Himu's Window

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members held two other top aides of Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai, operations commander of Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) from Raspur village in Dhamuirhat upazila of Naogaon district yesterday. Mustafizur Rahman also known as Rana and killer Mostaque, 26, son of Abdul Jalil of Palashi village and Abdul Kuddus alias Masud, 24, son of Abdus Samad of Kathalbaria in Bagmara upazila were arrested following an intelligence tip off. A Rab press release said, both of them were personal aides of Bangla Bhai and they took part in all Bangla Bhai’s dreaded operations during his ‘jungle rule’ in the North West in 2004. They were arrested twice before, but released later. With their arrests, a total of 20 Jama’atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh cadres of Bagmara upazila were held during ongoing crackdown against criminals. Officer-in-charge of Bagmara thana Mirza Golam Sarwar PPM said, Mostaque was accused in 7 cases, including 3 murder cas

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Adibashi Kabya Shilpa Niketon (AKaShiNi) observed the 4th aboriginal poetry festival amid due enthusiasm and fervour at Barshapara Adibashi Gana Pathshala premises on Monday. Prominent dance master Bazlar Rahman Badal inaugurated the festival and elderly aborigine representative Jatha Tudu presided over the inaugural session. Literature Fazlul Haq, architect Raziuddin Ahmad, artist Ashfakul Asekin, Lokas Sawria and Sukhen Mukhapadhya attended the function. National Aboriginal Council secretary Rabindranath Saren told that the festival was being organised for last four yeas for upholding the neglected but old literature, culture and, above all, languages of aborigines. Prof Habibullah, Rubina Anis, Selina Zaman, Husne Ara Chobi, Shamim Hossain John Kisku, Sarmina Tudu, Bharati Murmu, Shanti Hembrom and some others recited from poems in both Bengali and Adibashi languages. Aborigine poet John Kisku opened the cover of ‘Barendra Prantore Basanta’, a book of a

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Thousands of Santal aborigines of Rajshahi and surrounding areas became enthusiastic in festivals drawing attention to their old and rich culture. Three-day Baha (flower) festival began at remote Sundorpur village of Kakonhat in Godagari upazila on Tuesday. A day before two-day Karam festival ended in Godagari upazila. They took ‘My Culture My Identity’ as main slogan to give new dimensions to the festivals and demanded ensuring fundamental rights of living, education and land. Eminent literature Prof Hasan Azizul Haque formally inaugurated Baha festival of welcoming Santal New Year in evening as chief guest. In his speech, he called upon aborigines to struggle for safeguarding their own culture and heritage. “There are close relations between Bangali and Adibashi cultures. But economic freedom is essential for enjoying same status” Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University and Prof Moloy Kumar Bhoumik of Rajshahi University attended as special guests. Santal Pargana le

Anxious at recent actions against illegal luxury vehicles and wealth, Rajshahi Mayor and former BNP lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Minu paid off about Tk 9.36 lakh taxes last week to legalise his landed properties and costly vehicle bought at total Tk 86 lakh from obscure sources of income. He bought a 5-katha plot in Banani of Dhaka, a luxury Toyota Lexus vehicle and a piece of one-katha land in the city’s Ranibazar area worth total Tk 86,53,000 during the end of his government’s tenure in 2006, said his lawyer Mozaharul Haq Bakul. Minu paid off Tk 5.34 lakh through two separate drafts of Janata Bank, Rajshahi Ranibazar branch to deputy income tax commissioner of Rajshahi circle-2 for importing a luxury Japanese Toyota Lexus vehicle worth Tk 36 lakh on March 1. The same day, he paid off Tk 2650 for a piece of one Katha land in Rajshahi city. And on February 22, Minu paid off Tk 3, 99, 100 through a Markentile Bank draft for buying 5-katha plot in Bonani of Dhaka worth Tk 50 lakh. But the tax