Himu's Window

  Anwar Ali and Abu Kalam, Rajshahi An enthusiastic Amjad Hossain headed out to cast his vote at the Sabitri Girls' High School polling centre at Ghoramara of Rajshahi city with his shiny new digitised national identity card (NID). No sooner had he reached the centre at around 11:00am, than his bubble burst. He was told by the polling officer that the voter registration number, not the NID number, is required to cast vote. It took an hour and a half for this elderly person to go home and get back to the polling centre with the voter registration number. He had to spend the next half hour in the queue again. After all this, who would have thought that more shocking discoveries awaited the 52-year-old? After Amjad's voter registration number was verified, he found it hard to believe that someone else had already cast his vote. "How could the polling officer allow someone else to cast my vote when there's my photograph printed on the new voter roll?" h

Violating the rules for poster size, a Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) councillor aspirant, top, hangs posters printed on plastic paper. An RCC mayor candidate uses large replicas of his electoral symbol while another goes even further by using coloured ones. Photo: STAR Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Campaign expenditure of most mayoral and councillor candidates, especially of politically nominated ones, doubled the limits by the time electioneering in Rajshahi metropolis ended at zero hour Sunday.The mayor hopefuls in Rajshahi City Corporation were set to spend Tk 5 lakh and councillor aspirants Tk 1 lakh during campaigns.But reports say mayor candidates spent even Tk 12 lakh to Tk 20 lakh each, while several councillor aspirants spent at least Tk 5 lakh.Speaking anonymously, a number of candidates' polling agents admitted the fact and said real expenditure would be even higher due to rampant distribution of money among the poor voters.Many voters also believe though the spending was muc

  Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Pro-BNP mayoral candidates in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election are unlikely to achieve any gains despite Jamaat's last moment support due to widening infighting between them. The split between the groups loyal to jailed mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu and former BNP lawmaker Kabir Hossain was created over the selection of acting mayor Rejaunnabi Dudu and city Jubo Dal President Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul as mayoral candidates Apparently, Kabir-group is supporting BNP-adherent Dudu while Minu's group is backing Bulbul. But, a large section of Minu's group has reportedly developed opinion against Bulbul widening the crisis further. They alleged that those who were engaged in tender vandalism and corruption during BNP-Jamaat coalition rule and responsible for Minu's jail, are also campaigning for Bulbul. Although Minu gave his support to Bulbul from jail, but many of his followers said Minu does not want the emergence of any other lead

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Even though the electorate expect a clear stance on the militancy issue from the mayoral candidates of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), the candidates, however, avoided talking about it fearing it would affect their vote tally. The election campaigns ended yesterday midnight ahead of the start of polling at 8:00am August 4. Campaign sources said the candidate supported by the Awami League AHM Khairuzzaman Liton believes it is better not to talk about the militancy issue at the local government election since he expects to draw large number of votes from BNP-Jamaat supporters. These votes could swing if he talks too much against militancy, an issue that plagued the region during the BNP-Jamaat regime. The BNP-backed candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul felt relieved as no other candidates discussed the issue which was an "embarrassment" to the BNP-Jamaat government, party insiders said. Other candidates thought talking about the militancy issue w

Rajshahi city dwellers demand live TV programmes by polls aspirants Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Shahadat Hossain, Moniruzzaman Sharif, Rejaunnabi Al Mamun The electorate, 'cheated' in the past, are bewildered as old faces, many of them tainted, are showing up in the upcoming city corporation polls with old unfulfilled pledges. Among 16 mayor aspirants, 13 are known persons belonging to different political parties. They are now making pledges anew for a 'beautiful and developed Rajshahi city' free from corruption, terrorism and drugsthe same promises they made ahead of 2002 city corporation election. Among 236 councilor aspirants and 62 women candidates, some 100 are known political personalities. The 26 incumbent councilors, including six having records of facing criminal charges, are also in race in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election scheduled for August 4. The mayoral candidates have already started reiterating almost the same old pledges in small gatherings and party m

Bangladesh Chashi Kalyan Samity (BCKS), farmers' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, but also registered as an NGO, remained the party's financial front through illegal banking in at least 17 districts over a decade, sources say. Following a changed scenario after 1/11, the NGO has shut down its offices and swindled a huge amount of money collected through deposits, special deposit schemes and investment on loans among members since 1997. The BCKS business was also unlawfully sold to Jamaat supporters for covertly continuing the financial activities.Dissident BCKS officials, involved Jamaat leaders and victims say the accurate amount of misappropriation cannot be found out without proper inquiry. But they add the figure would be minimum Tk 100 crore collected from about five lakh people. The sources say each of seven BCKS branches in Rajshahi earned around Tk 2.5 crore annually and the NGO staffs were engaged in misappropriation from the very beginning. A large number of officials and emp

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi With announcement of the schedule for Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) polls on Friday, all probable candidates for the post of mayor and councillors have beefed up electioneering. Probable candidates from the Awami League and BNP-Jamaat coalition too passing busy days meeting people as part of their election campaign even though the major parties are still dragging feet from taking part in the elections. Several of them, speaking in return for anonymity, said, their parties would soon understand the necessity of taking part in the elections, otherwise, they would join the polls independently. At least 17 probable candidates from seven political parties, including two newly formed ones, have already informed newsmen that they are keen to take part in the fray. Workers' Party's politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha is seen to be enjoying advantageous position in the present situation. "One can call it electioneering, but I am meeting pe

A truck opts for the adjoining lane to avert the jerks on the main road of Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway in Tarash union in Sirajganj district...STAR Five years into opening, the country's first and longest 'toll road' connecting Natore and Sirajganj on Rajshahi-Dhaka Highway has become risky for thousands of commuters due to substandard construction and poor maintenance. Pitch and carpeting on the 55-km road started to be dislocated and large craters appeared within one year of its inauguration in May 2003, locals and Roads and Highways Department (RHD) officials said, adding that some 27km of the highway is now hard for vehicles to ply. In five years, the road authorities earned over Tk 12.70 crore as toll with around Tk 71,000 daily average collection from movement of 2000 vehicles. But the road with large potholes, craters and ditches is now causing one-hour sufferings to passengers from and to the Capital. In the rainy seasons, the situation turns worse as rainwater remains s

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) is constructing a bridge on the Shibu River at Tanore upazila, Rajshahi at a cost of about Tk 4 crore without building any approach road on either side. LGED officials said the 210-metre bridge was designed during the BNP-Jamaat rule as the then prime minister pledged the construction of a 10-km road between Soipara of Mohonpur upazila and Gollapara of Tanore upazila. The Daily Star conducted a spot visit recently when columns of the under-construction bridge were seen in the middle of the 1.5-km-wide river. The bridge has no road link between Gollapara Bazar, one km from the bridge, and the road to Soipara which is 1.5-km away. Also the LGED does not own land around the bridge to be able to construct approach road. "The bridge is urgently needed for boosting local business and other convenience but without proper roads it will be nothing but waste of money," said Sukumar Roy, a local fish trader who was seen crossing the river o

Alarming rise in trafficking thru' Rajshahi border 71 rescued in 4 drives in 3 weeks Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Law enforcement agencies rescued 71 people from traffickers on Rajshahi borders only in four drives in three weeks, sending a warning that trafficking has increased alarmingly in north-western frontiers. Organised international traffickers have built a strong network in the region taking advantage of people's poverty, sources in BDR and police said. Law enforcers have increased vigilance on the border and areas nearby. Police on June 4 rescued 16 people including five women and seven children from Seroil bus stand area in Rajshahi city as they were about to be trafficked to India through Barakuthi ghat in Padma river. Two days back, BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) rescued 21 people of six families, including 11 children, from near Godagari border in Rajshahi. Police rescued five teenaged girls from Shiroil bus stand on May 27. On May 13, BDR rescued 28 people

Published On: 2008-05-31 Front Page Bamboo poles being used to supply power Anwar Ali, Rajshahi     Bamboos are being used on the Rajshahi city protection embankment to supply power to houses violating Power Development Board rules. Photo: STAR     The Power Development Board (PDB) is using bamboo poles for supplying electricity to different areas in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) violating existing rules. As per the rules, the PDB can give electricity connection from a standard pole to households at a maximum distance of 100 feet and the electricity cables have to be at least seven metres above the ground. But the rules are being violated in many RCC areas including Bulonpur, Keshabpur, and Mirzapur. Electricity is being supplied using bamboo poles to about 400 houses at Keshabpur several hundred feet away from a standard pole on the protection dam at Bulonpur. Moreover, many bamboo poles used for supplying electricity were found in a bad shape with power

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 five hours f

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: 2008-05-14 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,

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

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

Police neglect led to outlaw regrouping Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Neglect by law enforcers and lack of proper supervision by higher authorities helped underground operatives reorganise in the northwest region, said locals and police officials. The May 2 attack on police in Taherpur was an outburst of reorganization, said police sources investigating the incident. Locals in Bagmara allege police had stopped regular watch and special raids since October last year following transfer of an officer allegedly for intensive drives and netting outlaws and militants simultaneously. "I have not seen any remarkable police raids recently, while the law enforcers harassed those who expressed anxiety over outlaws' presence," said a villager asking not to be identified. Another source said, "A businessman received threats over phone at the office of the officer-in-charge just days before the Taherpur attack. The OC asked him not to worry saying outlaws are no longer a

Weary of the scorching heat, buffalos stream in towards the Padma River to quench their thirst and have a relishing bath. The photo was taken from Sreerampur in Rajshahi yesterday.   Heat wave, water-power crisis disrupt life in northern dists Mercury rises to 39.4 degree Celsius in Rajshahi: Weathermen say no respite in sight Anwar Ali, Rajshahi   The persisting heat wave, coupled with power load shedding and water crisis have disrupted life in northern districts. The hear wave may continue a couple of days more, weather men said yesterday. The mercury rose to 39.4 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi while humidity in air was recorded at 12 per cent yesterday, sending people on streets panting for water and cool air. Shahidul Islam, a senior weather observer said, "Such low humidity reduces possibility of rain". Meteorologist Sadekul Islam at the Met office here said, "Possibility of rain in next three days is bleak". Quoting from monthly weather repor

Barely making ends meet Anwar Ali, Rajshahi "Life goes on somehow…a bit better than many others," Islam, a philosophy teacher at a government college, blurted in a choked voice with tears welled up in his eyes. Islam, who represents the middleclass and lives in a rented house in the Ghoramara area with his wife and their two-year-old child, has already reduced his family spending and stopped attending social events only to survive the spiralling prices of rice and other commodities. "I no longer can afford to maintain my status as a first class government official. I cut back on several necessities, yet the monthly deficit is increasing so fast that it's about to drive me crazy," said Islam, unwilling to give out his full name. "Nevertheless, I feel relieved when I see that the conditions of my lower level colleagues and the ones at private colleges are even much worse," he added. Even a year ago, he could save a little money af

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