Bangladeshi descent becomes Michigan Congressman

For the first time in the history of the United States of America, a Bangladeshi descent, democratic member of the Michigan Senate Hansen Hashem Clarke won a congressional seat to the United States House of Representatives.

After winning the congressional seat, held by Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick for more than 20 years, Clarke said he will try to fulfill the dreams of people of United States, different sources said.

Clarke was born in Detroit, Michigan to a Bangladeshi American father, Mozaffar Ali Hashem, hailed from Sylhet and an African American mother, Thelma Clarke. Clarke visited his village home few years ago.

His father died when he was a child. Clarke attended Cass Technical High School, and then was admitted to a prestigious east-coast prep school to complete his high school.

Clarke studied at Cornell University, graduating with a degree in fine arts. While at the university, he became interested in politics.

He was elected to the student seat on the Cornell University Board of Trustees and was a member of the Quill and Dagger society. He then earned a law degree from Georgetown Law School in 1987.

Clarke worked as chief of staff to US Representative John Conyers, as well as in Wayne County during the administration of Edward H McNamara.

Kiwis white washed by Tigers

Rubel Hossain's searing yorker uprooted New Zealand's long-standing bastion over the Tigers and, like his raised fist, took his team into new heights in world cricket. The incredibly tight three-run win on 17 October completed the much-coveted 4-0 whitewash of a major Test-playing nation, an exceptional highlight for Bangladesh.

The series win, especially the result, took Bangladesh on a par with West Indies in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings with 67 points, putting the Tigers within the top-eight for the first time in their 24-year international history.

The Tigers earlier beat the Kiwis by 9 runs in the first one-dayer, won the third by seven wickets and the fourth again by 9 runs. The second match was washed out.

The Kiwis, for their part, made a complete mess of chasing a moderate 175 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, faltering with their score on 171 runs in 49.3 overs.

With eight runs from six balls needed to win, tail-ender Kyle Mills guided Rubel's misguided full-toss to the boundary. A ball later though, the paceman returned the faith of captain Shakib Al Hasan by knocking back his leg-stump and picking up his fourth wicket, sending the Tigers and the 25,000-strong holiday crowd into wild celebrations.

Rubel, the boy from Bagerhat, had a say from the beginning of the New Zealand innings, sending back openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder cheaply and forcing Kane Williamson, the previous match's centurion, to guide one to the hands of second slip. After Bradley Watling's run-out, a lot depended on Ross Taylor but he too failed, missing a straight one from Abdur Razzak as the Kiwis collapsed to 20 for five.

It could easily have been 41 for six in the 13th over but Junaed Siddiqui dropped a simple catch at slip offered by Daniel Vettori's late cut off Mahmudullah Riyad. The New Zealand skipper latched on to that life as he added 86 runs for the sixth wicket with Grant Elliott.

The partnership threatened to take the game out of the Tigers' reach but again, one player's determination turned the tide.

In the 31st over, Vettori, on 43, chipped the ball between long-on and deep mid-wicket, only for Shafiul Islam to run 15 yards and dive full-length to his right to pull off a phenomenal catch. It instantly brought back memories of the same player's blinder during a Twenty20 final last season.

Soon though, Nathan McCullum took advantage of Junaed's slippery fingers as the Rajshahi lad misjudged one inside the circle at square-leg. But the older McCullum failed to make Bangladesh pay, failing to connect a charge towards Shakib Al Hasan a few balls later.

Elliott, witnessing the mayhem from the other end, reached his fifty through another dropped catch (by Mahmudullah) but he too, gave it up soon after getting a life. The right-handed batsman known for getting the Kiwis out of trouble, holed out at mid-on for 59 off 105 balls.

It was then left to the last pair of Mills and Hamish Bennett as they crawled towards what looked like an unlikely victory for the Kiwis. They added 26 with Bennett going unbeaten on nought from 24 balls.

Apart from Rubel's four, Razzak and Shakib got two each while Sohrawardi Shuvo picked up one wicket.

But there weren't as many twists and turns earlier in the day as the Tigers flattered to deceive with the bat, being bowled out for just 174 runs in 44.2 overs.

Imrul Kayes, who made 34, held fort after southpaws Junaed and Shahriar Nafees departed early. Shakib again made an effort to get the Tigers moving with his enterprising 36 but once his fifth-wicket partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim ended in the 29th over, things unravelled fast.

The Kiwis were better in the field and showed an aggressive intent that was missing in the three previous outings but with the bat in hand, they fell flat as the Tigers put the foot down and in the words of coach Jamie Siddons, "The whitewash became possible".

Pabna “reign of terror”

Ishrat Farzana, a district administration official cries while describing the incident

Professionals and politicians irrespective of political affiliation yesterday rallied behind the Pabna district administration demanding exemplary punishment of those who assaulted government officials last Friday.

At a view exchange meeting at the deputy commissioner's (DC) office, they also vowed to resist the attackers, and expressed disappointment that Awami League high-ups have failed to resolve the issue. Terming the attack disgraceful, they alleged a group of criminals created a “reign of terror” in the district and “held them hostage” for years.

The district administration held the meeting to discuss last Friday's untoward incident, and ways to restore normalcy in the town. DC AFM Monjur Kadir and other administration officials present at the meeting laid before the elite the hurdles put in their way to carry out their duties.

More than 100 Jubo League and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists attacked two examination centres during a recruitment test of class-III government employees, as the DC refused to entertain various demands of Awami League MP Golam Faruk Prince. The attackers also vandalised a number of officers' vehicles.

"I've seen many terrorist activities in Pabna, but the attack on government officials is a new experience to me," said 75-year-old Ranesh Moitra, known to be a language hero in the district. "It seems police on that day worked for the attackers, not for the government." Moitra, also a journalist, said all the good activities in the district have been diminished by the incident. Senior AL leaders should immediately act to resolve it, he added.

Talking about the view exchange meeting, Prince said he has already complained against the DC to his party high-ups. He alleged the DC invited some selected persons who would speak in his favour.

Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested Jony, also known as Dim (egg) Jony, a BCL activist, in a case filed in connection with the attack. With this, six out of 31 persons accused in the two cases have been arrested.

Freedom fighter and veteran AL supporter Baby Islam questioned police administration's ability to provide security to general public when security of government staff is “at stake”. Criticising inaction of the police during the attack, Baby said the attackers must be punished.

Mosharaf Hossain, additional superintendent of police in Pabna, said at the meeting the role of police during the incident is being investigated. He, however, could not explain the police failure to arrest the attackers immediately. "We've intensified drives by setting up check posts at different points so the attackers can't flee," Mosharaf, who is now supervising the two cases filed against the attackers, told the meeting.

Pabna chamber of commerce Vice-president Mahbub-ul Alam Mukul said he cannot accept that the people of Pabna will be held hostage by a small group of “criminals”.

Zakir Hossain, Workers Party's district secretary, hoped the criminals would get punished.

District Mohila AL Joint Secretary Shamsunnahar Rekha said the crisis will worsen further if the administration keeps dragging its feet on the incident. She termed the attack shameful, but claimed many innocent people were implicated in the cases. "We should not blame all for a few bad people," she said.

Earlier at the meeting, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (general) Bijoy Bhushan Pal, ADC (revenue) Imam Uddin Kabir, ADC (education) Saidur Rahman and magistrate Israt Farzana, who were on duty in the two examination centres, described the attack.

DC AFM Monjur Kadir said, "I'll not bow down to any pressure. I'll not allow irregularities and corruption." He also said one of prime minister's personal secretaries called him on Wednesday night from New York to know what is happening, and he [DC] clarified his position.

Commander of Pabna district Muktijoddha Sangsad Habibur Rahman Habib, Pabna Krishak League president Shahidur Rahman, district Jubo League secretary Ragib Hasan Tipu, Sathia upazila chairman Nizamuddin, Chatmohor pourashova chairman, also a BNP leader, Prof Abdul Mannan, educationist Shibujit Nag, Principal of Pabna College Mahtab Uddin Biswas, among others, addressed the meeting.

Meanwhile, around 200 people, many of them Jubo League and Chhatra League activists, brought out a procession in the district and chanted slogans against the DC in presence of the police. They also protested the arrests of some of the accused, and demanded their immediate release.

Meanwhile, the central council of BCL last night issued a show-cause notice against its Pabna district unit president Ahmed Sharif Bablu and expelled four other leaders for their involvement in attacking government officials. The four expelled leaders are Sheikh Sabuj, Mohammad Jony (already arrested), Abdul Mannan and Sheikh Sanwar.