October 19, 2013

Special

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Full text of the prime minister’s speech

Kartik 4, 1420 Zilhajj 13, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 205

International

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Saudi rejects UN Security Council membership for ‘double standards’

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

She offers all-party government; pledges elections within 90 days from October 25 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday proposed the formation of an all-party government to hold polls and appealed to the opposition to give names from their lawmakers for the interim cabinet.

“We want the national election to be participated by all political parties.

Our proposal to the opposition party is that we can form the election-time government comprising [representatives from] all parties. Hence, I am offering the opposition party that they can provide names of their lawmakers so that we can make them cabinet members of the interim government...so that no one cast doubt on the polls,” she said.

The premier said: “I am requesting the opposition leader [Khaleda Zia] to respond to my call, keep my request and value our good intention with a positive gesture.”

She also sought the opposition’s recommendations over holding the polls within 90 days after October 25 in line with the constitution, saying that the ninth parliament commenced on January 25, 2009. However, the 90-day count before January 24 starts on October 27.

Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, made the remarks while addressing the nation last evening. State-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, private TV

Police on alert ahead of Oct 25 rally n Kailash Sarkar Law enforcement agencies are being kept on high alert and reinforced in a bid to ensure the security of people and their property amid renewed political tensions post-Eid. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmood Khandker said actions would be taken to keep the situation under control according to the laws, while declining to elaborate on the extent of the measures available to him.

“It should not be disclosed for strategic reasons. But we have enough capacity and preparation to tackle any kind of situation,” the IGP said.

However, sources said all the agencies including police and Rab were being asked to remain alert.

“All the entrances to the capital will  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE News

3 The global price of sacrificial animals’ hides has risen 40% this year but sellers in Bangladesh are not reaping the benefits due to collusion by industry bodies.

Op-Ed

9 Bangladesh has a unique resilience in enduring challenges. The readymade garments (RMG) industry is one good example of that. Despite a number of challenges and ups and downs, the country has positioned itself as the second largest apparel exporter just within a course of three decades.

PROPOSALS

UNANSWERED

QUESTIONS

TO OPPOSITION

Propose MP's names for polls-time cabinet

Who will head the polls-time government?

Join JS and clearly say what you want

Ratio of party's representation in cabinet?

Withdraw order of killing people

What will be size of it?

Door is open for dialogue channels and radio stations aired the around 20-minute speech. The prime minister addressed the nation last time on January 11, on the eve of completion of her government’s four years in office.

She, however, did not specify who would head the election-time government and what would be the size of the cabinet and the proportion of participation from parties.

Hasina made the appeal at a time

when both the ruling government and the opposition parties are at loggerheads over the election-time structure.

Both the parties have declared rallies

P5

PM'S FULL SPEECH

for October 25, sparking nationwide tension and speculations.

The BNP immediately after the prime minister’s speech said it would give formal reaction later. Party spokesperson

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PM holds out olive branch to opposition n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

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Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir mentioned that Hasina had not said who would lead the interim government.

The speech received positive response from political analysts and the general public who saw it an opportunity to end the impasse and pave the way for a credible and participatory election.

The prime minister also requested the opposition leader to withdraw the call for getting ready with knives, ma-

BNP finds nothing new

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

chetes and axes for the October 25 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

“Avoid the path of anarchy. Keep trust in people. The path of peace and consensus will bring the people’s welfare,” she said. “Stop burning the holy Quran, setting fire to mosques and defaming Islam. Stop using the orphans in making deadly bombs in madrasas.

Stop burning innocent pedestrians and poor bus drivers to death. Let the people live in peace.”

The premier claimed that her government had not interfered in the process of holding elections during the tenure of the current government.

“As per article 72(1) of the constitution, the election will be held as per the written advice of the prime minister to the president. The Election Commission will declare the schedule for polls,” Hasina said adding that she would request the president after consulting with all the political parties, especially the Grand Alliance partners.

“Thus I expect opposition party’s recommendation in this regard.”

The incumbent government is determined to put democracy on a firm institutional base, she said. “Democracy will be strengthened when it will be established on a constitutional base and the country is run by the elected representatives,” she said in her address.

The main opposition BNP yesterday said there was nothing new in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s speech where she called for an all-party government to oversee the next general elections.

“In the prime minister’s speech, there is no outline about the head of the polls-time interim government.

She floated a similar proposal earlier in London,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, told journalists at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Fakhrul said the prime minister’s speech would be analysed in detail at the party and alliance forum, and only then the party stance would be disclosed formally.

Though he said the party stance would be conveyed on time, he met the party chairperson at her residence.

The BNP spokesperson said: “All the opposition parties including the BNP and the people of Bangladesh have been demanding to hold the next parliamentary election under a non-party government. This issue is very important for the present and future of the nation, people and democracy.”

Asked whether the BNP had rejected the prime minister’s speech, Fakhrul said: “What I have said is our instant reaction. We are not saying anything in detail right now.”

BNP chief Khaleda Zia is scheduled to hold a meeting with the party standing committee members tonight to

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Civic leaders call it an opportunity Masses urge consensus n Tribune Report Eminent citizens stressed the need for resolving the political deadlock through discussion using the opportunities created through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s proposals made in a televised speech yesterday.

Eminent jurist Barrister Rafique ul Huq welcomed the prime minister’s call to form an all-party government for holding the next parliamentary elections.

“She spoke well. I think that about 95% people want to form all-party poll time government for holding the next parliamentary elections. We were waiting for such a speech from the country’s prime minister,” he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

However, he said all parties should fix a procedure as to how to hold the next parliamentary elections in a free, fair and credible manner.

He also said it was not clear from the speech as to who would be chief of the poll-time government. The question should also be resolved through discussion, he added.

Constitution expert and lawyer Shadhin Malik said it was a positive proposal and indicated willingness to compromise on the government’s behalf.

However, he said, it would have been better if the prime minister had elaborated in her speech how many ministers would be appointed in the poll-time government from other parties.

Former adviser to caretaker government Akbar Ali Khan observed that there were “some positive elements” in the prime minister’s speech.

“I do not know whether these elements will be enough to resolve the current political deadlock,” he told reporters. “However, BNP should pro-

ceed keeping the positive elements of the prime minister’s speech in consideration.”

Monwara Hakim Ali, the first vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, welcomed the prime minister’s proposals and hoped the opposition party avail this as an opportunity to resolve political deadlock through dialogue.

Former FBCCI President Mir Nasir Uddin said the prime minister had created space for dialogue. “We hope that the two major political parties will resolve political problems through discussions among themselves,” he said. “It will eventually create better atmosphere for business.”

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman observed that the prime minister’s proposal was “incomplete.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

n Mushfique Wadud Sections of people, strained under uncertainties over an impending political gridlock, apparently breathed a sigh of relief after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her address to the nation last night, called for an all-party poll-time government.

The Dhaka Tribune talked to several people of different professions immediately after the address and most of them welcomed the PM’s proposal.

They hoped that the opposition would respond to the PM’s proposal and transition of power will be done through a free, fair and credible election held in a peaceful manner.

They said all political problems should be solved through discussion, not through violent activities, giving an opportunity to clear the of cloud anxiety looming over the nation as the ruling and the opposition party called

rallies on October 25, marking the end of the current government’s tenure.

However, most of them urged that the government should create a congenial atmosphere so that the opposition would feel free for negotiations.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her address proposed an all-party government, and urged the opposition party to propose names of their leaders to be a part of the poll-time interim government.

“This is a good proposal. I think the opposition should respond to the PM and raise their points if they have any differences,” said Abdur Razzak, a shopkeeper at Mirpur 11 kitchen market.

He said the government and the opposition should think about the interest of the masses before taking any decision.

“Whenever there is volatile political situation, we, small scale traders are  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

314k Bangladeshis are 'slaves' at home and abroad: Survey n Tribune Report Three hundred and fourteen thousand Bangladeshis – either at home or abroad – are living in conditions of “modern slavery,” an Australia-based rights organisations has said.

According to the Global Slavery Index report of the Walk Free Foundation, a total of 29.8m people are “enslaved” around the globe.

“Bangladesh is primarily affected by modern slavery for sexual exploitation, forced labour and bonded labour, both within its borders and overseas,” the report said.

The report which is available on

the organisation’s website, provided a ranking of 162 countries based on a combination of their estimated prevalence of modern slavery, levels of child marriage, and levels of human trafficking into and out of the country.

Bangladesh is positioned 71 in the list on the basis of a comparison of the number of “slaves” with the total population (15.4m) of the country.

On the same count, Mauritania, Haiti and Pakistan are the top three countries in the list. India is ranked fourth, accounting for nearly half of the total number of “slaves” in the world.

US news agency Associated Press said the organisation was founded last

year by Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest. Its index was endorsed by leaders including US President Barack Obama, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, former British premier Tony Blair and Microsoft Corporation Co-Founder Bill Gates.

The report defines modern slavery as: “Slavery is the possession and control of a person in such a way as to significantly deprive that person of his or her individual liberty, with the intent of exploiting that person through their use, management, profit, transfer or disposal. Usually this exercise will be achieved through means such as violence or threats of violence, deception and/or coercion.”

The data was not collected specifically for the preparation of the index.

The researchers mainly reviewed government reports, the investigations of non-government and international organisations and media reports.

Bangladesh, however, was ranked 10th in another list of the index that considered the countries with the highest numbers of enslaved people.

India tops that list with 13.9m people living in condition of modern slavery.

China is second with an estimated number 2.9m enslaved; Pakistan is third with an estimated 2.1m enslaved.

Observations on Bangladesh

the newly released index report says Bangladeshis are enslaved overseas in the Middle East; in the neighbouring Southeast Asian countries; and Europe, among others.

It is estimated that in the past 30 years, more than one million Bangladeshis have been enslaved in these countries.

Bangladesh has seen massive migrations from rural to urban areas in the past 25 years, which has caused an imbalance of workers to jobs ratio in cities.

Despite the high rate of migration, more than 80% of Bangladesh’s population resides in rural areas. Poverty  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Dhaka terminals braced for post-holiday influx n Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kamalapur railway station saw a moderate flow of passengers.

“My family and I have returned today to avoid any political gridlock. There were no crowds at any of the stations and we have reached Kamalapur on time,” said Sheikh Erfanul Islam.

Station Manager at Kamalapur, Nripendra Saha told the Dhaka Tribune that they were yet to face any rush and was expecting it to start today.

“We have taken necessary preparations to handle the pressure.

So far we have maintained all our schedules except a few delays in the northern zones,” he said.

At the Sadarghat launch terminal, many passengers were seen returning to Dhaka, but the launch operators also said the main crowd will arrive on Saturday. l

Commerce Minister GM Quader launches an Eid rally by citizens’ organisation Dhakabashi, at the Jatiya Shishu Academy premises yesterday RAJIB DHAR

14-party allies happy with PM proposals

Two murdered in Natore, Bagerhat n Tribune Desk

65 jailed for defying hilsa fishing ban

n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

Two people were murdered in separate incidents in Bagerhat and Natore districts over the last two days.

In Shikirdanga village in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat yesterday, a housewife slaughtered her husband in his sleep to draw an end to a suspected extramarital affair, before attempting suicide by taking poison.

Police said Halima Begum, 32, killed Sheikh Sirajul Islam, the 36-year-old son of Sheikh Belayet Hossain, with a kitchen knife around 6am while their son, Sohel, was attending the mosque for Fajr prayers. Their daughter, Jannatul, was sitting in their balcony.

In Natore, meanwhile, a middle-aged man was killed in an attack by a rival at Bilsa village in Gurudaspur upazila yesterday.

The deceased was Saidur Rahman, 48, son of Foyez Uddin of the village.

Police said there had been a longstanding dispute between Saidur and Mainul Islam over the ownership of a piece of land. As a sequel to the enmity, Mainul beat Saidur on the Bilsa Bridge at noon and threw him into the water. l

n Tribune Desk

Residents who left Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja have begun making their way back to the city, apparently to avoid tailbacks, any impending political gridlock, and to attend offices on Sunday.

Three gateways to the city - Gabtoli bus terminal, Kamalapur railway station and Sadarghat launch terminal - all saw a moderate number of people returning to Dhaka yesterday.

Most passengers said they wanted to avoid any unnecessary gridlocks on the highways, though some cited fears of imminent political turmoil since almost all the political parties had set programmes for October 25.

“The political situation is likely to worsen from October 25,” said Shariful Islam, an employee of Prime Bank.

“Moreover, I have to attend office on

Sunday, and if I were to return Saturday, I would have faced huge traffic jams on the highways,” he said.

We have taken necessary preparations to handle the pressure. So far we have maintained all our schedules except a few delays in the northern zones Bus operators at Gabtoli, however, told the Dhaka Tribune that the rush was yet to set in since the vacation will end for most Saturday.

“We are facing a regular crowd, but the rush will begin from Friday night. So far, no traffic jams have been reported on any of the routes,” Manjurul Alam, sales representative at Hanif Enterprise said.

Shyamoli Enterprise Counter Master, Abdullah Al Mamun said the rush of passengers would continue until

The Awami League-led 14-party alliance partners welcomed the prime minister’s proposal of forming an all-party election-time government to oversee the next general election. They also urged the main opposition BNP to give positive response to the call.

Jatiya party, a key ally of the grand alliance, however, kept mum on the issue. The party would discuss the matter at its presidium meeting today and will formally give its reaction.

The ruling Awami League and its front organisations yesterday brought out a procession hailing the prime minister’s address to the nation. The procession started from the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue and ended there after parading different streets of the capital.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon termed Hasina’s offer “positive” and urged the BNP to response it positively.

“I think the prime minister’s call will erase the confusion over the pollstime government,” he said.

Menon, however, said: “If the BNP responds positively, rest of the unsettle issues can be resolved through discussion.”

Contacted, Jatiya Party Presidium member Anisul Islam Mahamud refused to make any comment on the prime minister’s speech. “Our Presidium meeting on Saturday will discuss the issue and then we will make clear our stand formally,” he added.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal hailed the directives made by the premier.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, party’s General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia said Hasina’s proposal was positive as well as constructive. “Now the BNP should come forward and response positively,” he added.

AL-led alliance partner Ganatantri Party General Secretary Nurur Rahman Selim viewed that the prime minister’s formal call would help to resolve the ongoing political deadlock.

He said consensus between two major political parties was mandatory to erase panic among the countrymen over the polls and future political scenario. l

Police on alert

BNP finds nothing new

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remain restricted for people who would come for political purposes,” said an official of the police seeking anonymity.

The official also said they would search residential hotels, suspected messes and houses where the activists of the opposition parties, mainly Jamaat-e-Islami and its students’ wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, might take shelter before October 24.

The BNP has called a rally for October 25 at Suhrawardy Udyan to press its demand for a non-party government to oversee the national election.

Meanwhile, the central office of the BNP in the capital’s Nayapaltan has been kept under strict surveillance for the last few days. Members of police and Rab have been seen surrounding the party office, where prison vans were also parked.

Police check posts have also been set up at different spots close to the BNP office.

No BNP leader or activist was seen outside the office yesterday morning as the building’s main entrance was kept locked.

Sources said police focused on the BNP office after the party’s senior leader, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, urged its followers to join the October 25 rally with machetes, axes, and other sharp weapons, in case the planned march was “foiled”. Khoka’s remarks prompted a police raid on his residence. l

Civic leaders  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

“The prime minister has not made it clear who will head the interim cabinet and how many members will be there,” he told journalists.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh President Manzurul Ahsan said the prime minister did not make it clear “which path she will actually pursue.”

There was “nothing new” in the speech and the prime minister did not take political parties other than the main opposition party into consideration, he observed.

“The prime minister should take all major political parties into consideration,” he added. l

analyse the current political situation and discuss the premier’s statement.

Meanwhile, a number of BNP policymakers gave mixed reactions regarding the prime minister speech. Standing Committee member MK Anwar said: “It is clear that the BNP will not take part in any election with Sheikh Hasina remaining the prime minister.”

ASM Hannan Shah told the Dhaka Tribune: “The government has moved from its rigid stance but this is still not enough. It does not seem to me that the BNP will respond to the prime minister’s call.”

Senior leader Rafiqul Islam Miah said he would not make any comment on the prime minister’s proposal. “We will discuss the issue in the party forum tomorrow [Saturday] and then we will brief the media,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

However, seeking anonymity, another standing committee member said the prime minister’s address had

nothing new.

“But as the prime minister has given the proposal formally, we will have to discuss it elaborately in the party forum and then we will give our reaction.

It is not a matter of giving reaction by a single word or a single line,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami – a key ally of the BNPled 18-party opposition alliance – rejected the prime minister’s speech terming it conspiratory and a document of falsehood.

“The prime minister’s speech is nothing but a blunt and rhetoric. People have rejected it. She has proposed an all-party polls-time government just to thwart the people’s movement,” Rafiqul Islam Khan, acting secretary general of Jamaat, said in a press release.

Asked, Fakhrul said: “It might be their party stance. We will give our reaction after discussing with the alliance partners.” l

314k Bangladeshis are 'slaves'  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

prevails in rural Bangladesh, just as unemployment does in urban areas; these push factors account for such a large population of migrant workers.

Some of these migrant workers including men, women and children, are in bonded labour, debt bondage, and forced labour in a variety of industries throughout Bangladesh.

Debt bondage has been reported in the shrimp and tea industries, as well as in brickmaking and forced begging.

Groups identified as being most vulnerable to enslavement include women, children, the poor, the illiterate, ethnic Rohingya refugees and people displaced internally due to climate change or natural disasters.

“There are reports, however, that the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies imposes unauthorised recruitment fees on its clients,” says the report.

It also says: “Many recruiters do legitimate migrant worker placement, but once the workers arrive overseas, they can be trafficked or otherwise exploited by their employer.”

Some victims are forcibly trafficked internationally. Large numbers of women and girls are reportedly trafficked to India and Pakistan annually.

Bangladeshi children are enslaved abroad for sexual exploitation in bars, clubs, and for marriage and adoption.

“Boys, who are vulnerable to sex trafficking, often begin as street children and/or refugees or internally displaced persons,” the report observes.

It also observed that children are also exploited internally for sex and labour. Boys and girls as young as ten years old are sexually exploited. Even younger children can be abducted and sold for sex in remote locations.

The suggestions include: expanding compulsory education through secondary school for all, including girls; continuing the establishment of bilateral agreements with the governments of destination countries to protect Bangladeshi migrant workers; and continuing to train all levels of law enforcement, public officials and the judiciary on best practices and new legal frameworks for combating modern slavery. l

Seven fishermen were jailed in Bhola and Munshiganj while 58 others fined in Bagerhat and Barguna yesterday for defying a ban on catching hilsa.

An 11-day ban imposed by the government on catching, transporting and marketing hilsa across the country began on October 13, aiming to boost hilsa production through ensuring safe spawning and protecting mother hilsa, reports UNB. In Bhola, a mobile court sentenced six fishermen to one year’s imprisonment for catching hilsa in Charfasson upazila.

The mobile court conducted separate drives in the Meghna and the Tetulia rivers from the morning and held the fishermen. Two trawlers were also seized from their possession.

In Barguna, 45 fishermen were fined Tk1,000 to Tk5,000 for catching hilsa in the Bay of Bengal.

Coast Guard members in their overnight drive arrested the fishermen from Pakkhidia area in the bay during

their drive from 8pm on Thursday to 8am yesterday.

During the drive, eight maunds of hilsa, over 200,000 metres of nets and four trawlers were also seized.

The arrested fishermen were produced before a mobile court around 11am which slapped fine on them.

In Munshiganj, Coast Guard members seized 180,000 metres of current nets at different points of the Meghna River in Sadar and Gazaria upazilas, and held a fisherman along with 18 mother hilsas.

Later, a mobile court sentenced the fisherman, Shawkat Sheikh, 35, to 15 days’ imprisonment.

In Bagerhat, a joint team of Bangladesh Coast Guard and Fisheries Department held 13 fishermen while they were catching hilsa at Bagi and Maherchar in the Baleswar River in Sharankhola upazila in the early hours.

Four trawlers and 7,000 metres of nets were also seized from their possession.

Later the arrested were produced before a mobile court which fined them Tk5,000 each, and released them. l

PM holds out olive branch to opposition  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Sharing the bitter experiences of the previous military-backed caretaker government of 1/11, Hasina said the people did not want to see repetition of such unconstitutional rule any more.

She also blamed the BNP for inviting the pathetic chapter like 1/11 changeover on January 11, 2007.

The premier once again stressed the need for dialogue and said the door for dialogue was open from the government side.

She called upon the opposition to join parliament and bring an adjournment motion on the polls-time government again. “If necessary, you [opposition party] can place the adjournment motion in parliament and clearly say what you want.”

The BNP earlier tabled a similar motion to hold talks on the issue but later withdrew.

Earlier on Eid day, Hasina said the door for dialogue over the next general election was still open. “The country will remain normal after October 25 if the opposition leader does not make provocative remarks,” she said.

The same day, BNP chief Khaleda Zia called upon the government to create an atmosphere for a credible election through dialogues. She claimed that her party was not seeking violence, rather peace. “Our demand is simple.

We want the national elections to be held under a non-partisan caretaker government.”

The premier once again stressed the need for dialogue and said the door was open from the government side In her address yesterday, Hasina also briefly described the achievements of her government and misdeeds of the previous BNP-led coalition government.

In the concluding part of her address, Hasina recalled the bloodbath of August 15, 1975, in which most of her family members had been killed.

She mentioned about her youngest brother Sheikh Russell, who was also slain that day at the age of 10, as yesterday was his 49th birthday. Hasina urged the countrymen to pray for his departed soul. l

Masses urge consensus  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

the worst sufferers. We don’t want any more political tension,” he said.

Nazrul Islam Rony, president of Bangladesh Teachers’ Association, welcomed the PM’s proposal for an all-party government. “There is no denying that this is a good proposal but all these things should be done through consensus of the two parties,” he said.

He, however, said the government should not oppress the opposition leaders in the coming days and only then an environment of trust will be created.

Shamima Akhter, an M Ed student at Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research also thought the PM’s proposal to be a good one, but she was confused over how the opposition would respond.

“There is a question about the head of the all-party government. However, this is a good move and now if the

opposition comes up with counter proposals, we will have a good election,” she said.

Kallan Das, a senior official at a private Bank, said the proposal was good but pointed out a congenial environment was needed for it to work.

“We read in the newspaper that law enforcement officials had cordoned the BNP central office. When the PM is urging for consensus, such an attitude will not bring any good result,” he said.

He said both parties should be positive so that people will not suffer.

Alamgir Hossain, a rickshaw puller, thought now the opposition should respond to put the country in the right direction.

“During any political chaos, we have to lead the most risky lives. We just want the government and the opposition to create a peaceful atmosphere,” he said. l

City fire leaves thousands homeless n Tribune Report At least 500 shanties and four plastic storehouses were gutted in two separate fire incidents in the capital’s Hajaribagh and Islambagh area on Thursday.

Some 15 slum dwellers in the capital’s Hajaribagh were also injured in the fire. The Hajaribagh fire originated at Boubazar slum near Balurmath around 10pm. Nine units of firefighters in association with locals and slum dwellers put out the flame with a joint effort of two hours.

However, the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as one of the slum dwellers said the fire originated from a mosquito coil while another gave the version that the fire originated from a short circuit.

Locals and witnesses said around 2,000 people had been residing in the slum and almost everything of the slum housings had been burnt to ashes.

Most of the slum dwellers were away on the occasion of Eid. Major Mahbubur Rahman, director (operation) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said around 400 shanties were burnt although the dwellers claimed that the number was around 500.

Witnesses said the fire engulfed the entire slum within moments before the firefighters rushed to the spot. Almost all shanties were made of wood and tins.

Meanwhile, another fire in the capital’s Islambagh left at least four plastic storehouses burnt. According to fire officials, the flame originated around 11:30am and seven units of firefighters doused it with their frantic efforts of around one hour.

Azizul Huq, officer-in-charge of Chawkbazar police station, suspect that the fire may have originated from cigarette butt. l

Robbers kill IBBL security guard, loot Tk7.2m n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah Unidentified criminals strangled a security guard to death and stole Tk7.2m from Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s (IBBL) Kaliganj branch in Jhenaidah.

The incident took place at some time during Thursday night or the early hours of Friday.

The deceased was Ayub Hossain, 50, hailing from Rajarhat Kachua village under Jessore sadar upazila.

Mahmud Hasan, manager of IBBL’s Kaliganj branch, said the guard had been on duty from Thursday evening and the miscreants may have committed the murder and the robbery of Tk7.2m at any time during Thursday night or the early hours of Friday.

The manager said another security guard found the bank’s main gate locked on Friday and notified authorities after failing to get any response from Ayub.

Later, Ayub’s body was recovered after the lock was broken in the presence of Upazila Nirbahi Officer Eradul Haque and Liakat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj police station.

The OC informed that there were signs of injury on Ayub’s forehead, adding that culprits may have taken advantage of the long holiday to commit the murder.

The body was sent to Jhenaidah sadar hospital morgue for post-mortem examination, the OC said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Cattle hide prices up 40% n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The global price of sacrificial animals’ hides has risen 40% this year but sellers in Bangladesh are not reaping the benefits due to collusion by industry bodies.

The Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA), Leathergoods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), and Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchants Association (BHSMA) have jointly fixed prices at Tk85-Tk90 per square foot of hide in Dhaka and Tk75-Tk80 per square foot for areas outside the capital.

In addition, prices for hides of bullock have been set at Tk50-Tk55, for goat at Tk40-Tk45 and for buffalo at Tk40-Tk45 throughout the country.

According to BTA, tanners cannot buy hides below Tk2,000 and the highest prices rose to Tk3000 as per the length of hides.

“It’s a raw material and you cannot sell at fixed rate,” said BTA secretary general Abdul Hai, while urging the government to strengthen security measures across the border to stop smuggling of hides to India.

Sohel Khondker, a resident of Mirpur 10 in the capital, said: “I have sold my sacrificial cow’s hide for Tk1,300, which was around 20 square feet. But I did not make a bargain as it was donated to a Madrassa.”

An Indira Road resident in Farmgate area said: “I have sold a sacrificial cow’s hide for Tk1,600, which was supposed

to be sold at over Tk2,000 as per the market prices.”

He alleged that a young group backed by political parties dominated the area and barred buyers from entering there.

Mustafizur Rahman Mintu, a trader of hides, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had sold hides at Tk100-Tk115 per square foot to the tanners, even though the BTA had asked traders to buy hides at Tk85-Tk90.

“We buy hides of Dhaka area at higher prices because of their good quality and low preservation cost,” said BTA President Shaheen Ahmed, adding the hide procurement target must be fulfilled as the supply of cattle exceeded demand.

Ahmed alleged that a group of people who did not have experience were making the market volatile as they bought the hides against higher prices. Currently, one square foot of processed leather is sold at $1.4 in the global market.

According to BTA, the country’s growing leather sector needs 250 million cubic feet of rawhides every year just to meet the local demand.

According to the Department of Livestock, around 48% of rawhide collection is made during Eid ul-Azha, 10% during Eid ul-Fitr, and 2% in Shabe-Barat and Kali Puja.

In 2012-13, Bangladesh exported $561.35m of leather and finished leather goods while in the previous year the figure was $430m, according to Export Promotion Bureau data. l

A labourer is busy unloading cattle hide from a truck at a tannery in the city’s Hazaribagh yesterday

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Dhaka, Delhi to discuss customs cooperation

Rawhide stockists worry despite record collection

n Tribune Report

Despite a record-breaking rawhide collection from the port city, stockists are apprehensive of whether they will get their due profit this year.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the stockists pointed out that insufficient numbers of tanneries, imprudent purchase of rawhide and political instability might stand in the way of their making a good profit.

According to Chittagong City Corporation Rawhide Stockist Cooperative Society, about 450,000 pieces of rawhide of cows, buffalos and goats were collected from the port city and adjoining areas from Eid day to Friday, while rawhide merchants’ target was about 400,000 this year.

Sources said of the total 22 tanneries, 20 had remained closed over the last

Bangladesh and India will likely discuss customs cooperation issues during the visit of Indian Revenue Secretary Sumit Bose to Dhaka this week.

He will reach the capital on Monday for a two-day visit, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a press release.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Ghulam Hussain will lead the Bangladesh side during talks that will take place “within the established bilateral framework of the Joint Group of Customs (JGC).” This is the ninth round of the JGC. The last meeting was held in New Delhi on April 25-26 last year.

Sumit will also visit the Chittagong Port and the Export Promotion Zone in Chittagong.

The IHC statement said India-Bangladesh trade had expanded. Bangladeshi exports to India have grown from $498.4m in 2011-12 to $563.9m in 2012-13 after India announced duty- and quota-free access to exports from Bangladesh on September 6, 2011.

This marks an increase of 13.15% over the previous year and is the highest-ever level of exports from Bangladesh to India.

The two sides are expected to review the existing mechanism for the exchange of customs-related information, and infrastructure facilities available at the Land Customs Stations (LCSs). They will also deal with procedural bottlenecks related to trade including testing facilities, online processing facilities congestion and documentation. l

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Rakhain people yesterday prepare Fanus (flying lamps) to observe Probarona Purnima Festival on the day and today

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Week ends amid religious festivities n Tribune Report

Throughout last week, people across the country celebrated Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of Muslims; Durga Puja and Laxmi Puja, festivals of the Hindu community; and Probarona Purnima, a religious festival of Buddhists amid joyful festivity.

The nation has been enjoying the Eid and Durga Puja holidays from last Monday, which will end today. Crowds thronged the recreational centres in the capital like Shishu Park and the National Zoo. Many people also visited different tourist spots across the country including Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar.

Recreational centres – Shaheed Zia Shishu Park, Dhaka Zoo, Shishu Mela and Fantasy Kingdom have been catering to thousands of visitors, particularly children, since the holiday began.

People across the country also visited historic places and tourist spots to cele-

brate the holidays, our correspondents reported.

Zobaida Iqbal, a mother who came to the Shaheed Zia Shishu Park with her eight-year-old twin daughters, said Shishu Park was the place her children enjoyed the most.

“When I was young, I used to visit the park too. I think this park is one suitable place for my children to have a good time,” she said.

The Shishu Park staff said they were having trouble handling the huge crowds.

“It is good to see that children are enjoying our rides, but we are facing trouble sometimes to deal with such a huge crowd,” Liakat Mia, a ride operator, said.

Mohammad Zakir Hossain, the deputy assistant director of the park, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We serve 6,000 visitors on average every day, but during the Eid holidays, we have been serving tens of thousands of visitors.

On Thursday, we had over 33,000 visitors for our 11 rides. We had all the preparations to serve this huge crowd.”

He estimated that the park would draw at least 500,000 people during this five-day vacation.

Tourist spots at Bandarban were filled with thousands of visitors, and it had been difficult for many to find rooms at the local hotels and motels, reported our Bandarban correspondent.

People were enjoying the natural beauties of Nil Giri, various lakes, hills and mountains of Bandarban.

The coastal district of Cox’s Bazar was overcrowded but enjoyable nevertheless, our correspondent reported.

Thousands of people went to the largest sea beach in the world to celebrate their holiday.

Tourist businesses in the town expressed their satisfaction and said the crowd was much bigger this year than the last few years. l

12 years while the remaining two – Madina Tannery and Reef Leather Tannery – had been purchasing 40% of the rawhide collected from greater Chittagong for the last few years.

Stockists expressed their deep concern that the present political scenario might turn into chaos, which would affect their business The two tanneries give instant cash payment to stockists while the tanneries in the capital purchase 60% of the rawhide from the port city on credit, said Muslim Uddin, president of CCC Rawhide Stockist Cooperative Society.

Besides, the merchants claimed that they had to purchase rawhide from seasonal collectors with a higher price than that in the previous year.

Akkel Ali, a rawhide merchant, told the Dhaka Tribune though tannery organisations fixed the price of rawhide this year, he was compelled to buy cattle hide from seasonal collectors against high price as they collected those from people with a high rate.

Seasonal collectors usually collect rawhide from different areas giving extra price, he said.

Another merchant, Mohammad Saddam, said they targeted the rawhide buy from retailers with Tk60 per square feet while it was fixed at Tk75 by tanneries associations.

Meanwhile, the stockists expressed their deep concern that the present political scenario might turn into chaos,

which would affect their business.

Khorshed Alam, general secretary of the CCC Rawhide Stockist Cooperative Society, told the Dhaka Tribune they sold all rawhide within a month usually after collection.

“If the political situation is volatile, the process of sale will take more time this year for which the merchants may incur loss,” he said.

“The systematically preserved rawhide will be rotten if the sale is delayed,” Khorshed said, adding that the rawhide remained in good condition for two months according to their preservation system.

The stockist organisations mentioned that they collected about 300,000 pieces of rawhide from greater Chittagong last year while about 10m were collected from across the country. l

Five killed in road accidents n Tribune Report

Resist moves to grab Grameen Bank: Yunus

Five people were killed in three separate road accidents in Bhola, Faridpur and Magura in the last three days.

In Bhola, a motorcyclist and his co-rider were killed as his bike collided with a bus at College Para in Lalmohan upazila on Friday morning, reports our correspondent. The deceased were Khalil, 30, and Momin, 32, of Tajimuddin upazila.

Witnesses said the accident took place when a Bhola-bound bus hit the bike at Pourasava Gate around 8:15am, killing the duo on the spot.

On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to hospital.

In Faridpur, an official of Rab was killed in a road accident in Shibrampur area of Sadar upazila on Thursday, reports our correspondent. The deceased was Farukh Khan, 45, a sub-inspector of Rab 6 in Jhenidah and he hailed from Rajbari district.

Traffic Police Sergeant Tuhin Laskar of Faridpur said a private car collided with a motorcycle of Faruk at noon while he was returning to his workplace after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha with his family members, leaving him injured.

Locals rescued Farukh and sent him to the Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The body was later handed over to the family after the post mortem examination at the hospital.

In Magura, a youth was killed in a bike crash on Balidia road in Mohammadpur upazila on Friday morning, reports UNB. The deceased was Iqbal Shikder, 18, of Balidia village.

Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur police station Monirul Islam said the accident took place when a moving motorcycle hit Iqbal around 9am as he was standing on the road.

Locals recovered Iqbal and took him to the Mohammadpur Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

A case was filed in this regard. l

n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus has urged resistance to forces vying for control of the microcredit institution, and called for a peaceful and participatory election.

“You will have to say loudly ‘Do not put a hand on Grameen Bank. We will break the hand whoever tries to do so’,” Yunus told a women’s gathering at the Chittagong Ladies Club on Thursday.

The Nobel laureate alleged the government was trying to take hold of the bank which he developed with the efforts of 8.4 million women, contrary to its founding principles.

“You will also have to say ‘We want to live in peace. We want a peaceful election. We will not accept an election without the participation of all parties’,” said Yunus, adding that he wanted to see whether their concerted voice was louder than that of a single person.

The deposed managing director of Grameen Bank said he could have owned the microcredit entity had he wanted to, and he dismissed government attempts to brand him a “blood sucker and bribe-taker”.

He claimed that none of the 25,000 officials and employees of Grameen Bank had to a pay single penny to get

a job, even though he said there was no other instance of getting job in Bangladesh without paying a bribe.

Regarding the elections, he said: “The state of the country is very bad.

Everybody is scared about what will happen; they are not certain about an election and whether they will be able to cast their votes or not.”

He wondered why there was uncertainty and panic in an independent country like Bangladesh and suggested there was scope to prevent a possible chaos in the political arena.

Thursday’s meeting was presided over by the president of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kamrun Maleque. Other speakers included Vice-Chancellor of East Delta University Prof Sikandar Khan, architect Zerina Hossain, Prof Anowara Alam, and designer Ivy Hasan. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Garbage still not fully cleared n Mohammad Zakaria Two days after Eid-ul-Azha, cleaners of the two Dhaka City Corporations have already cleared the waste from the legal and illegal cattle markets in the capital but dustbins are still filled with piles of garbage from three days of animal sacrifice.

City dwellers complained of bad smells coming off the garbage from slaughtered animals in the dustbins.

Mithun Jaman, a resident of Shekhertek Mohammadpur, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that roads in that area had already been cleaned by the city corporation, but dustbins were still filled with garbage and the stench had filled the area, causing immense suffering for the locals. The authorities should take immediate steps to remove the garbage from the dustbins, he said.

The two city corporation chiefs had announced a day before Eid that they would be able to clean up the city within 48 hours starting from Eid day at noon.

The authorities of the two corporations yesterday claimed their cleaners had already removed the waste from animal sacrifice from the cattle markets and roads.

DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer Bipan Kumar Saha told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have closed our special cleaning drive, which used modern equipment, at 1pm. We have already

cleaned the waste animals from the cattle markets and roads. Our normal cleaning process is ongoing now.”

When asked about the garbage in dustbins in Mohammadpur, he said the dustbins had already been cleaned.

“If any dustbin has garbage, people should contact the DNCC and the authorities will take immediate measures to remove the garbage,” he added.

DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer SM Javed Iqbal told the Dhaka Tribune that the cleaning in the cattle markets and roads was almost done.

“We had a target of cleaning up the city within 48 hours. Our work started at 2pm on Eid day. So far, we have finished cleaning the waste from cattle markets and roads,” he said.

The DCC south has already started the special drive and used of advanced equipment to remove the garbage as soon as possible, he said.

“Our normal cleaning process is also ongoing.”

“We will continue our special drive today as many citizens have been sacrificing their cattle on the second and third day of Eid,” he added.

The DSCC deployed 5,200 permanent and around 4,000 hired cleaners and the DNCC deployed 2,600 permanent and 4,900 hired cleaners for Eidul-Azha. The corporations cancelled Eid holidays for their waste management staff. l

A woman covers her nose while passing the stinking remains of sacrificial animals dumped in the open near a waste container at Thana Road in Hazaribagh yesterday. The city corporation cleaners still did not reach the area though three days of Eid has passed MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

CCC breaks eight-hour Eid Joy of Eid eludes flood victims of pledge to clean port city chars in Lalmonirhat

Two killed in Brahmanbaria clash n Tribune Desk Two people were killed and 40 others injured in a fierce clash between two groups of villagers at Sadekpur village in Sadar upazila yesterday.

Locals said Iqbal Chairman and Nasir Hossain of the village had long been at loggerheads over establishing their supremacy in the locality.

As a sequel to the enmity, some 400/500 people from both groups, equipped with lethal weapons, engaged in a clash on Friday morning.

A chase and counter chase took place during the melee that left 42 people injured.

On receiving information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control by firing 10 rounds of teargas shells and rubber bullets.

Of the injured, Shamsul Islam, 45, and Islmail, 38, succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals.

Meanwhile, some 50 people were injured in another clash at Behair village in Sadar upazila in the morning. l

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) was still striving to clean up the port city three days after Eid-ul-Azha, despite having promised to remove all cattle wastes within eight hours.

While visiting different areas yesterday including Saraipapra, Muradpur, East Halishahar, Halishahar, Pathantuli and Alkaron, remains of sacrificial animals could be seen rotting by the roadside.

Asif Uddin, a resident at Halishahar area, said CCC cleaners had sprayed bleaching powder in several areas without removing all the remains.

Shah Forhad, a resident at Muradpur area, said they had informed the CCC control room about the dumped cattle wastes at several spots in the locality, but the area was still to be cleaned properly.

Safiqul Islam Siddique, acting chief conservancy officer of CCC, refuted such claims, saying the cleaning staffs had succeeded in making the city dirt free within eight hours as per as their pre-holiday commitment, and were now contending with fresh remains.

“There are wastes in some areas as people were still sacrificing animals, so we are still working on removing cattle wastes entirely,” he said, adding that the CCC had deployed additional cleaning staffs at Muradpur area, where most of the rawhide tanneries were located.

Md Hasan Liton, councillor of East Sholashahar ward, said they were engaged in cleaning activities but fresh wastes were being produced as people continued to sacrifice animals even after Eid day.

Safiqul said 2,500 cleaners were working to remove the cattle wastes across the city and 150 trucks had also been engaged in the dumping activity. l

n Our correspondent, Lalmonirhat The joy of Eid-ul-Azha ran flat for about 200,000 flood-affected people on the basin of Teesta and Dharla Rivers in five upazilas in Lalmonirhat this year, as they did not receive the government relief, locals alleged.

Buying new dresses remained out of question, let alone sacrificial cattle.

The people said besides their bare needs, they could not buy any extra good under the present circumstance as they had lost their homesteads, croplands and domestic animals in the recent floods and erosions.

People on the chars were waiting for government and non-government aid to observe the Eid-ul-Azha, but they did not get any, alleged a number of char dwellers.

The well-off families in the mainland were distributed government relief but the destitute in the char areas

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Dry weather likely n UNB

City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

34.0 31.8 33.2 33.4 35.0 33.5 34.6 34.0

25.3 25.5 23.8 24.0 26.0 25.5 24.7 25.3

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:42am 5:57am 11:43pm 3:52pm 5:29pm 6:45pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Chairman Mosaddeque Hossain Chowdhury said people of his union observed a different Eid this year as they had lost their assets in the flood and erosion and were yet to recover from the disastrous losses.

The District Relief and Rehabilitation Office sources said the government allocated 95,819 VGF cards amongst vulnerable families at 45 unions and two municipalities at five upazilas in the district for celebrating Eid-ul-Azha. Each of the VGF cardholders would get 10kgs of rice.

The District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) Anowarul Islam said the VGF cards were distributed equally in char and mainland areas.

His office did not get any order for special allocation for the flood and erosion hit people of char villages to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha this year, he added.

He said the char dwellers were deprived of the joy of Eid joy because of poverty. l

Chittagong city still in holiday mood

WEATHER

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions in 24 hours till 6pm today.

Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, said sources at Met Office.

Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital today at 5:29pm and will rise tomorrow at 5:58am.

Country’s highest temperature 35.1 degree Celsius was recorded yesterday at Sandwip and lowest 22.7 degrees at Dinajpur.

Highest and lowest temperature and humidity recorded in some major cities and towns yesterday were:

remained deprived, they claimed.

Flood victim Ataur Rahman, 55, at Kutirpar village in Aditmari upazila said: “We have two sons and two daughters but I was unable to purchase new clothes for them for Eid. I could not purchase food or any other goods as I am totally broke after going through the flood situation for the fourth time in the last two months.”

Jolekha Bewa, 65, a flood victim of Char Modhupur village in Lalmonirhat sadar said: “VGF [Vulnerable Group Feeding] rice was distributed before the Eid day but I did not get it. Chairman and members of the union parishad distributed those among some well-off families of their choices.”

“Me and many ultra-poor villagers were deprived of the government aid before Eid. I was not in a condition to purchase even regular food for the Eid day let alone new clothes,” she added.

Mohishkhocha Union Parishad

City people enjoy Eid vacation with family members in the National Shishupark at Shahbagh yesterday

Youth team to visit India from Oct 21 n Tribune Desk A hundred-member Bangladesh youth delegation will visit India on October 21- 28 as part of an initiative to further strengthen people-to-people contacts between India and Bangladesh.

This is the second team which will be visiting India under a programme organised in association with the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and the High Commission of India, Dhaka.

They will see prominent cultural and historical sites in India apart from holding interactions in educational, business, IT and technological institutions of India. They are also expected to meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. l

RAJIB DHAR

Chittagong was in festival mood despite around three out of every five residents spending the six-day long Eid holiday with relatives in their village homes, according to city corporation and district administration sources.

People crowded several different recreational locations in the port city after Eid day, with amusement parks and recreational centres reporting high numbers of visitors.

Md Rafiq-ul-Alam, president of Patenga Sea Beach Shop Owners’ Cooperative Association, said Eid visitors were outnumbering regular visitors by four or five to one.

Chittagong Zoo sources said the attraction had seen a three-fold increase on its usual numbers of around 1,500

NEWS IN BRIEF KCC councillor among six to sustain bullet wounds in clash

Six people, including a Khulna City Corporation (KCC) councilor, sustained bullet wounds in a clash between two groups of people over a football match at Khalispur in the city on Thursday.

Police said the ball flew and fell into the house of KCC councillor from ward-7 Sultan Mahmud Pintu while a group of youths were playing football, reports UNB. However, the house inmates drove the youths away instead of giving back the ball when they went to the house to collect it. Later, the youths approached ward Awami League President Selim Ahmed who defeated Pintu in the last KCC polls. An altercation ensued between Pintu and Selim over the issue. At one stage, their supporters engaged in a clash. A chase and counter

chase took place amid gunshots that left six people, including Pintu, bullet wounded.

The injured were rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital. A case was filed.

– Tribune Desk

Two held with crude bombs in Meherpur

Police in a drive arrested two people along with four crude bombs at Dharmachaki village in Gangni upazila early yesterday.

The arrestees were identified as Mohan, son of Kutubuddin, and Mustafiz, son of Nabisuddin of the village. Acting on tip-off, a police team conducted a raid on the house of Mohan in the early hours and arrested the duo along with the bombs, said officer-in-charge (investigation) of Gangni police station Ashraful Islam.

– UNB

Housewife killed by in-laws in Lakshmipur

A young housewife was beaten to death allegedly by her husband and in-laws for dowry at Lamchari village in Lakshmipur municipality area early yesterday. The deceased was identified as Salma Akhter, wife of Yunus Miah of the village and also a 2nd year student of Dalal Bazar Degree College. Police said Salma and Yunus recently tied the knot secretary following a love affair, and started their conjugal life. However, Yunus’ family members did not accept the marriage. Yunus and his family members demanded money to Salma’s father Ali Miah as dowry. As they refused to pay the dowry, Salma’s husband and in-laws beat her in the early hours of yesterday, leaving her dead on the spot. Later, they hanged the body with a ceiling fan to make it appear that she committed suicide. – UNB

people daily for the occasion of the Eid. A huge number of people also gathered at the Naval Academy to enjoy the view of Karnaphuli river estuary and the Butterfly Park.

People crowded several different recreational locations in the port city after Eid day, with amusement parks and recreational centres reporting high numbers of visitors The children’s parks at Agrabad, Kazir Dewri and Bahaddar Hat were also busy, due to their lower Tk40 to Tk60 entry fees. Outside the city, residents of adjoining upazilas gathered in local entertainment places like Sitakunda Eco Park, Mahamaya in Mirsarai, and the tea gardens in Fatikchhari upazila. l

20 BNP men hurt in Bhola AL attack n Tribune Desk At least 20 BNP activists were injured in an attack by supporters of Awami League and Jubo League in the Charfasson municipality area of Bhola on Thursday night.

Witnesses said local Jubo League leader and municipality councillor Noman intercepted two BNP leaders as they were going to meet former MP Nazim Uddin Alam, and confined them to a room and looted their belongings, reports UNB. BNP men sent in response by Nazim were themselves attacked by the ruling party and Jubo activists, injuring 20 of them including upazila Swechchhasebak Dal General Secretary Meer Saheb. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

5

Saturday, October 19, 2013

n BSS

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Dear Countrymen, 1. Assalamu Alaikum. I hope, you have celebrated the Eid-ul-Azha festival amid festivities. I express greetings to you on the holy Eid. A few days back, the Durga Puja festival of the Hindu community concluded peacefully. I express my greetings to them. The Prabarana Purnima, a religious festival of the country’s Buddhist community, is being observed today. I also express them my sincere greetings on the occasion.

I convey sincere thanks to the law-enforcement agencies including police, Rab and BGB, who worked relentlessly day and night to make the festivals of the people of the country safe and peaceful. I hope they will work similarly to ensure the citizens’ safety in the coming days.

ladesh, we have initiated education on computers to build the next generation to be educated in information-technology. Information service centres with internet connections have been opened in each of the unions. Employment opportunities for the young men and young women have been created. They can now lead an economically solvent life by earning cash money staying in their villages.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it is easier to send money from abroad through mobile. Rural people can meet their expatriate relatives through Skype and video call.

Students get textbooks free of cost.

Stipends and sub-stipends to 1.19 crore students from primary to degree level have started.

General people are getting healthcare services and medicines free of cost through physicians and nurses from various community clinics and health complexes adjacent to their

‘BNP had placed an adjournment motion in the Jatiya Sangsad.

But it withdrew the motion when we agreed for the discussion.

They once say for the caretaker government, once the non-party and again say Hasina-free. They are continuing unrealistic words.

They are confusing the people. Submit your adjournment motion again if needed and clearly say what do you want?’

Conscious countrymen, 2. We have achieved independence under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On this day, I recall with gratitude Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders and those who sacrificed their lives and my those mothers and sisters who were subjected to torture in the great Liberation War. The grand alliance government under the leadership of Bangladesh Awami League is determined to establish democracy on a strong footing and give it an institutional shape. Democracy will be strengthened when it will be established on the constitutional base and when the representatives elected by the people’s votes will rule the state.

When the caretaker government like that of 1/11 of 2007 rested upon the people’s chest like that of a non-removable boulder then all including political leaders, students, teachers, professionals and businessmen have to experience untold repression. The common people expect that there will no more be repetition of such a type of unconstitutional rule.

3. We are working relentlessly round the clock to honour the trust and faith the people of Bangladesh have kept upon us by giving their votes in the election of 2008.

The development achieved in different sectors including that of agriculture, education, food security, health, social security, infrastructure improvement, electricity, employment, investment and establishment of women’s rights after taking charge by the government elected through your votes have been applauded in the whole world.

The lower-income group of people have been elevated to the middle-income group now coming out of the shackles of poverty. The people’s standard of living has been enhanced.

The income of farmers-workers-working people and garment workers has risen. A day-labourer after toiling for the day did not get wage to buy two kilogrammes of rice. But, he/she could now buy eight to 10 kgs of rice and other essentials for his/her family by spending his daily wage.

The credit for this goes to you. I believe, none could thwart development of the nation, which achieved its independence by spilling bloods.

Dear countrymen, 4. In our bid to build a digital Bang-

houses. So, the rate of child mortality and maternal mortality is being reduced.

5. She said her government has solved various professional problems of all establishments such as administrations, autonomous bodies, educational institutions, armed forces, law enforcement agencies including Police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar-VDP and Fire Service. Salary and remunerations have been increased.

Age limit in the service has been enhanced. Various steps have been taken for the welfare of the service holders.

“We have procured world class and modern weapons for Army, Navy and Air force aimed at making strong the country’s defence system to protect the country’s independence and sovereignty,” she said. “Procurement of more weapons is under process,” she added.

The government has arranged higher training for the members of the armed forces and their salary and allowances have been increased.

We have upgraded positions at various level of all organisations and the process is underway to change name of positions to make them more dignified.

Dear countrymen, 6. Our government has taken effective steps to mitigate water crisis and remove traffic jam in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet city corporations. The government has implemented many projects to develop power and sewerage system.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Full text of the prime minister’s speech

bridges-culverts at every union, upazila and district which will continue unabated.

The communication system has been developed for easy movement of common people. Many development works are underway. We have reconstructed railways, roads and highways and waterways. The government has procured new railway engines, coaches and locomotives.

One thousand new buses have been procured for Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). The government has taken necessary measures to ensure smooth journey of passengers for the Eid-ul-Azha which you bear witness.

8. The country experienced huge power crisis when our government assumed power and we have removed your sufferings. Now the capacity of power generation rose to 9,713MW and 60 per cent out of the total people are now enjoying electricity facilities.

We will reach electricity in every house, if we could form the government again with your support,” Hasina said.

Conscious countrymen, 9. Despite world-wide recession, the country’s economy is fast progressing.

Per capita income rose to $1,044 and the GDP growth is at 6 per cent.

We have drastically reduced inflation rate to 7/8 per cent from 11 per cent.

The foreign currency reserve has crossed all time records that stood at $16.5 billion now.

We have reduced the prices of food products during the month of Ramadan. The prices of sacrificial animals were within purchasing capacity in this Eid. We have made arrangements of performing the holy hajj smoothly.

I congratulate those who performed hajj and expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah.

We have conquered the sea and we have started the work of different projects for using the huge sea resources for the welfare of the people.

Our socioeconomic situation will be further improved if these projects are implemented in future.

Dear countrymen, Bangladesh that was used to slate and criticise as well as ashame due to terrorism, corruption and militancy across the globe during the BNP-Jamaat rule has now been recognised as

I had called the opposition leader in a dialogue. But it is a matter of regret that in response, she said she will overthrow and force me to leave the country within 48 hours by giving an ultimatum.

The nation was panicked due to the atrocities of Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May, 4, 5 and 6. Our timely steps restored comfort in the public mind and gave security to them.

Dwellers will get more facilities as some projects are under implementation stage. We have completed elections in four new city corporations of Narayanganj, Comilla, Rangpur and Gazipur.

7. The government has brought about big change in the communication system and constructed roads,

a role model in the world.

We have established good governance and contained militancy with iron hand. We have controlled graft and improved law order situation.

We have launched the trial of war criminals. The countrymen and the expatriate Bangalees now can move with dignity keeping their head high.

The killing, terrorism, rape, lootings, corruption and nepotism unleashed during the BNP-led four-party rule from 2001 to 2006 had pushed the country towards darkness. The panic of horrific days still chases the people. The people of the country did not forget a government inside the government named Hawa Bhaban.

Due to these misdeeds of BNP, the country witnessed another tormented chapter of 1/11. The people of the country came out of the tyranny with courage. The country is advancing following the bright prospects. The people of the country are leading a peaceful life.

In this situation, I call upon the opposition not to damage the life and property of the people by bombing and torching. Stop defamation of the holy Islam by burning the holy Quran and setting fire to mosques. Stop making the orphans as dead bodies to use them for making bombs at madrasas.

Stop killing the innocent pedestrians and poor bus drivers by burning. Let the people remain in peace.

Islam is a religion of peace. Islam never allows terrorism and militancy.

The final destination of those who kill the innocent people in the name of Islam will be the hell.

Therefore, I urge the opposition leader to withdraw the order killing people with knife, machete and axe.

The way of peace and unity would bring welfare for the country and the nation. Keep trust in the people, shun the path of terrorism. Speak whatever you want at parliament and discuss.

The door for the discussion is always open from our side.

I had called the opposition leader in a dialogue. But it is a matter of regret that in response, she said she will overthrow and force me to leave the country within 48 hours by giving an ultimatum.

The nation was panicked due to the atrocities of Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May, 4, 5 and 6. Our timely steps restored comfort in the public mind and gave security to them.

BNP had placed an adjournment motion in the Jatiya Sangsad. But it withdrew the motion when we agreed for the discussion. They once say for the caretaker government, once the non-party and again say Hasina-free.

They are continuing unrealistic words.

They are confusing the people. Submit your adjournment motion again if needed and clearly say what do you want?

You can remember that late president Zillur Rahman had exchanged views with all political parties and professionals before the formation of the election commission. The opposition leader had joined that dialogue. The election commission was constituted for the first time in Bangladesh through a search committee.

So far 5,777 elections were held in the country since the government assumed power. Election Commission staged the polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The government did not interfere in any of the elections and candidates of the opposition won in many of the elections. “Insha Allah the next general elections will be held in a free and fair manner.”

Polls would be held within 90 days starting from October 25 as per the constitution, said the prime minister.

“It has been mentioned in article 1 of the country’s constitution-72. I quote; “There will be no recess for

more than sixty days between the period from the end of a parliament session and the first meeting of next session.”

“There is more to be mentioned.

I quote: [Except the period of ninety days as mentioned in sub-clause (a) of clause (3) of article 123 for remaining term] a period exceeding sixty days shall not intervene between the end of one session and the first sitting of parliament in the next session.

“It is mentioned about holding elections in 123 article of the constitution. Section three (ka): within ninety days in case of dissolution of parliament due to the end of tenure; (kha): elections would be held within ninety days after dissolution of parliament due to any reason other than the expiry of tenure.”

The Awami League-led grand alliance formed the government in 2009 after winning the elections held on December in 2008. First sitting of the

“So I propose to the opposition that it can give names from parliament members of the party so that we can form all-party government by making them members of a cabinet committee during interim period. And we can hold a credible election by removing doubt of anyone regarding the election and then the country’s people would be able to form their government as per their desire.”

“I request the leader of the opposition that she will respond to my call.

She will keep my request and she will value our good intention.”

“So, let us establish the democracy further on a strong base through free, fair and credible elections in the greater interest of the welfare of the country and nation so that our young generation gets a beautiful society. We all can build a beautiful and potential Bangladesh.

I urge all to forget differences and build a hunger, poverty and illitera-

‘Let us establish the democracy further on a strong base through free, fair and credible elections in the greater interest of the welfare of the country and nation so that our young generation gets a beautiful society. We all can build a beautiful and potential Bangladesh. I urge all to forget differences and build a hunger, poverty and illiteracy-free modern Bangladesh by 2021 as Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation’

present parliament was held on January 25. The counting of ninety days will start on October 25 in line with section 123 (3) of the constitution.

The premier said elections would be held according to written advice by the prime minister to the president according to section one of the constitution-72.

“I will give written advice to the president on time after consultation with all political parties, especially the grand alliance, so that national polls are held in ninety days. I expect advice from opposition party.”

Dear countrymen, There had been many dramas centering elections in Bangladesh after assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members on August 15, 1975.

The country’s people saw unstable situation and rampage of cruelty in each and every election during the last 38 years. Only Awami League government handed over power peacefully after successful completion of its tenure in 2001. People of the country do not want anarchy and unstable situation.

The only aim of my life is to do welfare of the people, their prosperity and improved life. Let’s do welfare of the country’s people by shunning the path of conflict. So, come to the path of peace.

Dear Countrymen, “We want to hold national elections taking all parties. My proposal to the opposition party is that we can form government comprising all parties.

Our aim is to hold a free and neutral election. Peaceful election.”

cy-free modern Bangladesh by 2021 as Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation.

Dear countrymen, Today is the 18th October, the birthday of Sheikh Russell, my youngest brother. He was killed brutally along with most of the family members of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the fateful night of August 15, 1975.

My younger sister Rehana and I on that day lost 18 of our family members including mother, father, brothers and sisters-in-law. One cannot bear a single tragedy. You all know the suffering and pain after the death of a near one and I am sure you all know how painful it is. With the pain and suffering of losing my family members I still continue to work for the welfare and for improving the lot of peasants, workers and toiling masses of the country.

I am doing this because my father loved the people of the country very much and gave his life for their economic freedom. He had only one dream that one day Bangladesh will be free from hunger and poverty. His dream was that all people of Bangladesh would have high standard of living. So I want your blessing on this day.

Please pray for me so I can discharge my responsibility of transforming Bangladesh into an advanced nation by 2021.

At the same time, I want your blessing for my 10-year-old brother who was brutally killed by bullets of the assailants. I also pray to the Almighty so that all of you remain in good health, stay well and get a better life.

My sincere thanks to you once again.

Joy Bangla. Joy Bangabandhu.

Long live Bangladesh. l

6 Maldives polls must take place as scheduled: Nasheed n AFP, Male Former president Mohamed Nasheed demanded the Maldives’ presidential polls take place as scheduled on Saturday despite a warning by organisers that it could be halted by a dispute over the electoral roll.

Nasheed is the frontrunner for the election re-run, which was ordered by the Supreme Court when it annulled the results of a first ballot on September 7.

Nasheed topped last month’s abortive contest although he fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed for outright victory.

“There is nothing wrong with the lists. The elections commission is obliged to hold the elections,” Nasheed told reporters Friday after meeting Fuwad Thowfeek, the commission’s chairman.

Thowfeek had earlier warned that the vote may not be able to go ahead as two other candidates had failed to endorse an official list of voters.

The Supreme Court in its controversial annulment of the September 7 election ordered that all candidates must approve the electoral roll.

Only Nasheed had complied by Friday afternoon, with just a few hours left before polling stations were due to open. l

Continuing protests over Roma expulsions rock French schools

n AFP, Paris

Some 50 schools in Paris and the rest of France were being disrupted on Friday as students continued protests sparked by the deportation of foreign pupils.

The protests began on Thursday after the high-profile deportation of a 15-yearold Roma girl, Leonarda Dibrani, and the expulsion of another 19-year-old student to Armenia on Saturday.

Amid rising anger, sources in President Francois Hollande’s government said it would make a statement about Dibrani at the weekend, after an investigation into how her expulsion was handled.

The Socialist government has raised the possibility of changing policy so that currently enrolled students cannot be expulsed from France.

Much of the anger has focused on how Dibrani was forced to get off a bus full of classmates in the midst of a school outing before she was deported with the rest of her family to Kosovo.

At least 23 schools in the Paris region were taking part in the protest, with many classes empty and the entrances to some schools blocked. Steven Nassiri, the head of the Fidl students’ union, said protests were taking place at about 50 schools across the country.

Protesters were demanding that Dibrani and the other expelled student, Khatchik Kachatryan, be allowed to return to France to continue their studies.

At the Lycee Charlemagne secondary school in Paris’s Marais district, rubbish bins were piled up in front of the entrance and a banner had been unfurled reading: “Charlemagne is mobilising for Leonarda and Khatchik”.

“These are students just like us.

They must absolutely be allowed to return to France,” said one of the protesters, Heloise Hakimi. l

UK text messages offend genuine migrants

n AFP, London Britain has sent text messages to almost 40,000 illegal immigrants warning them they have no right to remain, officials said Friday – and admitted that a handful of legal residents were caught up in the campaign.

“Message from the Home Office. Our records show that you may not have leave to remain in the UK. Please contact us to discuss your case,” the message said. A spokesman said the texts had been sent to 39,100 people between September 2012 and June 2013.

“We believe it is right to enforce the immigration rules,” he said.

But a few of the text messages were sent to the wrong recipients, including to anti-racism campaigner Suresh Grover, who told The Independent newspaper he was “absolutely shocked and quite horrified”.

“I came here with my parents in 1966, I was born in East Africa and have always had a British passport,” he said.

Immigration advisor Bobby Chan said he had also received a text despite having lived in Britain since 1973. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Saudi rejects UN Security Council membership for ‘double standards’ n AFP, Dubai Saudi Arabia rejected membership of the UN Security Council on Friday, a day after it was elected to the body, accusing it of “double-standards” in resolving world conflicts.

“Work mechanisms and double-standards on the Security Council prevent it from carrying out its duties and assuming its responsibilities in keeping world peace,” the foreign ministry said.

“Therefore Saudi Arabia... has no other option but to turn down Security Council membership until it is reformed and given the means to accomplish its duties and assume its responsibilities in preserving the world’s peace and security,” a statement said.

For the first time ever, oil-rich, conservative Saudi Arabia won a seat Thursday on the 15-member council, which has a key role in dealing with world conflicts.

Saudi UN Ambassador Abdullah alMouallimi said that reflected Riyadh’s “long-standing policy in support of moderation and in support of resolving disputes in peaceful means.”

But the foreign ministry said Saudi Arabia declines to be a member of a body unable to tackle long-standing conflicts in the Middle East or rid the region of the threat of nuclear war.

It pointed specifically to the nearly

The UN Security Council consists of 5 permanent and 10 changing members three-year civil war in Syria and the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as key reasons.

“Failing to find a solution to the Palestinian cause for 65 years” it said, has led to “numerous wars that have threatened world peace.”

Likewise, it said, “allowing the regime in Syria to kill its own people with chemical weapons... without confronting it or imposing any deterrent sanctions... is a proof of the inability of the Security Council to carry out its duties

AFP

and assume its responsibilities.”

The ministry also criticised the body’s “failure” to turn the Middle East into a region free from weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms -- in a reference to Iran and Israel.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia is a fierce critic of Shiite Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West and Israel suspect of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies. Israel is the sole, if undeclared, nuclear power in the region.

Saudi Arabia is a major backer of rebels trying to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who is allied to Tehran.

Riyadh has been a vocal critic of the UN’s handling of the conflict in Syria, where a peaceful movement that called for reforms emerged in March 2011 and was met with a brutal repression. It quickly escalated into civil war.

Last month, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal refused to speak or even hand out a copy of his speech at the UN General Assembly in anger over the Security Council deadlock on Syria and Palestine.

“It was a sign of the frustration felt,” said Nawaf Obaid, a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center and an advisor to Saudi officials.

Five countries have permanent seats on the Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. The other 10 seats are awarded for two-year periods by the General Assembly, which holds a vote every year for five of the seats.

Saudi Arabia was chosen by the 193-member UN General Assembly, along with Chile, Chad, Lithuania and Nigeria.

Security Council powers had cautiously welcomed Saudi Arabia’s election.

“Having them on the Security Council allows you to debate those issues in a way which you can’t if they are not on the council,” said one UN diplomat. l

India police arrest crew of US ship n AFP, New Delhi Indian police Friday arrested and questioned 33 people aboard a ship operated by a US anti-piracy firm for carrying guns and ammunition in Indian waters without proper permits.

India’s coastguard stopped and detained the ship off the Indian coast on October 12 after discovering the cache of weapons and ammunition, before escorting it to the southern port of Tuticorin.

Police then launched an investigation into the 10 crew and 25 security guards of the Seaman Guard Ohio which is registered in Sierra Leone and belongs to the US-based maritime security firm AdvanFort.

The 35, who include British, Estonian, Ukrainian and Indian nationals, were detained on Friday over the stash of some 35 assault rifles and around 5,600 rounds of ammunition, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

Thirty three of them were taken to a local police station for questioning, while two remained on board, PTI said, citing police sources.

The crew had not maintained a log of the arms and did not have the proper permits to carry them in Indian waters, according to NDTV, also using unnamed sources.

The incident comes after a furore erupted in India last year over the shooting deaths of two Indian fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines off the coast of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. l

Asian elderly care exemplary: UK health secretary n Agencies The UK health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is due to say in a speech that he is struck by the “reverence and respect” for older people in Asian cultures, where it is expected that older grandparents will go to live with their children and grandchildren rather than enter a care home.

He will say: “In those countries, when living alone is no longer possible, residential care is a last rather than a first option. And the social contract is stronger because as children see how their own grandparents are looked after, they develop higher expectations of how they too will be treated when they get old.

“If we are to tackle the challenge of an ageing society, we must learn from this – and restore and reinvigorate the social contract between generations.

And uncomfortable though it is to say it, it will only start with changes in the way we personally treat our own parents and grandparents.”

In his address to the National Children’s and Adults Services conference on Friday, the health secretary will say society has collectively ignored what he calls the “national shame” of the “forgotten million” older people isolated at home or in care with no one to talk to, and he will urge people to visit and offer companionship to lonely older people.

“According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, there are 800,000 people in England who are chronically lonely.

Some five million people say television is their main form of company – that’s 10% of the population. We know there is a broader problem of loneliness that in our busy lives we have utterly failed to confront as a society.” l

Smoke and ash from wildfires burning across the state of New South Wales blankets the Sydney city skyline

AFP

Couple sell baby for iPhone! Australian wildfires kill 1, destroy 100 homes n AFP, Shanghai A young Chinese couple are facing criminal punishment for “selling” their infant daughter and using the proceeds to buy an Apple iPhone, state media said Friday.

Shanghai prosecutors have brought a case against them for human trafficking after they illegally put their third child up for adoption online and accepted money for the baby, the Liberation Daily reported.

Investigators found the mother, whose full name was not given, used the money to buy an iPhone, high-end sports shoes and other goods, it said.

Apple’s products are wildly popular in China, where a teenager sold his kidney and used the funds to buy an iPhone and iPad in an incident widely reported last year.

But the couple told police that they wanted the girl to have a better upbringing than they could afford, since they already had two children.

“Giving away the child was not for obtaining benefits, but giving the child better guarantees,” one said.

Some Chinese, especially in rural areas, have a traditional preference for sons though reports did not say if the child’s gender was also a factor in the case. l

n Reuters, Sydney

Wildfires claimed one life and destroyed at least 100 homes near Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, after forcing thousands to evacuate their homes, and authorities warned on Friday more homes could be lost as fires burned out of control.

Fuelled by unseasonably high temperatures and strong winds, 100 fires were still burning in New South Wales state in Australia’s east, more than 30 of which were uncontained, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.

A 63-year-old man died from a heart attack on Thursday while trying to defend his home from a fire in a coastal

community a short drive north of Sydney, an RFS spokesman said.

Thousands of people spent the night in evacuation centres on the western outskirts of the city, as well as to the north and the south.

Astonished Sydneysiders watched on Thursday as a thick pall of smoke from the fires in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney moved across the city over some of its best-known landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Callers to Sydney talkback radio stations on Thursday reported ash and burnt leaves falling on some of the city’s famous beaches, including Bondi.

Emergency warnings remained

New discovery changes evolution history n AP, Dmanisi The discovery of a 1.8-million-year-old skull of a human ancestor buried under a medieval Georgian village provides a vivid picture of early evolution and indicates our family tree may have fewer branches than some believe, scientists say.

The fossil is the most complete pre-human skull uncovered. With other partial remains previously found at the rural site, it gives researchers the earliest evidence of human ancestors moving out of Africa and spreading north to the rest of the world, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

The skull and other remains offer a glimpse of a population of pre-humans of various sizes living at the same time — something that scientists had not seen before for such an ancient era. This diversity bolsters one of two competing theories about the way our early ancestors evolved, spreading out more like a tree than a bush.

Nearly all of the previous pre-human discoveries have been fragmented bones, scattered over time and locations — like a smattering of random tweets of our evolutionary history. The findings at Dmanisi are more complete, weaving more of a

short story. Before the site was found, the movement from Africa was put at about 1 million years ago.

When examined with the earlier Georgian finds, the skull “shows that this special immigration out of Africa happened much earlier than we thought and a much more primitive group did it,” said study lead author David Lordkipanidze, director of the

Georgia National Museum. “This is important to understanding human evolution.”

For years, some scientists have said humans evolved from only one or two species, much like a tree branches out from a trunk, while others say the process was more like a bush with several offshoots that went nowhere.

Even bush-favoring scientists say these

findings show one single species nearly 2 million years ago at the former Soviet republic site. But they disagree that the same conclusion can be said for bones found elsewhere, such as Africa.

However, Lordkipanidze and colleagues point out that the skulls found in Georgia are different sizes but are considered to be the same species. So, they reason, it’s likely the various skulls found in different places and times in Africa may not be different species, but variations in one species.

To see how a species can vary, just look in the mirror, they said.

“Danny DeVito, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal are the same species,” Lordkipanidze said.

The adult male skull found wasn’t from our species, Homo sapiens. It was from an ancestral species — in the same genus or class called Homo — that led to modern humans. Scientists say the Dmanisi population is likely an early part of our long-lived primary ancestral species, Homo erectus.

Tim White of the University of California, Berkeley, wasn’t part of the study but praised it as “the first good evidence of what these expanding hominids looked like and what they were doing.” l

in place for fires in the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast, just north of Sydney.

The biggest threat was on an uncontained fire in Wyong, 75 km (45 miles) north of Sydney, with some homes believed to have been destroyed, the RFS said in its latest update.

NSW Police and Emergency Services Minister Mike Gallacher said the loss of just 100 homes could be considered “lucky” given the magnitude of the threat posed by the fires.

“I suspect given what I saw last night ... I think the potential is most certainly much higher,” Gallacher told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

(ABC) radio. l

Top Syrian army general killed in battle n AP, Beirut One of Syria’s most powerful military officers was killed in fighting with alQaeda-linked Islamic extremists in an oil-rich eastern province largely controlled by the rebels.

The fighting came amid a new push to hold an elusive peace conference for Syria’s civil war, with the government proposing the talks start late next month, though there was no sign the opposition would attend.

Major General Jameh Jameh was killed in the provincial capital of Deir el-Zour, where he was the head of military intelligence, state-run TV said. He was the most senior military officer to be killed in more than a year.

The report did not say when or how Jameh was killed, only that he died “while he was carrying out his mission in defending Syria and its people.”

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Jameh was killed by a sniper bullet during clashes with rebels, including members of al-Qaedalinked Jabhat al-Nusra or Nusra Front. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Single-episode plays

7

Saturday, October 19, 2013

ON TV

Telefilms Rater Sheshe

Maasranga is televising “Rater Sheshe” today at 11:20pm.

Written by Fazlul Karim and directed by Chayanika Chowdhury, the telefilm features Tarin, Apurbo and many more.

Plot of the story revolves around a mentally unstable patient who escapes from an asylum and takes shelter in Tarin’s home. Apurbo requests her not to tell anyone about him and forces her to believe that he is not mentally unstable. Eventually, she starts believing him. But, at the end of the night, the story takes a twist.

Dayboddhota

E Kon Shohore Tumi Eshe Darale

“E Kon Shohore Tumi Eshe Darale” airs on GTV at 9:00pm today. Written and directed by Didar, the star studded drama features, Maznun Mizan, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim and many more. Plot of the story revolves around a film director who looks for a heroine to cast in his film. Finally he finds a girl suitable for the role he has envisaged, but he has stumbled upon her on a most unfortunate moment, because then and there, she was about to make a suicide attempt. He stops her and proposes her to work in his film, instead of throwing her life away, surprised, she listens to him quietly.

“Dayboddhota” will air on Channel i at 4:30pm today. Written and directed by Saiful Islam Munna, the star studded telefilm features, Kusum Shikder, Naim and many more.

Plot of the telefilm revolves around a family. It is evident that every member of a family has a particular role to play, that makes a family whole. Very few can fulfill these responsibilities to its fullest extent and then there are some who is unable to do the merest thing for his or her family. The story of the drama is about such a family that is suffering in the hands of incapable members who are not prepared to do their duty.

Pari

“Pari” will air on NTV at 2:35pm today. Written and directed

by Wahid Anam, the star cast of the telefilm features, Lutfur Rahman Jorge, Shatabdi Wadud, Saju Khadem, Marzuk Rasel, Moshumi Hamid and many more. The story is about a dangerous journey abroad, looking for better employment.

A small ship is in its way to Malaysia. A group of illegal travelers hide in the ship hoping to reach Malaysia so that they can get better employment for themselves. The handful of miserable travelers sold all their worldly goods to buy this illegal passage to a better future. They are exhausted and frustrated, the story highlights the struggle of these individuals who strive for a brighter future.

Hoyto Achhe Tobu Nei

“Hoyto Achhe Tobu Nei” will air on Channel i at 9:35pm on the fourth day of Eid. Written by Faria Hossain and directed by Arif Khan, the single episode drama features diva of Bangladesh media industry Moushumi, Mahfuz Ahmed, Badhon, Khairul Alam and many more. Love is a precious amenity for all, it cannot be bought or sold. Someone may stumble upon love by chance and feel the wonder and power it beholds. The story of the drama focuses on loving without expecting a return of the sentiment. It shows that life goes on and people should move on with it.

Joker

On the fourth day of Eid, NTV will air drama “Joker” at 11:15pm. Written by Towfiq Nawaz, the drama has been directed by Koushik Shonkar Das. Popular soap actors Nisho, Jeni, Hillo, Nithor Mahbub and others acted in the comedy.

The story revolves around a man named Raja Rai who came to the capital from a small town, five years back. Currently, Raja acts as a joker and entertains people in birthday parties and different occasions. However, Raja’s dream was to become an actor. He joins a theatre troupe to establish himself as an actor. There, his co worker Orpa supported him, but after some time, for reasons unknown to Raja, Orpa moves away from him and carries on with her life.

Hossain Miyar Canvas

“Hossain Miar Canvas” airs on GTV at 3:00pm today. Written and directed by Golam Shohrab Dodul, the telefilm features, Raisul Islam Asad in many characters. It’s a story about a poster painter named Hossain Mia who is at odds with his son studying at the Fine Arts Department of Dhaka University. Both of them are artists involved in making posters. Hossain Mia makes poster by hand, whereas his son uses digital software. One day, he is approached by a film-maker, wanting to make a documentary about his technique. After the documentary is broadcasted, Hossain Mia becomes popular and his son accepts him once again.

Bou Churi

“Bou Churi” will air on ETV today at 4:05pm. Written by Manosh Pal and directed by Shimul Sarker, popular soap actors ATM Shamsuzzaman, Mimo, Akhom Hasan, Shamim Zaman and many more acted in the telefilm. The story revolves around the life of a seasoned thief Nizam and his partner in crime Bhoja. One day, in Nizam’s dream, his mother visits him and suggests that he pulls his act together and steals something big to make it worth his while. He becomes thoughtful about his next stealing session, as he wanted to get something that would make his mother proud. On his next venture, he enters a house and comes upon a beautiful woman who is obviously someone’s wife. He decides to steal her and ask for a handsome ransom from her husband.

E Ek Onno Bhalobasha

ATN Bangla is telecasting “E Ek Onno Bhalobasha” today at 7:45pm. Written by Sagor Jahan and directed by Imran Hossain Imu, the star cast of the drama features, Chanchal Chowdhury, Bindu and many more. Plot of the story revolves around a commendable man Rafique, who is a big fan of a movie heroin named Shagorika. He waits everyday infront of the FDC’s gate, for a single glance of the star. He finds Shagorika’s address and starts waiting for her there.

One day, Shagorika takes notice of him and talks to him.

Once they are properly acquainted, they start spending every waking moment together. Rumours spread in the media that the super star is in love with her fan. Sagorika’s boyfriend asks her to stop meeting with Rafique. But, by that stage, the rumours had already turned into truth and Sagorika asks Rafique to marry her, but he refuses.

Duto Raat Pashapashi

“Duto Raat Pashapashi,” an Eid special drama, will be aired without any commercial break at 8pm on Banglavision, on the fourth day of Eid. Leading soap actors of the country Opi Karim, Tisha, Iresh Zaker and others acted in the play. Written and directed by Shagor Jahan, the story is about Iresh who loses his wife Opi in an accident. Before her death, Opi tells Iresh that, if he finds anyone like her, he should step forward and marry that girl. But his attempt to find someone like Opi is met with failure. One day, Opi visits Iresh in a dream and tells him that he would find her in a sex worker.

Initially, Iresh disagress, but finally finds Tisha, who is a sex worker and takes her home. The story moves forward from there.

Shurjo Na Tui

“Shurjo Na Tui” will air on Banglavision today at 2:10pm. Written and directed by Tanvir Hossain Probal, popular actors such us, Intekhab Dinar, Farah Ruma, Shakil Ahmed, Sujata Hossain and many more acted in this eventful telefilm that is sure to impress the audience.

Eid concerts on TV

Dolchut will perform on Maasranga today at 2:30pm in special Eid phono-live concert.

Popular band Souls will perform today on SATV at 11:00pm. The live concert will feature popular songs by the band.

8 DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

All-party government, but who will head it?

T

here is much to praise in the prime minister’s address to the nation last night. She spoke well and from the heart. She appeared prime ministerial and also showed the human, personal side, which has long been one of her best assets, but which she displays all too infrequently.

This is the kind of speech a prime minister should give to the nation, and we applaud the PM for taking the time to speak to the people of this country and to try to set our minds at ease ahead of the uncertain and possibly turbulent times to come.

Her appeal for peaceful means of redressing differences and to abjure the path of violent confrontation was right on the money The speech left too and what we all needed to much unsaid and hear. No good can come touched only briefly of political confrontation, on the crux of the much less the violence that matter at hand: who has been threatened, both will administer the implicitly and explicitly, upcoming election and the PM did well to appeal directly to the people’s sensibilities and to invoke the people’s name in this cause.

For all its strengths, however, the speech left too much unsaid and touched only briefly on the crux of the matter at hand: who will administer the upcoming election. The PM did open the door to an all-party government to administer the election, but this was not a new proposal and did not address the composition of such a government, or who would head it.

Nevertheless, at least the PM has made the official government position clear, and laid down a marker that can be a starting point for discussion. Much has been left unsaid, but there remains room for negotiation, and that should give us hope that a peaceful and workable resolution is still not out of reach.

The spirit of sacrifice

E

id-ul-Azha has come and gone, and the country is slowly getting back to business. However, the apprehension of political instability and violence still looms large and there is a great deal of anxiety among the general public as to the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Neither the ruling AL nor the opposition BNP appear to be in the mood for compromise, and it is the nation The last thing we need as a whole which stands to is more political unrest lose if common ground is that disrupts our not found. It is ironic that everyday lives and puts the spirit of sacrifice that the economy under infuses this holiday season strain, to say nothing should be so wholly absent of our image to the from the political calculaoutside world tions of those who run the country.

Finding a solution requires compromise and sacrifice, something that the people of Bangladesh are well versed in. We are now waiting to see which of our political leaders, if any, will also show the wisdom and statesmanship that the country so badly needs at this moment in time.

The last thing we need is more political unrest that disrupts our everyday lives and puts the economy under strain, to say nothing of our image to the outside world. It will be interesting to see if either of the main political players will be moved by the spirit of the season and embrace compromise or sacrifice in the nation’s best interests.

It may be asking a lot, but we believe that it is asking no more than that which is asked of the common people, and which they are happy to give. And such actions are often rewarded in unexpected ways.

CROSSWORD

The government is unconcerned about people’s safety October 14

Everyday news of unnatural and violent deaths reaches us. Shot or stabbed to death, strangled, deaths resulting from beatings, etc. Bodies are recovered from sacks, and dustbins.

Sometimes body parts are found scattered, or in a heap. It is just macabre. It seems that no one is safe anywhere, in homes, working places or streets.

On October 5, a ticket-booking clerk of Kamalapur Railway Station was murdered in the cash room of the station and Tk1.7m was looted. We learned that a temporary camp of Rapid Action Battalion was just 10 yards from the crime scene and multiple layers of security at the cash room were found undamaged. How could this sort of crime happen at such a secure place?

On October 6, an ATM booth security guard of Dutch-Bangla Bank was hacked to death at the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka. How unfortunate! Where is the security of the security guards?

When law and order are completely non-existent, Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir is bragging that it is better than ever before. We are taken aback by the audacity of it.

Nur Jahan, Chittagong

DOWN 1 Niggard (5) 2 Insect (3) 4 Smart and fashionable (4) 5 Narrow beam (3) 6 Joint (5) 8 Long for (5) 9 Flaccid (4) 12 Table implement (5) 14 Water pitcher (4) 15 Passenger vessel (5) 17 Dance (5) 18 Footwear (4) 20 Mild explosion (3) 22 Fate (3)

October 12

It’s not surprising - Red Bull was the other drink that was not allowed to be imported to Bangladesh.

Nadira Shah Can anyone tell me what these chemicals in the drinks are?

Ijaz Hossain

Adilur Rahman freed on bail October 12

A welcome move!

Anam Shaid

Invest in a better police force

I look out for this writer’s Op-eds because he writes very well and makes important points.

What he says needs saying. The way he does it is wonderful. Pleased to see Dhaka Tribune printing such bold and eloquent articles that need to become part of public knowledge.

S Chowdhury

October 11 Every time I see police cars, I just don’t realise why the cars are in such poor condition? Really, can we expect them to catch a criminal in a hot pursuit? Why do we always blame the police for taking bribes?

Why do we always blame them for their bad/hot tempers? The answer is we don’t take good care of them: Low salary and lack of adequate social benefits for their family. The simple truth is if I’m tense about my family’s future all the time, if I’m not financially balanced in this current market, I won’t be in a good mood.

Shamim Hasan

Don’t destroy the Sundarbans

Be Heard

Righting wrongs October 9

Another interesting look at the far-right.

Well done.

Khaled

October 12 UNESCO must act and act fast! India should also think of its own Sundarbans. When devastation engulfs, it doesn’t spare neighbours.

Wali It is simply too valuable a resource – even if only in financial terms. Breeding ground of fish for a starter – no fish no Bangladesh. Voices of all leaders should be loud and clear but silence is the go.

Malcolm Arnold

Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Why?? He is a prisoner!! Who let him free??

Rezwan Ul Karim Bipul

RMG workers to resume movement after Eid October 12

Sheriff Sarif Are they regular RMG workers from BD or hired from elsewhere?

Faizul Alam Exactly my question.

Iftekhar Ahmed Not a piece of good news.

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Low salary for teachers affecting primary education October 3

Without good pay we can’t get good teachers. Without good teachers we can’t get good students. Without good students we can’t get well-educated people. Without well-educated people we can’t get a developed nation. So it is in the interest of national development that we pay our teachers well.

Wali

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Traveller’s aid (3) 3 Cicatrix (4) 6 Poet’s Ireland (4) 7 Eyelid affliction (3) 9 Flower (4) 10 Insect (3) 11 Poem of heroism (4) 13 Kingdom (5) 16 Envelopes (5) 18 Curved (4) 19 Melody (3) 20 Needy (4) 21 Tree (3) 23 Follow orders (4) 24 Track (4) 25 Greek letter (3)

HC halts Royal Tiger energy drink production

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

9

Saturday, October 19, 2013

US prestige takes a hit n Paul Taylor

A

Our RMG workforce can draw on millions of hardworking and trainable young people

AMIRUL RAJIV

Moving up the value chain

B

n Faruque Hassan

angladesh has a unique resilience in enduring challenges. The readymade garments (RMG) industry is one good example of that. Despite a number of challenges and ups and downs, the country has positioned itself as the second largest apparel exporter just within a course of three decades.

Being a Least Developed Country we have a number of limitations. It has been a bumpy ride all through, but our dynamic and resilient entrepreneurs and talented workforce have been the key strengths that have brought the RMG industry to a $21.50bn turnover in the 2012-13 fiscal year.

Since the early days, different sources of impetus have contributed to the development of the industry at various stages. We successfully made the industry free from child labour in 1995.

The MFA (multi-fibre arrangement) quota was a blessing to our industry.

While the quota was approaching the end in 2004 it was predicted by many that the phase-out would cause a massive upset to our exports.

But post-MFA is another story of success: we – the people of this country - proved the predictions wrong, conquered all the challenges and took RMG exports from $6.22 billion in 2004 to $21.5 billion in 2012-13; more than triple in eight years.

The recent years had been another testing period for us as global economic recession slowed down imports by

the EU and USA. However, Bangladesh continued to be the favourite sourcing destination to the global apparel buyers as far as the McKinsey & Company’s latest report is concerned.

A strong textile and accessories supply base has been developed in the country to cater to the needs of the apparel industry equipped with world class technologies and state-of-the-art machinery.

global market.

Moreover, Bangladesh is not a bulk RMG producing country anymore, rather preparing for a big leap forward to cater to the need of high-end and branded fashion retailers. On top of it, our entrepreneurs are now going for environment-friendly green manufacturing plants.

Globally reputed consulting firm McKinsey & Company forecasts our

In Bangladesh, RMG has evolved from being just a commodity item to becoming lifestyle items that reflect people’s personalities. If the country is given a good image everywhere, other countries and buyers will have a positive attitude towards it

Although Bangladesh has been making solid strides in different development areas, our exports are still mostly concentrated to the EU and the North America regions, which is around 86%.

However, over the last three years remarkable progress has been achieved in exports to non-traditional markets (markets other than EU, USA and Canada). Market diversification is a critical aspect of our export sustainability and we have to make all required efforts to keep this up.

Branding is a critical factor here.

The share of Bangladesh in the global clothing market is 4.83% only, so there is potential to further penetrate the

RMG exports to double by 2015 and triple by 2020. However, the report also mentions a few conditions to fulfill – for instance power, gas, infrastructure, politics and so on.

Our competitors are watching us.

Recent developments are alarming, particularly the devaluation of competitors’ currency while our taka is getting stronger day by day.

In Bangladesh, RMG has evolved from being just a commodity item to becoming lifestyle items that reflect people’s personalities. If the country is given a good image everywhere, other countries and buyers will have a positive attitude towards it.

They will become interested to

know about Bangladesh first, and then they will plan to visit, and finally spend their earnings here. This is very important for instilling confidence in Bangladesh among them – be they investors, development partners, or tourists.

Bangladesh has always held great promise. There are only a few countries in the world that gained freedom through war. Since its independence in 1971, despite having achievements in different fields, the country has been described through negative images, either imaginary or genuine.

Despite these limitations, we have successfully been able to maintain more than 6% GDP growth annually.

Goldman Sachs recognises Bangladesh as one of the N11 (next eleven) countries, JP Morgan thinks Bangladesh is one of the Frontier Five markets.

Really, it is a country of millions of young, trainable, and hardworking people. Global competition is becoming fierce day by day. To compete and sustain in the global market, we must create and manage a strong brand image.

Brand value will become a vital factor in creating a pool of loyal customers. So, this is the need of the hour for the entire nation to come forward from individual standpoints to speak positive about our country, to uphold the developments we have achieved and to talk about the amazing people of Bangladesh at home and abroad. l

picture spoke volumes about the United States’ loss of global prestige and influence due to the shutdown of its government in a partisan standoff over the federal budget and debt.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin beamed front and centre in the family photograph of Asian leaders at last week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, standing in for an absent President Barack Obama, detained at home by protracted budget negotiations, waved forlornly from the edge, about as far from the centre as possible without falling off the platform.

For an administration that has focused its foreign policy on a “pivot” to Asia, the world’s most economically vibrant region, this may be more than a momentary setback. And not just in Asia.

Joseph Nye, the Harvard professor who coined the term “soft power” to describe a nation’s ability to wield influence through its culture, values and governance rather than by force, said the United States had suffered a serious blow from the shutdown.

“It’s clearly very damaging for American soft power in the sense that the reputation for effective management of government and of the world’s reserve currency are hurt,” Nye told Reuters.

Foreign governments and investors, from China to the Middle East, were bound to ask whether they should hold so much of their reserves in US Treasury bonds and dollars, he said.

Obama and congressional leaders agreed a temporary fix on Wednesday to keep the government running until January and raise the national debt ceiling, hours before it was set to lose the authority to borrow - a prelude to a potential default.

The president acknowledged on Thursday that the 16-day shutdown

States from revelations about the National Security Agency’s tentacular global Internet surveillance by fugitive former intelligence consultant Edward Snowden.

“On culture and values, we are doing pretty well,” he said. “But on government policies, whether on surveillance or on our management of the world’s most important reserve currency, that’s where the danger is.”

Joseph Nye, the Harvard professor who coined the term “soft power” to describe a nation’s ability to wield influence through its culture, values and governance rather than by force, said the United States had suffered a serious blow from the shutdown While Obama was marooned in the White House, Xi and Premier Li Keqiang swept around southeast Asia, dispensing goodwill, big investments and promises of surging trade, including with US allies such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua excoriated the United States for putting international financial stability at risk with domestic “political brinkmanship.” The lesson for America’s creditors was that “US Treasury bonds may no longer be a safe investment.”

Gloating over Washington’s paralysis, another Xinhua commentary said it was “perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanised world.”

The risk of severe damage to the global economy from the US government paralysis and a possible debt default - now banished for a few months at least - dominated meetings of the Group of 20 world leaders in St Petersburg, Russia, last month and G20 finance ministers last week in Washington.

Putin berated the United States

John Kerry did not look too pleased to be there

REUTERS

publicly over the uses and abuses of its power as he engineered a diplomatic deal to avert a US military strike on Syria.

“Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy, but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan ‘you’re either with us or against us’,” he wrote in the New York Times on September 11. l

Faruque Hassan is former vice president, BGMEA and managing director, Giant Group.

had hurt Washington’s global position.

“Probably nothing has done more damage to America’s credibility in the world, our standing with other countries, than the spectacle that we’ve seen these past several weeks,” he said in a speech at the White House.

“It’s encouraged our enemies, it’s emboldened our competitors, and it’s depressed our friends who look to us for steady leadership.”

Nye said the fiscal crisis had compounded damage to trust in the United

But as soon as Eid comes knocking on their doors, (or for the dedicated few, who happen to celebrate Chaandraat much bigger than Eid itself), they take out the bottles they had shoved at the back of their closets, at the end of the previous month and start pouring in their wine glasses.

day after one breaks a month long fast!

An even more interesting time of the year is Shab-e-Barat, a celebration no one seems to shy away from in our country. Now if you ask anyone who has read the religious book, they will tell you that such a day does not exist.

While the fifteen days right before

in Saudi Arabia which as we know is the birthplace of Islam.

Like I said, I am no expert on religion, nor is the point of this piece to ridicule one’s belief in it. And of course, things change with time, people derive their own meanings and enhance that in their daily lives. But according to me, religion is more of a do or die situation.

You can’t be religious one month and choose to ignore it in the rest of the eleven months. You can’t cover your hair on a particular day and drop your hijab the next. More importantly, you can’t pick and choose, or even interpret things your own way.

Either you do it the right way, or you don’t. Learning to behave righteously and refraining from these negative traits, perhaps may be a start for us. Before we set forth in the just path of religion, we need to know if this journey is one we are willing to take wholeheartedly. l

This article was syndicated from Reuters.

Bhai, koto? n Syeda Samara Mortada

P

icture this. You are walking by the roadside, with a cow’s leash in your hand and the car that is driving past you rolls down its windows and asks: “bhai, koto?” (brother, how much?) Sounds familiar?

Most of you must have noticed the changing trends in Eid celebration these days, especially amongst us Dhaka-ites. While the first Eid is all about hanging out at the newly acclaimed ice-cream parlours in the country, the other is about whose cow is the most expensive; it’s a generation, a culture or more like an entire country trying to show off their wallets, pretending to be something we are not.

The irony of the situation is that most of us forget the sole purpose of Eid-ul-Adha - that it is about sacrifice, not posting photos of your purchased goru (cow) is a fact lost on most. Not just that, one needs to form some sort of emotional tie with the to-besacrificed, to look after it, feed it, so that during the slaughter one feels pain.

True, it’s all too inhumane for some, for me even, but that after all is the entire purpose of Kurbani. Take it or leave it; don’t be an in-betweener!

Its’ not a contest about whose goru is the most pricey anyway! Every year that we celebrate Kurbani Eid, we leave behind us the originality that this celebration started off with and thus become pawns at the hands of tradition.

Kurbani Eid, much like many other celebrations have become a part of our custom, something we ought to do because every other person is doing the same, not because we believe in it or because religion demands us to do it.

A far more interesting time for me is Eid-ul-Fitr. Everyone becomes a tad bit religious, brings out the pious side of them. Everyone prays or at least tries to pray five times a day, wakes up for sehri, and finally after Fajr prayers, goes to sleep.

Not only do people fast during the entire month of Ramadan, they refrain from all sorts of bad habits-back biting, cursing, some from brushing their teeth even (apparently its makru)!

The irony of the situation is that most of us forget the sole purpose of Eid-ul-Adha - that it is about sacrifice, not posting photos of your purchased goru (cow) is a fact lost on most. Not just that, one needs to form some sort of emotional tie with the to-be-sacrificed, to look after it, feed it, so that during the slaughter one feels pain

Some celebrate all of Eid day tucked under their blankets, watching the latest flicks that they had also refrained from during Ramadan. Now I am no expert, but if I had to take a wild guess I would say that the entire purpose of abstaining from such activities was surely not to stupor oneself with liquor the

Ramadan is considered holy, there is no individual day in which people are asked to pray all night long, or asked to make halwa-ruti and distribute amongst neighbours. What’s more, this day is only celebrated in South Asia (and maybe few other countries), but Shab-e-Barat does not even exist

Syeda Samara Mortada is the associate editor of ICE Today, a lifestyle magazine and a freelance writer.

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE | Saturday, October 19, 2013

Did you know?

India (362/1) achieved the target successfully for the loss of one wicket against Australia on Wednesday – the highest ever for the loss of one wicket in ODIs, eclipsing Sri Lanka’s 348 for one vs India at Kingston on July 2 this year

Sport

14 Bosnia join Spain, England and Russia

14 India crush Australia 15 Agarkar retires in record run chase from cricket

Shakib tops Test all-rounders rankings again n Mazhar Uddin Shakib Al Hasan returned to the number one position for all-rounders in the latest ICC rankings and presently stands two points ahead of South African Jacque Kallis. The Bangladeshi said yesterday that it always felt good to be top of the pile.

“It’s always encourages you to be on top of the rankings and it will help to perform well in the upcoming matches,” he said.

However the number one Test allrounder was wary of being carried away by matter. “Honestly it doesn’t matter at the same time that it matters.

It’s difficult to express the feeling of being number one, but obviously it feels good and really motivates me to perform much better in the future to compete with the best cricketers in the world.”

The 26-year old did not wanted to compare himself with the likes of Kallis, Shane Watson and Mohammed Hafiz and said that each of the players played big roles for their respective sides. “Comparing myself with Kallis, Watson and Hafeez will not be right as they all are doing their best for their teams. It’s just a rule by the ICC where the points matters and I don’t think the cricketers should be overly excited by this, but yes it feels good to see yourself on top,” said Shakib.

Shakib went on to talk about the brilliant catch he took in New Zealand’s second innings at Chittagong recently that gave Sohag Gazi a historic hattrick. “I was very happy taking that catch, it’s a great achievement which we don’t see often. Gazi has made history and it feels great to be a part of history,” he said.

He was happy with the way the national team has progressed from relying heavily on a few key players to being a well-balanced side. “Bangladesh team is now not relying only on one or two players.

We have four to five cricketers who are performing well which is good for Bangladesh cricket,” adding whatever the situation, he always tried to do his best.

With his recently injured thumb improving, Shakib was looking forward to the second Test in Mirpur. “I have performed well in Mirpur and for that reason, I always said that it’s my lucky ground. I am not saying that I will definitely do well, but I will try to give 100%.

“We always hope to win, so why not we look for a series win here? Before, we would try to survive five days and look for a draw but now we are always hungry for a win, and it’s because we have played together for some time and that’s given us confidence.” l

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and batsman Tamim Iqbal (C) share a light moment during a training session at the SBNCS in Mirpur yesterday

Anderson looks to bowlers for win n

Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh’s intense fight in the first Test against the visiting New Zealand side in Chittagong last week came as a surprise. The visitors expected less competition from the Tigers in the longer format of the game but the Tigers showed mettle and if anything, had the better of a match played on a pitch so lifeless that a draw was always the most likely outcome.

“The game was tougher than I thought. So I think we are progressing well, with today’s (yesterday) training and there are a couple more days to go.

Hope we will be able to come out with a bit of a bang in the second Test,” said New Zealand middle-order striker Corey Anderson to the media at Sher-Ban-

gla National Stadium (SBNS) yesterday.

The opening match in Chittagong was the 22-year olds second Test and he scored one in the first innings and eight in the second in the match.

“The intensity in a Test match is much higher than what I am used to.

As I come out from the dressing room and the crowd keeps going, I guess it’s a lot different than the four-days that I played back home but I loved it,” said the left-handed batsman.

“The conditions that we had to deal with are nothing like what we had to face in New Zealand. I guess it is good to get through that, it is under my belt now,” he added.

New Zealand’s star in the opener was top-order batsman Kane Williamson, who made 188 runs – 114 in the first innings and 74 in the second. Speaking of Williamson, Anderson said, “Kane

Superb Siddikur takes lead in Macau Will enter 3rd round one shot ahead of his idol Ernie Els n Asian Tour Bangladeshi Siddikur produced a blazing finish to snatch the second round lead at the US$800,000 Venetian Macau Open on Friday as he eyed a dream final day showdown with the tournament’s top draw, Ernie Els. The slightly built Siddikur, the first man from his country to win on the Asian Tour in 2010, birdied three of his last four holes for a five-under-par 66 at the tricky Macau Golf and Country Club to edge one shot ahead of Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun (65), Filipino Elmer Salvador (66) and rookie Ben Campbell of New Zealand (68).

Four-time Major Els moved one behind Siddikur after a brilliant 65.

With five top-10s this season, Siddikur is eyeing a second career victory at the Venetian Macau Open after finishing tied third in last year’s edition.

With its tight fairways, the 29-year-old believes the course fits perfectly to his straight-hitting game.

“It was a great round. Lovely weather and I felt good. My ball striking was perfect, especially my putting as it all went in,” said Siddikur, who is currently 10th on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

“This is a placing course which I like very much. I finished third here last year and I had good thoughts coming back. I’m hitting it good. I’m in good shape. Same thing tomorrow, fairways and greens which is always my goal.”

The Bangladeshi trailblazer has not finished lower than 17th on the rankings in the past three seasons, saying that the Brunei victory provided the launchpad for his burgeoning career

which has made him a household name in Dhaka.

“I won long ago, the 2010 Brunei Open. After that, I had a couple of seconds, thirds and fifths. After winning, I got good confidence and I don’t have any problem. I can follow up on my rhythm. That was the key to come further up in my career,” said Siddikur, who has taken only 25 putts in the last two rounds.

“Golf is getting popular back home.

It wasn’t that popular six or seven years ago, but now it’s getting popular.

Nowadays, I get recognised everywhere when I’m back in Dhaka. I enjoy being recognised. It’s a proud feeling and it gives me energy.”

He hopes to get a chance to tee up alongside Els in the weekend rounds.

“Ernie is my idol. I’ve been waiting for a long time to play with him. Last few years, I’ve missed playing with him so hopefully this week.”

The burly Baek continued to ride on his rich vein of form as he charged up the leaderboard with a seven-birdie round which included three chip-ins.

He has finished top-10 in four of his last tournaments, moving up to fifth on the Order of Merit. l

is an incredible batsman. I hope he can produce the same set of numbers in the second game too. But we have a few other batsmen in the dressing room as well and hopefully they can also put their hand up. But for now, the top order is going well.”

Nonetheless, Anderson looked to the bowling front to bring about a decisive and favourable result. “I guess you’ve got to have patience, it’s tough to be out there but then again it is our job to be there and pick the 20 wickets.

We’ll come out with plans in the second game and hopefully they will pay off,” said Anderson.

Both Bangladesh and New Zealand were back to practicing yesterday after a four-day Eid break. The teams will face each other in the second and last Test of the series at SBNS starting October 21. l

MUMIT M

Marshal shrugs off pressure talk n Mazhar Uddin Marshal Ayub, who made his Test debut against New Zealand in Chittagong in the first match of the series where the right hander showed his compact batting but was unable to build a substantial score, remained confident that he could perform well in the second Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium which starts on October 21.

After the first training sessions after the Eid holiday, Marshall told reporters, “The last time I played in Mirpur was during the BCL. In the Premier league I saw that most of the matches had 300 plus runs, so I am hoping to do well here inshallah.” The stylish right hander made 25 on his debut innings before nicking a wide delivery from Corey Anderson.

Nonetheless, he added 126 with Mominul Haque after Bangladesh had lost two early wickets and was instrumental in rescuing the Tigers front a precarious position. In the second innings, he made 31.

“I tried to make a good start, tried to play well, but it didn’t go according to plan. I came under pressure and played a false shot in the first innings. It was wide. Will try to do better in the coming match,” said Marshal.

The 24-year old has an impressive record in first class and domestic cricket but noted that the Test cricket was a different proposition. “In Test cricket, there are more good balls and in domestic cricket there are more bad balls. That has been the main difference,” he observed.

However, Marshal who has two double hundreds at the first class level, added that he did not feel under pressure for the difference. “I don’t think there is any sort of a pressure, because even in domestic cricket we lose wickets early in the innings and we play with that pressure. That was the same situation when I came in to bat in the first Test. “There is no pressure on me to score just because I scored in domestic cricket. I’ll just try to play my own game,” he said. l

Nazmul attends first ICC meeting Razib finishes 44th n Minhaz Uddin Khan The newly elected Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan attended his first International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting yesterday. The ICC Board gathered in London for its fourth and last meeting meeting of the year – a day two day affair on October 18 and 19.

Among the issues to be discussed at the meeting is anti-corruption and the irregularities in the Bangladesh Premier League this year is expected to be under the limelight.

The progress of construction work and the venue inspection report on the venues for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2014 in Bangladesh is also on the agenda.

The outcomes from the September 2013 ICC Chief Executives’ Committee meeting, which covered issues such as the FTP, DRS, Bad Light and the ODI playing conditions will also be discussed while recommendations from various ICC committees - including the Governance Review and the Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) Committee - will be placed. l

New Abahani coach due today n Shishir Hoque Abahani Limited’s newly recruited Australian coach Nathan Hall is expected to arrive in Dhaka today - a day ahead schedule.

Hall, the former Australian association footballer and former head coach of Indian I-League club United Sikkim, will come from Thailand and land in the capital at 9.30pm. After formalities are completed, he will take charge of the four-time professional football league champions as the new head coach, said Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu yesterday. Hall was the head

coach of Indian I-League club United Sikkim after replacing interim playercoach Baichung Bhutia in November 2012. In his first year there, Hall led the team to the second division title and promotion to the first division.

Abahani will resume their training camp today following a six-day break for the Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Azha holidays. Hall is expected to join the camp by Monday.

Rupu said the club will be bringing in six players for trials, who will hopefully arrive in Dhaka by Tuesday. Four players will be coming from Nigeria, one from Malta and one from Holland. l

n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib finished 44th in the Indonesia Open Chess Championship which was held at the Grand Shahid Jaya Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Razib earned six points from 11 rounds after drawing with Philippine International Master Yap Kim Steven in the 11th and final round on Thursday. Russian grandmaster Aleksey Dreev won the tournament with 8.5 points. A total of 108 players including 38 grandmasters 10 women grandmasters - from 30 countries took part in the event. l

Pakistan upstage S Africa in first Test n AFP Wily spinner Saeed Ajmal took four wickets to fire Pakistan to a sevenwicket win over world number ones South Africa in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The off-spinner (4-74) was superbly supported by left-arm paceman Junaid Khan (3-57) and fellow spinner Zulfiqar Babar (2-51) as South Africa collapsed to 232 in their second innings on the fourth day at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

11

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Standings

Quick Bytes

EUROPE

Liverpool announce India academy plans

Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, England, Russia, Bosnia (Four places remain to be decided in playoffs between Portugal, Croatia, Ukraine, Greece, France, Sweden, Romania and Iceland. Draw to be made on October 21)

Liverpool are preparing to launch a new youth academy in India next year, the Premier League giants announced on Wednesday. The five-time European champions will work with Indian club DSK Shivajians to set up the facility, which will open in January and will be known as The LFC International Football Academy DSK. Accommodating players up to the age of 18, it will feature a residential complex, full-size pitches, practice areas, classrooms, changing rooms, a gym, a canteen, a lecture theatre and medical facilities. Liverpool have also committed to providing coaches to help run the project. DSK are based in Pune, 150 kilometres (95 miles) from Mumbai in western Maharashtra state, which is also the base of Indian poultry firm Venky’s, the owners of English second-tier side Blackburn Rovers.

– AFP

ASIA Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea (Jordan will take on Uruguay in a playoff in November) SOUTH AMERICA Brazil (hosts), Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador (Uruguay will play Jordan in a playoff in November) CONCACAF United States, Costa Rica, Honduras (Mexico will take on New Zealand in a playoff in November) AFRICA (Five teams to qualify in playoffs) First leg results Ghana 6 Egypt 1, Ethiopia 1 Nigeria 2 Tunisia 0 Cameroon 0 Burkina Faso 3 Algeria 2 Ivory Coast 3 Senegal 1

Hodgson apologises over 'monkey joke' Lauded by British media for guiding England to the World Cup one minute, manager Roy Hodgson had to defend himself against a racism slur the next after using an old joke as a tactical pointer in Tuesday’s win over Poland. Hodgson was reported to have used the “feed the monkey” punchline from an old NASA joke when instructing right back Chris Smalling to pass the ball to livewire midfielder Andros Townsend. The joke in question came about during the early days of space travel when NASA sent monkeys into space before manned missions.

– Reuters

Andy Murray nearly late for royal honour after drugs test Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was awarded an honour by Prince William on Thursday -- though the tennis star nearly missed his big day at Buckingham Palace due to a drugs test. It was a big occasion for William too as he takes on more duties from his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, presiding over an investiture ceremony for the first time.

Murray, who in July became the first British man to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 77 years, was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), two ranks below a knighthood, for his services to tennis. But he feared he might miss the royal appointment when drugs testers turned up at his house to conduct a random test 10 minutes before his car was booked to leave.

–AFP

French coach Bruno Metsu dead at 59 French coach Bruno Metsu, best known for leading Senegal into the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, has died from cancer at the age of 59, friends said on Tuesday. “He died overnight at 3:30 a.m,” Herve Beddeleem, the executive director of BCM Gravelines-Dunkirk basketball club told AFP, confirming a report in La Voix du Nord newspaper.

–AFP

Day’s Watch Ten Action French Ligue 1 2013/14 7:30AM Nice v Marseille 9:30PM Paris Saint-Germain v Bastia 12:00PM Montpellier v Lille Ten Golf

OCEANIA

England captain Steven Gerrard (R) celebrates his goal with Wayne Rooney during their 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Poland at Wembley in London Tuesday

REUTERS

Bosnia join Spain, England and Russia n Reuters First-timers Bosnia joined holders Spain, England and Russia in grabbing Europe’s remaining automatic spots for the 2014 World Cup finals on Tuesday as the last round of group matches ended in joy, despair and shattered nerves.

Fireworks lit the skies across Bosnia whose fans celebrated qualifying for their first major tournament as an independent nation, while bigger European names like France, Portugal and Greece were consigned to the playoffs.

There was heartbreak for Denmark, who pummelled Malta 6-0 to finish second behind Italy in Group B but were the unlucky team to miss out on the playoff spots available for the eight best runners-up from the nine European groups.

Iceland kept alive their hopes of reaching their first finals when a 1-1 draw in Norway ensured they finished second behind Group E winners Switzerland to put them in the hat for Monday’s draw for November’s two-legged ties.

World and European champions Spain secured top spot in Group I with a 2-0 win at home to Georgia thanks to goals from Alvaro Negredo and Juan Mata, finishing three points ahead of the

Uruguay win but must settle for Jordan playoff n AFP, Montevideo

Two-time champions Uruguay served up a thrilling 3-2 win over Argentina on Tuesday but must beat Jordan in next months’s intercontinental playoff if they are to reach the World Cup finals.

Uruguay were beaten to the punch

by Chile and Ecuador, who claimed the final automatic South American qualifying berths behind regional group winners Argentina and second-placed Colombia.

Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 in Santiago to ensure third place in the regional table with 28 points from their 16 matches, two behind Colombia and four shy of two-time world champions Argentina.

Despite their loss Ecuador just prised the final automatic slot away from the Uruguayans on goal difference after both landed a points tally of 25.

Chile made up for their loss of a three-goal lead in Colombia last weekend to finish the job in front of their own supporters in Santiago.

Chile’s Alexis Sanchez scored the opener after 35 minutes with a header from an Eugenio Mena cross and Cardiff star Gary Medel added a second from close range just three minutes later.

Felipe Caicedo pulled one back for Ecuador midway through the second half to set up a barnstorming finish Mexico’s 2014 World Cup hopes survived a 2-1 loss at Costa Rica on Tuesday, but only thanks to arch-rivals the United States, whose two injury-time goals spelled heartbreak for Panama.

On a wild final night of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean, Honduras punched their ticket to Brazil on cue with a 2-2 draw at last-placed Jamaica.

The US finished the “hexagonal” final round on 22 points, with Costa Rica second on 18 and Honduras third on 15. l

ahead of Portugal, did just that as they were held 1-1 in Baku.

It meant that despite goals from Silvestre Varela, Nani and Helder Postiga giving Portugal a 3-0 win at home to bottom side Luxembourg, they finished a point behind Russia and will have to negotiate the playoffs to reach the finals.

Group C winners Germany fought back from two goals down to beat runners-up Sweden 5-3 thanks to a hat-trick from Andre Schuerrle on an evening when midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger earned his 100th cap.

There was also another victory for Group D winners and 2010 World Cup runners-up Netherlands, who overcame

Casillas mulling Real exit without more playing time n Reuters, Madrid

Swiss among World Cup seeds, Italy miss out

Real Madrid and Spain captain Iker Casillas may consider leaving his lifelong club if he does not get more playing time, the 32-year-old was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Mourinho’s successor Carlo Ancelotti has since instituted a policy of playing Lopez in La Liga and Casillas in the Champions League, prompting speculation the latter could seek an exit.

“Players go through moments when if you are not playing a part you think about making some sort of decision,” Casillas said at a promotional event in the Spanish capital, according to local media.

“Of course I want to stay here, winning more titles with Real Madrid.

“I have been here since I was a small boy but the day will come when maybe a decision will have to be made. I have decided I want to be part of this squad for a long time but if the situation doesn’t change in three months and you ask me the same question perhaps I will answer that I am planning to leave.” l

n Agencies

India batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma celebrate after winning the 2nd ODI against Australia on Wednesday BCCI

Turkey 2-0 away to deny their hosts a place in the playoffs as Romania overtook them in the standings with a 2-0 win at home to Estonia.

Already-qualified Italy and Belgium ended their campaigns on more modest notes with 2-2 and 1-1 draws against Armenia and Wales respectively, while Switzerland beat Slovenia 1-0 to deny the visitors a chance of the Group E runners-up spot that went to Iceland.

Croatia, who had already secured second place behind Belgium in Group A, suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat in Scotland but had done just enough earlier in the campaign to ensure the loss did not cost them a playoff spot. l

French who beat Finland 3-0.

That result meant France’s win in Paris, inspired by Franck Ribery who scored one goal and created another, was academic as the 1998 world champions had to make do with a playoff spot.

England breathed a sigh of relief when Steven Gerrard scored in the 88th minute against Poland to seal a 2-0 win after his side had held a slender lead from Wayne Rooney’s opener.

Group H rivals Ukraine racked up eight goals against San Marino in the forlorn hope of any slip-up at Wembley.

World Cup 2018 hosts Russia, who needed to avoid a heavy defeat in Azerbaijan to guarantee top spot in Group F

n Reuters, Berne Switzerland will be among the eight seeded teams at the World Cup draw in December after they leapt to seventh in the latest FIFA rankings announced on Thursday, while Italy were edged out.

Spain, Argentina, Germany, Colombia, Belgium and hosts Brazil will also be seeded, as will Uruguay, if they beat Jordan in a two-leg playoff next month.

If Uruguay do not qualify, Netherlands, joint eighth with Italy in the rankings, will take their place among the seeds.

FIFA previously ruled that Brazil (ranked 11th on Thursday) plus the top seven ranked teams would be seeded for the draw at the Costa da Sauipe tropical beach resort on Dec. 6.

Portugal, Greece, Croatia and Ukraine will be the seeded teams in next Monday’s draw for the European zone playoff round, which also features

India crush Australia in record run chase

3:00PM Venetian Macau Open, Day 3 ESPN Barclays Premier League 2013/14 5:45PM Newcastle v Liverpool 8.00PM Man United v Southampton 10:30PM West Ham v Man City Star Sports 12:10AM Italian Serie A 2013/14 AC Milan v Udinese Star Sports 2 Barclays Premier League 8:00PM Arsenal vs Norwich City La Liga 10:00PM Valencia vs Real Sociedad 12:00PM Osasuna vs Barcelona 02:00AM Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid

(New Zealand will take on Mexico in a playoff in November)

An inspired India pulled off an incredible nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second cricket one-dayer on Wednesday, achieving the second highest ever run chase in ODI history.

Chasing a mammoth victory target of 360 on a belter of a track at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, India crossed the line with 40 balls to spare as records tumbled like nine pins. This is also India’s highest ever successful run chase as the hosts restored parity 1-1 in the seven-match series.

Rohit Sharma (141 not out), Virat Kohli (100 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (95) were the main contributors for India.

Virat Kohli took a more than decent Australian attack to the task with a fastest ever ODI century by an Indian and seventh fastest in the world, scored in only 52 balls.

It was a match where the Australians created a world record with their five top batsmen scoring half-centuries but

Brief Score Australia: 359/5 (50.0 overs) Finch 50, Hughes 83, Watson 59, Bailey 92*, Maxwell 53 India: 362/1 (43.3 overs) Rohit 141*, Dhawan 95, Kohli 100* Result: India won by 9 wickets the Indian batsmen proved they were better on the night.

The Australians now have the ignominy of ending second best in two highest run-chases having faced similar fate against Herschelle Gibbs’ South Africa seven years back, when they failed to defend a mammoth score of 434.

Indian batting’s ‘Gen-Next’ troika showed why they are not afraid of any target and reasserted India’s supremacy in the 50-over format.

The victory was built on two partnerships. An opening stand of 174 between Dhawan and Rohit followed by another 186 runs scored in only 17.2 overs between Rohit and Kohli. The duo put on 100 runs in only 62 balls. l

Rankings 1. (1) Spain 2. (3) Germany 3. (2) Argentina 4. (5) Colombia 5. (6) Belgium 6. (7) Uruguay 7. (14) Switzerland 8=. (9) Netherlands 8=. (4) Italy 10. (17) England France, Iceland, Sweden and Romania.

The Swiss, who completed their World Cup qualifying group unbeaten to reach the finals for the third time in a row, leapt seven places thanks to their wins over Albania and Slovenia this month.

Italy had been fourth but paid dearly for drawing 2-2 at home to Armenia on Tuesday.

There is likely to be more controversy over the complicated system used to calculate the rankings especially as Switzerland had arguably the easiest path to the World Cup of any team. l

Agarkar retires from all forms of cricket n Agencies Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar on Wednesday retired from all forms of cricket, bringing down curtains on a 16-year first class career during which he played in 26 Tests and 191 ODIs besides leading Mumbai to their 40th Ranji Trophy title last season.

The 35-year-old Agarkar started his career as a capable batsman by scoring a triple hundred in junior cricket before shifting his focus to pace bowling.

Though wiry in structure, he had a very whippy action with which he generated bounce and pace.

He took 58 wickets from his 26 Tests at a costly 47-plus per wicket and 288 in ODIs at just over 27 per victim with 6 for 41 in Adelaide against Australia in Tests in 2003-04 and 6 for 42 in ODIs, also against Australia at Melbourne on the same tour, as his best.

His lone Test century (109 not out) in international cricket came at the hallowed Lord’s cricket ground in London in 2002. In all, he played 110 first class games. l

12

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Saturday, October 19, 2013

DMCH takes a step towards blood cancer cure Begins collecting stem cells for high-tech analysis the procedure. Once collected, these tween the two hospitals. n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Prof MA Khan and Dr Bimol Dey will be kept in the laboratory for proDhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) started collecting stem cells from blood cancer patients yesterday, the first time such a procedure was carried out in the country.

The groundbreaking procedure took place ahead of Sunday’s scheduled inauguration by Health Minister AFM Ruhal Hoque of a Tk200m, five-bed Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit and a high-tech BMT laboratory at the DMCH-2.

Prof Dr MA Khan, head of DMCH hematology department, informed that retired army sergeant Alamgir Hossain was the first person to undergo the stem cell collection procedure yesterday.

Sources said Bangladeshi and American BMT experts will collect stem cells in operations which can typically take up to six hours for each patient. A hightech Flow Cytometer machine will later be used to count and analyse the cells following successful testing of the new equipment during the Eid holidays.

BMT specialists said the success of each stem cell procedure would depend on the patient’s fitness and whether they had enough stem cells for

cessing at a temperature of -80C. Dr MA Khan yesterday also said October 26 had been set as the probable date for the first bone marrow transplant procedure at the hospital.

He told the Dhaka Tribune that 10 patients had been receiving a 10-day treatment of stem cell mobilisation drugs since October 6, as part of their preparation for the transplant.

Six of those patients – who are all suffering from a form of blood cancer called multiply myeloma – had been receiving the drugs directly under the supervision of BMT experts at the hospital.

The other four patients – who are suffering from another type of blood cancer called lymphoma – had gone home after receiving the drugs.

The hospital authorities have provided the patients with medicines worth Tk120,000 free of charge.

The transplant procedure will be carried out by a 25-member team consisting of doctors, nurses, and technicians. Three BMT experts from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US will provide assistance as part of a memorandum of understanding penned be-

from Massachusetts General Hospital have been supervising the overall preparations.

Dr Bayezid Khurshed Riaz, project director of the DMCH-2, told the Dhaka Tribune that a rally will be held in the city tomorrow to raise cancer awareness.

Director of the DMCH Brigadier General Dr Mustafizur Rahman said DMCH will bear all the expenses of the first transplant at free of cost.

“A special unit with five specialised beds and instruments has been established on the 10th floor of DMCH-2, and several doctors, nurses, and technicians have taken specialised training on BMT at home and abroad,” he said.

Sources said the new DMCH unit will be able to bring down the cost of the transplant to Tk500,000, compared to BMT costs of around Tk10m in the US, over Tk5m in Singapore, and over Tk4m in India.

Bone marrow transplant has the potential to cure the blood disorder thalassaemia (major and minor), several types of bone cancer, and other non-malignant and non-cancerous diseases. l

GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX

Bangladesh moves 10 notches up n Tribune Desk

Under-privileged children tend to seek rejoice in anything they can find nearby to play with. Three children at the recently gutted Balur Math slum in Hazaribagh yesterday share their joy riding a skeletal steel-frame of a burnt revolving chair, leaving behind the sorrows that came with the horrific fire which took away their houses SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Nazi funeral called off in Italy as clashes erupt n AFP The funeral of a Nazi war criminal was cancelled in Italy late Tuesday after clashes broke out between protesters and far-right activists on the eve of a major Holocaust ceremony.

Catholic breakaway traditionalists from the ultra-conservative Society of St Pius X had agreed to hold the funeral of former SS officer Erich Priebke at their seminary in Albano, a town near Rome.

But Mayor Nicola Marini and hundreds of local residents turned out to complain about the last-minute decision, following Priebke’s death on October 11 in Rome, where he had been under house arrest.

“Assassin!” the protesters shouted as the hearse drove into the religious compound for the start of the ceremony, which was quickly suspended by a police order when neo-Nazis broke into the area.

“We are here to celebrate his memory because he was part of our world,” said Maurizio Boccacci, head of the extreme-right Militia movement.

Dozens of riot police pushed about 500 protesters back and later fired tear gas after clashing with a few dozen neo-Nazis who attacked with glass bottles and chains, shouting: “He was a hero!”

A priest from the Society of St Pius X also had to be protected by police as he tried to enter the seminary after being shoved by the protesters.

The funeral was eventually called off, with Italian authorities particularly concerned as tensions were already running high ahead of Wednesday’s 70th anniversary of a raid by Nazi troops that cleared out the city’s historic Jewish quarter.

The ceremony was suspended in the afternoon then Priebke’s lawyer Paolo Giachini decided later to call it off the private religious ceremony.

Priebke, who was 100 when he died, was convicted of the 1944 massacre of 335 people, including 75 Jews, at the Ardeatine caves near Rome in a Nazi retaliation for a partisan attack. l

Bangladesh has climbed 10 steps in the Global Hunger Index this year to 58th position from 68th last year.

But the country’s hunger situation still remains ‘serious’ as defined by the index.

The October 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI), jointly prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, was released through the IFPRI website on Thursday.

GHI combines three indicators undernourishment, child underweight and child mortality to count the scores, and ranks countries on a 100-point scale in which zero is the best score (no hunger) and 100 the worst.

The GHI report shows Bangladesh among the top 10 countries to have

significant improvement in the hunger situation since 1990, but remains at a level characterised as ‘serious’ with the score 19.4, says a UNB report quoting the survey.

Bangladesh’s GHI score came down to 24 points last year from 27.8 in 2011.

“Some countries achieved noteworthy absolute progress in improving their GHI scores. Comparing the 1990 GHI and the 2013 GHI, Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, Thailand, and Vietnam saw the largest improvements - with decreases in their scores ranging between 15 and 23 points,” the report says.

In the forward, the authors of the report also noted that the world has made some progress in reducing hunger since the early 1990s.

“If the recent slowdown can be re-

versed, the Millennium Development Goal target of halving the share of hungry people in the world between 1990 and 2015 may be within reach,” they stated in the forward.

“In 1990-1992, one billion went hungry. Today, about 870 million, or one in eight people worldwide, still suffer from hunger. This is no time for complacency,” they added.

Resilience has been picked as the central theme of this year’s GHI Report.

It emphasised building stronger resilience of the poor against short-time climatic shocks. The GHI Report in 2012 also raised serious concerns the unplanned use of land, water and energy may have greater bearings on the global poverty situation.

The launching event of the GHI 2013 was held at the IFPRI headquarters in Washington, DC in the US yesterday. l

Rana Plaza survivor passes Eid in loneliness n Muktasree Chakma Sathi

After losing two legs and six family members in the deadliest Rana Plaza tragedy, 20-year-old Rebeka Begum passed the Eid-ul-Azha lying on a bed at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) alone.

“Eid? Eid has not been an occasion to rejoice, neither has it brought any patch of happiness for me since the accident. It is rather a day when I particularly know that everybody is celebrating outside while I am stranded inside this hospital alone,” says Rebeka.

Rebeka lost her mother, grandmother, two cousins and an aunt in the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Savar this year, an incident considered the deadliest disaster in the history of the garment industry in the country.

“The bodies of my mother, grand-

mother, one cousin and an aunt could not be traced. We received the headless body of one of my cousin brothers,” said a teary Rebeka.

Rebeka bought chicken for herself on Eid as she found the quality of food provided by the hospital way below the mark. This was all she did to celebrate Eid. “I wish my mother was here,” said Rebeka with a sigh.

Her husband, who is a mason, was residing at their native village on Eid day. “No!” Rebeka uttered the word firmly when asked if anyone from the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) came to visit her on Eid. Taking a few moments to let her eyes dry, she continued: “I have not received any compensation from them [garment owners] yet. I guess I am lucky. At least, I received my salary. Neither me nor my relatives received the honorariums of my six

Rebeka, a survivor of the Rana Plaza collapse, passes a lonely Eid, waiting for a probable visitor at a city hospital MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

family members who died in the collapse.” “I wish someone at least visits me time to time just to talk for few minutes. This accident has taught me to identify who is a real well-wisher and who is just whimsical.”

“People jump off to help whenever there is an accident. They think that as human beings it is their duty to help the victims. But I wish they could hold on to the spirit as time passes by,” she expressed her realisation after more than five months into the incident.

“Apa [sister], please do not think that I am asking for some kind of financial help by saying my observations. I do not want money, goods, dresses or any material thing.

I would have really appreciated if some people could come and visit me time to time.

“Six months have passed. No financial help is enough when you are alone and all you want is to talk with someone,” Rebeka adds with a sad smile on her face.

Rebeka, whose left leg was amputated from her thigh and right leg from under her knee, said: “All I am looking forward to now is to learn to walk again. Doctors said they would give me at least one artificial leg. I will get an artificial right leg. They, however, are not yet sure if my body could adapt an artificial left leg.”

“If I can walk, I will be able to work. Thus, I will survive with dignity,” said Rebeka, an optimist survivor despite of the prolonged sufferings.

The collapse of the eight-storey building Rana Plaza, where five garment factories were located, claimed at least 1,132 lives on April 24. A massive drive went on for 20 days that rescued 2,438 people from the debris. Relatives of the victims claim that hundreds of people are still missing. l

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