Himu's Window

Saturday, August 15, 2009 Speakers at a view exchange meeting in Rajshahi yesterday said a culture of seeking information should be developed in society, especially for the grassroots-level people, for effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) law. RTI law would not leave any benefit unless it is properly implemented through creating awareness among mass people about their right of access to information, they added. Once RTI is properly implemented, the speakers said, it would take the country a step forward to ensure good governance as well as administrative transparency and accountability. They stressed the need for a strong role of the media in educating common people on appropriate methods of exercising their right. Campaign for Right to Information (CFRTI) and local vernacular daily the Mukto Chetona jointly organised the meeting on 'RTI law and role of media' in association with Asian Foundation at a city restaurant. Fazle Hossain Ba

Saturday, August 15, 2009   Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB) in Rajshahi was closed sine die yesterday following a clash between students and police that left at least 35 people injured. The clash ensued as students put a barricade on the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway demanding that the AUB authorities produce valid documents of government approval. AUB students said the Rajshahi campus of the varsity has no government approval and as the authorities failed to produce any valid papers, the legality of the university was questionable. At around 9.30am students boycotted their scheduled examinations and came out in their hundreds. The examinees along with other students marched in a procession on the campus and challenged the authorities whether they had any legal authority to run the campus. The angry students were not satisfied with the answer the AUB authorities gave and put a barricade on the Rajshahi-Dhaka highway at around 10am. The students staged a sit-in there f

Friday, August 14, 2009 Al Markajul Islami As-Salafi Madrasa at Nawdapara in the city was closed sine die by its authorities yesterday due to attempts of implanting extremism in students by Ahle Hadith Andolon Bangladesh (Ahab), a militant outfit led by Asadullah Al Galib. Galib, arrested in 2005 on charges of militancy and now free on bail, has been sheltering outsiders, many of whom are students of Rajshahi University and Rajshahi College, in madrasa dormitories for last few months, said Principal of the madrasa Abdus Samad Salafi. These outsiders with assistance from some pro-Galib teachers used to assault students, sometimes the teachers who were not in Galib's favour, said Salafi, adding that they were also engaged in indoctrinating the students to defy madrasa rules and join Ahab. "Concerned about these men, we made the decision to close the madrasa indefinitely," said Salafi, former Nayeb-e-Amir who resigned from Ahab along with some 48 others in Ap

Saturday, August 8, 2009 Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, Bagmara Upazila unit, yesterday postponed Sree Krishna's birth anniversary programmes scheduled for August 13 to protest alleged acts of disrespect to Krishna by the brother of local lawmaker. In a press conference, the Parishad leaders alleged that Emdadul Haque, brother of Awami League lawmaker Enamul Haque, tore up an invitation card containing Krishna's portrait on Thursday and hurled abusive words when two Parishad men handed over the card to him and invited him to the August 13 programmes. The Parishad leaders also said they invited Emdad, who is a supporter of Jamaat-e-Islami, as he is now an influential person in Bagmara. The Parishad also took out a procession in Bagmara Sadar upazila and announced that protest programmes will also be held on August 13. When contacted, Emdadul Haque denied all the allegations. "I just threw away the invitation card as I was unaware of the matter. I di