Himu's Window

Are rules of construction being followed? A five-storied building in Rajshahi has moved sideways and leaned on to another building. There was, of course, a mild earth tremor that caused such a condition. And as earthquakes go, the possibility of disasters is always there. But what is of greater significance in the present circumstances is the question of why a mild tremor should leave a building in precarious conditions. Over the last many years, the media have consistently drawn the attention of the authorities to the poor and sloppy manner in which buildings, especially high rise ones, are being constructed in the nation's urban areas. In the capital itself, there have been instances of buildings developing cracks not long after they have been constructed, with residents moving out in panic. There are quite a few crucial points that must be addressed insofar as the construction of buildings is concerned. And these questions are there because in a very large number of cases it is

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

Haji Bhaban, right, at Masterpara leans on another building following an earthquake that hit Rajshahi on Saturday night. Photo: STAR A five-storied building leaned on another building while cracks developed on a number of houses following an earthquake that hit Rajshahi and its adjoining areas on Saturday night.The five-storied building owned by an official of Rajshahi City Corporation leaned some three feet onto another building at Masterpara in the city. Besides, many houses at Chhoto Bongram, Seroil, Masterpara and Laxmipur in the city developed cracks.However, no injuries or casualties were reported. The earthquake, measuring 5.1 in the Richter scale, jolted the northwestern region of the country for nearly six seconds from 10.56pm. The epicentre of the quake was recorded at Bishpur of Indian State of Assam, some 290km to the northeast of Dhaka. Witnesses said the tremor was felt strongly in Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Natore and Naogaon districts. Panic-stricken people rushed out

An earthquake, measuring 5.1 in the Richter scale and with its epicenter in Indian state of Assam jolted the north-western region last night sending a wave of panic among the people in the areas.Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon were the districts where the quake was felt strongest, said witnesses. The earthquake sparked panic among people in the areas who rushed out of homes and shops on to the streets as it lasted for some 5 to 7 seconds beginning at 10.56pm. But there were no reports of casualties or damage from the tremor and its epicenter was recorded 290-km to the north-east from Dhaka at Bispur of Assam, said Metrologist Monirul Islam at Dhaka Met office. (The epicenter was found at 26 degrees 07.45 minutes north latitude and 91 degrees 39.33 minutes east longitude) Sensing the "imminent" danger many Muslim people started offering prayers and Hindus started making the Ulu Dhoni. "It was an awful experience and I didn't felt such jolt and banging in my