Himu's Window

Monday, August 31, 2009   Almost all private hospitals and clinics in frontier Rajshahi and other 15 northern districts are remaining out of the government's preparedness programme against H1N1 swine flu epidemic in terms of isolation capacity and clinical assessment. "Private hospitals and clinics are yet to be instructed for the preparedness. We expect them to respond to the common call for creating isolation wards in advance," said Dr AKM Nur Kutubul Alam, director of health for Rajshahi division. "In case of any steep rise of positive cases, we might need extra health infrastructure that the private hospitals can ensure," he said with an alert for flu outbreak in the country as its detection is increasing. Following the government directives, the authorities of all public hospitals in the region are creating separate isolation wards and making inventory of essential drugs and preventive equipment, but there is no arrangement for diagnostic

Monday, August 31, 2009   Rajshahi Education Board Chairman Dipakendranath Das left the city Saturday night for Dhaka after filing general diaries with two police stations following threats on his life allegedly from the city Mayor Khairuzzaman Liton. The Rajshahi mayor asked the board chairman repeatedly over the phone to upgrade his daughter's SSC results, Dipakendranath alleged. Khairuzzaman also acknowledged that he had requested Dipakendranath to look into the result of his daughter but denied the allegation of threatening the board chairman. The mayor, on the other hand, brought allegation against Dipakendranath of not observing the National Mourning Day in a befitting manner at the Rajshahi Education Board this year. In his identical GDs filed with Boalia and Rajpara police stations in Rajshahi the education board chairman alleged that he had been asked to leave Rajshahi forever over the phone since August 27. The callers also threatened him with death.

Sunday, August 30, 2009 Share trading is gaining popularity in Rajshahi as more people are now investing in stocks. State-owned Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) and its subsidiaries, which are providing brokerage services with an aim to help small investors, are now struggling to cope with pressure from a rising number of investors. Beginning in 1984, ICB roped in around 7,000 investors from northern districts until 2005. Then there was a big jump. The number of investors increased by 4,600 in only four years to 11,600 after ICB Securities Trading Company Ltd (STCL) and ICB Capital Management Ltd (CML) opened up IT-enabled brokerage services. The services enabled investors in Rajshahi and its surrounding areas to get direct access and trade on the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) through internet trading service modules. Investors -- mostly small and from remote areas -- transacted Tk 108 crore in turnover in the last one and a half

Sunday, August 16, 2009   Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the country's constitution a unique one in the world by giving a new definition of secularism, said Shahriar Kabir, a noted journalist, in Rajshahi yesterday. "For him secularism did not mean abandonment of religion, but a separation of religion from state and politics," said Kabir, president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, a forum for secular Bangladesh and trial of war criminals. He said Bangabandhu was a religious man and he believed in people's freedom of religion. Bangabandhu gave new definition of secularism to end Pakistani tradition of abusing religion for political gain, said Kabir. He said in the name of protecting Islam, Pakistani rulers and Jamaat-e-Islami men killed people, raped women and committed genocides during their 23-year regime and the liberation war. Kabir was addressing as chief guest at a discussion meeting organised on the occasion of the National

Saturday, August 15, 2009 Speakers at a view exchange meeting in Rajshahi yesterday said a culture of seeking information should be developed in society, especially for the grassroots-level people, for effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) law. RTI law would not leave any benefit unless it is properly implemented through creating awareness among mass people about their right of access to information, they added. Once RTI is properly implemented, the speakers said, it would take the country a step forward to ensure good governance as well as administrative transparency and accountability. They stressed the need for a strong role of the media in educating common people on appropriate methods of exercising their right. Campaign for Right to Information (CFRTI) and local vernacular daily the Mukto Chetona jointly organised the meeting on 'RTI law and role of media' in association with Asian Foundation at a city restaurant. Fazle Hossain Ba

Saturday, August 15, 2009   Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB) in Rajshahi was closed sine die yesterday following a clash between students and police that left at least 35 people injured. The clash ensued as students put a barricade on the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway demanding that the AUB authorities produce valid documents of government approval. AUB students said the Rajshahi campus of the varsity has no government approval and as the authorities failed to produce any valid papers, the legality of the university was questionable. At around 9.30am students boycotted their scheduled examinations and came out in their hundreds. The examinees along with other students marched in a procession on the campus and challenged the authorities whether they had any legal authority to run the campus. The angry students were not satisfied with the answer the AUB authorities gave and put a barricade on the Rajshahi-Dhaka highway at around 10am. The students staged a sit-in there f

Friday, August 14, 2009 Al Markajul Islami As-Salafi Madrasa at Nawdapara in the city was closed sine die by its authorities yesterday due to attempts of implanting extremism in students by Ahle Hadith Andolon Bangladesh (Ahab), a militant outfit led by Asadullah Al Galib. Galib, arrested in 2005 on charges of militancy and now free on bail, has been sheltering outsiders, many of whom are students of Rajshahi University and Rajshahi College, in madrasa dormitories for last few months, said Principal of the madrasa Abdus Samad Salafi. These outsiders with assistance from some pro-Galib teachers used to assault students, sometimes the teachers who were not in Galib's favour, said Salafi, adding that they were also engaged in indoctrinating the students to defy madrasa rules and join Ahab. "Concerned about these men, we made the decision to close the madrasa indefinitely," said Salafi, former Nayeb-e-Amir who resigned from Ahab along with some 48 others in Ap

Saturday, August 8, 2009 Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, Bagmara Upazila unit, yesterday postponed Sree Krishna's birth anniversary programmes scheduled for August 13 to protest alleged acts of disrespect to Krishna by the brother of local lawmaker. In a press conference, the Parishad leaders alleged that Emdadul Haque, brother of Awami League lawmaker Enamul Haque, tore up an invitation card containing Krishna's portrait on Thursday and hurled abusive words when two Parishad men handed over the card to him and invited him to the August 13 programmes. The Parishad leaders also said they invited Emdad, who is a supporter of Jamaat-e-Islami, as he is now an influential person in Bagmara. The Parishad also took out a procession in Bagmara Sadar upazila and announced that protest programmes will also be held on August 13. When contacted, Emdadul Haque denied all the allegations. "I just threw away the invitation card as I was unaware of the matter. I di

Rajshahi Textile Mills (RTM) resumed operations yesterday after nine months of its closure, following a private initiative that is expected to employ around 500 people. Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton formally opened the mill at a ceremony on the mill premises. Trade Exchange, a private cotton trading firm of Narayanganj, signed a two-year agreement with RTM to provide raw materials and collect yarn on the basis of service charge at a rate of Tk 6,200 per bale of cotton. The mill will begin operations with 150 employees and then gradually increase to 500 people in the next few months. The agreement was signed following the approval of Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), said M Ansar Uddin, general manager of RTM. He said officials and employees have not been paid for the last nine months, while the mill is in around Tk 2 crore debt. The RTM failed to manage private investment to run the mill, floating open tenders three times si

Monday, August 3, 2009   Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) yesterday decided to review the holding taxes fixed in its recently announced budget and offered a ten percent tax cut. According to the decision, the city dwellers will have to apply for reviewing their taxes and a review committee will fix affordable rates. The RCC also offered a ten percent cut in the holding taxes for those who will pay off taxes within three months from the beginning of the fiscal year. The decision was taken at a general meeting of the city corporation held at Rajshahi City Bhaban with Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair. "We had raised the holding taxes, aiming at providing better services for the citizens. We did not finalise the new taxes. So, there is scope for review. The mayor asked RCC officials concerned to issue tax notices on the citizens as early as possible so that they can avail themselves of the tax cut offer. Meanwhile, the RCC fixed new rates of holding taxes from

Published On: 2009-08-02 Business A lack of specialised economic policy and financial management system, energy and power crisis, and problems in investment and marketing procedures are hindering the development of the country's western region, said speakers at a seminar in Rajshahi yesterday. They also said long-term government plans, effective policies made by experts and responsible role of entrepreneurs can still build a sustainable economic base in the region that can be a powerhouse of the national economy. They were speaking at a regional seminar on 'Problems of economic development in western region and prospects' at Rajshahi University, jointly organised by the economics department of the university and Bangladesh Economics Samity (BES). "The region's economy is dependent on agriculture and some small and medium enterprises, but most of its industries were shut down in the last several decades for faulty policies," said Vice Chancello

Published On: 2009-08-01   Lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha at a discussion in Rajshahi yesterday said an initiative has been taken to form a parliamentary body to resolve the problems of indigenous people in the plain land. The JS body would play role in creating opinions in parliament for the formation of a separate land commission with a view to solving the several decades old land-related problems, he added. "After the body is formed, it will hear opinions of the indigenous people for helping the parliament make a law, if necessary, as well as pressurise the government for establishing social status of the underprivileged ethnic minority," said Badsha. The grand alliance lawmaker warned that many officials in the police and district administrations are still loyal to the four-party alliance and the government is facing problems in functioning properly for them. "The pro-BNP-Jamaat officials are desperate enough to allow BNP hooligans to set fire to the

Monday, July 27, 2009   Over two hundred members of the indigenous community yesterday began a two-day long march across 55 kilometres from Porsha upazila to Naogaon town yesterday to protest attacks on indigenous families. The march was organised under the banner of Jatiya Adibashi Parishad (JAP) after a gang led by Nur Hosssain Master of Soraigachhi attacked the houses of some 74 families including 54 indigenous families at Katirpur on June 12. They torched, damaged and looted the houses and also randomly beat up indigenous men, women and children during the attack. Since the attack, some 300 members of the affected families have been left without homes, and the local administration has not come forward to help them, the protesters allege. On the first day yesterday, the protesters walked some 30 kilometres from Soraigachhi in Porsha to Mohadevpur upazila sadar. They will be joined by 300 more people this morning as they begin the march to Naogaon town. At Naogao

Tuesday, July 28, 2009   A three-storey building subsided by a few inches in the city's Ambagan area early yesterday, creating panic among the local people. Locals said they heard a big sound at about 3:00am and later found around 1,200 square feet area affected by the subsidence in the morning. They said cracks developed also in the nearby buildings after the subsidence. The subsidence might have been occurred due to excessive use of underground water in the area or sudden rainfall after prolonged draught, said Abdus Sobhan, a councillor of Rajshahi City Corporation, quoting the experts of Public Works Department. "I felt a sudden jerk after a big sound. I thought it was a quake," said Anwarul Iqbal, a resident of the three-storey building owned by Abul Hossain. He said a drain and land close to the building subsided by one and a half feet. Dwellers of a one-storey building came out of their residence in panic when they heard the sound in the night. I

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Two top underground operatives of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Red Flag) were killed in a 'gunfight' with law enforcers in Atrai upazila of Naogaon early yesterday. The dead were identified as Abdus Salam alias Topu, 40, Naogaon regional chief of the outlawed party, and Jahangir alias Jalal, 38, its military affairs commander for greater Rajshahi region. A Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel and a policeman were taken to hospital after they sustained injuries during the gunfight at Sadupur village at about 1:30am, said a Rab press release. After the gunfight, the law enforcers recovered an Indian-made automatic pistol, a shooter gun, two bullets, seven cartridges, PBCP leaflets, a mobile phone set and two torches from the scene. A joint team of Rab and police rushed to the area following a tip-off that the PBCP operatives were holding a secret meeting at Mohadighi Sadupur in Atrai upazila to commit crimes on the occasion of the

Wednesday, August 12, 2009   A Rajshahi court yesterday denied bail to 31 BDR members arrested in a sedition case filed against hem in connection with the mutiny at the BDR sector headquarters. District and Sessions Judge AR Masud also sent them to jail custody. The BDR members were brought to the court amid tight security and their lawyers submitted the bail prayers, said Public Prosecutor (PP) M Ibrahim Hossain. Earlier, the PP also submitted a prayer to the court for granting the law enforcement agencies more time for further investigation into the sedition case. The court fixed September 7 as the date for hearing on the prayer. Ramjan Ali, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, lodged the sedition case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court on May 17 and the law enforcing agencies arrested a total of 93 BDR members from Rajshahi BDR sector headquarters and 37 BDR battalion the next day. The CMM court sent the case to the district and session judge&

Friday, July 17, 2009   The District and Sessions Judge's Court of Rajshahi yesterday rejected the bail prayers of 57 out of 93 suspected BDR mutineers arrested on sedition charge. The BDR jawans were produced before the court amid tight security. Public Prosecutor M Ibrahim Hossain submitted a time-extension prayer to the court for further investigation into the case. The court of judge AR Masud sent the arrestees to jail custody and fixed August 11 for the hearing. Family members of the arrestees gathered on the court premises to have a look at their near and dear ones. The CMM court transferred the case to the district and sessions judge's court on June 26 for trial. Ramjan Ali, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, lodged the sedition case on May 17. The next day law enforcers arrested 93 BDR members from Rajshah sector BDR headquarters and 37 BDR Battalion. He said the accused broke open the arsenal, took up arms and ammunitions and took BDR Rajsh

Case lodged against leader of attack, who was arrested, his mother and 25 other people The Daily Star Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday arrested Sakib Al Hasan, one of the main culprits who launched an attack on The Daily Star Staff Correspondent Anwar Ali Himu's residence, from his relative's place on the outskirts of the city. Sakib was later handed over to the police. A gang of 25 criminals led by Sakib, stepson of former ward councilor M Masud, stormed into the residence of Himu at Asam Colony on Monday and beat up the journalist and his two family members mercilessly, leaving them injured. A case was lodged against Sakib, his mother, Sahida Khanam Sonali, an employee of Rajshahi City Corporation and 25 other unknown people. According to the case, Sakib and his mother Sonali hired criminals to beat up Himu and his family members for protesting Sakib's anti-social activities. Rajshahi City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton conde

Tuesday, July 14, 2009   A gang of criminals stormed into the residence of The Daily Star Staff Correspondent Anwar Ali Himu at Asam Colony in Rajshahi city yesterday and beat up the journalist and his two family members mercilessly, leaving them injured. Himu, his wife Jinnath Kaiwam and his father-in-law Mohammad Abdul Kaiwam were rushed to Rajshahi Medial College Hospital where Himu was undergoing treatment. The victim journalist said a gang of 25 criminals led by Sakib who is stepson of former councillor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mohammad Masud swooped on them while he was discharging his duty at about 7:30pm, leaving them injured. Jinnath said Sakib, a tenant of second floor of her father's residence, made the attack as Himu protested his anti social activities few days ago. She said two days ago her father asked Sakib's father to leave the house as his stepson is a drug addict and often came to the house with prostitutes. Few days ago, they a