Himu's Window

'Indigenous women should be vocal for rights'   Speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi yesterday said indigenous women should raise their voice to ensure their rights. The government had to step back from implementing the National Women Development Policy following movement against it, they said at a discussion on 'CEDAW and rights of indigenous and minority women' at the auditorium of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Jatiya Adibasi Parishad (JAP), Institute for Environment and Development (IID) and Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS) jointly organised the programme. Constitutional status of the indigenous people is yet to be acknowledged and the condition aboriginal women is not satisfactory, said Workers' Party politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha in his speech as the chief guest at the discussion. He suggested that the aboriginal women get organised to join the mainstream movement for ensuring women's rights. The government should...

3 held for illegally running pvt universities   Police on Tuesday night arrested three persons for illegally running private universities and cheating its teachers and students for last one and a half years in Rajshahi. The arrestees are Jamilur Rahman Dulal, so-called country director of Oxford Trent University, Rafikul Islam Lattu, chairman of Rajshahi Institute of Business and Information Technology and its director Rakibul Islam Rono. Following requisition from Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, forces from Adabor Police Station in Dhaka arrested Jamilur Rahman Dulal from his another fake organisation -- Bangladesh Medical Institute at Shekhertek. He was taken to Rajshahi yesterday. Two others were held from their residences in Rajshahi city. Police said, the swindlers were running the organisations without any approval from University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education, Health Department or any other lawful authority. They admitted students without registrati...

3 traffickers get life in Rajshahi A court here yesterday awarded life term imprisonment to three persons for their bid to traffick four women and a child to India through Bagha border in 2004. The convicts are Sher Alam of Bagha, Rajshahi, Abdul Karim and absconding Kohinur Begum, both of Tangail district. AKM Sirajul Islam, judge of Second Court of Women and Children Repression Prevention pronounced the judgment. The convicts took the four women and the child of Tangail to Sher Alam's house at Bagha for trafficking to India, said Esmat Ara Begum, public prosecutor (PP) of the court, quoting case documents. Law enforcers rescued them and arrested two persons on July 18, 2004. The rescued persons are Nur Jahan, Marium, Nurun Nahar, Lal Banu and her seven-year-old daughter Rahima.

Nazrul birth anniversary -- the Rajshahi way   Artistes take part in the cultural event Photo: STAR   The 109th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was celebrated in Rajshahi on Sunday. Samilito Sangskritik Jote, Rajshahi organised a colourful cultural function at the open stage of Shahid Minar Mancha, Buban Mohon Park in the evening. Different cultural organisations rendered songs, recitation, and dances. Students from Shailee Art and Sangeet Biddyapit, Udayan Sangeetaloy, Sri Sangeetaloy, Sur-Dhoni Sangeet Biddyaloy, Silpasram Lalitakala Academy rendered Nazrul's songs. Students from Sundaram Shilpalok Academy recited Nazrul poems. Mancha Katha Theatre held a discussion followed by a cultural function at its premises. Nazrul exponents Abdus Salam, Aleya Mahmud, Abul Hossain, Mahmud Sarker, Monwar Hossain and Kajal Rekha participated in the discussion. Habib, Sohag, Amjad and Rakib recited Nazrul's poetry, while Ayen Uddin, Jyoti and Sharier...

Give special allocation for Rajshahi Sangram Parishad demands Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad (RRSP), a social vigilante organisation, yesterday demanded special allocation in upcoming budget for development of the district. At a discussion meeting held at RRSP's Ganakpara office, they said the special allocation has become essential for implementation of nine development programmes. Their demand includes implementation of the proposed North Rajshahi Irrigation Project for producing additional food grains and ensuring use of surface water reducing ground water use. They also demanded gas supply through pipelines, protection of silk industries and silk growers, establishment of agriculture based EPZ and constructing new educational institutions. They also demanded establishing a cardiology department at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, building a hospital for children and making the city a test venue for cricket. Among others, Rajshah...

Outlaw killed in Rab 'crossfire'   An outlaw was killed in crossfire between Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and his accomplices at Haripur village of Atrai upazila in Naogaon in the early hours yesterday. The dead man, Ujjal alias Swapan of Hingalkandi village, was a member of an outlawed party, Rab said in a press release. The rab statement said that a group of terrorists opened fire on a Rab team out on a special drive at Haripur village at around 3:40am, forcing Rab members to shoot back. The criminals fled after a 12-minute shootout. Rab discovered Ujjal in a critically injured state and rushed him to Atrai Health complex, where he was declared dead on arrival. The press release, quoting locals said, in addition to being an outlaw Ujjal was also a bomb expert, extortionist and an accused in a number of cases. Rab also recovered a gun, four bombs, a 39-inch machete, a knife, two bullets, a cartridge and torchlight from the scene of shooting.   http://www.th...

Published On: 2008-05-24 National Prof Taher's family, RU teachers feel insecure as Salehi released Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Family members of murdered Rajshahi University (RU) teacher Dr S Taher Ahmed and many other RU teachers are feeling insecure after release of key killer-suspect Salehi from jail. Mahbubul Alam Salehi was freed from jail on Thursday afternoon after a Rajshahi court acquitted two persons including him. The court awarded death to four persons including RU teacher Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin. "I am anxious about security of my son and daughter. We are in fear. We cannot tell what everybody knows," said Sultana Ahmed, Taher's wife. "We faced pressure while running the case. Now we are thinking about our security," said Taher's son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed. Expressing anxiety over Salehi's release, several senior RU teachers of RU said they are not satisfied with the trial of Prof Taher's killing while trial of an...

Dr S Taher Ahmed   Prof Taher Murder RU teacher, 3 others sentenced to death Shibir leader Salehi acquitted Anwar Ali and Abu Kalam, Rajshahi     A Rajshahi court yesterday sentenced to death four persons including Rajshahi University (RU) teacher Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin for the gruesome killing of RU geology and mining department teacher Dr S Taher Ahmed. The three others are caretaker at Taher's residence Jahangir Alam, his brother Abdus Salam and brother-in-law Nazmul. They had made judicial confessions. In the judgement, Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge ATM Mesbauddoula acquitted two of the accused -- former RU Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi, a suspected mastermind of the killing, and Jahangir's father Azimuddin Munshi. Mohiuddin, a brother-in-law of former post and telecommunications minister Barrister Aminul Haque (absconding for long) belonged to pro BNP-Jamaat teachers' allian...

Published On: 2008-05-22 National Verdict in RU Prof Taher murder case today   The verdict in sensational Rajshahi University (RU) Professor Dr Sheikh Taher Ahmed murder case will be delivered today Rajshahi speedy trial tribunal fixed the date of judgment after three days' argument on May 6. Tight security measures have been taken to maintain peace on the court premises and its surroundings. Earlier, police intelligence feared that RU Shibir men in collaboration with Jamaat cadres from outside might stage showdown on the court premises. Taher's colleague Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin and former Rajshahi University Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi are accused in the case as masterminds among six accused. Three killer suspects Jahangir, Salam and Nazmul provided judicial confessions. Another accused Azimuddin Munshi and Mohiuddin are now on bail while the rest others are in jail. According to charges, Mohiuddin and Salehi were directly invol...

Repaired on Monday night, the road near Boalia Police Station intersection gets damaged by plying of light vehicles yesterday. Photo: STAR   Road sinks the day after its repair in Rajshahi   Concerned contractor firm allegedly in connivance with Road and Highways Department (RHD) officials is using low quality materials for repairing 36 km road on Rajshahi-Natore highway. The authorities are flouting conditions mentioned in the schedule of works, said locals and witnesses. Instead of cleaning the road before repair works, they are just spraying bitumen, carpeting with mix of stones and bitumen, rolling and completing seal-coating by spraying sand on the roads within a short time, witnesses said.said locals and witnesses. For covering the potholes and craters, low quality bricks are being used instead of class one quality that was mentioned in the schedule. The repair work on 0.5 km road in front of Boalia Police Station intersection was completed in only fiv...

Poor services outcome of corruption in bureaucracy Rajshahi Education Board staffs tell meet   Rajshahi Education Board (REB) officials at a view exchange meeting yesterday attributed their failures and poor services to the outcome of moral degradation and widespread corruption at bureaucratic level in the country. As educationists, the officials said, they want to deliver the best services, but they are helpless due to some 'legalised corruption' by which inefficient officials were chosen to run the board. Concerned Citizens' Committee (CCC), an organisation run by Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), organised the meeting on 'Developing quality of services at the board'. CCC member and Rajshahi University prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan moderated the meeting with REB Chairman Dr Enamul Haque in the chair. REB Secretary Prof Shafik Uddin, REB Inspectors Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Mustafijur Rahman, Employees' Union President Manjurur Rahman Khan...

Election Olympiad 2008 Begins In Rajshahi Ensure participation of honest candidates   The Election Olympiad 2008, a countrywide knowledge-based competition on election and politics, began at Rajshahi yesterday with a call for ensuring participation of honest candidates in the upcoming elections. Shushashoner Jonney Nagorik (Shujan) organised the event with an aim to creating awareness among citizens on election and politics. Shujan Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder was present on the occasion. About 500 students from different colleges and universities in Rajshahi took part in the daylong competition while 20 winners were awarded crests and medals. The winners were selected after an hour-long question-answer session on elections, its rules, constitution, political parties and system of governance in the country. The participants also exchanged their views in an open discussion and said they need a corruption-free nation where their rights would be protected. Spea...

Front Page Star Investigation 1 Grafts reign supreme in import trade Nexus of traders, politicians, taxmen abusing PSI system to gobble up at least Tk 1,000cr revenue a year Syed Ashfaqul Haque and Julfikar Ali Manik The system for pre-shipment inspection (PSI) of imports has become riddled with corruption, and plagued by tax dodging and money laundering, depriving the country of huge amounts of revenue, reveals an investigation by The Daily Star. Behind the large scale corruption is a nexus of some businessmen, politicians, taxmen and PSI staff who have plundered government revenues since the system was made mandatory in 2000. The exact amount the scams have cost the country is difficult to know, but businessmen and revenue experts believe the sum is well in excess of 1,000 crore taka a year. Now the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been forced to act, cancelling the license of one PSI company and launching probes into the activities of others. "NBR will go for instant actio...

Published On: 2008-05-17 Metropolitan Rajshahi University Govt looks for competent vice chancellor Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Unlike previous governments which appointed the vice-chancellors of Rajshahi University (RU) mainly on political consideration, the caretaker government is likely to appoint a new one considering his academic background and efficiency. Prior to removing Prof Dr Altaf Hossain, the government talked to a number of teachers and officials in last three months to select a competent person as VC, said sources. The process is now at the final stage, added the sources. According to Rajshahi University Act 1973, the RU Senate is to elect a vice-chancellor. But the governments over the past one decade have made it a tradition to select the VCs on political consideration using its executive power. The present government is too selecting the VC ignoring the Senate. It initiated the process for removing Prof Dr Altaf Hossain following a number of allegations i...

Published On: 2008-05-17 National Neonatal deaths rise at RMCH 138 babies die in three months Anwar Ali, Rajshahi As many as 238 babies and children died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) in three months till March. Of them, 30 died of low birth weight, 107 of birth Asphyxia and 101 from other diseases. They were aged up to 30 days. Hospital records show diseases like birth Asphyxia, pre-maturity and low birth weight, malnutrition, pneumonia, neonatal tetanus, typhoid, convulsion, organo phosphorous compound poisoning, protein energy malnutrition, septicemia, pulmonary TB, pericardial effusion, diarrhoea, hepatitis, encephalitis, meningitis, jaundice, bleeding per rectum, anemia, multi-gravita, and various infectious diseases were causes of the deaths. More than 54 per cent of the babies died from birth asphyxia, followed by low birth weight. But RMCH authorities did almost nothing to check the neonatal deaths. Even, it is lacking essential equipment to ...

Published On: 2008-05-16 Front Page RU VC Prof Altaf removed   Rajshahi University (RU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Altaf Hossain was removed yesterday for his alleged involvement in corruption in recruiting 545 university teachers and employees during the BNP-Jammat alliance government, education ministry sources said. According to Section 11(2) of the Rajshahi University Act 1973, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Mamnunul Keramat would temporarily act as new VC in addition to his present position, said an education ministry handout. Campus sources said faculty deans, department chairs, and senior teachers thronged the campus residence of the removed VC after the ministry handout reached the university at around 6:45pm yesterday. Prof Altaf later called an emergency meeting with faculty deans and high university officials at his residence. He later told the press that the government took the decision in the greater interest of the nation. The removed VC was widely criti...

Published On: 2008-05-16 Metropolitan Rajshahi clinic owners withdraw strike   Clinic and Diagnostic Owners' Association (CDOA) in Rajshahi withdrew their indefinite shut down yesterday noon following three 'fruitful' discussions with the district high-ups. "Since we were assured that there would be no unjustified drives, we decided to resume work from 3:00pm", said Dr Abdul Mannan, CDOA president. CDOA leaders said they held meetings with Col Ezajur Rahman, regional chief of DGFI, at 11:00am, with Maj Kawsar of the joint forces at 12:00pm and with deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Muhammad Ibrahim Khalil at 1:00pm. CDOA members shut down their clinics and diagnostic centers on Wednesday afternoon for an indefinite period after the CDOA president was manhandled during a drive at the clinics by the joint forces led by a magistrate. CDOA members also termed the drive as 'unjustified'. "We have convinced the authorities that there is c...

All private clinics in Rajshahi city stop admitting patients All diagnostic labs also closed protesting 'unjust fining' by government   Private-owned clinics and diagnostic centres in Rajshahi city keep their shutters down following their announcement of indefinite work abstention yesterday afternoon. Photo: STAR     Around 60 private clinics and diagnostic centre owners in Rajshahi city went on an indefinite work-stoppage yesterday afternoon for what they said 'unjustified fining' by the government. As the clinics and diagnostic centres, where around 3,500 people take treatment everyday, stopped admitting new patients and conducting pathological tests, hundreds of treatment seekers from different areas in the northern region faced problems. The clinics, however, continued treating the patients who had already been admitted. The action was taken just after the joint forces led by a magistrate raided four clinics and diagnostic centres and realised a...

Published On: 2008-05-14 Front Page 6 parties invited to talks with govt Indoor political activities resume countrywide   Many political leaders gathered at their district party offices and exchanged greetings with each other while office staff of some of the parties were busy cleaning up the party offices. On the very first day of their activities, almost all district level leaders of Awami league (AL) demanded the release of their party chief Sheikh Hasina before the upcoming elections. Similarly, the BNP district level leaders also demanded that their chief Khaleda Zia be released prior to the polls. Many of the leaders expressed disappointment over the CA's address to the nation as the CA in his speech did not specify when the state of emergency would be withdrawn and address the issue of releasing the chiefs of the two major political parties of the country. Our staff correspondent from Rajshahi reports: With no leader to organise them and having no acti...

Published On: 2008-05-14 National Rajshahi BNP in crisis as bigwigs in jail or hiding Party men sat at the chamber of its district president yesterday as the district unit has no office Anwar Ali, Rajshahi With opening of indoor politics, the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Rajshahi are facing crisis due to lack of guidance in absence of party bigwigs. One of the them is in jail and four others are hiding. BNP has no office of its own in the city. Party men sat at the chamber of district BNP president Azizur Rahman yesterday. The building at Sonadighi intersection that Rajshahi Red Crescent rented from Rajshahi City Corporation was used as BNP office for over a decade. After taking over of the present government in January last year, Red Crescent re-established its office there. Another office that was running at a house at Chal Patty in the city was also closed after emergency. Former lawmaker and Rajshahi mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu,...

Published On: 2008-05-13 National 129 polling centres in Rajshahi city announced   Rajshahi election office yesterday published a list of 129 probable polling centers in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) areas. There were 130 centers in the previous list. In the new list, earlier two polling centers at Rajshahi University School have been merged into one. The earlier center at Madar Bux Home Economic College has been shifted to Chandipur Government Primary School. According to sources at election office, the list will be hung at election offices at divisional, district and upazila levels and at the office of RCC executive officer till May 19. Within the period, people can lodge their objections, if any, regarding the vote centers, the sources said. The number of voters in RCC area now stands at 2,58,650-- 15,478 less than 2,74,128 in the earlier voter list. Deputy Election Commissioner Sayed Muhammad Musa said Rajshahi is the first metropolitan city in the count...

Patient released from RMCH after 3 days 'without treatment' Doctor was busy at private clinic, attendant alleges   A patient was released from a surgery ward at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) Saturday night allegedly after keeping him waiting for three days virtually without any treatment for want of a senior doctor. Abbas Ali Mollah, an elderly patient from Kanaikhali in Natore town, was rushed to RMCH at around 5am on Thursday with severe pain from gall bladder infection. He was admitted to Ward no. 6 under a senior doctor. "There was no doctor but an intern who came to see my father three hours later admission", said Abbas Ali's son Farrukh Ahmed. The intern talked to a senior doctor over cell phone and prescribed some medicines. He then left, saying a senior doctor will come shortly. But none came. As the day passed, Ahmed was frantically looking for the doctor under whom his father was admitted. The following day, he contacted the do...

Business Special allocation sought for silk industry in budget Special allocation for silk industry in the next national budget was demanded at a function here yesterday. Silk traders, labourers and development workers at the discussion also sought government assistance for the development of silk industry. Reshom Shilpa Sartho Sangrakkhan Committee, a body to protect silk industry, and Varendra Unnayan Prochesta, an NGO, jointly organised the discussion. Bangladesh Silk Industry Owners' Samity (BSIOS) President Manjur Faruk Chowdhury, former president of the association Liaqat Ali, Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad (a body to uphold the development of Rajshahi) Convener Zamat Khan and marginal farmers spoke at the discussion. Manjur Faruk Chowdhury said the local silk will be able to compete in the world market if the growers get proper technological support from the government. He said the country is now producing only 50 tonnes of silk yarn against the domestic...

Published On: 2008-05-11 Metropolitan Dismantle network, funding sources of outlaws Matin asks law enforcement agencies   Home Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday afternoon asked the law enforcement agencies to take 'effective and synchronised' actions to dismantle the network and funding sources of outlaws in northern districts. "The government is now advancing towards holding free, fair and peaceful elections… Apprehension has risen in people's mind that law and order can deteriorate. So, all should remain alert and active against outlaws, militants and anti-social activities", said Matin. He called on the administration, police, Rab, BDR, Ansar and intelligence agencies at district and division levels to work together and resist outlaws with strong hand. Outlawed organisations must be exterminated. Identify their sources of funds. He warned that any lack of coordination in divisional and district-level administrations would not ...

Combing operation against outlaws soon in Rajshahi High level meeting today to review situation and strategy Anwar Ali, Rajshahi A massive combing operation will be launched in outlaw infested areas in Rajshahi 'within days' to nab the criminals. The special operation is being launched against the backdrop of the May 2 attack on Tahirpur police outpost and killing of a policeman and aimed at dismantling their organisations ahead of the planned parliamentary and local body elections, high police officials said. The apprehension of outlaws' activity during polls surfaced following investigation into the Taherpur attack and analysis of previous killings by outlaws, they said. Outlaws were used by political leaders in previous elections. A section of dishonest politicians maintain secret relation with outlaws and use them against opponents during election. Home Affairs Adviser Maj. Gen (Retd) MA Matin is likely to review the situation at a divisional meeting of...

Firearms looted from police recovered in Natore   All the five firearms looted from a police patrol team at Taherpur in Rajshahi were recovered from a pond at Munjalgachha of Naldanga upazila in Natore yesterday afternoon. Police recovered one SMG and four Chinese rifles wrapped with polythene sheets from the pond some 1.5km west of Naldanga Police Station following confession of suspected outlaw Bachchu. Earlier on Tuesday night, Natore Detective Branch of police assisted by a Special Branch police team from Dhaka used the latest mobile tracking technology to catch Bachchu alias Nishan from Kanpara of Hoybatpur. Bachchu's arrest and the recovery of the firearms will help arrest others involved in the attack on the police patrol team on May 2, said a police official. Following his arrest, Bachchu confessed to being involved with the outlaw team that attacked the police patrol team. He said after the attack they went to the pond and dumped the firearms into it. A hu...

Kobiguru in the Northwest Anwar Ali, Rajshahi   (Top)The Tagore Kacharibari at Patisar and (Bottom)Tagore's boat "Padma"; most of Chaitali and Chhinnapatra were written here Photo: STAR     Rabindranath Tagore etched his mark in the country's northwestern region several times between 1890 and 1937. Historians identified reasons of his visits to be chiefly associated with his family's zamindari -- travelling and attending literary meetings in between. He stayed at Patisar, Shahjadpur and Shilaidaha. The zamindari of Tagore family was stretched to three parganas in the northwest -- Ibrahimpur pargana with headquarters at Shiladaha, Kushtia, Kaligram pargana at Patisar, in the then Rajshahi (currently Naogaon) and Shahjadpur pargana in Pabna. Patisar was stated by many to be the main zamindari that existed till abolishment of the system. The historic Kacharibaris at Patisar, Shahjadpur and Shilaidaha still evoke the memories of the poet...