08 March 2014

Falgun 23, 1420 Jamadiul Awal 6, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 344

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

5 | RUBANA HUQ: EMBLEM OF EMPATHY

7 | THE SOONER THE BETTER

16 pages | Price: Tk10

9 | JAYALALITHAA CALLS UP MAMATA

13 | ‘PAKISTAN READY FOR ANYTHING’

Punishment in BCL stands for rich rewards

‘Islamist groups a barrier to women’s emancipation’ n Udisa Islam At a time when Bangladesh has been making great strides in ensuring women’s emancipation, Islamist groups are spreading propaganda to constrain the progress achieved so far, women’s rights activists have claimed.

Although Bangladesh has achieved praise from international organisations for the country’s performance in recent years in ensuring women’s emancipation, the Islamist groups have stayed active to slow down the process of gaining gender equality, they said.

Expelled leaders in most cases were awarded with vitals posts n Ahmed Zayeef In most cases it seems to be a real boon to the leaders and activists involved in violence in the politics of Bangladesh Chhatra League as such infamy earn them reputation and recognition in the party hierarchy.

There has been a load of examples in the student front of the ruling Awami League that is very often found taking organisational action against those involved in terrorist acts.

But when an incident slips into oblivion the leaders and activists involved in it are eventually rewarded.

Anwar Hossain Anu, now the organising secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) central committee, was once suspended when he was an activist of Dhaka University unit in 2008. His offense was to assault his co-activists.

Just a year after when his suspension was still in place Anu was made the general secretary of Salimullah Muslim Hall unit. In 2012 he became the organising secretary of the central committee after his tenure was over in

the hall committee.

Not only Anwar the ruling Awami League’s student wing has rewarded those who had to face punitive measures earlier for their violent and criminal acts with the vital and powerful posts.

Ahmedul Bashar, now the assistant secretary of the central committee, was suspended from the organisation when he was the president of Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University.

Hafijur Rahman, now the assistant secretary of the central committee, was suspended in 2012 when he was the joint convener of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.

Mohiuddin Mahi, now the information and technology secretary of the central committee, was suspended from the Haji Muhammod Muhsin Hall BCL committee because of his involvement in a violent factional clash in 2010.

AB Siddique Rahat, now the deputy environmental secretary of the central committee, was also expelled both  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

P2

The Supreme Court in India yesterday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress whether they were willing to explore the possibility of forming an alternate government in Delhi.

A bench of the apex court, headed

by Justice RM Lodha, issued notice to the parties after it was told that the entire justification for keeping the Delhi assembly under suspended animation was with an eye to possible defections in the existing legislative groups of different political parties in the legislature.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the petitioner, told the court that once the assembly has been placed under suspended

gladeshi female migrant worker, went abroad last year to work as a cleaner at a madrasa in the United Arab Emirates.

Instead of getting her promised job, the representative of the Bangladeshi recruiting agency in the UAE placed Kohinur in a house as a domestic help, where her employer’s son raped her.

She was sent back to the country after becoming pregnant, and gave birth to a son last week.

Kohinur, who has been receiving treatment at a Mohammadpur health facility after giving birth, has no plan of rearing up the child.

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Housewife killed, body dumped 80 feet beneath surface! n Tribune Report An expatriate man hired a killer in exchange for Tk two lakh to kill her wife and dump the body 80 feet beneath the surface in a worn-out tube well’s pipe in Debidar of Comilla.

The shocking incident was revealed after police arrested the alleged killer Abdul Karim after around a month on Thursday evening. Acting on his information, police located the body of victim Shahina Akhter, 32, but could not recover it till yesterday.

Brother of the victim Shah Alam Sarker said Shahina and Mobarrak Hossain,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

The newborn, who was conceived after his mother was raped by her employer in the UAE, is being attended by relatives at a clinic in Dhaka yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

INSIDE News

3 The participation of female politicians in the decision making levels in all political parties have remained at around 2%, even though the law stipulates at least 33% participation of women in all committees, including the executive committee.

4 A lease on haors (wetland) hits biodiversity in the country as the lessees

try their best to reap benefits from the water bodies, experts have observed.

Nation

6 Some unscrupulous officials at the district civil surgeon’s office in Barguna are said to have pocketed around Tk six lakh from primary school teachers in the name of fitness test, a perquisite to come under the nationalisation scheme of the government.

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Hasina: Nobody to be allowed to play with people’s fate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on yesterday said the government would not allow anyone to play with the fate of people of the country.

“Many have conspired against the country but failed. Nobody will be allowed to play with the fate of Bangla-

Cheated by recruiters, raped by employer

Indian SC asks BJP, Congress if they would form Delhi government n Rabiul Islam n Tribune Report Kohinur (not her real name), a Ban-

Maidan – now the Suhrawardy Udyan.

His fiery speech led the nation to the decisive struggle for independence.

The prime minister on Friday arrived at the rally venue around 4:30pm.

Thousands of party leaders and activists thronged the venue.

In her speech the premier urged the

To address the situation, the Nari Nirjaton Pratirodh Committee, a body formed by several women’s rights bodies, will mark the International Women’s Day placing a demand for a ban on all Islamist parties to establish gender equality.

In 2006, the Global Gender Gap Index had ranked Bangladesh 91st out of 115 countries in terms of gender equality. However, in the 2013 index, the country was placed 75th among 136 countries, compared to being ranked 86th and 69th out of 135 countries in 2012 and 2011.

The index ranks countries according to the gender gaps on economic, political, education and health-based criteria, and provides country rankings that allow for effective comparison across regions, income groups and time.

As per the Human Development

Rahima and Akhi, survivors of acid violence, participate in a human chain organised by the Acid Survivors Foundation, Bangladesh in front of the National Press Club, protesting acid attacks on women MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Emran Hossain Shaikh

“If somebody gives me some money, I would give up the child as my husband would not allow me to rear it up,” Kohinur told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Kohinur said she and her child came to Dhaka for treatment after she gave birth on Wednesday at her village home in Mymensingh, with the help of Bangladeshi Obhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), a non-government organisation.

“Through a middleman named Azahar at my locality in Mymensingh, and Mostafa in Dhaka, I spent Tk70,000 and went to Dubai to work as a cleaner in a madrasa for a monthly wage of Tk20,000; but I was given work as a domestic help,” Kohinur said.

“The local middleman promised that he would send me through a good office. I agreed to go as my family is poor,” said Kohinur, who has a daughter and two sons with her husband. “I went in March 2013 and stayed there for nine months.”

She said: “As housemaid I started to work in the house at a place named Rasul Kene, and after a month I was given 800 dirham and the office [representative of the recruiting agency in Dubai] took the entire money from me.

“At the house I was given a separate room to stay, but there was no scope to lock it up. One of my employer’s sons named Selim who works in police department came to my room at night and raped me,” Kohinur said.

“Every week he came to the house and raped me. If I cried out for help, he forced my mouth shut so that I could not make any sound. I was also beaten up…Out of fear I did not disclose it to anybody,” she added.

However, at one stage, the presence  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

deshi people,” said Hasina, also the president of the Awami League.

The premier was addressing a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan organised by her party to mark the historic March 7.

On March 7, 1971 the founding father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave his epoch-making speech at the Dhaka’s Race Course

WOMEN’S UNPAID WORK

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

'Women’s unpaid work accounts for n 10.75% of GDP'

News

Saturday, March 8, 2014

International Women’s Day today

n Tribune Report A recent survey has unveiled that the total amount of unpaid domestic work carried out by women in Bangladesh is equivalent to 10.75% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.

The nation-wide survey, based estimate of women domestic work in Bangladesh was conducted by independent multidisciplinary research organization Unnayan Onneshan, in connection with the International Women’s Day, made the disclosure through a report released yesterday.

The total engagement of women domestic work was presumed to be equivalent to 9.3 million full-employments per year and the total unpaid work per year might be equivalent to Tk11,15,914.8 crore or $14.45 billion. The total GDP of Bangladesh was Tk1,037,990 crore in the FY 2012-13.

The survey was conducted in seven districts of seven administrative divisions and the number of households from each district was selected using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) method. A total of 520 women, comprising 202 from rural and 318 from urban areas were chosen randomly and interviewed for the purpose.

The Unnayan Onneshan observes that the economic value of unpaid domestic work by women would have been much higher if the wages of women in Bangladesh were not comparatively low and the wage deferential between men and women was not so high.

“The percentage of the value of unpaid work in the share of GDP in Bangladesh remains low compared to other countries due to the lower wage structure in different occupations in Bangladesh,” added the organisation in a press release.

The survey also found women who were employed in different types of professional services spend at least 3.69 hours per day for household work.

To estimate the monetary value of the unpaid household work by women in the country, the survey used two recognised methods - the opportunity cost and the market replacement cost.

The opportunity cost method measured the amount what women would earn if they are employed as waged labourers instead of engaged in unpaid domestic work, while market replacement cost method was used to find out the amount based upon what it would have been spent to hire someone to carry out the work.

Referring to the rising share of women in the labour force as “feminisation of labour,” the Unnayan Onneshan said growing need and decline of familial support along with the ever-increasing pressures for sustenance had pushed women to engage in income generating activities, the press release said.

“Unless and until such realities are recognised and responded with appropriate policies, institutional structures and monetary instruments, it will be impossible for achieving real equality in the society,” the research opined. l

UNB

The International Women’s Day will be observed today in the country as elsewhere across the globe with a call to work for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality.

This year, the theme of the day is “Equality for women is progress for all.”

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia have issued separate messages on the occasion.

Various organisations, including the women and children affairs ministry, have taken up elaborate programmes to mark the day. The programmes include rallies, exhibitions, discussions, processions and campaigns for women’s rights.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said the womenfolk alongside their male counterparts had been playing an important role in creative and development activities as partners of all developments and progresses since the beginning of civilisation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, recalled the contributions of those who had played pioneering role at home and abroad, and whose dedications and sacrifices advanced a lot the struggle for establishing equal rights and status of women.

She called upon all to work together to make the country free from poverty, illiteracy, violence and exploitation by ensuring women empowerment, equal opportunities, establishing equal rights and involving women in the mainstream of development.

BNP Chief Khaleda Zia said: “Women’s participation must be ensured in all aspects of the state and society to build Bangladesh as a happy, rich and self-reliant country.”l

Activists and supporters of Awami League join a rally at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan addressed by party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday marking the historic March 7, 1971 speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman BSS

Nation observes March 7 n BSS

The historic March 7 was observed yesterday through different programmes organised throughout the city to mark the day.

Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths in the morning at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital’s Dhanmondi.

Later, Sheikh Hasina along with Awami League stalwarts placed another wreath there on behalf of the ruling party.

Awami League presidium member and Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, party advisory

council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, presidium members Obaidul Quader and Sahara Khatun, Joint General Secretary Mahbub- ulAlam Hanif, Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud, prime minister’s adviser Toufique-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal were present, among others.

Different political parties, social, cultural and professional bodies observed the day with elaborate programmes.

Leaders of Dhaka City Awami League, Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechasebak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Krishak League, Chha-

Punishment in BCL stands

Cheated by recruiters, raped by employer

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from the organisation and university for his involvement in the same incident.

The most interesting case is of Sakib Hasan Sweem, now the general secretary of the recently postponed Dhaka college committee, who was suspended from the organisation in 2012 for assaulting the then joint convener of the committee Al mahmud Tareque.

Later Sakib Hasan was made the general secretary of the college committee while Al Mahmud Tareque was given the post of organising secretary in the central committee.

A few months back Sakib came to the spotlight again for his involvement in a clash in which a general student was killed. After the incident the Dhaka college committee was dissolved but still Sweem is active in the organisation, said party insiders.

Uttom Kumar Das was suspended twice before he was made organising secretary of Sylhet Metropolitan Committee. Later he got a berth as a member in the central committee. After that he again got involved in a factional clash in which Imran, the general secretary of the SUST, was crippled for life.

The BCL central committee then suspended him for life from the organisation but he is still active in the organisation, said party insiders.

Seeking anonymity one of the vice-presidents of the central committee told the Dhaka tribune: “It seems you can draw attention of the party decision makers by involving in violence.

When an activist has such examples in front him he never fears punishment.

It is not possible to curb violence by meting out this kind of so-called punishment.”

A good look at the BCL Dhaka university committee also catches the same picture of this student front of the Awami League: Wahidujjaman, now the deputy finance secretary of the DU committee, was suspended from the organisation in 2011 for his involvement in a bloody clash. Borkat, now the social welfare secretary and Shahin Ahmed, now the deputy invitation secretary of the university committee, were also suspended.

Mamun, now the university vice-president, was once suspended from the university for assaulting journalists. Noman, now the organising secretary of the university committee, was suspended from the University for his involvement in eve-teasing.

The scenario is more shocking in Jahangirnagar University committee. Sirajul Islam Sumon (now the vice-president of the JU committee) was detained by police and jailed for around a year over an internecine clash of the JU unit Chhatra League on February in 2009.

At that time, Sumon was captured with a shotgun and different daily newspapers published his photograph with the shotgun.

JU committee’s four vice-presidents – Junayedul Haque Parvez, Rasel

Miah Shwadhin, Shubhashish Kundu Tony and Ariful Islam, Joint Secretary SM Alamgir, Organising Secretary Mosaddek Ali and Al-Beruni Hall General Secretary Uzzal Chandra Bagchi were expelled for life for their involvement in a factional clash on July, 2010.

Rahat Karim (vice-president), Tanvir Ahmed (organising-secretary), Sanwar Hossain (literature secretary), Bashirul Haque ( deputy secretary of social welfare affairs) of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall were too expelled from the university for different term as the authorities found their involvement in the terrorist attack on university buildings and teachers’ residence on August 2012.

Murshidur Rahman Aknd (organising secretary) was detained by police from Moulana Bhashani Hall with a 9mm pistol and 6 rounds of bullet on March 16, 2013 and the university authorities expelled him from the university on temporary basis on March 19 the same year.

Murshid became the organising secretary on October 10, 2013 in the extended committee of the JU unit Chhatra League.

Police arrested Md Mazedul Islam Shimanta (debate and drama secretary) from Shaheed Rafiq-Jabbar Hall with a huge number lethal sharp weapons in his room after a factional clash between the BCL activists of Moulana Bhashani Hall and Shaheed Rafiq-Jabbar Hall on March 2013.

He was expelled on temporary basis from the university. He was expelled for assaulting journalist earlier in 2011.

Shonjit Kumar, joint secretary of the BCL Jagannath University committee, was suspended from the organisation and also from the university in 2011 for harassing a teacher of the university.

Rafiqul Islam Shakil and Emdadul Haque Emdad, BCL activists of the university who killed Biswajit Dash, were also suspended from the committee.

Another attacker of Biswajit, Noor-eAlam Limon was expelled from the university for harassing a teacher in 2009.

When contacted Siddiquie Nazmul Alam, general secretary of the central committee, admitted the fact that there have been examples of providing important posts to those punished for their involvement in violence.

“We always try not to include them in the committee but when they plead guilty and promise not to get involved in violent acts again we consider that,” he said flatly. l

Indian SC asks BJP  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

animation, it would remain so for a year, depriving people of Delhi a popular democratically elected government, reports Indian news agency IANS. The move by the court came after the AAP challenged the presidential proclamation of keeping the Delhi assembly in suspended animation. l

of the baby was detected when the representative of the recruiting agency had Kohinur undergo an ultrasonogram, and consequently she was sent back home at the end of November last year.

Kohinur and her family tried to abort the child during the seventh month of her pregnancy, but changed their mind after the BOMSA promised support.

Sumaiya Islam, founding director of the BOMSA, said: “We did not allow the abortion as the baby had already grown up.

“We have been working to ensure the rights of female workers and we want justice for this victim and we demand that the government do something for the female workers,” she said.

Like Kohinur, many female migrant workers allegedly face various types of tortures, abuse and harassment.

Recently, a group of female migrants returned from Hong Kong, claiming to have been victims of torture and job termination.

“We have zero tolerance to abuse and torture of female migrant workers,

but it is not possible to protect every single of them,” Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hosssain told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

“If the victim files any complaint, we will try to realise compensation from the agency and the employer,” the minister added.

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, 286,000 female migrant workers have gone to different countries between 1991 and February 2014. l

Report 2013, Bangladesh belongs to a group of 18 highlighted countries that have seen rapid progress in human development including women’s progress; with other highlighted countries including China, India, Malaysia and Vietnam.

However, according to the UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI) 2013, Bangladesh’s HDI value for 2012 was 0.515, which puts the country in the low human development category. It is, however, Bangladesh’s best performance so far, with the country ranking 146th among 187 countries under HDI 2012, and 147th under HDI 2011.

Rights activists, meanwhile, said the progress could have been quicker if fundamentalist political and social groups did not obstruct governmental and non-governmental initiatives.

Sultana Begum, 38, is an example of a successful entrepreneur whose progress was cut short by local “religious leaders.”

After being abandoned by her husband seven years ago, Sultana was forced to set up a tea stall to earn a living for the many mouths she had to feed. However, local “religious leaders” allegedly forcefully shut down her shop, saying that running a tea stall was not a woman’s job.

Sultana, who had been able to achieve financial stability from her tea stall, now works as a domestic help.

All children should be sent to school so that they do not face similar struggles, Sultana said, adding that five years of her life had been lost because

of some men who claimed themselves as “religious leaders.”

Gender inequality in education also plays a barrier in women’s empowerment, as was experienced by 20-year old garment worker Rahima, who could not continue her education because there was no secondary school in her village that provided facilities for female students.

Saying some of her colleagues had faced similar experiences, Rahima said the female garment workers could have joined the factories as supervisors, if they had been able to continue their studies further.

Shipra Bose, a women’s rights activist, said improper funding by government and NGOs causes the problem of slow development. If a girl’s school needed a common room, funding was provided for setting up a toilet, she said.

Shipra added that inclusive and equitable growth could not happen without taking into consideration the role of women.

In 2011, Bangladesh achieved its best ranking on the Gender Gap Index; but the ranking dropped again in the following year as some alliance of Islamist parties created unrest demanding the dissolution of some women-friendly policies.

The Islamists became active again last year, when radical Islamist group Hefajat-e-Islam brought out its supporters on the streets to demand segregation of sexes in public.

Women’s rights activists criticised the government’s stance against the Is-

Hasina: Nobody to be allowed  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

people to remain united to resist the evil forces saying the country would be built in line with the spirit of Liberation War. Expressing firm commitment in building a hunger and poverty free country the premier said: “Bangladesh is marching forward and this forward march will continue to go on.”

“Bangladesh will turn into a middle-income country by 2021,” she asserted. She said that BNP chief Khaleda Zial was looking for excuse to go for an agitation.

Referring to Khaleda Zia’s meeting with AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on Wednesday the AL president said Khaleda was now completely depend-

ed on those whom she had driven out of the party.

Hinting at US Ambassador’s several meetings with Khaleda Zia, Hasina said after being refused by countrymen she was trying to persuade outsiders to do something in her favour.

The Awami League president accused BNP chief Khaleda Zia of killing people in the name of movement.

“How much blood does she need to quench her thirst? I do not know how much blood of the people would please her thirst,” she said.

Pointing to pre and post-poll violence unleashed by the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami Hasina said the movement of the BNP means killing

Housewife killed  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

International Women’s Day will be celebrated today with the theme “Equality for women is progress for all.” Various organisations will mark the day with elaborate programmes across the country.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate messages on the occasion congratulating all women.

Each year International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, with the first International Women’s Day held in 1911. l

an expatriate in Dubai, tied the knot twelve years back. They have two sons and a daughter.

Two years ago, Mobarrak came to Bangladesh and became embroiled in a heated altercation with her wife.

Mobarrak and his family members began torturing her over the dispute.

Mobarrak went back to Dubai after four months but his family members continued torturing his wife.

“My sister couldn’t take it anymore and at one stage lodged a case with Debidar Police Station. Mobarrak pressured her to withdraw the case over phone.

He also asked her to leave Mobarrak’s house in Sultanpue union’s Sechrapukuria village but Shahina denied,” Shah Alam told the Dhaka Tribune.

On February 7, Shahina went missing from her in-law’s house and Shah Alam filed a general diary in this connection.

Sub-inspector Shah Kamal Akand, also the investigation officer, said they arrested Abdul Karim on information from Mainamati Cantonment area and he confessed to be paid Tk two lakh to kill Shahina.

“According to the deal, Karim and two of his cohorts called Shahina, asked her to come out of the house around 12:00am on February 7 and strangled her to death.

They dumped the body in a tubewell’s pipe and closed the pipe’s opening with mud,” he said.

“We couldn’t recover the body on Thursday night as no worker to dig out the body was available,” he said, adding they contacted a team of workers in Comilla for the task.

Visiting the house of the deceased, this correspondent found her children Imran Hossain, 11; Tushar Ahmed, 8; and Rozia Akhter, 5; crying holding the pipe of the tube-well under which their mother’s body was dumped.

Imran told reporters their mother went to sleep with them after having dinner but they could not find her in the morning. l

people. “The real faces of the BNP and Jamaat have been exposed.”

“The BNP leader has asked the people several times to join the movement but nobody has responded to her call,” she said.

The premier also accused the BNP leader of hurling grenades on 21th August to kill her.

Several thousands of activists carrying banner and festoons thronged the venue from the morning. Party lawmakers from around the capital also joined the rally with their followers.

AL leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and

Mahbubul Alam Hanif, among others, addressed the rally with Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.

On the occasion of the historic March 7 Sheikh Hasina with her cabinet members and party central leaders placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi in the morning.

Besides Dhaka City AL, Juba League, Swechhasebak League, Jatiya Sramik League, Mahila AL, Juba Mahila League, Krishak League, Chhatra League and other social, cultural and professional bodies also placed floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu. l

Islamist groups a barrier to women’s  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

tra League and other social, cultural and professional bodies also placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.

Awami Jubo League organised a discussion at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue while Bangabandhu Parishad held another discussion at its central office at Bashiruddin Road in Kalabagan.

In the afternoon, the ruling party also organised a public rally at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan from where Bangabandhu delivered his speech of independence on the day in 1971.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also addressed the rally as the chief guest while Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury chaired it. l

lamists, saying it was inapprehensible why the Islamist political parties were acknowledged.

Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, said Islamist activists demonstrated on the streets when the government took the initiative to form a national women’s policy aimed at giving women equal inheritance rights.

A stronger position was needed against the Islamists, she added.

Women’s rights activists Khushi Kabir said Bangladesh has always had a history of women’s emancipation since the days of Begum Rokeya, to women’s active role in the Liberation War, and through today’s Shahbagh movement.

Progress becomes slow when Islamists are constantly opposing the successes, Khushi said, adding that the nation would progress faster if women were freed from all fears and allowed to do their work.

International Women’s Day today

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Less than 2% women participate in decision making n Udisa Islam

The participation of female politicians in the decision making levels in all political parties have remained at around 2%, even though the law stipulates at least 33% participation of women in all committees, including the executive committee.

Except for the three top leaders of the country’s major political parties, very few women politicians have made it to the executive committees of political parties in the country.

Women activists believe that these positions are patriarchal, and therefore, few women politicians who achieved a position in a decision-making committee could not make any change at all.

According to data collected Narir Joy Sobar Joy campaign, the ratio of women participator in every committee is more or less two percent.

As per the 2009 RPO Act, all political parties must have 33% of women participation in all committees, including the executive committee, before 2020.

Although most political parties have included the directive in their party constitutions, there are allegations that none have taken any initiative to fulfill the condition.

“Though there is provision of keeping 50 reserved seats for women, but from grassroots to national level - all decisions comes from male representatives,” claimed a women’s reserved seat parliamentarian, seeking anonymity.

In the 10th National Parliamentary Elections, only 6 percent (18 female MP) women were elected from their constituency. As reserved seat parliamentarians have no constituency, they have no decision-making power.

On getting party nominations, many

3

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Rehman Sobhan: Govt has to initiate dialogue n Tribune Report

Eminent economist of the country Rehman Sobhan yesterday said dialogue is a must for a free and fair election and the government has to come forward first.

“It’s not expected that a country which achieved independence through a bloody struggle in 1971 will go through a nondemocratic procedure,” he said while addressing a debate programme organised by the private satellite television channel ATN Bangla in a city auditorium.

The country should conduct a violence free and fair election where people can cast vote without fear

Female supporters of the Communist Party of Bangladesh demonstrate in front of the National Press Club yesterday, ahead of the International Women’s Day, demanding upholding of women’s rights and an end to repression against women at their workplaces MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU female politicians had alleged that they were being deprived as party high-ups prefer male representatives over female representatives.

“We are working for our party but no one recognises us as politicians.

When they think of a representative for an area, they always choose male candidates,” said a female politician, who tried to bag a party nomination in the recent elections.

When asked, Awami League Presid-

ium Member Motia Chowdhury said: “We have more than half of 33%. We will achieve the full participation in near future.”

However, expressing a different view, a leader of the Dhaka City Awami Mohila League, seeking anonymity, alleged: “They [party high-ups] never tried it. There were many potential women candidates who had failed secure a nomination from the party in the recent elections.”

BNP has three women leaders, including its chairperson Khaleda Zia, in its 19-member standing committee.

“We want to expand our participation in committee. But, this quota system is not perfect,” BNP Vice President Selima Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune.

Bangladesh Mohila Parishad president Ayesha Khanam said: “We have to achieve this gradually by 2020. But, in the last six years, we did not move

forward.”

“We have more six years and I think if political parties want to do this, it will not be very hard,” she added showing doubts about the intentions of political parties in this regard.

Meanwhile, Jamaat e Islami had strongly opposed of the proposal of 33% women participation from the very beginning. However, they also included the directive in their party constitution later on. l

The economist said the country should conduct a violence free election where people can cast vote without fear. It’s the challenge for the political parties to find a way out of the crisis. For that, the political parties should hold talks.

Rehman Sobhan, who is the chairman of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), also said the political parties should keep in mind that they are public servants. The parties shift blames to one another, but it should not happen.

“The parties have not held talks over important issues for years. This trend is not common in any other country other than Bangladesh,” he said.

The finale of the debate programme Debate for Democracy was focused on the political will of the ruling party to reach a political consensus with the opposition. Two universities – North South University and IBAIS University – took part in the debate.

North South University took the role of the ruling party while IBAIS the opposition. The IBAIS won the debate. l

Speech and visually impaired girl raped

Accused arrested in RU BCL leader killing n Our Correspondent, Comilla

n Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

Police arrested the prime accused in Rajshahi University Chhatra League Vice-President Rabiul Islam Rabi murder case on Thursday night from Gundi area of Laksam in Comilla. The arrestee was Setu, 22, son of Hasan of Moddhopara Meherchondi area of Boalia thana in Rajshahi.

Rubel Afrad, sub-inspector of Laksam police station, said policemen arrested Setu on Thursday and handed him over to Boalia police station of Rajshahi yesterday evening.

Setu, along with his men, stabbed Rabi on April 14 last year in the Institute of Fine Arts area of the university.

Making Setu the prime accused along with 11 persons, Rabi’s brother Sofikul Islam lodged a case in this regard on April 15 last year. Setu went into hiding after the incident and managed to remain fugitive until the arrest. l

ing the rape, according to locals.

They said as locals started beating him, his maternal grandfather Nohor Sheikh and maternal uncle Zia Sheikh rescued him and later threatened the victim’s family to refrain from lodging any case.

Haji Aynal Hossain, a neighbour of the victim took an initiative to hold a salish.

However, no decision came even after holding two salish as the accused rapist went into hiding, said Haji Aynal Hossain.

It was also learnt that Girl Power, a local non-government organisation did not come forward to assist the victim.

Tajdi Das, an official of Girl Power, said no steps could be taken as medical report of the victim was not available and Girl Power was notified about the incident after four or five days. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina places a floral wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of historic March 7 yesterday at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital’s Dhanmondi PID

Fourteen days after being allegedly raped, a physically and mentally challenged woman is receiving some legal assistance as her younger brother lodged a case in this connection with the Beergang police station in Dinajpur yesterday.

The speech-impaired and visually impaired girl was allegedly raped by a local youth, Noor Alam, in Gorfotu Boldiapara village of Beerganj upazila of Dinajpur district on February 21.

Sub-Inspector of Beergang police station Belal Hossain said the victim’s medical test would be done today at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital.

It was learnt that the victim could not avail any legal assistance in the face of local influential people. Noor Alam was caught red-handed while attempt-

Cousin kills schoolboy for money

BNP: Democracy cordoned like octopus

n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

In a shocking revelation, the cousin of a slain schoolboy yesterday confessed before the district court that he killed the victim only for money.

Al Amin, cousin of the slain Rakibul Islam Emon, a ninth grader at Narayanganj Bandar School, said money was the primary motivation behind the killing.

In his confessional statement of the sensational murder, Al Amin mentioned he, along with some of his friends, killed Emon and then went to Emon’s house pretending that he was unaware of the boy’s whereabouts.

Teamed up with Emon’s mother, he began searching for the schoolboy he had killed a while ago.

Al Amin even used loudspeaker from a nearby mosque to announce that his cousin had gone missing and went to the house of Emon’s maternal

grandfather along with Emon’s mother and uncle.

Al Amin made the confession before Monowara Begum, senior magistrate of Narayanganj Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. The court also accepted a petition seeking a three-day remand for each of the two other accused in the case, namely Saidur Rahman and Shahjahan alias Jibon.

Aktar Morshed, officer-in charge of Bandar Police Station, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had earlier produced the three accused before the court seeking a 10-day police remand.

“Emon’s cousin Al Amin confessed to the murder before the court under Section 164 while the two others were remanded for three days,” he added.

Hakim, sub-inspector of the police station and also investigation officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that a total of five took part in the killing and

they, after abducting the boy, primarily killed him for money.

Al Amin confessed they kidnapped Emon from in front of Malirvita Mosque as he was returning home after surving Imam lunch. He then took Emon beside the Langolbandar Tractor Factory by a CNG-driven auto rickshaw where his friends had been waiting.

It was dark outside which frightened Emon and he began yelling. Al Amin’s friends held Emon’s throat while he continuously stabbed the boy in the belly using a knife until he breathed his last.

They then left the area and returned home after having bath. The following day, they called Emon’s mother from Lalupur Bazar of Daudkandi and demanded Tk 10 lakh in ransom.

On February 4, Emon’s mother lodged a case with Bandar Police Station in this connection. l

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government had cordoned off democracy of the country like an octopus.

“People’s democratic rights have been taken away. The government gags the party activists, who champion the cause of democratic freedom, which is being replaced with Baksal system now,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of BNP, said yesterday.

The senior leader of the party urged people of different tiers to take to the street for compelling the government to hold a fair election immediately.

Mirza Fakhrul was addressing a discussion at the National Press Club to mark the detention day of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman.

The party spokesperson said: “People

CPB urges government to establish repression free society n Tribune Report Politicians and women leaders yesterday called on the Awami League-led government to establish a repression free society.

The call came from a rally organised by the women cell of Communist Party of Bangladesh in front of the National Press Club to mark the International Women’s Day.

Speakers at the rally said women were deprived from their rights both in the state system and in families and repressed by the men in our society.

They also placed a 13-point demand including end of violence against women, introduction of uniform family code, full approval and implementation of SEDAW convention, ensuring equal rights for all class of women.

CPB General Secretary Syed Abu Za-

far Ahmed said women must be united to realise their demands.

“The actual purpose of International Women’s Day is to conclude the conflict between labour and capitalism of a society and also to free women from the extortion she faces as a woman in the society,” he added.

He said: “The NGOs and corporate society is trying to avoid the actual purpose of the day and to free women

from the situation, it is a must to initiate movements.” Lakkhi Chakrabarty, the presidium member of the CPB, who chaired the rally said her party would continue movements to realise the demands of the women.

Khelaghar Chairperson Mahfuza Khanam, educationist AN Rasheda, CPB leaders Lina Chakrabarty and Maksuda Akter Laily spoke at the rally among others. l

boycotted the January 5 poll. They have also expressed their no-confidence to the government in the upazila poll.”

He claimed that people had already woke up, and they had been waiting to breath in an open air.

“But the government fails to sense the pulse of the people from the writing on the wall.”

Branding Tarique Rahman as champion of the country’s independence and sovereignty, Fakhrul said: “When Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wajed Joy came to Bangladesh first, Tarique Rahman welcomed him by sending a bouquet, and by doing so, he introduced a new culture to the country’s politics.”

But the ruling Awami League replied by filing false cases against him, he said.

Fakhrul said the government as-

sumed power by holding a sarcastic poll. “Awami League has to be accountable one day because of the illegal government and the parliament.”

Alleging that the government has turned the country into a police state, the BNP leader added that it was good news that more 50,000 police would be recruited, but said the lawmen would be used for repressing the BNP activists.

BNP standing committee member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain said Tarique Rahman was the victim of 1/11 conspirators, and he was not only oppressed, but also faced conspiracy of being killed.

“Those who wanted to turn the country into a dysfunctional state conspired to eliminate the BNP from the country, and as part of this, Ziaur Rahman was killed and Tarique Rahman faced repression,” he said. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Saturday, March 8, 2014

‘Lease on haor destroying biodiversity’ n Tribune Report A lease on haors (wetland) hits biodiversity in the country as the lessees try their best to reap benefits from the water bodies, experts have observed.

They said a co-management system by local people could save the water bodies and retain the natural ecology of environment.

The experts came up with the views while inaugurating a photo exhibition on Tangua Haor yesterday.

Taking part in the discussion, International Union for Conservation of Nature Bangladesh country representative Ishtiaque Uddin Ahmed said they were conducting a project on Tangua Haor which was being managed by a co-management system, but there was an apprehension that the water body would be leased out again.

He said if it was given on lease further, the achievements they earned by conducting the project would be destroyed.

Most of the 11,500 water bodies across the country were in poor condi-

tion, Ishtiaque Uddin observed.

In his address, bird expert Inam-AlHaque said most haors had been destroyed because of lease as the lessors did not think about the biodiversity, but their own interest only.

“We must save haors from being destroyed,” vowed.

Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the co-management system was very effective to protect the haors.

He said Bangladesh made progress in poverty alleviation and lifted people’s living standard in the hills, but protection of haors to keep ecological balance remained as a major challenge.

Kholiquzzaman said locals should be made aware that if the water bodies were protected, they would benefit in the long run.

A total of 62 photos of 24 photographers were exhibited at the programme. The photos depicted lives and biodiversity of Tangua Haor.

On the first day, a good number of visitors paid a visit to the exhibition. l

National Math Olympiad final on March 20 n Mohammad Zakaria The fifth Dhaka Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Olympiad (DRUMO) was held yesterday at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

A total of 90 undergraduate students from Buet, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University and some private universities gave a preliminary examination to compete in the fifth National Undergraduate Mathematics Olympiad 2013 rescheduled to be held this year as it was postponed because

of pre-election violence during December last year.

DRUMO was organised by Buet’s Department of Mathematics. The organisers said a total of 160 students applied to participate in the contest out of which only 15 students from Buet and DU were selected to compete in the national contest.

The DRUMO organisers also said the national competition will be jointly organised by Bangladesh Mathematics Society and AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation on March 20 at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). l

Hundreds of children participate in an art competition on a Bangladesh of their imagination organised by Meena Bazar in Dhanmondi’s Abahani field yesterday

ART COMPETITION 2014

Meena Bazar lets children explore their dreams n Tribune Report Children are said to be imaginative and chain store Meena Bazar took an initiative to let children express their imagination through art that saw thousands of them from different schools painting what they think Bangladesh should be in their imagination.

The two-and-a-quarter hour competition styled ‘Echche Anko’ was organised at the Abahani Field in the capital yesterday and under a giant shade, the participants, split into two groups, showcased their imagination as the subject of art was ‘Bangladesh in dream’ .

The competition began at 10:00am with children along with their parents thronging the venue in large numbers.

Organisers say more than 4,000 schoolchildren from different institutions registered for the grand competition when they campaigned in different schools to encourage students for participating in the competition.

While the contestants were busy materialising their dream of Bangladesh on papers, the parents engaged themselves in a variety of activities apart from keeping an eye on their children from outside the venue. There was food for them supplied free of cost or at a discount. A number of parents

Overaged school heads in Barisal flouting rules n Our Correspondent, Barisal

The overage headmasters have retained their posts in Barisal non-government schools, flouting rules.

An investigation revealed that at least 10 headmasters, mostly leaders of the teachers’ association, Bangladesh Shikkhak Samity, retained the posts of headmasters even after crossing the retirement age of sixty years.

Barisal Education Board and the district education office sources said after crossing the retirement age the headmasters needed recommendations from school managing committee, district civil surgeon certifying their physical fitness and the education board to continue their job.

Panchagram Secondary School of Ujirpur, Maidul Islam of Guakhola Rabeya Khatun School of Bakerganj, and other two headmasters of Mehendiganj and Hizla upazilas have also followed suit.

Dr ATM Mizanur Rahman, district civil surgeon, said none of the abovementioned headmasters applied for physical fitness certificate to him.

Abul Bashar Talukdar, inspector of schools, Barisal Education Board, said the BEB never permitted the headmasters to continue their jobs after crossing the retirement age.

Kazi Manowar Hossain, district education officer, acknowledged the fact.

He said it was illegitimate to hold the posts of head teachers after crossing the retirement age without permis-

sion from the authorities concerned.

Sometimes, some teachers would be asked to continue their jobs on contractual basis if qualified teachers were not available for that subject.

But the matter was different in the case of headmasters as they are the administrative authorities, the district education officer explained.

The teachers’ association regional president Dasgupta Ashish Kumar, also an accused headmaster, gave his version that they continued their service after crossing the retirement age as per the directives of the schools’ management committees.

The question of legality or illegality would be answered by the authorities concerned, he said. l

No change in temperature n UNB Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country until 6pm today.

Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said.

The sun sets in the capital at 6:05pm today and rises at 6:14am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 31.5 degrees Celsius was recorded yesterday in Cox’s Bazar and lowest 12.2 degrees in Srimangal.

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

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

29.4 30.0 30.0 28.8 29.8 29.3 29.3 31.5

17.1 19.0 14.2 15.0 17.0 17.6 15.2 19.5

PRAYER TIMES 4:59am 6:14am 12:09am 4:25pm 6:04pm 7:20pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

A three-and-a-half-week exhibition showcasing cultural aptitude of women was inaugurated in the capital yesterday.

In celebration of the International Women’s Day, the Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Hanne Fugl Eskjaer transformed her house in Gulshan into an art gallery displaying around 40 artworks from artistes of SHAKO, the Women Artistes’ Association of Bangladesh and their invited artistes. A good number of sculptures featuring female figures were also displayed.

Works of noted artistes including Fareha Zeba, Farida Zaman, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Kuhu, Nasreen Begum and Sulekha Chaudhury were displayed at the exhibition that portrayed the lives of women. The Danish envoy told the Dhaka Tribune that Bangladesh was a country having voices of many progressive and strong women.

“Women’s rights and gender equality are key issues for the Denmark Embassy in Bangladesh and both the countries have worked together along with the development partners to improve the lives of women,” she said.

“Artistes from SHAKO expressed themselves through art and I hope this exhibition will bring people’s attention to their voices,” the ambassador added.

The exhibition was attended by ambassadors of different countries, including Brazil, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, and also noted diplomats, women’s rights activists, artistes, political figures and some general guests. l

were seen chattering to other guardians while some others enjoyed the cultural programme at the Parents Lounge.

Even the parents drew landscapes and played small games when invited by the anchor of the programme.

“Yes, we had fun. But it would’ve been better if the organisers let the guardians enter the main venue,” opined Shimin Binte Zami, a mother of two. Her younger son Mahi could not take part in the competition as he did not want to stay inside without his mother.

A handful of children took two hours to produce their dreams on papers while most of them finished at

least 30 minutes prior to the time and later joined their parents to enjoy magic show, eat noodles or simply running around the field with fellow children.

The programme’s organizer, Meena Bazar and its sponsor Horlicks will be announcing the winners on April 5. A total of 40 best painters from group A and B will be awarded with certificates, medals, gift vouchers and picture catalogues. Besides, 80 contestants producing admirable works will also get gift vouchers and picture catalogues.

An exhibition displaying the paintings is scheduled to be held at the Bengal Gallery from April 5 to 7. l

Book fair begins at Public Library n Ahmed Zayeef After the month long “Amar Ekushe Boi Mela,” a 10 day book fair began on the premises of the Public Library in the capital’s Shahbagh yesterday.

The book fair was organised by Annya Prakash, a renowned publishing house of the country. The fair will remain open from 10:30am till 8:00pm every day for all.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the fair while the President of Bangla Academy Prof Anisuzzaman presided over the programme.

The Minister said: “the demands of favourite books never decrease.

The book lovers will also gather here though the Amar Ekushe book fair has just ended.”

“There is a huge scarcity of well researched, translated and child books in our country as it was observed that this type of books were not easily available in the Boi Mela.’’ Anya Prakash can play a vital role in this respect to take initiative to publish this sort of books,” he added.

Prof Anisuzzaman said the number of visitors, book lovers and the sale of books are increasing every year. l

BAU Germ Plasm Centre makes its mark

Women's artworks exhibition begins n Tribune Report

WEATHER

Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

None of the 10 had recommendations from the authorities concerned in their favour.

Mathuranath Public School Headmaster Abdul Khalek, vice-president of regional committee of Bangladesh Shikkhak Samity, Collegiate School head teacher Tofael Ahmed, vice-president of the teachers’ platform, Kawnia Girls’ School head teacher Mojibor Rahman, vice-president of the organisation, Jahangir Alam of Talukdarhat School, Abdul Halim of WDB Institution of Ujirpur, crossed their retirement age, but held the posts of school head with blessing from sociopolitical corners.

On the other hand, Paul Sudhirindra, headmaster of Oxford Mission High School, Abdul Majed Talukdar of

RAJIB DHAR

n Our correspondent, Mymensingh

Dragon fruit at the BAU Germ-plasm centre

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Germ Plasm Centre at Bangladesh Agricultural University has shown its potentiality for growing fruits of both the domestic and foreign varieties in the last two decades.

Sources say the Food Tree Germ Plasm Centre in America’s Miami is credited with the first-ever fruit repository in the world and the Germ Plasm Centre (GPC), now the second largest fruit repository, has released four new varieties of foreign fruit, each enriched with nutrients, for the farmers in recent years.

The varieties – Santol from Thailand, Rambutan from Indonesia, Dragon Fruit from Vietnam and Persimon from Japan – have given the enormous garden a magnificent look.

Rambutan, a Southeast Asian fruit (Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand), is in great demand all over the world and is the main export of those countries, GPC sources say.

All these foreign varieties are grown from May to November when domestic fruits become unavailable in the market, said sources.

The demand for foreign varieties is also high in the capital city and towns as well, said GPC director Professor Dr Md Abdur Rahim. He observed that Bangladesh’s soil was fit for growing these fruits and this would ease pressure on imported fruits.

“GPC collected the four foreign varieties back in 1999 and began researching those before we went for growing sap-

lings in 2007,” Dr Rahim noted, adding: “The GPC has so far grown 12,000 saplings of the four varieties and most of those, through channels, have been distributed among the farmers since 2007.”

A sapling is sold at Tk 100 and some 25 farmers in Iswardi, Jhenaidah, Khaghchhari, Rangamati, Rangpur and Nilphamari have begun commercial production of these fruits, said the GPC director. “And the number is growing every year”.

Large-scale cultivation of foreign fruits could also be a good source of earning foreign currency, suggested Dr Rahim.

Back in 1991, the GPC began with 74 fruit trees of 10 varieties and it now boasts well over 11,000 tress of 700 varieties, including 50 foreign varieties from 44 countries of the world, explained Dr Rahim.

The GPC also has as many as 63 varieties, including boichi, dumur, dewa, paniwala, betul, gaab, chalta and arboroi, which are nearly extinct at present. Over 10,000 farmers from different districts have been trained in domestic and foreign varieties since 2007, sources said.

Besides, Scientists from home and abroad visit the centre on different occasions.

When asked, Dr Md Shamsul Alam Mithu, senior research associate at the GPC said if the foreign varieties enriched with nutrition and congenial to the country were cultivated widely, a wide range of fruits would be available round the year to help meet the nutrition demand. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Women’s Day

5

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Rubana Huq: Emblem of empathy Chosen as one of BBC’s ‘100 Women,’ Rubana mentors an impoverished girl who dreams of design Rubana then surprised Mom with a She has made it compulsory to Rubana says she enjoyed the celeBBC 100 women n Syeda Samira Sadeque mini fashion show, where the factory counsel women and encourage them Rubana was selected by the BBC for bratory spirit of all the women.

“I

think God has given me the special gift of touching young lives,” she says, sitting against a window on the highest floor of her office in Uttara, overlooking the city.

their 100 women conference last year, in which they brought 100 women together from all over the world.

“We were chosen to be together, and it helped us form a club of 100 women who were interacting with each other

“There was no shy person! We all stood up for our own convictions.”

The mix was eclectic, ranging from artists and singers, to comedians, entrepreneurs, athletes and politicians.

“We were all very tight, and at the same time divergent in our views. The beauty of multiplicity and divergence came through in the conference. We had so much life in all of us.”

Transcending boundaries, touching lives

BBC will air ‘Designing a Dream,’ a short documentary about Srey Mom and Rubana Huq (pictured above), today and tomorrow COURTESY

Rubana Huq – mother, entrepreneur, writer, PhD candidate and philanthropist – speaks of everything wrong and everything right with our people, delving into the details out of her own world, knitting a story of her eighteen year journey.

“We have to come out of the bubble.

We have to stop living sheltered lives.

We need to be sincere to our own focus, she says.

on different planes,” says Rubana, reminiscing about the gathering, which exposed them to each other’s stories and challenges.

The BBC conference included several topics, one of which was a discussion on a recent study that said the gender gap had narrowed.

“No one agreed that the gap had narrowed. We were all still grumbling. We all spoke about the glass ceiling for women that still exists,” Rubana recalled.

From the selected 100 women, ten were then chosen to mentor another ten young ladies. As a part of this, Rubana had been communicating since October with Srey Mom, a scavenger in Cambodia who made a living salvaging things from a dump.

“She told me she wanted to be a designer, but I had no idea about her capabilities: no idea she could draw or even read. I knew she didn’t have a formal education.”

“The 20-year-old has an indomitable spirit. She had the courage to communicate with me and insist that she wanted to be designer. I sensed so much courage and spirit in her.

Amongst all these accomplished women, she was unfazed by it all. She wasn’t intimidated.”

In awe of the spirit of Mom, Rubana paid a visit to her in Cambodia in January, to see how she lived and what her potential was.

Given her lack of formal education, the designs were very rough initially.

Thus, Rubana asked her to make some sketches and send them over, which she did within a week.

“Then I prepared the counter samples, and did a label and handtag for her, with her story.”

Rubana then invited her to Bangladesh, and during her visit she took Mom to her own factories to understand commercial design, where Mom also bonded with the workers.

workers modelled Mom’s designs. Rubana also managed to sell one of her designs to a buyer, who has chosen to remain anonymous.

“As a society, we lack empathy. We don’t put ourselves in others’ shoes. I try to swap places and think ‘What if I were there?’ I have been doing this for the past 10 years or so, and it has done me good. It’s a strong wake up call and pushes your consciousness to the edge; it’s a leap of faith you have to take, thinking ‘What if I were there?’”

“I am happy we’ve been able to connect with and inspire each other. She was able to touch my life as much as I touched hers. I gave her a material platform to showcase her work, and she gave me spiritual platform to come to terms with myself,” says Rubana.

The BBC followed Rubana to Cambodia, and has done a short documentary on Mom’s journey with Rubana, entitled “Designing a Dream” which will be aired on March 8 at 9:30am and at 10:30pm, and on March 9 at 4:30am and 4:30pm.

The women of Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, she says, three out of the four million workers are women. “They go in and work, and yes that changes the economy, but does it change her life? She earns her bread, she is probably more emancipated than many of us. She doesn’t have to answer to the society we live in. There’s no social accountability, but she’s still abused, looked down upon and downtrodden. There is no change in her fate.”

Rubana expresses her disappointment that not many women have made it to supervisor positions at the factories: “I used to hear: ‘They are not educated enough.’ Then when I asked how much education they need, I hear: ‘They are not motivated enough.’ I find that very hard to believe, because women are the most loyal workforce,” she says.

to break these stereotypes at her factories.

“Within our own little worlds, we have so many hurdles to cross, and men are just so stubborn. There’s a male stubbornness that refuses to let women pass through. We’re always working against the current. And you just have to cross it.”

Myriad identities

As Managing Director of Mohammadi Group, the head of MG Properties Limited, founder of the company Vive Construction and Interiors, founder and editor of the literary magazine Monsoon Letters, and as a PhD candidate at Jadavpur University in Kolkata – Rubana has a myriad of identities.

“But above all, I’d like to think I am most successful as a mother. That comes above all for me,” she says, adding that she is in touch with her three children 24/7.

Regarding her professional careers, she feels the gap is widest between literature and the corporate world.

“I wear different hats, but they are all interrelated, all a part of my passion circle. I’m very passionate about poetry, workers’ rights, marketing, networking and South Asia. These are roles I fit into. I juggle.”

How do you find time for all this?

Rubana is a fitting example of her own words. She vivaciously pursues all her roles, and is considering going into teaching and activism.

“I have a general principle of compartmentalisation. But the reason I’m doing my PhD is to teach young kids.

“You can take your life where you want to take it, don’t set any limits, never look back. You have to rise from the ashes. There’s nothing that should stop you. As long as you’re looking, opportunities will be there” “So,” she concludes, with a hint of anticipation, “a new journey awaits me.” l

Colours FM showcases Power Women Empowered women empowering women n Tribune Desk Unilever Bangladesh is working to empower the women of Bangladesh.

They encourage their female employees to challenge the status quo and dive deeper into traditionally male dominated territories. A significant initiative of theirs is the Aparajita Project, where 7000 rural women have been co-opted into the Unilever distribution network in partnership with Care Bangladesh, who run the programme.

One of the best performing Aparajitas, Rajeda Begum, says: “My extensive sales training prior to joining the program helped me perform well. I have saved up a decent amount over the years and now I am confident enough to think of running my own shop soon enough.

Five female territory managers have even risen to manage hundreds of their male subordinates and that’s not all, Unilever female officers have taken the fight for equality and empowerment to Unilever production

The 23 women on Colours FM’s board of advisors

n Rumana Habib Colours FM is a new radio station for women, airing on 101.6 FM. Today, in honour of International Women’s Day, they are launching a new programme called “Power Woman.“ To kick off this programme, starting at 10am, they will air interviews with 16 successful women from a variety of fields ranging from the arts, to business, to social services, including: BRAC Director Tamara Abed, CEO of Dell Bangladesh Sonia Bashir, singer Shayan, Bibiana designer Lipi Khondokar, and BUET architecture faculty member Aupee Karim.

Going forward, “Power Woman“ will interview a different woman change-maker once a week to talk live on air about her work, challenges and inspirations.

All of Colour’s programmes are tailored for women audiences, like “Lipstick Morning” and “Olpo Sholpo Golpo,” and feature female radio jockeys.

Along with music, fashion and celebrity gossip, Colours will aim to focus on the issues occupying the modern woman’s mind: balancing work and family, women rights issues, and social expectations.

Colours says they want to be a “friend and advisor” to women.

One of the “Power Woman” interviewees, Sadaf Siddiqi of Nari Pokkho and Sidko Apparels, is also a member

of Colours’ advisory board of 23 illustrious women.

“I think it is a great initiative to help us think through our changing roles.

“Women have made great strides, but we still have a long way to go. It’s great to have something that helps women think through these changes – acknowledging that it’s exciting, but also challenging, and offering them some solidarity,” Sadaf said.

She hopes Colours will help women navigate their complicated lives and help them find their own answers. “We are bombarded with so many confusing narratives: be beautiful, be successful at work, keep a perfect home. We have to find our own work-life balance, choose a path that is comfortable for

lines, with female production floor managers working alongside their male counterparts at their Chittagong factory. Their female production floor officers are highly respected in the factory because of their sound judgment.

It is definitely an achievement that women in Unilever have gained acceptance across the company from field-level to the management tables. Unilever Bangladesh says it has always believed in empowering women, and congratulates all women on Women’s Day. l

A female manager at a Unilever factory

COURTESY

COURTESY

ourselves – not just be dictated to by different sectors of society.”

The other ten ‘‘power women’’ featured today are: Rubaba Dowla, CCO of Airtel; Konka Karim, Feature Editor at New Age; Tanya Karim, Partner Architect at Tanya Karim NR Khan & Associates Mubina Asaf, legal head of British American Tobacco; Tanha Islam, representative of Mozilla Bangladesh; Nisha Selim, owner of Daily Deli; Runi Khan, social worker at Culture Pot Global; Shamarukh Fakhruddin, Marketing Director, Lafarge Surma Cement; Ayesha Dada, Stock Broker; Tropa Majumder, Director and Head of Creative, Expressions.

Dhaka Tribune is a media partner of Colours FM. l

ARTISTS ‘CELEBRATING WOMEN’ FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Fifty percent of the proceeds from ‘Celebrating Women’ will be donated to the Acid Survivor’s Network. The art exhibition, held yesterday at Danish Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjaer’s home in Gulshan, and will continue to be on display for a week at the Nordic Club. The organisers, Shako Women Artist Association of Bangladesh, have held their annual art show in honour of women’s day for the past 12 years, each time raising money for a different charity. This year they showcased the work of 12 female artists including (pictured here L-R) Kuhu and Kanak Chanpa Chakma. ‘We have enjoyed a lot of success, and this is our chance to give back,’ Kuhu told the Dhaka Tribune DHAKA TRIBUNE / COURTESY RJs Farzana and Shumi at the studio recording their show Olpo Sholpo Golpo

COURTESY

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Civil surgeon office ‘pockets’ Tk6 lakh from teachers n Our Correspondent, Barguna Some unscrupulous officials at the district civil surgeon’s office in Barguna are said to have pocketed around Tk six lakh from primary school teachers in the name of fitness test, a perquisite to come under the nationalisation scheme of the government.

Teachers are paying Tk350 each for the test as they need health certificate to be nationalised. The amount was found to be higher than the real fee

by Tk 100. The authorities concerned, however, appeared to be oblivious of the fact.

As part of the nationalisation process of schools, a total of 1,528 teachers of 392 registered primary schools in the district are set to come under the nationalisation process, according to information gathered from the district primary education office.

Although the teachers paid Tk 350 each for the test, many were found reluctant to disclose the matter and it was Rahman, peon at the civil surgeon’s office, who collected the money.

While collecting, he occasionally referred to ‘Boro Babu’ (chief assistant officer), saying the money was being collected according to the order of Boro Babu.

Mossaraf Hossain, headmaster of Paschim Ghotkhali Primary School in Aamtoli of Barguna, said four teachers of the school so far had paid Tk 350 for the test.

Momtaz Begum and Shefali Rani, assistant teachers of the school, said having paid Tk 350, they were given fitness certificates.

Chief assistant officer at the civil surgeon’s office Abdul Khaleq claimed the money being charged followed a procedure that had been around for years.

“There is no specific amount defined by the government in this regard,” he claimed. Khaleq declined to comment when asked about the allegation against staff of his office collecting money from teachers under his directive.

Contacted, acting district civil surgeon Dr Rustam Ali said: “Since the British regime, there is a rule of taking Tk 16 for health test that could reach a maximum of Tk 250 if ratio of the value of currency is considered.”

The civil surgeon claimed he was not aware of the fact of taking Tk 350 in the name of fitness test. He, via this correspondent, also asked teachers to meet him if any of them was charged extra. l

1 jailed for taking drug in Barguna n Tribune Report

13 years elapse, Patgati bridge yet to be done

Price of green chilli goes up for supply crunch

A mobile court on Thursday night sentenced a man to one year imprisonment for taking drug in Sadar upazila of the district.

The convict was identified as Tarekuzzaman of Purakata.

Sources at Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer office said police arrested Tarekuzzaman from Purakata ferry ghat at about 9:30 pm while he was smoking hemp.

Two pieces of yaba tablets were also recovered from his possession.

Later, Tarekuzzaman was produced before the court of executive magistrate Golam Mohammad Bhuyan who handed down the verdict. l

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

n Tribune Report

One killed in Sirajganj clash n Tribune Report A man was killed and 15 others injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over establishing supremacy at Basra village in Shahjadpur upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Makbul Hossain, 32, son of Mujibur Rahman of the village.

Hasan Shamim Iqbal, officer-incharge of Shahjadpur police station, said there was long standing enmity between Jangal group and Bapari group over establishing supremacy in the village.

As a sequel to the enmity, the supporters of both groups equipped with lethal weapons attacked each other, leaving Makbul, a supporter of Jangal group, dead and 15 others injured.

The injured were rushed to Shahjadpur Upazila Health Complex and sadar hospital. l

2 Indians held with smuggled goods in Chuadanga n Tribune Report Members of Border Guard Bangladesh arrested two Indian nationals in possession of huge smuggled goods on Nimtala frontier in Damurhuda upazila yesterday.

The arrestees were identified as Ishwar Dul, 37, son of Punya Dul, and Shoshti Mondal,45, son of Nari Mondal of Banpur village in Nadia district of India.

BGB sources said a patrol team of BGB challenged a group of smugglers when they entered the Bangladesh territory through Nimtala border point at about 1:00pm.

At one stage, the BGB members arrested Dul and Shoshti from the spot while the others managed to flee.

Indian fertiliser, pesticides, television parts and a huge amount of drugs were recovered from their possession.

Chuadanga-6 BGB Director Lieutenant Colonel SM Maniruzzaman confirmed the incident. l

Although it has been 13 years since the construction works of Patgati bridge at Tungipara upazila in Gopalganj begun, construction of the bridge is yet to be finished.

The Awami League government started construction of the bridge in 1999 with a view to facilitating road communication between Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Bongshal and Mongla port.

Locals said the bridge might make road links in several southern district easier, but thousands of people are in miseries for lack of a bridge on the Madhumati River at Tungipara upazila.

Construction works of the bridge stopped during the tenure of the BNPJamaat alliance government for unknown reason, later the work resumed in September 2010 after Awami League

The photo taken yesterday from a Padma char (shoal) in Rajshahi shows rural women return to home after collecting straws for household use. Women’s work remains unquantified despite the fact that women’s contributions to the family are vital, in many cases women work longer hours than men DHAKA TRIBUNE

government assumed power.

According to Gopalganj Road Department, the 391.49 metre long and 9.50 width Patgati bridge is being constructed with Tk54 crore. The RP Construction Company has been entrusted with the construction of the bridge.

Sheikh Sohag of Chingirguri village of Bagherhat said: “The work started 13 years back, but the work is not finished yet. Hundreds of people depend on Tungipara and Gopalganj for emergency services, education and treatment.

They have to wait for hours at Modhumari launch terminal to cross the river.”

The suffering of the people would be mitigated once the construction works of the bridge is completed, he added.

Mim and Razia Sultana, residents of Kunia village in Bagherhat, read in Class X at GT Government High School in Tungipara.

Razia said: “We go to school regular-

ly. We have to wait at launch terminal for hours. Sometimes we miss the first class at school.”

A responsible source of the RP Construction said construction works of the construction work of the bridge was delayed as there were some changes in design.

Already 85% of the construction has been finished and remaining works would be completed by July this year, said the source.

However, Deputy Divisional Executive Director of Gopalganj Road Department Somiron Biswas said, “The construction works was going on in full swing. The work would be done within next four months. People of Bangladesh will be amazed after watching the beautiful bridge.”

A resort centre centring the bridge will be built in the area to attract tourists, he said. l

Students have shanty for school n Our Correspondent, Sherpur

The students of a government primary school are forced to attend classes under a thatched hut in a remote village of Sherpur as they have no building of their own.

The name of the school is Kulurchar Bepari Para Government Primary School which is located at Kulur Char Bepari Para village under ward no 3 of Char Pokkhimara Union under the Sadar upazila in Sherpur district. The village has a population of around 5,000. Most of the village people are small businessmen and day labours.

The one and only primary school of the village was established 47 years ago. The school once had its own building and playground.

Two years ago, river erosion

devoured the entire land of the school, destroying the building and shattering the dreams of hundreds of poor students.

Currently around 250 students of the school are attending classes under the open sky. Recently, the authority has built a shanty on two decimals of khas land which is 100 meters far from the previous school building.

The educational activities of the students are being seriously hampered due to the lack of teacher’s chairs, black boards and other teaching materials. Students have to sit on the mat during class time as there is no bench to sit on.

There is no tube well and latrine as well.

Four teachers including the head master don’t have their own

common room. Most of the locals are low-income people so they don’t have the capacity to send their children to a good school. So, the students are forced to study in that unhealthy condition.

Head Mistress Sayeda Lutfunnessa said: “After the land was devoured by river erosion, we have been taking classes under the shanty. When we informed the matter to authorities concerned, a person named Humayun Kabir donated his 10 decimals of land for the purpose of building the school. But, we couldn’t begin the construction due to unavailability of funds.”

Locals have been demanding to rebuild the school to mitigate the sufferings of the teachers and their students. l

Road blockade in Barisal for release of BNP leaders, activists n Our Correspondent, Barisal Local people of Babuganj upazila yesterday blocking roads, forming human chain and holding rally demanded immediate release of 11 leaders and activists of Babuganj upazila unit BNP, including one upazila chairman candidate and his younger brother.

Hundreds of the BNP leaders and activists with local people put up barricade on the BanariparaSwarupkathi road that halted traffic movement on both sides of the road.

Later, they held a rally where speakers said although the accused had been granted interim bail from the High Court, a lower court sent them to jail after they surrendered

before it with a plea to extend the bail which proved a conspiracy against them.

The speakers called upon voters to put up resistance against rigging and irregularities during the upcoming election.

They vowed to launch tougher movement if the BNP men were not released before the election.

A Barisal court on Thursday sent them to jail in a case lodged for attempting to foil the upazila parishad elections.

Rejecting their bail plea, Magistrate Rafikul Islam passed the order after they surrendered before the court yesterday.

The accused are Sultan Ahmed Khan, incumbent chairman of Ba-

buganj upazila and also candidate for the same post in the third phase of upazila parishad polls scheduled for March 15, former president of upazila unit BNP Wahidul Islam Khan, Madhabpasha upazila Chairman Sultan Ahmed, President of Babuganj Upazila BNP Yusuf Talukdar, Sultan Molla, Basir Ahmed, Shamsul Huq, Zahirul Huq, Shahin Molla, Monir Haoladar and Mokhles Hossain.

Sub Inspector Mainul Islam of Barisal Airport police station lodged a case on January 7, 2014 against the accused for trying to thwart the 10th general election through disrupting road communication on Barisal-Banaripara route on January 5, 2014. l

The price of green chilli has shot up by Tk30 per kg in a week at the city’s different markets.

As of yesterday, one kg of green chilli is being sold at Tk80 at different kitchen markets, which was at Tk45 t0 Tk50 one week ago. But in the wholesale market green chilli is being sold at Tk60 per kg.

“Last week, I had bought 500 gram green chili at Tk20, which rose to Tk40 today (Friday),” said Jasim Uddin, a government official, told the Dhaka Tribune.

If there is proper monitoring from authorities concerned over the retail prices of commodities, the retailers could not illogically hike prices, he added.

The prices have soared because of inadequate supply, said Md Emran Master, president of Bangladesh Kanchamal Arrot Malik Samity.

He also said retailers had increased the prices up to some extent to make hefty profits.

“At the wholesale market we are selling green chili atTk60 per kg, but retailers are selling green chilies at Tk80 and above.

Rafiqul Islam, a retailer of Hatirpul Kanchabazar claimed that they had to buy essentials at higher prices from the wholesalers and for that reason they were selling commodities at higher prices.

Though the prices of green chilli went up sharply, vegetables prices remain stable.

In the city’s kitchen markets, local onion was selling at Tk25 per kg, while imported onion at Tk30 per kg, local garlic sold at Tk60 and imported garlic at Tk70 per kg, local ginger at Tk120 and imported at Tk170, potato at Tk12 per kg, tomato at Tk30 per kg, brinjal at Tk40 and bean at Tk25. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Prescription

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Saturday, March 8, 2014

First aid for burns

A burn is a type of injury to flesh or skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation. The most common causes of burns are fire or flames. Globally, about 11 million people seek medical treatment, and 300,000 die from burns each year. The characteristics of a burn depend upon its depth, and the treatment depends on the severity of the burn. Superficial burns may be managed easily while large burns can be fatal

The least serious burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned, but not all the way through. In first-degree burns:  The skin is usually red  Often there is swelling  Pain sometimes is present Treat a first-degree burn as a minor burn unless it involves substantial portions of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint, which requires emergency medical attention.

2nd-degree burn

When the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin (dermis) is also burned, the injury is called a second-degree burn. In second-degree burns:  Blisters develop  Skin takes on an intensely reddened, splotchy appearance  There is severe pain and swelling.

If the second-degree burn is no larger

BIGSTOCK

1st-degree burn

than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, treat it as a minor burn. If the burned area is larger or if the burn is on the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or over a major joint, treat it as a major burn and get medical help immediately.

How to manage minor burns?

For minor burns, including first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, take the following steps:  Cool the burn: Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until

HEALTH NEWS Many people consider vitamin supplements a waste of money, but a new study has found they can actually make you smarter. Research from British scientists, published in not one, but three prestigious journals — the British Journal of Nutrition, Psychopharmacology, and Human Psychopharmacology — concluded that popping a daily multivitamin supplement boosted brain power and reduced tiredness. The researchers found that adults and children taking multivitamins show significant improvement in their ability to pay at-

BIGSTOCK

Take multi-vitamins, get smarter

tention, remember facts, be accurate in their recall, and also to multi-task.

The improvements were noted after just four weeks of taking the vitamin supplements, and the bonus benefits of being less mentally and physically tired were also reported. l

Do blueberries help cure hepatitis C?

BIGSTOCK

Researchers from Japan’s University of Miyakazi have identified a chemical compound in blueberry leaves that may possibly stop the hepatitis C virus’ ability to reproduce. The compound is a proanthocyanadin, with antioxidant properties similar to those found in grapes. The study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, offers hope for patients with the disease because the present standard drug treatment is not effective in all cases. l

Married people likely to become fatter Scientists from Salonica and Ioannina universities found that married women were twice as likely to have weight issues while married men were three times as likely to become fat. Married couples were found to be twice as likely to become fat or obese as their single counterparts, according to a new study. Studies have shown that married couples apparently spend more time eating together, watching TV and ordering takeaways and were therefore more likely to suffer from “abdominal obesity, or belly fat” than single people, who exercised more to stay in better shape in order to find a partner. Researchers found that the weight problems were directly related

to changes in lifestyle after marriage when people “let themselves go.”

Stress and anxiety is reduced in a good marriage. The study recommended that married couples should exercise more, snack less and follow more of a Mediterranean diet, which includes fruit, vegetables and olive oil. l

Frying steak increases cancer risk

According to new research frying meat on a gas hob can increase your risk of getting cancer. Researchers have found that the fumes produced by pan-frying steak on a gas hob contain more cancer-causing particles

than those produced from an electric hob. The findings suggest that it was harmful chemicals produced by heating oil on a gas hob, which reaches higher temperatures than electric that were the danger especially to chefs.

But in a warning to barbecue lovers too, scientists also believe that eating overcooked or burnt red meat may increase the risk of cancer because of carcinogenic compounds called acrylamides. The Researchers found that meat cooked on gas exposed the cook to higher levels of toxic chemicals, which may cause cancer. l

| Dr Abdullah Shahriar

the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with a cold compress.

Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Don’t put ice on the burn.  Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage: Don’t use fluffy cotton, or other material that may get lint in the wound. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn, reduces pain and protects blistered skin.  Take an over-the-counter pain reliever: These include aspirin,

Cautions

Don’t use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause a person’s body to become too cold and cause further damage to the wound.  Don’t apply egg whites, butter or ointments to the burn. This could cause infection.  Don’t break blisters. Broken blisters are more vulnerable to infection.

3rd-degree burn

The most serious burns involve all layers of the skin and cause permanent

tissue damage. Fat, muscle and even bone may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear dry and white.

Difficulty inhaling and exhaling, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other toxic effects may occur if smoke inhalation accompanies the burn.

For major burns

Seek emergency medical help. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:  Don’t remove burned clothing: However, do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials or exposed to smoke or heat.  Don’t immerse large severe burns in cold water: Doing so could cause a drop in body temperature (hypothermia) and deterioration of blood pressure and circulation (shock).  Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement): If there is no breathing or other sign of circulation, apply CPR.  Elevate the burned body part or parts: Raise above heart level, when possible.  Cover the area of the burn: Use a cool, moist, sterile bandage; clean, moist cloth; or moist cloth towels.  Get a tetanus shot: Burns are susceptible to tetanus. Doctors recommend you get a tetanus shot every 10 years. If your last shot was more than five years ago, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot booster. l

The sooner the better n Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar Diagnosing a disease at its early stage always gives a better result. Regular self examination helps to identify many dis10 TIPS eases at its very early stages and thus may be life-saving.

These 10 safe and painless health checks could save your life.

1. Know your breasts: Look at your breasts in the mirror and feel them with soapy hands while you’re in the shower.

Check for changes (lump, nipple retraction, discharging nipple etc.) at least once a month. This may help diagnose breast cancer at an early and treatable stage.

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sure, stroke etc, so to avoid these lifethreatening diseases one needs to lose weight.

2. Be aware of constipation: Check for blood in stool– it can signal bowel disease – and the colour of your urine.

The darker it is, the more dehydrated you are. Take adequate fibre in diet & drink at least 2 litres of water daily.

5. Open your mouth and inspect it regularly: White or red patches or painless ulcers could mean oral cancer, and swollen, bleeding, or inflamed gums can be an early warning sign of gingivitis. Regular checks are best done by a dentist.

3. Bone up: A bone density test can assess the status, and taking calcium can help prevent, or at least slow, the progression of osteoporosis.

6. Eye test: An eye test every two years may help detect any serious health disorders like diabetes, thyroid disorders, glaucoma, and high blood pressure.

4. Calculate body mass index (BMI): Calculate your body mass index (BMI) by dividing the weight in Kg by the height in square metres: A score between 25 and 30, is an alarming sign for heart disease, high blood pres-

7. Fight smear fear: Women between 20 and 64 should have a Pap smear done every two years. This will help identify cervical cancer at an early stage.

8. Check blood pressure regularly:

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, it can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt and alcohol intake.

9. Skin Changes: Look for unusual changes in skin’s texture or colour, and seek doctor’s help immediately if a mole bleeds, itches, or becomes ragged at the edges, or if any sore fails to heal. These may be an early sign of skin cancer.

Wear sun block of SPF15+, and choose make-up that contains sunscreen.

10. Check your Thyroid profile: In case of unusual tiredness, fatigability, body ache, weight gain etc, this may help diagnose hypothyroidism at a clinical or subclinical stage and thus help avoid various life-threatening complications.l

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To distinguish a minor burn from a serious burn, the first step is to determine the extent of damage to body tissues. The three burn HEALTH classifications of firstFLASH degree burn, seconddegree burn and third-degree burn will help you determine whether you need emergency care.

ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, among others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol or equivalent).

Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 2, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Minor burns usually heal without further treatment. They may heal with pigment changes, meaning the healed area may be a different color from the surrounding skin. Watch for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, fever, swelling or oozing. If infection develops, seek medical help.

Avoid re-injuring or tanning if the burns are less than a year old — doing so may cause more extensive pigmentation changes. Use sunscreen on the area for at least a year.

Avoid green papaya during pregnancy

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, avoid eating papaya or using papaya-based products. Papaya is sometimes recommended for soothing indigestion, which is a common ailment during pregnancy. Although a fully ripe papaya is not considered dangerous, a papaya that is at all unripe contains a latex substance that triggers uterine contractions and may cause a miscarriage. The papaya enzyme that helps soothe indigestion is called papain, or vegetable pepsin. Papain is found in the fruit’s latex and leaves. Unripe papaya latex may act like prostaglandin and oxytocin, which the body makes to start labor. Synthetic prostaglandin and oxytocin are commonly used to start or strengthen labor contractions. l

Don’t clean your ears

There are some people that swear by sticking a cotton swab into their ears to remove excess wax and debris. From punctured ear drums to super impacted wax, there are many negative consequences associated with cleaning of ears. It is important to understand that nothing should be placed inside the ear to remove dirt and debris. This is a dangerous practice that could leave a patient with hearing loss. In most cases, the ear canal does not need to be cleaned. During hair washing or showers, enough water enters into the ear canal to loosen the wax that has accumulated. Additionally, the skin in your ear canal naturally grows in an outward, spiral pattern. As it sloughs off, ear wax goes with it. Most of the time the wax will loosen and fall out on its own while you are asleep. The need for a cotton swab isn’t really necessary. l

Get moving BIGSTOCK

n Dr Mohammad Sayem

QUICK TIPS

Every morning, take a brisk 15 minute walk. Amazingly, you don’t need a lot of exercise to make a difference to your blood pressure. When Japanese researchers asked 168 inactive volunteers with high blood pressure to exercise at a health club for varying amounts of time each week for eight weeks, blood pressure levels dropped almost as much in those who exercised for 30 to 90 minutes a week as in those who exercised for more than 90 minutes a week. l

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

‘High’ ear piercing can ruin your pinna n Dr Sajol Ashfaq Over 90% of women (and a lot of men) have their earlobes pierced. It’s safe and easy, and hardly few have a problem with earlobe piercing. But in the DID YOU last decade, women have KNOW? begun to pierce their ears up high, through the cartilage, especially young girls. Ear piercing is common among the adolescent population, and multiple piercing of the ear has become increasingly fashionable. Often this involves “high” piercing, which requires puncture through the cartilage of the upper third of the pinna. Infection at this site often leads to loss of cartilage and to an unsightly deformity known as “cauliflower ear,” which has a poor chance of good reconstruction- according to a study published in The British Medical Journal. Cauliflower ear is more likely to occur when ear piercings have been done through the cartilage, the firm part of the

pinna. If cartilage is pierced then bacteria form and start eating through it. The entire ear can be destroyed in just a few days.

The usual bacteria involved is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to which antibiotic resistance seems to be increasing. The vast majority of piercings are performed by non-medical practitioners, such as jewellers, hairdressers, or tattooists.

These practitioners and their customers may not fully appreciate the implications of cartilage damage resulting from high piercing.

In the initial phase of infection, pinna gets swollen and reddens. Patients feel severe pain are. Later there is a collection of pus in the pinna. Surgical intervention is required if there are any sign of abscess or pus formation but cosmetic deformity proved difficult to avoid.

Piercing the cartilage in the upper portion of the ear is more dangerous than earlobe piercing. So, buck the trends and don’t have the cartilage pierced. Pierce the earlobe – once, twice, or more, but stay away from the upper part of yjr pinna. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Putin rebuffs Obama on Ukraine n Reuters, Moscow President Vladimir Putin rebuffed a warning from US President Barack Obama over Moscow’s military intervention in Crimea, saying on Friday that Russia could not ignore calls for help from Russian speakers in Ukraine.

After an hour-long telephone call, Putin said in a statement that Moscow and Washington were still far apart on the situation in the former Soviet republic, where he said the new authorities had taken “absolutely illegitimate decisions on the eastern, southeastern and Crimea regions.

“Russia cannot ignore calls for help and it acts accordingly, in full compliance with international law,” Putin said.

Ukraine’s border guards said Moscow had poured troops into the southern peninsula where Russian forces have seized control.

Serhiy Astakhov, an aide to the border guards’ commander, said there were now 30,000 Russian soldiers in Crimea, compared to 11,000 permanently based with the Russian Black Sea fleet in the port of Sevastopol before the crisis.

Putin denies that the forces with no national insignia that are surrounding Ukrainian troops in their bases are under Moscow’s command, although their vehicles have Russian military plates. The West has ridiculed this claim.

The most serious east-west confrontation since the end of the Cold War - resulting from the overthrow last month of President Viktor Yanukovich

Turkey warns of banning YouTube and Facebook n AFP, Ankara Turkey’s embattled prime minister has warned that his government could ban popular social media networks YouTube and Facebook after a number of online leaks added momentum to a spiralling corruption scandal.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposals to tighten his government’s grip over the Internet have generated criticism at home and abroad about rights in the EU-hopeful country.

“There are new steps we will take in that sphere after March 30... including a ban (on YouTube, Facebook),” Erdogan told private ATV television in an interview late Thursday.

In stark contrast, President Abdullah Gul, a frequent social media user, said Facebook and Youtube cannot be unplugged.

“Youtube and Facebook are recognised platforms all over the world. A ban is out of the question,” he told reporters on Friday.

The president in Turkey is however a largely ceremonial figure.

Erdogan, Turkey’s all-powerful leader since 2003, has been under mounting pressure after audio recordings were leaked last month in which he and his son allegedly discuss how to hide vast sums of money. l

after violent protests in Kiev - escalated on Thursday when Crimea’s parliament, dominated by ethnic Russians, voted to join Russia. The region’s government set a referendum for March 16 - in just nine days’ time.

European Union leaders and Obama denounced the referendum as illegitimate, saying it would violate Ukraine’s constitution.

The head of Russia’s upper house of parliament said after meeting visiting Crimean lawmakers on Friday that Crimea had a right to self-determination, and ruled out any risk of war between “the two brotherly nations.”

Before calling Putin, Obama announced the first sanctions against Russia since the start of the crisis, ordering visa bans and asset freezes against so far unidentified persons deemed responsible for threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Japan endorsed the Western position that the actions of Russia, whose forces have seized control of the Crimean peninsula, constitute “a threat to international peace and security,” after Obama spoke to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. China, often a Russian ally in blocking Western moves in the UN. Security Council, was more cautious, saying that economic sanctions were not the best way to solve the crisis and avoiding comment on the legality of a Crimean referendum on secession.

The EU, Russia’s biggest economic partner and energy customer, adopted a three-stage plan to try to force a negotiated solution but stopped short of immediate sanctions. l

Russian navy Large Landing Ship ‘Yamal’ arrives at the port in the harbour of Sevastopol on March 7

n AFP, Paris Nicolas Sarkozy is suspected of attempting to pervert the court of justice on the basis of phone taps ordered by judges investigating his links with Moamer Kadhafi, it emerged on Friday.

The revelation was the latest dramatic development in the labyrinthine web of corruption cases threatening to ensnare the former French president and destroy his chances of a political comeback.

Judges started tapping Sarkozy’s phones last year after opening a formal investigation into allegations that the late former Libyan dictator Kadhafi helped finance his 2007 election campaign, according to respected daily Le Monde.

Judicial sources confirmed to AFP that a recorded call between Sarkozy and his lawyer Thierry Herzog was the basis for a new investigation opened last week into a suspected attempt to obtain, via a friendly judge, inside information about ongoing -- and top secret -- proceedings before one of France’s highest courts.

The proceedings arise from another election financing scandal in which Sarkozy was embroiled and could have a profound influence on the outcome of yet another corruption case, centred on a 400-million-euro state payout to disgraced tycoon Bernard Tapie.

Herzog said Friday that Sarkozy “is

n AFP, Cairo

among them “Love of her father,” were carved on the statue, Asfar added.

Luxor, a city of some 500,000 people on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, is an open-air museum of intricate temples and pharaonic tombs.

AFP

Russian fleet at heart of Ukraine crisis central to Putin intentions n Reuters, Sevastopol The Black Sea Fleet fleet, its base, and the sprawling military infrastructure that go with it, are vital to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military and geopolitical ambitions and one of the main reasons the Kremlin is now eyeing complete control of Crimea.

Nor will the fleet be outdated for much longer. It is soon to be restocked with billions of dollars worth of hardware. Lee Willett, editor of Jane’s Navy International, said six new submarines and six new frigates were scheduled for delivery in the next few years.

Judges tapped former president Sarkozy’s phones

Egypt dig unearths statue of pharaonic princess Archaeologists in Egypt have found a nearly 3,500-year-old statue of the daughter of pharaoh Amenhotep III in the famed temple city of Luxor, the antiquities ministry said on Friday.

An Egyptian-European team uncovered the statue of princess Iset, 170 centimetres tall and 52 cm wide, during renovation work at the Amenhotep III mortuary temple on Luxor’s western bank, antiquities minister Mohamed Ibrahim said in a statement.

“The statue is part of a 14-metre-high (46-foot) alabaster sculpture of Amenhotep III that was at the entrance of the temple sanctuary,” team head Dr Hourig Sourouzian said.

The sculpture features the 18th Dynasty ruler on his throne, his hands on his knees, his daughter standing between his legs, wearing a wig and a long tunic and holding a neckless in her right hand.

It is the first time a sculpture has been found that depicts the princess alone with her father: others show her with her two parents and her brothers, Sourouzian said.

The statue of the princess “was eroded, especially the face,” and the feet were missing, ministry official Ali El-Asfar said.

The princess’s name and her titles,

OSCE military observers entry to Crimea blocked n AFP, Chongar

probably still being tapped,” and denounced what he said was a politically motivated plot against his client.

“There was no attempt to pervert the course of justice and in due course this monstrous violation will be shown to have been a political affair,” the lawyer told AFP. An investigation into allegations that Sarkozy accepted millions of euros from Kadhafi was opened in April 2013 on the basis of claims made by one of the dictator’s sons, his interpreter and the man who allegedly delivered the cash.

According to Le Monde, the judges in charge of the Libya probe quickly decided they would be justified in tapping the phones of Sarkozy and two of his former ministers, Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux.

In December, they discovered that both Sarkozy and his lawyer, Herzog, had acquired second phones which they used exclusively for conversations between them.

It was once these phones were tapped that evidence which has formed the basis for the probe launched last week came to light, according to Le Monde.

In one of the recorded conversations, Sarkozy and his lawyer discussed the possibility of approaching a senior judge in connection with a case before France’s Court of Cassation. l

Egypt deports more women activists headed for Gaza n AFP, Cairo Egypt deported Friday dozens of women activists, who had flown in to Cairo but been barred from entering the country in their bid to reach the neighbouring Gaza Strip, an airport official said.

About 100 women, most of them from Europe and the United States, had hoped to enter the Palestinian enclave through Egypt’s Rafah border crossing to celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday.

Eleven women were sent back to Istanbul, another 22 to Paris and six to Frankfurt, the official said.

They were among 65 activists deported over the past 24 hours, some from the United States, France, Belgium and Switzerland, the official added.

Northern Irish Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire and American anti-war activist Medea Benjamin were deported earlier this week.

Egypt controls the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, the only one that bypasses Israel, and is accused of colluding with the Jewish state in blockading the territory, ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas. l

It is also expected to take delivery of other vessels such as the giant Mistral helicopter carrier, currently being built in France, as well as new attack aircraft.

Russian analysts say Putin’s decision to intervene in Ukraine was in large part driven by his desire to safeguard the Sevastopol base as he feared the country’s new government would cancel a lease deal allowing the fleet to stay until 2042.

“Putin had every reason to think that would happen,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the Moscow-based Russia in Global Affairs journal. “The new government in Ukraine wants to move closer to the European Union and

Nato. Their agenda would have meant the fleet would have to leave.”

Such a withdrawal, from a base that carries huge emotional and symbolic significance for Russians because of Sevastopol’s role in the Crimean War and World War Two, would have been a serious geopolitical defeat for Putin, said Lukyanov.

It would also have left Moscow without a viable Black Sea naval base.

Russia’s only alternative, its port at Novorossiysk, is buffeted by winds, is sometimes forced to shut because of bad weather, and would need billions of dollars of investment. l

Armed men at a checkpoint flying the Russian flag blocked OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) observers from entering Ukraine’s flashpoint Crimean peninsula for a second day on Friday, an AFP reporter said.

The team of 47 military and civilian observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe arrived at the checkpoint near the village of Chongar around 3:00 pm local time (1300 GMT) but were prevented from advancing.

They were hoping to hold talks with the unidentified armed men to allow their convoy to pass, one of the observers said. l

Ukraine far-right group announces presidential bid n AFP, Kiev Ukraine’s far-right Pravy Sektor movement on Friday announced its leader Dmytro Yarosh would make a presidential bid in elections scheduled for May 25.

The movement, which took a leading role in the deadly protests that unseated former president Viktor Yanukovych, will also become a political party.

“Dmytro Yarosh will run for president,” Andriy Tarasenko, a senior member of the ultra-nationalist group was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying in Kiev. l

WORLD WAR I TRENCH DISCOVERED IN ENGLAND

Remains of an entire practice battlefield, with two sets of opposing trench systems and a No Manís Land between, used for training troops before they were sent to the Front in the First World War, has been discovered on Ministry of Defence heathland in Gosport, Hampshire AFP

Kerry, Jordan king focus on floundering Mideast talks n AFP, Aqaba US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Jordan on Friday for talks with King Abdullah II on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, a US spokeswoman said.

The brief stop in the Red Sea port of Aqaba, where the talks were held, was not previously announced.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Kerry, who arrived from Rome from where he also brought back his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh, would discuss the Middle East peace process with the monarch.

“We are arriving in Aqaba, Jordan, with Foreign Minister Judeh today to see King Abdullah to talk about the peace process,” Harf said.

Jordan is one of only two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, and King Abdullah holds a special position because the 1994 accord recognises his country’s “historic” role in caring for Muslim holy sites in east Jerusalem.

Last month, Jordan warned that it might review the peace treaty after Israeli MPs began a debate on allowing Jewish prayers at Jerusalem’s sensitive Al-Aqsa mosque compound, saying the kingdom’s custodianship was “not a privilege granted by Israel.”

Israel and the Palestinians remained deadlocked in ongoing peace talks that Kerry helped to launch last July.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday urged Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to recognise Israel as a Jewish state and to “abandon the fantasy” of flooding it with returning Palestinian refugees.

His remarks sparked a furious reaction from the Palestinians, who denounced his demand and said it had effectively put the final nail in the coffin of the talks.

The spat threw a harsh spotlight on the divide between the two sides and the Herculean task faced by Kerry, who is trying to get them to agree on a framework for extending direct peace talks beyond an April 29 deadline.

Israel has repeatedly insisted there will be no peace deal without addressing the issue of recognition, and a clause relating to this has been inserted into Kerry’s as-yet-unpublished framework proposal.

For the Palestinians, the issue is intimately entwined with the fate of their refugees who were forced out of their homes or fled in 1948 when Israel became a state. They see Netanyahu’s demand as a way of sidestepping a negotiated solution to the refugee issue. l

Saudi lists ‘terror’ groups, orders foreign fighters home n AFP, Riyadh Saudi Arabia on Friday listed the Muslim Brotherhood and two Syrian jihadist groups as terrorist organisations and ordered citizens fighting abroad to return within 15 days or face imprisonment, state TV reported.

The latest move represents a major escalation against the Muslim Brotherhood of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and indicates rising concern in Riyadh over the possible return of battle-hardened Saudis extremists from Syria.

In addition to the Muslim Brotherhood, Saudi listed Al-Nusra Front, which is Al-Qaeda’s official Syrian affiliate, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a rogue group fighting in both Syria and Iraq, as terrorist organisations.

It also listed as terrorist groups the Shiite Huthi rebels fighting in northern Yemen and a little-known internal Shiite group called Hezbollah in the Hijaz.

Saudi and other conservative Gulf monarchies have long been hostile towards the Muslim Brotherhood, fearing that its brand of grass-roots activism and political Islam could undermine their authority. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

I am not a terrorist, Ministry: Navy officer dies Modi should have in Indian ship accident met me, says bon dioxide unit developed a problem, Kejriwal n AFP, Mumbai causing the gas leakage and injuries, An Indian naval officer was killed and the defence ministry said in the stateAgencies n “some” dock workers were injured ment.

Lalu rushes daughter Misa to Delhi to pacify Ram Kripal Yadav n Agencies High drama was seen in Patna on Friday when RJD chief Lalu Prasad, tied with campaigning, rushed his daughter, Misa Bharti, to New Delhi to mollify senior-most party colleague and Rajya Sabha member Ram Kripal Yadav.

Ram Kripal is said to be upset over the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) not naming him, but Misa as the candidate from the Patliputra constituency in Bihar.

“I am pained. Though I have no resigned from the party, I will definitely arrive at a decision on what to do within a day or two,” he said in Delhi.

Ram Kripal had earlier made it known that he resented ‘parivarvad’ (dynastic trend) in the RJD and Lalu ignoring senior party leaders.

He did not receive or meet Misa.

Asked if he would join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he replied, “I have not decided.” There is talk of the BJP making Ram Kripal its candidate from Patliputra or Madhepura if he switches over.

A top BJP leader who did not want to be named said, “You could wait for a surprise at Madhepura.”

Lalu, who was to campaign in Saran area for his wife, Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, said, “Ram Kripal is my best MP and the most seasoned politician. He can never ditch me.”

Lalu downplayed talk of rebellion, saying, “(Ram Kripal) Yadav never asked for Patliputra seat and I am not aware of his annoyance. I think he is being influenced by some party. We need him in our fight for social justice.”

Rabri Devi said, “He is like my devar (brother-in-law). He is still in the party and will never leave it. In any case, he has not resigned.” l

File photo shows West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, Mamata Banerjee gestures during a mass rally in Agartala AFP

Jayalalithaa calls up Mamata n

Agencies

A day after Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee indicated that she was open to working with Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK chief on Friday telephoned her and was stated to have discussed the upcoming general elections.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister rang up Banerjee in the morning and shared views on the upcoming Lok Sabha election, sources close to the development said.

Details of the conversation were, however, not known.

The West Bengal chief minister had on Thursday said that she had no problem working with Jayalalithaa if she became the Prime Minister after the elections.

“I have no problem. I don’t bother about the chair, I care for the people,” Banerjee said when asked whether she would give support to Jayalalithaa if she wanted to be the Prime Minister. l

Rebuffed by Narendra Modi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he was not a terrorist and deserved to be called by him for a meeting out of courtesy.

“Now I wanted to meet him, but we were stopped five kilometres away from his residence. I am not a terrorist. Being an ex-CM, I deserve a courtesy call from Modi, instead we were stopped. This is not democracy,” he told reporters in Jaipur on his unsuccessful attempt to meet the BJP prime ministerial candidate in Gandhinagar this morning.

Trashing claims of development and good governance in Gujarat, Kejriwal said the state “has nothing but rampant corruption” and the voice of farmers was being suppressed.

Kejriwal, who toured Gujarat for the last two days, said a picture totally different from reality was presented about Gujarat during the last one year

by Modi and a section of media under a “big conspiracy.”

“What I saw in the last three days was totally different from what is being presented by Gujarat. Our teams visited villages and exposed the truth.

When locals came to know about the AAP visits, they called us and told us the reality,” Kejriwal said at a seminar – ‘Pillars of Democracy- Shaking Us, Waking Us?’ – in Jaipur.

“Corruption is rampant in Gujarat.

I was told that rates for transfers and appointments are fixed. For the job of state registrar, the rate is 33 lakh and for transfer of a DSP, Rs 2.75 crore. Without bribe, you cannot have a license or a BPL card and cannot run an industry.” l

Khawaja Asif: Ready to launch operation if Taliban talks fail

Pakistan formulating cyber security strategy

n Reuters, Islamabad

The Senate was informed on Friday that a cyber security strategy was being devised to counter cyber attacks or infiltration from other countries.

Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman told the upper house of parliament during question hour that the government has already approved e-mail and internet policy which envisages security guidelines and a multi-stage information security audit of government institutions and ministries.

He said the Ministry of Information Technology had also finalised “Prevention and Electronic Crime Bill” which would soon be presented in the parliament for approval.

Rehman said Nadra had a sensitive database of 100 million people and had deployed a state-of the art system to prevent breaches from internal and external cyber intruders.

Replying to a question, he said a mobile verification system was recently introduced in the federal capital to recover the stolen cars.

The Minister said under this system, the police personnel deployed at patrolling places can check details of any vehicle through an SMS. The House yesterday passed a resolution appreciating the women parliamentarians for working collectively for empowerment of women folk in the country. l

Pakistan could launch a full-scale military operation against Pakistani Taliban insurgents in the tribal areas near the Afghan border as early as this month, the defence minister said, warning insurgents against violating a ceasefire.

Dashing chances of a peace deal with the Pakistani Taliban, gunmen burst into a courtroom in Islamabad on Monday, killing 11 people in a broad daylight attack in the heart of the heavily guarded capital.

The Pakistani Taliban denied any role in the assault and a splinter group accepted responsibility.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told Reuters in an interview that the government would not hesitate to bomb militant hideouts or send forces into the tribal areas if the Taliban did not abide by the ceasefire announced last weekend.

“It will not take months now. We’ll have to march in the month of March,” Asif said, describing the government’s response if insurgent attacks continued.

“If there is a ceasefire, it has to be complete. Without that, we just can’t afford to have talks with the Taliban.”

Asif, long considered a pro-talks politician, is now one of a growing number of members of Prime Minister Nawaz

9

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Sharif’s cabinet who believe it is time for tougher military action against Pakistani Taliban strongholds.

Sharif has been under pressure from the United States and hawks within the Pakistani army to send troops into North Waziristan, a tribal region along the Afghan border that is home to a complex web of al Qaeda-linked militant groups.

Since 2007, the military has mounted a number of offensives against militant strongholds in the northwest, largely clearing several areas, including their bastion of South Waziristan.

But North Waziristan has not been tackled, even though Pakistani Taliban members have taken refuge with allied Afghan factions based there that are not fighting the Pakistani state.

In February, Pakistan launched talks with the Taliban to find a negotiated settlement. But hopes of a peace deal have been crushed by a series of attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.

“We won’t just take this lying down,” the defence minister said. “If we are attacked, the state is attacked, civilians are attacked, military personal are attacked, we will retaliate. We will retaliate in kind.”

For a government long considered soft for pursuing peace talks, Asif said there were now very few takers for the argument that the Taliban are truly committed to dialogue.

“The Taliban have not even condemned this so-called splinter group four days after the attack. They are saying, ‘We have not violated a ceasefire, these are peripheral groups, they are not under our control,’” Asif said. “But we cannot believe this.”

When asked about reports that talks may be re-launched, this time with Pakistan’s powerful military in the driving seat, he said: “The army’s input is very valuable. They are the people on the front lines. They have to execute our decisions.”

The Sharif government’s insistence on pushing for talks with the Pakistani Taliban is driven to a large extent by the fear that the end of the US combat mission in 2014 could energise a resilient insurgency straddling the shared frontier.

“If in the post-withdrawal period, the Afghan Taliban become stronger and carve out an area of influence in the south and east of Afghanistan, which is next to our border, that’s a scenario we should even avoid thinking of,” Asif said. “Because then the Pakistani Taliban will have a powerhouse behind them, to support them. This option is there and everyone should try to avoid it.”

For sceptics, there is another scenario Pakistan wants to avoid at all costs: an unfriendly Afghanistan backed by India. l

Friday in a gas leak aboard a yet-to-be commissioned naval ship, the defence ministry said.

The accident was the latest in a string to hit the navy.

“Commander Kuntal Wadhwa has died,” Commander Rahul Sinha, chief defence ministry spokesman, told AFP. A statement by the defence ministry said “some” dock workers were injured but did not say how many or disclose the nature of the injuries.

The accident occurred aboard the ship called Yard 701 by its builders, the Mazagaon Dock Ltd, in Mumbai, headquarters of India’s Western Naval Command.

The ship was undergoing trials at the Mumbai Port Trust when its car-

“It is a destroyer with stealth features and we were hoping to hand it over to the navy in a month’s time,” Parvez Panthanky, a spokesman for the Mazagaon Dock, told reporters.

The ship is set to be the first in a new class of destroyers.

The naval spokesman said the accident would cause a delay in commissioning of the ship.

More details about the cause of the accident would only be available after talking to the shipbuilders, the spokesman said.

The Indian Navy has been without a chief since Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned last month after a fire on one of the country’s submarines, the INS Sindhuratna, killed two officers. l

n Agencies

of the special bench to hear the matter but did not provide a proper proposal.

“It’s an insult to us,” it observed.

The Sahara group submitted that it was ready to make a cash payment of Rs 2,500 crore within three days and gave an assurance that it will pay the rest of Rs 14,900 crore in five instalments by the end of July, 2015.

A bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and J S Khehar rejected the proposal after Sebi also opposed it on the ground that group is supposed to pay Rs 34,000 crore and not just Rs 17,400 crore which it today agreed to pay. l

Indian Supreme Court: Shahara to remain in jail Calling it an insult, the Supreme Court on Friday ticked off the Sahara group for not coming out with a proper proposal for refunding investors money after making it assemble a special bench and asked the company to come out with an “honourable” plan.

Subrata Roy will remain in Tihar jail till next Tuesday when the court posted the matter for further hearing.

Rejecting Sahara’s proposal, the apex court expressed displeasure that the Sahara group asked for assembling

n Agencies

Malaysia’s Anwar decries sodomy ruling as ‘travesty’ n AFP, Putrajaya Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal on sodomy charges was overturned Friday, in a fresh threat to the career of a charismatic politician who helped turn around the country’s once-hapless opposition.

A Court of Appeals panel sided with a government challenge to Anwar’s 2012 acquittal on charges he sodomised a male former aide, saying a lower court had misjudged evidence.

Anwar, 66, was sentenced to five years in jail, but freed pending appeal.

Once a rising star in Malaysia’s long-ruling party until his spectacular ouster in the late 1990s, Anwar has al-

leged a long-running campaign by the ruling regime to destroy his political career with false charges. He bitterly rebuked the judges after the ruling.

“It is a travesty of justice. I would have thought you would have some courage,” he said to the panel.

The ruling sparked an uproar in a courtroom filled with Anwar’s opposition colleagues and supporters, as his wife and three daughters burst into tears.

About 150 Anwar supporters demonstrated outside the appeals court in the administrative capital of Putrajaya after the announcement, chanting the opposition’s battle cry of “Reformasi” (Reform), as a heavy police presence ringed the building. l

n Agencies

Japanese historians slam sex-slave apology review Iran says nuclear talks with powers ‘substantive and useful’ n

Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday told a session of the Senate that 1,710 people have been killed since 2008 in incidents of sectarian violence across Pakistan, DawnNews reported.

The Senate session was headed by Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari.

The highest number of deaths were recorded in Balochistan with a death toll of 675, followed by 31 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 204 in Sindh, 146 in Punjab, 149 in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), while 100 people were assassinated in different incidents of sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The least number of deaths were traced in the federal capital Islamabad with only five killed since 2008.

According to a report by Pak Institute for Peace Studies (Pips), the rise in sectarian violence started in 2011 is continuously increasing in the country.

Moreover, suicide attacks are also being used during sectarian clashes, and have resulted in the death of numerous people across the country. l

A group of Japanese historians on Friday stood behind their government’s 1993 apology over wartime sex slavery, slamming Tokyo’s possible move to revise it as “unforgivable.”

The landmark apology, known as the Kono Statement, acknowledged official complicity in the coercion of women from across Asia into a system of wartime brothels, an issue that draws particular resentment in neighbouring South Korea.

On Saturday, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye warned Japan that it would face “isolation” if it pushed ahead with a move to revisit the apology.

But conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government has said evidence given by “comfort women” -- a euphemism for those forced to work in military brothels -- that forms the basis of the apology is to be re-examined.

Respected historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan, were forced to serve as sex slaves in Japanese army brothels. l

Pak sectarian violence killed 1,710 since 2008

AFP, Tokyo

n Reuters, Vienna

A South Korean former comfort woman who was forced to serve as sex slave for Japaneses troops during World War II, shouts a slogan during an anti-Japan rally near the Japanese embassy in Seoul, 16 June 2005 AFP

A senior Iranian official said on Friday that expert-level talks between Iran and six world powers on Tehran’s nuclear programme had been “substantive and useful.”

Seeking to build on an interim agreement reached late last year in Geneva, Iran and the major powers aim to hammer out a final settlement of the decade-old dispute over Tehran’s atomic activities by late July.

The March 5-7 meeting at the United Nations complex in Vienna, which ended around mid-day on Friday, was to prepare for the next round of political negotiations on the issue later this month, also in the Austrian capital.

Both sides have made clear their political will to reach a long-term accord and have scheduled a series of meetings in the coming months. But they also acknowledge that there are still big differences over the future scope of Iran’s nuclear programme and that success is far from guaranteed.

“The talks are very serious and substantive and useful,” the head of the Iranian delegation at the expertlevel talks, senior Foreign Ministry official Hamid Baidinejad, told Iran’s Fars news agency ahead of Friday’s session.

There was no immediate comment from either side after the meeting ended.

Officials said experts from Russia were taking part in this week’s meeting in Vienna, suggesting there was no immediate impact on the nuclear negotiations from the crisis in Ukraine.

A senior diplomat from one of the big powers said this week there had been “no suggestion by anyone” that the crisis would impede discussions on Iran or other issues such as Syria where the United States and Europe are trying to cooperate with Russia.

Western officials want Iran to significantly scale back its uranium enrichment activities to ensure that it would be unable to build an atomic bomb quickly if it ever decided to do so. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

Encourage more women to be leaders

O

n International Women’s Day, it is concerning to hear that female political leaders have been expressing frustration over the way some women have been treated by fellow politicians.

Attendees at a celebration of women’s political leadership this week have complained that women politicians are sometimes not treated with equality and respect by men, even amongst their own party colleagues. This gives pause for thought as Bangladesh has a proud tradition of women occupying leadership roles including in the most senior political positions of the land.

In many circumstances, inequality is institutionalised, despite official lip service being paid towards empowerment of women. At the seminar attended by among others the opposition leader Raushan Ershad and former minister of foreign affairs, Dipu Moni, various illustrations were provided. For example, it was said that typically, women vice-chairs of local bodies are left to depend on local male chairs for transportation, holding back their ability to represent their communities.

Clearly, much more needs to be accomplished to empower women in all areas of life. Even in organisations where women are well represented, more can be done to improve attitudes and to ensure equality.

As a nation, we need to encourage and mentor more women to become leaders. Everyone will benefit if women’s skills and talents are not held back.

Society can only gain by encouraging everyone to develop and reach their potential. All organisations need to keep reviewing their practices to ensure that women are not prevented from progressing to more senior positions.

Society can only gain if women’s skills and talents are not held back

Protect property rights for all citizens

R

ecent reports against a ruling-party leader accused of forcibly occupying land from a Hindu family have once again brought into question the rights of minorities in the country.

This is not an isolated case. Land-grabbing has been very much visible since the Liberation War, particularly following implementation of the Vested Property Act which authorised the government to seize land by pronouncing someone an enemy of the state. This legislation was much criticised for further marginalising the minority population, leading to its repeal.

While the Act may have been repealed, not enough has been done to return land to the dispossessed and this has encouraged elements targeting minorities for land-grabbing.

Land-grabbing is a serious criminal offence and even more concerning when rules are distorted to the disadvantage of a minority community. Such losses have had severe impacts on minority ethnic and indigenous groups who depend on their land to earn a living.

If the rights of these communities are not preserved properly, many more families may be displaced. The government has to become more vigilant in supervising land transactions.

It must act to seal abuses and loopholes in the law that allow people to get away with criminal acts.

The government owes it to all citizens to make sure that property rights are equal for everyone. There should be no refuge for land grabbers. Immediate action must be taken to put a stop to land-grabbing practices.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Insignificant award money for Ekushey Padak March 7

The Bangladesh government has been awarding different renowned personalities for their outstanding contributions to the nation. This year, on February 20, 15 individuals were awarded with the Ekushey Padak at Osmani Memorial Hall. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the Ekushey Padaks to the winners, each of whom were awarded with a prize of Tk100,000. Was that not very insignificant? Each Nobel Prize winner is awarded about Tk150 million. The Ekushey Padak should not be accompanied by less than Tk1 million, as Bangladesh is a least developed nation. The government should seriously review this, and raise the prize money to a more significant figure, for the Ekushey Padak winners are our pride.

Md Ashraf Hossain

Extrajudicial killing is not an option March 5

The headline “Gunfights are on the rise” published on Wednesday, March 4 has alarmed me, as extrajudicial killings are not a solution to curbing crime. Rather, everyone should be brought to justice so that the real truth can be unearthed. The accompanying chart, “Killed in crossfire” has shown an alarming number of people have been killed in this way. As an ordinary citizen, I would like to request the law enforcement agencies and authorities concerned to take necessary steps to establish rule of law, without killing people in this way.

It is not a symptom of establishing rule of law, rather oppression of and suppressing the human rights of common citizens. I hope that the government will come forward immediately and stop such practices.

Nahida Farhan

Mridha surrenders, jailed for 5 cases March 3

Hmmm ... great, but the tragedy is that Sengupta got away. Hopefully this is not the last government in Bangladesh, and the next government will reinvestigate the case and take all guilty people to task. deep purple blue

Afghans upset Tigers March 2

And we are so concerned about our test status.

We should go back to the basics and rethink test matches in a few years. bdguy82

Khaleda vows a successful movement March 2

It would be nicer to watch and hear Begum Zia’s entire speech in Rajbari, on audio/video than read this brief summary of it here. Still, it’s good to know she has stated BNP-led Opposition’s intention to re-launch a campaign of civil resistance against the ruling regime after the UZ elections are over – in which I hope the BNP is able to maintain its winning momentum, in the face of ruling party malfeasance. I just hope the chairperson fully asserts herself this time in steering a resolute but non-violent, democratic movement, and not the inexcusably violent one last time that not only proved feckless but also unacceptably marred BNP’s public image.

Khaleda Zia rightly referred to several pertinent points in this latest public rally. It was necessary to reiterate the ongoing repression by the government on Opposition leaders and activists, nationwide. Ditto her denunciations of the shocking and indefensible actions of the joint-forces.

Good to see her unequivocally address the issues of terrorism/militancy and the attacks on minorities. BNP should really be forcefully countering the PM’s frequent flurries of scare-mongering and outright lies, on both these issues. Begum Zia’s lambasting the staggering incompetence of the government shown in the JMB escape fiasco was also highly necessary.

It’s really high time that BNP expanded their emphasis beyond the single issue demanding authentically free and fair election, to more pointedly highlighting the government’s litany of failures, nepotism, broken pledges and anti-democratic, anti-public policies. And simultaneously, Begum Zia ought to begin explicitly outlining BNP’s alternate vision and policy plans for the future to the voting public, to convince the people of this country to emphatically grant her party the legitimate mandate to govern our country yet again.

Ronnie

When caregivers become instigators of violence March 2

Ahsana Azad “Agitated interns and staff vandalised several office rooms of the hospital and set fire to different instruments halting the patients’ treatment in the hospital for the day.”

Unbelievable. I am studying medicine myself. Why did or do these people study it??

To save people or hurt people? I have no words for that, although there is always a reason. No human being has the right to decide who is allowed to live in our world or not!

Tahreen De-wan Completely unjustified. These people don’t deserve anything! It is scary to think such people work in this hospital.

Bangladesh in turmoil: Mushfiq complains about players’ approach March 3

Wow. Rahim? Really? Don’t be a snitch. Making complaints this way certainly wasn’t right.

There are other ways of handling things.

Shakib

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CALVIN AND HOBBES

There should be no refuge for land grabbers

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Copies (4) 5 Passageway between seats (5) 8 Wanderers (6) 9 Disturbance (4) 10 Beverage (3) 12 Aviator (6) 13 Handles skillfully (6) 15 Speaks (6) 18 Mean dwellings (6) 20 Numeral (3) 21 Hoar frost (4) 23 Maker of suits (6) 24 Tally (5) 25 Niggardly (4)

DOWN 1 Shaft (5) 2 Hawaiian dish (3) 3 Call up (5) 4 Tennis term (3) 5 Helps (7) 6 Thailand’s former name (4) 7 Paradise (4) 11 Den (4) 12 Flatter (7) 14 Golf club (4) 16 Banishment (5) 17 Part of a ship (5) 18 Jumps on one leg (4) 19 Power of rejecting (4) 21 Edge (3) 22 Extinct bird (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Climbing mountains n Farah Iqbal

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BIGSTOCK

Beyond the indicators

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n Tahmina Shafique

ndicators. Outputs. Outcomes.

Success.

The proportion of women holding parliamentary seats in Bangladesh has nearly doubled and now stands at 20%. So has the ratio of girls to boys in tertiary education, formerly at 0.37, it is now at 0.66.

Women’s employment in the private sector is on a significant rise. In the largest sector in Bangladesh, approximately 80% of the workforce is women, which indicates increased jobs and therefore women’s empowerment.

Yet for Rahima, (not her real name) these statistical leaps forward resonate only emptily.

Leaving her village and family and coming to Dhaka to work felt like the first spark of freedom for Rahima. Her family did not have the ability to sustain even one meal a day and the only respite seemed to be to marry Rahima off. However, once she started living with him, her husband lost all his money in gambling and had no source of income from cropping either.

Working in a factory, Rahima earned much more than she did before. Her husband would beat her if she did not give her salary to him. So working from the crack of the dawn till late evening in a cramped workplace with all forms of harassment was not the source of misery for this woman.

Having no respite, she walked out with her children, only to find herself come back to the abusive husband.

So where are we with our outputs and indicators?

Logical frameworks are the basis of measuring success within the development arena today. This is now linked

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with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which crystallised development goals into a number of key outcomes within a declared time-frame of 15 years. Significant levels of success in meeting these goals within the deadline have been seen in developing countries such as Bangladesh.

This has been true in case of women development in Bangladesh too. The third MDG goal is overarching gender equality, which encompasses parity in education, political participation, and economic empowerment.

national parliament.

Numerous large scale donor programs are now being implemented across Bangladesh in the areas of livelihood development (asset transfer, job creation, challenge funds), education (food for work program, reaching out of school children, education enrolment programs), adolescent and maternal health programs (sexual reproductive health rights, maternal health program), disaster management (livelihood development in chars, market creation and linkages for the

Gender equality has undoubtedly come a long way, but it is really time to rethink our strategic interventions

A recent study indicated that Bangladesh has achieved most of the MDG targets. In fact, Bangladesh and Cambodia performed best among the 49 LDCs. This includes progress in six key areas: hunger and poverty, education, maternal and child mortality, gender parity, epidemics, environmental sustainability. Indeed, MDG has had significant impact in countries such as Bangladesh. One of the key strengths of MDG has been its departure from vague frameworks, and introduction of numerical targets and consensus.

The indicators within the third goal that seeks to achieve equality and empowerment for women, include the share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector and the proportion of seats held by women in

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poorest, disaster risk reduction action plans for women) among others.

But, the question remains – do numerical targets and indicators actually indicate success in women’s empowerment and equality?

If a woman is working in the informal or formal sector of this economy with x amount of income, (a) is she empowered in her work environment? (b) does she have any decision making ability in her household? (c) does she benefit from an equal and just community or society?

The answers are right before our eyes.

We know that this woman, who earns an income, has a high probability of facing numerous problems in the form of sexual harassment at the

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workplace, lower wage rates irrespective of skill levels and more. It is really time to look deeper into the design of these initiatives and the core functions of these very indicators.

When we do assign a success indicator with the portion of jobs women are entering into, are we looking into the levels within which these jobs are being filled up?

Experiences and cases in numerous projects and initiatives do not necessarily indicate the same success levels and impressive indicators. In the ground reality, if we look into these initiatives, we will see that giving assets to women, giving individual girls or women schooling, jobs, loans, access to political office, or other – may empower women individually, but do not necessarily translate into “empowerment” or “equality” for other women.

We all know that acting and battling is not the easiest route in the ground realities in countries such as Bangladesh, this transformation cannot be carried out by only top-down or only bottom-up approach. It needs to be both, carried out in tandem and designed with a strong understanding of how to tackle the culture, history, and the current society.

Gender equality has undoubtedly come a long way, but it is really time to rethink our strategic interventions. Our short-term, result oriented strategies that show faster results in the form of x percentage rise in jobs, and x percentage rise in income may show concrete numerical figures, but they do not indicate true essence of “empowerment” – equality. l Tahmina Shafique works for an international management consultancy company.

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prah Winfrey, one of the most exemplary women of today, once said: “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. Learn to think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail, for failure is another steppingstone to greatness.”

She is a person who has lived in dire poverty, faced severe discrimination, felt subjugation, been abandoned by people she loved, and yet embraced success in the most superior manner possible. We talk about equality, we talk about change, and most importantly we talk about empowerment – but how much of our actions are actually inspiring this change? Who defines power? Who can bring change?

Unfortunately, the world media has taken the responsibility to create this false idea of “power” and forever tangled a web in society so deep, that it is impossible to untangle the mess from the public and private spheres.

I will not tell you what power is, but what power is not. It is not a superior race/complexion endorsed by skin-fairing agents, it is not a particular gender supported by many political platforms, nor is it a certain age range that is sanctioned by the corporate world.

The true definition of power can vary from people to people, and how they decide to perceive it. However, the beauty of it is governed by people’s decision making ability, their visions, their goals, and their ability to inspire change. So, what is change? I would say change comes to your life when you learn to climb mountains (hypothetically).

Climb mountains so that your outlook on the world changes, you get a different perspective of where you stand, and most importantly, you get to see the world around you, and see how you can create positive change. This hypothetical mountain is what gave Wasfia Nazreen the power to not only become the youngest person/woman in Bangladesh to conquer the world’s highest peak, but to also climb the highest mountains in each continent by representing “Bangladesh on Seven Summits.”

I write about Wasfia Nazreen, because I have known her since the day I was born. Furthermore, I have seen how inspiration sparked change in her life, and have given her power and agency in return. Her early days were of a typical South Asian girl, with long black hair (the most traditional sign of beauty), and a role-model for the all kids in the neighbourhood.

We grew up, and went our different ways, and lost contact for the years to come. When Bangladesh rejoiced in Wasfia Nazreen’s triumph on becoming the youngest person ever to climb the Everest, I thought about the girl with the

beautiful long hair, pushing me in the swing until I felt I could reach the sky.

Wasfia Nazreen’s success was certainly not a smooth road up, but her road definitely showed her that inspiration can definitely be the catalyst of success. Being a resident of Bangladesh, we take no time to blame our social obstructions, our lack of resources, and backlashes that could result because of our identity as women.

Those who make history are usually the ones who go against the social norms to bring about changes But the fact of the matter is that the only way a holistic attitude changes, is when your attitude changes. Society is not really against you, rather it is more for themselves, and Wasfia Nazreen has been the perfect example that proves this theory. Being a Bangladeshi, she broke all societal barriers to chase her dreams and to be that catalyst of change.

To be an inspiring leader, we must learn to think in broader perspectives and cultivate innovative ideas into a desired common outcome with efforts of our team. Leadership is about responsibility and influence – nothing more, and nothing less.

I don’t think there is a particular reason to celebrate Women’s Day. Every day is Women’s Day because we are certainly dominating the world with our drive and passion. Rather, this is a day we should celebrate the beginning of a revolutionary change for women. One must keep in mind that a revolution is not a dinner party.

Those who make history are usually the ones who go against the social norms to bring about changes; this is where we see the distinction between the “rebel” and the “traditionalist.”

Like Wasfia Nazreen, I want to become that “rebel” who brings a change in attitude towards the women in South Asia.

However, in order to bring that revolution,the practice to attain greater initiative with a forceful power is essential to strive for our women’s better future. Leaders are catalysts, and catalysts are never purists.

They fight for change, for expression, and for perspective that often personifies them as the “bad” in society. Hence, as a budding woman leader, I want to be one of those “bad girls in society” who initiates a revolution that writes history and inspires change. l Farah Iqbal is a freelance contributor.

Women are reaching summits both real and metaphorical

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In praise of two women n Zafar Sobhan

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es, you read that right.

Now it is true that it seems I seldom have complimentary things to say about the PM and the ex-PM, but I would like to think, and believe that the record would show, that, while a tough critic, I am happy to give credit where credit is due and quick to praise when it is warranted.

There is no getting away from the fact that these two formidable women have dominated the political landscape for over two decades and remain magisterially in place, bestriding the nation like colossi. Love them or hate them, on this day it is worth acknowledging all that they have achieved and the message of inspiration they send to every girl and woman in the land.

I know that people will say that one is only where she is courtesy of her late father and the other courtesy of her late husband, and that their ascension is no sign of women’s empowerment, and will point to the likes of Matia Chowdhury as a better example of a woman who has reached the top due to pure merit.

Others will suggest, not without accuracy, that neither of the two women has done nearly enough for women’s empowerment, and the fact that we have had woman prime ministers has not had the impact on the position and status of women in general in society and the economy that one would hope and expect.

Well, it is true that both inherited their crowns, but it is worth remembering that this was over 30 years ago, the first decade of which was spent in the political wilderness of army rule.

No one then would have given much odds that these two women would topple the dictatorship they then faced and then continue to control both their parties and the country for two decades more.

But, for better or for worse, here they still are. They have proved tougher and shrewder and bolder and braver than any of the pretenders to their throne. Whatever you say about the two ladies, you cannot say that they lack steel. So there they sit, unchallenged in their mastery of all they survey.

On this International Women’s Day, that alone is surely worth a tip of the hat and an acknowledgment of respect.

In one way, their domination of the political scene speaks well for Bangladeshis as a nation. After the last 30 years, it is no longer possible to credibly argue that women cannot lead and that they cannot be in charge of things. No one questions that a man can take an order from a woman.

If they have done nothing else for women, they have done this. They have completely obliterated from the face of this nation the notion that there is such a thing as women’s work and that women cannot compete with and best any man on any stage that the country has to offer.

You might not have liked them, either, but it was also true of Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi, as it is true for any woman leader anywhere in the world. Each one of them, if for nothing else, deserves respect and honour for the part she has played in the never-ending struggle for women’s rights, dignity, and empowerment.

And so, too, for the PM and the ex-PM. If for no other reason, merely by being who they are and doing what they have done, they have changed the social landscape for all Bangladeshi women, irrevocably and emphatically for the better.

I have to believe that the fact that the chief executive of the country is a woman and that one before her was one too, that they were both elected to the highest post in the land more than once and the solicitousness with which the men under them dance in attendance has got to impact the outlook and confidence of every young girl in every corner of the country.

Every Bangladeshi girl goes to sleep at night knowing that it is a woman like her who calls the shots and runs the country. It is a woman like her who is the most powerful and important personage of the land. That knowledge does more for every Bangladeshi girl’s sense of self-worth and dignity than a hundred classes, lectures, or programs.

We should be proud of the fact that we have been able to have a woman at the helm of affairs for over two dec-

ades, and we should never underestimate the positive impact this has had on the nation as a whole.

This is not an endorsement of either or both of the two ladies. I am making

If for no other reason, merely by being who they are and doing what they have done, they have changed the social landscape for all Bangladeshi women no judgment about their policies and how ably they have exercised their power. That is a discussion for another time.

But it seems to me that we rarely acknowledge – much less celebrate – the wonder that is the fact that we live in a country where our leaders can be and are women.

Today, for once, let us celebrate it.

And let us celebrate our two remarkable matriarchs. My salaams, ladies.

Zafar Sobhan is the Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Saturday, March 8, 2014

TODAY IN DHAKA

Celebrating Int’l Women’s Day at DAC

Film

Avatar 3D 47 Ronin (3D) Aakash Koto Dure Thor: The Dark World 3D The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D Frozen in 3D Shunte Ki Pao Agnee Time: 10am - 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City Robocop, Gravity Captain Phillips, Elysium Time: 12:30pm – 9:30pm Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka- 244, Pragati Avenue Kuril

n Entertainment Desk

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Bangla Communications have organised a photography exhibition titled “Woman Empowerment In Women’s Eye” at the Dhaka Art Centre from today to run until March 10.

The exhibition will inaugurate today at 4:30pm. At the inauguration ceremony, eminent female photographer Sayeda Khanam will be honoured for her contribution in the photography arena. The exhibition is the outcome of a photography competition and at the inauguration ceremony, three winners will be awarded. l

Brine Pickles celebrates 11 years n Entertainment Desk Literary group Brine Pickles celebrates its 11th anniversary through the launching of their publication of Patchwork Pages at the EMK Center at 6pm today.

The book stands for their promotion of emerging creative writers writing in English and turning their works into performance pieces. The publication of the book has been made possible through a competition arranged by The American Centre and the US Embassy Dhaka in 2011. After going through hundreds of applications, Brine Pickles conducted creative writing and performance literature workshops with applicants from all over the country. The number of participants was narrowed down further - who went on to attend the final workshops conducted by the group’s mentors. l

Pala Badoler Pala portrays women farmers’ empowerment n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Exclusive research demonstrates that more than 70% of women workers are involved in farming and husbandry, poultry or fisheries related works. But unfortunately female workers are not getting paid as much as male workers.

Moreover, women’s hard work in this field are being neglected by our male chauvinistic society. Family of the women workers and the state didn’t take any apposite pace to label their diligence.

Thus, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Oxfam and its food justice campaign GROW, in

cooperation with Shadhona Cultural Circle brought a dance drama to the stage titled Pala Badoler Pala- Performing Change on March 6 at the Abdul Karim Sahityabisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy.

The most interesting facet of the show was that the experimental dance drama was exclusively performed by real women farm workers who came from remote areas of the country. Amara K’jon Shilipgoshthee from Bagura worked together with these women farm workers to give the dance-drama a vivid flavour. The performance was based on the life stories of

women farmers, their struggles and strengths, along with the motto to establish gender equally. Through the realistic performance, it is highlighted that a staggering seventy type of works are done by women in any major farming process.

Combining unique and enlightening performance acts and drama pieces, the dance drama raised some vital issues to the audience including the formation of a separate market for women farmers and equal price for their goods comparing to that of a male farmer’s, to introduce farmer cards for women, to support women farmer with accurate agro knowl-

Bappy-Mahi to rock the silver screen again n Afrose Jahan Chaity Dobir Saheber Songsar is an upcoming comedy movie starring current time popular pair Mahiya Mahi and Bappy Chowdhury. This is the fourth time the two have paired up for the silver screen. Direct-

ed by Zakir Hossain Raju and produced by Jaaz Multimedia, the film has received uncut censorship.

Dobir Saheber Songsar will hit cinemas on April 4. Written by Abdullah Zahir Babu, story of the film revolves around a retired judge’s family. Being retired from the powerful position of a judge, the

Boishakhi TV celebrates Int’l Women’s Day n Entertainment Desk To mark the International Women’s Day, Boishakhi TV is broadcasting women centric shows directed by women. A day long programme features live musical sessions, talk shows, dramas and hot seat with eminent women personalities of the country. Shomoi Katuk Gaane Gaane along with artistes Nirjhor, Shoshi and Liza and Music Train will air at 8pm. Following the musical programme, a single episode drama titled Mitir Golpo will air at 8:50pm. Live musical programme Shommer Gaan featuring Nazul singer Ferdous Ara and Aditi Mohsin will air at 10:20pm and a special talk show Notuner Ahobaan anchored by Editor-in-Chief and CEO, Boishakhi TV Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul will air at 11pm. l

old man is very short tempered and creates new problems every day. The movie also features a love triangle with two male household helps falling in love with the female help. Both the lovelorn men compete with each other to win the affection of the much desired woman of their fantasy.

About the film, Zakir Hossain Raju said: “I want to come up with new approaches to filmmaking in our industry. A situational smart comedy is an interesting way to entertain the audience. I did not try to force the audience to laugh. Everything is in its limit. I hope the audience will love the story and the comic approach.”

Mahi has already shown her potent performing ability to carry out demanding characters in the media. She proved herself a very demandable model and actress in the Bangladeshi showbiz. Her last film Agnee created records in doing successful business at the box office. Mahi said: “I have done a lot of hard work to make my character lively. Comedy is a difficult genre and making people laugh is a challenging task. I believe my effort will receive the same response as my previous films did and my fans won’t be disappointed.”

Bappy Chowdhury said: “I truly enjoyed working in the film and it was all about fun. With Mahi as a co-star, it was actually a smooth ride for me. I hope my fans will love Dobir Saheber Songsar like they accepted my previous films.”

Recently, the duo started shooting for their upcoming film Honeymoon, directed by Shafi Uddin Shafi. l

edge, to bring agro technology into women farmers’ hand and to establish right of owning land by these womenfolk.

Shirin Akhter, Member of Parliament and MB Akhter, Porgram Manager of Oxfam Bangladesh delivered the opening speech.

Lubna Marium, general secretary of Shadhona Cultural Circle, also a key organiser of the event expressed the willingness to showcase this dancedrama at the farmer’s ground of a rural area as well as the southern plaza of the Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban to capture the attention of lawmakers of the country. l

Exhibition

Fragments of the Unknown

By Najma Akhter Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi War and Colonies 1914-1918 Rare photographs of World War II Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka

Film Festival

7th International Children’s Film Festival Time: 4:00pm – 6:30pm Shawkat Osman Hall Central Public Library Shahbag

Theatre Festival

Children’s Theatre Festival Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Shegun Bagicha

Stand-Up comedy at IGCC today n Entertainment Desk

Stand-Up comedy has made a niche in the entertainment arena of the country and popular group Naveed Mahbub & Friends will be performing at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre’s Gulshan premises today at 6:30pm.

Naveed Mahbub describes himself as an engineer turned CEO turned stand-up comedian, all by choice. While working as an engineer in the US, Naveed started his comedy career performing in English at small venues. In 2007, he won the Best Male Comedian title at the 2007 Original Las Vegas Comedy Festival, which catapulted his comedy career into mainstream America. His “home club” is the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood where big names such as David Letterman, Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy, etc had started their comedy careers. He has also performed at other top US comedy clubs such as the Hollywood Improv, The Haha Comedy Club, Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle – to name a few. His TV shows include those on Comedy Time and Time Warner, while his radio shows were on KCBQ 1170 AM

Naveed Mahbub San Diego and Voice of America.

At one point, Naveed also started performing stand-up comedy in Bangla, making him hugely popular among the diaspora Bangladeshis and Bengali Indians. This led to his performing at the North American Bengali Convention where renowned artists such as Srikanto Acharya, Lopamudra Mitra, Runa Laila, Shaan had performed. In 2009, he returned to Bangladesh to establish a “standup” comedy scene. He founded Bangladesh’s and the region’s first ever stand-up comedy venue, Naveed’s Comedy. He is thus credited to have pioneered the art of stand-up comedy in Bangladesh.

Today, Naveed will be accompanied by fellow comedians Mosharraf Yaafi, a semi-finalist on Mirakkel and Pervez Suman who has appeared on BTV, NTV and ATN Bangla. l

Bollywood celebrates Women’s Day with Gulaab Gang n Entertainment Desk Marking the International Women’s Day, Madhuri and Juhi starrer Gulaab Gang was released all over India yesterday.

The film is loosely based on a real group of activists — known as the Gulabi gang because of their pink (gulabi) sarees — in North India who fight violence against women, notably by beating abusive husbands with bamboo sticks. And the villain is Madam ji, a politician of supreme ambition and total crassness, played with aplomb

by Juhi Chawla.

The film’s central protagonist is rural Rajjo (Madhuri), who runs an academy where women wield weapons and weave pink saris. Rajjo’s Gulaab Gang takes on oppressive elements - dowry-demanding husbands, bribe-demanding babus, grain-hoarding traders, the rapist son of the local neta (local leader).

In an industry where female actors tend to disappear after age 30 or marriage, Gulaab Gang stars two 46-yearold icons of the ‘90s who have fought that pressure. Mad-

huri Dixit plays Rajjo, the gang’s good leader (distanced from Sampat Pal, leader of the real-life movement), and Juhi Chawla plays Sumitra Devi, a corrupt politician who would stand in her way to maintain the status quo.

However, most of the critics are not very happy with the film which couldn’t stand beyond Bollywood’s clichés while dealing with a serious subject.

Times of India writes: “ But the dramatic tension simply doesn’t hold. Every time there’s a face-off between Rajjo and Madam ji, a diversion - a song, a character cracking a joke, guns fired - occurs, breaking the buildup. There are too many tangents, navels and nose-rings,

diverting focus from Rajjo, the story’s driving force. Instead of knowing how and why she becomes the tigress of Madhavpur, we’re given mellifluous songs, intercut with soon-repetitive scenes of exploitation.”

Bollywood 24/7 criticises: “Sen’s efforts, however, would have been far more rewarding if he had stopped indulging his Madhuri fixation. Making her dance in synchronized poetic moves, and even giggle when her student blurts out a reference to her iconic Ek,Do,Teen dance number, ruins the impact of the person she’s portraying.”

The critics also says that the film has a fake label of realism and feminism attached to it. l

Did you know?

England batsman Joe Root’s T20I average of 50.7 is the sixth highest in the format, minimum five innings

Sport

Saturday, March 8, 2014

0 0 8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

14 Moyes writes

DAYS TO GO

13

15 Warner progresses

to fans to thank them for support

from short-form cameos

Crackerjack final today

Pakistani captain Misbah-ul-Haq (C) plays a game of football with teammates during a practice session ahead of the final of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament against Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday AFP

Pakistan ready for anything: Misbah Despite the in-form Shahid Afridi being doubtful for today’s final against Sri Lanka today, Pakistan skipper MisbahUl-Haq is still confident of a win and said his side are mentally strong and confident going into the final of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“At the moment he’s really playing well. The kind of impact he’s creating on the opposition and his own team is that he should play for us. These injuries are part and parcel of the game.

We’re just positive about that. Let’s see tomorrow how he feels and then we’ll decide,” said Misbah, regarding Afridi.

“Obviously your main players make a difference to the side. We are howev-

er mentally strong. You may have seen Alam played really well in absence of Sharjeel Khan. The confidence level is very high. All the members of the team have been performing well. There is a will to win. We hope to get them in the side, but at the same time we’re confident that even if they don’t play, we have the boys in the bench who are capable and confident to win the game,” he added.

Pakistan have won two close matches due to Afridi – the first against India in which the hard-hitting all-rounder blasted two sixes with his side needing nine to win in the last over and the second where he thundered his way to a 25-ball 59 to turn a match which Pakistan seemed to be out of.

On the bowling front, Misbah sig-

Will play positive cricket: Matthews It will be Sri Lanka’s 11th Asia Cup final – they have won four and lost six – today and the islanders will be eager to put a trophy in their case after having lost finals at the Tri-Nation series in West Indies and the ICC World Cup last year.

Skipper Angelo Matthews, however, was unworried about the history that reporters were quick to remind him about yesterday. “Past is past. We don’t want to think about what happened in the past, rather we want to focus on the future,” he said.

Sri Lanka managed to beat Pakistan, who will be their opponents today, in the group stage but Matthews remained wary of the defending champions.

“It will be challenging. Although no game was easy for us as we had to

work hard to win in every match. We played against Pakistan at the beginning of the tournament, which was also very tough one. I think we have to work hard for the final,” said the 26-year-old.

“Tomorrow (today) our main objective will be to play positive cricket. The way we played in the last six weeks, we want to continue this spree and hopefully we will get a result we deserve,” he added.

Pakistan are likely to be without the service of key players Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, who are carrying injuries, and Matthews saw this as a positive.

“We beat them when they had Afridi, Gul in the squad. We are not concentrating on any particular opponent’s player. Pakistan are always strong opponents to beat and we have to give our best to win against them.”l

The final of the Asia Cup promises to be a cracker of a contest as defending champions Pakistan take on Sri Lanka - who have won all their matches at the competition so far after whitewashing home side Bangladesh in the same ground in a bilateral series – at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.

The defending champions however, have a number of injury concerns.

Shahid Afridi, who starred in his sides last two wins against Bangladesh and India, may miss the final due to a hip strain he obtained in making his match winning 25-ball 59 against Bangladesh.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad, who scored a hundred against Bangladesh, is also doubtful due to a shoulder injury, while paceman Umar Gul is also not sure to be in the playing eleven.

On the positive side, opening batsmen Sharjeel Khan, who missed the last two matches, has been declared fit to play.

After losing their first match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan has been strong and won their next three matches – including a sensational last over triumph over the host nation as Misbah-ul –Haq’s men chased down a mammoth 327.

Pakistan’s strength is in its batting.

Mohammad Hafeez has been solid at the top while his partner Ahmed Shehzad set up the win against Bangladesh with a sensible century and in the middle order, Pakistan have ever reliable skipper Misbah, as well as youngster Fawad Alam and possibly the lethal Afridi.

With an 18-ball 34 against India and a 25-ball 59 against Bangladesh, the 34-year old Afridi has proved to be a game turner, after suffering a poor run with the bat. Nonetheless, Afridi’s flat leg-spin has been economical in the competition – and before – and team management will no doubt hope the

Bangladesh head coach Lodewijk de Kruif urged for more international friendlies in order to fine tune the national football team for future challenges.

Bangladesh football team drew 2-2 with India at Goa on March 5 and arguably were deprived of a win as a goal was disqualified in the last minute of stoppage time. “I feel happy with the way Bangladesh played, it was a free flowing and a pressing game. The combination was new as there were a couple of new faces, with one-twothree touches and had very good positional play. Our young players, five of them are under the age of 20 and they showed what they can do. If Ban-

Sri Lanka have won all four of their matches so far as well as defeating Bangladesh 3-0 in a bilateral series

naled out off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has so far taken eight wickets in four matches, as a potential match winner. “Ajmal has the variations, the experience now to bowl under difficult situations. He responded very well. He is playing a major role in Pakistan’s victories. He’s leading the bowling attack.

Really, we will depend a lot on Ajmal,” said the skipper.

The 39-year old captain was aware of the dangers presented by Sri Lanka’s attack – particularly fast bowler Lasith Malinga – but claimed his side was ready for the challenge.

“Everybody knows he’s their main bowler. But recently we played well against Sri Lanka in the series held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The whole team faced Malinga well, scored

runs. Even did well against Malinga in the death overs. The team is confident to face him. We are not under pressure.

It’s about the main batsmen playing the full 50 overs to handle the situation,” he said.

For all his confidence, Misbah was stressed that he was not taking Sri Lanka lightly. “Sri Lanka are obviously a tough opposition especially in the final because they do their basics right and always fight. We really have to play good cricket. We have to be 100% up to the mark to put up a good show.

We should be doing everything right, do the basics right like we have been doing in the previous games,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s performance at the Asia Cup bodes well for the upcoming World T20 Championship. l

Injuries plague Pakistan

What went wrong?

Shahid Afridi has been in sensational form but the 34-year old may have to sit out today’s Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka due to an injured he sustained in the last match against Bangladesh.

Afridi called for the physio when he was struggling to run against Bangladesh and he was run-out soon afterwards.

Three days later, he is still in pain and the Pakistan manager Zakir Khan said, “Shahid Afridi has a grade one hip flexor strain, our physio is working on him.

“Hopefully tomorrow, before the start of the match we will know the complete situation about Afridi. He has responded well to the treatment. Tomorrow we will take the final decision about Afridi.”

Afridi is not the only injury concern for the defending champions. Fast bowler Umar Gul, opening batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad – who struck a century in the last match – are also on the list. l

Having whitewashed New Zealand 3-0 in the ODI series late last year, the Bangladesh cricket team could well have expected a better result as they went into 2014. In the event, they have returned results of 0-1, 0-2, 0-3 in the Test, T20 and ODI series’ against Sri Lanka – and lost all their matches in the Asia Cup, even the one against ICC associate member Afghanistan.

What has happened to the side? Is it just on-the-field playing capability that has led to such a turnaround? Or is there more here than meets the eye?

Thought the results speak for themselves, it cannot be said that Bangladesh have shamed themselves. Both of the T20 matches against Sri Lanka went down to the last ball and the first ODI against the same opposition that followed saw the Tigers snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, after cutting the islanders down to 67/8 but going on

to lose by 13 runs.

From a performance point of view, the Asia Cup has also not been “disastrous” - despite the outcome. Mushfiqur Rahim’s men managed to take their games against the three sub-continent giants – India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – to the very last over and were also competitive against the unfancied Afghanistan side, who made a good showing in all their matches.

Still, the question must be asked – what went wrong?

The answer may lie off the field. Ego clashes, insecurities and personality incompatibilities in the dressing room have recently run amok in the Bangladesh dressing room and effectively, killed team spirit.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim literally shed tears after his side narrowly lost the final of the last Asia Cup in a genuine display of how deeply he felt. While the present side is largely the same, the players seem more concerned with

Kruif urges more friendlies gladesh play these type of matches regularly, the improvement will be evident,” said de Kruif.

Talking about the conceding late goals against India on two occasions, de Kruif said, “Many goals are scored in the last 10 minutes everywhere in the world because one of the teams loses concentration or they don’t have the ability to chase every ball.”

Meanwhile it was a hectic return for Bangladesh as the team had to wait for five hours at the Mumbai airport to avail the flight to Dhaka. It was sleepless night for whole the team.

Assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu said the whole of the coaching team were pleased with the mode of performance, “Lodewijk de Kruif gave the message to the national players that if any players

veteran can take the field for the final as Pakistan look to lift their third Asia Cup. On the bowling side, the defending champions have the experienced Saeed Ajmal and possibly Afridi, while the pace unit is led by long serving Umar Gul and youngster Mohammad Talha, who has been impressive in the tourney.

Sri Lanka meanwhile, have won all four of their matches so far as well as defeating Bangladesh 3-0 in a bilateral series just before. They also won beat the Tigers 2-0 in the T20 series and 1-0 in the Tests.

Angelo Matthews’ men won their opening match against Pakistan by 12 runs, before topping India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and it has been an all-round performance by islanders, with no single individual being responsible for the impressive run of wins.

think they are invincible in the team it would be wrong idea, everybody has to put their best to keep his place in the national team. Playing for the national team is a subject of pride and it is not weighed by money.”

Titu said playing on a good pitch also was important. “The pitch was very good for fast paced football and the players enjoyed it. Good pitches are important for good football,” he said.

Asked about Sunil Chettry’s late strikes against the team, Titu thought Chettry‘s fitness mattered. “He is no doubt a charismatic footballer, I think he never fell short of stamina. It was the same all through the match. Maybe our defenders lost the concentration as they felt tired in the dying minutes, we will work on this” said Titu. l

Squats of despair; Mahmudullah (R) and Arafat Sunny ponder what went wrong

MUMIT M

Lahiru Thiramanne smashed a hundred in the first match against Pakistan, Kumar Sangakkara put his hands up with a brilliant match winning century against India and Matthews himself guided the team home against Bangladesh with a responsible 74 not out. If Sri Lanka have a concern, it is the relatively poor showing of Mahela Jayawardene, who has yet to deliver the goods in the tournament.

As far as bowling goes, Lasith Malinga, who took five wickets against Pakistan in the first match, is in good form while the spin department has also looked good with mystery bowler Ajantha Mendis and off spinner Sachithra Senanayake leading the way as Sri Lanka look for their fifth Asia Cup. l

their place in the side and pointing fingers than how the team fares.

Recently reinstated chief selector Faruk Ahmed has long been known for making courageous decisions. In 2007, he boldly picked then youngsters Mushfiq, Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal for the national team – and the three have gone on to become the superstars of the side since. Given such history, one would expect Mushfiq to respect the former national captain’s judgment.

Nonetheless, the diminutive wicketkeeper/batsman/captain burst out extraordinarily to the press about not having been consulted about team selection for the Asia Cup – a move which caused much caused much trouble at the top. Though the situation was dealt with – at least for the public’s benefit – to what extent ill feeling lingered on remains to be seem.

“Sunny bowled luckily well,” said Mushfiq at a recent post-match conference. He was referring to Arafat Sunny, a left arm spinner, who had been included in the side and the comment speaks for itself. After the loss against Afghanistan, Mushfiq reported four players - Shamsur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak and Sohag Gazi – for not giving their full effort in the field.

In the light of such happenings being made public, it was natural that the players’ insecurity shot up. Defeat needs a scapegoat and the dressing room began to fear being on the captain’s black list, rather than focusing on what they did on the field.

There is no doubting Mushfiq’s abilities as a captain but recent events seem to have moved a man known for his dedication and devotion to the game and his team to take uncharacteristic action.

If it is indeed, off-the-field issues that caused Bangladesh to underperform at the Asia Cup, the cricket board have just a short window of time to sensibly put matters right ahead of the T20 World Cup. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Anelka ‘did not promote anti-Semitism’ Nicolas Anelka could not be proven to have intentionally promoted antiSemitism by performing a ‘quenelle’ salute, the independent regulatory commission that banned the West Bromwich Albion striker revealed on Thursday.

Anelka, 34, was given a five-game suspension, as well as an £80,000 (97,00 euros, $133,000) fine last week after making the gesture during his side’s 3-3 draw at West Ham United in the Premier League in December. The body stated that the ‘quenelle’ is “strongly associated with anti-Semitism”.

–AFP

Sport

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Steyn out of two Australia T20Is A hamstring injury will keep South African fast bowler Dale Steyn of out of the first two Twenty20 internationals against Australia in the next week, Cricket South Africa said. Steyn’s bowling in the recently concluded third and final test against Australia in Cape Town was affected by the strain as the tourists went on the win the match and the series. He will return for the last of three-match series in Pretoria next Friday and is still earmarked to compete in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh later this month.

–Reuters

Spurs rout Heat in NBA finals rematch Tim Duncan tallied 23 points and 11 rebounds to power San Antonio to a 111-87 victory over Miami in a rematch of the two NBA finalists from last season.

Tony Parker finished with 17 points and four assists for the Spurs who snapped their five game regular season losing streak against the Heat. Miami beat the Spurs 113-101 on January 26 at home in the first meeting between the clubs since the Heat beat San Antonio last season to win their second consecutive league title.

–AFP

Leaders Chelsea host Spurs With none of their Premier League title rivals in action this weekend, leaders Chelsea can open up a seven-point lead at the summit by beating Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Arsenal’s defeat at Stoke City last weekend, coupled with Manchester City’s involvement in the League Cup final, saw Chelsea move four points clear and victory over Spurs would further galvanise their position.

Arsenal and City both have commitments in the FA Cup, while Liverpool, who stole into second place last weekend, do not have a fixture.

While City will have three games in hand by the time the weekend is out, Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle says that he and his team-mates are increasingly sure of their title credentials.

“We have to believe it. I think everyone believes it now. We have worked hard for this,” said the Germany international, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend’s 3-1 success at Fulham.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are unbeaten in 13 league matches, winning 10 and drawing three, but in Tottenham they face a team with designs on a Champions League place.

Tim Sherwood’s side bounced back from a defeat at Norwich City by winning 1-0 at home to Cardiff City last Sunday and could close to within a point of the top four if they

Neymar surprises young fan during Brazil-South Africa friendly

prevail at Stamford Bridge.

It is 23 years since a Spurs team won at Chelsea, but Sherwood believes that his side’s status as underdogs could work in their favour.

Another team looking to capitalise on the inactivity of teams above them are Manchester United, who could draw level on points with sixth-place Everton if they win at West Bromwich Albion.

David Moyes’s side have not played since slumping to a 2-0 loss at Olympiakos in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on February 25 and begin the weekend 12 points below the top four.

Watching Brazil play soccer can inspire many different things. The fashion in which the squad from this year’s host nation of the FIFA World Cup perform on the pitch gives special meaning to the term “beautiful game.” And for one young fan who was in attendance of the South Africa-Brazil friendly in Johannesburg Wednesday, watching his heroes became an up-close-andpersonal experience.

A little tyke somehow made his way on to the field and was initially led away by security. But that’s when Neymar interceded on the interloper’s behalf. The 22-year-old Barcelona star saved the diminutive cutie from being shepherded away and introduced him to the rest of the Brazilian national team.

The players then treated the kid like a hero and Neymar took a photo with him before the match crasher eventually left. And perhaps the goodwill move was good luck for Neymar: he scored a hat trick in a 5-0 result. l

FIXTURES Cardiff City Chelsea Crystal Palace Norwich City West Brom

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Fulham Tottenham Southampton Stoke City Man United

United’s last trip to The Hawthorns was for Alex Ferguson’s final game as manager – a madcap 5-5 draw on the final day of last season – but while that sunny May day now seems a distant memory amid the club’s current struggles, record signing Juan Mata says that there is plenty still to play for.

“A thrilling month is starting with five Premier League games against important rivals such as Liverpool and Manchester City,” the Spanish midfielder wrote on his personal blog this week. l

A South African boy who invaded the pitch jokes with Brazil's forward Neymar at the end of a friendly football match between South Africa and Brazil at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, outside Johannesburg, on Wednesday. Brazil won 5-0.

AFP

Moyes writes to Barcelona target top spot United fans to thank them for support David Moyes has written to Manchester United’s season ticket-holders thanking them for their support and admitting that the season has gone far worse than he expected.

The manager has endured a dreadful start at United, with the club seventh in the Premier League, and the fans have witnessed five defeats at Old Trafford since Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson.

In the letter Moyes writes: “While I knew that this job would be a challenge when I took it on, the difficult season we have experienced was not something that I envisaged, which I am sure is the case as well for you supporters – and my players, staff and I are desperate to compensate for that.

Full-strength Bayern tune up for Arsenal Runaway leaders Bayern Munich will be at virtually full strength for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash at VfL Wolfsburg as they tune up for next week’s Champions League clash with Arsenal.

Long-term knee-injury victim Holger Badstuber is the only absentee as stars Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller and Xherdan Shaqiri all return from recent knocks.

Ribery, UEFA’s best player in Europe last season, has not played for Bayern in more than a month after an operation on his buttocks, but made an appearance for France on Wednesday.

“I felt good, those few minutes against the Netherlands were good to get some match practice back. I’m ready,” said Ribery after France enjoyed a 2-0 win over the Dutch.

Bayern are looking to extend their record unbeaten league run to 49 matches and to claim their 11th consecutive victory. Fifth-placed Wolfsburg were hammered 6-2 at Hoffenheim last

Sunday and Bayern’s director of sport Matthias Sammer expects a backlash at the Volkswagen Arena.

“They suffered a setback in Hoffenheim and they will try and show a reaction, so we must have a few answers to that,” said Sammer.

FIXTURES Schalke 04 M'gladbach VfB Stuttgart Hannover 96 VfL Wolfsburg Hamburg Nuremberg

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Hoffenheim Augsburg Braunschweig Leverkusen Bayern Munich Frankfurt Werder Bremen

With a 20-point lead, Bayern could even wrap up the Bundesliga title before the end of the month.

Coach Pep Guardiola will want a convincing win before Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Arsenal with the hosts leading 2-0 from the first-leg in London.

Second-placed Borussia Dortmund head to Freiburg on Sunday with a shortage of strikers. l

“You are accustomed to seeing a successful Manchester United and the backing you have given the players and me throughout the season has been incredible. Away from home the travelling fans have remained the best in the country while at Old Trafford your unwavering faith has been noticeable and hugely welcomed. Supporting your team when they are winning is easy but much harder when things are not going as well, and the loyalty you have shown us has been magnificent.”

Moyes goes on to state his certainty that “everything we have been through will make us a better, stronger team and club in the future. Over the years you have seen great winning sides here and, in time, I have absolutely no doubt that we will see great winning sides here again.” l

Runaway PSG looking to avoid complacency Fresh from beating their biggest rivals last weekend, Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain are determined to avoid complacency when they travel to face Bastia on Saturday.

Laurent Blanc’s league leaders eased to a 2-0 victory against Marseille in the Classique at the Parc des Princes in their last outing to move onto 64 points – a record tally at this stage of the season – and open up a gap of eight points to nearest rivals Monaco.

Apparently too strong for their domestic opponents, the club from the capital could be forgiven for focusing all of their attention on the Champions League, in which they defend a 4-0 lead against Bayer Leverkusen going into the second leg of their last-16 tie next Wednesday.

Nevertheless, coming into the trip to Corsica to face a Bastia side who are ninth in the table but have won just one of their last five Ligue 1 outings, Blanc has refused to admit that a second consecutive title is secure. l

Barcelona could be boosted by a return to the top of La Liga just three days before they host Manchester City in the Champions League with a win away to Valladolid on Saturday.

The Catalans trail leaders Real Madrid by a point, but with Los Blancos not in action until Sunday evening when they host Levante, Barca can retake top spot for at least 24 hours.

The Spanish champions have had another unsettling week off the field as captain Carles Puyol announced he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Marc Bartra is one of those who stands to benefit from Puyol’s departure as the 23-year-old will move up the pecking order in central defence.

However, he insisted he will miss the guidance Puyol has given him as he has come through the ranks at the Camp Nou.

“He has helped me a lot on the field.

After every attack he gives me advice and after each match or training session too. He has been fundamental, not just with me but the whole team,” he said.

Bartra is expected to start on Saturday as Gerard Pique remains sidelined by a calf injury.

FIXTURES Valladolid Real Betis Celta Vigo Granada

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Barcelona Getafe Atletico Madrid Villarreal

And Bartra is determined to make the most of any opportunity he is handed

by Barca boss Gerardo Martino.

“I am very aware of where I am, which is the first team at Barcelona where almost nobody is guaranteed to start.

“This year I have lived through both situations of playing very little and then playing a lot of games in a row.

“With the coach, none of the 20 of us in the first team know whether we

Ex-girlfriend says Pistorius shot gun at traffic light An ex-girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius testified Friday that the Paralympian star sprinter often carried a gun with him and once fired at a traffic light after a confrontation with police.

An emotional Samantha Taylor, who met Pistorius in 2010 when she was 17 years old, tearfully described the sprinter as someone familiar with guns, prone to fits of anger and an unfaithful boyfriend.

Taylor took to the stand, testifying that in 2010 on the way back from a day trip to a popular city getaway Pistorius was in a car that was pulled over by the police for speeding.

When a police officer inspected Pistorius’s weapon, left on a seat when he exited the car, Pistorius became angry, “Oscar shouted at the policeman and said he shouldn’t touch his gun,” said Taylor.

He later shot at a traffic light, “out of spite after being stopped.”

“He was angry at the police after being stopped, thereafter when they wanted to fire a shot they found it funny,” she said, referring to Pistorius and a friend who was with him at the time.

The firing of the weapon is one of three firearms charges Pistorius faces in addition to a charge of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. l

are going to start or be on the sidelines.

He has managed things very well because every week you think you have a chance to start.”

Despite holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg of their last 16 tie against City, Martino is expected to continue rotating his squad with the English side’s visit in mind as Pedro Rodriguez and Andres Iniesta could come into the side that started the 4-1 win over Almeria last weekend. Even if Barca do emerge victorious at the Jose Zorilla, Madrid can retake top spot when Levante visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Los Blancos remain in the fight for titles on three fronts with just over two months of the season remaining and captain Iker Casillas admits they are targeting a first treble in the club’s history come the end of the campaign.

“Right now we are in a privileged position. We are outright leaders in the league, in the final of the Cup and, baring a disaster, we will be in the quarterfinals of the Champions League,” he told the club’s website.l

Berlusconi brushes off Milan sale reports AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has brushed off reports he has instructed consultants to find a buyer for the Serie A giants.

A report by financial news service Bloomberg earlier Thursday claimed Berlusconi, Italy’s former prime minister, had instructed American finance company Lazard to seek out potential buyers.

FIXTURES Udinese v Milan Catania v Cagliari However Berlusconi, who has seen Milan win five of their seven Champions League titles under an ownership which began in 1986, said he had no intention of selling the club. “No, no, no,” Berlusconi told journalists when asked if he would sell Milan.

Berlusconi’s company, Fininvest, released a statement denying there was any truth in the report. Later, at a book presentation in Milan, Berlusconi added: “I want to reassure all fans of Milan, I have no intention of selling the club.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Warner progresses from shortform cameos to leading man

QUICK BYTES

National Athletics BJMC athlete Md Azgar Hossain clinched the gold medal in the men’s 110m hurdles event while Jesmin Akter won the women’s 100m hurdles on the second day of the 38th National Athletics Championship at the Army Stadium yesterday. Azgar clocked 15.10s, 0.30 seconds ahead of Mod Shahidul Islam of Bangladesh Army. Abu Hanif of Jessore Science and Technology University finished third with a time of 16.30s. In the women’s 100m hurdles, Jesmin crossed the finish line at 16.15s to claim the gold, while Mukta Khatun came in second and BJMC’s Papia Rani Sarkar third. Rahul Biswas of the Army won the gold in the men’s 400m sprint ahead of second placed Mahbub Alam Roman and third placed Azharul Islam.

Shohagi Akter of BJMC won gold in the women’s 400m ahead of Zakia and Farzana. In the day’s other events, Hanifur Rahman of Army, Mirona of Navy, Irin Akter of BKSP, Mamun Sikder, Mezbah Ahmed, Ismail won gold medals in the men’s marathon, women’s 3,000m, women’s long jump, men’s shot put, men’s triple jump and men’s long jump events respectively.

–Shishir Hoque

From bar room brawler to test match troubadour, cricketing bad boy David Warner has made a swift transition into one of the sport’s extraordinary talents and brought a new dynamism to opening the batting in tests.

Once seen as a flashing blade in the shorter formats of the game, Warner has gone through an extraordinary transformation and according to captain Michael Clarke was now among the world’s leading batsmen in the fiveday version.

As Australia triumphed in their away series against South Africa on Wednesday with their bowlers grabbing a dramatic win, it was Warner who laid the foundations for the 245-run triumph at Newlands in Cape Town.

The opener, whose talents will be on display in a short Twenty20 series between the sides starting on Sunday, blasted two centuries in the match with a savage performance that laid waste an attack allegedly the most formidable in test cricket.

The quick-fire tons won him the man of the match award and contributed to his overshadowing bowling colleague Mitchell Johnson for the man of

Macheda prepares for Man United exit Federico Macheda has revealed that he intends to leave Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of the season after failing to establish himself at the club. The Italian striker burst onto the scene in April 2009, when, as a 17-year-old, he scored a superb stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 victory at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League. He was rewarded with a four-year contract by former United manager Alex Ferguson, but has spent most of the last three years on loan.

–AFP

Pardew accepts FA headbutt charge Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted a Football Association charge of misconduct after head-butting Hull midfielder David Meyler, English football’s governing body announced Thursday. The 52-year-old Englishman, who had until 1800GMT on Thursday to respond to the charge, has requested a personal hearing, the date of which has yet to be set. “Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted an FA misconduct charge in relation to his side’s game against Hull City on March 1, 2014,” the FA statement said. “Pardew was involved in an incident with a Hull City player in the 72nd minute of this fixture. Pardew has requested a personal hearing, the date of which will be set in due course.”

–AFP

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‘Only a miracle’ can save Schumi: Doctors Doctors treating Michael Schumacher and other medical experts have told his family that “only a miracle” can save him, sources have claimed.

The seven-time Formula One world champion suffered serious brain injuries after hitting a rock during a skiing accident in the French Alpine ski resort of Meribel in late December.

He is being treated in hospital in Grenoble where he has been in an artificially induced coma for a total of 69 days.

Sources close to his family say the 45-year-old driver’s wife Corinna and his brother, Ralf Schumacher, have been consulting brain specialists throughout Europe and have been told that his chances of recovery are minimal.

South African Johan Botha will miss South Australia’s crucial final round Sheffield Shield match after being suspended by Cricket Australia on Friday.

Botha, who captains South Australia, received a one-match ban for breaching Cricket Australia’s code of behaviour.

Botha, 31, pleaded guilty to “repeated inappropriate conduct relating to the condition of the match ball” during his team’s drawn match with New South Wales this week in Adelaide.

He was also reprimanded for using obscene, offensive or insulting lan-

Root forced home with thumb injury

Star Sports HD1

England batsman Joe Root was forced to return home from the West Indies with a broken thumb on Thursday, just 10 days out from the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Root was hit on the glove while batting during England’s 25-run victory over the West Indies in the third and final one-day international at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old’s injury occured in just the third ball of his innings, but he went on to score 107 and help England clinch a 2-1 series victory.

An X-ray has now revealed the full extent of the damage ahead of Sunday’s first Twenty20 clash in Bridgetown and he will take no further part in the tour.

A tweet published through the England and Wales Cricket Board’s official account read: “Joe Root has a fractured thumb and is returning home to see a specialist. Ruled out of West Indies T20s, World T20 decision not made yet.” l

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The family is said to be concerned that the French doctors treating Schumacher have little hope that he will recover and now assume that he will remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.

Experts point out that most artificial comas last for an average of three weeks. Schumacher’s management team has insisted that doctors are grad-

Botha hit with ball tampering ban

6:45PM FA Cup Arsenal v Everton 9:00PM La Liga Real Valladolid v Barcelona English Premier League 6:45PM West Borm v Man United 11:30PM Chelsea v Tottenham

15

Saturday, March 8, 2014

guage as his team fielded in the first innings of the match, which ended on Thursday.

While Botha pleaded guilty to the ball charge he disputed the penalty but it was upheld by the match referee, meaning he will miss the final round game with Tasmania, starting in Hobart on Tuesday.

South Australia are level with NSW and Western Australia at the top of the shield standings as they chase their first final appearance in 18 years.

Botha has made five Test appearances as well as playing 78 one-day internationals and 40 Twenty20s for South Africa. l

ually reducing drug levels to bring the driver out of his artificial coma and that he is currently in a “wake up” phase.

In a statement released on Friday, Schumacher’s management team insisted there had been no change. “Michael is still in a wake up phase, the situation has not altered,” said the driver’s management team spokeswoman Sabine Kehm At the management team’s request, the Grenoble hospital treating Schumacher has kept news about his condition to a minimum. However sources close to his family say that the driver’s prognosis is bleak. “The family has been told that only a miracle can bring him back now,” a senior German journalist reporting on the Schumacher case said. “ He is in a bad way but until the family issues a formal statement, we cannot publish anything,” he added. l

the series accolade.

It marked a remarkable metamorphosis from last June when he was almost frozen out of the side for punching England’s Joe Root in a Birmingham pub, his quick temper emphasising a reputation as a hot head off the pitch as well as on it.

Knocks of 135 and 145 in the third and decisive match in Cape Town took Warner to 1,066 runs at an average of

suggested when asked about the reason for his change in fortunes.

It was a similar sentiment to the one he espoused after a first test ton in Pretoria. “Not going out and punching blokes at a club probably sums it up,” he said of his improvement. But finding the sweet spot on the bat and treating some of the world’s best bowlers with disdain, goes deeper than that.

“He deserves a lot of credit for the

SEASON 2013/14 Mat 8

Inns NO 16 1

Runs 1066

HS 145

Ave SR 100 71.06 80.21 5

71.07 in his last eight tests but the figures do not do justice to the damage he wreaked in the Ashes and in South Africa as Australia posted back-to-back series wins.

While the 27-year-old still has his rough edges - he was fined part of his match fee from the second test for alleging ball tampering by the opponents - he has quickly become a lethal weapon with his confident swagger, heavy bat and quick hands.

By his own admission, Warner has not always had the right focus. “I’ve got my head screwed on for once,” he

50 4

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work he has put in, he is batting as well as anybody in the world at the moment,” opined Clarke, while opposing coach Russell Domingo suggested Warner had tightened up his technique to attain success.

Following the attack on Root, Warner was fined A$11,500 ($10,400) and suspended for a month but spared the embarrassment of becoming the first player ever sent home from an Ashes series.

He denied having a drinking problem but was out of sorts in his three test appearances, amassing just 128 runs as England won the series comfortably. l

Australia ‘long way’ from Proteas: Clarke Michael Clarke says Australia have a long way to go before supplanting South Africa as the number one Test cricket team.

Clarke returned home Friday after leading the Australians to an epic 2-1 series win over the Proteas in South Africa to cement their status as the second team in world cricket behind South Africa.

Clarke said despite their supremacy over South Africa in the recent series, his side would be foolish to consider themselves the best team in Test cricket and said the job was far from done.

If Australia defeat Pakistan and India in Test series later this year, they could be the ICC’s top-ranked side.

“I think South Africa have well and truly earned that mantle and that doesn’t come lightly,” Clarke told reporters at Sydney Airport.

“You’ve got to have success over a long period of time and they’ve (the

Proteas) done that.

“We’re playing some really good cricket and I think we’re improving as a team but there’s a long way to go before we will consider ourselves the number one team in the world.”

Clarke predicted that Australia would take home their first World Twenty20 crown in Bangladesh in March-April.

Australia have never won the short form tournament, but Clarke is confident they can carry on from the Test series wins over England and South Africa and take the world T20 title.

“I think they can. I think they’ll be led extremely well by George Bailey.

He’s captained the Twenty20 team exceptionally well for a while now,” he said.

“I think the confidence the Test players will take out of this series and bring into the Twenty20 team will certainly help as well. So I’m backing the boys. I’m really confident they’ll win the Twenty20 World Cup.” l

Indian police drop sedition charge against cricket fans Police in northern India said Friday they had dropped sedition charges against a group of Kashmiri students who cheered on Pakistan in a recent cricket match, but they could still face prosecution over the incident.

A group of 60 students were suspended from the Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) in the town of Meerut and escorted from the campus over what the vice chancellor called “unacceptable” behaviour after the match last Sunday.

Pakistan beat India in a tense Asia

Cup contest and the case has highlighted the sometimes hostile reaction to Indian Kashmiris who often feel a greater sense of loyalty to Muslim-majority Pakistan.

The former kingdom in the northern Himalayas is divided between India and Pakistan, but each claims it in full.

It has sparked two of the neighbours’ three wars since independence in 1947.

“In absence of any evidence to support the charges of sedition... we shall not probe the complaint in this light,” Meerut police chief Omkar Singh told AFP. He said that police were acting on a

complaint from the university and the students might still be booked under laws against spreading hatred between castes and communities or causing damage to property.

Indian Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah called the sedition charges “unacceptably harsh” on Thursday.

Back at their homes in Kashmir, some of the students claimed they were attacked by fellow students who were offended by their celebrations.

“Just because we supported the Pakistan team, our life and careers have been put at stake,” one student, Gulzar Ahmed, told reporters Thursday. l

Dennis vows to take ‘Man United’ McLaren back to top Ron Dennis has promised McLaren will return to winning form this year following one of the worst seasons in their history and likened the Formula One team’s current troubles to those of Manchester United.

Dennis, a key figure for decades with the British marque, had taken less of a hands-on role in recent seasons as he concentrated on other aspects of McLaren’s work.

But he has been restored to his former position as chief executive of the McLaren group, in what appears a demotion at least for his one-time protege Martin Whitmarsh.

Last season was poor for McLaren, who’ve won 12 drivers’ world titles and eight Formula One constructors’ world championships.

Not only did they fail to win a single race but the team from Woking, south of London, failed to get on the podium

at all for the first time in 33 years.

That prompted a shareholder revolt which saw the abrasive Dennis back in overall charge.

The position of team principal no longer exists at McLaren, with a racing chief executive, yet to be appointed, set to take the reins -- but with chief opearting officer Jonathan Neale overseeing a unit that includes sporting director Sam Michael and newly-appointed racing director Eric Boullier, formerly team principal at grid rivals Lotus.

All three men will ultimately answer to Dennis, who nevertheless insisted Thursday he would not be involved during a race weekend.

“I’ve a lot to offer the company, but what I have no intention of doing is running the grand prix team,” said Dennis.

“I will guide them, give them the benefit of my knowledge, and if necessary use my executive authority to change things. l

Coco Vandeweghe hits a return to Alexandra Cadantu of Romania during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Thursday in Indian Wells, California AFP

16

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Bangladesh signs deal to join 2nd submarine cable The connection with a speed of 1,400Gbps expected by first quarter of 2016 n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh has officially joined the submarine cable SEA-ME-WE-5 – its second – and hopes to get connected to it by the first quarter of 2016 which, officials concerned say, will help the country always stay online.

The Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd (BSCCL) yesterday inked an agreement for the construction and maintenance of the cable with 14 foreign companies at a programme held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“It will be a high class connectivity for both data and voice between Southeast Asia and western Europe. The cable will primarily provide a bandwidth of 8Tbps, which will be increased up to 24Tbps,” a senior executive of the BSCCL told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, requesting anonymity. The country would get an additional bandwidth of 1,400Gbps from the second submarine cable and would always be online even if one connection went down, said a BSCCL official.

Two or three more countries would join the 20,000km cable linking Singapore and France, he said.

Initially, the longevity of the cable has been fixed at 20 years, which may be increased up to 25 years.

The Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), China Mobile, China Telecommunications, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, Orange, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Saudi Telecom Company, Telekom

Malaysia and a few other companies from Sri Lanka, Thailand and India are involved in the project.

Md Abubakar Siddique, secretary of post, telecommunication and information communication ministry and chairman of the BSCCL, signed the agreement with 13 parties. BSCCL MD Monwar Hossain was also present at the deal-signing ceremony.

Before leaving Dhaka, Monwar Hossain had told the Dhaka Tribune that the cable would connect Bangladesh through a landing station at Kuakata in Patuakhali.

“We have bought some land at Kuakata; a tender [for the job] will be floated shortly,” he said.

“When SEA-ME-WE-5 becomes live we will always be online even if one connection goes down,” said the BSCCL MD. The SEA-ME-WE-4 landing station at Cox’s Bazar has frequently got offline since its installation. According to the BSCCL, joining the SEA-ME-WE-5 network will require $70 million (Tk540 crore).

The state-owned company has planned to borrow $40m from the Islamic Development Bank and provide the rest from its own fund. The BSCCL has already arranged Tk130 crore and still requires Tk100 crore, which it will collect from selling surplus bandwidth of the SEA-ME-WE-4 cable.

The IDB provided a loan also when the country got connected with SEAME-WE-4 at a cost of $35.2m and the BSCCL has already paid back the amount in 18 instalments.

A BSCCL official said an IDB delega-

tion would visit the country by March 11 to settle matters regarding the $40m loan and meet with the finance minister and other high officials.

Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Monwar Hossain had said the connection with an alternative undersea cable would create more value to the country’s telecom and ICT sectors. The country would get additional bandwidth of 1,400Gbps.

Currently, the BSCCL has 200Gbps bandwidth and the government has allowed it to export half of it. The SEAME-WE-4 cable has already spent eight of its 20-year life time.

Bangladesh’s internet largely depends on SEA-ME-WE-4. In addition, six companies operate international terrestrial cables that provide backup connectivity through India.

Bangladesh got connected to the country’s first submarine cable SEA-MEWE-4 in 2006. In the early 1990s, the then government had rejected a proposal for free connection with SEA-ME-WE-3.

The BSCCL had not made any official announcement on the deal as it was obliged to inform the Dhaka Stock Exchange first. It would make the matter public at a press conference this week, said an official.

In the only official statement on the submarine cable so far, SingTel said: “SEA-ME-WE-5 will address the urgent need for a new generation data superhighway to cater to the increasing demand for next generation Internet applications.” l

A child participates in a human chain formed in protest of the attack on Devidwar temple in Comilla. The human chain, which also demanded punishment of the culprits, was formed by members of Bangladesh Shebasram Kendrio Committee in front of the National Press Club in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

91% accused in acid violence case escape punishment

Crude bomb blast injures 3 kids n Our Correspondent, Feni

n Tribune Report

At least four people, including three children, were injured when an abandon crude bomb exploded at the district’s Sonagaji area yesterday.

The victims were identified as Rimon, 6, Ashraful Islam, 7, Shafayet Hossain, 5, and Hamidul Haque Rasel, 23.

According to eyewitness, the children found an abandon packet full of ‘toy-like’ objects lying beside a road of Luxmipur village of Mongokandi Union. The packet later exploded when their tried to play with it. Abu Jafar Mohammad Saleh, officer-in-charge of Sonagazi police station, said on information police rushed to the spot and recovered the packet and found six more crude bombs inside it. l

Most of the acid victims are denied justice as around 91% accused in acid violence cases manage to escape punishment for lack of stern laws as well as non-implementation of the existing laws.

Acid violence usually happens to women and the most common reasons for attack are dowry problem, conjugal problem, refusal of marriage, denial of sex and family feud.

Around 88% of the accused manage to escape arrest and remain untouched from law enforcers, according to statistic of acid crime moni-

toring cell of Ministry of Home Affairs.

The statistic also mentioned that a total of 1,891 cases has been filed accusing 4,926 people across the country for acid crime from the year of 2002 to 2014. Of them, 590 people arrested so far, which is only 12% of total accused.

Police has so far submitted charge sheet of 1,128 case while final report of 753 cases has been completed. Criminals got punishment in only 172 cases.

A total of 293 people got punishment, of them, 13 sentenced to death, 108 jailed for life and 172 got jail in different terms.

According to Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), a total of 3,512 people became victim of acid violence in

3,184 incidents since 1999 to 2014.

Among them, 1,792 are female and 865 are male and 845 are children, said a press release issued by the ASF. The organistation marking the International Women’s Day, also formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday.

Addressing the rally, Executive Director of the ASF, Selina Ahmed said to ensure punishment against accused in acid cases, the government should set up special acid crimes tribunal.

Addressing the rally, speakers said implementation of Acid Crime Control Act 2002 was a must to stop acid violence across the country. l

Government to develop GM cotton variety n Abu Bakar Siddique The government has taken an initiative to develop genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties, in a bid to increase cotton yield.

The Cotton Development Board (CDB) has already signed an agreement with Huazhong Agricultural University, which will provide technical assistance for developing the variety, said Md Tasdiqur Rahman, deputy director of the board.

Another agreement is set to be signed with a Chinese financial agency that would provide Tk120 crore as soft loan in the project as investment, he added.

Tasdiqur said the agreement for developing the GM variety was being processed for approval by the agriculture ministry and would be sent later to the Economic Relations Division for final approval.

For developing the GM cotton varieties, the CDB would emphasise on developing its existing two popular varieties CB 12 and CB 14 by inserting soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, popularly known as Bt, which is patented by American seed giant Monsanto.

The CDB authorities have said the Bt variety would increase the yield of cotton, as it is highly capable of preventing American bollworm, one of the biggest pest threats to cotton.

However, seeking anonymity, an official told the Dhaka Tribune that introducing Bt cotton in Bangladesh would not bring any good result as the American bollworm’s tendency to attack cotton had been reduced remarkably in recent years.

According to Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, the country requires 3.5m to 4m bales of raw cotton to run approximately 363 textile mills and meet the spinning demands of the country’s garment sector.

Against the demand, the country produces only around 150,000 bales by using around 40,000 hectares of arable land, said sources at the CDB. Only around 2% to 3% of the national

requirement has been fulfilled through local production, while the rest is fulfilled by importing raw cotton from Uzbekistan, India, USA, Australia, Pakistan and different African countries.

The CDB is also reportedly trying to temporarily import seeds of the Bt cotton, as developing the GM variety may need at least five years.

CDB Deputy Director Tasdiqur said a Chinese seed production agency has expressed interest to the board for supplying Bt cotton seeds in Bangladesh.

The approval for importing the seeds was currently waiting at the law ministry for vetting, and would be sent to the national bio-safety committee for final approval, he said. Tasdiqur added that authorities were hoping to conduct a “confined trial” of the Bt variety from next season during June-July.

Muhammad Solaiman Haider, member secretary of the National Committee on Bio-safety under the environment ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that the committee would look into the matter after getting the application from the agriculture ministry.

However, there had been much controversy surrounding the introduction of Bt cotton in India, with many farmers reportedly being forced to kill themselves because of crop failures. Genetically modified crops are “transgenic” crops, and need special approval from bio-safety authorities for field trials.

The government had also recently approved the decision of holding “confined trials” for two other GM crop varieties – golden rice and potato – which are being developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) respectively.

Earlier on October 30, the government released four GM brinjal varieties at farmers-level on a limited scale, amid concerns by environment activists that the health impact of Bt brinjal was yet to be scrutinised. l

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