Himu's Window

Barrister Aminul Haque The action against patrons and godfathers of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh is to start soon. The executions of Six top Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) militants on late Thursday marked the end of the country's firt overtly run militancy campaign that rattled the nation through a series of blasts and suicide bombings in 2005. The axe now turns to its patrons. Ex-BNP post and tele-communication minister Barrister Aminul Haque and Rajshahi district BNP general secretary Shis Mohammad were sued at Bagmara police station in Rajshahi on Friday night for patronising Siddikul Ialam Bangla Bhai’s Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) in 2004. They who were earlier named by Bangla Bhai as patrons of Jama’atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh were alleged in the case for masterminding JMJB operations in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Natore in 2004 and patronising militants. Other 26 militants were also accused in the case that was filed by JMJ

Police arrested two other top JMB members and associates of Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai from Bagmara upazila yesterday. They are – Mobarak Ali, 40 of Goalkandi and Mohammad Ali, 42, Konabaria in Bagmara upazila. They were held at around 12pm. With them, a total of 20 Bangla Bhai’s associates were held in recent crackdown. Officer-in-charge of Bagmara police station Mirza Glam Sarwar PPM said, they were arrested following a tip off that movement of militants was increased after hanging of top JMB leaders. He informed, the two were also accused in three cases of Mukul murder, attempt to murder Sripur union chairman Makbul Hossain Mridha and police assault of Bhawaniganj. Mobarak and Mohammad were hiding since Bangla Bhai went underground from so-called Bagmara operations in 2004. End/

Crowd started flocking in at Kornipara in Gabtali upazila of Bogra as the Rapid Action Battalion members took body of Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai at his home in the morning. Iftekhar Hasan Mamun's family members are lamenting as relatives and neighbours gathered to see what a fate Mamun chose for establishing Islam in an anti-Islamic way... Mamun Bodies of Shayakh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam, popularly known as Bangla Bhai, Rahman's brother Ataur Rahman Sunny, son-in-law Abdul Awal, and other Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh cohorts -- Khaled Saifullah, Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun were hanged midnight last. Their bodies were also buried at their respective village homes. Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai was laid down in Kornipara in Bogra. Body of JMB Majlish-e Sura member Abdul Awal was handed over to his brother Abdul Mannan at around 5.30am at Kaliganj of Shingra upazila in Natore district. He was son-in-law of JMB chief Shayakh Abdur Rahman. His namaj-e Janaja was held at

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi A decision of Rajshahi University (RU) to send 24 rare Bengal treasures from Barendra Research Museum (BRM) to Paris for a 'great global exposure' drew criticism from different quarters. Advocate Ankur Sen served a legal notice on RU authorities yesterday demanding cancellation of the decision within seven days. Sen pleaded that sending the rare treasures of BRM, one of the oldest research museums in the sub-continent, would hamper research work. It will be an irreparable loss to the nation's heritage if those are lost or not returned, it said. A group of 326 RU teachers on Sunday submitted a memorandum to RU Vice-chancellor to press the same demand. The precious archeological assets might not be returned they apprehended in the memorandum. The BRM is run by Rajshahi University. Signatories to the memorandum included senior professors like Muhammad Shafi, Shafikunnabi Samadi, Abdus Sobhan, Mizan Uddin, Dr AHM Zehadul Karim, Moloy Kumer Bhoumik and Faku

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members held two other top aides of Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai, operations commander of Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) from Raspur village in Dhamuirhat upazila of Naogaon district yesterday. Mustafizur Rahman also known as Rana and killer Mostaque, 26, son of Abdul Jalil of Palashi village and Abdul Kuddus alias Masud, 24, son of Abdus Samad of Kathalbaria in Bagmara upazila were arrested following an intelligence tip off. A Rab press release said, both of them were personal aides of Bangla Bhai and they took part in all Bangla Bhai’s dreaded operations during his ‘jungle rule’ in the North West in 2004. They were arrested twice before, but released later. With their arrests, a total of 20 Jama’atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh cadres of Bagmara upazila were held during ongoing crackdown against criminals. Officer-in-charge of Bagmara thana Mirza Golam Sarwar PPM said, Mostaque was accused in 7 cases, including 3 murder cas

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Adibashi Kabya Shilpa Niketon (AKaShiNi) observed the 4th aboriginal poetry festival amid due enthusiasm and fervour at Barshapara Adibashi Gana Pathshala premises on Monday. Prominent dance master Bazlar Rahman Badal inaugurated the festival and elderly aborigine representative Jatha Tudu presided over the inaugural session. Literature Fazlul Haq, architect Raziuddin Ahmad, artist Ashfakul Asekin, Lokas Sawria and Sukhen Mukhapadhya attended the function. National Aboriginal Council secretary Rabindranath Saren told that the festival was being organised for last four yeas for upholding the neglected but old literature, culture and, above all, languages of aborigines. Prof Habibullah, Rubina Anis, Selina Zaman, Husne Ara Chobi, Shamim Hossain John Kisku, Sarmina Tudu, Bharati Murmu, Shanti Hembrom and some others recited from poems in both Bengali and Adibashi languages. Aborigine poet John Kisku opened the cover of ‘Barendra Prantore Basanta’, a book of a

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Thousands of Santal aborigines of Rajshahi and surrounding areas became enthusiastic in festivals drawing attention to their old and rich culture. Three-day Baha (flower) festival began at remote Sundorpur village of Kakonhat in Godagari upazila on Tuesday. A day before two-day Karam festival ended in Godagari upazila. They took ‘My Culture My Identity’ as main slogan to give new dimensions to the festivals and demanded ensuring fundamental rights of living, education and land. Eminent literature Prof Hasan Azizul Haque formally inaugurated Baha festival of welcoming Santal New Year in evening as chief guest. In his speech, he called upon aborigines to struggle for safeguarding their own culture and heritage. “There are close relations between Bangali and Adibashi cultures. But economic freedom is essential for enjoying same status” Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University and Prof Moloy Kumar Bhoumik of Rajshahi University attended as special guests. Santal Pargana le

Anxious at recent actions against illegal luxury vehicles and wealth, Rajshahi Mayor and former BNP lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Minu paid off about Tk 9.36 lakh taxes last week to legalise his landed properties and costly vehicle bought at total Tk 86 lakh from obscure sources of income. He bought a 5-katha plot in Banani of Dhaka, a luxury Toyota Lexus vehicle and a piece of one-katha land in the city’s Ranibazar area worth total Tk 86,53,000 during the end of his government’s tenure in 2006, said his lawyer Mozaharul Haq Bakul. Minu paid off Tk 5.34 lakh through two separate drafts of Janata Bank, Rajshahi Ranibazar branch to deputy income tax commissioner of Rajshahi circle-2 for importing a luxury Japanese Toyota Lexus vehicle worth Tk 36 lakh on March 1. The same day, he paid off Tk 2650 for a piece of one Katha land in Rajshahi city. And on February 22, Minu paid off Tk 3, 99, 100 through a Markentile Bank draft for buying 5-katha plot in Bonani of Dhaka worth Tk 50 lakh. But the tax

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital is virtually sealed off for journalists even for treatments and policemen were deployed at all entrances enact the provision drawing flak from media persons. Last night a number of newsmen decided in a meeting at local Sonali Sangbad office to meet and complain with the health advisor who is scheduled to visit RMCH today noon. They are to show black flags to the RMCH director brigadier general Bazle Kader. “The RMCH move was taken to restrain journalists who started covering irregularities and mismanagement at the government hospital”, said Hasan Millat, president of Rajshahi Union of Journalists. Metropolitan Press Club secretary Anisuzzaman said, “We demand immediate withdrawal of the prohibition, or removal of RMCH director as none have right to seize people’s right to know especially when he lives on public taxes”. On Sunday night, Janakantha photojournalist Selim Jahangir was barred at the hospital emergency gate and was told, ‘journalists will no

Even professional thieves are now showing reluctance to abandoned Corrugated Iron (CI) sheets of the government relief fund in Rajshahi. Sources in police of Boalia police station (PS) said, a BNP office was constructed with 16 pieces of relief CI sheets at Zamalpur in the city as many other BNP offices were erected under influence of former ruling party stalwarts. Sensing danger from countrywide crackdown against looted away relief goods, BNP workers in Zamalpur abandoned their office, took away walls made up of bamboo and straws, but left the CI sheets few weeks ago. The CI sheets remained untouched despite these were abandoned under open sky. “Professional thieves did not also touch these abandoned relief goods, let alone any common people”, commented a police official as police was taking these CI sheets following recovery on locals’ information. However, no cases were lodged with Boalia PS in this regard till filing of this report. End/