Himu's Window

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/28/d70728020124.htm     Editorial Verdict against militancy Let no one doubt our resolve to fight it   The conviction of former minister Barrister Aminul Haque and 24 others to a long prison sentence is clearly a historic judgment. There are quite a few reasons why this verdict stands out as a judicial landmark. In the first place, it is a maiden conviction ever to be handed in a case of patronising militants. The number of convicts -- 25 to be exact, including the former minister -- is indicative of the magnitude of the crime committed. The fact, however, that 17 of them, inclusive of the ex-minister, are absconding, means that they have to be ferreted out and made to face justice. That they have been found guilty of promoting and supporting Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in their acts of extortion and torture of people in a court of law puts across some strong signals. It lends a robust credence to the widely ackno...

http://us.franceguide.com/edito.html?EditoId=91545   Masterpieces of Ganges delta. Collections from the Bangladesh museums     M usée des arts asiatiques Guimet Bangladesh possesses an immensely important cultural heritage, this arising from the fact that the eastern half of Bengal has been one of the cultural richest regions of the Indian world; a vision far from the catastrophic one that the western world often tends to favour. The region is associated with the art of the Pala and Sena dynasties (8th – 13th century). Archaeological study has however revealed vestiges that are more ancient like the Mahasthan site which stands on what used to be Pundravardhana, and goes back to the Maurya and Sunga periods (3rd – 1st century BC). It has also revealed vestiges from the Gupta period (4th – 6th century). Pundravardhana-Mahasthan is, to this ...

  http://thedailystar.net/2007/07/27/d7072701011.htm     JMB patron Aminul jailed 24 others also handed 31 years behind bars for helping militants   Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Former post and telecommunications minister barrister Aminul Haque and 24 others were yesterday sentenced to 31 years and six months' imprisonment in the first-ever judgment of a case for patronising Islamist militants. The convicts also include Rajshahi district BNP Secretary Shish Muhammad. The Second Additional Sessions Judge's Court, Rajshahi convicted them for aiding and abetting the militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in extorting and torturing people in Bagmara upazila of the district in 2004. The convicts were also fined Tk 25,000 each and in default they will have to suffer three years more in jail. Two accused union council chairmen--Besharatullah and Rafiqul Islam--were acquitted in the case. Judge Rezaul Islam delivered the judgment amid tight s...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/debate/letters/article2120659.ece   From The Times July 23, 2007 Bangladesh arrest Sir, Bangladesh, a strategic country of 150 million people, has a proud history of progress under secular democracy since its independence in 1971, punctuated by regrettable periods of regression under authoritarian military rule. We are therefore gravely concerned about the undignified arrest this week of the former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina. She was seized in the early hours of July 16 and imprisoned under emergency powers that appear to deny her basic legal rights, including legal representation. Sheikh Hasina returned voluntarily to her homeland in early May to answer accusations of extortion and murder laid against her, even though the Government sought actively to keep her in exile while transiting through London after a family visit to the US. There are widespread allegations that her arrest is poli...

    http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/24/d707240702104.htm     Ancient Bengal treasures finally being flown to Paris for display   Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Finally, the 24 rare ancient Bengal treasures of Barind Research Museum (BRM) under Rajshahi University (RU) are being flown to Paris for display at a museum there for 'a great global exposure' of Bangladesh. The priceless objects of historical interest will be flown in the first week of next month. A team from France's Guimet Museum are already in Bangladesh and it is due to visit BRM soon for packaging the treasures, said BRM Director Mohammad Zakaria. These are scheduled to be taken to Dhaka on August 1 and to be flown for Paris on August 4, he said. Some 120 objects selected from Bangladesh National Museum, Mahasthangarh, Paharpur and Mainamati Archeological Museum and BRM will be put on display at the mMuseum, said sources. France's famous Guimet Museum, dedicated to Asian arts,...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/23/d70723012214.htm   Aminul Haque, 3 other graft suspects submit wealth report Four more high-profile graft suspects including former telecommunications minister Aminul Haque and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's nephew Shahrin Islam Tuhin submitted wealth statements to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) through representatives yesterday. The other two are ex-communications secretary Ismail Zabiullah and former Awami League (AL) lawmaker from Jessore Ali Reza Raju. Barrister Aminul Haque, who stands accused of aiding and abetting the Islamic militants, turned in his statement through his lawyer Nazmul Alam. According to the statement, he owns a four-storey building on an eight-katha plot in Baridhara, a house on the outskirts of Rajshahi, a plot in Savar, and around 139 decimals of land in different other places. Aminul, his wife and daughters have Tk 30 lakh in 21 bank accounts. Besides, he has gold worth around Tk 1.6 lakh, T...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/24/d70724060184.htm   No chance of vote rigging in digitised voter list ECs say in Rajshahi The two election commissioners, who are visiting Rajshahi to see the preparations for the enumeration of the voter list with photographs, yesterday asked for cooperation of all in this regard. Election Commissioners Brig Gen (retd) Shakhawat Hossain and Sahul Hossain also said there would not be any chances of vote rigging after completion of the digitised voter list. In the morning, the election commissioners met with district level officials and newly appointed assistant registration officers at the conference room of Rajshahi deputy commissioner's office. Presided over by Deputy Commissioner Khalilur Rahman, the meeting was also attended by Col Taher of 11 Artillery Division, District Election Officer Sayed Mohammad Musa, senior army and police officials. They said there would be tight biometric security measures under the new voter e...

Shahjahan Mia     http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/24/d70724011915.htm   Extortion Case Ex-BNP MP in Kansat jailed for 5 years A Chapainawabganj court yesterday sentenced former BNP lawmaker Prof Shahjahan Mia and two others to five years imprisonment in a case filed in connection with extorting Tk 70,000. District and Sessions Judge of Chapainawabganj Hrishikesh Saha also fined them Tk 10,000 yesterday; if unpaid they would remain in prison six more months. The other two convicts are BNP president of Shibganj municipality unit Shafikul Islam and BNP adherent Aynal Haque. All of them were produced before the court during the delivery of the verdict yesterday. After the verdict, Shahjahan screamed out claiming he was innocent. He told his lawyers that he would appeal in higher court. One Panaullah filed the case with Shibganj Police Station on April 23 this year accusing the three of extortion. Panaullah in his complaint alleged that the accused...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/20/d7072001149.htm     60 get 84-yr in jail in Natore arms loot case A Natore court yesterday sentenced 60 people to 84 years imprisonment in two cases--Gurudaspur Police Station looting and murder of a cop during the incident--in Natore district in 1987. Additional Sessions Judge Jebunnesa pronounced the judgment in a packed courtroom. The judge also fined the convicts Tk 20,000 each in the cases, in default they are to suffer another two years in jail. Of the convicts, 46 were present in the court, six died during trial of the cases and the rest have been absconding. Those present in the dock during delivering of the judgment are Ansar Ali Jasim, Saiful Tota, Aziz, Yunus, Abu Sayeed, Abed, Hatem, Motalib, Shahjahan, Abdul, Lutfar, Jhantu, Majid, Jonika, Rois, Akram, Omar, Laddu, Yunus, Aktar, Manik, Idris, Ismail, Bankes, Salam, Mannan, Reaz, Khoda Bux, Rashid, Mukul, Salam, Golam Rabbani, Jalal, Mojibor Rahman, Altaf, ...

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9525315   Lock up your leading ladies Jul 19th 2007 From The Economist print edition http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9525315   A curious democratic roadmap IN MOST countries, ambitious generals and unelected governments have a poor track record of delivering democracy. But this is still the promise to Bangladesh made by the generals who assumed emergency powers in January and the pliable administration they installed. This week the election commission published a roadmap to parliamentary elections to be held before the end of 2008. But the government was silent on when the state of emergency will be lifted. The next day the government reminded people of one reason why their constitutional rights remain suspended. It stepped up its purge of corrupt politicians, officials and businessmen, more than 150 of whom have been arrested since the beginning of the year. The po...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/17/d7071701022.htm       Commentary This is no way to strengthen democracy Just as "command economy" failed, so will "command politics"   Mahfuz Anam The only reason that the caretaker government has survived six months in power, and the chief advisor acknowledges it every time an occasion arises, is because the general public think of it to be an instrument to strengthen democracy. But now if this very instrument of 'strengthening democracy' becomes a symbol of mindless and arbitrary use of power, then how will the public distinguish it from such previous abusers of power and continue to lend it support? As a newspaper which supported the reform process of this government, we raise the above question in all seriousness. For we think by arresting Sheikh Hasina on charges that can easily be tried without her internment, the government has put at risk all its achievements of the last six months. To us She...

  Prominent litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque yesterday termed the AL chief Sheikh Hasina's arrest as misfortune of the nation and said that establishment of democracy would be deferred at the move.   Besides, 131 RU teachers in a joint statement expressed their anxiety and demanded Hasina's release.   "There is no fortune for the nation in her arrest. It will create doubt (Bibhranti) among people", Prof Hasan, also a retired Philosophy professor of Rajshahi University (RU) said talking to a group of newsmen.   "There might be positive or negative impact (in the arrest), she (Hasina) should be judged by an elected government...the more the election is deferred in this way, the nation will be discouraged and democratisation will be delayed", he said.   The joint statement signatories include professors -- Abdus Sobhan, Mohammad Nurullah, Ananda Kumar Saha, Mahbubur Rahman, Fayekuzzaman, Moloy Bhoumik, Sujit Sarker, Dr Mizan Uddin, Moz...

Sweets were distributed at among shopkeepers and pedestrians in front of Rajshahi divisional police DIG's (deputy inspector general) office at Bheripara in the city to celebrate Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina'a arrest.   Witnesses said, three Rajshahi City Corporation employees – Rofik, Sadek and Abbas distributed three packets of sweets at around 11.30pm.   The three were distributing sweets and telling that these were gifts on behalf of local ward commissioner for Hasina's arrest as well as for Brazil won the Copa America finale, said a shopkeeper.   Rofik, Sadek and Abbas, talking to reporters present at the scene, said that they are employees of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) and other institutions.   They named Abul Hashem Hasim, commissioner of No. 5 ward of RCC to have employed them in the distribution.   When contacted at the ward commissioner's office, Hashim denied that he employed anyone to distribute sweets.   A f...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/09/d70709072893.htm     Fertiliser supply adequate in C'nawabganj, says admin There is adequate supply of fertiliaer in Nachole upazila and other areas of Chapainawabganj district and the law and order is normal as farmers are satisfied with the supply, the district administration said yesterday in a press release. The district administration and joint forces have taken joint steps to ensure smooth supply of fertiliser following the July 4 Nachole incident, it said. The press release said no case was filed against farmers. An FIR was recorded with the local police station to take action against the unidentified persons responsible for the incident. The administration is monitoring fertiliser distribution and order has been issued to all concerned not to harass farmers. The administration also urged people not to be worried about the fertiliser.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/09/d70709060267.htm     New fertiliser distribution system from next season Agriculture Adviser Dr C S Karim yesterday said the government is to introduce a new fertiliser distribution system from next season stretching the network to union level. " Fertiliser will be distributed directly from unions...and for transparency in fertiliser management, registers would be maintained at dealers' shops and farmers would be given cards," he said while addressing a meeting at the conference room of Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner in the afternoon. "Fresh dealers will be appointed from among the locals at union level so that a dealer can have both the opportunities, to serve his neighbours as well as to have business," he added. Dr Karim, also a nuclear scientist, informed that steps towards introducing the new system are already complete and necessary instructions were given after series of surveys and researches. He...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/09/d70709012416.htm     Attack on UNO Office Ministerial body visits Nachole A high-powered four-member ministerial committee last night went to Chapainawabganj from Dhaka to investigate the July 4 Nachole violence that left 10 persons including four government officials injured and government properties damaged. The committee, headed by Anwar Faruk, director general of seed wing under agriculture ministry, is to start investigations today. Two joint secretaries from the same ministry and an additional divisional commissioner of Rajshahi are also on the committee. Meanwhile, the three-member probe committee headed by Mustafizur Rahman, additional district magistrate of Chapainawabganj, submitted its report yesterday recommending punitive measurers against the Nachole Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) whose misconduct triggered the mob violence as well as the ones orchestrated the rampage from behind the scenes. In its repor...