Himu's Window

The Daily Star   Shamim Ashraf Political analysts, diplomats, politicians and rights activists said the country's politicians can learn the politics of positive attitude and democratic culture from the US presidential election 2008 to bring about qualitative changes in the society. Terming Barack Obama's historic win in the election a "victory of tolerance, co-existence and mutual respect", they urged the country's politicians to practise positive politics to make parliament effective with the real intent of serving people. The Daily Star yesterday discussed Obama's victory with economist Muzaffer Ahmad, politicians Dr Kamal Hossain and Abdur Razzak, political scientists Dr Harunur Rashid and Dilara Chowdhury, former foreign secretary Farooq Chowdhury and former caretaker government adviser Sultana Kamal. Prof Dilara Choudhury said American voters gave verdict for a change by expressing their unhappiness at unacceptable policies of the adminis

Full text: Obama's victory speech Democrat Barack Obama has become the first African-American to win the White House. Here are his remarks as prepared for delivery to a huge crowd in his home city of Chicago: CHANGE HAS COME If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and

Vaishnavs of ISKCON render "Naam Sangkirtan" at the festival. Photo: STAR “Some render 'kirtan', some are immersed in 'puja', what links them all is their devotion to Lord Gaurango,” said Ramesh Chandra Das at Kheturi Dham. A Krishna devotee, Ramesh recounted his pilgrimage from Narayanganj to Kheturi Dham at Premtali -- some 20 kilometers off to the west of Rajshahi city. He was humming a 'kirtan' of Nazrul, “Hey Gobinda rakho choroney.” Like him, thousands of Vaishnavs and Hindus from different areas gathered at the three-day Kheturi Vaishnav Festival recently. Many of the Vaishnavs arrived from far-flung districts like Chittagong. Joining them were foreign delegates from India, Italy, Australia and Canada who are members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) joined in. This festival has been observed for 436 years. The festival marks the death anniversary of the renowned Vaishnav saint Sri Narottam Das Thakur (on the f

RMP gets list from police headquarters for vigilance and action to hold peaceful election   Police have prepared a list of 36 terror-suspects including some ward councilors and politicians in Rajshahi city as they might pose threats to holding of the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections peacefully. The police headquarters prepared the list following field level intelligence reports and sent it to Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) for keeping vigilance on them, highly placed sources in RMP said. According to the sources, the list includes names of six newly elected ward councilors of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), three former ward councilors and five persons belonging to Awami League (AL) and BNP. The listed persons might hamper the JS elections by abetting use of illegal arms, musclemen and money, the sources said quoting the intelligence reports and analysis of their previous criminal records. The police headquarters have directed RMP authorities to take legal action

Published On: 2008-10-24 Front Page Around 42 large trees on the eastern side of Mohiuddin Jahangir Sarani are being chopped down after Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) authority sold those for a meagre price of Tk 1.98 lakh to make way for construction of a sewerage drain. According to RCC sources, the trees are 10 to 20 years old and include Mahogani, Koroi, Paikor, Babla and Epil Epil trees, which generally fetch a good price in the market for their timber value.   Environmental activists say the felling of the trees would hamper the ecology of the northwestern city generally known as Green City and that such a move should not be allowed. Locals allege that the price quoted by RCC is peanuts compared to their real market value. A private organisation, Modina Printing and Packaging, purchased the trees and begun felling the trees yesterday morning and seven trees were chopped down by the afternoon, witnesses said. Some branches of the felled trees were piled up for s

Published On: 2008-10-23   Lofty promises made violating election code   The day-long opening ceremony of Saleha Emarat Medical Centre at Sakoa village in Bagmara upazila yesterday virtually turned into a political campaign to woo public support for Awami League's nomination for industrialist Enamul Haque.   In sheer violation of the electoral code of conducts for probable candidates in the upcoming general elections, ambitious promises were made from the meeting while almost all the speakers remained focused on seeking nomination for Enamul.   "I have a plan to turn this medical centre into a medical college hospital, I will establish more medical centres spending Tk 60 crore… I want to serve the people of my locality.   "Please help me to create the opportunity for serving you," Enamul told the gathering, categorically seeking support for his candidacy. The election code of conduct prohibits such promises of development projects or giving allo

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi This old temple has now become a breeding ground for weeds and has been reportedly encroached by Taherpur College authorities(left); The peak of the Shiv Temple in Taherpur (right) Photo: STAR The tourism prospect of Taherpur was focused on while observing the greatest Bengali Hindu festival Durga Puja at the remote town under Bagmara upazila where the festivities were introduced 528 years ago.Durga Puja in this region was initiated by Raja Kangsa Narayan Roy Bahadur in 1480 (Bengali year 887). Folklore researchers believe that the Durga Puja celebration started widely in this sub-continent since its observance by Raja Kangsa Narayan.“Durga Puja used to be celebrated within the family parameters before the Taherpur dynasty started observing it as a universal celebration,” said folklore researcher Dr. Saifuddin Chowdhury of Rajshahi University.In the old days, Durga Puja was celebrated with fitting grandeur in the area. People of all religions used to enjoy local ope