Himu's Window

Sunday, October 18, 2009 The government should allow the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to act independently, speakers at the BBC-Bangladesh Sanglap programme yesterday. The ACC should also act without fear or favour to protect the country's economy and prevent social discrimination, they said. Rajshahi Mayor and Awami League leader AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Organising Secretary of BNP Mizanur Rahman Minu, Rajshahi University teacher Moloy Bhoumik and Roksana Ferdousi, senior project officer of Barendra Unnayan Forum, were the panellists in the Sanglap held at Rajshahi Medical College auditorium in the city. Replying to a question why the ACC became inactive during the rule of a political government, Moloy Bhoumik said, "Making ACC inactive is part of our political culture where only a few are free from corruption. Solving the problem is not possible without raising a massive awareness about corruption." Mizanur Rahman Minu said ACC has lost its credibilit

Sunday, October 18, 2009 A ruling Awami League lawmaker, whose annual income was around Tk 1 lakh before the election less than 10 months ago, has bought a luxury minivan for Tk 22 lakh. M Meraj Uddin Mollah, MP from Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohonpur) constituency, splashed out on a Toyota Noah at a showroom in Chittagong on September 29. The next day, he spent around Tk 60,000 more to register the multi-purpose vehicle with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Rajshahi, say registration documents obtained by The Daily Star. In an affidavit attached to his nomination papers for the December 29 general election, Meraj claimed he is a farmer by profession and that his income from farming is around Tk 75,000 a year. An additional Tk 36,000 earned from house rents adds up to Tk 1.11 lakh a year. According to the affidavit, Meraj owns movable and immovable property worth Tk 6.21 lakh. Those include 28 bighas of land valued at Tk 4.06 lakh. Talking to The Daily Star, Meraj Mollah c

The seven arrested members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were taken on a fresh five-day remand last afternoon. The court of Metropolitan Magistrate BM Tariqul Kabir granted the five-day remand after police had produced the militants before the court with remand prayers for eight days, said Sub-Inspector M Hafizur Rahman, investigation officer (IO) of the case. Police identified the arrestees as JMB Rajshahi division chief Ashraf alias Haider, 32, Naogaon district chief Abdur Rahim, 30, and Natore district chief Shahabuddin, 35, and JMB ehsar (full-time) members Md Momtaz, 20, Asadul Islam, 30, Rohidul, 35, and Isarul Islam, 22. On October 10, the militants were taken on a seven-day remand that ended yesterday. A team of Special Branch of police arrested them from four greater Rajshahi districts. Senior police officials said, the seven militants during interrogation on remand denied their involvement in JMB activities. Rather they co

Friday, October 16, 2009 Speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi on Wednesday said though hunger situation has improved in the country, it might worsen again due to climate change impacts. The hunger situation has improved because of the overall socio-economic development, but the growth might be hampered due to increasing climatic change, they noted. They said the impacts of recurring storms, cyclones, draught and lack of rainfall during monsoon and excessive rain in other seasons might affect the agriculture and economy and, thus, mar the food security status. The speakers called for using appropriate technologies that promise to help reduce the impacts of climate change and foster introduction of new energy-efficient technologies and services. Rajshahi chapter of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) organised the discussion styled 'Tackling climate change through standards' on the occasion of World Standards Day at Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and