Himu's Window

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Although a large number of last-minute Eid shoppers are cramming into markets, the festivity could not touch the poverty-striken people of the northern region of the country. The poverty due to crises of job and food have overshadowed Eid celebration of the underprivileged hundreds, many of whom are flocking to shopping centres at district and upazila headquarters for begging alms. During this period, the poor people usually suffer from monga, a near- famine situation, following lack of agricultural work and food shortage. The situation is likely to persist till the harvest in December, said the government officials, adding that the situation has however improved a bit following various government measurers. "The main buyers at Eid markets in northern region are the villagers. So the traders are also facing dull markets in their absence. Most farmers and day labourers are still in severe hardships," said Mustafijur Rahman, a businessman. ...

A Rajshahi court yesterday rejected bail prayers of the 10 Hizb ut-Tahrir leaders and activists who were arrested September 18 on suspicion of their involvement in militancy and anti-state activities. The Court of Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate BM Tarikul Kabir denied the bail prayers after police claimed that investigation was still going on against the accused. The arrestees were not produced before the court and only their prayers were sent to the court. They are detained under section 54 of the CrPC. "We also said verification of their previous criminal records, if any, is yet to be completed in police stations concerned," said Court Inspector Mahbubul Kuddus Siddiki. Hizb ut-Tahrir Coordinator and Dhaka University teacher Syed Golam Mowla and Ahmed Jamal Iqbal, teacher of South East University and a senior member of the Islamist group, were arrested along with eight others on September 18 in Rajshahi. However, police did not lodge any case against them, a...

  Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) yesterday threatened to bomb police stations and check-points in the city. In a fax to the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) headquarters at around 6:00pm, the banned Islamist outfit said it would launch attacks in retaliation for arrest and harassment of its cadres. Confirming the threat from the militants, Mahfujur Rahman, assistant commissioner of RMP Detective Branch (DB), told reporters that they have beefed up security at police stations and other installations in the city. The fax said JMB has enough explosives to bomb the police stations. Addressed to Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), superintendent of police, DB and National Security Intelligence, the fax did not carry any signature. It said the outfit has targeted police stations since the law enforcers are "creating obstacles to its operation". Earlier on September 7, another fax purportedly sent by JMB threatened to bomb the residences and offices of caretak...

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=55812   Julfikar Ali Manik and Shariful Islam Investigators are now probing Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh's suspected involvement or link with militancy at home and abroad following Thursday's arrest of 10 of its leaders and activists in Rajshahi. Sources in the law enforcement agencies yesterday said the arrests were not unexpected and that the agencies were looking for Tahrir men after a few of them distributed leaflets at Baro Masjid in Rajshahi around 10 days before the arrests. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Commissioner Mahbub Mohsin yesterday said the arrest of Tahrir leaders on Thursday was not surprising. "We had been looking for the organisation's leaders and activists for distributing leaflets at Baro Masjid," he told The Daily Star. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies suspected Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh as a militant organisation and kept it under watch for quite a long time although it is ...

  Government must deal with it firmly Everybody must have the right to practice his or her religion. But nobody can impose it on others. It is the tone of force or the tenor that concerns us and the sheer audacious manner in which some of those involved with it have been going about speaking of the objectives of the outfit. The teachers arrested in Rajshahi the other day were carted off to prison because they happened to be distributing leaflets propagating the overthrow of the government. As if that were not enough, some other leading members of the outfit in the capital have now threatened to wage a movement and not allow anyone in Bangladesh to live in peace if the arrested teachers are not released in forty-eight hours. The attitude smacks of intolerance and contradicts the outfit's claim that it does not believe in violence or force. Obviously, it is a situation that calls for tough handling, given the fact that threats are undermining the fundamental constitut...

The couple had all the sun yesterday when they heard the cry of their newborn Apsora, the first ever success in frozen embryo implantation in Bangladesh.“She is doing great, she is in good health, she has no physical defect, nor does she need any special care,” Rashida Begum, the doctor behind the groundbreaking success in Bangladesh, told The Daily Star.Now in a ward of Anwar Khan Modern Hospital in Dhanmondi, the baby girl, weighing 3.2 kg at birth, will soon go home, doctors expect.“It can't be described how happy the couple is. They had been waiting for a baby for long five years. It is really thrilling to see such a success,” said Rashida, an assistant professor of the gynaecology and obstetrics department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.The landmark success came 24 years after the first frozen embryo baby was born in Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The technology is similar to 'in vitro fertilisation', a process by which egg cells are fert...

Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh yesterday threatened to oust the government by launching a movement if its 10 leaders and activists arrested in Rajshahi on Thursday are not released within 48 hours. The threat issued at a meeting of the organisation in the capital was apparently in violation of the state of emergency but no action was taken in this regard as of filing of this report at 10:00pm yesterday. Akramul Hossain, assistant commissioner of Special Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said, "We may seek necessary govern...

  Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh remained unnoticed for several years before the grenade attack on the British high commissioner at Hazrat Shahjalal shrine in Sylhet over four years ago. Though it has been banned in Asian and European countries and even in the Middle East, its chapter here has been operating overtly and unhindered for the last few years. Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh had posted anti-British and -US posters around the Shahjalal shrine two days before the attack on the then UK High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury on May 21, 2004. This made the investigators suspect that the shrine attack was carried out by Hizb ut-Tahrir. Since then, the outfit has been alleged to have militant links at home and abroad, said a law enforcement official who was involved in the probe. Rajshahi police yesterday rounded up some of their leaders and activists as they were preparing to hold a press conference in the divisional city. According to information from different websites, Hizb ...

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) yesterday arrested the coordinator of Bangladesh chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir and nine of his cohorts at Rajshahi City Press Club on suspicion of promoting militancy in the country. The police said the Hizb ut-Tahrir men were distributing leaflets calling for establishing its self-styled Khilafat rule dethroning the present government in this holy month of Ramadan. "We arrested them on suspicion of encouraging militancy in the country...We are investigating their activities," said RMP Commissioner Mahbub Mohsin yesterday. Quoting the Quran in its leaflets, the Islamist group called upon Muslims asking them to "take oath for establishing the rule of Khilafat by dethroning the present ruler in this holy month of Ramadan" to unite Muslims and revive their lost glory. It criticises sending of forces in United Nations Peace Keeping missions for protecting "enemies" instead of "turning them the flag beare...

  Rajshahi mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton yesterday called on the residents of the metropolitan city to be ready for spending additional money to pay taxes and water bills for additional use to ensure civic amenities to all. He also asked all staffs of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) to submit their wealth statements for transparency and support his attempts to free the institute from corruption. "The rates of taxes and water bills will not be increases as I promised earlier, but those who, for example, have expanded their houses from one room to more rooms and single-storey building to multi-storey one will have to pay additional taxes," he added. He further said, "The use of water by five people against that of 50 people is not the same and so additional water users will have to pay additional taxes, but the rates would be the same." Liton said this at a reception accorded to him at the Rajshahi Zila Parishad auditorium by Rajshahi Citizens' C...

A court in Naogaon yesterday ordered re-investigation into the murder of Idris Ali Khejur by the militants of Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) in 2004 accepting the no-confidence petition filed by the sister of the victim on the final report of the case. Nilima Akhtar, Khejur's sister, filed the no-confidence petition with the court on May 11 as police submitted the final report in the case during the rule of previous political government and relieved a number of militant kingpins from the charge of murder. Accepting the petition, the court asked the officer-in-charge (OC) of Raninagar police station in Naogaon to re-investigate into the case. In her petition, Nilima, the plaintiff of the case, accused 102 persons for the murder and said a number of accused, including militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib and former BNP state minister Alamgir Kabir, were relieved from the murder charge. Other accused include Tota Khandoker, Salehin, Hafez Mahmud, ASM Azizullah, ...

Published On: 2008-09-16 Front Page   A case was recorded yesterday at the Mohonpur Police Station against 19 people on charges of killing 15 villagers during the liberation war. The case was recorded following higher authority's approval on September 13 after primary investigations, said the police. A Rajshahi court one and a half months ago directed Mohonpur police to investigate and take necessary actions after day labourer Nezarul Islam of Birsoil filed the case with the court against 19 people. The accused include Shafiullah, Moyen Uddin, Boyen Uddin of Modonhati, Daud Ali, Nur-e-Alam, Shamsuddin, Sirajul Islam, Matiur Rahman and Awal of Berabari Bamonbari, Alam, Abdul Hai, Abdul Mannan of Mohisbathan, Abu Sayeed of Durgapur, Jan Bux, Abdul, Merajul and Kalim of Paba upazila. The plaintiff alleged that the accused helped the Pakistani forces to abduct 15 villagers, who assisted freedom fighters, in Mohonpur on November 30, 1971. All the abducted people were ...

Published On: 2008-09-16 Front Page A wanted criminal and member of the underground Sarbahara Party was killed in a crossfire between police and his accomplices at Birkutsa Sahapur areas in Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi early yesterday. The dead man was identified as Abul Hasen alias Kana Abul, 43 of Aloknagar village in Hamirkutsa union of the upazila. Sahabuddin Khalipha, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bagmara police station said, police arrested Abul from his home on Sunday noon. Police then took him along to retrieve arms from an area, based on information revealed in his statement. When they reached the spot, Abul's gang members opened fire on police. The police shot back and at a stage Abul received bullet wounds while trying to flee. Abul was a listed terrorist and a member of Sarbohara Party, the OC said. He was absconding since a murder case was filed against him. He was sentenced to life-term imprisonment in the case.   http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?...

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi   Banned Islamist militant outfit Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji), comprised of Afghan war veterans, has started activities across the country to take part in the next parliamentary polls under a new name. Huji leaders under the banner of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) gathered for an iftar party in a Rajshahi community centre in Shalbagan on September 8 claiming to be in negotiations with the government for holding political programmes openly. Even though they claimed that they are not involved in any criminal or anti-state activities, they admitted that their organisation began from Huji. They said they are still in Jihad as before in Afghanistan but the Jihad is for "rebuilding the country by promoting true democracy". They said two top Huji founders--Mufti Abdus Salam and Rahmatullah alias Shaikh Farid--are president and secretary of the party. They collected the application form for getting IDP registered with the Election Commission ...

  Banned militant outfits Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) in a letter to Rapid Action Battalion-5 (Rab) headquarters and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police threatened bomb attacks on the homes and offices of all advisers to the caretaker government after the EID. The also threatened bomb attacks on offices of law enforcement agencies and the administration within this month. The letter, faxed from Chapainawabganj at 12:49am on September 4, was signed by M Obaidur Rahman Giasi, self-proclaimed military chief of JMB. It was made available to journalists last night. Copies of the letter were also sent to different offices of Police and Rab in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi. The letter held Rab responsible for executions of the outfits' spiritual leaders and blamed army personnel and police for "torture of political leaders including former lawmakers". The letter said the outfits have plans for devastating attack...

  Anwar Ali, Rajshahi The government is planning to officially ban 18 splinter groupings of clandestine armed communists soon, as law enforcing agencies identified them as organisations engaged in anti-state activities in 13 north-west and southern districts. According to top officials of police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), the decision is being taken for the first time since the independence of the country, with an aim to eradicating such organisations before the next parliamentary election. Responding to recommendations of different intelligence agencies, the police headquarters in early August sent a proposal to the home ministry for banning the outfits, sources said. On Thursday, the home ministry in a top level meeting with chiefs of law enforcement and intelligence agencies discussed the matter and initiated a process of banning the outfits. Home Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin chaired the meeting. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Muhammad confirmed ...

  Water crisis is turning acute in many areas of Rajshahi city despite the assurance of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) to maintain smooth supply during the month of Ramadan. Discontent among the city dwellers is also brewing up for supply of contaminated water. Residents of Shalbagan, Assam Colony, Shaheb Bazar and Baliapukur area in the city complained of supplying contaminated water. They alleged that diarrhoea and skin diseases are spreading fast in the areas. Similar complaints also came from Laxmipur, Helenabad, Meherchandi and Binodhpur areas, Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) sources said.   In the last few days there were reports of water crisis in Baliapukur, Koerdara, Sultanabad, Sastitala, Boaliapara, Bulonpur, Helenabad, Budhpara, Meherchandi, Laxmipur, Talaimari and Kajla areas. The crisis in ward numbers 1, 2, 16, 17 and 30 are going on for several years. Many areas are still remaining out of water supply network and the authorities have turned a de...

A fax to Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) headquarters purportedly sent by Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) threatened to bomb the headquarters and offices of all the 12 Rab battalions within this month. The message sent from Rajshahi yesterday said bomb attacks would be made also on the offices of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Chittagong Metropolitan Police and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, and that of all the superintendents of police.   It also said Obaidur Rahman Giashi of Rambhadrapur of Chanpainawabganj took over charge of JMB after the death of Bangla Bhai. And its main task is to carry out bomb attacks on those offices.   Rab media wing director MAK Azad admitted receiving the faxed message and said there is nothing to worry. Efforts are on to track down those who sent it.   http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=53706

  Some 300 leaders and activists of Workers Party and its front organisations Jubo Maitree and Chhatra Moitree in a press conference in Rajshahi city yesterday announced dissociation from the organisations due to 'arbitrariness' of senior leaders. "Senior leaders are trying to use the party men and organisations as tools. Their undemocratic acts went to such an extent that they prevented party men from campaigning for AHM Khairuzzaman Liton," they said. In the press conference held at Rajshahi Press Club, they said party men are facing criticism from citizens for not supporting Liton during his election campaign. Rajshahi city Jubo Moitree President Mahfuzul Hasnain Hikol read out a written statement. Around 50 leaders and activists on behalf of the 300 deserters attended the press conference. Shah Makhdum thana Workers' Party general secretary Faruk Hossain, district Jubo Moitree president SM Ashraful Haque Tota, Jubo Moitree Boalia thana presiden...

Published On: 2008-09-06 National The Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) elections held on August 4 was a free, fair one and smoother than elections in the past, says findings of the country's first ever scientific exit poll revealed in the city yesterday. International Republican Institute (IRI), a US-based organisation for advancing democracy with assistance from Jatiya Nirbachon Parjobekkhon Parishad (Janipop), conducted the survey among over 10,000 voters exiting from 50 randomly selected polling centres, out of total 130, on the Election Day. Bangladesh Election Commission authorised for the international standard survey supported by the British High Commission. The exit poll has confirmed public confidence in conduct and results of RCC elections, claimed the IRI as the study shows 90 per cent voters consider the RCC elections 'free and fair' with 78 per cent reporting 'no problems, difficulties and irregularities'.   By all counts, people conside...

Published On: 2008-09-06 Front Page     Many low-lying areas in the eastern part of the capital went under floodwater yesterday and more areas are likely to be inundated in the next couple of days as rivers around the city started flowing over danger levels from Thursday.   Read the story     Our staff correspondent in Rajshahi reports: The Padma has left only 25 yards of land between Bangladesh and India at Char Khanpur of Paba. There will be no land there between the two countries if the Padma devours this piece of land. Members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Char Khidirpur border outpost say that the outpost is also likely to be eroded by the Padma. "The major problem is that the border pillar-164 is at stake as the river is now flowing very close to the border pillar," said a BDR official. Acting Commanding Officer of BDR Battalion 37 Maj Yasin said there will be no land at this border point if the river erodes the 25 yards of land. Aro...

Published On: 2008-09-05 Front Page Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has undertaken a Tk 5 crore household waste management project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), officials said. Household waste would be properly collected everyday under the RCC-designed project. At present, residents dump their wastes onto roads and drains due to lack of sufficient dustbins. For proper collection of garbage, at least 20 new dustbins would be set up in different areas, including Terokhadia, Shaheb Bazar, Laxmipur, Mohishbathan, Kajla, Binodpur and Padma Housing area. Under the project, household waste would be transformed into natural fertiliser for agricultural use, sources in the RCC said, adding that the garbage collected from households in Rajshahi city can produce five tonnes of fertiliser every day. "To implement the project, we have already selected the land for acquisition and the city corporation has got a machine worth Tk 70 lakh for turning the waste into...

Published On: 2008-09-03 National   Outlaws, Islamist militants active again in 18 groups in northern, southern districts Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have launched special operations in 13 northern and southern districts as intelligence reports said outlaws and Islamist militants have become active again in 18 groups ahead of planned upazila and parliamentary elections. The law enforcing agencies have started the operations with a list of some 1000 outlaws and about 500 Islamist militants in hand, sources said. Of them, 350 outlaws and 150 Islamist militants are in Rajshahi division. Their numbers may be more as all the outlaws and militants could yet to be identified, sources in the law enforcement agencies said. The operations are going against both the outlaws and militants simultaneously. The special operations to dismantle the militant outfits and outlaws' organisations were taken following recent investigations into their a...