Himu's Window

Twenty-four people, deported by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) through two border points in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts on Friday, were sent to jail yesterday. The judicial magistrate's courts in the districts sent them to jail after police produced them before the courts in connection with the cases filed under Bangladesh Control of Entry Act 1952. Police said these people hail from various districts across the country and suffered one month's jail term in India as they entered the country illegally to seek fortune or for treatment. "By entering India illegally, they committed crime even under the law of Bangladesh", said Sub-inspector Saidur Rahman of Godagari Police Station. Of the 24 deported people, 12 were captured by BDR personnel at Sahebnagar frontier under Godagari upazila of Rajshahi while the rest in Shibrampur area of Bangabari border under Gomostapur upazila of Chapaianwabganj. BDR members handed over the captured people t

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, is wooing children allegedly using religious edicts and arousing 'fear of hell' in them. Police and guardians said several groups of Shibir activists are now active at places under Boalia, Rajpara, Motihar and Shah Makhdum thana areas in the city who are 'recruiting' children, mostly seven to 12-year-old ones. Shibir men approach children at school gates and playgrounds and ask them questions on religion, and eventually compel them to enrol as 'supporters', said RMP Assistant Commissioner (Detective Branch) Mahfuzur Rahman. Following allegations from guardians of several children who were made 'Shibir supporters,' Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) have employed plain-clothes policemen to watch activities of Shibir men. "A group of eight Shibir men called some kids including my ward when they were playing on a field near my house. They asked th

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) yesterday dismissed some 105 "excess and politically appointed" employees. The jobless staff gathered in front of the Rajshahi Nagar Bhaban in the afternoon and staged a demonstration demanding withdrawal of the dismissal order. The RCC authorities hung notices at different sections ordering dismissal of 150 staff with effect from today (April 1). The sacked employees are mostly from conservancy section, said a RCC official. A few staff from vehicle, immunisation, mosquito control, and water-supply sections and RCC administration are also sacked. "We decided to fire 420 excess staff in January. But after consulting the labour leaders, we have now dismissed 25 percent of the excess staff", said RCC Secretary Emdadul Haque. Replying to a question, he said some more staff will be sacked to save money and run civic services smoothly. RCC councilors said nearly 500 employees were appointed on daily payment basis and they u

Published On: 2009-03-31   The Bangladesh chapter of Kuwait-based NGO Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) is still running its offices and covert activities although its registration was cancelled nearly two years ago. The NGO spends at least Tk 2 lakh a month, said a few contractors who worked for RIHS. But the source of this money remains mysterious because foreign funding of RIHS was stopped and its bank accounts closed following the cancellation of registration, they said. Senior officials of the NGO are meanwhile lobbying hard within the present government either for reconsideration of the cancellation of its registration or for getting permission to continue activities in some other name. The NGO Affairs Bureau cancelled RIHS's registration in May 2007 following a government decision made over intelligence recommendations. Ahle Hadith Andolon (Ahab) chief Asadullah Al Galib had helped RIHS get registered in November 1996. The organisation has appealed