Himu's Window

Clockwise: Four-party candidate Enamul Haque conducting mass contact in Rajshahi-1, grand alliance nominee Omar Faruq Chowdhury campaigning in the same constituency, alliance nominee Iqbalur Rahim leading a procession in Dinajpur-3, and supporters propagating for four-party nominee Shamsul Alam in Chittagong yesterday. Photo: STAR http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=67049

Campaign Kicks Off In Rajshahi-2 Awami League-led grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha yesterday began election campaign in Rajshahi-2 constituency. However, amid doubt about full support of local Awami League, BNP candidate former Rajshahi City Corporation mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, who is accused in five cases including three for graft, is eyeing an easy sail in the election race from the constituency. During the press conference organized on the occasion of Badsha's campaign launching at Rajshahi City AL office yesterday noon, Badsha, remained silent when asked about the doubt about local AL's support for him. “If we get full support from Awami League, there will be chance to answer the rigging in 2002 Rajshahi city polls when Minu defeated Badsha,” said Debashis Pramanik, a follower of Badsha. “But we are still in doubt about the support,” he added. But Shafikur Rahman, Rajshahi city AL acting general secretary and the district coordinator of grand alliance, assure

Today is Lalpur Free Day. On this day in 1971, Lalpur was liberated from the occupation of Pakistani forces. Earlier on the night of March 25, the occupation forces killed many people including Najmul Haque Sarkar MNA, Beeren Sarkar Ukil and Sayedur Rahman, manager of Shilpa Bank, in Lalpur.In protest, the local leaders at an emergency meeting formed a defence force comprising ex-soldiers, ansars and general people on March 27.They were provided with arms recovered from the local police station, Sardah Police Training Centre and North Bengal Sugar Mills.The meeting was attended by Omar Faruk Sarkar, Dr Khalilur Rahman, Chairman Hajir Uddin Sarkar, Dr Abul Kashem and Babu Bolai Chandra. The defence force took over the control of Ishwardi airport on March 28and destroyed the 25 regiment of Pakistan Army in a frontline battle on March 30. A total of 80 freedom fighters were killed and 32 others injured in that operation. Besides, three villagers of Chamtia village were killed as the Pakis

Clockwise: Grand alliance candidate Nurul Islam taking snacks during campaign in Chittagong city, procession for four-party nominee Abdullah Al Noman, BNP 'rebel' Daudul Islam Bhuiyan campaigning at Khagrachhari, foreign observers talking with Altaf Chowdhury in Patuakhali, BNP men campaigning for Kamal Ibne Yusuf in Faridpur-3, Fazle Hossain Badsha holding press conference in Rajshahi, four-party candidate Mizanur Rahman Minu visiting the grave of BNP leader Emran Ali Sarker before starting campaign. Photo: STAR http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66897

A life-size replica of the Taj Mahal, often described as the world's most beautiful building, is due to open for visitors in Bangladesh. The replica has been built by a Bangladeshi filmmaker. Ahsanullah Moni said he wanted his countrymen to experience the beauty of the Indian monument even if they were too poor to travel to see the original. The 17th Century Taj was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal. The emperor is buried next to his queen in the monument in the northern Indian city of Agra, which is visited by millions every year. The $58m (£39m) replica has been built in Sonargaon, a small town in the Bangladeshi countryside. 'Marble and diamonds' Mr Moni, who is a successful director of Bangladeshi films, says he hopes his replica, which has been built an hour's drive from the capital Dhaka, will also attract foreign visitors. It took 20 years and 20,000 workers to build the original Taj. Thanks to mod

Mizanur Rahman Minu, the BNP candidate at Rajshahi-2 constituency came out of Rajshahi Central Jail last evening after one and a half years. His family members and some 50 leaders and activists of local BNP welcomed him at the jail gate when he was released at around 6.35pm. His release, just five days ahead of official beginning of poll campaigning from December 12, made BNP activists hopeful for having strong fight in the election race. Minu who was criticized before for giving certificate to militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib will fight against the grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha who has already started voicing against militancy. Minu, also former Rajahahi mayor and lawmaker was freed as the high court on Thursday granted him bail in two corruption cases lodged by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Minu was held on June 6, 2007 over the Tk 1 crore extortion case with Rajpara police station. After being freed on bail from the case, he was held again from Rajshahi Nagar B

The contestants in the ensuing Jatiya Sangsad election from Rajshahi constituencies include at least four who are still accused in different corruption and criminal cases.The four are former BNP lawmakers Mizanur Rahman Minu and Kabir Hossain, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) nominees -- Mohammad Mohsin Pramanik at Rajshahi-4 and Abul Kalam Azad at Rajshahi-5.The facts were revealed in the affidavits given by the candidates.Minu, BNP aspirant from Rajshahi-2 constituency is now in jail and is likely to be freed any time.In his affidavit Minu stated that he is still accused in five cases while he was acquitted in an extortion case in which he was sentenced to 13 years in jail. He also mentioned that he was cleared of charges in two cases including a murder case.On Thursday, he was granted bail in two graft cases that are still under trial.Of the five other cases Minu is still facing trail, one for graft and one for tax dodging have been stayed by the high court.Former BNP lawmaker Ka

Five Rajshahi University (RU) teachers and two Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) physicians are voluntarily bearing election expenditure of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Ataur Rahman who is contesting in Rajshahi-2 and 3 constituencies.In his affidavit, Rajshahi city Jamaat Amir Ataur Rahman, also assistant headmaster of Rajshahi Lokhnath High School, stated that his election expenditure is Tk 8.95 lakh.Of the amount, Rahman will spend Tk 25,000 from his own income as teacher and agriculturist.RU Science Faculty dean Dr Abul Hashem and Prof M Nazrul Islam will donate him Tk 1.50 lakh each, he said.RU Commerce Faculty dean Dr M Umar Ali of Binodhpur Bazar will donate him Tk 1 lakh while RU teachers -- Dr Nazrul Islam and M Nurul Islam will donate Tk 50,000 each, he said.RMCH physicians Dr Fatema Siddika of Gynecology Department and Dr M Zahangir of Pharmacology Department will donate Tk 70,000 and Tk 50,000 respectively,the Jamaat leader said.Besides his employment at RMCH, Dr M Zaha

The polls race in six constituencies in Rajshahi has drawn candidates ranging from unemployed persons to millionaire businessmen and from below secondary education to PhD degree holders. They include some 15 businessmen, four of them millionaire, eight teachers and six lawyers.AL candidate Prof Abdul Khaleque in Rajshahi-2 attached his PhD certificate in nomination papers while Masters degree holder SM Shafiul Azam of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) in Rajshahi-5 wrote 'unemployed' in the column for profession. BNP candidate Azizur Rahman and Jatiya Samjtantrik Dal candidate Nurul Islam in Rajshahi-6 constituency attached their SSC certificates, but CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) nominee Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-2 said he studied up to class IX.Among the four Awami League nominated millionaires, Omar Faruk Chowdhury in Rajshahi-1 stated his assets at Tk 4.19 crore while Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-4 mentioned his wealth to be worth about Tk 10.15 crore. Kazi Abdul Wadud D

Even though BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patal owns a Lexus and a Nissan SUV, a Mazda and a building in Dhaka worth Tk 1.54 crore, he claims to be a farmer earning Tk 2.15 lakh a year, thus not having to pay any income tax.Fazlur, a former state minister for youth and sports, in his nomination papers for Natore-1 constituency claimed agriculture as the only source of his income. Fazlur does not have to pay any income tax, according to the wealth statement attached to his nomination papers. One has to earn at least Tk 2.65 lakh a year in this sector for income tax to become mandatory.According to the tax-return certificate, the total amount of wealth of the BNP leader is Tk 1.98 crore and his monthly income and expenditure are Tk 17,876 and Tk 14,989.The certificate states that "he has no outstanding taxes". He did not pay any income tax this fiscal year either.Fazlur owns a six-storey building in Banani valued at Tk 1.54 crore and a two-storey building on 39 decimal land at Gouri

Selection follows 'suggestion' of jailed, absconding leaders The BNP has fielded eight new faces, including three alternative candidates, for constituencies in Rajshahi and Natore districts mainly upon recommendations of jailed and absconding leaders while sidelining grassroots party men.Three of the new faces are relatives of former BNP stalwarts who are either in jail or staying abroad being convicted in cases for abetting militancy and three BNP nominees are still facing corruption charges.Former BNP lawmaker Abu Hena, who had earlier criticised those BNP stalwarts for their role behind militancy, has been dropped. Before recommending party leaders for nomination, local unit leaders did not hold any grassroots leaders' meeting that was made mandatory in the Representation of People Order (RPO).Rather, the local units followed recommendations of the jailed and fleeing leaders and sent names of their chosen persons to the BNP's central committee for party tickets.“The

Former Rajshahi mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu mentioned politics as his profession in the affidavit he submitted along with nomination papers for contesting from Rajshahi-2 constituency.However, the former lawmaker who is in jail now did not mention any income from the profession.He claimed that he earns Tk 25,000 annually from agriculture and his wife earns Tk 1.80 lakh form her profession as a college teacher.But the central BNP organising secretary showed the value of the couple's movable property at Tk 63 lakh, excluding 43 ounces of gold ornaments. Their immovable properties include 30 bighas of arable land, a 5 katha land and a three-storied building.Minu also mentioned in his affidavit that he faces three corruption cases, one case for tax dodging and a criminal case.Another BNP nominee, Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-1 constituency did not mention his government job from which he was removed nearly a year ago, apparently fearing cancellation of his nomination.Enamul is brother of fo

DHAKA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) rejected on Sunday a proposal by the state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation or Petrobangla to raise natural gas prices to offset losses. "We decided not to raise natural gas prices proposed by the Petrobangla as the state firm is making profit by selling gas to the consumers," said Ghulam Rahman, chairman of the BERC. Bangladesh in 2003 formed BERC following suggestions by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to closely monitor, review and adjust country's administered oil, gas and electricity prices in accordance with the global prices. "Petrobangla proposed to raise gas prices by nearly 66 percent on average at consumer level to pay its bills to the international oil companies (IOCs), which we do not consider just and reasonable," Rahman told reporters. The outstanding bills of the IOCs until June 2008 is about $359 million, officials said. Foreign

Samrat T he lone Royal Bengal Tiger of Rajshahi Central Zoo Samrat died in his cage yesterday.Refuting allegations of poor care, zoo officials said the 17-year-old tiger died of old age related diseases.Samrat was weak during last three days and the tiger reduced its daily meal of 12kg meat, said zoo veterinary surgeon M Forhad Uddin. "Captive tigers usually live less than 20 years, the average lifespan of tigers in the wild," he said.Samrat was living without a companion since June, 1997, when he was brought to the zoo. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65553

Liton warns others for taking the same road he rode before ! Rajshahi city Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, centre, introduces six Awami League nominees for constituencies in the district at a meeting of grassroots AL leaders yesterday as nomination deprived party leaders continue agitation. Photo: STAR R ajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, who himself opposed party decision during the last RCC polls, yesterday said the protesters against the Awami League nominations for six seats in Rajshahi district will lose their right to do AL politics.“Sheikh Hasina's [AL chief] decision for nomination is the final. Those who are protesting should stop it immediately or they will have no right to do Awami League politics in future,” he said at the party's special workers' meeting at Rajshahi Zila Parishad auditorium.Rajshahi AL General Secretary Omar Faruk Chowdhury, also AL nominee for Rajshahi-1 constituency, chaired the meeting.A large AL faction led by dis

Awami League on Friday night changed its nominee for Rajshahi-2 constituency where Workers Party Politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha is seeking grand alliance ticket.Prof Abdul Khaleque, central AL adviser and former vice chancellor of Rajshahi University was given the party ticket replacing Mohila AL's central vice- president Akhtar Jahan.Party sources here said Prof Khaleque was selected by grassroots leaders for party ticket but the nomination went to Akhtar Jahan. Later, Khaleque was chosen again when Akhtar Jahan refused the party ticket as she would not be eligible to vie because of her government job at Rajshahi University.However, the change indicates denial of alliance ticket to Badsha, party sources said.But some senior leaders said still there is chances for Badsha to get ticket for Rajshahi-3. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=65578

Published on November 29 at page 14 The Jamaat-e Islami demand for three seats in Rajshahi district is not gaining ground in seat-sharing negotiations with BNP making them dissatisfied. However, the BNP is fielding heavyweight candidates envisaging their win over discords in local Awami League. “If our man is not chosen at even a single seat, our workers would lack devotion during election campaign”, said Ataur Rahman, the city unit Jamaat Amir. “Rajshahi is our stronghold… The intra party rivalry in Awami League over nominations will help us winning”, said Rajshahi BNP organizing secretary Alauddin Ahmed. Jammat demanded the four-party alliance nominations for its assistant secretary general Mujibur Rahman, Rajshahi city Amir Ataur Rahman at and Bagmara upazila Amir Abdul Ahad Ali Kabiraj at Rajshahi-1, 2 and 4 constituencies. But BNP’s former lawmakers Mizanur Rahman Minu and Abu Hena are back and their nominations are almost confirmed at Rajshahi-2 (City) and Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara) co

The 62-hour siege of old Taj hotel ends with the NSG killing three terrorists who were holed up inside in one part of the hotel. NSG said they are now sanitising each and every floor. TV grab ..... Picture of an unidentified terrorist released on news channels involved in the terror attack in Mumbai on Saturday. Indian Officials say number of people killed in Terror Attacks rises to 195 and "still counting" Terrorists had plan to blow up Taj Times of India NEW DELHI: In a sensational revelation by Times Now, terrorist who was caught alive had confessed to investigating agencies that they had a plan to blow up the Taj Mahalhotel in Mumbai. The terrorists had enough explosives to blow up the Taj hotel. Sources have told the TV channel that they wanted to reduce the life-size building of Taj hotel to rouble. They also believed to have told about their plan to replicate a ‘JW Marriot’, happened at Islamabad, to the Mumbai hotel. In a sense to destroy the symbol of financial st

guardian.co.uk Harishchandra Shiverhankar scribbled furiously on a notepad, gesturing with his fingers to explain his last bloody memories of Wednesday night before waking up in an unfamiliar hospital bed. The 56-year-old was walking towards the Metro cinema when he felt his legs collapse - a bullet had been shot through his lower back. A hand then grasped his hair, pulled back his head and a blade slit his neck. He had been caught in the vortex of violence unleashed by people who wanted to murder, not just maim. Setting down his pad he manages to croak: "This should have never happened to me." The office worker's story, told from his bed in Mumbai's JJ hospital, is part of a largely hidden tragedy - that behind the headlines of wealthy westerners fleeing Mumbai's terror frontline it was ordinary Indians who bore the brunt of the bloody attack on this city of 19 million people. Next door to Shiverhankar lies Jayaram Chavan, his leg shattered by bullets. He had bee

BBC Internet By Sumantra Bose London School of Economics The audacity of the Mumbai attacks on shocked IndiaIndia's cities are no strangers to indiscriminate terror attacks. Such attacks have occurred regularly, and with steadily increasing frequency, in recent years. Mumbai, India's financial capital, has been targeted before. In March 1993, a series of car bombs were detonated at public landmarks across the city, including the stock exchange, killing 257 people. Those attacks, in which the city's underworld played a key role, followed Hindu-Muslim violence in the city during December 1992 and January 1993. Working-class Muslims were the principal victims, often shot at point-blank range by members of the city's police force. In July 2006, a series of bombs planted on Mumbai's commuter train network killed 183 people. Other Indian cities have been regularly targeted as well, particularly Delhi, the capital. In October 2005 bombs exploded in crowded Delhi markets on

Police declare Mumbai siege over BBCNews Inside the Mumbai police control room, assistant commissioner Ramesh Chango Tayde remembers the first telephone call they got from a panicky man who said he had heard the sound of gunfire at the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station. It was exactly 2121 on Wednesday when the call arrived. The dour chief of the control room flashed the information to the 500-odd police vans patrolling the city. For the next few hours, Mr Tayde and the 40 other men in khaki uniforms who staff the police nerve centre in India's financial capital took calls about the attacks taking place all over the city. "It was the toughest night I faced since the day of serial train blasts in the city in 2006. That was my first day as the chief of the control room," says Mr Tayde. "We have been very, very busy ever since," he says. He has not returned home since the attacks began. Growing fear On average, the 20 toll-free lines in the

Taj operation over, 2 terrorists gunned down: Mumbai police chief At Taj: Operation over, says NSG At Taj: Two terrorists gunned down today At Nariman: Cleared, no one found alive At Oberoi: Terrorists killed, crisis has ended At Taj: Bodies brought out of back entrance

Awami League (AL) nominees have started electioneering in all six constituencies in Rajshahi district braving division among party men over ticket to three industrialist newcomers. BNP leaders are still waiting for party nominations while its electoral alliance partner Jamaat-e Islami has demanded tickets for party men in three seats. The BNP leaders and activists, affected much in the anti-graft and anti-crime drives during the last two years, now seem to get encouraged again following the two BNP bigwigs' return to election field. The two bigwigs are former Rajshahi mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu and former lawmaker Abu Hena. AL district President Tajul Islam M Faruk is leading a party faction that is representing the nomination-deprived leaders while General Secretary Omar Faruk Chowdhury in leading the other faction in favour of AL nominees. Still AL is hopeful for winning all the Rajshahi seats cashing on BNP-Jamaat's 'image crisis'. Rajshahi-1 (Tanore-Godagari) Former

Grassroots leaders and activists of both BNP and Awami League have vowed to resist former BNP state minister Alamgir Kabir in Naogaon-6 (Atrai-Raninagar) constituency. Hundreds of BNP leaders staged agitation in Atrai and Raninagar upazilas yesterday and threatened to resign en masse following a rumour that Kabir, now a leader of Liberal Democratic Party, was returning to BNP. Local Awami League leaders also told the media that they would reject Kabir if he gets nomination from the AL-led grand alliance. Alamgir Kabir won Naogaon-6 seat three times since 1991.

The caretaker government has undertaken a programme to revive the Rooppur Atomic Energy Power Project to generate 600 MW electricity, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for energy Prof Dr M Tamim said yesterday. If the next government continues with the programme, the ambitious project involving around 2000 billion US dollars can be implemented, he said at a seminar as the chief guest. He also said all preparations to start supplying gas to Rajshahi by the next year are almost complete. Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) organised the seminar on 'Development of western region from the perspective of fuel and industrialisation' at Rajshahi Medical College auditorium, with Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton in the chair. Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukhdar Abdul Khaleque and Barishal City Corporation Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron also attended the seminar. The three mayors together decided to launch a coordinated programme for the development of the western region of the country. Th

A s some BNP bigwigs may not be able to run the polls race, the party is in great problem in selecting candidates in five constituencies in Rajshahi, Noagaon and Natore. Taking this opportunity, Jamaat-e Islami is lobbing hard to field candidates in at least three of the seats. As a possible way out, Rajshahi BNP has invited party chief Khaleda Zia to contest from one of the six seats in Rajshahi. "We have candidates from within the party, yet we invited Khaleda Zia run in any Rajshahi seat. We want to retain the seats we held for three terms", said district BNP president Azizur Rahman. According to disclosure made by JMB chief Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai and police investigation, the then telecommunication minister Barrister Aminul Haque patronised Islamist militants by using police and administration during BNP-Jamaat government and barred authorities in Rajshahi to take action against militants in 2004-05. Aminul was elected from Rajshahi-1 in 2001 polls. Ruhul Kuddus Taluk

T he 37th death anniversary of martyred Rajshahi University teacher Mir Abdul Quayyum passed off yesterday without any programme by the university authorities. Several senior teachers said the authorities did not do anything in the recent past in memory of university teachers Prof Habibir Rahman, Prof Sukharanjan Samaddar and Mir Abdul Quayyum who borrowed martyrdom during the 1971 Liberation War. Even the Department of Psychology, where Quayyum worked, took no initiatives to observe the day and let students know of his supreme sacrifice. Despite the tradition of remembering martyred Quayyum at all events, the department observed its two-day Golden Jubilee in October without remembering him. When Quayyum's daughter Dr Mahbuba Kaniz Keya, a teacher of the department, complained about it to the departmental academic committee (DAC), it was revealed that department Chairman Prof Nurullah had ordered scraping the event of remembering Quayyum from programme schedule. Nurullah, also gen

A ll the six Awami League (AL) nominees from Rajshahi constituencies yesterday showed up together to counter Friday's meeting of nomination-deprived party men, making the intra-party feud over nomination public. The candidates at a press conference at Rajshahi city AL office under the banner of Rajshahi district Awami Leageue claimed that they are stronger than their rival faction. Rajshahi district AL secretary Omar Faruk Chowdhury conducted the conference. They promised that they would not spend money beyond the limit fixed by the Election Commission. They claimed that they would be able to recover all the Jatiya Sangsad seats in Rajshahi retained by BNP-Jamaat in last three elections. On Friday, the banner of district AL was also used at the press conference of the deprived candidates. Led by district AL president Tajul Islam M Faruk, the deprived candidates demanded that the party high command should evaluate party men and place politicians over businessmen in deciding nominat

Workers' Party (WP) politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha yesterday submitted his nomination papers and said he is the candidate of Awami League-led electoral alliance at Rajshahi-2 (Rajshahi City Corporation areas).If nominated from the AL-led combine, Badsha is likely to face BNP's Mizanur Rahman Minu as his nearest rival in the election.“I am not only the candidate of Awami League-led combine, but also the torch-bearer of mass people and all pro-liberation organisations in the area,” he told newsmen after the submission of nomination paper yesterday noon.“If elected, I will take steps for reopening the closed down industries and factories. I will recommend for a budget giving priority to poor people,” he said.Meanwhile, local AL is keeping a noticeable distance with Badsha.They have alleged that he did not take part in the campaign in favour of AHM Khairuzzaman Liton during August 4 RCC polls.In 2002 RCC polls, Badsha was lost to Minu and Badsha's suit for vote rigging a