Himu's Window

Violating the election code of conduct, a coloured banner is hung near RDA market in Rajshahi city seeking vote for a mayoral candidate. Photo: STAR Independent mayor candidate Siddikur Rahman gave an undertaking at Rajshahi deputy election commissioner's office yesterday that he would no more violate election rules by using loudspeakers beyond the officially fixed time limit.Election officials along with police seized a three-wheeler and loudspeakers while those were being used for campaigning for Siddikur Rahman after 8 pm Saturday night, which is prohibited.Siddikur Rahman was then summoned to the deputy election commissioner's office. He gave in writing that he would never use loudspeakers on streets violating the code of conduct and abide by other polls rules.However, sources at the election office said they received many such allegations of violation of code of conduct. In most cases, they warn the candidates through letters.Rajshahi city Awami League (AL) secretary an

Twelve mayoral candidates of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) polls during a meeting with people of the city yesterday vowed to resist crime and corruption. They took an oath holding each other's hands that they would not use or raise musclemen for winning the elections or to confront their opponents. They promised to ensure people's participation in planning and implementing development schemes, if elected. They also promised to accept defeat in the election and help the winner in the work for development of the city. They pledged that they would try to increase the use of local resources in augmenting development, hold open budget sessions and maintain regular interaction with the people to ensure accountability. Three mayor candidates, Awami League (AL) leader Nasir Ahmed Biddyut, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Rajshahi city President Akhtaruzzaman Bablu and independent candidate Forman Ali, did not show up at the meeting. Prof Muzaffar Ahmad, eminent economist a

Published On: 2008-07-19 Front Page Dulu showcaused for defying party decision, faces expulsion   Rajshahi city unit of Awami League yesterday issued a notice on its president Masudul Haque Dulu, asking him to explain why he will not be expelled from the party. Dulu is facing expulsion for running in the mayoral election to Rajshahi City Corporation defying the party's decision. Local Awami League nominated its general secretary AHM Khairuzzaman Liton for the mayoral post. A press release signed by city AL acting General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Badsha said the executive committee of the unit at its meeting in the morning unanimously decided to issue a show cause notice on Dulu for contesting the election defying party's decision.   http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=46419

Published On: 2008-07-15 Front Page Rejoinder, our reply Bangladesh Chashi Kalyan Samity (BCKS) in a rejoinder protested a report headlined "Five lakh depositors swindled by Jamaat's farmer wing" published in The Daily Star on July 7. It said BCKS considers the report "a malicious attempt to spread venom against a political party which has clean image amongst people and has no working relationship with BCKS". It claimed BCKS to be a "non-political" and "non-profit" organisation for farmers' welfare and said it is not true that BCKS acted as financial front of Jamaat through illegal banking. It claimed that central BCKS did not decided on closing down branches and the allegation of selling offices was irrelevant. The rejoinder contradicted that Tk 100 crore was swindled out of five lakh people. It said they now have Tk 4,23,81,920 unpaid savings of 32,370 people and Tk 5,06,81,689 distributed loans among 12,832 people

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

Shujan discussion told in Rajshahi Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi Speakers at a views exchange meeting in Rajshahi city yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) is depriving people of their right to information by not providing detailed information on mayoral and councillor candidates in local government elections. They observed that not providing information about candidates is violation of a court order and it would help dishonest and corrupt candidates win again. The speakers said this is allowing criminals, corrupt and disputed politicians to have the chance to be elected again despite government efforts for electoral reforms to have honest and competent candidates. Former adviser to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan was the chief guest while President of Shushashoner Janney Nagarik (Shujan) Rajshahi district unit Nurul Alam presided over the meeting.Shujan organised the meeting titled "Responsibilities of concerned citizens to elect honest and efficient persons" a

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