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Grand Alliance 263      Four-party Alliance 31  Awami League 230                     BNP 29 Total Constituencies: 300 Election held: 299 Results Announced: 298 Noakhali-3 poll witheld Majority Factor: 151 Rajshahi Division: Total 72 AL 48 J P 14 BNP 8 WP 1 Independent 1 Source: Bangladesh Election Commission website Rajshahi District Grand Alliance Candidates Omar Faruk Chowdhury, Fazle Hossain Badsha, Miraj Uddin Mollah, Enamul Haque, Kazi Abdul Wadud Dara and Shahriar Alam at all Rajshahi constituencies are unofficially declared elected. Vote Centers -Constituency-    Grand Alliance Four-party Alliance Gap 127/127 Rajshahi-1 1,46,785 1,29,450 17,335 79/79 Rajshahi-2 1,16,599 89,050 27,549 102/102 Rajshahi-3 1,42,487 93,649 48,838 67/67 Rajshahi-4 1,07,751 ...

All the six grand alliance candidates in Rajshahi constituencies were unofficially declared elected with high turnout of voters in yesterday's historic 9th parliamentary elections. Shefaul Karim, returning officer and deputy commissioner of Rajshahi, started announcing the final results at around 12:00am. In Rajshahi-1, Awami League's district unit General Secretary Omar Faruk Chowdhury left behind his nearest rival BNP's newcomer Enamul Haque, former IGP by a margin of 17,327 votes. Faruk bagged 1,46,777 votes while Enamul got 1,29,450 votes. Worker's Party's politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha was declared the winner of Rajshahi-2 constituency at around 12:00am. Badsha beat the four-party alliance's Mizanur Rahman Minu by 27,549 votes. Badsha bagged 1,16,599 votes, while Minu got 89,050. Awami League's new face Miraj Uddin Mollah of Rajshahi-3 beat BNP's former lawmaker Kabir Hossain by 48,838 votes. He secured 1,42,487 votes, while Kabir bagged 93,6...

Rajshahi Division BNP candidates in a number of constituencies in Rajshahi division are unlikely to achieve any gains despite support of its key alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami due to widening rift and anti-Jamaat sentiment in BNP. Moreover, the vote tally of past elections and the raising demands for resisting war criminals suggest that Jamaat candidates in at least a dozen constituencies, out of total 18 seats where Jamaat-e-Islami has its nominees in the northern region, are likely to see their grand alliance contestants to be stronger.  In three constituencies Chapainwabganj-3, Rajshahi-3 and Sirajganj-4, Jamaat rebellion may pave the way for grand alliance candidates who are also plagued by Awami League candidates' rebellion at some five constituencies Dinajpur-6, Nilphamari-4, Rangpur-4, 5 and Kurigram 4. Strong battle is expected between grand alliance and Jamaat nominees at Pabna-1 and 5 constituencies. Taking advantage of the situations, grand alliance candidates are expe...

Six Rajshahi Seats Fates of five senior politicians in Rajshahi have become topic of lively discussion as 28 candidates are contesting with clear signs for major fight between candidates from Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance and BNP-led four-party alliance in six constituencies in the district. The senior politicians are Mizanur Rahman Minu, Kabir Hossain, Azizur Rahman of BNP, Fazle Hossain Badsha of Workers Party and Sardar Amjad Hossain of Awami League. As elsewhere in the country, voting will continue non-stop from 8:00am to 4:00pm at 3921 booths of 551 polling centres in Rajshahi city and nine upazilas of the district that has 15,70,798 voters including 7,70,552 male and 8,00,246 female. Four-party alliance won all the seats in Rajshahi district in 2001 election. In Rajshahi-1, AL candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury will take on BNP's newcomer Enamul Haque, a former law commission member and former inspector general of police. In 2001 election, BNP's barrister Aminul Haque,...

Apart from his rift with party leaders and corruption charges, BNP candidate Mizanur Rahman Minu at Rajshahi-2 constituency is facing criticisms from his own party-men as well as his opponents for his affinity to alliance partner Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. To cover his Jamaat loyalty, Minu's followers circulated leaflets identifying his rival grand alliance's Fazle Hossain Badsha as the godfather of underground operatives. “For his pro-Jamaat attitude, he (Minu) lost trust of maximum party leaders a long ago. Now, he has no way but the support of Jamaat”, said a BNP leader seeking anonymity. His electoral rival grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha has talked about Minu's pro-Jamaat attitude and his role behind militancy quite louder than corruption charges during electoral campaigns.  Ignoring those campaigning, Minu said it would not hurt his popularity. “People are aware that it was during our (BNP-Jamaat) rule when militants were arrested and tried”. National h...

In Rajshahi-3 constituency, Jamaat-e Islami candidate Ataur Rahman and his supporters made frantic efforts in their election campaigns to prove that his rival BNP candidate Kabir Hossain is an unfit candidate, and on the last day of the campaign on Saturday, some Jamaat-Shibir activists circulated a rumour that Kabir has passed away. Protesting the Jamaat propaganda, Kabir yesterday gave a statement to local media that he is still alive and was engaged in election activities till the end of official period of campaign. He also submitted a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission claiming that it is a violation of electoral code of conduct. Kabir said a Rajshahi University teacher belonging to Jamaat at a mosque at Shyampur of Katakhali municipal area circulated the rumour of his death. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=69182

Bid to befool Rajshahi voters, civil society men say BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates during election campaigns in Rajshahi constituencies have given a 'false version' of the dreadful rise of so-called Islamist militancy in the country to befool voters, civil society members alleged.Jamaat candidates once again brushed aside the dreadful events, saying thees are no more. BNP candidates claimed that the four-party alliance government did not abet militancy, rather it brought militants under justice.They said, the problem of militancy is no more now. Their election campaigns ended yesterday midnight.BNP candidate Mizanur Rahman Minu in Rajshahi-2 constituency in an interview with a local newspaper in Rajshahi termed the allegation of his abetting militancy as 'pre-planned' to tarnish his image. “During alliance rule, we brought militants under law, took them to court, and did not help them. BNP is a liberal party where there is no shelter for militants and extremists. W...

Last-minute Campaign In Rajshahi Rajshahi city and nine upazilas under six constituencies were rocking with last-minute hectic campaign of the candidates yesterday who are competing the general elections tomorrow.The candidates made door-to-door visits since early morning, while their supporters brought out a number of processions and held rallies throughout the day making a carnival atmosphere everywhere.The runners as well as electorates hoped for peaceful holding of the elections, although some of them expressed suspicions of sabotage and some expressed a strong a preference for 'no' vote.The administration, however, has taken a three-tier security measure so that people can vote for their competent candidates in a peaceful atmosphere.In the district, the main focus will be on Rajshahi-2 constituency where grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha will take on former BNP lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Minu.Talking to newsmen, Minu said, “The role this government is playing agai...

In Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohonpur) constituency, grand alliance candidate Miraj Uddin Mollah is in a better position than the candidates of four-party alliance belonging to BNP and Jamaat-e Islami who are locked in internal feuds. Former BNP lawmaker Kabir Hossain is fighting here with the symbol of paddy sheaf against Rajshahi city Jamaat Ameer Ataur Rahman with scale symbol. Voters said Miraj has intensified his campaign as his chances of winning the seat has become brighter amid fighting between Kabir and Ataur. While addressing several election meetings, supporters of Kabir, also liberation war affairs secretary of central BNP, have called for resisting Jamaat candidate at any cost.On the other hand, Jamaat leaders at their election meetings are criticising Kabir as 'unfit' candidate as he is physically ill with parts of his body are already paralysed.Kabir, a senior politician of local BNP, is a 'victim of Jamaat politics' to capture the BNP stronghold of Rajshahi, said...

Clockwise: Abdul Jalil, Fazle Hossain Badsha, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Abdul Wadud, Enamul Haque, Fazlur Rahman Patal and Sardar Amjad Hossain. Intra-party rivalry over nomination among Awami League (AL) leaders and lack of AL leaders' cooperation to grand alliance nominees from Workers' Party (WP) and Jatiya Party (JP) may shatter the alliance's hope in constituencies in greater Rajshahi region.The grand alliance could expect easy win in most seats in the region, considered to be stronghold of BNP, as the party remained in disarray due to anti-crime and anti-corruption drives after 1/11, bad reputation of several BNP leaders for abetting militancy, Kansat tragedy and absence of a few vital leaders in the area.Electoral rivalry between four-party alliance partners BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in a few constituencies could also act in favour of the grand alliance. In previous elections AL candidates in the region had lagged behind by huge margins with four-party alliance winners.With...

Published On: 2008-12-23 Awami League candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi-1 constituency yesterday expressed concern over security of grand alliance candidates following an attack on him during campaign on the previous night.At a press conference at his house in the city, Omar Faruk said the attack was an attempt to kill him. He demanded his security or return of his legal firearm.Rajshahi mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton who was present at the press conference apprehended that political godfathers of terrorists might have masterminded the attack fearing their defeat in the upcoming election.Omar Faruk came under the attack at Buraburi crossing under Pachondor union in Tanore upazila at around midnight Saturday night while he was returning after campaign in Mundumala municipal area.The terrorists barricaded his road by placing a tree and with two trucks and two microbuses. As his jeep stopped yards away, the terrorists swooped on his vehicle hitting it with sticks, Omar Faruk told t...

Mir Abdul Quayyum Pakistani occupation forces with their local collaborators masterminded the systematic elimination of our intellectuals. Beginning on March 25, the massacre continued till the surrender of the Pakistani army on December 16. The long list of our martyred intellectuals includes three from Rajshahi University (RU). Prof Mir Abdul Quayyum is one of them. He was a teacher of the Psychology Department. Born on July 6, 1939 at Ghagra village of Gafargaon in Mymensingh, he graduated from RU in 1962. Working as a research assistant and demonstrator for two years, he later joined the psychology department as a lecturer. During his days on the campus as both student and teacher, Quayyum was known for his free and secular thinking. He did not hesitate to speak of independence even when it could pose a grave risk. The fateful night came on November 25. Quayyum had left his own house at Malopara and was staying at his father-in-law's house at Ghoramara. His wife Mastura Khana...

Election fever has gripped the divisional city and all nine upazilas of Rajshahi district as all 28 candidates in six constituencies are on hectic campaign. Unlike in previous elections, most candidates are cautious not to violate the poll code of conduct, although several incidents of violation were reported. Instead of coloured ones during earlier hustings, black and white posters seeking votes have virtually covered all streets, lanes and bi-lanes. Deafening sounds of loudspeakers are not annoying voters as campaign is allowed from 2pm and 8pm. Since lifting of emergency, the candidates are making door-to-door visits, bringing out processions and holding rallies to drum up support. Awami League candidate Omar Faruk Chowdhury is on mass contact to bag Rajshahi-1 Jatiya Sangsad seat while BNP candidate M Enamul Haque has taken the polls as a prestige issue. Enamul Haque is brother of former BNP minister Aminul Haque, now abroad after being convicted for abetting militancy. All eyes ar...

Published On: 2008-12-19 Nearly 5 lakh posters are being used for election campaign of BNP candidate Mizanur Rahman Minu in Rajshahi-2 constituency where the number of voters is just half of the posters.Prior to BNP chief Khaleda Zia's visit Thursday night, the entire Rajshahi city was almost covered with posters of Minu.According to Minu's election workers, a truck loaded with papers for printing around five lakh posters are now stored at Provat Printing Press in the city.Minu, also former Rajshahi mayor in his nomination papers submitted with the election commission stated that his annual income is Tk 25,000 from agriculture.In his statement of probable election expenditure, Minu stated that he would spend Tk 3 lakh he earned as mayoral honorarium and agriculture.He also stated that he would borrow Tk 5.75 lakh from his relatives, including Tk 3.75 lakh from relatives staying in the United States and he would get Tk 2.5 lakh voluntary donations.

An orchard keeper trying to untangle a bird from illegal fine nets put up around the farm at Chandipur of Rajshahi to protect fruits on trees. Photo: STAR Around 200 birds of various species were killed in the last 20 days after getting tangled up in illegal fine nets while flying around a fruit orchard at Chandipur in the city.The birds include sparrow, bulbuli, haludia, firingi, oriole and vampires and bats.Two fruit growers covered their joint orchards on over one acre of land with fine nets 20 days ago to protect fruits, especially plum, from birds.On an average 10 birds are getting trapped in the nets and dying every day, said labourers at the orchard. Around 12 birds were found dead yesterday.The labourers added that they try to save birds entangled during the day, but they cannot help those that get caught in the nets during the night.The area is now filled with the stink of the dead birds.An employee of the orchard told The Daily Star that they are not aware that fi...

The daily Azad news and photograph published just five days before the Victory Day shows Jamaat's Ali Ahsan Mojahid talking as Al-Badr chief against the birth of Bangladesh. Photo: STAR Collection A band of key players, who made a botched attempt to abort the birth of Bangladesh, is none other than the top brass of Jamaat-e-Islami, young in 1971.They had joined forces with the Pakistani occupation army to commit what shaped up into a full-blown genocide in the nine-month bloody war.For Motiur Rahman Nizami, now chief of Jamaat and the then president of Islami Chhatra Shangha, it was a parallel struggle to protect every inch of Pakistan during the Liberation War.The head of the Islamic party said the activists of the student front had been pledge-bound to attack the mainland Hindustan [India] to protect a united Pakistan.Nizami's speech is evident in the September 8, 1971 issue of the Daily Sangram that carried a report headlined “Chhatra Shangha activists will protect every inc...

A shoe was raised during a protest against President Bush in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad on Monday. New York Times reports BAGHDAD — Calling someone the “son of a shoe” is one of the worst insults in Iraq . But the lowly shoe and the Iraqi who threw both of his at President Bush, with widely admired aim, were embraced around the Arab world on Monday as symbols of rage at a still unpopular war. In Saudi Arabia, a newspaper reported that a man had offered $10 million to buy just one of what has almost certainly become the world’s most famous pair of black dress shoes. A daughter of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi , the Libyan leader, reportedly awarded the shoe thrower, Muntader al-Zaidi, a 29-year-old journalist, a medal of courage. In the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, people calling for an immediate American withdrawal removed their footwear and placed the shoes and sandals at the end of long poles, waving them high in the air. And in the southern Iraqi city ...

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Call to boycott war criminals through ballots gets louder Just before the surrender of the Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971, a skirmish breaks out between them and freedom fighters near the then Hotel Continental in Dhaka. Moments later they too surrendered. Two paper cuttings from Bangladesh Observer and daily Azad show reports on the government seeking information about Al-Badr and the government ban on five parties that opposed liberation. Photo: Star File Photo Julfikar Ali Manik and Emran Hossain writes in THE DAILY STAR The government of independent Bangladesh in its first decision banned five communal outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami, which not only opposed the nation's independence but also actively helped Pakistani occupation forces commit genocide and other war crimes.Thirty-seven years into independence, those who won freedom of Bangladesh through a nine-month bloody war are waging another fight against the defeated anti-liberation forces in a battle of vote....

'Election tactics' in Rajshahi-2 sparks protest The authorities of Rajshahi Islami Bank Medical College Hospital (IBMCH) dominated by Jamaat people has organised a free eye camp for freedom fighters on the Victory Day today to befool freedom fighters as well as deceive voters. About 200 freedom fighters at a meeting held at Miapara General Library auditorium here Sunday strongly condemned the move saying it was aimed at humiliating freedom fighters.Badiuzzaman Tunu, Bir Protik, chaired the meeting. Speakers said the killers and collaborators of 1971 organised the eye camp with an ulterior motive to create confusion among freedom fighters ahead of general elections. They called upon the voters to vote for Grand Alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha in Rajshahi-2 constituency and its other candidates in other constituencies to thwart the evil design of anti-liberation forces. Among others, Fazle Hossain Badsha, eminent freedom fighters Dr Emdadul Haque, Shafikur Rahman, Motahar...

Top-Bottom: A slide show being screened for a crowd on the premises of a cold storage in Bagmara as part of the costly election campaign for Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-4 while one of the giant posters displayed by Enamul Haque at a road intersection in Bagmara. Photo: STAR Exorbitant spending by Awami League candidate millionaire Enamul Haque during his election campaign in Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara) has become a much-talked matter in the constituency. “Enamul is violating the election code of conduct as he is crossing the limit of election expenditure,” said several supporters of Sardar Amjad Hossain, who is contesting as independent candidate after failing to get nomination from Awami League. “I am worried about whether I would be able to survive before Enamul's money,” BNP candidate Abdul Gafur said. Enamul, who stated in his nomination papers that he has wealth worth over Tk 10 crore, employed several hundred workers on daily payment and set up two dozen election offices with m...

T-shirts inscribed with 'Saleha-Imarat', a real estate company of Enamul Haque, a grand alliance candidate in Rajshahi-4 , were distributed on Saturday at Bhabaniganj in the district in violation of the RPO. Photo: STAR http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=67212

Freedom fighters, mayor and professional bodies seek vote for him Grand alliance candidate Workers Party leader Fazle Hossain Badsha campaigning at Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi city yesterday. Awami Leage leader and RCC Mayor Khairuzzaman is also with him. Photo: STAR Freedom fighters, professional bodies and cultural activists at different meetings yesterday in Rajshahi city sought vote for grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha in Rajshahi-2 constituency in the upcoming parliamentary election.On the other hand, Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and grand alliance candidate Badsha jointly launched election campaign in the city and sought vote for Badsha.They also went from door to door, business centres, houses and different areas in Rajshahi city and appealed for vote in favour of Badsha.Freedom fighters of Rajshahi yesterday held a meeting at Public Library auditorium and extended their support to grand alliance candidate Badsha.Badsha was present...