Himu's Window

  Rajshahi Government College authorities have prohibited entry of female students and women on the campus after college hours ends at 4:00pm. The college authorities said the move was taken to check increasing anti-social activities and movement of drug runners on the campus while students and NGO activists said the authority imposed the ban without any logical ground. The decision has been implemented following a meeting of the Academic Council, college Principal Dr Ali Reja Abdul Mazid said, adding, "There are reports of abuse of female students and outsider women on the campus by their so-called friends or fiancés. The situation worsens in the evening when drug peddlers and users also become active. So, we took the action." Terming the college authority's decision as an anti-women move, students said the decision will be harmful for the students who are engaged in private tuition. The authority could prevent unfair activities on the campus with the help...

  Asadullah Al Galib, chief of Islamist militant outfit Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab), was freed on bail yesterday from Bogra Jail. The High Court (HC) granted him bail in two cases as the trials could not be held within the time set by the HC six months ago. Since his arrest on February 23, 2005, a total of ten cases were filed against the militant kingpin and a close ally of executed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Shayekh Abdur Rahman. However, during the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government, Galib was relieved of charges in six of the cases and was granted bail in another case. On July 26, during the term of the present government, a Gaibandha court declared him not guilty in an explosives case. Six months back, the HC ordered that Galib would be awarded bail in two other cases (one for explosions in Shahjahanpur and the other for murdering a person in the explosions) unless the trial of the murder case is completed within three months and the ...

  Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Spiritual leader of Jama'atul Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) Dr Asadullah Al Galib may be freed in a few days. Galib, Arabic teacher at Rajshahi University and also chief of Ahle Hadith, Bangladesh (Ahab), was granted bail by Bogra Session Judge's court in Shahjahanpur theatre (jatra) bombing case in pursuance of an earlier conditional bail by the High Court. Now there is virtually no legal barrier in his release, said his lawyers. His release would take a few days more as there were two warrants for producing him before courts in under-trial cases, they said adding that recalling warrants are a matter of time. Out of total nine cases filed against him by the state since his arrest, he was acquitted in one case while final reports were given in five cases, relieving him of charges. He was granted bail by High Court in three other cases. However, acquitting Galib in Polashbari jatra blast case in Gaibandha, the judge had said, the prosecution ...

  Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Leaders of Awami league and BNP in Rajshahi are worried that they may face a 'risk of impending intra-party rift' by approving candidature of party men in the planned upazila election. They apprehend that grassroots leaders who will not get party nod in upazila elections may work against them in general election. The situation is worst for BNP. Party leaders in many northern districts are already witnessing splits in the party while the gap between BNP and its ally Jamaat is widening. "We are against holding of upazila election before national polls as it will create manifold problems in country's politics that is already in crisis", said Azizur Rahman, president of Rajshahi BNP. He, however, admitted that many BNP leaders have expressed opinions for contesting the upazila election. "They are taking their own decisions as we are against the polls". Some Awami League bigwigs said, rift in the party has already started...

  Anwar Ali, Rajshahi A fresh controversy is racking Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) as the corporation authorities are getting ready to give permanent appointments to 72 temporary staff just ahead of the new mayor-elect's induction to the office. The temporary staff had allegedly been hired on political consideration during the tenure of former mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, a BNP leader currently in jail on charges of corruption. RCC Mayor-elect AHM Khairuzzaman Liton is scheduled for taking the oath of office on August 29, and the recruitment move just before his induction has given rise to some questions in the city. RCC officials said current Acting Mayor Rezaunnabi Dudu, who also claims to be a member of BNP, has been pressuring them to complete the recruitment process 'in a hurry'. Liton, who won the recent mayoral election with an Awami League ticket, condemned the move and termed it a part of RCC authorities' 'recruitment business'. He alread...

  Rajshahi City Awami League last night expelled two of its front ranking leaders including its president Masudul Haque Dulu for contesting in the August 4 city corporation election against party leader AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. Liton was elected mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation. The city AL unit in its executive committee meeting also expelled vice-president of the city unit Mostaque Ahmed Labu, Dulu's close associate. The expulsion orders would be sent to AL central committee for its approval, said meeting sources. Twelve other Dulu's men including three city AL vice- presidents were also asked to explain why they would not be expelled from the party for 'breaking party rules'. The vice presidents are Bazlar Rahman, Mir Iqbal Hossain and Tabibur Rahman Sheikh. The other leaders are Shamsur Rahman, Mir Abul Kalam Azad, Khairul Bashar, Salauddin Raju, Menajjul Hossain, Mansur Zaman, Khairul Kabir, Wares Ali and Saiful Islam. They were asked to show cause w...

WHEN the backlash to a trivial matter has such upshots as injuring 60 people, damaging private and public property, shutting down traffic and closing of a university sine die then there must be something seriously wrong with our collective psyche. We have the discomfiture for the umpteenth time to comment on a series of errant outbursts, this time originating in a coach conductor's ham-handed treatment to a student of Rajshahi University. The student was allegedly forced out of a Dhaka-bound bus for demanding a seat he has paid for. The behaviour of the bus conductor was reprehensible calling for disciplinary action, no doubt. What should have been the normal option for the student to exercise was to approach the coach authority to lodge a formal complaint with, ask for refund of the fare and furthermore demand compensation for the journey missed. Instead, he reported the incident to his fellow students which had the effect of agitating them to attack Rajshahi-Dhaka b...