Himu's Window

A government probe team detected that former agriculture minister Matiur Rahman Nizami was behind misuse, waste and misappropriation of at least Tk 35 crore of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) during the four-party alliance rule. The team also found that Tk 81.27 crore more of BMDA was wasted, misused or embezzled during that period. In response, Nizami, who heads Jamaat-e-Islami, a partner of the four-party alliance, told The Daily Star, "I am surprised hearing about the probe report. I am in no way involved in the alleged corruption and misuse, waste and misappropriation of BMDA money. This is a politically-motivated move against me with an intention to defame me." He said he never interfered in BMDA operations when he was a minister from 2001 to May 2003. The BMDA had been run by successive governments and it had no direct link with the minister, he claimed. Headed by Omar Faruk Chowdhury, lawmaker from Rajshahi-1 constituency, the seven-member government t

Published On: 2009-06-01 Even though this mango trade centre at Baneswar in Rajshahi seems full of mangoes and traders, the hustle and bustle of the place is much less than that of previous years.Photo: STAR 50pc drop in mango output Climate change blamed Mango growers fear 50 percent drop in production this year in Rajshahi region due to irregular weather pattern. Horticulturists attributed the sharp slump in mango production to abnormal variations to the climate that has an adverse affect on the Mother Nature. "Mango yield might drop to around 2.14 lakh tonnes from last year's average 4.28 lakh tonnes", said M Abul Bashar, Rajshahi regional additional director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). The annual average mango production is about five lakh tonnes from over 45,000 hectares of land in eight districts including the mango capital Chapainwabganj where mango grows on the highest 22,000 hectares of land while it is about 8500 hectares in Rajshahi. The

Sunday, May 17, 2009 Speakers at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap (dialogue) in Rajshahi yesterday said the government should not delay in starting trial of the war criminals to avert political disasters in future. They observed that those who opposed the country's liberation in 1971 are engaged in militancy and other subversive activities in the country. The speakers called on the government to ensure employment of underprivileged people in the northern districts and take action against manpower recruiting agencies those are cheating with the job seekers. They also called upon all political parties to be united for combating militancy in the country. The programme on contemporary issues was recorded at Rajshahi Medical College auditorium in the city last evening. It will be aired on BBC Bangla service today after its news bulletin Probaha at 8:00pm and will also be telecasted at Channel i at 8:00pm tomorrow. Panelists at the dialogue were Fazle Hossain Badsha MP, Mizanur Rah

Thursday, April 16, 2009   Body formed to probe corruption in Barind development works Barind Development Authority (BMDA) in a meeting yesterday formed a seven-member committee comprising five lawmakers to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption involving 'hundreds of crores' of taka public money during last several years. Omar Faruk Chowdhury, lawmaker from Rajshahi-1 constituency, is the head of the committee. Other members are Naogaon lawmakers Sadhan Chandra Majumder and Israfil Alam, Chapainwabganj lawmaker Ziaur Rahman, Pabna lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Dilu, Additional Divisional Commissioner Asit Kumar Mukutmoni and BMDA Executive Director Abdul Mannan (member secretary). The meeting formed the probe body after allegations of corruption and irregularities in the development works done under former BMDA executive director M Asaduzzaman were raised by the BMDA members. The committee will submit its report within one month. Rajshahi Divisional c

At least ten persons including two women from six indigenous communities are contesting for vice chairman posts in the upazila election in Rajshahi division. Five of them are from Santal tribe and one each from Razoar, Urao, Munda, Ganju and Rajbansi tribes. Two of them are housewives, one village doctor while the other candidates mentioned agriculture as their profession in the affidavits. In the affidavit, one indigenous candidate mentioned that he graduated in Social Science, two candidates passed HSC, one passed SSC, five read at high school while one mentioned that he is literate. Indigenous leaders are participating in local government election for the first time this year, said Rabindranath Saren, general secretary of Jatiya Adibasi Parishad (JAP). "Such participation will help empowering indigenous people in local government as well as upholding our history of depravity and losses of lives and properties". JAP sources said 38 different indigenous

View of a strawberry garden in Rajshahi.Photo: STAR The Quantum Foundation authorities in Rajshahi bought over 1,000 strawberry plants for Tk 20,000 a month ago. They spent a further Tk 13,000 cultivating a fallow eight decimal pieces of land in Shitlai Kazipur area. They are now waiting to cash nearly Tk 2 lakh, six times the amount they invested, by selling 250kg of the lip-smacking fruit, in just 10 days. “Strawberry cultivation is relatively new in the country, but it is not difficult. It spins money," said Muzahidul Islam Zahid, an official of the foundation. "For the first time I have cultivated the fruit." Major Hafizur Rahman Mollah, deputy inspector general of prisons for the Rajshahi division, cultivated some 2,500 strawberry plants at the Rajshahi Central Jail property, six months ago. The jail authorities have spent over Tk 50,000 on the cultivation and now sell 1,000 saplings for Tk 70,000. Also, they are set to sell around 600kg of the fruit at an expected

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.

The polls race in six constituencies in Rajshahi has drawn candidates ranging from unemployed persons to millionaire businessmen and from below secondary education to PhD degree holders. They include some 15 businessmen, four of them millionaire, eight teachers and six lawyers.AL candidate Prof Abdul Khaleque in Rajshahi-2 attached his PhD certificate in nomination papers while Masters degree holder SM Shafiul Azam of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) in Rajshahi-5 wrote 'unemployed' in the column for profession. BNP candidate Azizur Rahman and Jatiya Samjtantrik Dal candidate Nurul Islam in Rajshahi-6 constituency attached their SSC certificates, but CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) nominee Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-2 said he studied up to class IX.Among the four Awami League nominated millionaires, Omar Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi-1 stated his assets at Tk 4.19 crore while Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-4 mentioned his wealth to be worth about Tk 10.15 crore. Kazi Abdul Wadud D

Even though BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patal owns a Lexus and a Nissan SUV, a Mazda and a building in Dhaka worth Tk 1.54 crore, he claims to be a farmer earning Tk 2.15 lakh a year, thus not having to pay any income tax.Fazlur, a former state minister for youth and sports, in his nomination papers for Natore-1 constituency claimed agriculture as the only source of his income. Fazlur does not have to pay any income tax, according to the wealth statement attached to his nomination papers. One has to earn at least Tk 2.65 lakh a year in this sector for income tax to become mandatory.According to the tax-return certificate, the total amount of wealth of the BNP leader is Tk 1.98 crore and his monthly income and expenditure are Tk 17,876 and Tk 14,989.The certificate states that "he has no outstanding taxes". He did not pay any income tax this fiscal year either.Fazlur owns a six-storey building in Banani valued at Tk 1.54 crore and a two-storey building on 39 decimal land at Gouri

Former Rajshahi mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu mentioned politics as his profession in the affidavit he submitted along with nomination papers for contesting from Rajshahi-2 constituency.However, the former lawmaker who is in jail now did not mention any income from the profession.He claimed that he earns Tk 25,000 annually from agriculture and his wife earns Tk 1.80 lakh form her profession as a college teacher.But the central BNP organising secretary showed the value of the couple's movable property at Tk 63 lakh, excluding 43 ounces of gold ornaments. Their immovable properties include 30 bighas of arable land, a 5 katha land and a three-storied building.Minu also mentioned in his affidavit that he faces three corruption cases, one case for tax dodging and a criminal case.Another BNP nominee, Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-1 constituency did not mention his government job from which he was removed nearly a year ago, apparently fearing cancellation of his nomination.Enamul is brother of fo

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

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

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

Money-spinner strawberry draws government attention National Seed Board to approve variety for expansion of cultivation Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Strawberry grown at the yard of Dr Manjur Hossain in Rajshahi University. Photo: STAR Strawberry, a money-spinning nutritious and delicious foreign fruit adapted in Bangladesh, may get government registration soon for cultivation across the country after experiments yielded encouraging results in Rajshahi and Natore. "Once registered, strawberry cultivation will be expanded with government patronisationin, said Braja Hari Das, deputy director of Rajshahi Directorate of Agriculture Extension (DAE). With great export potential, the sweet and attractive fruit will open a new horizon for farmers, he told this correspondent. "A strawberry variety has been sent to National Seed Board and the process for registration is underway", said Dr Shafikul Islam, senior scientific officer of Rajshahi regional Fruit Research Centre (FRC). Experimenta

Bumper boro harvest on horizon   This boro season is expected to see a bumper harvest of the rice variety with a possibility of surpassing the Department of Agricultural Extension's (DAE) yield projection of 1.75 crore metric tons (MT). DAE officials, however, said bacterial leaf streak (BLS) and bacterial leaf blight (BLB) infested about 26,000 to 27,000 hectares of boro fields in 32 south and south-western districts where the crop is standing on 26 lakh hectares of land. "This is negligible. The infected fields hold less than one percent of the total production. Besides, a massive awareness campaign has already been launched to check the spread of the bacterial infections," said DAE Acting Director General Dr Shahidul Islam. DAE officials nonetheless cautioned that the outbreak might spread if strong nor'westers with heavy rain hit the country before the harvest starts by the end of this month. Meteorologist Ayesha Khatun said quoting from an expert