Himu's Window

A woman works at a strawberry field in Rajshahi. Growers and traders of the fruit are expecting a Tk10 crore annual turnover, as they launch its commercial cultivation this year. Photo: STAR Strawberry growers and traders in Bangladesh are expecting Tk 10 crore in annual turnover, as they go into its first-ever commercial cultivation this year.  Rajshahi University teacher Dr Manzur Hossain, who developed the fruit nearly a decade ago, expects nearly 25 tonnes of output from about 8.5 acres of land in 45 districts until April.  Growers claim the cultivation of this money-spinning, nutritious, delicious foreign fruit will spin nearly Tk 10 crore worth of trade a year.  “The initial commercial production will meet 50 percent of the gross annual demand for the fruit. At present, the demand for the fruit stands at 50 tonnes,” said Hossain, also the general secretary of Bangladesh Strawberry Farmers Association, which monitors the fruit's cultivation in the country.  Production will con

Rajshahi city unit of Awami League at a press conference yesterday demanded removal of six police officers for allegedly favouring Islami Chhatra Shibir cadres during the violence on Rajshahi University and Rajshahi Medical College campuses. However, the police blamed the campus authorities and alleged the authorities refrained them from performing their duties following directives of Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton. The AL leaders demanded removal of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Commissioner Mahbub Mohsin, Additional Commissioner Hafizur Rahman, Assistant Commissioner (Boalia zone) Humayun, officers-in-charge (OC) of Rajpara Police Station (PS) Anisur Rahman and Rafiqul Islam of Motihar PS. Besides, a group of AL leaders at the press conference also demanded removal of RMC Principal Towhidul Alam and RMP Assistant Commissioner (detective branch) Mahfuzur Rahman. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=79535

Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is linked to the BDR massacre, Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan said today. "We've so far identified some persons in the BDR who are associated with the JMB," he said, based on feedback from the investigators, UNB adds. The commerce minister added that it was part of a conspiracy. Khan was speaking today (Thursday) at the annual meeting of the International Business Forum of Bangladesh at the Hotel Sheraton in the city. "When the government was moving towards a change for desired development, the conspirators staged the carnage in a bid to 'unsettle' the government and people," he told his business audience. "A dangerous conspiracy is going on to destroy the development of the country," Faruk added. The commerce minister said though the opposition party was silent at least for three days after the BDR massacre, now it is acting as a specialist in the matter. He said peop

At least four of the mutineers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) are believed to have been active members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) before they joined the paramilitary force. They all hail from Bagmara of Rajshahi, the stronghold of the Islamist militant outfit JMB, where extremists led by JMB's former operation commander Bangla Bhai, later executed, launched their atrocities.  Anwar, one of the four was well-known cadre of Bangla Bhai. He was allegedly involved in the murder of Awami League (AL) leader Yasin in 2004 in Bagmara. A team of the 'operation rebel hunt' has recently raided houses of Anwar, Ismail, Kawsar and Aftab but in vain.  The four were present at Pilkhana during the mutiny before they fled and they are still on the lam, said officers engaged in the 'operation rebel hunt'.  “There might be many more like them and we are looking into it”, said one of the officers.  The officers said some 10 to 12 rebel soldiers took shelter at Ismail&