Himu's Window

Even though BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patal owns a Lexus and a Nissan SUV, a Mazda and a building in Dhaka worth Tk 1.54 crore, he claims to be a farmer earning Tk 2.15 lakh a year, thus not having to pay any income tax.Fazlur, a former state minister for youth and sports, in his nomination papers for Natore-1 constituency claimed agriculture as the only source of his income. Fazlur does not have to pay any income tax, according to the wealth statement attached to his nomination papers. One has to earn at least Tk 2.65 lakh a year in this sector for income tax to become mandatory.According to the tax-return certificate, the total amount of wealth of the BNP leader is Tk 1.98 crore and his monthly income and expenditure are Tk 17,876 and Tk 14,989.The certificate states that "he has no outstanding taxes". He did not pay any income tax this fiscal year either.Fazlur owns a six-storey building in Banani valued at Tk 1.54 crore and a two-storey building on 39 decimal land at Gouri

Selection follows 'suggestion' of jailed, absconding leaders The BNP has fielded eight new faces, including three alternative candidates, for constituencies in Rajshahi and Natore districts mainly upon recommendations of jailed and absconding leaders while sidelining grassroots party men.Three of the new faces are relatives of former BNP stalwarts who are either in jail or staying abroad being convicted in cases for abetting militancy and three BNP nominees are still facing corruption charges.Former BNP lawmaker Abu Hena, who had earlier criticised those BNP stalwarts for their role behind militancy, has been dropped. Before recommending party leaders for nomination, local unit leaders did not hold any grassroots leaders' meeting that was made mandatory in the Representation of People Order (RPO).Rather, the local units followed recommendations of the jailed and fleeing leaders and sent names of their chosen persons to the BNP's central committee for party tickets.“The

Former Rajshahi mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu mentioned politics as his profession in the affidavit he submitted along with nomination papers for contesting from Rajshahi-2 constituency.However, the former lawmaker who is in jail now did not mention any income from the profession.He claimed that he earns Tk 25,000 annually from agriculture and his wife earns Tk 1.80 lakh form her profession as a college teacher.But the central BNP organising secretary showed the value of the couple's movable property at Tk 63 lakh, excluding 43 ounces of gold ornaments. Their immovable properties include 30 bighas of arable land, a 5 katha land and a three-storied building.Minu also mentioned in his affidavit that he faces three corruption cases, one case for tax dodging and a criminal case.Another BNP nominee, Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-1 constituency did not mention his government job from which he was removed nearly a year ago, apparently fearing cancellation of his nomination.Enamul is brother of fo

DHAKA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) rejected on Sunday a proposal by the state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation or Petrobangla to raise natural gas prices to offset losses. "We decided not to raise natural gas prices proposed by the Petrobangla as the state firm is making profit by selling gas to the consumers," said Ghulam Rahman, chairman of the BERC. Bangladesh in 2003 formed BERC following suggestions by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to closely monitor, review and adjust country's administered oil, gas and electricity prices in accordance with the global prices. "Petrobangla proposed to raise gas prices by nearly 66 percent on average at consumer level to pay its bills to the international oil companies (IOCs), which we do not consider just and reasonable," Rahman told reporters. The outstanding bills of the IOCs until June 2008 is about $359 million, officials said. Foreign