07 December 2013

Nation

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Smuggled camels held on Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat

Agrahayan 23, 1420 Safar 3, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 253

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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Economy worst World mourns peace icon Mandela’s death hit by blockades n Kayes Sohel

On one corner of a wooden bench in a makeshift shop in city’s Mirpur area 50-year-old day labourer Shukur Ali was having his lunch with a piece of bread only.

His gnarled fingers tells of a story of a toiling man who looks older than his age.

Usually he remains half-fed and the non-stop blockade seems to have aged him in advance of his years as the ongoing violent and bloody politics has left him without work for weeks.

“This bread is of borrowed money,” said Shukur who has to run a four-member family. He borrowed the money, promising to pay back next week. “But I may not be able to pay back in time as I heard the blockade will continue,” he said haltingly.

Azizul Haque, 60, a vegetables trader at Karwan Bazar from Chuadnaga, is close to bankruptcy as he has to count a loss of Tk40,000 daily. He has been in the business for about 18 years.

“Losses are heavy…I am planning to go back to my village,” said Azizul, sitting on a mat under a corrugated tinshed shop idling his time away with other traders.

“Unending shutdowns and blockades have made life miserable…I now eat two meals a day to save money,” said Mohammad Shafiqul, 32, sitting next to Azizul.

Transport cost has tripled. A threetonne truck now charges Tk50,000 to cover a distance from Chuadanga to Kawran Bazar that usually costs Tk16,000, they said.

Like them many others – from transport workers to wholesalers to big traders are virtually being denied any work because of ongoing violent political programmes.

Clearly, lower and fixed income group people were the worst sufferers of confrontational politics in the run-up to the general election due next month.

The impact of such shutdown and blockade will be more catastrophic than the damage caused by the natural disasters Sidr and Aila combine, says Professor of Economics at Dhaka University MA Taslim.

Taslim said: “If it lasts longer, people will lose jobs. That is why you will see a significantly greater effect the longer it goes.”

He said no income meant spending erosion. “It also means lower demand  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Taranco in town to broker political deal

File photo shows Nelson Mandela waving to the crowd at a public rally organised at Suhrawardy Udyan in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence on March 26, 1997. Also on the dais were, from left, then Bangladesh president Shahabuddin Ahmed, Palestine president Yasser Arafat, Turkish president Suleyman Demirel and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

The world grappled with the loss of South Africa’s beloved Nelson Mandela, a towering figure of the 20th century who inspired millions across the globe with his struggle for equality.

Mandela’s Rainbow Nation awoke to a future without its 95-year-old founding father after the country’s first black president died late Thursday at his Johannesburg home, surrounded by friends and family, reports the AFP. Bangladesh has declared three days’ national mourning from today to pay homage to the South African anti-apartheid icon, says the BSS. “Bangladesh will observe three-day national mourning from December 7 to December 9 to show respect to Mandela, an anti-apartheid icon and a true friend of Bangladesh,” said a handout yesterday.

During the period, the national flags will be flown at half-mast at all buildings of government, semi-government, autonomous bodies, educational institutes and all

UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco has arrived in the capital to encourage the country’s political leaders to hold non-violent, inclusive and credible elections.

Taranco landed in Dhaka at 8:15 last night and is scheduled to leave Tuesday. He did not issue any statement on arrival.

Taranco is leading a five-member team, with two officials from the Department of Political Affairs and one senior mediation expert, and will have a series of meetings with major stakeholders during the trip.

The government, however, has rejected the UN envoy’s request to meet President Abdul Hamid and Chief of Army Staff Gen Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan.

This is Taranco’s third trip to Dhaka in a year; he visited last December and in May. UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon has sent his deputy to mediate

the ongoing political crisis.

Taranco will hold meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP chief Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, and diplomats and civil society members.

His schedule is prepared in such a manner so that he can convey messages among the leaders.

On Saturday, Taranco will meet Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in the afternoon and then the prime minister.

After that, he will meet BNP’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and then the BNP chief.

In a similar fashion, he will meet Ashraf on Monday morning, Fakhrul in the afternoon and Khaleda in the evening. The next day he will meet the prime minister again before leaving Bangladesh.

The visit of the UN official, two days

Bangladesh to observe three-day national mourning with flowers, songs and dance, countries Bangladesh missions abroad. n Tribune Report around the world united in an outpouring of In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury expressed profound shock at the death of Nobel peace laureate Nelson Mandela.

Mandela spent 27 years in an apartheid prison before becoming president Mandela visited Dhaka in 1997 to join the 25th anniversary of the country’s independence along with several other foreign dignitaries.

AFP adds: As his compatriots paid lively tributes to the revered anti-apartheid hero

emotion, pondering his legacy and remembering key moments in his astonishing life.

Mandela spent 27 years in an apartheid prison before becoming president and unifying his country with a message of reconciliation. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with South Africa’s last white president FW de Klerk in 1993.

“We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” US President Barack Obama, his country’s own first black president, said in a televised statement, leading a global roll call of commemoration.

Flags flew at half-mast in numerous countries, including the United States, France and Britain and at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower lit up in green, red, yellow and blue to symbolise the South African flag while India declared five days of mourning for a man its premier labelled as “a true Gandhian.”

Mandela had waged a long battle against a recurring lung infection and had been re-

ceiving treatment at home since September following a lengthy hospital stay.

Outside his house in the upmarket Houghton suburb, admirers held a boisterous vigil, dancing, ululating and singing old liberation songs to celebrate the man they lovingly call Madiba.

“I did not come here to mourn. We are celebrating the life of a great man. A great unifier,” said local resident Bobby Damon.

In Cape Town, Archbishop Desmond Tutu led an emotional prayer for his friend, expressing hope that Mandela’s vision of a South Africa for all creeds and colours will not perish with him.

“Ultimately he would want us, South Africans, to be his memorial,” Tutu said, his eyes tightly shut in a prayer brimming over with emotion.

That sentiment was echoed by Mandela’s prison mate and struggle stalwart Tokyo Sexwale.

“The grief that we see today, the tears that are flowing the emotions that have welled will all subside,” he told the AFP.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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INSIDE

Yet another blockade begins for three days

News

3 Eminent citizens under a platform “Bangladesh Rukhe Darao” has called for immediate stop to political violence.

n Tribune Report

Feature

6 If you want to see enthralled film buffs and tech geeks, put them in a room with Nafees Bin Zafar. The first thing anyone will tell you about Nafees is that he’s an incredibly humble and generous-hearted guy.

After losing six working days to the last countrywide blockade, the nation now faces three more days of worry and loss as the opposition alliance’s new blockade programme starts from today.

The death toll kept rising as two drivers, who suffered injuries in separate incidents in Faridpur and Sylhet during the last blockade, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital yesterday.

International

9 And so it has come to pass that one of the brighter lights to have shone on the world in recorded history has finally extinguished. That it was not unexpected, that there were moments in recent memory when it almost already happened several times - none of this makes the collective lump in South Africa’s throat easier to swallow.

Two more blockade victims die Children are used almost as a human shield for a procession of the opposition in Chittagong on November 26

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Children used in political violence n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Street children in Chittagong are allegedly being used to carry out subversive activities during the recent political unrest.

The Dhaka Tribune found child labourers and homeless children involved with subversive activities such as hurling crude bombs and torching and vandalising vehicles during the opposition’s political programmes. Many

were used as human shields in front of processions.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, a sixyear-old homeless boy Sumon (not the child’s real name) at the capital’s Colonelhat area, he said he was receiving Tk100 for hurling “red balls” each day.

“I have hurled crude bombs five times in the last two blockades under orders from local opposition men,” he said. Sumon said the men had instructed him to leave the crude bombs on the

road if he failed to set them off on time.

For Sumon, hurling bombs was easy money compared to collecting waste from the city streets. His two other friends – Kadir and Sagor (not their real names) – were also involved in this “trade,” Sumon confided.

Another 10-year-old, Mishu (not his real name), a garage worker at the AK Khan Intersection area, said he had joined the BNP processions seven  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Hartal called in capital, districts on Sunday for Tarique, Khoka The total number of deaths in political violence since November 26 now stands at 58. People have died in sporadic clashes, arson, vandalism and sabotage across the country.

Meanwhile, the city unit of BNP has called a 24-hour hartal in the Dhaka city from tomorrow morning to protest the arrest and remand of the party’s Vice-President Sadeque Hossain Khoka. The party demanded immediate release of Khoka, also the Dhaka unit’s convenor, who has been placed on a two-day remand in connection with an arson attack on a bus at Shahbagh that

left three passengers dead and 16 others injured.

The 18-party alliance also called a hartal protesting Anti-Corruption Commission’s decision of challenging Tarique Rahman’s acquittal in the money laundering case.

On the eve the third spell of blockade and the hartal blockade supporters resorted to arson and vandalism in the capital and some other places of the country.

Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir locked into a fierce clash with police, set a passenger bus on fire and vandalised several other vehicles in the capital’s Badda after the Juma prayers. During the clash, police fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters while Jamaat-Shibir men pelted brickbats at the law enforcers.

Witnesses said a group of Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a procession at 1:15pm from North Badda Kamil Madrasa protesting the capital punishment of their leader Kader Mollah for war crimes and in support of the blockade.

From a procession in Dhaka University campus, activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, blasted 10 crude bombs in front of the Bangla Academy around 2pm. Opposition men also burnt a bus at Mirpur  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, December 7, 2013

33 lone AL candidates may be declared elected n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission yesterday approved nominations of at least 33 candidates of the ruling Awami League after scrutiny who are likely to be unofficially declared winners in their constituencies in the 10th parliamentary elections.

Of them, at least six are ministers of the polls-time interim government.

The Jatiya Party candidates willing to boycott the polls at the instruction of party chief HM Ershad can withdraw their candidature from today as the EC completed scrutinising nomination papers yesterday. Seven leaders of the party already applied for withdrawal their nominations yesterday.

Some 260 nomination papers were cancelled while 847 candidates were found valid, according to the EC. A total of 1,107 candidates submitted nominations to contest in the 300 seats for the 10th parliamentary elections. The contestants were from at least 20 political parties, including the ruling Awami League, the Jatiya Party and the newly formed Bangladesh Nationalist Front.

Now that the EC has completed scrutinising the nomination papers, willing candidates can withdraw their nominations by December 13. The next parliamentary polls will be held on January 5.

Two candidates are contesting in 103 seats while no candidate could qualify for the polls at Lakshmipur 3 constituency.

According to the EC, LGRD Minister Syed Asraful Islam of Kishoreganj 1, Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed of Bhola 1, Finance Minister AMA Muhith of Sylhet 1, Communication Minister Obaidul Quader of Noakhali 5, Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud of Chittagong 7, and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain of Faridpur 3 are going to be declared winners as nominations of other candidates were cancelled.

Former minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta of Sunamganj 2, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni of Chandpur 3, former minister for labour and employment Raziuddin Ahmed of Narsingdi 5, lawmaker Enamul Haque of Rajshahi 4, incumbent lawmakers Junaid Ahmed Polok of Natore 3, Jahid Ahsan Rasel of Gazipur 2, Sheikh Helal Uddin of Bagerhat 1, Md Ali Ashraf of Comilla 7, AHM Mostafa Kamal of Comilla 10 and AHN Ashikur Rahman of Rangpur 5 are the only valid candidates after the EC scrutiny.

Morshed Alam of Noakhali 2, Mrinal Kanti Das of Munshiganj 3, Ishak Hossain Talukder of Sirajganj 3, Abul Kalam of Natore 1, Shafiqul Islam Shimul of Natore 2, Mir Shawkat Ali Badsha of Bagerhat 2, AKM Awal of Pirojpur 1, Abdul Rahman of Faridpur 1, Nizam Uddin Hazari of Feni 2, former state minister for industries Omar Faruque Chowdhury of Rajshahi 4 got the EC’s approval as the only candidates in their constituencies.

Chief whip Abdus Shahid of Mou-

lovibazar 4, former home minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir of Chandpur 1, President Abdul Hamid’s son Rezawan Ahmad Taufique of Kishoreganj 4, Momtaz Begum of Manikganj 2, Nuruzzamn Ahmed of Lalmonirhat 2, Sheikh Afil Uddin of Jessore 1 and Amanur Rahman Rana of Tangail 3 are only candidates who submitted nominations. After the scrutiny, they were declared valid candidates and are likely to be unofficially declared elected.

According to article 19 (1) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), in there is only one person as a validly nominated candidate for election after scrutiny or there is only one contesting candidate after withdrawal of nominations, the returning officer shall declare those candidates to be elected to the seat by a public notice.

However, if any candidate indicates intention to make an appeal against the rejection of their nomination paper, no person will be declared elected uncontested until the period prescribed for filling such appeal has expired and no such appeal has been filed or, where an appeal is filed, until the disposal of such appeal.

EC officials said candidates whose nominations had been cancelled could appeal to the commission by Monday.

A total of 61 candidates had submitted nomination papers for the 15 parliamentary constituencies of Dhaka; of them, nominations of seven were cancelled. l

JCD president placed on three days’ remand n Kailash Sarkar A Dhaka court yesterday placed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel on a three-day remand and rejected his bail petition in an arson case filed with Paltan police station.

Police produced Jewel before the court, seeking a 30-day remand in three cases filed against him. The hearing on bail and remand petition in two other

cases will be held later.

Meanwhile, Mirpur police arrested 10 cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir with a large quantity of explosives and bomb-making materials in the capital’s Kalyanpur.

The Detective Branch of police also arrested Sharif Uddin, a vice-president of JCD’s Dhaka City (North) unit, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The JCD leaders were taken to the

DB office on Minto Road.

The Shibir men were arrested with two petrol bombs, 11 crude bombs and bomb-making materials and publications at a mess on Shaheed Minar Road in the capital’s Kalyanpur around 9:30am.

MIrpur police station OC Salauddin Khan said they had raided the mess, which was being used as a den for making bombs and carrying out subversive activities. l

Parents wait outside the Ideal School in the capital yesterday as their children take exams that could not be held because of the opposition's blockade NASHIRUL ISLAM

Ershad now asks ministers to resign to PM n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday issued fresh instructions to the ministers representing his party in the all-party interim government regarding their resignation.

He sent mobile messages to the seven ministers to submit the resignation letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in line with the constitutional provision.

Earlier, Ershad said the ministers should submit the resignation letters to him and four of the ministers did so on Thursday. He also decided that his wife Raushan Ersahd, a presidium member, would take the resignation letters to the president.

The Jatiya Party has requested the Bangabhaban for an audience of President Abdul Hamid, according to a Bangabhaban source. The President was in Singapore last week for health check-up.

“We have got a new SMS from sir asking to resign to the prime minister,” Mu-

Children used in political violence  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

times during hartal and blockades in November in exchange for money.

His employer had kept the garage closed during the shutdowns and blockades fearing vandalism.

“I get Tk50 for joining a procession.

But I got Tk100 once for being in the front lines of a procession,” he said.

Children victims of bomb attacks A number of school-going children have fallen victim to violence in the opposition movement.

A seven-year-old, Minhaj Hossain Belal, lost his left eye when he was going to school after being hit by a splinter when blockade supporters hurled a crude bomb in the city’s Akbar Shah on the morning of December 3.

Sumaiya Akhter Sadia, 5, a playgroup student, received splinter injuries to her head at the same place on December 2. She was going to school with her mother on a rickshaw. The rickshaw puller was also injured.

Ariful Islam, a 14-year-old madrasa student, was severely injured when he picked up a crude bomb near his home assuming it was a ball on November 30.

Two homeless children – Surma,

9, and Lal Mia, 8 – were hurt by crude bombs at Beltola in the city on November 5 when they were scavenging for waste paper and scraps on the streets.

Sub-Inspector Monirul Islam of Akbar Shah police station said about 200 children in City Gate, Uttar Kattali and Colonelhat were involved in political violence.

Azizur Rahman, the officer-in-charge of Pahartoli police station, said children were also being used as informers to alert Jamaat-Shibir activists of any police movement.

“We have detained a number of kids from various spots. However, we released them later as they could not say anything about the party men who had hired them for conducting sabotage,” he said.

Sujayet Islam, the deputy commissioner (West) of CMP, said it was regrettable that children were being used in subversive activities.

“This will lead the illiterate and poor children into becoming criminals in the long run,” he said.

Syed Md Sajjad Kabir, a psychology teacher at Chittagong University, said the violence could severely damage the children’s development.

“The victims are becoming fearful

about their surroundings, which will put a negative impact on their future life. The children engaged with subversive activities are being led into the dark world of crime through this process,” he said.

Banaz Kumar Mazumdar, additional commissioner (crime and operation) of

CMP, suggested increasing social awareness to save children from being used in violence besides policing activities.

The Dhaka Tribune reported earlier that children and women in Dhaka were also being used to carry and set off bombs and burn vehicles in exchange for money. l

“It is left now for us South Africans to show the world that the light of Mandela will not be extinguished. It is for us to prove to the world we are worthy of his legacy.”

President Jacob Zuma said Mandela would be given a full state funeral expected to be attended by a slew of foreign leaders as well as celebrity and sports figures.

Mandela’s body was taken to a military hospital in Pretoria in preparation for lying in state ahead of the funeral ceremony.

Mandela’s two youngest daughters were in London watching the premiere of his biopic Long Walk to Freedom – along with Britain’s Prince William – when they learned of his death.

Prince Charles said Mandela “was the embodiment of courage and reconciliation. He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life.”

Mandela’s eldest grandson yesterday expressed gratitude for the international outpouring of support.

‘Terrorist’ turned icon Once considered a terrorist by the United States and Britain for his support of violence against the apartheid

regime, at the time of his death he was an almost unimpeachable moral icon.

Mandela’s extraordinary life story, quirky sense of humour and lack of bitterness towards his former oppressors ensured global appeal for the charismatic leader.

He spent 27 years behind bars before being freed in 1990 to lead the African National Congress (ANC) in negotiations with the white minority rulers, which culminated in the first multi-racial elections in 1994.

A victorious Mandela served a single term as president before taking up a new role as a roving elder statesman and leading AIDS campaigner before finally retiring from public life in 2004.

Born in July 1918 in the southeastern Transkei region, Mandela started a career as a lawyer in Johannesburg in parallel with his political activism. He became commander-in-chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the then-banned ANC, in 1961, and the following year underwent military training in Algeria and Ethiopia.

While underground back home in South Africa, Mandela was captured by police in 1962 and sentenced to five

On Thursday, Raushan Ershad, Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Mujibul Haque met Sheikh Hasina, but did not hand over any resignation letter.

According to the latest example, the prime minister may not accept the resignation letters. The whole cabinet on November 11 handed over resignation letters to the premier who did not accept many of them.

The government then clarified that the ministers would not vacate their posts unless the prime minister sent the resignation letters to the president for effect.

Soon after the announcement of the election schedule, former military ruler HM Ershad announced that his party was contesting the polls to “save democracy,” as the main opposition BNP was stubborn to boycott the January 5 polls under a government headed by Sheikh Hasina.

His party joined the interim government.

After his meeting with the visiting Indian foreign secretary Sujatha Singh, Ershad asked his seven ministers to resign. l

Yet another blockade begins for three days  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

and a microbus of Hotel Sonargaon at Khamarbari in the evening. Shibir men torched a private car and exploded three bombs at Panthapath near the Dhaka Tribune office in the evening.

Police arrested 10 Shibir activists, all of them students of Ibn-Sina Medical College, from a Kalyanpur mess with two petrol bombs and 11 crude bombs.

THE TWO DEATHS Truck driver Mehedi Hasan, 30, of Faridpur, suffered 64% burn injuries when blockaders set fire to his truck in Sadar upazila Saturday. Hospital sources said when Mehedi was going to Faridpur from Krishnapur with his truck some blockaders set fire to the vehicle in Harishava area on November 30, leaving him injured.

On the other hand, CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Shoib Ahmed, 25, succumbed to his injuries at the Sylhet

hospital around 7:30am.

A group of blockaders who brought out a procession at Hazipur in South Surma upazila on Thursday afternoon chased the auto-rickshaw when it was crossing the road around 1pm.

As the driver tried to speed away, the vehicle overturned leaving him injured where he died around 7.30pm. Shoib was a resident of Telipara area in the upazila.

Meanwhile police filed a case against more than a hundred opposition men including three union parishad men in connection of Meghna Express derailment.

Besides, the railway authority filed six separate cases in connection with sabotages on Chandpur-Laksam route naming 179 men and unidentified 1,600.

For burning a local Awami League office in Kurigram, police arrested eight opposition men and two cases were filed with Kurigram Sadar police station.l

Taranco in town to broker A child used in the procession got hurt during violence in Chittagong

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World mourns peace icon Mandela’s death  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

jibul Haque, the state minister for youth and sports, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Another minister told the Dhaka Tribune that he was in a fix about what to do after the new instruction.

Article 58 (1) of the constitution says a minister’s post must vacate “if he resigns from the office by placing his resignation in the hand of the prime minister for submission to the president.”

But Commerce Minister GM Quader, Civil Aviation Minister Ruhul Amin Hawlader, State Minister for Youth and Sports Mujibul Haque and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Salma Islam handed over their resignation letters to party Chairman HM Ershad.

Party Secretary-General Ruhul Amin Hawlader said Health Minister Raushan Ershad had “desired to resign.” He also said Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud and prime minister’s Adviser Ziauddin Bablu had been asked over telephone to resign.

years in prison.

He was then charged with sabotage and sentenced in 1964 to life in prison at the Rivonia trial, named after a Johannesburg suburb where a number of ANC leaders were arrested.

He used the court hearing to deliver a speech that was to become the manifesto of the anti-apartheid movement.

“During my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society.

“It is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

He served most of his jail time on Robben Island. When he was finally released on February 11, 1990, he walked out of prison with his fist raised alongside his then-wife Winnie.

Ex-prisoner 46664 then took on the task of persuading de Klerk to call time on the era of racist white minority rule.

‘We can change the world’ After the ANC won the first multi-racial elections, Mandela went out of his way to assuage the fears of the white minority, declaring his intention to establish “a rainbow nation at peace with

itself and the world.”

Critics said his five-year presidency was marred by corruption and rising levels of crime. But his successors, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, have never enjoyed anywhere near the same levels of respect or affection.

His divorce from second wife Winnie was finalised in 1996.

He found new love in retirement with Graca Machel, the widow of the late Mozambican president Samora Machel, whom he married on his 80th birthday.

In one of his last foreign policy interventions, he issued a searing rebuke of George W Bush on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, calling him “a president who has no foresight, who cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust.”

Mandela is survived by three daughters, 18 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

He had four step-children through his marriage to Machel.

His death has left his family divided over his wealth. Some of his children and grandchildren are locked in a legal feud with his close friends over alleged irregularities in his two companies. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

after the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh is seen as an effort of the international community to reduce tension among the political parties amid the ongoing political confrontation over the arrangements for the polls-time government.

During her visit Sujatha Singh stressed the need to hold the elections on time.

The Election Commission declared

the election schedule last month and the date for submission of nomination papers expired on December 2.

Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general wrote letters to the prime minister and the BNP chief last month, urging them to engage in a dialogue as “time was running out” to find a way to have a credible election.

He also made phone calls to both of them in August to encourage them to hold dialogue. l

Economy worst hit by blockades  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

for products…no investment…above all, the wheel of economy will slow down.

“It is one of the additional reasons for sluggish economy.”

Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of Policy Research Institute, said: “Economic losses are heavy.”

Loss of retailers, transport workers, wholesalers – these were not recoverable and more broadly it would hit the economy, said Mansur.

In its analysis on economic losses due to shutdown, the local think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue said frequent hartals had significant negative consequences for Bangladesh’s economy.

It said the increasing violence and damage to transport and public properties had both short- as well as medi-

um- to long-term adverse implications for the economy, undermining both current performance as well as growth potentials of the economy.

A major long-term negative impact of hartals has been assumed to be the decline in capital stock or physical assets.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Atiqul Islam said: “Production has remained almost stopped…Shipment is hampered because of political violence.” If shutdown prolongs, many apparel makers will make for the exit door.

With the country coming almost to a halt because of the previous nationwide blockades and shutdowns the opposition has called another 72-hour blockade from today. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Stop political violence, eminent citizens call for solution through dialogue n Rabiul Islam Eminent citizens under a platform “Bangladesh Rukhe Darao” has called for immediate stop to political violence.

“Violence is in no way a political programme, rather it is a terrorist act which must be stopped,” said Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman, president of the platform while speaking at a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday.

Expressing concerns over the attack on minority community and the deterioration of law and order situation, Anisuzzaman said: “We believe that any crisis can be resolved through talks and the parliamentary election would be peacefully held with participation of all political parties”.

Ain o Salish Kendra Executive Director and Convener of the platform, Sultana Kamal said: “All forms of political violence have to be stopped, and the

political parties have to reach consensus through dialogue.”

“People have not given mandate to any quarter to play foul with lives of the people and state properties,” she said in her welcome speech at the sitin programme, organised to protest the recent wave of political violence, which has taken heavy toll on human lives and properties.

Scores of people were killed and vehicles were set ablaze during the road, railway and waterways blockades, enforced by BNP-led 18-party alliance, demanding restoration of caretaker government system for holding national elections.

Citing the example of Nelson Mandela, who had never indulged in politics of violence and vengeance, she said each and every political party of the country should learn from South African former president Mandela, the

anti-apartheid icon, who breathed his last Friday night.

“There can be no compromise with the anti-liberation forces and in the question of secularism,” Sultana Kamal said.

Senior journalist Abed Khan said a vested quarter, especially those, who worked against the liberation war in 1971, was still working against the people and democracy.

“We have to stand up against those evil forces, and Bangladesh Rukhe Darao has emerged with the spirit of liberation and communal harmony,” he said.

Meanwhile, litterateur Syed Shamsul Haque said what is happening, is not political movement, it is terrorism.

“People have to come out and stand up against these terrorist activities,” he said.

Expressing solidarity with the plat-

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Saturday, December 7, 2013

form, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said violence is now widely taking place in the name of politics.

Sarwar Ali, one of the conveners of Bangladesh Rukhe Darao announced that they would organise a mass rally participated by artists, litterateurs and intellectuals on December 14, on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day. “We will raise demand to ban politics of Jamaat-Shibir, we do not want this ban to be a strategy of election,” he said.

Professor of Economics at Dhaka University, MM Akash was also present at the sit-in, which was observed from 11am to 12pm at the Central Shaheed Minar on the campus.

Before starting the programme, eminent citizens stood in solemn for one minute to mourn the death of Nelson Mandela. l

Ershad will be in polls: Suranjit n Emran Hossain Shaikh Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad remains in electoral system and he will be, Awami League advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta has said.

Through participation in polls, Jatiya Party would help hand over the state power in a democratic way, he added.

The veteran AL leader came up with his speech at a programme in the National Press Club yesterday.

Suranjit said JP’s ministers tendered their resignations to the party chief, but the legal authority was the prime minister to whom the resignations had to be offered.

People are not fool, he said, adding that they understand politicians adopt different strategies for political leverage.

Ershad announced his boycott of the 10th parliamentary elections on Tuesday.

Four JP ministers in the all-party interim government submitted their resignation letters to the party chief

BRTC bus unavailable in hartal: Commuters suffer n Mushfique Wadud The government spends millions on the purchase of buses for Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation but fails to serve commuters in need.

During the opposition-called hartals and blockades recently commuters waited for hours for vehicles, but had barely noticed any BRTC-run buses plying on the city roads to serve them.

While some private buses plied across the city braving the risk of arson attack and vandalism during the last week-long blockade, the BRTC withdrew its vehicles from the city roads.

Some 500 BRTC buses run in the city as normal. The withdrawal of the buses during the opposition’s hartals and blockades adds to transport crisis and also sufferings of the commuters.

The Dhaka Tribune has learnt BRTC does not rein in the operation of its vehicles, rather private operators do that by taking those buses on lease.

They run the BRTC buses according to their own sweet will and business purpose.

Sources said the lessees decide when the buses would ply and when not.

The Dhaka Tribune found since the lessee operator did not want to run the BRTC buses during hartals and blockades, the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation appeared to be helpless to give support to the commuters.

Some private operators take the BRTC buses on lease. They run the vehicles, make profit and give a certain amount of their profit to BRTC officials, said a source.

The transport corporation high-ups and private operators have an alleged

nexus between them who decide whoever to get the lease of BRTC buses.

The lessees do not want the buses ply during hartals and blockades as they won’t be able to profit much during this time, said a BRTC bus driver.

To run a bus they had to spend much on fuel, driver and conductor’s salary, and earnings during this unstable situation fall short and even fail to parallel the expenditure, he added.

The city people said they suffered much during the shutdowns as BRTC buses remained off the road.

“I had to wait for a bus half an hour at Farmgate bus station during the blockades. The crisis of vehicle turns severe at night as private buses do not operate fearing arson attack and vandalism,” said Selim Uddin, a private bank employee.

“I don’t understand why the staterun buses do not run during shutdowns,” he said with a sigh of disappointment.

Nikhil Ranjan Roy, director (Admin and Operation) of BRTC, admitted that they had given contract to run the buses to private operators who are mainly drivers and transport workers of BRTC. “We have entered a contract only for increasing revenues, but this is not actually a lease,” he said.

Asked why they are not running buses during shutdowns and blockades, he said BRTC buses were the main targets of pickets.

“Usually, we run some old buses but dare not operate the expensive ones as they are the main targets of pickets,” said the director.

He, however, claimed that BRTC had a full control over its passenger vehicles. l

who would forward those to the president.

I have asked them to go under a mango tree to eat mango, not under a black berry tree The Jatiya Party chairman has right to go to the president, but under the constitutional provision, he cannot tender the resignations of others, Suranjit said.

“I have asked them to go under a mango tree to eat mango, not under a black berry tree,” said the AL leader.

He explained that under the constitutional provision, no minister could tender their resignations to the president.

Suranjit said the opposition would be held responsible for so many deaths across the country in the name of political movement.

He vowed that the election would be held as per the constitution on January 5 under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. l

Local climate predictions stay uncertain n Climate News Network

Three daughters of war crimes convict Abdul Quader Molla come out of Dhaka Central Jail after meeting him yesterday

RAJIB DHAR

Prediction is very difficult, especially if it is about the future, the great physicist Niels Bohr once observed. Eric Fischer, a climate scientist at ETH-Zurich, has just arrived at much the same conclusion.

Fischer and colleagues reported in Nature Climate Change that their attempts to look at weather patterns even in the near future delivered very large uncertainties. This, they report, is a consequence of something sometimes called the butterfly’s wing effect and sometimes chaos theory.

Meteorologists are fond of saying that the flap of a butterfly’s wing in Brazil could set up a chain of air movements that might end with a tornado in Texas. Even the tiniest change in the initial starting conditions can produce wildly different outcomes later.

Fischer and his fellow researchers simply wanted to solve a puzzle for the farmers, decision-makers and civic authorities who must prepare for floods, heat waves and ice storms in the next decade or two, and who have already been urged to face up to the need to adapt to climate change.

The Zurich team used a climate model to simulate extremes of temperature and precipitation between the periods 2016-2035 and 2041-2060. They matched the model with real, historical data from 1950 to 2005, they assumed that greenhouse gas emissions would be the same in all simulations, and they ran the model 21 times, each time making a tiny random variation in the global atmospheric temperature on the first day: 1 January 1950. l

Quader Molla to decide on mercy petition after seeing verdict copy

Pankaj hopes strong democracy to continue

n Udisa Islam

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran yesterday stressed the need for strengthening the democratic institutions and strong democratic process in Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh were good friends and to contain democracy the two countries were working together, he said at a discussion in the capital.

He said Indians had confidence in the wisdom of the people of Bangladesh. As a good friend and well-wisher of the people of Bangladesh, India hopes Bangladesh’s constitutional and democratic institutions and democratic process would be strengthened.

The discussion titled “Ideological Basis of Indo-Bangla relation and Election 2014” was organised by Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 at Dhanmondi.

The programme marked the 42nd anniversary of India’s recognition of Bangladesh as an independent country.

Death-row convict Abdul Quader Molla has sought a copy of the full verdict of the war crimes trial against him to decide on filing a review petition with the Appellate Division and an appeal for presidential mercy.

Family members who visited Quader Molla at Dhaka Central Jail yesterday said he had expressed his wish to the jail authority.

After the pronouncement of the summary of the verdict on September 17, however, Quader said he would not seek the clemency because it would mean acceptance of the charges

against him.

Five of Quader’s family members – three daughters, a son and a grandson – went to the jail between 9am and 10am yesterday to meet him. At 12:15pm, they got the permission to meet him for half an hour.

“My father wishes to meet with his counsels, especially barrister Abdur Razzak and Tajul Islam, to discuss the next steps,” Quader’s son Hasan Jamil told the Dhaka Tribune after their visit.

“He instructed us to take his dead body – if the government executes the verdict – to his Faridpur village.”

Hasan said his mother had not come as she was ill.

Quader’s daughter Amatullah Pervin, who was present in court on every date of hearing, said: “He is okay now…

We are the children of a man who is awaiting death. We have nothing more to say.”

Hasan said: “We knew the situation would be like this. The government will have no option but to hang him this time…This is a political game, we told you! Pray for us.”

He expressed worries about his father’s physical condition, saying he had earlier got division in jail, “but now he is in a small dark room called the condemn cell.”

On Thursday, the Appellate Divi-

sion released the full verdict in the war crimes case against Quader, Jamaat-e-Islami’s assistant secretary general, saying it sentenced him to death as it thought no other punishment was appropriate for the horrific crimes Quader had committed during the 1971 Liberation War. In the summary of its 790-page verdict, the Supreme Court on September 17 sentenced Quader to death, overruling the International Crimes Tribunal 2 sentence of life imprisonment.

After the full verdict had been released on Thursday, the jail authorities brought the war criminal to Dhaka Central Jail from Kashimpur. l

JP in negotiation with Govt: Howlader Bakar Siddique and n Abu Manik Miazee

Jatiya Party Secretary-General Ruhul Amin Howlader yesterday said the party had been negotiating with the ruling party Awami League on JP’s probability of participating in the upcoming polls.

Earlier the party had announced not to contest in the January 5 general elections under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s interim government.

The negotiation had reached a significant stage and seems heading towards producing some positive outcome, Hawlader told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We are not negotiating with BNP but we with the government. The results

would be disseminated through the media after the negotiation ends,” he said.

Around 7.40pm yesterday JP Chairperson HM Ershad told: “Some of our ministers met with the Prime Minister today and urged her to postpone the election schedule by 10 days to ensure participation of all parties.”

“Without ensuring all parties’ participation, JP will not join the election,” he added while talking to Journalists at his residence in capital’s Baridhara.

Earlier on Wednesday, the JP Chairman directed his party members to resign from the polls-time cabinet and withdraw their nomination papers.

Meanwhile, four of the six ministersGM Quader, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlad-

er, Mujibul Haq Chunnu, and Salma Islam-handed over resignation to Ershad on Thursday.

Yesterday Ershad also said media had exaggerated the news of the suicide threat that he gave on Wednesday.

He said: “Media has exaggerated the issue. They presented my speech of committing suicide in a wrong way before people. I said I would rather die than changing my statement of rejecting the polls. But, media changed it to something else.”

Earlier on Wednesday he said: “I will commit suicide if anyone tries to deceive me.”

“I will never go with you [Awami League]. I carry four loaded guns all the

time, I will commit suicide as soon as they try to provoke me.”

“This is a commitment to my countrymen and I will keep it till my last breath.”

Yesterday Ershad said: “I noticed hundreds of members of the law enforcing agencies deployed outside of my residence on Wednesday evening, immediately after the announcement of boycotting the upcoming polls.

I suspected that they would pick me up and forcefully compel me to change my decision, so I declared that I would commit suicide if anyone tried to force me to change my statement,” he added.

He further said: “The country cannot be run peacefully under the prime minister-ruled government.” l

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Pankaj Saran said they were looking forward to further strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

He said the relation and friendship got stronger footing now and it would continue in future.

Saran thanked Bangladeshi people for their acknowledgements of India’s help in the Liberation War in 1971.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali said: “After the death of Bangabandhu Bangladesh started to walk backward. The villains are trying to do the same now also as it did in 1975.”

He said the Indo-Bangla relation was now the best in 42 years.

Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker said: “It is not possible to forget the help of India in the war time.”

The programme, chaired by Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, was also addressed

by Vice-president of the Forum Professor Muntassir Mamun.

In his speech Muntassir Mamun urged the government to select a specific place to bury the war criminals.

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, December 7, 2013

BCL Chhatra League activist stabbed in Lalmonirhat n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat An activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League was stabbed in Burir Bazar area of Mohendranagar union under Lalmonirhat sadar upazila yesterday.

Identified as Abul Kalam, 25, resident of Burir Bazar village is a BCL activist of Lalmonirhat sadar upazila unit.

Rescued in a critical condition, he was admitted to the Lalmonirhat sadar hospital, and later was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

Some unidentified miscreants allegedly stabbed him over pre-enmity.

They stabbed him mercilessly on the head, hands, legs and back and fled the scene immediately, according to police and the locals.

Abul Kalam is also known for drug peddling in the area and he had been running the syndicate in that area since long, locals alleged.

However, his family members and BCL officials alleged that Kalam was stabbed by opposition BNP men over political feud.

No case or compliant was lodged in this connection until yesterday afternoon, Lalmonirhat sadar thana Officerin-Charge Jamir Uddin said.

Police would take steps if any case was lodged with the police station, he added. l

DU Shamsun Nahar Hall reunion held n Du Correspondent The reunion of Dhaka University Shamsun Nahar Hall was held yesterday amid fanfare and festivity.

Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury attended the function as the chief guest while DU Vice-Chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique spoke as the special guest.

Dr Shirin Sharmin in her speech said: “The women of our country have made great achievements in various sectors, other nations of the world are impressed to see women empowerment in the country.”

She also emphasised on the women’s education and their professional skills so that they could be self-reliant and contribute to their family.

She said Bangladesh could be a model in women empowerment through ensuring equal opportunities of higher education for all.

Professor Arefin urged the students to use their time properly and make themselves worthy as they will lead the nation in future.

The DU VC also said women of our country were prospering in different sectors and trying to engage themselves in different development activities, but a group of people always hatch conspiracy against them.

Presided over by Shamsun Nahar Hall Alumni Association President Rokeyea Sultana Raka, the function was also addressed by hall provost Sajeda Banu. l

Flamingo makes maiden voyage n Tribune Desk

People pour water on a private car after some miscreants set fire to it near the Dhaka Tribune office on Panthapath in the city yesterday evening

Dhaka faces terrible Political leaders, families traffic congestion urged to realise child rights on weekend CHILDREN’S OPINION POLL 2013

n Tribune Report In a recent opinion poll, around 62% of the participating children stated that child rights were overlooked by political aspirants and leaders of the country as children did not vote.

A total of 70% urban and rural children mentioned that their rights, especially of the poor children, were overlooked, according to a press statement of Unicef released yesterday.

More than 90% of the children of Bangladesh are aware of their rights, it said.

The survey revealed that these children feel discriminated in various dimensions including their right to food, education, health, work and freedom of opinion. These discriminations “are generally practised at home by siblings, spouses, and parents,” read the report.

The poll titled “Children’s Opinion Poll 2013: Children’s Views and Expectations from Political Aspirants and Leaders in Bangladesh,” was conducted by Unicef under a joint project with the Ministry of Information with support from Save the Children, ActionAid, Plan International, World

Vision, Child Rights Governance Assembly and the National Children’s Task Force.

“Children constitute 40% of the total population of Bangladesh, but their voices are often never heard or are neglected,” said Unicef Representative Pascal Villeneuve.

“This opinion poll was conducted to bring the voices of children in the forefront and to encourage the inclusion of a ‘Children’s Contract’ or children’s agenda in election manifestos. We believe that the findings of the poll will promote the formulation and implementation of child sensitive policies in Bangladesh,” he said.

Majority of the urban and rural children said they were not getting adequate healthcare services while 84% of the children opined that their families could not afford it.

Children of geographically isolated areas, including tea gardens and hardto-reach areas such as haor, coastal areas and the Chittagong Hill Tracts, also referred to the unavailability and inaccessibility of healthcare facilities.

The political leaders were urged to

play a proactive role to ensure quality education, establish more schools in remote areas, develop school infrastructure, recruit better-qualified teachers, stop corporal punishment.

On corporal punishment, 81% of the children opined that teachers’ accountability must be ensured to stop corporal punishment and 77% of both urban and rural children said enforcement of the law would be useful to stop corporal punishment in schools.

As for ensuring entertainment, 83% mentioned about building playgrounds in communities, 73% stressed the need for cultural organisations in the community, followed by having parks, libraries, and zoos.

A large portion said they felt insecure during hartals as they could not leave their houses while 71% complained that hartals disrupted their schooling.

A total of 333 children, from a sample size of 4,200 (equally divided into urban and rural areas, and boys and girls in seven divisions), completed an online survey which was open for a month. l

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country in next 24 hours till 6pm today.

Night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met office said.

The sun sets in the capital today at 5:11pm and will rise tomorrow at 6:29am.

Country’s highest temperature 31.2 degree Celsius was recorded yesterday at Srimangal and lowest 12.8 degrees at Dinajpur.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

29.4 27.4 28.5 28.3 28.5 28.8 30.7 30.0

19.0 18.1 14.1 15.0 16.8 16.3 16.7 18.7

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:08am 6:28am 11:50am 3:35pm 5:11pm 6:31pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

International standard cruise vessel MV Flamingo with a capacity of carrying 300 tourists made its maiden voyage on the Buriganga River yesterday.

This is the first ever luxurious cruise vessel made in Bangladesh, 110 feet long and 32 feet wide having 21 air conditioned cabins with attached bath, spa and massage parlours, gymnasium, restaurant and conference room.

It is operated by Reggae Entertainment and Tourism Ltd, reports BSS. Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir inaugurated the vessel. President of Tour Operators’ Association of Bangladesh Toufiq Uddin Ahmed was present at the event.

Reggae Entertainment and Tourism Ltd Managing Director AKM Jamal Uddin Jasim and Chief Executive Officer Taslim Amin Shovon also spoke at the onboard inaugural function.

Kabir said more and more investment from the private sector along with the government is needed in tourism sector for flourishing this high economically potential sector.

The BTB chief hoped that this kind of luxurious cruise ship will help attract more foreign tourists in the country.

The Flamingo will be operated on Buriganga for daylong river cruise as well as from Dhaka to Sundarbans for five day tours. l

Dr Niaz Zaman has received this year’s Anannya Literature Award for her contribution in patronising Bangladeshi women in writing in both Bangla and English. She receives the award from author Selina Hossain at Bengal Gallery yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Ashif Islam Shaon The capital faced an unusual congestion on the city roads, a rush of people at bus and launch terminals and the railway stations yesterday.

People who have been stuck at home due to the opposition alliance’s back-toback blockade programme that almost paralysed two weeks’ worth of working days, came out from home yesterday.

Some were trying to catch up on work, while others were trying to leave the city.

At the exit points of the capital, there were huge gatherings of outbound commuters. Shopping malls, doctors’ chambers, banks and other utility services in the capital also faced a barrage of customers.

The 131-hour blockade that started from Saturday ended Thursday evening.

However, there will be no respite for the people as the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance yesterday called another spell of 72-hour blockade from 6am today.

So the city dwellers had only a day to finish their piled up work and to leave or return to the capital.

“We started for Banani from Rampura after jumma prayers and now at 3:50pm we are yet to reach Gulshan,” said Murad Ahmed Arka, a student of Prime Asia University. He and his classmate were on the way to campus to attend an exam which was postponed last week due to the blockade.

A number of bus and CNG-run auto rickshaw drivers said they had to wait at several signals for a long time.

“I feared there might be a lot of traffic this weekend. But I did not expect it to be this bad,” said a private car driver, who had dropped off his employer at Lab Aid near Science Laboratory had been stuck there on his way back home for an hour.

Exams of some schools and colleges and also recruitment exams of banks and other institutions contributed to the congestion.

At the largest bus terminal of the capital Gabtoli, a large crowd was seen in the morning. All of the bus counters

‘Redistribution of only 3% GDP can help eradicate extreme poverty’ n Tribune Report To eliminate the poverty gap which can help extreme poor to cross the threshold of the lower poverty line, would require redistribution of only 3% of our total GDP, Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, economist and former adviser to the caretaker government, said yesterday.

“In 2010, there were 17-18% of people who lived below the extreme poverty line. May be, it would not be possible to eliminate poverty within the next 10 years, but it is possible and feasible to develop the eradication of extreme poverty within the timeframe,” Mahmud said.

Quoting a HIES 2010 household income survey, he said it is achievable.

“It is not a matter of resources, rath-

er a policy and political willingness is needed to achieve it. If we can redistribute only 3% of our GDP for the extreme poor, which is 17-18% of the total population, it is possible to do so today.”

To eradicate poverty within 2022, he stressed on initiating movements, awareness, and pressurising authorities concerned for taking up effective programmes.

He was addressing the launching ceremony of “Manifesto for the Extreme Poor,” a civil society document that demands complete eradication of extreme poverty from Bangladesh by 2022.

The manifesto said: “To eradicate poverty within 2022, it will require lifting up to one million families out of extreme poverty every year from 2016 to 2021.

Addressing the programme, ex-advisor to the caretaker government Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said Bangladesh has chalked a lot of agenda to eradicate poverty, but reality is, it still remains a problem.

Pointing towards political will as another matter of achieving poverty alleviation, he said: “Political will is obviously a matter, but poverty agenda and eradication of extreme poverty within a decade is not an impossible dream and to do this, we have to keep our sense of change, liability, and action alive,” “Bangladesh has taken great strides in development, from microfinance to ORS, from reduction in maternal mortality to improvements in family planning. Now it’s time for Bangladesh to do something extraordinary again. As

a symbolic 50th anniversary gift to our nation, let us eradicate extreme poverty from Bangladesh by 2022,” Head of Advocacy, Economic Empowerment of the Poorest, Shazia Omar said.

The manifesto calls for collective action and a three pronged approach to eradicate extreme poverty by 2022 that includes, design and implementation of a national programme of transformative initiatives to enable the six million families to engage with the market, systematically reform public services and social protection transfers to prioritise the needs of the extreme poor; and promote institutional, policy and behavioural changes needed to address the root causes of extreme poverty. l

were open and there was a pressure of passengers. A number of bus companies introduced extra trips.

“We came to Dhaka to see a doctor for my daughter last Friday but could not go back. A few days back we bought tickets for a late night bus but later decided not to take the risk,” said Shimul Ahmed Kabir from Khulna. He was waiting with his daughter and wife at a bus counter in the morning.

The pressure of passengers was also there at Mohakhali and Syedabad bus stands.

“It seems that Dhaka will be empty from today. All cabin tickets were booked last night and you see, the rush is like the eid vacations,” said Kamal Ahmed Sarwar, a staff of Patuakhali bound vessel Sattar Khan-1 at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal.

Exams of some schools and colleges and also recruitment exams of banks and other institutions contributed to the congestion “Bad days are ahead. They will call hartals and blockades one after another. It is better that I go back home and try to do something,’’ said a day labourer of Lebukhali of Jhalokathi who was preparing his bed on the deck of a launch.

Five labourers of the same area were with him.

Trains at Kamalapur Rail Station also had large crowd yesterday.

The railway authorities have suspended night-time train services on four routes under Lalmonirhat railway division of West Zone for an indefinite period since Thursday night, to avoid sabotage on train in the dark hours since several incidents of sabotage took place.

The suspended routes are Lalmonirhat-Burimari of Lalmonirhat, Lalmonirhat-Santahar of Joypurhat, Lalmonirhat-Parbatipur of Dinajpur and Parbatipur-Santahar. The other train services were running on schedule. l

Youth shot in Mirpur n Kailash Sarkar A youth was shot dead last night near his residence in the capital’s Mirpur area.

Kamruzzaman Sumon, 24, son of Md Abu Tayab, used to run a grocery shop in the locality. He came under attack around 8:30pm near his house on Paridas Road in Mirpur section 10.

Sumon’s uncle Md Jahangir said a group of unidentified armed criminals fired several rounds of bullets leaving Sumon severely wounded. They left the scene before locals came to the spot.

Sumon was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead around 9pm.

DMCH sources said Sumon sustained bullet wounds on the chest and other parts of his body.

Salauddin Khan, OC of Mirpur police station, said police forces hed been sent to investigate the incident.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Paturia-Daulatdia ferry service graft costs Tk5.4cr a year Employees of the BIWTC in collusion with transport workers swindled the money, showing big-size buses as small buses

n Tribune Report The government has suffered a loss of revenue amounting to Tk5.4 crore due to graft in ferry services through Paturia-Daulatdia Ferry Ghat in fiscal 2005-06.

According to official sources, officials and employees of the Bangladesh Inland Water and Transport Corporation in collusion with transport workers swindled the money, showing bigsize buses as small buses.

The BIWTC in 2003 fixed fare for a big-size bus Tk1,155 and for a small bus Tk905 in ferrying the river and later in 2006 it was raised to Tk 1200 for bigsize buses and Tk 950 for small-size ones, said the sources.

The Works Audit Directorate of the Comptroller and Auditor General Office

conducted an audit at the BIWTC head office in the capital in 2007 and found that a section of BIWTC officials caused a loss of Tk5.4 crore in fiscal 2005-06 in ferrying off-size buses (big buses) as small buses at Paturia-Daulatdia Ferry Ghat in a planned way, reports UNB. On April 5, 2011, the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts took into account the graft allegation at its 63rdmeeting held and asked the authorities concerned to take steps to realise the money from those involved in collecting the fare at the ferry ghat and the bus owners within next 60 days.

It also suggested that the BIWTC should file cases against bus owners as per the Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 if they refuse to pay the dodged fare and take departmental action against the BIWTC officials responsi-

ble for the venue loss and inform the standing committee about its progress through CGA office within next 30 days.

Although nearly three years have elapsed after the parliamentary standing committee meeting, the BIWTC has not been able to take any move to realise the money and did not take any departmental action against the BIWTC officials involved in the corruption.

BIWTC chief audit officer M Abul Kalam Azad said the Works Audit Directorate during its audit examined the sold tickets of buses mentioned in the register book of the ferry ghat. “Many normal buses pass the river through the ferry every day. So, the audit objection mentioning all buses as off-size ones is not correct,” he claimed.

About the progress in realising

5

Saturday, December 7, 2013

dodged fare, Azad said the BIWTC sent notices to the bus owners on a number of occasions and they replied that they would not pay any money in this regard.

The BIWTC General Manager said most of the BIWTC officials who were on duty at the ferry ghat during the period have already gone on retirement or died, so departmental action could not be taken against them.

“According our legal advisers, there’s no scope of filing case against the bus owners as per the Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913 in realising the dodged bus fare as a long time has already elapsed since the incident,” he said.

About the graft allegation, BIWTC Chairman Mojibar Rahman said he would take stern action against those involved in corruption. l

One doctor for 19,000 people in Barisal n Anisur Rahman Swapan, Barisal An acute scarcity of doctors have left the public health service in shambles in the Barisal division.

It has been learnt that out of 1283, 624 posts of doctors in the 95 public hospitals and clinics across the division have been lying vacant for long.

According to estimation, one physician has to serve about 19,000 people on average in the division having a population of more than 125 crore.

Sources at the Barisal divisional health directorate office said in the six districts and 42 upazilas, about 48 percent of the posts for doctors were vacant till filing of this report.

They said 156 out of 454 posts in Barisal, 155 out of 236 posts in Patuakhali, 140 out of 198 posts in Bhola, 98 out of 157 posts in Pirojpur, 33 out of 136 posts in Barguna, 42 out of 102 posts in Jhalakathi were vacant.

The rural poor are falling the worst victims of the present sitation as they do not have the ability to afford health services from the private sector.

One killed over land dispute in Pabna n Tribune Desk A man was killed and 10 other people were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over land at Kenai Madhyapara in Faridpur upazila yesterday morning.

The deceased was identified as Jakirul Islam Jaku, 35, son of Sohrab Pramanik of the village.

Locals and police said there had been a longstanding rivalry between Jakirul Islam and Ramjan of the village over a piece of land, reports UNB. As a sequel to the enmity, the duo and their supporters attacked each other with lethal weapons at about 9.00am, leaving Jakirul dead on the spot and 10 others injured.

On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The injured were admitted to upazila health complex.

Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy. Additional police have been deployed in the area to avoid further trouble. l

Chattra Maitri celebrates 33rd founding anniversary n DU Correspondent

A procession is brought out in Narayanganj town yesterday, demanding arrest and punishment of the killers of Twoki

Pests play havoc with mustard, maize seedlings in Sirajganj n Tribune Desk Mustard and maize seedlings on vast tracts of land in different areas of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj have been badly affected by pest attack during the early cultivation period.

Two pests locally known as ‘Katui’ and ‘Lituria’ are causing extensive damage to the young plants of mustard and maize.

Growers cannot control the menace even after spraying pesticides on the fields of the cereal crops.

They alleged that despite being informed, the local office of the Department of Agriculture Extension was not taking any effective steps to prevent the pest attack either by giving them technological support or providing necessary advice, reports UNB. The situation comes as a great concern for those involved in vegetable trade as well alongside the growers in the district.

Due to shortage of doctors at the upazila level health centers, patients are opting for district or divisional level hospitals, said Anowar Zahid, district coordinator of Health Rights Movement.

He alleged that a large number of doctors at the upazila level do not stay there after afternoon and on weekends.

Almost all the ambulances of government hospitals have been out of order for long now, said Dr Habibur Rahman, president of District Health Right Movement.

The division has one medical college hospital and 41 upazila health complexes, according to Dr Md Shamsul Huq, divisional health director.

Besides, 70 sub-health centers and 267 union health and family planning centers providing minimal medical services to people, are also running with inadequate number of health workers and nurses, alleged the locals.

Dr Md Shamsul Huq hoped that posting of the newly-passed BCS doctors would mitigate the crisis. l

Sources at the DAE office in Sirajganj said maize and mustard were cultivated on about 14,000 hectares of land in Tarash upazila this season.

But, ‘Katui’ and ‘Lituria’ insects are destroying roots of the young plants of maize and mustard, leading to their death. The worst affected fields are in Makarshon, Dighi Saguna, Dobila, Ghargram, Kundael, Kohita, Kamarsion and Magura Binod areas.

Farmers in those areas said they sprayed pesticides on the pest infested vegetables on many acres of land.

But insect attack goes on unabated forcing a number of farmers to think about re-cultivating winter vegetables in their fields.

Asked about the measures to check the pest attack, Tarash upazila agriculture officer Mizanur Rahman said the ‘Katui’ and ‘Lituria’ infested vegetable fields could be safe only if the plants could survive after three weeks of the attack. l

FOCUS BAGNLA

Implementation of DOTS method a big challenge for Bangladesh n Tribune Report The problems healthcare providers face while implementing the DOTS method in tuberculosis control are the major factor in the increase in multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Bangladesh, experts told a roundtable in the city yesterday.

Even though Bangladesh has achieved much success in controlling tuberculosis through following the method called Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course, (DOTS), there are still some obstacles that contribute to increase in patients suffering from multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, says a press release.

The National Tuberculosis Control Programme under the Health Directorate, Daily Sangbad and Brac have jointly organised the programme at Brac centre.

Khandakar Muniruzzan, acting editor of daily Sangbad, gave the welcome speech at the event.

With Dr Khandaker M Shefaetullah, director-general of Directorate General of Health Services under the Health and Family Welfare ministry in the chair, the programme was presided over by M Akramul Islam, associate director of BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population Programme.

“We need to follow three things now to take ahead the tuberculosis control activities.” said Dr Akramul Islam, associate director of BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population Programme.

They pointed out that the problems which healthcare providers face in treating TB patients, include inability of patients for different reasons to continue the 6-month course, lack of necessary treatment equipment, ma-

terials and quality medicines, absence of a specialised hospital, difficulty in diagnosing child TB patients and lack of strong public-private partnership for tuberculosis management.

Khandakar Muniruzzaman, acting editor of Daily Sangbad, Dr Qazi Al Mamun Siddiqui, senior sector specialist, BRAC HNPP, Dr Md Ashaque Husain, line director, National TB Control Programme, Dr Rashidi Mahbub, chairman of Shasthya Odhikar Andalon, and also former vice-chancellor of Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Pijush Bandapadhaya, theatre personality, Farida Akhter, women rights movement leader, MA Muhit, Mount Everest climber, among others, spoke at the programme.

Kashem Humayun, managing editor, Daily Sangbad, moderated the programme. l

Smuggled camels held on Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

Members of Border Guards Bangladesh rescued the camels while those were being smuggled into the country from India on Thursday night DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least 12 camels smuggled into Bangladesh from India were held by the Border Guard Bangladesh members on the Mogholhat border in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila Thursday night.

The BGB men seized the camels and later brought them to the local BGB camp.

Commander Nayek Subedar Abdul Hamid of Mogholhat BGB camp said the camels were held on the border while they were being brought from India without any corridor paper.

Anyone could import camel from the neighbouring country paying revenues of Tk6,000 to the customs, excise and vat office against each camel, he said.

The Border Guard Bangladesh authorities released the camel afterwards as the owner of the camels paid revenues to the government, he added.

Trader Kashem Ali said he failed to collect necessary papers from the customs office as its official wasn’t available right that time.

“I paid the government Tk72,000 as revenues and took back the camels yesterday noon,” he said.

Kashem said he bought each of 12 camels for Tk80,000 from the Indian trader Thursday morning. These would be sent to the capital. The trader added that one of the camels would be sold between Tk1,30,000 to Tk1,50,000.

People living close to the border alleged that Mogholhat border was safe corridor for camel smuggling. l

Bangladesh Chattra Maitri yesterday marked its 33rd founding anniversary at Teachers and Students Centre of Dhaka University.

The founder president of the organisation and also Member of Parliament Fazle Hossain Badsha inaugurated the programme as the chief guest while President of Bangladesh Chattra League HM Bodiuzzaman Sohag was present as special guest.

Fazle Hossain Badsha in his speech said: “Jammat-e-Islam and its students wing Islami Chattra Shibir have created panic among country’s people and damaged their properties.

Bodiuzzaman Sohag said: “The opposition party is destroying the country in the name of movement and it is a conspiracy to transform Bangladesh into Afghanistan.”

General Secretary of Bangladesh Jubo Maitri Sabbah Ali Khan Kolince, Vice-President of Bangladesh Chattra Maitri Sharmen Sultana Shawn, former general secretary of Bangladesh Chattra Maitri Abdur Rahat Minar and member of Workers Party Dipankar Shaha Dipu spoke at the event.

The president of Bangladesh Chattra Maitri Bappa Ditya Basu presided over the programme while Genaral Secretary Tanvir Rusmat conducted it. l

Four with an army man killed in road accidents n Tribune Report Four people, including an army man, were killed in separate road accidents that took place in Chittagong and Jessore.

Police said a motorbike carrying Mohammed Absar, 50, a member of Bangladesh Army was rammed by a speedy truck in Baizid area around 9am, leaving him critically injured, said Naba Gopal, sub-inspector of Baizid police station.

He was taken to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead, the SI added.

Jahirul Islam, sub-inspector of CMCH police outpost, said a truck hit Kashem 50, son of late Kader Haoladar, hailing from Lalmohan in Bhola, in front of Amin Market in Khatunganj area under Kotwali police station, leaving him critically injured. Later, he died at the CMCH. Meanwhile, a woman and a minor boy were killed and two others injured in separate road accidents in Jessore on Thursday night.

Police said a motorcycle had collided head-on with a Jhikargacha-bound truck in Shorab area on Monirampur-Jhikargacha road, killing one of its rider on the spot.

The dead was identified as Laily Khatun, 24, wife of Aktaruzzaman of Subolkhathi village of Monirampur upazila.

Meanwhile, a minor boy Tahshin Hossain, 5, son of Moniruzzaman of Zamdia village under Bagherpara upazila of the district, was killed as a Nasiman (human hauler) hit him when he was crossing the road.

Critically injured Tahsin was taken to Bagerpara upazila health complex where he died. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Feature

Saturday, December 7, 2013

An Oscar winner of our own

The Dhaka Tribune caught an exclusive interview with Nafees Bin Zafar, the first Bangladeshi to win an Oscar. And if he can help it, he won’t be the last

I

n By Rumana Habib

f you want to see enthralled film buffs and tech geeks, put them in a room with Nafees Bin Zafar.

The first thing anyone will tell you about Nafees is that he’s an incredibly humble and generoushearted guy.

And then they’ll mention his Academy Award.

‘Technology is the great equaliser,’ he said, sparking starry-eyed Hollywood ambition in computer science students. ‘You have access in Bangladesh to the exact same computers we use in LA’ The computer animation wizard won an Oscar in 2008 for co-developing digital fluid effects software, used in movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” Nafees took his parents to the ceremony, and joked that the best part was watching presenter Jessica Alba applaud for him.

Now 36-years-old, a principal engineer at Dreamworks Studios with two US registered patents and a dozen feature film credits under his belt, Nafees

is committed to sharing the secrets of his success.

“Technology is the great equaliser,” he said, sparking starry-eyed Hollywood ambition in computer science students. “You have access in Bangladesh to the exact same computers we use in Los Angeles.”

The real key, he said, is an inquiring mind and hard work.

Like a true geek, he is an information sponge. When we met at North End for our interview, he spoke expertly about the type of bike we passed in the stairwell (he rides) and the brand of coffee press used by the café (he knows the family who makes it). About everything he sees, he is full of – “what’s the Bangla word for curiosity?” he asked, frustrated not to remember it (koutuhol).

During his short visit to Dhaka, he carved out time to give quite a few talks. He feels a real spiritual affinity

with students. “There’s a curiosity exchange there that I find comforting.”

Last Friday he spoke at the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, hosted by North South University.

And the previous Friday, his presentation on “Visual FX for animation and film” was one of Independent University Bangladesh’s most well-attended guest lectures.

The Weekend Tribune covered this talk extensively in yesterday’s article “A virtual world of his own.”

Using film clips, he showed students some exciting Hollywood applications – such as virtual pyrotechnics and digital mayhem – of mathematical formulas they learn in their classes.

“It’s all computational fluid dynamics,” he said.

An advocate for minorities in his field, he praised first-year CSE student Arpana Shanta for being the only

Q&A WITH NAFEES BIN ZAFAR Your filmography includes: Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Flags of Our Fathers, 2012, Shrek Forever After and Kung Fu Panda 2. What are you working on now?

How to Train Your Dragon 2, Mr Peabody and Sherman, Kung Fu Panda 3.

Was Dreamworks the dream job?

Any job in this industry for me is the dream job!

You’re very grounded. How do you maintain that in glitzy LA? I think LA gets a bad rap. Everyone is very serious and focused. People come from all over the world to work in the film industry. It’s a lifelong passion for most of us. That said … I never give up an opportunity to wear my tux.

Who was your favorite director to work with?

Definitely Clint Eastwood. He knows exactly what he wants. He’s also probably my favorite living director. He tells amazing stories like no one else.

“Flags of Our Fathers” was one of the best movies of the last ten years, and definitely the best movie I’ve ever worked on. It was like a textbook on how to make visual effects films: well-organised and all planned out.

Did you get to hang out with Clint?

(Laughs) He was there while we were working, but no we didn’t “hang out.”

I’d probably go all fanboy on him.

Do you watch Bangla or Hindi films?

Not the current ones, but whenever

I get a chance I’ll watch old Uttam Kumar movies. That era of Bangali film is just stunning. The storytelling is great, the cinematography, the sets, the whole bit. That’s what movies are about. I would love to see that culture revitalised.

And I will honestly say Satyajit Ray is one of my favourite, favourite directors. I grew up watching those movies in Bangladesh and rewatching the tapes my parents brought with them to the US, some of which I didn’t understand until I was older.

Satyajit Ray – that’s interesting, because he used a lot of great visual effects. Have you seen his children’s films?

I’ve seen all his films! I recently rewatched “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne.”

It’s really fun and clever. The film is in black and white, but at the end of the movie – when poor Goopy and Bagha have finally made it, and they’re about to marry the princesses, they do a clap and say: “Dress us like princes” – and then the movie turns to colour. I thought that was a super clever use of effects to tell a story.

He’s a fellow Bangali Academy Award winner.

Actually, the Academy recently restored 19 of his films. When they gave him his Oscar [in 1992 for lifetime achievement], they realised they didn’t have enough footage for a 30 second montage at the Oscars.

There’s a degradation problem with old film called acetate stress.

Let’s close our interview Hollywoodstyle, with a version of the famous Proustian questions James Lipton asks on his show “Inside the Actor’s Studio.”

What is your favorite Bangla word?

Kelenkari. I use it mostly for comedic effect.

What is your least favorite Bangla word?

I’m sure I represent many Bangalis when I say: hartal.

woman to raise her hand at the Q&A at his IUB talk – prompting high-fives and “You’re a superstar,” from her male classmates after the session.

Nafees, though grateful for his advantages – which include an American education, a family of illustrious artists, and supportive parents – strongly believes that anyone, anywhere, can achieve his kind of success.

Family matters

His parents now live in Long Island, New York, where his father is an accountant with a private consulting firm.

His father Zafar Bin Basher was a lieutenant colonel in the Bangladesh army. The family moved to the US after he retired, when Nafees, an only child, was 11-years-old. His father completed his MBA at Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nafees considers his mother, Nafeesa Zafar, an important artistic influence. She herself comes from a long line of artists, two of whom have received Ekushey Padak awards for their contributions to Bangladesh: his great-grandfather Kobi Golam Mostafa, famed poet of the still-in-print classic tome BishshoNobi; and his uncle Syed Mainul Hossain, architect of the national monument SritiShoudho.

His uncle Mustafa Monowar is a wellknown puppeteer and TV personality.

On the move

As an army kid, the family moved often. Still, Nafees has very fond memories of growing up in Bangladesh, particularly of his father’s posting in Khagrachari, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. He had exotic pets, including a monkey, deer, ducks, and moina birds. There was also a “snake moat” dug out around the house that had to be emptied every morning, inspiring a deep-seated, lifelong fear of the slithering creatures.

I asked Nafees if he would be able to animate snakes for work. “I would definitely punt that assignment to someone else!”

He attended Comilla Ispahani School, Shahid Anwar in Dhaka Cantonment, and Manarat International

Over the last 20 years, they had to cut together bits and pieces gathered literally from all over the world.

Watch this and tell me what you think of it.

[I showed him a video of “What is Love,” from Ananta Jalil’s recent Dhallywood hit “Nishartho Bhalobasha,” which features some rudimentary visual effects.]

“I think it’s great! Because they’re trying out lots of neat visuals, like that sand tornado in the back. They didn’t have to do that.

It’s really not a matter of special technique or artistic know-how. It’s about putting in the time, and time

What turns you on?

Intelligence. Speaking to my baser nature: short, dark hair.

What turns you off ?

Uncleanliness.

What sound or noise do you love?

Running water (like in nature, not in the shower).

means money. When these kinds of things generate enough revenue, they’ll be able to invest that back in and make the films look better.

Once you get into that cycle, you get improvement.

You’ve got to start with someone saying: “I’m gonna be walking in the Sahara, and I’m gonna kick a tire and the tire is gonna spin.” That’s exactly what you need.

The worst is when a director says: “I don’t really have any ideas, just put in whatever.” Then you want to say: “Why are we wasting our time? You don’t care what this thing looks one bit! Why are you in movies?” l

What sound or noise do you hate?

Noisy motorcycles, like Harley Davidsons.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Astronaut.

What profession would you not like?

You already know this one. Snake charmer!

School in Dhaka, until grade 6.

After moving to the US, he got to skip one year ahead, which was followed by a double promotion later on.

He was obviously a bright student, but he shuddered when I called him a “prodigy,” and refused to admit to being anything but “maybe above the average.”

What should I do with my life?

Nafees graduated from the College of Charleston at 19, three years earlier than most, but still felt lost about what to do with his life.

His parents had, in classical South Asian form, wanted him to be a doctor.

With that and inspiration from a charismatic high school chemistry teacher, he had been majoring in biochemistry.

But he began bunking classes and writing computer programmes for fun.

Then, at the last minute, he switched his major to computer science.

“My parents were worried that I was wandering. And so was I, frankly,” he said. “But I figured, at least I would be employable.”

He tried different industries, working for a few years as a programmer for a defence contractor, then a medical university.

Then something finally clicked.

Finding his calling

Purely out of interest, Nafees attended a SIGGRAPH conference (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques). And in computer animation, that “marriage of physics and art,” Nafees found his calling.

These days, when speaking to deshi parents, Nafees encourages them to let their children explore jobs beyond the usual doctor-engineer route. “One of the great stories to be told is the story of the Bangali diaspora in the US, which can only be told by storytellers: journalists and writers and artists and painters. Because our community has a really great tale to tell. There’s a lot of success, and a lot of – to use an overused phrase – overcoming adversity.”

For a man who makes his living setting things on fire and blowing up buildings for Hollywood, Nafees is remarkably down to earth. l

Nafees encourages deshi parents to let their children explore jobs beyond the usual doctor-engineer route. ‘One of the great stories to be told is the story of the Bangali diaspora in the US, which can only be told by storytellers: journalists and writers and artists and painters’

If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

“Look after these baby pandas.”

Ha! Did you get to hang out with any while working on Kung Fu Panda?

I didn’t unfortunately. But one day I’m going to go the Wolong Giant Panda Research Station in China, and hug some pandas!

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

7

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Immediate newborn care Congratulations! The moment you have been anticipating, and planning for, is here! You’ve finally met the QUICK TIPS little baby that had been kicking and squirming inside of your body, and is now out in the world. Here are some guidelines on taking care of this little guest for the first week Smelly feet Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given at n Dr Sajol Ashfaq birth or immediately after birth. A second dose may be given after one month with other vaccines like DPT according to the immunisation schedule.

After birth, there is a lot to do for the newborn baby. Those who are first-time moms are a little puzzled to maintain the baby’s BABY CARE care. Even though, the event is pleasant for the mother, due to sickness it is a little bit painful to take care of the newborn baby. Bringing your new baby home in the cold winter months can seem a little daunting – after all, your baby can’t tell you whether he or she feels too hot or too cold. Special care needs to be taken to ensure that your baby is healthy and comfortable during the winter months.

Newborns are not able to regulate their own body temperature as effectively as older children. The optimum temperature for the nursery is between 16-20 degrees Celsius. The general rule of thumb about dressing newborns is that they need one layer more than you are wearing yourself. If you are swaddling your baby, count the swaddle or wrap as one layer of clothing. It is best to choose natural fibers such as cotton and merino for baby’s clothing and bedding. These fibers allow your baby’s skin to breathe.

Topping and tailing first

The umbilical cord doesn’t contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers, so your baby won’t feel any discomfort during this rite of passage. The baby’s umbilical cord stump will change from yellowish green to brown to black as it dries out and eventually falls off within two weeks. You don’t need to disinfect

your baby’s stump. Antiseptics can mean the stump takes longer to fall off.

So just keep the stump as clean and dry as you can. Researchers now say the stump might heal faster if left alone.

Breast milk is the only food

Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients for your baby and boosts your baby’s immune system. Colostrum, the

Raw nuts

Nuts such as almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts are rich in the amino acids Larginine, which boosts the production of nitric acid in the body. This will increase the production of sex hormones, and promote a firmer and better sexual performance. Nuts are also an excellent source of omega-3 fats, which are essential for the production of testosterone. Add some mixed crushed nuts to muesli or salads, or add to smoothies.

Vaccination after birth

The first dose of BCG, Oral polio and

Your baby may urinate as often as every one to three hours or as infrequently as four to six times a day. In a healthy child, urine is light to dark yellow in color.

Scalp care

Shaving hair after few days of birth has one major advantage – it keeps the scalp clean. However shaving does not promote fast or healthy growth of hair.

Infants have very delicate hair and soft scalp. Hence there is no need to shampoo or wash every single day. You can wash twice a week. After drying the hair use a baby comb which has soft bristles. l

Bad breath

n Dr Moshiur Rahman

Bananas

After 40, men and women may need extra fuel in the bedroom. It is always better to make the fuel from natural sources.

PILLOW Eat a diet rich in zinc, B TALK vitamins and essential fatty acids, the nutrients required for sex hormone production and reproductive function. Having a healthy sex life plays an important part of our wellbeing. Try any one of these five foods to fire up the libido.

the baby doesn’t need to take any other foods, not even water. Most newborns need eight to 12 feedings a day. Frequent feedings will also help you establish your milk supply. Commercial infant formulas don’t contain the immunityboosting elements of breast milk.

Urination

Smelly feet are a nuisance in winter. Soak feet in strong tea for 15 minutes every day. Boil six tea bags in 250ml water, and then pour the tea into a shallow tray containing two liters of cold water. But it seems costly to most people. You can try a much simpler way. Smelly feet must be bathed and washed – not just letting the shower water run over them. Socks should be changed daily. Foot powders and antiperspirants can be used on feet as well. At bedtime, apply perfume-free antiperspirants to palms or soles of the feet. Shoes won’t completely dry overnight, so try not to wear the same pair two days in a row if you have trouble with sweaty smelly feet. l

Ways to ease back pain

Five foods to fire up after forties n Dr Mohammad Sayem

yellow milk secreted in the first three days of birth, acts as a “first vaccination” to the newborn. So breast milk should be the baby’s first food. In our country newborn babies are first entertained by honey or sweet water, but it is scientifically proven that all are harmful for the newborn baby. Exclusive breast-feeding is typically recommended for the first six months after birth. In that period

Nappies are the big issues for newborns. Nappies can cause nappy rash, which can usually be avoided with frequent nappy changes. You can protect your baby’s skin from nappy rash by using a barrier cream such as zinc and castor.

These fruits are high in B vitamins and potassium, which are needed for the production of sex hormones necessary for a healthy libido in men and women.

Bananas also contain tryptophan, an amino acid needed for serotonin production, our “feel good” hormones. Bananas are also packed with potassium, used to produce sex hormones, and improve heart health and sex drive. They also contain an enzyme called bromelain, which helps improve blood flow and increase libido.

Meat

Beef contains high levels of L-carnitine, an amino acid that can help boost libido, sexual function and testosterone levels in older men. L-carnitine also helps improve energy levels by increasing the burning of triglycerides as fuel in the body.

Cacao

Everyone is affected by back pain for a while in their life. Approximately 80% of the world’s population develop back pain. About SELF CARE 80% of the back pain is relieved by medication, exercise and lifestyle changes. Only a few percentages have to go for surgery. The good news about bad backs is that many problems are the result of habits that you can do something about. Here’s how to find relief.

BIGSTOCK

Trim your tummy

Being overweight, especially around the middle, stresses your back muscles, causing pain and possible misalignment. Strengthening your stomach muscles with a roller or by performing stomach crunches will also protect your spine.

Practice perfect postures and reduce few risks

Avoid high heels and heavy shoulder bags, which throw the spine out of alignment. When lifting, never bend from the waist. Instead, squat beside the object, and then use your thigh muscles to do the lifting, keeping your stomach muscles tight and your back straight. At work, choose a chair with good back support. Keep your feet flat

BIGSTOCK

Care of umbilical stump

Nappies

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Topping means washing your baby’s face, neck and hands. Start by wiping each of your baby’s eyes. Dip a clean piece of cotton wool in warm water and squeeze it out. Tailing means thoroughly cleaning your baby’s genitals and bottom as part of his wash and after each nappy change. For topping and tailing, a bowl of warm water in a warm room with a clean nappy and clothes, is needed.

A baby bath doesn’t necessarily need to be done in a tub of water. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off — which might take up to three weeks. There’s no need to give your newborn a bath every day.

BIGSTOCK

Body temperature and clothes

on the floor and your legs uncrossed. If sitting all day, get up every 20 minutes or so to stretch.

At all times, avoid rounding your back and slumping. Imagine that you are being lifted up by the top of your head when standing or walking.

Get relaxed, sleep easy

A firm supportive mattress is vital.

Avoid too many pillows and lying on your stomach, as both cause neck pain.

Lie on your side with your knees bent and a small pillow between them, or,

Approximately 80% of the world’s population develop back pain. About 80% of the back pain is relieved by medication, exercise and lifestyle changes lie on your back with a large pillow under your knees.

Take a warm bath. Practice easy exercises recommended by your doctor. l Dr Moshiur Rahman is Consultant Neuro Surgeon at Comfort Nursing Home, Dhaka.

Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath and refers to unpleasant odours emanating from the mouth and sometimes even the nasal passages. There is a lot of embarrassment attached to halitosis or bad breath and though it is not a serious medical condition, it can lead to problems in interacting with others.

Try using a tongue cleaner, especially at the back of your tongue, gargling with a mouthwash before sleeping, and chewing on sugar-free gum. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and dry mouth, and avoid caffeinated drinks and try to quit smoking. If the cause of your bad breath is gum disease it may be a good idea to include guava in your diet. Fenugreek (Methi) should be consumed in the form of a tea made with one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in one liter of water. Try and include fresh vegetables, fruits and grains into your daily diet. Problems such as constipation can be dealt with by increasing the intake of fiber through whole grains, breads, nuts and seeds. A visit to the dentist should be your top priority if you do suffer from halitosis. Thereafter you may need to consult with a gastroenterologist and ENT specialist. l

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

Good news about eggs

BIGSTOCK

BIGSTOCK

Snacking on these nutritious seeds will help boost your zinc levels. Zinc is one of the most important minerals needed to improve sperm health and quantity and boost testosterone levels. Seeds also contain healthy fats that are vital for sexual health. Add a handful to breakfast cereals, salads, or to a trail mix.

Cacao, or raw chocolate, is also a wellknown aphrodisiac that is rich in potent antioxidants called phenols, which are good for your heart. Of course, a healthy heart means a healthy sex drive. Cacao can lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. When you eat chocolate you actually get an increase in endorphins, the same chemicals you release when you are in love. Cacao also contains phenylethylamine, a chemical that boosts dopamine levels, which increases your feelings of desire.

Add a spoonful of cacao to smoothies, or enjoy some good quality dark chocolate. l

Eggs have been criticised as causing a rise in cholesterol levels for years. Consuming eggs are a restriction for older people. Recently the bad reputation of eggs was mostly wiped out. Researchers now say HEALTH that eggs are not that bad for the NEWS elderly. They also say, foods containing saturated fats and trans fats have more influence on blood levels of cholesterol.

A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found no relationship between moderate egg consumption (up to one a day) and cardiovascular diseases in healthy people.

Another egg-friendly study published in the journal Food Chemistry has found that egg yolks actually contain twice as many heart-healthy antioxidant properties as an apple does. The study also

BIGSTOCK

n Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar

Pumpkin and sunflower seeds

showed that the yolks were packed with two amino acids, tryptophan and tyrosine, that ward off both cancer and heart disease. Try to buy organic eggs

whenever possible, as they tend to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D than conventionally farmed eggs. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Saturday, December 7, 2013

UN calls for urgent probe following Rohingya report n Reuters The United Nations called on Friday for an urgent investigation into allegations in a Reuters report that Thai immigration officials moved Myanmar refugees into human trafficking rings.

The report, published on Thursday and based on a two-month investigation in three countries, revealed a clandestine policy to remove Rohingya refugees from Thailand’s immigration detention centers and deliver them to human traffickers waiting at sea.

The Rohingya, stateless Muslims from Myanmar, are then transported across southern Thailand and held hostage in camps hidden near the border with Malaysia until relatives pay ransoms to release them, according to the Reuters report. Some are beaten and some are killed.

“These allegations need to be investigated urgently,” UN refugee agency spokeswoman Vivian Tan said in a statement. “We have consistently asked countries in the region to provide temporary protection, including protection against abuse and exploitation.”

Major General Chatchawal of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok said in the report there was an unofficial policy to deport the Rohingya to Myanmar.

He called this “a natural way or option two.” But he said the Rohingya signed statements in which they agree they want to return to Myanmar.

These statements, however, were at times produced in the absence of a Rohingya language translator.

“The detainees also need to be informed about their options in a language they understand. Any decision to leave must be voluntary, and those

who choose to leave must be protected against abuse and exploitation by smugglers,” said Tan. A senior official at New York-based Human Rights Watch criticised Thailand for moving detainees into established smuggling and trafficking rings and warned Thailand could face a possible downgrade in a US list of the world’s worst offenders in fighting human trafficking.

Such a downgrade would place Thailand, a close US ally and Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy, on par with North Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia among the worst offenders in fighting human trafficking, which could lead to US sanctions.

“The Thai government has some serious explaining to do before the international community,” said Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. l

File photo: Rohingya Muslim illegal immigrants look out from the Immigration Detention Centre

Indian minister under fire over remark on women

Qaeda says deadly Yemen attack targeted US drone war

n AFP, New Delhi

n AFP, Sanaa

An Indian minister apologised Friday for causing offence after remarking that men were now “scared to talk to women” amid an ongoing public debate about sexual harassment following several high-profile cases.

“I’m scared to talk to a woman these days. I don’t even want to keep a female secretary. Who knows, I might end up in jail because of a complaint,” New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah told reporters.

Speaking outside parliament, he added that he wasn’t “blaming the girls. I’m blaming society itself.”

After condemnation from women’s rights activists who accused him of

trivialising a serious issue, he issued a partial apology for “hurting sentiments” but said he had been misconstrued.

“They (my comments) have been completely misunderstood,” said Abdullah, who is from the Muslim-majority Kashmir region.

Abdullah’s son Omar, who is chief minister of restive Jammu and Kashmir state which borders Pakistan, joined calls for his father to apologise.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “I’m sure the attempt wasn’t to trivialise important issue of women’s security so I hope dad apologises for the misplaced attempt at humour.”

Widespread media attention on sexual harassment is part of changes

brought about by the fatal gangrape of a student on a New Delhi bus last December which led to profound introspection about gender inequality in India.

The editor of India’s leading investigative magazine, Tehelka, is in police custody and faces a possible rape charge that could see him jailed for 10 years after a complaint from a junior colleague.

A Supreme Court judge is also being investigated for allegedly harassing an intern.

A new law passed in the wake of the Delhi gangrape toughened sentences for rape and also contained new penalties for acts such as voyeurism, stalking and groping. l

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility Friday for a brazen attack on a Yemeni defence complex that killed 52 people, saying it targeted the site as it hosted US personnel behind drone strikes against its militants.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), regarded by Washington as the jihadist network’s most dangerous affiliate, has been hit by intensified US drone strikes targeting its militants in Yemen this year.

But there was no immediate evidence to support its allegation that the Sanaa complex attacked on Thursday played any role in the drone war or housed any US personnel.

All of the dead came in a hospital inside the sprawling facility which bore the brunt of the armed assault that came after a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the main gate.

The complex in central Sanaa was “stormed... after the mujahedeen (holy warriors) proved that it accommodates drone control rooms and American experts,” AQAP said in a statement published by its media arm on Twitter.

“As part of a policy to target drone control rooms, the mujahedeen have dealt a heavy blow to one,” it said.

“Such security headquarters in partnership with the Americans in their war on these Muslim people are a justified target wherever they may be.” l

REUTERS

Gunmen kill Sunni Muslim leader in Pakistan

n AFP, Lahore

Gunmen shot dead a Sunni Muslim leader on Friday in the latest sectarian attack to hit Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore.

The drive-by shooting took place as Shamsur Rehman Muawiya, chief of the Sunni extremist organisation Ahl-eSunnat Wal Jammat (ASWJ) for Punjab province, travelled by car to the northern Harbans Pura neighbourhood.

The shooting comes just three days after gunmen shot dead a senior Shiite Muslim leader, Deedar Ali Jalbani, in the port city of Karachi.

“Two gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire on Muawiya’s vehicle, wounding him and his driver critically,” senior local police official, Rana Abdul Jabbar, told AFP. l

Biden says US ‘pivot’ to Egypt police disperse Islamist protests n Asia is here to stay

French army launches C. Africa operation as massacre fears loom

n AFP, Seoul

French soldiers patrolled the Central African Republic’s capital on Friday after the United Nations gave the green light for foreign troops to restore security following a new bloodbath that left dozens of bodies strewn in the streets.

Two warplanes overflew Bangui, but otherwise an eerie quiet reigned in the capital as the French operation got under way, a day after more than 120 people were killed in the city – many clubbed or hacked to death in violence that erupted amid international warnings that the country risked sectarian massacres.

The CAR has descended into chaos since a motley coalition of rebel fighters known as Seleka overthrew the government in March and installed their own chief, Michel Djotodia, as president – the first Muslim leader of the majority Christian country. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the goal of the mission, which got the unanimous blessing of the 15-member UN Security Council on Thursday, was to provide “a minimum of security to allow for a humanitarian intervention to be put in place.”

The operation in the former French colony will include “securing roads and main routes to allow people to be able to at least go to the hospital,” he said.

“France is there for a short time,” he told French radio RFI. President Francois Hollande’s government has previously said it expects the operation to last four to six months. l

AFP, Cairo

Vice President Joe Biden said Friday there should be no doubt about America’s commitment to its strategic shift to Asia as he wound up a regional tour dominated by security concerns including a new Chinese air zone.

In talks with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye and later in a speech at Seoul’s Yonsei University, Biden reiterated US opposition to the Chinese zone which has fuelled regional tensions – especially between Beijing and Tokyo.

At the same time, he underlined the regional – and global – unity in the face of the “clear and present danger” of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.

“Let there be no doubt, the United States is committed to do what it takes to defend our allies and ourselves against North Korean aggression. Period,” he said in his speech.

The threat posed by Pyongyang was underlined by the publication Thursday of new satellite images that appeared to show increased activity at North Korea’s main nuclear site, in line with the regime’s vows to expand its weapons programme.

In his talks with Park, Biden stressed there would be no change to President Barack Obama’s security strategy with its emphasis on a “pivot” towards Asia in recognition of China’s growing military power.

“I want to make one thing absolutely clear: President Obama’s decision to rebalance to the Pacific basin is not in question,” Biden said at the start of the Park meeting.

“The United States never says anything it does not do. It’s never been a good bet to bet against America... and America will continue to place its bet on South Korea,” he added.

“America is a Pacific power – a resident Pacific power – and we are going nowhere. Nowhere.”

Seoul was Biden’s last stop on a three-country Asia tour that has already taken him to Japan and China.

President Park pressed Biden on China’s new “air defence identification zone” (ADIZ) which, as well as inflaming Beijing’s territorial disputes with Japan, also overlaps South Korea’s own ADIZ. Seoul has threatened to expand its ADIZ in retaliation. The United States is consulting South Korea about that, as it seeks to calm what is already a dangerously volatile mood in the region.

Appeal to end Japan-South Korea feud Park said Biden’s trip to the region would be “of much help for peace” in Northeast Asia.

“We are at a point in time when the situation in Northeast Asia is very fluid and tensions in the region are escalating,” she said. l

Egyptian police dispersed several rallies

by Islamists on Friday, firing tear gas at protesters in Cairo as the government tries to stamp out unrest since president Mohamed Morsi’s July overthrow.

Riot police clashed with Islamist supporters of Morsi in Fayyum province, southwest of the capital, and broke up several protests in Cairo soon after they started, security officials said.

Police have shown little tolerance

for the Islamists’ rallies since Morsi’s overthrow in July, and a new protest law allows them to swiftly clamp down on all but interior ministry sanctioned rallies.

In Cairo, police fired tear gas to disperse a protest in the middle class Mohandiseen neighbourhood after Islamists gathered outside a mosque following noon prayers.

Battered by a crackdown that has killed more than 1,000 people and imprisoned thousands more, the Isla-

A riot police officer fires rubber bullets at members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Morsi

Kerry urges spirit of Mandela in Mideast peace process n AFP, Jerusalem US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take inspiration from Nelson Mandela in peace talks, as he wrapped up another visit to the region Friday.

Kerry said Israel and the Palestinians were closer to peace than they have been in years, even though the direct negotiations he brokered have made little visible headway since they began in late July.

“I believe we are closer than we have been in years to bringing about the peace and the prosperity and the security that all of the people of this region deserve,” Kerry told reporters at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv at the end of his 36-hour visit.

Remembering the life of Mandela, who died late on Thursday, Kerry said the former South African president

should be of particular inspiration for those engaged in the talks.

“The example of Nelson Mandela is an example we all need to take to heart as we face the challenges of trying to reach a two-state solution,” said Kerry.

“The naysayers are wrong to call peace in this region an impossible goal,” he added, before quoting Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Kerry made the remarks after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time in 24 hours, for discussions on potential security arrangements in the context of a peace deal.

He held six hours of talks across two meetings with Netanyahu on Thursday, and another three hours talking in Ramallah with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

The US diplomat has said Israel’s

mists still organise almost daily protests to demand Morsi’s reinstatement.

Overthrown by the military following massive rallies demanding his resignation, Morsi is on trial on charges related to the deaths of opposition protesters during his single year in power.

Some of those who campaigned for his ouster now condemn the police for what they call its unchecked brutality, following arrests of secular activists who violated the new protest law brought in late last month. l

security is “fundamental” to the peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and a top priority for Washington in nuclear negotiations with Iran.

But his talks in Ramallah did not appear to go so well, with a senior official saying US proposals on security were unacceptable.

“Today, we discussed at great length issues of security in the region, security for the state of Israel, security for a future Palestine. And we, I think, made some progress,” said Kerry on Thursday.

“The interests are very similar, but there are questions of sovereignty, questions of respect and dignity which are obviously significant to the Palestinians.”

‘Apartheid shall not prevail in Palestine’ Chief negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP the situation was “still very diffi-

cult and matters are complicated” but another senior Palestinian official was more direct, saying Kerry’s security proposals “were very bad ideas which we cannot accept.”

In talks with Netanyahu on Thursday, Kerry and top security adviser General John Allen outlined their view of some of the security challenges likely to face Israel in the context of a final peace agreement.

Maariv newspaper said Israeli officials were pleased with Kerry’s security proposals, but firm opposition from the Palestinians was what prompted him to schedule a third meeting with Netanyahu.

A diplomatic source quoted by the paper said Washington “had moved considerably in the direction of Israel’s demands” and had “accepted Israel’s position on a long-term presence in the Jordan Valley.” l

REUTERS

n AFP, Bangui

Turkey says no new bids to rival China missile offer n AFP, Ankara Turkey has yet to receive any new bids to supply a new missile system to rival a controversial multi-billion dollar offer by a US-blacklisted Chinese company, a government official said Friday.

“We have asked other companies to present revised bids but that has not yet happened,” secretary of state for defence industries Murad Bayar said.

The United States has voiced deep concern over Turkey’s decision in September to enter negotiations with China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) for its first longrange anti-missile system. CPMIEC, which makes the HQ-9 missile system, is under US sanctions for selling arms and missile technology to Iran and Syria.

The Turkish move also irritated its allies in NATO, which has said missile systems within the transatlantic military alliance must be compatible with each other.

CPMIEC beat competition from a US partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, and Italian-French consortium Eurosam for the deal, estimated at $4 billion (2.9 billion euros).

Bayar said in an interview with Turkey’s private NTV television that these companies had until January 31 to submit new bids but that the talks with CPMIEC were continuing.

“If there is a new proposal we will evaluate it... and if we are unable to reach an agreement with the first company, we will look to the next,” he said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Madiba no more:

Remembering Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013

Nelson Mandela: 1918-2013 1918: Born in the Eastern Cape 1943: Joined African National Congress 1956: Charged with high treason, but charges dropped after a four-year trial 1962: Arrested, convicted of incitement and leaving country without a passport, sentenced to five years in prison 1964: Charged with sabotage, sentenced to life 1990: Freed from prison 1993: Wins Nobel Peace Prize 1994: Elected first black president 1999: Steps down as leader 2001: Diagnosed with prostate cancer 2004: Retires from public life 2005: Loses his eldest son to HIV/AIDS 2013: Dies peacefully after prolonged illness

Man, Myth and Mandela n Nausher Rahman And so it has come to pass that one of the brighter lights to have shone on the world in recorded history has finally extinguished. That it was not unexpected, that there were moments in recent memory when it almost already happened several times, that his 95 storied years were already the stuff of legend within his lifetime - none of this makes the collective lump in South Africa’s throat easier to swallow.

There is little use in recounting the legend. His life and lifetime are well known, thanks in no small part to his foresight in letting no aspect of his life be off limits to debate, discussion and even dissent.

Yet despite all this, so much of Mandela has been turned into the stuff of hagiographic myth that it is easy to forget his own repeated admission that he was no saint, his long walk was never one he trudged alone, and he most certainly wasn’t above making mistakes.

Forgotten perhaps is the young firebrand revolutionary who was opposed to a multiracial African National Congress. Indeed his early foray into public service displayed a passionate Black nationalist who rejected any approach that would lead to building bridges across racial divides.

This Mandela was a lifetime away from the self-deprecating humour and assurance of later years, understandable perhaps for an unsure young man facing an unsure future in an uncertain struggle against a sure foe in a sure world.

Much of the limited view of Mandela is because of how

long he was lost to the world. We forget that the first time he walked out of prison a free man, he was already 72 years old.

The imprisonment, and the years under Apartheid’s banning order before that, meant that it was illegal to broadcast his image or his words in South Africa. For the lesser understanding of his politics in his last two decades, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

We forget about the Mandela who was heckled by supporters of Thabo Mbeki, members of his own ANC; the Mandela who started South Africa’s disastrous early non-response to Aids (before course-correcting in his post-Presidency); we even forget the Mandela government that frequently sparred with his dear friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

None of these lapses of memory, of course, are a reflection on him but rather of us. His myth deserves its reputation, because quite simply our lives and lifetimes are immeasurable better for his. I write not to suggest his legacy should be dulled of some gloss - no, his greatness is justly recognised.

But let us heed his own request to see the man in his fulness of his faults, for only then do we understand that we too can be Mandela.

Only together do the imperfections of the man and the perfections of the myth make Mandela.l

“He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home. And we have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth. He no longer belongs to us – he belongs to the ages.We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set: to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love; to never discount the difference that one person can make; to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice.”

- US President Barack Obama

Nausher Rahman is a digital communications strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Excerpts of Mandela’s ‘I am prepared to die’ speech, which he gave from the dock during the Rivonia Trial, Pretoria Supreme Court, 20 April 1964 Firstly, we believed that as a result of Government policy, violence by the African people had become inevitable, and that unless responsible leadership was given to canalise and control the feelings of our people, there would be outbreaks of terrorism which would produce an intensity of bitterness and hostility between the various races of the country which is not produced even by war…

Secondly, we felt that without sabotage there would be no way open to the African people to succeed in their struggle against the principle of white supremacy. All lawful modes of expressing opposition to this principle had been closed by legislation, and we were placed in a position in which we had either to accept a permanent state of inferiority, or to defy the Government. We

chose to defy the Government. …My Lord, I would like now to deal with the immediate causes. In 1960 the government held a referendum which led to the establishment of the Republic. Africans, who constituted approximately 70 per cent of the population of South Africa, were not entitled to vote, and were not even consulted about the proposed constitutional change. All of us were apprehensive of our future under the proposed white republic… …We had no doubt that we had to continue the fight. Anything else would have been abject surrender. Our problem, My Lord, was not whether to fight, but was how to continue the fight. We of the ANC had always stood for a non-racial democracy, and we shrank from any action which might

Political leaders

l South African President Jacob Zuma:

l l

l

l

“Our nation has lost its greatest son.

Our people have lost a father.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron: “A great light has gone out in the world.”

Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi: “He made us all understand that nobody should be penalised for the colour of his skin, for the circumstances into which he is born. He also made us understand that we can change the world.”

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: “A giant among men has passed away.

This is as much India’s loss as South Africa’s. He was a true Gandhian.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping: “With arduous and extraordinary efforts, he led the people of South Africa to success in the struggle against apartheid, making

drive the races further apart than they already were. But the hard facts were that fifty years of non-violence had brought the African people nothing but more and more repressive legislation, and fewer and fewer rights. The Government often answers its critics by saying that Africans in South Africa are economically better off than the inhabitants of the other countries in Africa…

Our complaint is not that we are poor by comparison with people in other countries, but that we are poor by comparison with white people in our own country, and that we are prevented by legislation from altering this imbalance. …The lack of human dignity experienced by Africans is the direct result of the policy of white supremacy. White supremacy implies black inferiority

…We want a just share in the whole of South Africa; we want security and a stake in society. Above all, My Lord, we want equal political rights, because without them our disabilities will be permanent. I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country, because the majority of voters will be Africans. This makes the white man fear democracy.

During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.l

REACTIONS a historic contribution to the birth and development of a new South Africa.” l UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: “Nelson Mandela was a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration.” l Finnish ex-president and Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari: “The most impressive man of my generation has passed away. “ l Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas: “The Palestinian people will never forget his historic statement that the South African revolution will not have achieved its goals as long as the Palestinians are not free.”

Religious leaders

l Pope Francis: “I pray that the late presi-

dent’s example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and the common good at the forefront of their political aspirations.... I ask the Lord to console and strengthen all who mourn

his loss.” l Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “Ultimately

he would want us, South Africans, to be his memorial.” l Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama: “The best tribute we can pay to him is to do whatever we can to contribute to honouring the oneness of humanity and working for peace and reconciliation as he did.”

Sports personalities

l Boxing great Muhammad Ali: “He was a

man whose heart, soul and spirit could not be contained or restrained by racial and economic injustices, metal bars or the burden of hate and revenge. He taught us forgiveness on a grand scale.” l English cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott: “I asked if he was a bowler or batsman.

He smiled and said he was an all-rounder. I said ‘I thought you were a God.”

Excerpts Of Mandela’s inauguration speech as president of South Africa, May 10 1994 “Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud.

“Our daily deeds as ordinary South Africans must produce an actual South African reality that will reinforce humanity’s belief in justice, strengthen its confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious life for all.

All this we owe both to ourselves and to the peoples of the world who are so well represented here today.

To my compatriots, I have no hesitation in saying that each one of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld.

We are moved by a sense of joy and exhilaration when the grass turns green and the flowers bloom.”

“That spiritual and physical oneness we all share with this common homeland explains the depth of the pain we all carried in our hearts as we saw our country tear itself apart in a terrible conflict, and as we saw it spurned, outlawed and isolated by the peoples of the world, precisely because it has become the universal base of the pernicious ideology and practice of racism

and racial oppression.

“We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the millions of our people. We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.

“We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom.

We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success.

We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world.

Let there be justice for all.

Let there be peace for all.

Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.

Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves.

Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement!” l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Love people not power

Nelson Mandela represented the best in us

December 1

T

he South African revolutionary Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in a South African prison cell. He came out not broken and defeated, but full of forgiveness and hope.

His tireless actions transformed a nation, and inspired the whole world.

Mandela died on Thursday at the age of 95. His life could not have been more productive. He was thrown in jail by the South African government for his politics, but even that As our nation faces did not stop him from carrying on his revolution. He contina political crisis, we ued to forward the anti-Apartcannot help but hope heid movement from prison. there were more After his release in 1990, he leaders who learnt became the key figure in from Mandela’s abolishing Apartheid, working example closely with FW de Clerk.

He won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, and he was elected as South Africa’s first black president.

As astonishing as his résumé may have been, a list of accomplishments can never quite do justice to this leader, who endured the worst kind of treatment in his own country and emerged not as a victim, but victorious. Yes, it is possible to heal wounds, he told us. Yes, it is possible to fix a state which may seem broken beyond repair, he showed us.

As our nation faces a political crisis, which shows very little silver lining, we cannot help but hope there were more leaders who learnt from Mandela’s example.

“It takes one minute to resolve the impasse if the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants,” said Dr Kamal Hossain. On the other hand Sheikh Hasina said: “Khaleda Zia is responsible for all the destruction during the blockade.”

Sheikh Hasina wants to hold the elections like in the year 2007. Many people and property were lost in that period. At the time, Begum Zia was PM and made that mistake, which Sheikh Hasina is almost making now.

Sheuly Haque, Sirajgonj

How to be a good leader November 30

WaliulHaqueKhondker People will get the leaders which they deserve, according to the Holy Quran.

Ponder upon the Wisdom of Allah (Azza wa Jall) where He has made people’s leaders, and those of authority over them, of the same kind as their own deeds. It is as if the people’s deeds appeared in the forms of their leaders.

Ahmed Ashfaque The first paragraph was very rich in vocabulary; this would be a challenge for average readers to digest. However, some very interesting concepts have been covered later on.

This carnage has to stop November 29 Good and a timely editorial. Sincerely hope that good sense prevails in all concerned authoritative quarters.

WaliulHaqueKhondker

Hanna: EU observers for polls not decided yet December 1 The political violence and unrest are continuing unabated. The main opposition-led alliance is declaring hartals and blockades that have turned us into a war-ravaged nation. Is this why 3 million people sacrificed their lives?

Is our country a Sonar Bangla? What is the answer? Who will answer this question?

Obviously, the political parties will have to answer. What we have seen is that the political parties have no intention to build up a Sonar Bangla. They have no will to think of peace and prosperity in Bangladesh. They only know how to gain power, by killing and burning people, torching vehicles, throwing cocktails, uprooting rail lines. Enough is enough, this political culture should be stopped. We request all political parties to love people and above all love our country.

Lutfor Rahman

Keep state resources out of election campaigns

A

nationwide survey has confirmed a large increase in the use of public property and state resources for election campaigning.

Election Working Group, a coalition of civil organisations, identified a large number of instances of state resources being used for the benefit of political parties’ election campaigns.

The survey, conducted before the end of the last Parliamentary session in 118 It is essential that the constituencies, highlighted Election Commission that the vast majority of these acts to prevent abuse incidents, involved ruling of election rules and Awami League party lawmakto ensure a level ers and ministers. playing field Appropriation of state resources is not acceptable at any time, but now that an election has been declared, it is essential that the Election Commission acts to prevent abuse of election rules and to ensure a level playing field.

The government has a duty as custodians of public property to prevent misuse. State property should only be used for appropriate public causes, not for election campaigning.

Ministers and ruling party MPs should refrain from using state resources, particularly government vehicles, properties and government meetings for their pre-election campaign.

The prime minister must set an example for her government by ensuring that she keeps her role as the leader of the parliament and her role as the chairperson of the Awami League separate, and makes sure that they are seen to be separate.

CROSSWORD

November 29

I think the competition will be from the side of channels for ads. Even now, entertainment programs and news shows are filled with ads and the programs also regularly take ad breaks for long durations. There is nothing to hint that the programming (content) will improve.

Robert Imam

DOWN 1 Commence (5) 2 Tool (3) 3 Garment (5) 4 Lyric poem (3) 5 Nidus (4) 6 Quantity carried (4) 7 Obstruct (6) 8 Horned ruminant (4) 14 Liable (3) 16 Chant (6) 17 Newt (3) 19 Escape artfully (5) 20 Used up (5) 21 Counterfoil (4) 22 Dry (4) 23 Auction (4) 26 Headwear (3) 27 Number (3)

Malcolm Arnold It’s not just Cox’s Bazar!

Sallyann Hall It’s the whole country that’s been affected, and besides deterring visitors and tourists, also corporations will think twice about investing in Bangladesh.

The government has to restore order and security, for it is people who are being terrorised and have lost trust and hope in either party. The government and security services must rein in these misguided thugs and criminals who are indiscriminately killing and violently attacking their fellow citizens plus burning buses and sabotaging trains/tracks.

Also the opposition party must start behaving responsibly instead of encouraging this violent mayhem and destruction.

Guerrilla’s world TV premier on Victory Day December 3

The month of victory after a long struggle in 1971. We got a nation, which we call our motherland, but now we are trying to destroy it with our greed for power.

Shafiq Majumder

December 5

Bangladesh should install these wind-power towers along the border fence that India has created. Put one every 200 feet. We can generate a lot of electricity from this. Our people cannot go to the border anyways. So why not use the border for something good? Imagine having 100,000 of these towers along the border with India!

SaleemAlim

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PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER ACROSS 1 Conductors’ wands (6) 6 Cover (3) 9 Ooze out (5) 10 Large volume (4) 11 Inherited character units (5) 12 Monkey (3) 13 Dealer (6) 15 Agreeable (4) 18 English river (4) 21 Social standing (6) 24 Hill (3) 25 Sharp in effect (5) 28 Single entity (4) 29 Burdened (5) 30 Resting place (3) 31 Regret (6)

December 1

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Mega windmill on the cards In a television jungle

Political unrest hampers Cox’s Bazar tourism

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Saturday, December 7, 2013

11

Count the disabled in n Aziz Ahmed

D

Policies with vision have helped domestic manufacturers become exporters

AFP

Bold visions for the future

I

n Akhtar Mahmood

n an article published in the December 4 issue of the Dhaka Tribune – “The Economist and Lancet view on Bangladesh: What’s missing?” – Hassan Zaman comments on the relative stability of GDP growth rates in Bangladesh over long periods of time. For this, he gives credit, at least partly, to the macro-stabilising stance of successive governments, and their shock-absorbing capacities, developed painstakingly over the years.

He is right. If we look at economies ravaged by instability, and sadly there are many, we would surely understand the value of such conservative brinkmanship. But is that enough? It appears that governments in Bangladesh are good at holding the economic steering wheel steady and reacting sharply to the rash driver in the next lane.

But have they been good at visualising what lies 100 miles ahead?

Should the government develop an ability to push the accelerator harder while still keeping the car stable?

Conservatism and reactiveness have served the country well so far.

But is it not time to develop bolder visions and take a more proactive stance? What will it take for the government to make a paradigm shift in this direction? Is there something in the conservative/reactive paradigm that the government can build on, or will this have to be a completely radical shift?

This is not to deny that there are instances where governments have

indeed demonstrated long-term vision and pro-activism. As Hassan Zaman pointed out to me in a separate exchange, one could cite examples of policies which have had major long term implications, such as the industrial policy for the pharmaceutical industry enacted in the early 1980s which led to low-cost medicines and a few domestic manufactures becoming

am not sure if there has been enough of this. First, on examples such as those cited above, it is important to distinguish between the following: a) Policies which were not based on a long-term vision but ended up having a long-term effect b) Policies based on a long-term vision but largely prompted by other stakeholders in society (ie government

Governments in Bangladesh are good at holding the economic steering wheel steady and reacting sharply to the rash driver in the next lane. But have they been good at visualising what lies 100 miles ahead?

exporters, policies which gave the garments sector its early competitive advantage (bonded warehouses and back-to-back L/C), and the Conditional Cash Transfer program which raised girls’ enrollment in schools.

Dr Zaman also pointed out, in that exchange, that so-called reactive and proactive policies may also overlap.

For instance, the central bank deals a lot with day-to-day issues but, as it does so, it also changes regulations, or takes decisions, mindful of the medium term outlook for the economy.

For example, its ongoing work on liberalising foreign exchange rules is driven by a long-term vision of how much more the Bangladesh economy will be integrated with the rest of the world ten years from now.

I agree with the above. However, I

merely reacting) c) Policies based on long-term vision and a result of government pro-activism (recognising that the line between b and c may sometimes be blurred since governments do not work in isolation) I would argue that the policy on bonded warehouses or back-to-back L/Cs for garments epitomise type “a” while the pharmaceutical example could belong to either type “b” or type “c.” We need to know more about the history of that landmark policy to answer this question.

It is good that the central bank is now looking at foreign exchange liberalisation from a long-term perspective. But I can think of many other areas where the lack of a bold vision and proactive government action has

held us back.

For example, long-term vision and pro-activism was needed 30 years ago in the area of land records modernisation (recognising then that land-related disputes will one day clog up the judicial system), 20 years ago in the case of industrial zoning (recognising then that some parts of the country were rapidly industrialising) and 10 years ago with regard to the environmental performance of the textile industry as Bangladesh was starting to ramp up backward linkage development in the RMG industry).

Towards the end of his well-written piece, Hassan Zaman writes: “Looking forward, there is no room for hubris for Bangladeshi policymakers as the challenges of maintaining, and ideally accelerating, these socio-economic gains are not straightforward.”

Indeed! And that is perhaps why a bolder approach is now required. We need not abandon the prudence of the past. In fact, the conservative, reactive stance of the past may itself have produced the ingredients of sophisticated risk-management capacities and systems in government that will enable it to take a bolder, proactive approach in future.

As someone had said, the purpose of good brakes is not to make cars stop, but to allow them to go fast! Comfortable in the knowledge that they can brake hard when needed, governments in Bangladesh should feel encouraged to drive a little faster. l

isability is no longer a hidden issue in Bangladesh. In the last two decades, governments, NGOs, and international actors have promoted the social and political rights of disabled people through initiatives like the enactment of Disability Rights and Protection Act, allocations for disabled people in national budgets, and ratification of the UNCRPD. The 10th national parliament election will be held very soon, and we should be apprised of the opportunities and scope for disabled people’s right to vote.

Disabled persons were encouraged to stand in local elections, and thus in 2003, 96 disabled persons stood for local elections with 16 being elected as ward members. Another 50 disabled persons took part in the 2011 local elections, and six were elected.

Communities still deem disabled persons as unfit to compete in elections. Physically impaired Saiful Islam stood in the election of Matikata Union Parishad as a ward member in 2011.

He says: “My father was also a public representative and he encouraged me to stand in the election. I was the most eligible candidate among the four contestants, but due to my disability, I could not win.”

Some big political parties included disability issues in their election manifestos in the last election. The demand for reserved seats in parliament, like that of women, is gaining favour, and in the next elections in 2014, this should be considered so disabled persons can contribute more to mainstream society.

To what extent are these rights ensured? Joynal, a physically impaired person, expressed his experiences of voting in the last election. He says: “I had to walk 1km from my house to the voting centre, and stand in line for 2 hours. When I felt pain, I requested to cast my vote early, but was greeted with laughter. Furthermore, the voting booth was on a two-storey building and it was difficult for me to access the booth. It is very difficult for physically impaired persons who have problems of movement to go to the polls and cast their vote when there is no transport. Most of the candidates do not consider disabled persons as voters yet.”

Selim is visually impaired. He says: “I have found that candidates provide conveyance for voters, but discriminate for non-disabled persons and aged persons. There are six voting centres in Bauniabad but only

Akhtar Mahmood works for an international development agency.

two have ramps. I think as citizens, disabled persons are more responsible than non-disabled persons in terms of casting votes, because they ignore all difficulties to come to cast their vote.”

Some recommendations emerged after a seminar held in Rajshahi on voting rights of disabled people. Tactile ballot paper should be introduced; separate queues are necessary for disabled persons; they should be given priority to cast their votes; written directions should be provided to all presiding officers about disabled peoples’ special needs.

Furthermore, transport facilities and ramps should be provided; disability issues should be included in the training sessions for polling personnel; awareness should be raised in the community.

Political parties should come forward to create a friendly voting environment for the disabled and make commitments to continue to work for them

The EC is responsible for ensuring the rights of all voters, and thus they have an obligation to fulfill the above recommendations.

Political parties who have mandates to work for the wellbeing of general people have many responsibilities towards people with disabilities. This maintains a democratic culture and includes marginalised people.

It is not a good practice for democracy to keep out 10% of voters during the election. Democracy ensures active participation of people in politics and civil life.

Political parties should come forward to create a friendly voting environment for the disabled and make commitments to continue to work for them.

Article 29 of the UNCRPD indicates the political rights of disabled people.

The government has assigned and ratified the CRPD, and therefore it is an obligation for them to take all steps to ensure political rights of disabled people.

We hope the EC, political parties, and all other citizens will come forward to create a friendly environment for disabled people to cast their votes in the upcoming and future elections. l Aziz Ahmed is a development worker.

BIGSTOCK

When the one-eyed king rules n Sohan Salek

T

he saying goes: “In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” Let’s start with the blind.

If things go according to plan, the country will see a general election on the fifth day of the coming new year.

Exciting time. People are actually looking forward to cast their votes. At least that’s the impression I’m getting from the media. Whether it’s broadsheets, or news channels, the election is making headlines. But there’s a but. The voters want a free and fair election with the participation of all and this is where the Bard would say: “Lies the rub.”

The fruit vendor/vegetable-seller who often uses formalin to preserve his goods wants a free and fair election. The CNG driver who will ask you to lie to the police sergeant if stopped wants a free and fair election. The traffic police who takes Tk10 to let rickshaws and three-wheeler vans to use the VIP roads wants a free and fair

election.

The bus conductor who charges you extra as soon as he whiffs that you don’t know the actual fare wants a free and fair election. The teacher who leaks the question paper before the exam wants a free and fair election. Even a

The dystopian present does not haunt me. But it leaves a bitter taste every time I think about the possibilities that were ahead

former military dictator wants a free and fair election. In conclusion, a country which regularly hogs a spot in the “most corrupt country in the world” list wants a free and fair election.

So, it is actually naive of the opposition to demand for a free and fair election.

This is why after every five years we elect a one-eyed man as our ruler. That king then turns a blind eye to our every “misdemeanor.” Under that king’s rule the Hallmark loan scandal gets downplayed, the actual murderers of journalist-couple Saagar-Runi are not brought to book, seven months after the collapse of Rana Plaza, the charge sheet doesn’t see the light of day.

This king also does not protect his subjects from illegal border killings and rehabilitates a former military dictator.

We, as a nation, not only have lost the sense of sight, we have also lost our moral compass. We are rewriting our history every five years where Mr Hyde becomes Dr Jekyll.

I disagree a Coriolanus will rise from the ashes of this mayhem. History teaches us that a real and successful revolution only occurs when you have the have nots pitted against the haves.

In my country I see haves and more haves.

The middle income class now has a credit card bill, or a loan to pay, or they get a reminder as soon as the last date of payment expires. Money for the Flexiload is needed, or the teenage boy will not be able to talk to his sweetheart late at night. Trips to KFC and Pizza Hut are a requirement to post on Facebook to show that life is good.

This middle income class do not have time to take part in a revolution.

Plus, they know people like Dr Milon and Noor Hossain died in vain.

I grew up listening to tales of democracy and a utopian future. I was thirteen when the military ruler fell.

I collected all the newspapers of that day which I have misplaced now. The dystopian present does not haunt me.

But it leaves a bitter taste every time I think about the possibilities that were ahead of us and the situation that we are in.

Democracy is messy. Democracy is not a perfect system. We have tried democracy for the last 23 years and we

are none any wiser. I think it is time to rethink democracy.

I’m planning on not going to the polling centre next year. History is repeating here after five-year intervals.

I’m not going to be a participant any more.

We, as a nation, not only have lost the sense of sight, we have also lost our moral compass. We are rewriting our history every five years where Mr Hyde becomes Dr Jekyll

I started the piece with the blind men and the one eyed king. Here’s something that I want you to ponder when you are not too busy. What if the oneeyed king is actually bluffing. What if he’s also blind? Imagine that. l Sohan Salek is a former BBC employee and currently teaches media studies.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Joler Gaan performing today at IGCC n Entertainment Desk

Stallone and Schwarzenegger’s Escape Plan on at Star Cineplex n Entertainment Desk The audience are in for a treat as Star Cineplex, one of the biggest cinemas of the country is showcasing the legendary action movie old dogs Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie Escape Plan at its theatres.

The story opens with Ray Breslin, a man who has devoted his life to making prisons inescapable by going into a prison as an inmate and trying to see if he can break out. And he has done a good

job so far. A woman who says she works for the CIA approaches Ray and says that a new maximum security prison where the worst criminals are to be incarcerated, is about to be launched. So she wants him to go and make sure no one can get out. He agrees.

So they make the necessary preps by telling Ray who the warden is and they give him a code that the warden will know that he’s not a convict, and they plant him with a tracer. But when he’s picked up, the ones who pick him

Eminent Bangladeshi band Joler Gaan will be performing today at 6:30 pm at Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), Gulshan.

Joler Gaan is a band which derives inspiration from the hundreds of rivers which flow through Bangladesh and constitute its lifeblood. The band believes that their spiritual and emotional awareness originated from water and hence, they are Joler Gaan meaning music of the water. The band is composed of theatre activists and visual artists.

Joler Gaan’s songs are based on what the band describes as human stories of love, despair, courage, nature and other ideas and emotions which people can identify with and relate to. They claim to use simple, yet profound language in an attempt to touch the heart and imagination. This includes the usage of a lot of metaphors which depict various colours and shades of human emotions. Their music is very much

up remove the tracer. When he arrives at the prison, he discovers that the warden is different from the one he was told and when he tells him the code, he claims that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He realizes that someone doesn’t want him to get out. He then tries to find a way out but he needs help. Another prisoner, Rottmeyer becomes friendly with him, and they decide to work together to get out. But it won’t be easy because Ray learns that they are on a ship. l

Very Graphic exhibition ends today n Katerina Don

The 3 week Very Graphic! The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detail exhibition organized by the British Council and the Bengal Art Lounge with the support of Bellissimo Ice-cream, will come to an end today through a closing ceremony at 6pm.

The joint Bengal Foundation and British Council ceremony will be officiated by Zeenat Chowdhury, Director, Bengal Foundation, Robin Davies, Director of Programmes and Partnerships, British Council and Professor Kaiser Haq, Department of English, University of Dhaka.

The announcement of the open call for graphic short-story submissions will be made at the event. Submission criteria and guidelines will be available on the websites of the British Council and Bengal Foundation from December 15. The speeches will be followed by the screening of a short video about the participating artists and an acoustic concert of original songs by Nemesis.

The Very Graphic! Exhibition featured works by Rafiqun Nabi, Shishir Bhattacharjee, Ahsan Habib, Karrie Fransman (UK), Steven Harris (UK),

Drawing of Very Graphic! participants and organisers by Karrie Fransman Mehedi Haque, Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, Samir Asran Rahman, Sabyasachi Mistry, Nuhash Humayun, Anika Mariam Ahmed, Asifur Rahman, Faridur Rahman Razib, Kazi Istela Imam, Rio Shuvo, Salzar Rahman, Zeeshan Khan and Tabassum Salma.

Close to 1,000 visitors flocked to Very Graphic! The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detail. The exhibition included drawings, digital artworks, videos, and phenakistoscope (18th century animation device). A 3-day long fair was organized during the exhibition

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

Pacific Rim in 3D Escape Plan Titanic (3D) The Conjuring Step Up Revolution in 3D Purno dhorgho prem kahini Riddick Level 8, Bashundhara City, Panthapath

Exhibition

Very Graphic: The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detail Group exhibition Time:12pm – 6pm Bengal Art Lounge 60 Gulshan Avenue, Gulshan-1

Handwritten script of Born to Run sells for $197,000 n Entertainment Desk A handwritten, working lyric sheet for Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 hit Born to Run sold at Sotheby’s on Thursday for $197,000, well exceeding pre-sale estimates of between $70,000 and $100,000.

The auction house didn’t reveal the identity of either the seller or the telephone bidder who bought the document, which used to be in the collection of Springsteen’s former manager, Mike Appel.

The title track of Springsteen’s 1975 multi-platinum album has revved up

generations of fans, from its opening view of “the streets of a runaway American dream” to its high-octane chorus: “tramps like us/baby we were born to run.” Some Springsteen aficionados still refer to themselves as “tramps.”

Most of the lines in this rough 1974 version, written in Long Branch, New Jersey, are apparently unpublished and unrecorded, but the manuscript does include “a nearly perfected chorus,” the auction house said. It’s one of only two identified manuscripts that include the rock anthem’s most famous lines, according to Sotheby’s. l

contemporary, yet distinctive. More importantly, it is earthy and connected to the soil.

Joler Gaan began its musical journey in 2006 at the World Sufi Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. They subsequently performed at the Royal Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland and at the London Mela in London. The band has performed all around Bangladesh in cities such as Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong and Khulna, and at important venues such as the Russian Cultural Center, Dhaka; Goethe Institute, Dhaka; Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Jahangirnagar University and Chhayanaut, among others. Joler Gaan has also collaborated with well-known French musician Abaji and the Scottish musician Colin Blakey. They have also performed in various local TV channels and Radio live shows.

Joler Gaan released their first album entitled Otol Joler Gaan during Pohela Boishakh in April, 2013. Their second album titled The Cage is going to be released soon. l

City of Rhythm Solo Art Exhibition Time: 12pm – 8pm Institute of Asian Creatives, Gulshan-2 Handicraft Exhibition Time: 10am – 7pm Nalini kanta Bhattashali Gallery National Museum, Shahbagh Solo Painting Exhibition

By Nurun Naher Supti Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi

inviting visitors, artists and children to participate in drawing and storytelling workshops. The workshops included a children’s story time led by Monasa Learning Centre using the illustrations of Sabyasachi Mistry for the publication Tui Tu Tum (Hotiti Press). Visiting artist Karrie Fransman and Steven J Harris led workshops of character development and the graphic novel. Bellissimo Ice-cream organized ice-cream naming competitions and visitors had the opportunity to win Bellissimo gift certificates.

The exhibition and anthology are part of a long-term commitment by the British Council to develop the creative economy of Bangladesh, encourage and facilitate exchange between the UK and Bangladesh and develop the publishing industry in Bangladesh. The British Council and the Bengal Foundation are keen to progress their partnership and continue to explore how the various creative industries of Bangladesh, including film, fashion and design, music and literary publishing, can, with further personal and institutional connections and exchanges with the UK, flourish and contribute to the Bangladesh cultural economy. l

Item girl Nasrin embraces motherhood n Entertainment Desk Popular item girl (females known for their roles or performances in film songs) of Dhallywood, Nasrin gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday at Monowara Hospital in Baily road, the dancer married Mostafizur Rahman Real, last year.

Recently, Nasrin gained popularity for her flawless performance in Full and Final. Even before her daughter was born, the energetic and confident mom-to-be Nasrin picked out a name for her. She named her daughter Afrin.

Before Nasrin’s daughter was born, she named her Afrin, which means praise or lucky . After she gave birth, she shared her feeling of being a mother: “I feel like a complete woman today, now I really know what that expression really stands for. I am fulfilled and my life is finally complete.

I am thankful to the Almighty for bestowing me with this blessing. I am truly enjoying motherhood to the fullest. I request everyone to pray for my daughter’s wellbeing.” l

Akjon Bikkhato Bektir Mrittur Por airs today n Entertainment Desk Watch out for telefilm Akjon Bikkhato Bektir Mrittur Por on Channel9, today at 2:30pm. The star-studded drama includes seasoned actor Shahiduzzaman Selim, Tarin, Moushumi Nag, Shams Shumon, Shahadat Hossain, Dolly Johur and Shahriar Nazim Joy. The telefilm is written and directed by Shahriar Nazim Joy. When journalists were busy taking pictures of the dead body of a prominent film-maker of the country and interviewing his wife, the most celebrated female actor of the country steps out of her ride and sheds tears, staring at the dead body. A journalist asks her about her feelings and she answers that this is not a natural death but a suicide.

The curious flock of reporters ask her whether she suspects anyone and she answers back saying that the enemy might be from his household. Her answer leads to a violent conflict between one of the most celebrated actor of the time and the widow of the fa-

mous film-maker, who was rumoured to be having an affair with the celebrity actor. The story moves forward with the wife of the celebrated film-maker trying to prove her innocence in talkshows to the famous actor accusing her for the death of her husband in press-conferences. l

Katrina Kaif named world’s sexiest Asian woman n Entertainment Desk

Her absence from the big screen for a year has not stopped Bollywood beauty Katrina Kaif from winning the world’s sexiest Asian woman title for the fourth consecutive year in a poll by a weekly magazine. The actor narrowly defeated Priyanka Chopra, TV star Drashti Dhami and current box office queen Deepika Padukone.

She secured the top spot in the world-renowned 50 Sexiest Asian Women List 2013 with Chopra coming second, Dhami third and Padukone fourth.

A permanent fixture in the top three for the past

six years, Kaif edged out competition from the world’s most stunning Asian women in the tenth edition of UK based, Eastern Eye newspaper’s definitive Sexy List.

The fourth win comes just weeks before Katrina hits the big screen again in one of the year’s biggest Bollywood releases Dhoom 3: Back In Action.

“I didn’t know it was a record.

That’s a nice surprise and a lot of fun to hear. I like it because Eastern Eye newspaper is the one my sisters read because they live in London. It’s lovely, but also people are reacting to what they see. Obviously if everyone were to see me when I wake up in the morning or in my track pants and then vote for me, then maybe I would a little bit more believe of it myself. But of course it’s very flattering,” Katrina said. l

Did you know?

Of the 32 teams to have qualified for the 2014 World Cup, only Russia has not had a player in the English Premier League this season

Sport

Saturday, December 7, 2013

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

0 9 9 DAYS TO GO

14 No guarantee Messi will be fit for January: Martino

15 Australia take control of second Ashes Test

Jamal blast past Abahani to reach final n Raihan Mahmood

Sony Norde (R) and Wedson, the Haitian attacking duo of Sheikh Jamal, celebrate a strike against Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday

Afusi delighted, Amalesh distraught n Raihan Mahmood Sheikh Jamal’s Nigerian coach Josef Afusi credited scoring goals at the right times to his side’s victory, while Abahani coach Amalesh Sen admitted that that was the case at the post-match presser at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

It was agony for Amalesh, who has been with Abahani throughout the Federation Cup, that Jamal beat Abahani twice in the quarter-finals and in the semis yesterday.

Meanwhile, Afusi was visibly happy while remaining philosophic about the three goals. “The first one gave the confidence, the second one made the team balanced and the third one stamped the control. We are the runaway winners with the perfect teamwork and hard work.

“Our plans worked, we dominated the game, we played across the field and my team played the football that matches the winners. I am happy to win against Abahani, my attacking trio was perfect,” said Afusi.

His star forward Sony Norde said

lack of concentration in taking a late penalty caused him to miss the shot, “May be there was a lack of concentration. We were leading 3-0 at that time.

If the score was goalless, then probably the concentration would have been different and it would have been a goal.”

Skipper Mamunul Islam said he had not expected such an easy win. “We were expecting a fighting Abahani but we scored the goals early and Abahani crumbled in the pressure,” said the midfielder.

Amalaesh Sen said his team lost their fighting spirit after conceding three goals. “If we could have scored at least one goal to make the score line 2-1, than I believe it would have been a different story. However, we failed to rise on the occasion and the players at one stage lost the fighting spirit. We were outplayed in all departments,” said Amalesh.

Queried about his foreign players Amalesh said the team management chooses the players and his job is to guide them. Nonetheless, the coach went on to admit that his foreign players had fell short of what was expected of them. l

Badminton finals set up n Shishir Hoque

Malaysian shuttler Yogendran Khrishnan and Hsu Jen Hao of Chinese Taipei reached the final of the men’s single event of the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Open International Badminton Challenge after winning their respective semi-final matches yesterday.

Indian Saili Rane and Pai Hsiao Ma of Chinese Taipei swept into the final of women’s single event. The final of both men and women’s event will take place today. Yogendran beat Indian shuttler Subhankar Dey 21-18, 21-9 points in the first semi-final while Hsu Jen Hao got the final ticket after outplaying Indonesian opponent Dharma Guna 21-12, 21-11.

Saili earned a hard-fought 21-16,1721,21-12 victory over Sannatasah of Malaysia and Hsiao beat Trupti of India by 21-8,21-10 to ensure the final. In the men’s doubles event, Hung Ying and Cheng Heng Su of Chinese Taipei moved into the final after a 21-13, 17-21, 21-15 victory over Malaysian pair Jagdish and Wee Long.

The two Indian pairs will face each other in the final today in the women’s doubles event as Dhanya Nair and Mohita Sahdev beat their compatriots Sanskriti Chhabra and Kristi Das pair while Prajakta and Arathi beat Sri Lankan pair Kapuru and Weerasinghe. l

MUMIT M

Power, control and discipline made all the difference as Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi cruised into the final of the Walton Federation Cup with a 3-0 victory over Abahani Ltd at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The trio of Sony Norde, Darlington and Wedson was too much for Abahani, who conceded three goals within 38 minutes, leaving the traditional giants with little chance to stage a comeback.

The three early goals took the steam out of the Abahani players and they seemed to give up. Jamal’s attacking instincts, endurance and control of the ball was superior and they dominated throughout the match. Sony Norde led from the front, scoring a brace to take his goal tally to a tournament high of seven and he was ably supported by an excellent all-round team effort. Wins over traditional crowd pullers Mohammedan 3-1 and Abahani 3-0 in the same tournament will surely inspire Jamal upcoming challenges.

Jamal went up after just five minutes when Nigerian attacker Darlington paved the way with a low chip for his on-

Muktis lock horns with BJMC today n Shishir Hoque Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra will be looking to reach a professional tournament’s final after eight years when they take on Team BJMC in the second semi-final of the Walton Federation Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today at 5pm. Today’s winners will play Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the final.

Muktijoddha coach Shafiqul Islam Manik was determined to win the game and stressed the symbolic value of doing so in December – the month in which the nation was born.

“We will try not to repeat the mistakes we did in our previous games.

There is no alternative than to win the game and play in the final. It would be great if we play the final and win the trophy in this month of victory,” said Manik at the pre-match press conference.

Muktijoddha defeated Brothers Union convincingly in the quarter-final and Manik will be relying on his foreign and experienced local players to take the side further.

“Our experienced players like Enamul and Aminul played well and they will be better. I am getting expected service from both the foreign and local players and if they can carry the momentum into the semi-final, we can expect another good result,” said the Muktijoddha coach.

Meanwhile, BJMC performed exceptionally in the quarter-final to beat lastseason’s treble winners Sheikh Russell KC. They came from behind twice to beat the defending champions and the team’s skipper Amin Khan Shuvra thinks the effort has raised his team’s confidence.

“I said before that our target is the championship and now we’ve made the semi-final. We fell behind twice against Russell and played positive football to beat them in the quarter-final which I believe gave us more confidence and mental strength,” he said.

BJMC coach Ali Asgar Nasir also pledged to play positive football against Muktijoddha today. “We will play positive football, despite all the limitations in my side. The foreign recruits are adjusting well, which will make us stronger than before,” he pledged.

The game will be telecast live on BTV at 5pm. l

100-day countdown for World T20 begins n Mazhar Uddin The 100-day countdown to the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 started yesterday at the South Plaza of the Parliament Bhaban at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Nazmul Hasan officially inaugurated the maneuver, while allrounder Shakib al Hasan, Mahmudullah and the captain of the Bangladesh Women’s team Salma Khatun present.

ICC Event Director Chris Tetley spoke after BCB boss Nazmul Hassan officially the countdown for the mega event which Bangladesh will host next year.

A local band performed at the ceremony and later, a display of laser lights took place.

In Chittagong, the ceremony was

held at the outer field of the MA Aziz Stadium. BCB cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan, BCB Director AZM Nasir Uddin and Chittagong City Mayor Mohammad Monjurul Alam were present on the occasion.

The countdown in Sylhet took place on the bank of the Surma River. National cricketers Alok Kapali, Rajin Saleh and Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury were present to inaugurate the Sylhet chapter.

Twelve distinct clocks across the country will be following the countdown to the international event. Three of them are in Chittagong, two in Sylhet while the remaining seven will be set up in Dhaka. The timepieces will be set up at Gulshan circle 1 and 2, Mirpur 10 intersection, Bijoy Nagar intersection and Airport in Dhaka.

Grey Event is the event management company that is handling the countdown programme. l

Bangladesh national pacer Rubel Hossain and spinner Elias Sunny display the ICC T20 World Cup trophy, bought by Hyundai yesterday COURTESY

rushing attacking partner Wedson at the top of the box, and the Haitian forward chipped the ball into the far post net.

Sony Norde, the Haitian forward of Sheikh Jamal, marked his presence in the 21st minute when he ran to intercept a back pass from Abahani skipper Atikur Rahman Mishu and kept his cool to go past Abahani goalie Sohel before tapping in the finish from close range.

The fate of the match was sealed in the 38th minute when Sony Norde played a one-two with Wedson and broke through the Abahani defence and scored his second goal with an angular shot from the middle of the box.

Abahani tried to stage a comeback after the break and in the 51st minute, Brazilian Louis de Souza’s shot went straight to Jamal goalie Zia. In the 63rd minute, Abahani’s Ghanaian forward Osie Morrison came close to a strike as he toe-poked the ball over his marker to head the ball towards the goal but goalkeeper Zia flew backwards to grip the ball.

Jamal failed to score off two easy chances in the dying minutes with Wedson and Shakhawat Rony being the guilty parties. In the 90th minute Abahani defender Samad Youssef fouled Sony Norde inside the box but in the resulting penalty, Sony shot the ball wide, thus missing his hat-trick. l

Bangladesh Under-19 win first game n Mazhar Uddin Saeed Sarkar’s brilliant 83 and Mosaddek Hossain’s all round performance helped Bangladesh U-19 to win the first match of the seven match ODI series against the visiting West Indies U-19 side by 104 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday.

After winning the toss, Bangladesh youths were in all sorts of trouble after losing six wickets for 84 runs in 31 over, but a 119 run partnership between Mosaddek Hossain and Saeed Sarkar took the host across the 200 mark.

Saeed smashed a 66-ball 83 with eight fours and four sixes before he

BRIEF SCORES Bangladesh U-19 222/9 in 50 over Saeed Sarkar 83, Mosaddek Hossain 77 Ramaal Lewis 24/3, Gudakesh Motie 24/2 West Indies U-19 118/10 in 44.5 over Tristan Coleman 42 Jubair Hossain 30/3, Mosaddek Hossain 16/2, Mehedi Hasan 16/2 Bangladesh won by 104 runs

was dismissed by Jerome Jones, while Mosaddek continued to stroke the ball frequently and kept the run rate on the higher side before he was dismissed in the last over after smashing seven fours and two sixes in scoring 77 runs off 107 balls as Bangladesh reached 222/9 in 50 over.

West Indies captain Ramaal Lewis was the most successful bowler taking 3 for 24, while Gudakesh Motie and Allen picked up two wickets apiece.

Chasing the target of 223, West Indies were struggling at 41 for 6, with pacer Mehedi Hassan, off spinner Mosaddek and left-arm spinner Nihaduzzaman taking early wickets.

Tristan Coleman tried to rescue the visitors but fell after scoring 42 runs, while the second highest score was 16

by Jerome Jones. West Indies innings were bowled out for 118 in 44.5 overs.

Leg spinner Jubair Hossain took three wickets, while man-of-the-match Mosaddek Hossain, Nihaduzzaman and Mehedi Hasan bagged two wickets each for Bangladesh.

The second match between the two sides will take place on December 8 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Saturday, December 7, 2013

FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014 DRAW

England, Italy, Uruguay drawn in group of death n AFP, Costa do sauipe Reigning champions Spain will begin their defence of the World Cup with a rematch of the 2010 final against the Netherlands, while England were paired with Italy in Friday’s draw.

Spain, who won their first title in South Africa four years ago, start their Group B campaign against the threetime runners-up on June 13 in Salvador.

They will also meet Chile, who they beat in the group stage in 2010, in Rio and Australia in Curitiba.

Hosts Brazil were drawn to face Croatia in the opening game, scheduled for Sao Paulo on June 12 – assuming the venue is ready after a fatal accident last week delayed prospective completion until April. The Brazilians will then take on Mexico and Cameroon in a Group A that appears on the face of it unthreatening, if not easy.

England, meanwhile, will start off with a Group D meeting against fourtime champions Italy in the heat of Amazonian venue Manaus on June 14.

That match is a repeat of the Euro 2012 quarter-final, which Italy, who knocked England out of the 1978 World Cup qualifiers, won on penalties.

“It’s a tough group, there’s no doubt about that,” said England coach Roy Hodgson, whose team also face Uruguay and Costa Rica.

“In Italy and Uruguay it’s almost as

Aragones makes retirement U-turn n AFP, Madrid Spain’s Euro 2008-winning coach Luis Aragones on Thursday denied reports that he had retired, insisting he was still open to the right offer.

In an interview with Spanish website Voz Populi, the 75-year-old had said earlier in the day: “Luis is in the past: he’s finished, I won’t coach any more.”

But later on Thursday he claimed his words had been misinterpreted and that he was still interested in coaching, as long as a good enough offer came up.

“About this, no-one is retiring, never,” Aragones told the Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

“I haven’t announced anything.

They misinterpreted my words, at no moment did I want to say that I was retiring.l

though we have got two number one seeds in our group.”

Hodgson’s side then take on Uruguay in Sao Paulo and Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte.

“It’s a tough, tough group. Also we didn’t want to play in one of the hottest places where there is 99% humidity,”

GROUPINGS Group A Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon Group B Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia Group C Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan Group D Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy Group E Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras Group F Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria Group G Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA Group H Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea former England striker Alan Shearer told the BBC. A notable subplot will see Germany go up against the United States, now coached by former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Also in Group G are Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Ghana.

After a poignant homage to the late

Nelson Mandela, the draw began to the exhilarating sound of samba at the northeastern beach resort of Costa do Sauipe. The draw build-up had been dominated by news of stadium delays and anti-World Cup campaigners threatening public protest.

Yet Mandela’s death changed the tone as participants remembered how he saw in sport a means of fostering social progress.

Friday’s lottery involved some complex juggling by FIFA to separate as far as possible teams from the same continent. And, while five groups unavoidably contained two European sides, given the Old Continent’s 13 qualifiers in the 32-strong field, they just about managed it.

All eight former champions are taking part and only surprise package BosniaHerzegovina will be making their debut.

France, champions in 1998 but forced to come through the playoffs, will meet Group E seeds Switzerland as well as Ecuador and Honduras in what should leave coach and 1998 winning captain Didier Deschamps generally optimistic.

Other groups threw up some mixed bags as Japan were lumped in with seeded Colombia, Ivory Coast and Greece in Group C while Bosnia have to impress against the might of two-time champions Argentina, Iran and Nigeria in Group F. Group H, completing the line up, contains seeded Belgium, unpredictable Russia, South Korea – semi-finalists on home soil in 2002 – and Algeria. l

Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke (c and on screen) shows a paper with the name of Australia during the final draw of the Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup, in Costa do sauipe, Bahia state, Brazil yesterday

AFP

Moyes demands response from slumping United n AFP, London

David Moyes has demanded Manchester United stop their season from spiralling out of control when the struggling champions face Newcastle on Saturday.

United manager Moyes endured a dispiriting evening at Old Trafford on Wednesday as his former club Everton stole a 1-0 victory thanks to a late goal from Bryan Oviedo. The shock defeat left Moyes’ men languishing in ninth place in the Premier League and trailing leaders Arsenal by 12 points.

It was the latest setback in a troubled start to Moyes’ reign following his appointment as Alex Ferguson’s successor and left their hopes of retaining the title hanging by a slender thread.

United have already lost four times in the league this term after losing just

five matches in the entire 38-game campaign last season, prompting some critics to claim the Scot is out of his depth at Old Trafford.

But Moyes remains convinced United can salvage a traumatic campaign if they get back on track quickly.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew believes Moyes will get it right eventually, but he knows the intense pressure on United could help the Magpies when they visit Manchester on Saturday.

United’s struggles have added to the growing sense that Arsenal’s surge to the top of the table could be the prelude to a first English title for the Gunners since 2004.

Arsene Wenger’s side, 2-0 winners over Hull in midweek, are four points clear of second placed Chelsea.

They face a tough test against United’s conquerers Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Arsenal’s Span-

ish midfielder Mikel Arteta is confident the Gunners’ superb run of form has given them the belief they can last the pace.

Chelsea travel to Stoke, with Frank Lampard warning his team-mates not to

FIXTURES Crystal Palace Liverpool Man United Southampton Stoke Sunderland West Brom

v v v v v v v

Cardiff West Ham Newcastle Man City Chelsea Tottenham Norwich

get complacent after back to back victories over Southampton and Sunderland.

Lampard, a scorer in the 4-3 midweek win at Sunderland, is pleased with Chelsea’s improvement after a rocky patch but he said: “A lot of that is attitude and

focus. We have got the squad, we have got the players, but we have to get ourselves up for every game.

Manchester City, six points behind Arsenal in third place, travel to Southampton, who have slipped to eighth after three successive defeats.

City captain Vincent Kompany is hopeful a win at St Mary’s will signal the start of a charge for the title from the 2012 champions.

Fourth placed Liverpool, who host West Ham, look a strong contender to qualify for the Champions League after demolishing Norwich 5-1 in midweek and Reds midfielder Joe Allen admits the scintillating form of Luis Suarez holds the key to their challenge. Uruguay forward Suarez scored four times against Norwich and Allen said: “That was a masterclass. There are not many teams in the world who would be able to cope with that kind of performance.” l

Fifa mourns “great humanist” Mandela n AFP, Costa Do Sauipe World football chief Sepp Blatter described Nelson Mandela as one of the “greatest humanists of our time” on Thursday after the former South African president passed away.

“It is in deep mourning that I pay my respects to an extraordinary person, probably one of the greatest humanists of our time and a dear friend of mine, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,” said Blatter, who is in Brazil for Friday’s World Cup draw.

Blatter paid warm personal tribute to Mandela.

“He and I shared an unwavering belief in the extraordinary power of football (and sport generally) to unite people in peace and friendship, and to teach basic social and educational values as a school of life,” said Blatter. l

Dortmund out to reclaim second spot from Leverkusen n AFP, Berlin

Argentine striker Lionel Messi kicks a ball during a training session at the squad's headquarters in this handout photo provided by the Argentine Soccer Association (AFA) in Buenos Aires on Thursday REUTERS

No guarantee Messi will be fit for January: Martino n AFP, Madrid

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has said he can’t guarantee that World Player of the Year Lionel Messi will be fit to feature when his side return to action after the Spanish winter break in January.

Messi was ruled out for the rest of the year after tearing his hamstring last month and in his absence Barca have suffered two consecutive defeats for the first time since March.

The Catalans’ unbeaten start to their La Liga campaign was ended by a 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao last weekend just five days after Martino had tasted defeat for the first time as Barca boss in

a 2-1 reverse away to Ajax.

Messi is currently back in Argentina continuing his recovery and is expected to return to Barcelona at the beginning of January.

However, Martino refused to confirm that his compatriot would definitely be fit for a return to action at the start of 2014 with Barca set to visit joint La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid on January 12.

“He is working as planned, completing the different stages of his recovery.

We hope that he will be ready at the start of January, but the closer we get to the date we will see if he needs more time,” said the coach.

“We cannot guarantee when he will

be ready, what interests us more is that he has completely recovered.”

Despite still leading La Liga, and having already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, Martino and his players have come in for some severe criticism from local media due to their back-to-back defeats.

However, he is hoping that the critics will force a response from his players when they travel to face third-tier Cartagena in the first-leg of their Copa del Rey tie on Friday.

Martino has received a boost on the injury front as left-back Jordi Alba is fit enough to be included in the squad for the Cartagena match for the first time in nearly three months. l

Despite the festive season, Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has said his side must not give away any more points when they host Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday’s key Bundesliga clash.

Third-placed Dortmund take on second-placed Leverkusen at Borussia’s Westfalenstadion with both teams battling to stay in touch with European champions Bayern Munich, who are four points clear of Leverkusen and seven ahead of Dortmund.

Dortmund slipped to third last month when they suffered back-toback league defeats at Wolfsburg and at home to Bayern, having lost their entire back four to injury, but this is their chance to reclaim second.

Minister unhappy about Samba drums ban n Reuters, Costa Do Sauipe Fifa has banned samba drums from Brazil’s World Cup stadiums but even though local authorities are not happy about it they say it will not diminish the atmosphere inside the 12 arenas during next year’s tournament.

“As a Brazilian and a soccer fan it is a part of our culture having samba instruments and musical instruments in the stadiums (during) the games so that is a normal part of the atmosphere around football games,” said Deputy Sports Minister Luis Fernandes.

“For us it would have been better if we could have musical instruments inside the games but I don’t think it will make a major difference because people are extremely enthusiastic for football. l

“There are three league games left this year, we have nothing more to give away and we all want to win,” said Klopp.

“We have 31 points, which isn’t bad, nevertheless we have lost points along the way and that has hurt us.”

FIXTURES Nurnberg Gladbach Frankfurt Hamburger VfB Stuttgart Werder Bremen Dortmund

v v v v v v v

Mainz 05 Schalke 04 Hoffenheim Augsburg Hannover 96 Bayern Munich Leverkusen

Should Dortmund win and Bayern win or draw at Werder Bremen, to extend their unbeaten Bundesliga run to a record 40 matches, the Bavarians would open a seven-point gap at the top.

Leverkusen, coached by ex-Liverpool

defender Sami Hyypia, were thrashed 5-0 at home by Manchester United in the Champions League ten days ago and are eager to restore battered confidence against Borussia Dortmund.

“They have the chance to make amends against us, but we are at home and we have ambitions of reaching a high position in the table,” said Klopp.

“A win against Leverkusen is always something special.”

Hyypia was guarded about his side’s chances at Westfalenstadion.

“It is always hard to take something from Dortmund,” said the ex-Finland star.

“Borussia have shown, over several years, that they are a top team.

“They are simply better and we should be pleased that we are currently in front of them in the table.”

Dortmund’s main injury concern is Germany midfielder Marco Reus, who is nursing a calf injury. l

Rodgers dismisses talk of Suarez exit pact n AFP, London Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says that there is no agreement with Luis Suarez that would allow him to leave the club if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The Uruguayan striker said he was unhappy at Liverpool during the close season and the Merseyside club had to fend off interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal before persuading him to stay put.

“There never was that before and there never was that this summer,” the Liverpool manager said, in comments reported by several British newspapers on Friday.

“I didn’t sit in on the conversations,

but as I understand it there is no agreement of any kind.

“The contract was what it was. We want him to stay and with his contract running for two and a half years, I am sure there will be something between now and the end of the season to keep him here.

“There will be a number of dependencies on that, but the most important thing is that the player is happy.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Saturday, December 7, 2013

QUICK BYTES Siddikur out

SCORE CARD, DAY 2 Australia 1st innings (overnight 273 for 5) Chris Rogers c Prior b Swann 72 David Warner c Carberry b Broad 29 Shane Watson c & b Anderson 51 Michael Clarke c Anderson b Stokes 148 Steve Smith b Panesar 6 George Bailey c Swann b Broad 53 Brad Haddin c Prior b Broad 118 Mitchell Johnson c Broad b Swann 5 Peter Siddle c Prior b Stokes 2 Ryan Harris not out 55 Nathan Lyon not out 17 Extras (8b, 1lb, 1w, 4nb) 14 Total (9 wkts declared; 158 overs) 570

Siddikur Rahman missed the cut in the Hong Kong Open after a poor display in the second round where he carded a three-over-par 73 at the Hong Kong Golf Club yesterday. After an average first round performance which saw him in 69th position, Siddikur finished the second day at jointly 97th with a total score of four-over-par 144. In the second round, the 29-year-old played four bogeys and only one birdie, which showed him the exit door from the US$1.3 million event. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Jbe Kruger paid a fitting tribute to the passing of Nelson Mandela by storming into the lead at the end of the second round with a four-under-par 66. As the only South African in the strong field where over 30 Asian Tour champions have gathered at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Kruger broke clear of the chasing pack during an extraordinary runwhere he made six birdies in seven holes to sign for a two-day total of seven-under-par 133.

–Tribune Sport Desk

Cairns, Tuffey shock at match-fixing probe New Zealand cricketers Chris Cairns and Daryl Tuffey have expressed shock at being linked to a match-fixing probe, with at least one of them seeking legal advice. Three former New Zealand representatives are under investigation by the International Cricket Council for alleged match-fixing, but only one, Lou Vincent, has confirmed he is cooperating with the inquiry. The others, Cairns and Tuffey, both said they were in the dark. Tuffey told Television New Zealand on Friday he was seeking legal advice.

“I’m in the dark, the allegations are a shock to me,” the 35-year-old said from Australia where he is now based. Cairns said Thursday, when news of the matchfixing investigation broke, that he had had no contact with the ICC. –AFP

Shevchenko to join Nadal at live poker tournament

Football legends Ronaldo and Andriy Shevchenko will be among the big names to compete against world tennis number one Rafael Nadal at his first live poker tournament next week, organisers said Thursday. Retired Brazilian striker Ronaldo and Ukrainian Shevchenko will join poker buff Nadal at the charity tournament in the Czech capital Prague on December 12, said online gaming firm PokerStars, with whom Nadal has an endorsement deal. “Ronaldo has always been a hero of mine and I’m looking forward to taking him on at the poker table,” Nadal, 27, said in a statement released by PokerStars. “There are many similarities between sport and poker strategy, so it will be good to see how he translates his game from the football field to the poker felt.”

–AFP

Silva in line for return against Bayern Manchester City playmaker David Silva could make his return from injury in his side’s final Champions League group fixture at Bayern Munich next week, manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed on Friday. The Spanish attacking midfielder has missed City’s last five matches due to a calf injury. Asked when he might be ready to return to action, Pellegrini told a press conference: “Maybe on Monday he will be ready. “We’ll see the way he works tomorrow (Saturday) and on Sunday, and I will then decide next week (if he can feature against Bayern).” City, who visit Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, have already secured their place in the Champions League knockout phase. Pellegrini also said that he expects captain Vincent Kompany to retain his place for the trip to St Mary’s after making his return from a two-month injury lay-off in Wednesday’s 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Golf 11:00AM Hong Kong Open Day 3 Star Sports 4 English Premier League 6:00PM Man United v Newcastle 8:20PM Southampton v Man City 10:50PM Sunderland v Tottenham Seri A 1:10 AM Napoli vs. Udinese Star Sports 1 6:00AM (Sunday) Australia v England Second Test, Day 3

Bowling Anderson 30-10-85-1 (1nb), Broad 303-98-3 (1w), Swann 36-4-151-2, Panesar 44-7-157-1, Stokes 18-2-70-2 (3nb) England 1st innings Alastair Cook b Johnson 3 Michael Carberry not out 20 Joe Root not out 9 Extras (lb1, nb2) 3 Total (1 wkt; 21 overs) 35

Australian batting pair Michael Clarke (C) and Brad Haddin run between the wickets against England during day two of their second Ashes Test in Adelaide yesterday

AFP

Aussies take control of 2nd Test n AFP, Adelaide

Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin plundered centuries before a firebrand Mitchell Johnson blasted out England captain Alastair Cook to leave the tourists reeling in the second Ashes Test on Friday.

Skipper Clarke claimed his third century in five Ashes Tests and his 26th overall, while vice-captain Haddin smashed four sixes in his fourth Test ton to help the home side declare at 570 for nine.

Johnson, hurling down 150 km/h (93 mph) thunderbolts, knocked over Cook for three in his second over to ram home Australia’s advantage.

By the close of the second day, the tourists were hanging on against a hostile Australian attack at 35 for one with

Michael Carberry on 20 and Joe Root, who took one on the chest from Johnson, not out nine.

It was very much Australia’s day as Clarke and Haddin put on 200 runs -- the highest sixth-wicket stand in all Tests in Adelaide, eclipsing the 191 shared by Imran Khan and Wasim Akram for Pakistan in 1990.

Clarke continued his love affair with the Adelaide Oval with his sixth century in nine Tests at the famous ground, while Haddin brought up his third Ashes hundred.

Johnson, the man-of-the-match with nine wickets in Australia’s huge 381-run win in the first Gabba Test, put the icing on the cake with the psychological wicket of Cook, who scored 148 in England’s innings win in Adelaide three years ago.

Bravo double ton thwarts NZ victory push n Reuters Darren Bravo provided stubborn resistance to New Zealand’s bowlers bringing up his maiden test double century to ensure West Indies made the hosts bat again and sent the first test at University Oval in Dunedin into a fifth and final day.

Bravo, whose previous highest test score was 195 against Bangladesh in 2011, ended Friday’s fourth day on 210 not out after he had guided the visitors to 443 for six in their second innings, a lead of 47 runs.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy, although still hampered by a hamstring injury sustained while bowling, remained unbeaten on 44 after he and Bravo had put on a quick-fire 80-run partnership.

The hosts also did not help themselves by dropping two difficult chances throughout the day.

New Zealand had high hopes of pushing for victory on Friday after they had asked the visitors to follow on before tea on the third day when they dismissed West Indies for 213 in their first innings, well short of the home side’s 609-9 declared.

Victory appeared all but certain when New Zealand took two early wickets on Friday, dismissing Marlon Samuels for 23, caught and bowled by Tim Southee, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul for just one to leave the visitors struggling on 185-4.

Bravo and Narsingh Deonarine, however, put on 122 runs for the fifth wicket before left-arm medium pacer Corey Anderson struck shortly before tea.

The left-handed Bravo, who has so far faced 404 balls and batted for almost 10 hours, and Sammy then ensured Brendon McCullum’s frustrated side would need to bat again. l

Cook was beaten by Johnson’s sheer pace with his off-stump knocked back by a beautiful swinging delivery to a huge roar from the 35,000 Adelaide crowd.

It gave Clarke 1,008 runs this calendar year at 53.05 and it was his fourth Test century of the year.

Haddin rode his luck for his 118, containing five sixes and 11 boundaries.

England suffered a cruel blow when Haddin was given out for a catch behind off Stokes for 51, only to be recalled by the umpire when Stokes was found to have over-stepped for a no-ball – cancelling out his first Test wicket.

In scenes reminiscent of the badtempered first Test in Brisbane, Haddin and Stokes sniped at each other after the over and South African umpire Marais Erasmus had to intervene to

keep the players apart.

Carberry, who dropped Haddin late on the first day, gave the Australia wicketkeeper another “life”.

Clarke darted off for a quick single off Monty Panesar and with Carberry’s throw from behind the wicket wide, wicketkeeper Matt Prior could not effect the run out of Haddin on 18.

Following Clarke’s dismissal, Australia lost the wickets of Johnson (5) and Peter Siddle (2) before fast bowler Ryan Harris continued the plunder with consecutive sixes off spinner Graeme Swann as he reached his second Test half-century on 55 when Clarke called a halt with 21 overs left.

Australia clouted a record 12 sixes in an Ashes innings, which bettered the previous 10 by England at Edgbaston in 2005. l

Bowling Johnson 7-3-9-1 (2nb), Harris 5-4-3-0, Lyon 5-1-17-0, Siddle 4-2-5-0 Toss: Australia

Dhoni blasts India bowlers n AFP, Johannesburg

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lamented a poor bowling performance after South African prodigy Quinton de Kock set up a 141-run victory for the hosts in the first one-day international at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.

De Kock, 12 days short of his 21st birthday, hit a thrilling 135 off 121 balls in a South African total of 358 for four after the hosts were sent in to bat.

India’s top order were blown away by the South African fast bowlers and some sharp fielding.

Despite an innings of 65 by Dhoni they could only manage 217 in reply, giving South Africa a win by 141 runs and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. l

SCORE CARD New Zealand 1st innings 609-9 dec (R. Taylor 217 n.o., B. McCullum 113, H. Rutherford 62, P. Fulton 61; T. Best 3-148) West Indies 1st innings 213 (S. Chanderpaul 76; T. Southee 4-52, T. Boult 3-40) West Indies 2nd innings (overnight 168-2) K. Edwards lbw b Sodhi 59 K. Powell c Southee b Boult 14 D. Bravo not out 210 M. Samuels c & b Southee 23 S. Chanderpaul lbw Wagner 1 N. Deonarine c Watling b Anderson 52 D. Ramdin b Sodhi 24 D. Sammy not out 44 Extras (b4, lb5, w5, nb2) 16 Total (6 wickets; 139 overs) 443 Bowling Southee 26-4-90-1, Boult 28-871-1 (1w), Wagner 25-2-96-1 (2nb), Anderson 14-2-29-1, Sodhi 41-6-130-2, Redmond 5-1-18-0 Toss: West Indies

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo celebrates his double century against New Zealand on the fourth day of their 1st Test at University Oval in Dunedin yesterday AP

Tamim champions ‘fearless’ approach n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Beximco Pharma celebrate their Marcel Corporate Cricket title yesterday

COURTESY

Beximco Pharma clinch corporate cricket title n Raihan Mahmood

Beximco Pharma emerged as the champions of 3rd Marcel T-20 Corporate Cricket after beating Anowara group by 63 runs in the final at Dhaka Residential Model School & College ground yesterday.

Winning the toss, Beximco Pharma opted to bat and posted 177/6 in 20 overs, with AIM Moniruzzaman starring with an innings of 90 off 52 balls, while Bashar Sharif and Taposh of Anowara group took two wickets each.

In reply, Anowara group were bowled out for 114 runs in 19 overs, with Jewel top scoring with 28 from 26 balls. Morshed Ali Khan Sumon and Noor of Bex-

imco both claimed three wickets.

AIM Moniruzzaman of Beximco Pharma was named man of the match and Syed Adil Ahmed of the same team was adjudged man of the tournament.

Santos Sangu Field Limited won the Fair Play Trophy of the tournament.

The champion team received a purse of Tk 100,000 and a 32 inch LED TV. Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby and Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, the directors of Bangladesh Cricket Board, Zahid Hassan, Executive director of RB group, Moinuddin Ahmed, DMD of Green Delta Insurance, Mosharrof Hossain Rajib, Head of Marcel and Udoy Hakim, ED of RB group were at the presentation ceremony and distributed the prizes. l

Fearless cricket should be Bangladesh’s approach to the ICC World Twenty20 2014 for a positive result believes national opening batsman Tamim Iqbal.

The dashing southpaw told the media so at the signing ceremony with the Matador Shaving Industries as the Brand Ambassador yesterday.

“Playing the qualifiers is a tough task for us as we will have to win all the games in the first round to qualify for the Super Ten. Even a single defeat will put our chances into equations and we don’t want that to happen. To avoid that, I believe we should play fearless cricket.

“It is often seen that we fall apart whenever we think too much about a particular game, like when we play against Zimbabwe. Everyone expects us to win and outperform them (Zimbabwe) which to be honest, puts pressure on us. But this should not be an issue if we play fearlessly,” he said.

To qualify for the second stage of the event, Bangladesh will have to top a group that includes Afghanistan, Nepal and Hong Kong.

“Afghanistan should be the toughest opponents. They are a very good side and have a few of their cricketers who performed well in our domestic tournament recently. So we are getting strategies set against them and we have an important series ahead of

the World Cup, so, performing in the homes series (against Sri Lanka in January) will get us a good momentum,” said the left-handed batsman.

Tamim who is nursing a lower abdominal strain, will miss the Bangladesh Cricket Board Challenge Cup Twenty20 three match series between the national team and Bangladesh “A” team starting from December 10. The 24-year old informed the media that he expects to gain match fitness by the third week of the running month.

“I have got a fitness Test tomorrow (today). The team physiotherapist has said it will take at least another two weeks to gain match fitness. Don’t have

any pain or trouble at the moment but I think the physio wants to avoid risks and because we have some time, he wanted to make sure that I gain full fitness,” informed Tamim.

The Chittagong lad joined Matador to promote recently launched shaving blades and has inked a yearlong contract with the local business giant.

“I feel proud that I got the opportunity to promote a local product. There are many foreign companies in the market selling similar products but I believe Matador will be able be the finest among them.

I learnt about Matador’s strategy and the technology they are using and to be honest, it is simply amazing,” he said. l

Tamim Iqbal becomes the brand ambassador of Matador yesterday

COURTESY

16

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Saturday, December 7, 2013

Essentials prices soar despite huge supply n Abu Bakar Siddique Prices of essential food items are still high in the capital’s retail markets despite the huge supply that came in yesterday after a six-day countrywide blockade by the BNP-led 18 party alliance.

Traders in the retail markets have been selling their products at the same high prices as the last week, even though the prices in wholesale markets fell significantly due to fresh supply.

At Mohamadpur, Rampura and Mirpur kitchen markets, the prices remained just as high as the last week.

However, winter vegetables like tomato and bean were sold respectively at Tk100 and Tk50 for per Kg in Mohammadpur, Rampura and Mirpur kitchen markets while those were selling at Tk60 and Tk25 in Karwan Bazar, this correspondent found that on yesterday.

“The prices of vegetables fell as soon as the products entered Dhaka early in the morning,” Khurshid Alam, a trader in Karwan Bazar kitchen market said yesterday, adding that they would rise again today as another spell of three-

day long blockade starts.

Kokhon Miya, a retailer in Mirpur market, admitted that the prices in the wholesale market had fallen a bit.

“But we must sell at a higher price, because all other expenditures, like transportation, have increased in the city, and business has been really poor in the last week,” he said.

He also said the prices of vegetable in the wholesale market would rise again from today when supplies stop due to the blockade.

Usually around 400 trucks loaded with food, including vegetables, comes into the city every day. The produce comes from different districts including Jessore, Meherpur, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra and Naogaon, who are the biggest producers of vegetable.

However, nearly trucks of nearly atwice that number entered Dhaka from Thursday night, said Majedul Islam, another wholesale trader of Karwan Bazar kitchen market.

City people are deprived of having winter vegetables at cheaper prices due to frequent shutdowns and political programmes called by the opposition. l

Arson attack victim Hassan’s mother laments the death of his son in the coridor of DMCH yesterday

BTRC to fix price for internet mini-packs n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is expecting to hold a meeting with the mobile phone operators of the country for fixing mobile internet bandwidth price, especially for mini-packs, to protect end users.

Sources said, the telecom watchdog compared different packages from the operators and has primarily decided to fix the price for every 100 Megabytes (MB) of data below Tk20, for both 2G and 3G subscribers. At the same time, it wants to reduce the number of packages offered.

Mobile phone operators, however, were not interested about such a regulation, and were worried that they might post losses.

“We have just introduced the third generation (3G), which needs sometime to mature the services and the data market also,” a senior executive of a mobile operator told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said: “As it is a huge investment venture, the regulator should have declared their aspirations before the 3G spectrum auction. Then we could have thought it out.”

But the commission said it wanted

to regulate the price for the betterment of the industry and it was a continuous process.

“We are trying to do something new for the betterment of the industry. I think it will help our industry to become more mature,” Md Giashuddin Ahmed, vice-chairman of the BTRC told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said BTRC would not do anything without consulting the industry.

“We are trying to introduce the same thing what we had for voice and SMS tariff regulation earlier,” he said.

Earlier, BTRC had fixed the threshold for call tariff between Tk0.25 and Tk2 per minute in 2008. It had also revised off-net call charges (termination to other network) at less than Tk0.60.

In 2011, BTRC had fixed the local SMS tariff at maximum Tk0.50 and for international operators Tk2 only. It also introduced 10 second pulse for any calls last year, a decision operators opposed at that time.

The telecom regulator scheduled a meeting regarding internet bandwidth pricing on November 27, then rescheduled it to December 2, but, it would change the date again because of consecutive blockades.

“Operators are not interested in attending the meeting during hartal

and blockades, so the decision has to wait,” a BTRC high-up told the Dhaka Tribune.

Currently, market leader, Grameenphone on its 3G network is offering 500MB of data for only Tk50 with a 512Kbps (kilobits per second) bandwidth, with a validity period of just five days.

Meanwhile, Banglalink offers 50MB of data for Tk50 with 1Mbps bandwidth, with a validity of 15 days.

In comparison, Robi offers 200MB of data for Tk100 at 512Kbps for seven days only.

However, the pricing of 3G internet packages has much been criticised, with several ICT-based organisations staging protests, human chains, a sit-in in front of the BTRC headquarters.

Julius Chowdhury, one of the coordinators of these protests, recently told the Dhaka Tribune: “Internet price is a bar towards making Bangladesh a digital nation. We had earlier arranged movements, and BTRC promised us that it would take steps to for its regulation. I hope it will finally happen.”

Meanwhile, BTRC sources said different operators have dozens of packages for their internet services, which the regulator wants to cut down. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

ARSON ATTACK

One more join the procession of dead n Mohammad Jamil Khan Mehedi had a deep yearning to return to his village home where he belonged just before he breathed his last at 10am yesterday at the burn and plastic surgery unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

“Ma, please take me home, I want to go home,” this was the dying wish of Mehedi Hasan who received 64% burn injury in a petrol bomb attack on November 30.

He was only 26-year old, a truck driver by profession. He comes from Palranga of Faridpur.

Mehedi came under petrol bomb attack in Horishova area of Faridpur while he was going home. Later, he was taken to the DMCH on December 1 and shifted to the ICU on December 3 as his condition deteriorated.

His father Tara Mia is a farmer and only brother Montu Mia is a truck driver. The family of Mehedi runs on the incomes of two brothers.

Kohinur, wife of the victim, was crying her heart out: “Now I have no one left to support me and my two daughters – Mithila, 5, and Mim, 2. Last night he requested me to talk to his younger brother

Montu to ensure his better treatment.”

“This world is too cruel. Why did he leave me alone in this cruel world?”

Kohinur burst into hysterical sobbing shattering the silence of the burn unit yesterday noon.

Shaheda Akther, mother of victim, said on the day of arson attack Mehedi called on her cell phone and said he would be coming home but after a couple of minutes he phoned again saying that he had been burnt by a petrol bomb.

“My son was everything to me but the cruel destiny took him from me,” Shaheda sprawling out on the floor near the doorway of the burn unit said with tears welling up in her eyes.

She said her son had never taken part in any political programmes.

“Then why did he have to lose her life in political violence?” her question reverberated through the corridor of the hospital.

With Mehedi the number of the death toll rose to 13 at the burn unit since October 27. Mehedi died within 12 hours of the death of his bus helper.

Five of the two dozens more burn patients are still undergoing treatment at the ICU in critical condition. They

are Jahangir Hossain Mridha suffering from 10% burn Abdul Aziz suffering from 35% burn, Rahajul suffering from 30% burn Abu Talha suffering from 28% burn and Nurnabi suffering from 35% burn.

Contacted, Dr Shah Alam Bhuyan of the ICU, says the condition of the five patients was critical as respiratory systems of all of them were affected.

“However, we are providing best possible treatment and the special medical board is also taking care of them to ensure the best treatment,” he said.

Since October 27 around 131 people have been admitted to the DMCH after they came under arson attacks.

Meanwhile, Jahanara Begum, 50, wife of late Shamsu Mia, of Dhalkanagar in Shyampur, sustained 27% burn injury as miscreants set fire to her auto-rickshaw at Shyampur truck stand around 7.45pm.

She was rushed to the DMCH. She said she was coming from her daughter Rita’s house to her home but when he reached the truck stand miscreants threw a petrol bomb at the rickshaw and before she came off it the fire caught her. l

Police ask building owners Students rush to to stop running messes, schools on weekend n allow bachelor tenants Mushfique Wadud

n Kailash Sarkar In a recent move, police have started asking building owners in the capital to stop running messes in their buildings and to not rent flats to bachelors.

Law enforcers have also warned building owners that they would be liable for any untoward incident which takes place in their messes.

According to police sources, officials from all police stations within the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) area had been warning building owners who run messes in their buildings in this regard, at the directives of high authorities of the police department.

Police sources said the directives came as a bid to stop criminal activities in messes, following a number untoward incidents in and around the capital.

They claimed they have acquired intelligence that some criminals, mainly the activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, had been carrying out unlawful activities while taking shelter in different messes.

Imtiaz Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Mirpur Division of the DMP, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are discouraging the house owners to run messes in their buildings because in many cases, criminals use the buildings as shelters for carrying out subversive and criminal activities.”

“It is very easy for criminals to take shelter in such messes, hiding their identities or using fake identities. We have faced and found many such cases

where the criminals had been making bombs in these shelters and also carrying out other criminal acts,” he added.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, DC Imtiaz, however, agreed that the move might have left bachelors and a huge number of other people in difficulties but to that he said: “In emergency cases, we have asked the house owners to maintain CCTVs and allow tenants after verifying their identities.”

‘It is very easy for criminals to take shelter in such messes, hiding their identities or using fake identities. We have faced and found many such cases where the criminals had been making bombs in these shelters and also carrying out other criminal acts’ “Since many owners use their building to run messes commercially for extra income, they should have taken some responsibilities as well,” the DC said, adding: “As police keep residential hotels and slums under vigilance, criminals have opted for residential buildings to carry out criminal acts.”

Asked which buildings would come under surveillance, Kazi Wazed Ali, officer-in-charge of Kafrul police station, said they had started to monitor all residential buildings that provide mess services within the station’s jurisdiction.

“The mess members are also under our surveillances”, the OC added. l

Class II student Tasfia Tasneem, attended an exam yesterday. This has become a regular practice for her; her mother, Tahmina Akhter told the Dhaka Tribune that Tasfia seemed to be under the impression that her school had introduced a new system where classes and exams were held only on weekends.

“Almost through the whole year, classes and exams were held on weekends due to hartals and blockade programmes of the opposition,” Tahmina said.

“We are now worried about how long this will continue,” she said.

The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance has been enforcing blockades in the last few weeks, at a time when Bangla medium schools usually hold their annual exams and English medium schools have midterms.

Like the weekend before last, city schools held exams yesterday after the scheduled exams could not be held during the blockade programme.

“It has now become the norm that classes and exams will be held on the weekends,” said Khaleed Hossain, a guardian of a Kakoli High School student .

“This cannot continue indefinitely. The whole year we suffered and students attended classes and exams on weekends,” he said.

Kaiser Haque, whose son goes to Mastermind School in Kalabagan, was seen returning home with his son after an exam.

“My son just took his first mid-term exams. I fear that he has to take exams every weekend,” he said. He said his lifestyle had changed as he now has to take his son to school every weekend.

The Primary School Certificate examinees took their last exam yesterday. Several of their exams were postponed due to the opposition blockade. Some 163,857 students were absent on the last day of primary school certificate examinations.

Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Principal Manju Ara Begum told the Dhaka Tribune that they were facing serious problems in scheduling exams.

“We could not hold exams as our school was a centre for PSC exam.

We are now worried as to how to complete the exams. Even if we hold exams on weekends, it will be difficult to complete all of them,” she said.

Farhad Hossain, principal of city’s Monipur High School, told the Dhaka Tribune that they would continue their examinations even during blockade programmes.

Sadhan Kumar Biswas, the deputy director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, told the Dhaka Tribune that the Election Commission had directed them to complete examinations by December 7 but they were unable to do so due to blockades. l

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