Himu's Window

Mizanur Rahman Minu, the BNP candidate at Rajshahi-2 constituency came out of Rajshahi Central Jail last evening after one and a half years. His family members and some 50 leaders and activists of local BNP welcomed him at the jail gate when he was released at around 6.35pm. His release, just five days ahead of official beginning of poll campaigning from December 12, made BNP activists hopeful for having strong fight in the election race. Minu who was criticized before for giving certificate to militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib will fight against the grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha who has already started voicing against militancy. Minu, also former Rajahahi mayor and lawmaker was freed as the high court on Thursday granted him bail in two corruption cases lodged by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Minu was held on June 6, 2007 over the Tk 1 crore extortion case with Rajpara police station. After being freed on bail from the case, he was held again from Rajshahi Nagar B

The contestants in the ensuing Jatiya Sangsad election from Rajshahi constituencies include at least four who are still accused in different corruption and criminal cases.The four are former BNP lawmakers Mizanur Rahman Minu and Kabir Hossain, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) nominees -- Mohammad Mohsin Pramanik at Rajshahi-4 and Abul Kalam Azad at Rajshahi-5.The facts were revealed in the affidavits given by the candidates.Minu, BNP aspirant from Rajshahi-2 constituency is now in jail and is likely to be freed any time.In his affidavit Minu stated that he is still accused in five cases while he was acquitted in an extortion case in which he was sentenced to 13 years in jail. He also mentioned that he was cleared of charges in two cases including a murder case.On Thursday, he was granted bail in two graft cases that are still under trial.Of the five other cases Minu is still facing trail, one for graft and one for tax dodging have been stayed by the high court.Former BNP lawmaker Ka

Five Rajshahi University (RU) teachers and two Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) physicians are voluntarily bearing election expenditure of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Ataur Rahman who is contesting in Rajshahi-2 and 3 constituencies.In his affidavit, Rajshahi city Jamaat Amir Ataur Rahman, also assistant headmaster of Rajshahi Lokhnath High School, stated that his election expenditure is Tk 8.95 lakh.Of the amount, Rahman will spend Tk 25,000 from his own income as teacher and agriculturist.RU Science Faculty dean Dr Abul Hashem and Prof M Nazrul Islam will donate him Tk 1.50 lakh each, he said.RU Commerce Faculty dean Dr M Umar Ali of Binodhpur Bazar will donate him Tk 1 lakh while RU teachers -- Dr Nazrul Islam and M Nurul Islam will donate Tk 50,000 each, he said.RMCH physicians Dr Fatema Siddika of Gynecology Department and Dr M Zahangir of Pharmacology Department will donate Tk 70,000 and Tk 50,000 respectively,the Jamaat leader said.Besides his employment at RMCH, Dr M Zaha

The polls race in six constituencies in Rajshahi has drawn candidates ranging from unemployed persons to millionaire businessmen and from below secondary education to PhD degree holders. They include some 15 businessmen, four of them millionaire, eight teachers and six lawyers.AL candidate Prof Abdul Khaleque in Rajshahi-2 attached his PhD certificate in nomination papers while Masters degree holder SM Shafiul Azam of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) in Rajshahi-5 wrote 'unemployed' in the column for profession. BNP candidate Azizur Rahman and Jatiya Samjtantrik Dal candidate Nurul Islam in Rajshahi-6 constituency attached their SSC certificates, but CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) nominee Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-2 said he studied up to class IX.Among the four Awami League nominated millionaires, Omar Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi-1 stated his assets at Tk 4.19 crore while Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-4 mentioned his wealth to be worth about Tk 10.15 crore. Kazi Abdul Wadud D