Himu's Window

Sunday, August 16, 2009   Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made the country's constitution a unique one in the world by giving a new definition of secularism, said Shahriar Kabir, a noted journalist, in Rajshahi yesterday. "For him secularism did not mean abandonment of religion, but a separation of religion from state and politics," said Kabir, president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, a forum for secular Bangladesh and trial of war criminals. He said Bangabandhu was a religious man and he believed in people's freedom of religion. Bangabandhu gave new definition of secularism to end Pakistani tradition of abusing religion for political gain, said Kabir. He said in the name of protecting Islam, Pakistani rulers and Jamaat-e-Islami men killed people, raped women and committed genocides during their 23-year regime and the liberation war. Kabir was addressing as chief guest at a discussion meeting organised on the occasion of the National

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

Rajshahi Textile Mills (RTM) resumed operations yesterday after nine months of its closure, following a private initiative that is expected to employ around 500 people. Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton formally opened the mill at a ceremony on the mill premises. Trade Exchange, a private cotton trading firm of Narayanganj, signed a two-year agreement with RTM to provide raw materials and collect yarn on the basis of service charge at a rate of Tk 6,200 per bale of cotton. The mill will begin operations with 150 employees and then gradually increase to 500 people in the next few months. The agreement was signed following the approval of Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), said M Ansar Uddin, general manager of RTM. He said officials and employees have not been paid for the last nine months, while the mill is in around Tk 2 crore debt. The RTM failed to manage private investment to run the mill, floating open tenders three times si

Monday, August 3, 2009   Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) yesterday decided to review the holding taxes fixed in its recently announced budget and offered a ten percent tax cut. According to the decision, the city dwellers will have to apply for reviewing their taxes and a review committee will fix affordable rates. The RCC also offered a ten percent cut in the holding taxes for those who will pay off taxes within three months from the beginning of the fiscal year. The decision was taken at a general meeting of the city corporation held at Rajshahi City Bhaban with Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair. "We had raised the holding taxes, aiming at providing better services for the citizens. We did not finalise the new taxes. So, there is scope for review. The mayor asked RCC officials concerned to issue tax notices on the citizens as early as possible so that they can avail themselves of the tax cut offer. Meanwhile, the RCC fixed new rates of holding taxes from