be 'unilateral and biased'.   Zahangir Alam Mollah, judge of...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/04/d7060401096.htm   Controversial NGO RIHS shut down Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Bangladesh chapter of giant Kuwait-based NGO Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) is still running its offices and covertly continuing activities through some other NGOs, despite cancellation of its registration around one month ago. The RIHS, also known as Jamiatul Ehya-ut Turaj, played highly suspected roles by supplying funds to Islamist militants in the country, reliable sources said. The NGO Affairs Bureau in an official letter on May 6 informed RIHS of the government decision of cancelling its registration. Meanwhile, RIHS has appealed to the NGO Affairs Bureau for reconsidering cancellation of its registration. It also intends to hand over one of its landed properties to an organisation named Mesbah Foundation. RIHS has landed properties in Rajshahi, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Dhaka and elsewhere. The government in 2004 banned suspected Al Qaeda don...