Himu's Window

Even after eight years, Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) could not complete a 5km road expansion and construction work of the city's first ever flyover. Throughout the years, the design has been changed multiple times and new features added, increasing project implementation cost by Tk 119 crore. "We want to complete the works in a way that is beneficial for people. This is why we're taking our time with it," project director Md Abdullah Al Tariq told The Daily Star recently. Beside the cost increase, and its toll on people's coffers, people are also the victim of the delay as commuters of a traffic-logged city. According to documents and officials, RDA took up the project in February, 2013. They planned expanding the five-kilometre Ruet to Kharkhari road (15.85 metres wide), at a cost of Tk 87.36 crore. The project was scheduled to end in three years, by June, 2016. By 2016, it was already half-way there. But then the RDA authorities decided t...

Boro Harvest: Labour crisis worries farmers Anwar Ali The labour shortage created by the current shutdown is worrying farmers ahead of the Boro paddy harvest, despite different measures taken by the government to ensure maximum crop yield. Although the agricultural ministry is making special arrangements for transportation of labourers from different districts to the country's granaries, labour leaders are unwilling to leave home fearing coronavirus infection. Even the ministry's sanctioning of Tk 110 crore to help farmers buy harvester machines at a subsidy might do little to ease the crisis as small and marginalised rice producers, especially in the haor region, cannot afford such investments. read more here 

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 ...

Ex-BNP lawmaker and Rajshahi city mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu was sued in an extortion case with Rajpara police station yesterday. He was blamed for abetting extortionists and terrorists. Shamsul Islam Khan of Mohisbathan areas in the city lodged the case accusing the Mayor and 10 others including district BNP vice president Nazrul Huda and former city BNP secretary Shafikul Haq Milon. Other accused persons are – BNP adherents Sentu, Mainul, Babu, Ranju, Shamsul, Islam, Ashraf and Mamun. Khan, a governing body member of Evergreen Model College at Baharampur alleged in his complainant that the accused persons are allied with each other and they demanded Tk 4 lakh toll on March 29. The plaintiff alleged said, Minu called him and the college principal Abu Yusuf Selim at his office during setting up of the college in 2006. Minu requested them to include Nazrul Huda, Milon and local BNP adherent Sentu in the college governing body, the plaintiff was describing in the case. As denied,...

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/04/18/d70418060179.htm   State of emergency cannot remain for long Butenis tells Rajshahi chamber leaders US Ambassador in Dhaka Patricia A Butenis yesterday told Rajshahi businessmen that the state of emergency was necessary to tackle the chaotic political situations but it cannot remain for long. She was speaking at a meeting with the leaders of the business community at Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI). "I think it (state of emergency) is not viable and democracy should be the ultimate destination", Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Director Kabirur R Khan quoted the US envoy as saying while seeking the opinions of the businessmen. Bangladesh seems to be back on track and there should be a time frame for holding elections, she added. "We told her that we are happy with the current government activities that are helping speed up economic progress", said RCCI President Hasen Al...

An elderly share-cropper was killed while quarreling over his due share of irrigation water in Tanore upazila.   Israfil, 50 of Sakopara in Tanore succumbed to his injuries at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital yesterday.   Sakopara deep tube-well operator of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority and his associates beat him up on Sunday morning.   The police said, Israfil was pressurising the deep operator for his water over last two weeks.   As he was continuously deprived, Israfil became impatient and locked in quarrel with the deep operator on Sunday.   At s stage, he was beaten up mercilessly, said the police.   Legal action in this connection was underway till filing of this report.     Smuggler Held in Godagari Police seized a pistol and 200 gram heroin while arresting an arms and drug peddler from Godagari upazila yesterday.   Shis Muhammad Shishu, 20 of Kodalkati Char was among a few top smuggle...

Police arrested four militants of Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) and two cadres of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) from Bagmara upazila yesterday.   The detained militants are identified as Said Ali, 45, Joyen, 28 of Roynagar, Khoyer Ali, 36 of Kodapara and Akram, 40 of Sripur villages.   The police said, the militants were active in JMB operations led by Bangla Bhai in 2004 and accused in several torture cases.   The arrested outlaws are Mamun, 23 of Taherpur Basia and Khwaza Moyen, 28 of Maria villages. They are listed members of banned PBCP, said the police.   Different police teams led by Mirza Golam Sarwar, officer-in-charge of Bagmara police station caught them from their respective localities.   With the arrests, total 23 JMB militants and 51 outlaws were held in recent crackdown since mid January, said the police.   Meanwhile, police is continuing haunt against militants and outlaws simultaneously.

Complaints have been lodged with the police against some high-level political figures as well as a district super of police, for patronising the JMB. The latest accusations come in the wake of cases lodged in the recent past against a few other political leaders belonging to the same fold, for aiding and abetting the militants. The nexus of politicians and terrorists is a dangerous combination, something the media had been writing about but no attention was paid to it by the then alliance government. We feel that there is a need to focus on the issue of militancy, particularly of the type that we have been victims of over the last several years, in a holistic manner. We understand that there are dedicated anti-terror wings of the intelligence agencies, with training and expertise obtained from abroad. What is needed is a coordinated and collaborative effort that will allow concentration and optimum use of resources. And this can be ensured by a central coordinating agency. We are not a...

Ex-BNP deputy minister for land Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu was sued in yet another case for unleashing militants of Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) and own political cadres to tortures in retaliation for his nephew's murder.   Torture victim Selim Reza of Ramsa Kagipur (Dulu's home village) lodged the case on Sunday night with Natore Sadar police station accusing 21 others.   Dulu surrendered to a Dhaka court on February 20 and he is now facing a total of 16 cases including 6 for links with militancy.   Among other accused, militant Abdul Kuddus Mondol and Dulu's cadre ward commissioner Sadrul Islam Dambel were held few weeks ago.   Dulu's cadres Dalim, Dollar, Lion, Saiful, Tutul, Dablew, Minu, Malek, Babu, Golap, Dewan Shahin, Babul Chowdhury, Mostafizur Rahman Shahin, Sohel and militants Abdur Razzak Shah, Amzad, Kawsar, Hazraat Ali, Makbul Mastar and Ataur Rahman were accused in the case.   The plaintiff Selim Reza alleged in...

Police arrested two persons – a militant of Jma'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) and an outlaw of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) from Bagmara upazila last evening.   The detainee -- Abdur Rashid, 45 was a JMB leader of Hamirkutsa village, said the police.   He was accused in two cases for attempting murder of Sripur union chairman Makbul Hossain and police assault.   Another arrestee Abed Ali, 35 of Mirzapur is a listed PBCP cadre. He was accused four cases including two murders.   Tipped off, two separate police teams led by officer-in-charge of Bagmara police station Mirza Golam Sarwar picked up the wanted persons from their localities.   Police was interrogating them till filing of this report.   OC Sarwar said, police is continuing haunt against militants and outlaws simultaneously so that the outlaws can not spring up following recent crackdown on the militants.

Rajshahi University (RU) authorities were served with a show-cause notice yesterday in the case against its decision of sending 24 rare ancient Bengal treasures from Barendra Research Museum (BRM) to France .   Assistant judge Abdul Hannan asked RU vice chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain and BRM director Mohammad Zakaria to answer within 15 days as to why the RU decision would not be cancelled and declared illegal.   Senior lawyer Muhammad Yahia filing the suit on Thursday sought permanent injunction on the decision.   Yahia's lawyers Ankur Sen and AKM Anwar told the court that unlike other museums, BRM is owned by dwellers of Rajshahi and its treasurers can not be transferred without their consent.   They pleaded that sending most rare and valuable treasures of BRM would hamper research works and there is possibility of irreparable loss or damage to these.   Following government directives, RU authority in February decided to get BRM a glo...