Himu's Window

Thursday, April 30, 2009 A syndicate of contractors in collaboration with some corrupt officials of Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway reportedly managed a tender proceeding at Rajshahi Rail Bhaban yesterday for construction of a foot over bridge at Bonarpara Railway Station in Lalmonirhat. On the last day of dropping schedules yesterday, only five schedules were dropped against some 300 schedules that were sold since the authorities floated the tender in the first week of April, said BR officials. Many of the contractors who bought schedules preferring anonymity alleged that they did not dare to submit their schedules as the syndicate threatened them. They added that the syndicate negotiated with most of the contractors and gave them Tk 1500 each against the price of schedule Tk 1000. Later, the negotiators filled their papers together at a city hotel and dropped as per plan. Two senior railway officials were also seen at the hotel during negotiations and filling up o

Sunday, April 26, 2009 The scorching heat coupled with erratic power supply has crippled the life in Rajshahi and its surrounding districts. Besides, acute water scarcity and mosquito menace have added to the suffering of the common people. The heatwave has also been hampering the harvest of Irri paddy as farmers as well as labourers are unable to stay in the paddy fields for longer time under the blazing sun. The farmers are complaining of huge load-shedding against the power authorities' claim for rationing power in urban areas for smooth power supply to irrigation sector. The northern districts are facing average 300 megawatt (MW) of load shedding against the daily demand for 750 MW now. PDB officials said with a local generation of around 266 MW, the PDB is to manage the demand with only 466 MW supply in the last few days. Acute water crisis in many areas compounded sufferings. Out of the demand for 226 lakh gallons of water, Rajshahi City Corporation s

Saturday, April 25, 2009 The historic Khapra Ward Day was observed at Rajshahi Central Jail and in the city yesterday with a vow to continue movement to ensure trial of the war criminals of 1971. On this day in 1950, prison guards following order of a jailer opened fire on communist prisoners who were fasting in protest against torture and sub-standard food in the jail. Seven communist leaders were killed in the firing. The slain communist leaders are Sukhendu Bhattacharya of Mymensingh, Baloram Singh of Dinajpur, Sudhin Dhar of Nawabganj, Delwar Hossain and Hanif Sheikh of Kushtia, Bijon Sen and Anwar Hossain of Khulna. Taking permission from the home ministry, some 31 people belonging to Communist Party of Bangladesh, National Awami Party (Nap) and Workers Party visited Khapra ward inside Rajshahi Central Jail yesterday. They placed wreaths at the Shaheed Minar built in front of the ward and held a memorial meeting there. NAP's district unit President Fazlul Haq

Friday, April 24, 2009 Despite good demand, the Western Railway Authorities dropped the lone air-conditioned (AC) chair coach from Padma Express train that runs between Dhaka and Rajshahi from yesterday. The train starts for Dhaka from Rajshahi in the afternoon and leaves the capital for Rajshahi at midnight. The railway authorities said the AC chair coach has been added to a Dhaka-bound train from Khulna as the AC coach of Chitra Express needs repair. "The Padma Express will get back its AC coach within two weeks when the AC coach of Chitra Express will be repaired," said the chief commercial manager of Western Railway. "We have decided to drop the coach temporarily following its 30 percent demand. Moreover, the Padma Express has an AC berth-coach alongside the AC chair coach," he added. However, the passengers have complained that the dropping of AC chair coach would have a bad impact on the service of Padma Express as its demand have risen this